162 
JOURNAL OF A 
But Mv. Rex generously declared, that he not only gladly quit- 
ted all claim to Jackal's Kraal, where he had intended only to 
put up a small cottage, as a sheltering place in the hunthig 
season, but rejoiced in the hopes of seeing the land cultivated, 
and a settlement of Christian Hottentots formed in his neighbour- 
hood. This declaration was now solemnly repeated, and made 
us determine to examine the situation, with a view to a missionary 
establishment. 
The descent into the vale was not too steep, but finding no 
path, we pulled through the long grass and bushes, over stony or 
marshy ground, with some difficulty and uncertainty, till having 
reached a spot near a grove of tall trees, rising out of thick under- 
wood, we pitched our tent on a dry place, surrounded with high 
bushes, wdiich served us for fuel. Here we made two large tires, 
both for culinary purposes, and to frighten away any wild beasts 
which might be disposed to visit us during the night, this place 
having been reported to be the haunt of a great number of fero- 
cious animals. But, as usually is the case, the love of frightful 
tales had probably created monsters in the reporter's imagina- 
tion, for we neither saw nor heard any thing to give notice of 
their presence, and our cattle walked about the bushes, picking 
their food, without molestation. Yet as caution was necessar}^ in 
a place unknown, and to appearance admirably suited to be a 
dwelling-place for wild creatures, we men went in a body, while it 
was yet light, to view the spot where formerly the old Hottentot 
captain Jackal, from whom the place derives its name, had his dwell- 
ing. Sister Sclimitt and the Hottentots remained in the camp, 
and prepared supper. The captain's house was built upon a rising 
ground on the south side of the valley, probably of very perishable 
materials, for, besides a few broken fragments, resembling the rem- 
nants of uprights or rafters, nothing was to be seen, but some traces 
of a square field or garden. 
Dark clouds hoverini> about the horizon, seemed to threaten a 
