May.] 
DINING IN PUBLIC. 
229 
On returning to the waggons we found them 
surrounded by more people than we had yet 
seen. A great concourse also encircled the 
fire, to observe the Hottentots cooking the vic- 
tuals. For the accommodation of those who were 
behind, the ten or twelve nearest rows sat on 
the ground, and some were holding up young 
people that they might see over the heads of 
others. When dinner was put down, we ex- 
tended the tent-door as wide as possible, to allow 
as many as we could to have a view of our manner 
of eating, which we knew was what they wanted. 
The different things before us, and our method of 
using them, afforded topics for animated discus- 
sion among the spectators. 
Being informed of a large district of the town on 
the north side of the hill, and not visible from the 
spot where we had halted, we went to see it after 
dinner. We were struck with its extent, and the 
more so after walking down the crooked lanes on 
one side, and returning by those on the other. 
There were more trees and hedges in it than we 
had seen in any of the other districts. The curi- 
osity of the people to see us was great, they 
rushed forth from their houses when we passed. 
Turning quickly round, when many of the young 
people were following us, they fled with such 
precipitation, that five or six of them were thrown 
down ; but though some had little children on 
