140 
JOURNAL OF A 
possession. We visited also an old carpenter, who has lived here 
many years. The furniture in Mr. Meyer's house, made of stink- 
wood, yellow-wood, and other curious woods, does him great credit, 
both as to beauty and strength. 
As it turned out a very l)oistcrous evening, we thanked God for 
having found slielter in the house of so good a man. He hoped 
the unfavourable state of the weather would detain us, and give 
him more of our company. 
15th. When we awoke in the morning, the sky was covered with 
black clouds, and it lightned and thundered much. At eight it 
cleared up, though the thunder continued to roar all round the hori- 
zon. Our friendly host, at breakfast, gave us an account of the 
many ^\ ild beasts that haunt the woods and bushy coasts of the bay, 
whore they have good cover. Tygers and wolves now and then 
commit depredations; wild buffaloes are sometimes seen; but wild 
dogs are numerous and most to be dreaded. A wolf hunts only at 
night, is cowardly, and may be guarded against, by various means; 
but the wild dogs go in troops, and hunt night and day. They 
attack every living animal, and the " dread of man'' is but slight 
upon them. Mr. Meyer related, that if they have killed a tame 
animal, they will quit it, on being attacked by man, but not, if 
their prey is wild game. Not long ago, a troop of them hunted a 
rchbock into his neighbour's yard. The farmer sallied forth with 
his gun to drive off the pursuers, and secure the fugitive for his own 
table, but was instantly attacked by the dogs, and his life with dif- 
ficulty saved by his people. Porcupines are numerous; serpents 
creep into the ])oultry-yards and houses and do much mischief. Our 
host getting up in the dark, and walking into the hall, felt something 
like a lope about his legs. On calling for a light, he discovered it 
to be a yellow serpent. Had he accidentally trod upon it, he would 
have been bitten by the venomous reptile. 
About nine o'clock, we took leave of the family. Nowhere have 
we yet met with a more cordial reception than at Hartenbosch. 
We entered a kloof between hills moderately high, intersected 
