58 MISERABLE TRAVELLING. 
to us both. The oxen of Voneer having extrieated 
the waggon, I accompanied him to his house, 
and having satisfied him for the injury done to his 
land by my cattle, and paid him for the assistance 
rendered by his own, I continued my journey, not- 
withstanding a very heavy rain, for I was particularly 
anxious to reach Beaufort. On arriving at a small 
farm, the Hottentot leader made a halt, and ex- 
claimed that it was impossible to proceed, for it 
rained “ all too hard.” We consequently determined to 
remain at this place during the night. The wind and 
rain continued with great violence; and the goats 
belonging to the farm, having taken shelter under 
the waggon, entirely prevented my sleeping by their 
incessant bleating. | 
As daylight brought with it no favourable change 
of weather, I resolved on staying where we were till 
the storm should abate. A farmer residing here, 
expecting that I would not leave this spot during the 
day, borrowed a saddle of me to ride on a visit to 
some distant neighbour; but as the weather cleared 
up in the course of the afternoon, I was induced to 
proceed without waiting for the saddle. When we 
reached the farm of C. de Clerk, I asked permission 
to put my oxen into his cattle-kraal. In the absence, 
however, of the master, the person in charge of 
the place refused my request and insisted, in an 
impertinent manner, on my returning to uitspan. 
Being anxious to get forward, I did not feel dis- 
ESS = a = 
