180 
PLATJE'S WIFE AND CHILDREN. 
2 Mat, 
and, as it carried no load, we travelled at a quick rate ; although 
along rugged and steep roads, through the highest and most moun- 
tainous part of Sneeuwberg. For a considerable part of the way, 
our course was directed towards Spitskop ; and afterwards, by a very 
steep descent, we joined my former road, at a few miles southward of 
Hcrholdf where we arrived before noon. 
This colonist and his wife received me with much hospitality 
and attention, and expecting that I should have been accompanied 
by the minister, they had made preparations for our accommodation. 
Not only the whole of my party were here waiting for me, but 
several more than I expected. One was a Hottentot whom I had 
rejected at GraafFreynet, and was one of those who had been selected 
for me by Mare; so that it was thus clearly proved that the men 
intended for my assistance and protection on a long and perilous 
journey into unknown countries -and among savage nations, were such 
as had been thought too useless to be retained at the public works ; 
since those whom I had no need of, were turned loose to seek a 
master elsewhere. This boy being thus adrift, and finding nobody at 
the village willing to employ him, had followed my people in hopes 
of being allowed to accompany us ; to which step he was encouraged 
by my having already consented to receive in the same manner, one 
who had not been hired. As a Hottentot of this description would 
only have been a trouble to me, I positively forbade his coming. 
My party, who were lying at a fire at a little distance before the 
house, surprised me at first sight by their number: but on examin- 
ation I found that a whole family had joined us, under the thoughtless 
supposition, that they would be permitted to remain with us during 
the whole journey. These were Platjes wife and her two eldest 
daughters ; besides whom, she had three other children left at Graaff- 
reynet. As I already knew by experience that such people would be 
a heavy encumbrance, independently of the greater difficulty of 
finding food for so useless an addition, and who could not assist in 
providing for themselves, I refused my consent to their coming, 
although Platje pleaded for them, and assured me that they could bear 
the fatigues of the journey, as well as the men. But this affair was 
