455 
NAMACQUA LAND. 
[1813. 
ing, and halted at Majis Fountain about half after 
seven : the road was hilly. A boor and his wife 
lialted with their w^aggon, the first person belonging 
to the colony we had seen for near five months. 
We inquired if he knew any thing of the state of 
Europe, or of the war, or about Cape-town ; but 
he knew nothing about any of them. He said the 
Field Cornet had lately got some papers and letters 
sent him by the Landdrost, which he thought might be 
for us. We sent off a messenger directly to inquire, 
though it was near twenty miles distant. The boor 
gave us some flower and bitter oranges, and some 
milk, which were very acceptable. Their infant child 
had a hare lip, which we recommended to them to get 
closed by a doctor ; to w^hich the mother objected by 
saying, that as God had appointed it, she would not 
alter it. Upon the same principle I thought if she 
should happen to have her leg broken, she ought by 
no means to have it set, but should allow it to dangle 
at the end of her stump during the remainder of her 
life. He had set out on a journey to Capetown to 
obtain grain ; but having, about half way, obtained a 
sack of wheat for an ox, he and his family returned. 
They attended our w^orship, after which we presented 
them with some tracts in the Dutch language. They 
lived at a little distance, to which they set off about 
noon, so that they would come upon their slaves at a 
very unexpected season. Thermometer at noon 79- 
At four, P.M. we proceeded on our journey over a 
hilly road. 'About five we killed a large puff adder 
