168 
JOURNAL OF A 
between low hills. On the road, a slave, attempting to get on the 
box, without stopping the waggon, fell, and the fore-wheel pass- 
ing over part of his leg, hurt him severely. Bukku brandy being 
repeatedly applied by Brother Stein, the pain was soon relieved, 
and inflammation prevented. 
Mr. Melville had gone in quest of game, and shot two partridges, 
which, though in itself of not much importance, proved, un- 
der present circumstances, a most acceptable gift, our stock of 
fresh provisions being consumed. The Veldcornet's house is plea- 
santly situated at the meeting of three valhes, and notice being 
given of our arrival, we Avere kindly received, and treated with a 
well-dressed plain dinner. Mrs. Van Huysteyn afterwards pre- 
sented Sister Schmitt with two cocks, a large square bottle of wild 
honey, and some other useful articles, and her husband accom- 
panied us for some miles. His father, a venerable old Dutch gen- 
tleman, had been at Zeyst in Holland, and seemed pleased to see 
friends belonging to the same fraternity. 
Having forded the Wittedrift, a brook running into the Kier- 
booms Revier, we began to ascend the heights, from which we had 
a full view of its course, and of Plettenberg Bay. The vessel, re- 
gularly employed to convey timber to the Cape, lay at anchor not 
far from the shore. The bay, however, being exposed to the south- 
cast, from whence the wind generally blows with violence, makes it 
unsafe for any vessel to lie in it longer than necessity requires: 
otherwise, it affords great convenience to the inhabitants, to have 
communication with the Cape by water. The same advantage 
would likewise attend the possession of Jackal's Kraal. 
While Mr. Melville was vainly following one of those cunning- 
birds, the wild peacock, a bluebock, one of the smallest antelopes, 
started up, not far from the road. The Hottentots could not re- 
sist the temptation, but both our own people and the guides and 
drivers left the waggons, and, with two dogs, set off full speed in 
pursuit. As this animal is not as swift as others of the same kind, 
he may be run down in the open field by a swift-footed Hottentot; 
