228 JOURNEY TO LATTAKOO. [1813. 
would think, of every outward comfort, were cheerful 
and apparently happy; but this appearance might 
arise from the novelty of our visit. Most of their 
children were extremely terrified when I approached 
them, screaming with all their might, taking refuge 
under their mothers' sheepskin cloaks, their only 
covering. I was pleased to observe a waggon, though 
an old one, which no doubt was the property of the 
Headman. Thermometer, at noon, 70. 
Departed at two, P.M. travelling in a valley bound- 
ed by ranges of hills on the right and left, about ten 
or twelve miles distant from each other. The range 
to the westward commences at the Great River, and 
runs several days journey into the interior. The soil 
is red earth, at present covered with tall withered 
grass, reaching above the bellies of the oxen, in which 
we could not walk without much pain arising from the 
prickly seeds of it attaching to our clothes, and work- 
ing their way through to the skin, and not easily 
extracted. 
At five, P.M. we passed a place, where an affecting 
circumstance happened about twelve years ago. Two 
brothers of the name of Bergover, (bastard Hottentots,) 
with their families, had left the Cedar Mountains in 
the colony along with one Kok, and another person, to 
setde on the Krooman river, where they remained for 
some time, and were returning in a waggon. A little 
higher up the country they were attacked by a party of 
wild Bushmen, and one of the brothers was killed. The 
