¥J0 JOURNAL OF A 
entering the main apartment, the first thing that met the eye, was 
the carcase of a sheep just killed, hanging from a cross-beam with 
a pool of blood on the clay floor, under the head ; five fox-coloured 
cats were sitting round, watching for their share of the spoil: 
a milk-pail, churn, and some other kitchen utensils to the right; 
and to the left, the lady herself, who kindly invited Sister Schmitt 
to come and sit down on a stool, between her and the pendant 
carcase. Her husband, a very civil, old man, with a grey beard, 
and a large straw hat, sat at the table, and a bench was placed for 
us, between the carcase and the door. The lady herself entered 
freely into conversation, told us, that notwithstanding her enor- 
mous bulk, she was only forty-three years old, and good-humour- 
edly observed, that Sister Schmitt looked now only like a little 
girl, passing several jokes on the difl^erence between them. Her 
face still retained some vivacity and comeliness. Her body en- 
tirely filled the vast chair she sat in, on the arms of which her 
elbows rested. She intended soon to remove to another habita- 
tion on Serjeants Revier. When once hoisted into the waggon, she 
/ can no more quit it, till she arrives at the place of her destination. 
From her wooden throne, she issued her commands to her slaves, 
Hottentots, and brutes, with the same shrill voice, for which the 
African ladies are noted. Close to the dwelling, was the beast- 
kraal, and the surrounding premises exhibited a congeries of lumber, 
rags, ruin, and disorder, not to be described. Through all this 
chaos, ran a small stream of spring-water, clear as chrystal, in vain 
oftering its aid to cleanse the Augean stable. The lady, however, 
conscious of mortality, had already provided herself with a coffin 
of immense size, which, with her gigantic bed, is screened off the 
apartment by a bulk-head of matting. 
The old gentleman walked Avith us to our encampment, and not 
only gave good advice, but agreed with Mr. Akkerman who had fol- 
lowed us, that he should put us forward with his oxen as far as Soe- 
kow, for which we felt much obliged to him. The latter wishing 
to sell us a spann. Brother Schmitt entered into some negotiation 
