6 
HALTING AT JAN BLOEM'S KRAAL. 
26 Feb. 
its inhabitants advanced to greet us as we rode by, and one or two of 
the men acknowledged us as old acquaintances, having met us before 
when we were hunting hippopotami on the banks of the Kygariep. 
To avoid a long circuit, which the rivulet now began to take, we 
quitted the deep valley and ascended to an elevated level country, 
very thickly covered with large trees of the Hookthorn, between 
which we were obliged very cautiously to wind our way for about a 
mile and a half. After this we descended again into the valley, and 
continued, among acacias, to follow the bed of the rivulet, which at 
this season was every where dry. 
A little farther we came to another spring of water equally 
pure and delightful, and our party again felt it necessary to quench 
their thirst. This fountain was occupied by a kraal of Mixed-Hot- 
tentots, the friends and relations of those who dwelt at the village of 
the Kloof The men and women were at this hour absent, hunting 
or tending their cattle, or in search of wild roots, or collecting fire- 
wood ; but several little groups of children ran out from the thickets 
which concealed their huts, to view us as we passed. They knew old 
Cobus and Ruiter, and were therefore not afraid to creep out of their 
hiding-places and run towards us ; but they eyed me with some doubt 
and shyness, and seemed half-inclined to run back again. 
At a short distance beyond this kraal we found another, consist- 
ing of seven huts and a large proportion of inhabitants, who were also 
of the race of Mixed- Hottentots ; their chief was named Jan Bloem.* 
With the people of this kraal most of our party were well acquainted, 
and, as few amongst us were good swimmers, and nearly all of these 
were expert in that art, from having resided so long on the banks of 
the Gariep, they were easily persuaded to lend us their assistance in 
crossing the river ; especially as I promised to reward them for tlieir 
services. It was therefore agreed, it being already past sunset, that 
we should pass the night at this kraal, that they might put themselves 
in readiness to accompany us in the morning. 
* He was son of a freebooter of the same natne, hereafter mentioned under date of 
the 17th of June. 
