MARCH.] JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. 
81 
Flowers seem to have their native districts as well as 
men : we met with many new ones this day. We halted 
about nine, A.M. at another place called SonrJag. 
Those who have lived all their days in this retired 
comer, must have as confined conceptions of the 
world they dwell in, as those who have never been out 
of the little island of St. Helena. Nothing could be 
t)btained for money from the boor : indeed the family, 
and most of the slaves, kept at as respectful a distance 
as if we had been an invading enemy. If I might 
judge from the meagre appearance of the dogs, which 
made various attempts to plunder our waggons, food 
must be very scarce. At five, two waggons halted 
on the other side of the river. They came from 
Namasia to attend a vendue, (or auction,) which was 
to be at this place on the morrow. 
In the morning our Hottentot, John, was sent back 
to search for an ox that had fallen behind during the 
night. He returned with it about nine at night : he 
had been so persevering as to go back to Sondag 
Place, which was at least twelve or fourteen miles; 
and on his return I could not but notice his apathy. 
Notwithstandmg his having walked about four and 
twenty miles, without tasting any thing but water, yet 
on his arrival he sat carelessly down by the fire, and 
said nothing of his long walk, want of food, or success 
in finding the ox. Nor did the other Hottentots ask 
him one question about the matter: they saw the 
ox was found, and John was alive ; and that satisfied 
M 
