CAFFRARIA. 
would soon have fallen in with Dutch farmers ; but by keep- 
ing near the sea, they doubled the distance by following the 
windings of the coast, and were likewise out of the way of 
obtaining assistance, as the ground near the sea is barren, and 
consequently uninhabited, though now, for the sake of cutting 
timber, inhabitants may be found in the neighbourhood of 
Plattenburgh's bay, and probably in one or two other places; 
but should any ship afterwards be wrecked any where south or 
south-west of the Great Fish river (to the north of which the 
CafFres are now driven) it will be wise in those who reach the 
land, instantly to strike up into the country, when they will 
soon fall in with waggon tracks, by following which they will 
arrive at the residence of white men. This is the more neces- 
sary to be made known, as the number of ships sailing along 
that part of the African coast must be greater, in conse- 
quence of the trade to India being more open than in former 
times ,* but I know of no harbour or refuge into which a ship 
could enter. The mouth of the Buffalo river, though about 
a quarter of a mile wide, appears to have a bar running 
across it ; at any rate the entrance, if it has one, must be very 
intricate, especially to a stranger ; and in a storm the most 
eligible place, nearest to Caffraria, would be Algoa bay, 
which might afford protection should the wind blow from 
the S. or S.W. but none if it blew from the E. or N.E. 
After a long drought, Gika sent to Tinkhana (which was 
Dr. Vanderkemp's Caffie name) to procure rain; who very 
properly answered, that he could not give rain, but would 
pray to God for it. Abundance of rain soon fell. Gika, in 
consequence, sent a present of some cattle to Tinkhana, for 
having obtained rain ; who, how'ever declined accepting of 
them, but desired they should be returned to Gika. The 
people when driving them back were met by a boor, who 
enquired concerning the cattle they were driving. They said 
Gika had sent them to Tinkhana, for having obtained rain, 
but that he would not receive them. The boor told them it 
was because Gika had sent too few for so great a favour, 
that he should send a great many more, and Tinkhana would 
receive them. It was afterwards reported that Gika sent 
about twenty, which were intercepted and taken by this 
boor. 
Gika told the Landdrost of Graaf Reynet, when on a visit 
to him, that Tinkhana could give rain. On the Landdrost 
enquiring how he did it, Gika said he put his head into the 
ground, and called upon some person below to send rain, and 
