126 
HOSPITALITY AT PIET VAN DER MERWE'S. 21, 22 March, 
hospitably entertained in the house with the family ; who considered 
themselves well repaid for their trouble by the information which 
they obtained respecting the Bushmen. They also, in return, com- 
municated some information ; that those tribes who inhabit the banks 
of the Nugariep, or Groote river, as they here called it, were consi- 
dered so extremely savage, that the boors had never yet been able to 
bring about any friendly communication with them. 
The name of Van der Merwe is one of the most common in 
the Cape Colony. In cases where several of the same baptismal, 
and surname occur, it is customary, in noticing them in writing, 
as well as when they sign their own name, to add the Chris- 
tian name of their father, either at full length, as in the form, 
for example, of Jacobsz or Jacobszoon ; or by the initials only, as 
Jz; a practice analogous to that by which, probably, we have 
obtained such names as Richards or Richardson, Johnson, Jack- 
son, &c. But among neighbours, colonists of the same name are 
distinguished in a more familiar way, either by the place of 
their abode, or by some other circumstance. Thus my hospitable 
host was known to the boors around, by the appellation of Piet Dik- 
wang (Thick-cheek,) on account of a swelling, or wen, upon his cheek. 
Most of the family seemed to be troubled with slight coughs^ the 
same as I had observed at Nieukerks ; occasioned perhaps, by the 
foggy state of the weather. A cough appeared the more remarkable, 
as it was an ailment of very rare occurrence in the countries of the 
former part of my travels. But it is not to be pronounced a prevailing, 
or a common, complaint in the Snow Mountains, since I did not 
afterwards find it to be general ; yet, it is more than probable, that 
the misty cold atmosphere of Sneeberg proper, renders its inhabitants . 
very liable to be attacked by similar affections of the lungs. 
The rhinoceros-bush grows abundantly on different parts of these 
mountains, and was the only fuel which I saw used at this house ; 
other firewood being exceedingly scarce. The rhinoceros, as my host 
informed me, and as my own experience afterwards confirmed, is now 
nearly expelled from the Colony ; it being very rarely to be seen 
within the boundary : and hippopotami, formerly so numerous in the 
