l64 JOURNAL OF A 
dered remarkable for being the first day, on which we could execute 
part of the commission given to us, we were excited to fervent 
prayer, that the glory of the liOrd might fill this place also, if it be 
His gracious will, that here a settlement should be formed for the 
gathering together of a congregation of believers from among the 
Hottentot nation. To us it appeared in various respects an eligible 
situation, though rejected by Dr. Van der Kemp, as not sufficiently 
large, and by our Hottentots, as not possessing sweet grass. There 
is land enough for a congregation of about five hundred persons, 
and probably the soil might be so much improved, as to produce 
every necessary article of subsistence, though some place of 
change, at certain seasons of the year, would be required for the 
cattle. Conveyance from the Cape is rendered easy, by ships sail- 
ing to Plettenberg Bay. 
After breakfast, the Veldcornet returned to us with Mr. P. a 
farmer living at the entrance of the vale, at whose house he had 
taken up his night's lodging; and we set out, to make further in- 
quiries into the nature of the soil, and other properties of the 
unoccupied land. Our horses were very lame, and stumbled 
grievously among the rushes and brushwood, through which we 
had to pass. We ascended the hill by a gulley, which appeared 
to us like the narrow bed of a water-course, but, by the report of 
the Veldcornet, was made by wild boars. Part of the ascent has 
good land, some fit for corn, and some for pasture, but the flat 
summit, which stretches far away towards the sea, is unfruitful. We 
passed along the edge of the hill, the farmer describing every part 
of the vale in view, which he pronounced to be in many places fit 
for cultivation, especially for gardens and corn, the kloofs descend- 
ing on the opposite side being well stored with wood, useful both 
for building and fuel. We now directed our course towards Mr. 
P.'s farm. 
From an opposite kloof, a rivulet furnishes a constant supply of 
water, sufficient to irrigate his garden, and forming a natural division 
between the two properties. From the heights above the farm^ 
