54 
cross the stream, near its source, the poor animal was scalded 
to death. 
& On the 17th we resumed our journey, leaving the Branaa 
Valley early in the morning, and passed through an exten- 
sive, well-watered, and fertile plain, called the Goudinie. 
This plain is crossed by a river of the same name, by the Breede 
River, and by several less considerable streams, all of them 
flowing on a level with the surface, and capable of being 
turned with ease over the interjacent grounds. After a ride 
of three hours, we arrived at the habitation of Feld Cornet 
Gabriel Hugo. During our journey, we met numbers on 
their way to a Vendutie, which was to take place in the 
Goudinie. These sales afford the only opportunity the 
Colonists have of assembling from distant parts of the coun- 
try, and are therefore attended by ten times the number that 
have any idea of making purchases. On such occasions, it 
is the usual custom to provide a sumptuous dinner for the 
crowd, followed by a copious libation of wine and strong 
liquors; the latter sometimes with an eye to a brisker 
competition among the bidders, as was probably the 
case here, in one instance at least that came to our know- 
ledge, where a common slave, with his wife and one infant, 
were purchased at the enormous sum of nineteen thousand 
guilders. 
** Within half a mile of the Cornet's house, our cart bické 
down, and one of its wheels was shattered to pieces. At 
any other stage of our journey, such an accident would have 
left us in an awkward predicament. Fortunately there was a 
waggon-maker settled in the neighbourhood, who undertook 
to repair our vehicle, and effected it in two days. ‘This man 
affords a striking proof that the boors do not all merit the 
sweeping charge of idleness and want of industry that has 
been preferred against them. He is himself an expert black- 
smith, and has brought up his two sons as carpenters. With 
very little assistance from a few slaves in the simpler and 
subordinate parts, they make the best waggons perhaps in the 
Colony, for which there is a much greater demand than they 
can supply. He showed us a horse-waggon which he built 
