124 
JOURNAL OF A 
Valley, near the banks of the Sonderend, without a tree to screen 
us by its shade from the burning rays of the sun. Before us 
appeared some of the lower class of hills, through which a gap 
admits the river Sonderend to unite with the Breede Revier. 
The heat was almost insupportable, and the inside of the tent 
like an oven. All the butter melted, and on attempting to 
finish some sketches, the colour dried instantly on the paper, 
without permitting any washing. I found at length the inside 
of the waggon the most comfortable retreat, where I continued 
writing my diary, though the ink dried so fast within my pen, 
that I could hardly proceed. About six in the evening, we left 
this place, which, by way of distinction, we called the Hot Out- 
spann, and after travelling for some time along the low hills above- 
mentioned, crossed the Breede Revier by moon-light. Its banks 
are covered with wood and bushes, and its bed is full of large, 
rough stones. We encamped on the eastern bank for the re- 
mainder of the night. 
8th. After a ride of about four hours, we crossed the Leuwe Re- 
vier, near a pleasant farm. Its banks are very steep, and in some 
places formed of perpendicular rocks, resembling niud-Avalls in 
colour. Having forded another smaller stream of brackish wa- 
ter, we halted on a waste, with a woody dell behind, and the mag- 
nificent range of the Zwellendam mountains before us, towards 
which, after two hour's rest, we directed our course. The morn- 
ing had been uncommonly clear, and we were enjoying the view, 
when suddenly clouds began to cover their tops. In a short time, 
w^e were enveloped in a dense fog, followed by heavy rain, which 
did not cease, till we reached Zwellendam about two P. M. 
I immediately waited on the landdrost, Mr. Von Buissini, and 
presented the letter, written by Colonel Bird in the name of the 
Governor, and which, as a proof of the kind attention of his Excel- 
lency to promote every attempt to spread civilization among the 
Hottentots under his government, by means of Christian instruc- 
tion, I beg leave to insert, especially as it proved the source of all 
