182 
BUSHBOY REGAINED. — GERMAN AND LANDDROST. 2—5 May, 
vice, the least reason for saying one angry word to her ; and of this, 
she often used to boast when speaking in praise of her master. But 
it was not at this time, that I knew her worth, or that of her hus- 
band ; and I regret that the present volume will not comprise that 
period of my journal, which would best display it. 
I was exceedingly rejoiced, and surprised, at seeing Little Mdger- 
man amongst the party. He had been found at the house of Piet 
Van der Merwe, who, happening to meet the boy after he ran away, 
and recollecting that he belonged to me, kindly took him home, with 
the intention of restoring him on my return ; and in the mean time, 
had employed him in tending sheep. The boy being well fed and 
housed, and feeling assured that we should pass that way, had re- 
mained there very contentedly, without ever attempting to escape. 
My men had, in consequence of his former invitation, taken up their 
night's lodging at Van der Merwe's ; who treated them as hospitably 
as before, and delivered the boy into their hands. Thus, by recover- 
ing him, I felt relieved of much anxiety, as I could now without 
fear, venture to pass again through his father's kraal. 
Although the party had been sent off with a sufficient stock of 
meat, I found my little flock of sheep reduced to thirteen, and the 
people just finishing the second, which had been killed and eaten on 
the road. Their account was, that some dogs had bitten one to 
death, and the second accidentally had its leg broken by the shepherd 
throwing a keeri (or stick) for the purpose of turning it. 
The German who was to meet me at this place, came directly 
he heard that I was arrived. He declared that he had now given 
up all intention of going with us ; for, as soon as the acting-land- 
drost knew of his having left Graaffreynet, he sent a messenger, 
who overtook him on Sneeuwberg, and informed him that ' if he 
crossed the colonial boundary, the landdrost would seize and confiscate 
all his property.' This would have been an extraordinary, and I 
think, illegal, stretch of power : at least, the boors on the northern 
borders are in the habit of infringing the regulation against passing 
over the boundary, without being visited with confiscation or without 
any notice being taken of the fact. Besides which, I carried a formal 
