VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 187 
Our tent being pitched near the river, we spent a quiet night. 
Brother Stein complained of more pain in his arm, but continued 
to apply bukku brandy to the part injured. 
Slst. After breakfast, Brother Schmitt and I walked up to the 
farm-house, and took a view of the premises. The poor farmer 
was so much alarmed at the expense of measurement and taxation, 
that he offered to dispose of his place at the low price of twelve 
hundred rix-dollars. It has many advantages, and water in abun- 
dance, brought by a slote, or canal, from a considerable distance, 
and Ij'ing so high, that all the grounds may be irrigated with ease, 
and a mill supplied by it. The house was in ruins, and one miser- 
able room contained the whole family. In the grounds stood a re- 
markably large, wide-spreading oak, bamboos of very stately growth, 
and a great number of orange, lemon, peach, and other fruit-trees, 
but all neglected, and going to decay. In former days, the place 
was kept in good order, avenues of trees and hedges still remain- 
ing. The lands, belonging to the farm, extend for a consider- 
able way, both up and down the river, and appeared to us well 
adapted for the growth both of corn and grass. But there is an 
objection to this place for a missionary station, which, in our view, 
was an insuperable one. It lies on the high road ; the inhabitant 
is continually annoyed by calls, and put to great expense by enter- 
taining all travellers without exception, and though African hos- 
pitality is by no means what some have described it to be, but the 
traveller is often turned out, and sometimes prefers to encamp 
upon the werft, or in the field, yet every one thinks himself at 
liberty to enter any house on the road, and sit down to talk. 
The time, before Mr. Akkerman's oxen arrived from the hills, 
Avas spent in various useful employments, till about ten o'clock, 
when we set off, keeping for many miles along the banks of the 
Kromm Pvevier, in a narrow vale, in which, now and then, we met 
with some picturesque scenery. AVe passed two farms, deserted, 
as we were informed, by the possessors, on account of their in- 
abiUty to pay for measurement and taxation. 
