80 
JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. [1813. 
them. I asked hitn if there would be a sufficient 
number of people in the kloof for a missionary to 
labour amongst. O plenty ! plenty ! said he. Yet it 
would require a telescope to see from one house to 
another. But the man was in good earnest for in- 
struction. I gave him some encouragement to expect 
assistance as soon as it might be in the power of the 
society to afford it. I inquired of the family how they 
spent their time on Sabbath days, seeing they were 
many days' journey from any place of worship. They 
said, in reading good books. 
In the winter they have sometimes much snow and 
ice in the kloof ; for though it is a valley at the bottom 
of hills, vet it lies several hundred feet above the level 
of the sea, and for want of cultivation the ground is 
damp. 
We left Wildeboom at six, P.M. ascended a long 
steep hill, and travelled for some time along the side 
of one, when we came again into a narrow valley, 
between mountains. I never before adverted much 
to the utility of frogs. I cannot say that wherever there 
is water there are frogs, but generally wherever there 
are frogs you will find water; and in a still evening 
they are heard when half a mile distant ; so that by 
their croaking they seem to call upon the thirsty to 
come and drink. A litde after midnight we halted. 
V 13th. At seven, A.M. we were again in motion : al 
eight, though cloudy, the thermometer was at 85. 
