RECEPTION FROM BUSHMEN. [1820 
an opening through which we had to pass, we 
were gratified with an extremely pleasing view 
in every direction. Some of the hills were flat 
at the top, others resembled sugar-loaves ; and 
many of them were beautifully stratafied in 
layers inclined a little out of the horizontal line 
towards the S. W. 
While descending from the height, the thunder 
rolled in awful grandeur over our heads, accom- 
panied with forked lightning and rain. On 
reaching the foot of the descent, a number of 
Bushmen and women came rushing towards us 
from the bushes, hailing our arrival with much 
pleasure. They had belonged to the Missionary 
station formerly established at Hephzibah, or 
Tkannee, about a mile farther, but which had 
been, at least for a time, relinquished. Their 
whole appearance indicated the extreme of hu- 
man wretchedness. All their skin dresses were 
in tatters, and black as soot, and their bodies 
plastered over with dirt. Amidst all this filthi- 
ness, most of them had ornaments of copper 
and beads. They had heard of our approach 
some days before, and promised to inform their 
captain, who was not far off, of our arrival. 
We halted at three p. m., among low hills, on 
the spot where the Missionary station once stood. 
The ruins of their oven remained, and the ditch 
