50 
JOURNAL OF A 
Having, for the present, finished my engagements at G roenekloof,. 
I resolved to accompany the missionaries going to Gnadenthal,. 
but as part of our baggage was left at the Cape, and some other 
business required my presence in the town, I availed myself of the 
opportunity of a waggon going to fetch the goods, and set out in 
company of Brother Bonatz about sunset. At midnight, we made 
halt atTrefonteyn, and the wind being high and cold, had some trou- 
ble to get a fire lighted and coffee boiled under a bush, where we 
spent about two hours, while the oxen were feeding. The morn- 
ing was fine, and I walked several miles. The Table-Mountain 
appears here so near, on the south side of the bay, that the hopes 
of soon reaching its foot made the journey round the head of the 
bay appear rather tedious, especially as the deep sand prevented 
much haste. 
8th. On our arrival at Mr. Disandt's house, I found a letter from 
his Excellency the Governor, with an invitation for me to come and 
spend some days with him at Newlands. However, as a Dutch 
squadron had this morning arrived with troops, destined to take 
possession of Java, and other islands, restored to the Dutch by the 
English, and I was aware of the Governor's attention to the Admiral 
and oflScers, I went to the colonial office to inquire of Colonel Bird, 
how his Excellency was engaged. Here I met, both with the Gover- 
nor himself and with H. Alexander, Esq. first colonial Secretary. An 
interesting conversation ensued on various subjects connected with 
our missionary establishments in the colony, during which his Excel- 
lency displayed great candour and willingness to render every assist- 
ance and remove every existing obstacle. He insisted on my din- 
ing with him at Newlands, and Mr. Alexander took me out an^. 
home in his phaeton. I met there Mr. Trutter, President of the 
Court of Justice, and his lady. 
9th. Mr. Alexander, with whom we breakfasted, showed to Brother 
Bonatz and me his grounds, pointing out several particulars, in 
which the gardens in our settlements might be improved. J return- 
ed to l\im to dinner, where I had the pleasure to meet several gentle- 
