166 
ACTS OF FRIENDSHIP 
27 April, 
Thus was I reduced to the necessity of making up my number 
with three of the first set : of these Keyser Dikkop (Emperor Thick- 
head) was the only one to whose character no particular objection had 
been made. The names of the other two were, Stuurman Witbooy, 
and Andries Michael. 
The object of my journey into the Colony being now to a certain 
extent, obtained, for there was at this place no further prospect of 
hiring serviceable men, and I judged it would have been even 
dangerous to take a greater number of such as had been proposed for 
me, I gave orders to prepare for leaving Graaffreynet on the next day. 
I purchased of Mare an additional supply of tobacco, not only 
for the purpose of distribution among the Bushmen of the Cisga- 
riepine, but in order to increase my original stock; being well 
assured that a traveller in Southern Africa can never have too much 
of this commodity. In Mare's shop, I was shown a large quantity 
which he was just about to send by a fieldcornet, to the borders of 
the Bushman country northward of Sneeuwbergen, to be distributed 
among the natives as a present from the Cape government. 
During my residence at Graaffreynet, I experienced many acts 
of friendship from several of its inhabitants, amongst whom the 
Rev. Mr. Richer er and his lady, stand the foremost, and well deserve my 
warmest and most sincere thanks for their hospitality, and the kind 
interest which they took in my affairs. Even at the last moment he 
seemed happy at having an opportunity of testifying the continuance 
of that Christian benevolence with which he hastened to my hut at 
the foot of Sneeuwberg ; for, learning that I had ordered from a 
neighbour and friend of his, named Hendrik Meyntjes, fifteen sheep 
as a provision for the journey, and for which I was to have paid two 
rixdollars each, he privately interfered with his friend, and on my 
preparing to discharge this debt, I was told that I had nothing to 
pay : nor could I even discover whether my thanks were due most to 
Mr. Kicherer, or to Mr. Meyntjes. So unexpected a gift was truly 
gratifying ; because it carried with it, that which only can make a 
gift agreeable or acceptable — the pure expression of the giver's kind 
and friendly sentiments. 
