MARCH.] JOURNEY TO BETHELSDORP. 
93 
210th. Halted about four in the morning, on a hill 
nearly covered with trees, and not far from the ocean. 
In the absence of all other sounds, the noise of the 
sea was very solemn. As it rained fast from six to 
eight o'clock in the morning, we feared we should 
make no progress during the day, the roads being 
very soft. However, Cupido, our commander, after 
examining the road, resolved to make a trial to 
proceed. While the oxen were putting to the waggons, 
I walked down a pretty opening in the wood, where I 
had a pleasant view of the sea, two or three miles 
distant. 
Immediately after our departure we had to go 
down a long, steep, and rocky descent. We found 
it a troublesome business, and it was eleven o'clock 
A.M. before both waggons reached the bottom, where 
we found Vanstade River and an extensive forest. 
About noon we halted on a hill, where we were joined 
by a waggon belonging to Bethelsdorp, and likewise by 
twelve men on horseback, who were a patrole search- 
ing among woods and bushes for Caffres, as the colony 
is at present at war with that people. When com- 
mencing our last stage to long-desired Bethelsdorp, we 
were joined by three waggons going to Uitenhagen; 
so that the six waggons and the patrole made a formi- 
dable appearance, as if we had been a commando (or 
an expedition) against the Caffres, especially as we 
travelled in a desert, where no beings were visible 
but ourselves. 
