234 Voyage of the Novara. 



be said to be tbe least poor-looking, consists of one large, 

 almost empty chamber, for occupation during the day, with 

 wings on either side, one of which is used as a kitchen, the 

 other as a bed-room. The wretched ventilation, and damp, 

 moist location of these habitations, combined with the bad 

 quality of food, may be regarded as the main causes of the 

 unfavourable state of health of the coloured portion of the 

 inhabitants of Genaaden Dal, among whom, especially as 

 regards the female portion, pulmonary complaints are rife. 



We were provided with letters of introduction to the Superin- 

 tendent of the Community, Dr. Kobling, as also to the Physician 

 and Pharmaceutist, Dr. Roser, a Wiirtemberger by birth, and 

 experienced a most cordial reception. We availed ourselves of 

 the last hours of declining day to make an excursion to the 

 hills, in the country immediately adjacent, so as to command at 

 a glance the entire colony. The principal buildings, the 

 Church, the school, the workshops, the warehouses, and the 

 dwellings of the missionaries, are assembled in a quadrangular 

 open place, to which a number of lofty, massive, leafy, venera- 

 ble oaks impart a sombre, but poetical, appearance, eminently 

 characteristic of the community. All the buildings are of a 

 uniform dingy-grey tint. Close in the rear of these buildings 

 is a large garden, which reaches as far as what is called " Ba- 

 vian*s Kloef "(defile), in which, even at present, apes, antelopes, 

 and zebras, abound. Near the kitchen-garden is the cemetery 

 of the community, which seems to be used by meditative 

 brethren as a favourite resort and promenade. 



