July.] 
VISIT TO BEREND'S KRAAL. 
237 
the subject from the boy, so destitute Avas he of 
natural affection. We offered the boy either to 
remain with his uncle at Jan Kars, or to go with 
us to Griqua Town, and there receive instruction. 
He preferred remaining where he was. Though 
we were convinced that it would have been 
better for him, in every sense of the word, to 
have gone to Griqua Town, we did not urge 
it, not having had the consent of his mother, 
but left with him a few presents. We likewise 
gave Houkay a gilt chain to wear round his neck 
to distinguish him as captain of the kraal. When 
Kars has any cattle stolen by the Bushmen, 
Houkay is very active in pursuing them, doing 
every thing in his power to find them out. 
After dinner we removed to Berend's kraal, 
about two miles distant, where a considerable 
number of people assembled in the evening to 
worship. It was a motley meeting, being com- 
posed of Griquas, Namaquas, Damaras, Boot- 
chuanas, Bushmen, &c. No congregation could 
have sat more still, both without and within the 
tent, though there was a cold wind blowing, 
accompanied with darkness, thunder, lightning, 
and rain. 
There was one circumstance in this meeting 
of a very affecting nature. I saw before me, at 
this moment, worshipping under the same tent, 
