VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 177 
sat down. " Tea-water" was next offered, and we heard afterwards 
that we were expected to sup with the family, but no invitation 
being given, we thought best to bid them good night, and retreat 
into our tent. 
27th. We were amused this morning by all manner of contra- 
dictory accounts, given by a half-drunken dragoon, as to his hav- 
ing seen a packet of letters from England at the Veldcornet's house, 
addressed to me. It seemed almost incredible, but, to my very 
great satisfaction, proved a true tale, for the packet was delivered 
to me in the afternoon by a dragoon. It contained letters from my 
family of November, and December, and from friends in London ; 
and had been forwarded to me by the kindness of Mr. Van Ker- 
vel. The receipt of this welcome present, in this dreary region, 
contributed much to lessen the regret we felt at meeting again 
with so unpleasant a detention. We had sent a boy on horseback 
to the Veldcornet, to obtain information respecting the relays, 
in consequence of which, that gentleman arrived in the after- 
noon. He had provided the necessary relays, but having order- 
ed them, some days ago, on the road towards the Duivelskop, 
they were now countermanded, and directed hither. Meanwhile 
Sister Schmitt had got into favour with the old lady and her 
daughters, who now insisted upon taking our meals with them. 
Mr. Melville and I were employed during the day in drawing and 
writing, and some of us took a walk into the rocky glen, out of 
which the Kierbooms Revier flows, in a deep bottom. The rocks 
on each side appear in strata of considerable breadth, with bushes 
interspersed. They are of sand-stone, coloured by iron, with 
much quartz. But the most remarkable feature of the country, 
are the hills to the eastward, exhibiting, as it were, a huge bank, 
with an even ridge, divided downwards in parallel lines, by nar- 
row kloofs. At the bottom of each kloof lies a round hillock, 
formed, to all appearance, by earth and stones washed down out of 
the kloof. This singular formation of whole ranges of hills in 
this part of Africa, is a geological phenomenon, perhaps more 
AA 
