1812. HIS HOUSE, HIS READING, AND HIS SUPPER. J 77 
means of conveyance ; although he had just declared that he had no 
such means in his power. 
The place, the house itself, and every thing about it, formed 
the greatest possible contrast to what I had seen at Burger's. The 
principal dwelling hardly deserved the name of house; it was a most 
forlorn and miserable hovel, about which, nothing could be seen 
which bespoke an owner's care. Every object displayed neglect : 
the Hottentot servants, the huts they lived in, and the few out- 
buildings, were of a character consistent with the house. This 
dwelling was certainly a degree worse than any which I had observed 
since re-entering the colony : its inhabitants were, the baas, and his 
vrouw (wife) and son, two men, a little boy, and two or three female 
servants, all Hottentots, excepting one slave. Its elevated situation 
in the midst of lofty mountains, rendered the air extremely cold. 
As soon as old Viljoen had a little recovered his usual temper, 
and manners, which in their best state were naturally coarse, we 
entered the house together, and were offered seats. By degrees, after a 
few mutual questions, and some little conversation, we became better 
friends ; and he seemed not to think me so obnoxious a visitor, as at 
my first introduction I appeared to be. Neither he nor his wife had 
any curiosity about my affairs ; for which I was not sorry, as it saved 
me the trouble of telling my story over again, and allowed me to 
take a warmer seat by the fire at the other end of the room ; while 
he amused himself, and his other guest, with reading a small religious 
tract which he had lately obtained ; if, halting at every difficult word ; 
taking time to consider the meaning of a sentence ; overrunning the 
stops ; and going back again to find them out ; could be called reading. 
Although it may be doubted whether any one but himself, knew a 
word of the subject, he now and then turned to his wife or to Lubbe, 
and exclaimed, " Very true !" During all this time, the Hottentots 
were quietly sleeping in the chimney corner ; excepting two girls 
who were busy cooking some mutton. 
At length supper was ready, and we sat down to a frugal meal ; 
as he had probably forgotten to tell the girls to put a piece more into 
the pot on account of his visitors : for, in a country where he could 
VOL. II. A A 
