VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 95 
neatly cut and trimmed, with a small gate, through which he show- 
ed us into one of the best cultivated gardens I have yet seen in the 
settlement. It was divided into squares, with borders of Indian 
corn, each square containing a different kind of produce, beans, po- 
tatoes, cabbages, or other vegetables. The orchard was well stock- 
ed with peach, apricot, pear, and apple-trees, in abundance. The 
cottage was mean, and his children almost naked. On inquiry, 1 
found, that he was very poor, and had only one suit of decent cloth- 
ing, with which the family appeared on the Sundays at church. 
His name was Benjamin Okkers. 
To-day, I received a letter from Mr.Melville, Government-surveyor 
at the Cape. This was the commencement of an acquaintance,which 
in the sequel proved a most valuable acquisition, and will always 
be considered by me, as one of those unforeseen channels, by which 
God, in His providence, conveys mercies unto us, and grants success 
to whatever we undertake, according to His will. 
7th. Two Hottentot women called upon me, purposely to in- 
quire about the son of their late beloved teacher. Father Kuehnel, 
now at Fulnec in Yorkshire. I gave them every information in my 
power, and having a print of Fulnec with me, showed them the 
school, the windows of the room in which he lived, of the room in 
which I was born, and the chapel, which highly delighted them. 
I was surprised to find them not at all puzzled by a representation 
of this kind. They proved, that they understood the picture, by 
asking many sensible questions, showing more intelligence than a 
boor, who lately on seeing an " Ecce homo" (a picture of Christ, 
crowned with thorns), in Father Schwinn's room, inquired, whether 
it was a picture of the English Governor at the Cape. 
In the evening-meeting, Brother Bonatz mentioned my intended 
journey to the Cape, and in prayer commended me andrnj' compa- 
ny to the protection and blessing of God. 
8th. At four in the morning, the whole family was at break- 
fast, soon after which I set out on horseback, accompanied by 
their best wishes for a prosperous journey. My companion was 
