196 JOURNAI, OF A 
den, we might have roused some wild animal, which are said to be 
immerous in these solitary woods, I started from my station, and 
was just going to run off, when I saw Brother Schmitt's arm reach- 
ing out of the mouth of the cavern, endeaA^ouring to dislodge a frag- 
ment of the rock, to obtain a specimen. As I knew him to be per- 
fectly tame, I ascended, and proceeded to examine it more mi- 
nutely, but hardly ever remember to have been more truly and 
tremblingly thrown into needless fear. 
Leaving the narrow glens about the Soete Kloof, we crossed a 
level piece of ground, loosely covered with thorn-bushes, and ar- 
rived at a farm near the Wagedrift, on the Chamtoos Revier, Avhere 
we halted to make some inquiry, as to the places mentioned in 
Colonel Bird's Hst, and found them all occupied, or in requisition. 
The farmer from the Chamtoos drift, on Klein Revier, was at the 
house, and took a lift in our waggon across the ford. The Cham- 
toos is a considerable river. Its stream is clear and sweet, and we 
regaled ourselves with a good draught of these waters, which we 
had been so long seeking, but cannot make our own. All ac- 
counts agree, that every habitable spot on this river is occupied, 
and the poor Hottentots have even been deprived of their right to 
a place on Klein Revier, which a former Governor had reserved for 
them. The captain having been decoyed away under some pretext 
or other, and no more heard of, for want of an heir to succeed him, 
the right to dispose of the land fell into the hands of Government. 
The English Governors intended to restore it to the Hottentots, 
and it had been mentioned to me as a place suitable for a Mission ; 
but being already in possession of a farmer, though without a grant 
from Government, I and my Brethren agreed, that here also, in 
fixing upon a spot for a settlement, we would not, by any means, 
thwart the views, or oppose the pretensions, however slight, of any 
individual. We therefore resolved to proceed to Uitenhagen, and 
consult the landdrost, to whom I had been favoured with a letter 
from the Governor. 
On leavmg the Chamtoos Revier, we passed through a thicket of 
