230 Voyage of the Novara. 



were now to pursue, we hired a black guide from Brand Valley, 

 who accompanied us on horseback as far as the next farm-house, 

 where we were to pass the night. Just as one requires a pilot 

 to take a ship into an insecure or unknown harbour, so we now 

 had to avail ourselves of the services of this limber young 

 negro, who was an excellent rider, in piloting us through the 

 endless morasses and pools of water. Renden was the name 

 of the solitary farm (the property of Mr. Pretorius, a landed 

 proprietor, to whom we had letters of introduction), where we 

 were to pass the night. 



As we approached, we were saluted with the loud barking of 

 abound that had been unchained, and who seemed ready to rush 

 upon his unexpected prey, so that we hardly dared to advance one 

 step. At last a man made his appearance at the door of the 

 house, with a lantern in his hand, speedily followed by the whole 

 family, anxious to learn who could be in the neighbourhood at 

 so late an hour. We handed him the letter, which we begged 

 him to read, and requested to know whether we could be 

 received for the night. We were at once admitted, and 

 speedily found a most cordial welcome. We were shown into 

 apartments very plainly furnished, but neat, and scrupulously 

 clean, after which we were invited to join the household at 

 supper. It was a very numerous family. The father and 

 mother, genuine Dutch figures, sat at the head of a long table; 

 next to w^hom sat the son-in-law, who had married the eldest 

 daughter, and then commingled with each other, the sons and 

 daughters that were as yet unmarried. They all seemed 



