1812. 
APPROACH TO SNEEUWBERG. 
123 
a row of mats on the floor, between the supper table and the fire, 
formed the only sleeping-place for the two young men, and for any 
casual visitors. 
Here I was first informed that in the buiten districten (out-districts, 
or those far from the Cape) it is the general custom, to sleep without 
undressing, the coat excepted : but this custom has, I believe, many 
exceptions ; especially at those houses where some degree of affluence 
enables the owners to furnish them more perfectly in the European 
style. Where there is nothing better to rest on, than a mat upon the 
floor, the practice may not be quite unreasonable ; but in any case, it 
is not favorable either to personal cleanliness, or to health. 
2\st. In front of this house, and commencing immediately on 
the opposite side of the river, the mountains of Sneeuwberg (Sneeberg) 
stand full in view, and present a grand and interesting landscape ; 
and which I was tempted to add to the number of my sketches. 
On making an attempt to cross the river early in the morning, 
its waters were found to have risen even higher than they were on 
the day before ; but by eleven in the forenoon, they had run off suf- 
ficiently to admit of our fording. In doing this, we were indebted to 
Nieukerk and his brothers, for pointing out the shallowest part ; and 
as soon as we were safely through, we were saluted by the whole 
family, who stood on the opposite bank, with Goede reis, (A good 
journey to you.) 
Along the right bank of the Zeekoe river, I observed a road 
much frequented, which led to the northernmost limits of the colony, 
and, as I was informed, to the southern banks of the Nugariep, 
whither the boors often go for the purpose of cutting timber. The mat- 
rush * grows here in abundance; but not a tree was any where to be 
seen : with this rush, all the houses in these parts of the Colony, are 
thatched. The country was mountainous on all sides. We kept 
gradually ascending, after having, at the distance of about four miles 
from Nieukerk's, recrossed the Seacow river, which takes its rise 
amidst the high mountains on our left, and after flowing along the 
* Of the sort called Hard matjes-goederen : the Scirpus tegetalis. Vol. I. p. 263. 
R 2 
