tiB TRAVELS IN 
End, I faw in my way the Ziehen -Huys. 
This is a repofitory or rather hofpital for the 
difeafed oxen belonging to the company : they 
are here cured fometimes ; but this eftabhfh- 
ment is attended with one utility, which is 
that thefe animals cannot convey their infection 
to thofe that are well, and which are feparated 
from them. 
I had refolved to travel during the whole 
night ; but I was obliged to halt at nine in the 
evening, in the valley of Soete-Melck^ as a bog- 
gy marfh impeded us in our way : it would 
not have been prudent to entangle ourfelves 
in it whilft it was dark. 
Early in the morning I obferved at a little 
diftance a beautiful houfe, which was a poft 
belonging to the company, and commanded 
by Mr. Martines. As I was acquainted with 
him, having been feveral times in his compa- 
ny at the fifcal's houfe at the Cape, I paid him 
a vifit. Like all the reft of the planters, he in- 
vited me to fpend a few days with him 3 but 
my impatience to proceed on my journey 
made me rejed: his kind offer. About noon 
I paffed near a fmail horde of Hottentots, who 
appeared to me fo miferable and wretched, 
that 
