MARCH.] 
BETHELSDORP. 
The ground on which it stands is barren in the ex- 
treme, so that nothing green is to be seen near the 
houses; this also adds to the gloominess of the 
village. Neither trees nor gardens are to be seen to 
reheve the eye; but all this arises from the total 
want of good water on their ground, except in the 
barren spot where the village stands. In consequence 
of the miserable appearance of the village, the settlers 
are by many people reported to be extremely in- 
dolent 
That there are indolent people at Bethelsdorp, as 
well as in all other places, especially in South Africa, 
I have no doubt; but from what I have seen and 
heard, I believe there are also many who are indus- 
trious and active. People in general make no allow- 
ance for their early habits of indolence in the houses 
of boors, where they have very little real work to 
employ their time, and few people w^ho call there 
ever enquire what work is performed or what ground 
is cultivated. I visited their farms in the afternoon, 
which lie about a mile and a half distant, on Little 
Zwartkops River. I found there, ground cultivated 
on both sides of the river for upward of two miles. 
Indeed I had not seen so much cultivated land in 
any part of Africa where I had yet been — three 
times more than is to be seen at Bavian's Kloof, 
though an old missionary station, compared to Bethels- 
dorp; but the soil is still more barren at Bavian's 
Kloof, 
o 
