1812. HOSPITABLE RECEPTION AT PIET VERMEULEN'S. m 
greet us, when we halted a few minutes to inquire respecting our 
road and the name of the place. This they said was Groote Fontein 
(Great Fountain, or Spring). 
From this place the country continued level and open during 
the remainder of the day's journey. Great numbers of springbucks 
were seen, and some gnues ; but nothing worth remark was observed 
during a distance of eighteen miles, excepting the uniformity, and 
karro-like nature, of the country, every where apparently destitute of 
water. At the southern extremity of this plain, a few temporary 
pools were found, near some low hills which form its boundary ; but 
not a tree was anv where to be seen in the whole district. 
The clouds now began to assume a threatening appearance ; we 
therefore hastened our pace in hopes of reaching some shelter, before 
the storm commenced. At not more than a mile farther, we came 
in sight of a farm-house ; and, after what I had experienced at Van 
Wyk's, it was not without some hesitation that I rode up to the door. 
On seeing me arrive, one of the family came out, and, after the 
usual salutations, welcomed me into the house, and, immediately 
on entering, offered me a seat, in the same hospitable manner which 
I had found generally practised in most parts of the Cape Colony. 
To my request that my people might be allowed to take shelter for 
the night, in one of the out-buildings, the answer was, instantly, 
" Yes, certainly ;" and when I said that more of my party were 
coming on, they replied, " There will be room for them all." 
Scarcely were we under the roof, before there fell as violent 
and heavy a storm of hail and rain, as I had ever witnessed : the 
hailstones were three quarters of an inch in diameter. The rest of 
my people with the pack oxen, were not so fortunate, as they did 
not arrive till half an hour afterwards ; but finding a house ready to 
receive them, they were in the best spirits, though thoroughly soaked 
with wet. The rain continued during the remainder of the day, to 
pour down in torrents. 
The name of the place was Kriegers Fontein, and that of the 
owner Piet Vermeulen. The master himself was at this time absent 
on the commando, or militia-service, against the Caffres in the 
