90 
JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. 
[1813. 
water resembled soap suds, owing probably to a mix- 
ture of white clay. Our oxen trod upon a serpent, 
which w^e afterwards killed. When dark we travelled 
over hills among long grass. At nine, P.M. we 
arrived at Zuur Bron, (Sour well,) inhabited by three 
Hottentot brothers and their females. They are about 
to remove to Bethelsdorp, being ordered away by a 
boor who has lately purchased the neighbouring farm, 
of which the ground which they were allowed to 
occupy formerly is considered a part. As they have 
been a long time there, they seem • reluctant to leave 
it. We carried our supper into their house, and 
ate it in the midst of them. About twenty people 
were assembled in this small house; but Hottentots, 
when sitting, occupy a small space. After supper, 
Cupido gave an exhortation before prayer. When on 
the eve of departing, the Hottentots offered, if we 
would stop till the morning, to lend their oxen to help 
us over a very rough part of the road. To this pro- 
posal we readily consented, and soon fell asleep. 
19th. When I awoke, about three in the morning, 
I found all was ready for departing. We were obliged 
to turn out and walk down a long, steep, and stony 
descent. We crossed several rivers, one of which, 
called Hampto, is wide and deep. Travellers are 
sometimes stopped a w^eek by the rising of this river. 
We halted at six, A.M. on a small charming plain, 
only a few hundred yards in circumference, sur- 
rounded by hills and shrubbery. Mr. Bartlet, with his 
