138 
A NEW ROAD OPENED TO GRAAFFREYNET. 25 March, 18J2. 
Before we reached the town, we were obliged to cross the 
Sunday river three times : its greatest depth was, at this time, about 
three feet. 
The missionary's letter began by stating, that they had endea- 
voured to dissuade me from the attempt to cross the Bushman country ; 
and that, although they had thus written letters, they had Kttle ex- 
pectation of their ever reaching their destination. Mr. Kicherer, before 
he was appointed minister of this place, had spent several years as 
missionary among the Hottentots and Bushmen. For the latter people, 
he opened a mission at the Zak river ; and when that failed, he ac- 
companied those Hottentots who, it has been stated, (vol. I. p. 361.) 
were living an unsettled life on the banks of the Gariep, and per- 
suaded them to remain stationary at Aakaap, whence they finally 
removed to Klaarwater. He was therefore well acquainted with the 
nature of that settlement ; and expressed surprise at the fact of the 
missionaries there, not having been able to render me assistance in 
hiring the required number of Hottentots ; and wondered at their 
making objections to my opening a road to Graaffreynet, which he 
considered as an important discovery, and highly advantageous for 
the missionaries themselves. 
