101 
tottered as they stood, overcome by joy, 
and could not move ; others appeared as in 
a trance, until at length about ten followed 
me, and we entered the house of Jan Du 
Pliesies. 
Fortunately, this was a settler of the best 
order, about sixty years old, born in Hol- 
land, but had resided in Africa for many 
years ; humane, generous, and possessing 
a heart that appeared to be the constant 
mansion of a virtuous sympathy. His 
cottage was formed of clay, thatched with 
a kind of reed, and furnished with a few 
stools, a table, and some kitchen utensils. 
His family consisted of five or six sons, 
their wives and children, together with a 
daughter, making together about twenty 
people. His stock, however, was consi- 
derable, not less than twelve thousand 
sheep, and one thousand oxen. 
After the alarm into which we threw this 
good man on our first appearance had sub- 
sided, I told the story of our melancholy 
disaster, and implored his assistance for the 
relief of my unhappy people who were left 
behind. He could not listen to the relation 
