86 
KRAAI-KOP'S KRAAL. 
12 March, 
As soon as I could prepare my presents, I desired the captain to 
assemble the whole of his people ; and in the midst of a crowd not 
less happy than those of Kaabi's Kraal, I distributed to every indivi- 
dual a piece of tobacco. It is unnecessary to describe the effect which 
was produced on these poor creatures, as it would only be a repeti- 
tion of what has been said on a preceding occasion. They now 
declared aloud, that I was the best man they had ever seen, for the 
boors, they said, never gave them either tobacco or meat, though 
they came into their country and killed their game. Some of these 
people had been living a short time in the Colony, in the service of 
the farmers, as shepherds or herdsmen, for the purpose of earning 
a few sheep-skins for karosses ; which by them are more valued, on 
account of their greater warmth, than the skins of any of the wild 
animals, and nearly every person here wore cloaks of that kind. 
This village did not appear in such good circumstances as Kaabi's : 
I counted no more than ninety-eight goats and kids, as the whole of 
its riches, and fifty souls as the greatest amount of its population. It 
was situated in the middle of an open plain covered with low bushes, 
and was at least, two miles from any water. The table-mountain, 
of which I took this opportunity of making a drawing, was at the 
distance of a two or three hours' walk to the eastward ; although the 
unvaried surface of the intervening ground would have induced me 
to suppose that it was much nearer. 
Notwithstanding the poverty of this kraal, the captain thought 
himself bound to testify his gratitude ; and sent me a goat ready 
skinned : but I was much vexed at discovering that Ruiter, not 
waiting for a voluntary gift, had been mean enough to ask for it, 
founding his claim upon the great quantity of tobacco which I had 
given to the captain and his people. Not doubting that he had acted 
the part of a treacherous interpreter, and had demanded it in my 
name, I immediately presented to the chief and some of his friends, 
a much larger quantity of quakka-meat in return. • 
My obligations, however, would not have remained unpaid, even 
had I not made them this return ; for nearly all the men, and several 
of the women, came to sup with us ; so that, when the meal was over. 
