274 EXPEDITION INTO 



Forty Dutch colonists, with their kith and kin, were en- 

 camped on the banks of the Calf river, where it wound 

 between two rano-es of hills : the assemblaofe of snow-white 

 wag-g-on-tilts, around which herds of oxen and droves of 

 horses were g-razing*, imparting- to the animated scene the 

 appearance of a country fair. Several women, attended by 

 their husbands, were washing- linen in the river, but as both 

 sexes declined holding- any communication with me, I rode 

 up to the nearest tent, and learned from a slave boy that it 

 belong-ed to Christian Breck. Pipe in mouth, the portly 

 J3aas, or master, presently' sallied forth, and after the custom- 

 ary salutation, I inquired how many days' journey it was to 

 the Great River. Instead of receiving- any reply to this ques- 

 tion, however, I was in my turn elaborately catechised as to 

 my ag-e, name, residence, calling-, destination, and domestic 

 history. The mention of " Sillekat's land," while it elicited 

 an oath, and an exclamation of surprise, procured me also aii 

 invitation to " saddle off;" and walking- with mine host into 

 the pall, I was minutely scrutinized throug-h a pair of spec- 

 tacles by the g-ood vrouw, who was seated, ag-reeabl}^ to colo- 

 nial custom, with her feet over a warming--pan. Neither my 

 rag-g-ed and weather-beaten appearance, nor my patriarchal 

 beard, were pleasing- to the old lady on first acquaintance, 

 but as I was now an accomplished Dutch scholar, we speedily 

 became better friends ; and after I had patiently satisfied her 

 curiosity also, on all points connected with my private bio- 

 g-raphy, a Hottentot g-irl was directed to set before me a 

 plateful of mutton bones drowned in Chili vineg-ar ; to which 

 savory dish the mistress added an apolog-y for the absence 

 of bread. Over this frug'al meal, I detailed my misfortunes, 

 which provoked but little sympathy, althoug'h the offer of 

 a bribe in tea and snuff readily induced Mynheer Breck to 

 desire his son and nephew to accompany me ^^ ith two sj)ans 

 of oxen, for the purpose of bring-ing- up the \\ ag-gons. Seve- 



