AFRICA. 317 
purchafed a couple of thefe animals frona 
them, for which I paid them liberally, and 
we continued our journey together for above 
an hour; after which, their deftination being 
different from ours, they kft us to revifit 
their kraals that were a few leagues diftant. 
Three hours after, we were flopped by the 
river Klein- Vis, which, from the time that 
we crofTed it, now appeared to us for the 
third time. The wheels of one of my car- 
riages began here to give way ; the fpokes 
were fo loofe in the naves, that the leaft 
jolt made us tremble ; a longer delay would 
only have increafed the evil, and on this ac- 
count I refolved to remain encamped fome 
days in this place to repair it. In this place 
two days after, according to the new fliie of 
my calendar, we fpent the firft day of the 
new year 1782. 
The Hottentots, who have no comprehen- 
fion of the folar year, are entirely unacquaint- 
ed with the etiquette of the firft day that 
begins it ; no compliments therefore were 
paid on our part, and confequently there 
were no falfehoods told, and no hypocritical 
proteftatioDS made. I onlj/ gave myfelf, as a 
new-year's gift, a new hat, which had never 
been 
