VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 155 
ill huts, little better than those of the Hottentots. The Veldcornet's 
house, lio ever, was clean and respectable. 
From hence our road lay along the declivity of a hill : the moun- 
tains with their numerous woody glens, following each other in 
succession, appeared to great advantage, till we arrived at the farm 
of a widow Wyers on the Zwart llevier. The ford over the river 
used to be at this place, where often the water was so deep, that it 
proved dangerous to travellers. The new ford, though shorter, 
has likewise a deep, muddy bed, through which we plunged rather 
unpleasantly, passed over the hili on which the farm-house is situ- 
ated, and reached the P:.uygte A^allcy, where the ford across the 
river is both broad and deep. The waggons were emptied, and 
their contents, as well as ourselves, brought across the stream in a 
species of canoe, made of one immense tree. 
The relay-oxen provided for us, being on this side, were obliged 
to cross the water, and we were amused by observing the dif- 
ferent degrees of courage or fear, shown by these sober animals, 
in choosing their OAvn places to enter it. Some leaped in at once, 
and swam boldy forward. Others, after contemplating one spot, 
went on to another, till they found one more shaliov/, which 
they entered warily: some found themselves deceived in the se- 
quel, and had a longer and deeper stream to cross, than the more 
courageous. The delay occasioned by unpacking and repacking 
the waggons, was the most annoying part of the business, and it 
was noon, before we reached Mr. Mceling's farm, where we were 
hospitably entertained with thick milk, bread, and butter. 
But here we had nearly met Avith a serious accident. Sister 
Schmitt, stepping into the baggage- waggon, slipped off the pole, and 
fell backwards, by which her head received such a severe contusion, 
that, for a short time, she lost her recollection, and Avas in much 
pain. Some relief was afforded by an application of bukku 
brandy, but her anxiety to proceed, made her unwilling to cause 
delay, by staying at this house to be nursed, and we ventured to 
