VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 207 
oftered every facility, and gave him his choice of the best places in 
its territory. He looked at some, and at length sat down in the 
most barren, desolate, unpromising desert 1 have yet seen in all 
South Africa. 
He was an eccentric character, but a man of cool judgment, and 
I make no doubt, had he been alive, would have given plausibir 
reasons for his choice; though they might not have satisfied a man, 
who, while he loves and admires, above all, the Creator, cannot be 
totally indifferent to the beauty of his works, but seeks thankfully 
to enjoy those advantages and conveniences, w^ith which God has so 
abundantly stored his creation. Yet they would have exhibited to 
the mind of a candid inquirer the truly sincere and religious mo- 
tives, by which this venerable man was actuated on all occasions. 
His successors, however, are to be pitied, as being now obhged, 
not only to dwell in a situation incorrigibly bad, but continually 
to hear the severe and unjust remarks, made in consequence of its 
wretched appearance. Not a tree is to be seen, excepting two or 
three ragged speckbooms, standing before Mr. Read's house, and 
scarcely a blade of grass. The hills, enclosing the small kloof near 
the village, are completely barren, and their outlines tame and 
uninteresting. The small brook, if it deserves that name, coming- 
out of the kloof, is quite insufficient for the purposes of irrigation, 
or to supply water for a mill; nor could we comprehend, how so 
large a fraternity as are said to dwell here, obtain water enough 
for common use. This being a time, when most of the inhabitants 
are with the boors, we saw very few of them, nor did they appear 
disposed to notice us. The arrival of our waggon seemed to excite 
no curiosity whatever. In this respect, we perceived a great dif- 
ference between the inhabitants of Bethelsdoi'p, and tliose of Gna- 
denthal, upon which our Hottentots made some sensible remarks. 
Towards evening, a few old men approached the waggon, in the 
shade of which our people were resting, and entered into conversa- 
tion with them, but from tis they seemed to stand aloof. 
We were, however, received and treated with the more kindness 
