2o8 
TRAVELS IN 
On the twenty-fifth we proceeded about twenty miles to 
the northward, over a level countrj^ consisting chiefly of 
meadow-ground, well watered by numerous springs and 
small rills, but destitute of every appearance of a bush 
or shrub. On every side was grazing a multitude of wild 
animals, as gnoos, and quachas, and hartebeests, and spring- 
boks ; and in such large troops as in no other part of the 
country had yet been observed by us. The place of our en- 
campment was called Gordons Fonteyn, and near it stood the 
last Christian habitation, towards this quarter, in the colony. 
In this near situation to the Bosjesmans we found four 
families living together in one house, as a better security to 
each other against the attacks of these people. 
On its being understood that beyond this place it would 
no longer be safe to proceed without an armed force, the in- 
habitants of the Sneuwberg and its several divisions had been 
summoned to meet us here, in order that the commandant of 
the district might select as many as should be deemed suffi- 
cient to enable us -with safety to prosecute our journey 
through the country. For this purpose he took sixteen 
farmers and eight armed Hottentots, which, with our own 
party and the other Hottentots employed as drivers and leaders, 
amounted all together to about fifty persons. For the use of 
these there were seven waggons, about a hundred oxen, and 
fifty horses, besides a flock of fifty or sixty sheep for our con- 
sumption on the journey. The people, whom the command- 
ant made choice of, were all young men, who, reluctantly as 
at all times they take the service of the regular expeditions, 
