dec] journey to genadendal. 
25 
distance it has more the appearance of a garden than 
a town. As we passed the houses, we were gratified 
by the civiHzed appearance of many of the Hottentots, 
although others were dressed in their loose sheepskins. 
They saluted us in a friendly manner, and the children 
seemed highly diverted to see us moving along. At 
length we arrived at the houses of the missionary 
brethren, where we were received with much christian 
affection. A more pleasant spot than where they 
dwell can hardly be imagined ; and the consideration 
that all was a barren wilderness when they came there, 
added greatly to the pleasure we felt in viewing it. 
Not long after our arrival the bell rang for dinner, 
and we were taken to a large apartment where they all 
dine together. The table was plentifully supplied, but 
there was nothing superfluous. Those who served were 
Hottentots, except one Caffre girl. They did every 
thing with as much propriety and expedition as our 
best English servants could have done. Before and 
after dinner all joined in singing an appropriate hymn. 
After dinner we made a circuit round the settlement, 
caUing at several houses of the Hottentots, which were 
neat and clean. Some of the houses had four apart- 
ments, which were whitened, and had some articles 
of furniture ; but many other houses were as mean as 
those I afterwards saw at Bethelsdorp : every house, 
however, had a good garden, stocked with fruit-trees, 
which are equally ornamental and useful. Their hedges 
were chiefly composed of the peach-tree, at that time 
E 
