1812. 
VISITORS FROM GRAAFFREYNET. 
135 
make inquiries respecting me and my party, and wished to know 
when I should be at the village ; I replied that it was uncertain, but 
that it would not be to-day. After some further parley, they became 
importunate for me to go to Graaffreynet that day, and said, that 
they had orders to bring me to the landdrost. To this I quickly 
replied, that I was unwell ; and that I neither could, nor would, 
remove from that place j that they could have no authority for 
disturbing me ; and that they might inform the landdrost, that it was 
my intention to come to him as soon as I could conveniently. This, 
and the tone in which it was spoken, put an end to their impor- 
tunities. But I must in justice to these men, admit that the situa- 
tion in which they saw me, lying on the ground in the corner of a 
roofless hovel, was ill calculated to command much respect. 
They then, with a little more civility, requested to be informed 
who I was. Their civility obtained for them, far more than their 
rudeness would have done ; and I gave them to read the government 
papers which authorized my travelling without hindrance, and per - 
mitted me to require assistance. This immediately brought about a 
revolution in their sentiments and behaviour : they offered to send for 
a paarde-wagen * and every necessary accommodation for conveying 
me to the village ; and a letter was without delay sent off to the 
landdrost. I ordered a chop to be broiled for them ; and as they 
had accomplished their mission, they remained merely to gratify 
their curiosity by questioning my men respecting the countries we 
had passed through ; and continued sitting at their ease for two hours 
afterwards. 
Before these visitors had left me, there arrived two others of a 
more agreeable kind : I was surprised to see enter my hut, an officer 
of the 21st regiment of light dragoons; a regiment which I always 
remember with pleasure. It was Mr. Menzies the surgeon of the 
regiment, and Mr. Olqff Stockenstroin the younger son of the late 
landdrost, who now had the kindness to visit a stranger, personally 
* A paarde-'wagen is a light waggon drawn by horses, and used more frequently foi 
the conveyance of persons, than for carrying any other loads : it is in fact the colonists' 
carriage of pleasure. — Compare this with the note at page 28. of the first volume, 
