182 
JOURNAL OF A 
The weather in the afternoon had turned out rather unfavour- 
able, and we expected a rainy, windy night, yet every now and 
then, the stars appeared, and while we were amused by a sudden 
flash of light, not much inferior in brightness to what is called 
white lightning, occasioned by a shooting star, all on a sudden, a 
crash was heard, and the baggage-waggon being foremost, and con- 
spicuous by its white covering, vanished out of sight. The careless 
leader, a Hottentot lad, had suffered the oxen to turn upon the 
grassy bank, which on each side, by degrees, rose to the height of 
two feet above the level of the road. On turning in again, both 
wheels slipping of the edge of the bank at once, the waggon im- 
mediately overset, and fell into the hollow, with its top. downwards. 
Brother Stein Avas lying in it, fast asleep. We instantly quitted 
our waggon to come to his assistance. To our great sorrow, we 
found him much hurt, both in his head and right arm, particularly 
in the latter. He felt faint, and stunned with the blow. Our first 
business, therefore, was to do all in our power to afford him relief. 
The oxen were unyoked, the tent set up, and a fire kindled with 
some bushes, which our Hottentots, contrary to their usual custom, 
had gathered, and tied behind the waggon. It was well, that, for 
once, they had been so provident, for the place, where the over- 
throw happened, was quite destitute of bushes or any kind of fuel. 
The night was so dark, that we could not see far around us, 
but only perceived, that we were in a valley between low, barren 
eminences, with a flat top. With a view to discover whether 
there were any bushes in the neighbourhood, we set the dry grass 
and rushes on fire. The fire ran along so fast, that I began to be 
apprehensive, that in case we were near any dwellings, or Hotten- 
tot huts, mischief might ensue, and with much trouble we extin- 
guished it again, but not before it had afforded light suflicient to 
examine the damage done, and to see Brother Stein comfortably 
housed and put to bed in the tent. He bore his misfoi tune with 
uncommon fortitude and resignation, never uttering a single com- 
