VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 209 
ment. After dinner, Brother Schmitt walked with me into 
the kloof, where Mr. Messer, with great labour, has made a 
garden, which produces a good crop. The other gardens do 
not look well, for want of trees and hedges. The mill was quite 
out of repair and useless; nor is the mill-course well contrived, 
so as to obtain the full force of the scanty supply of water. On 
returning from the kloof, we entered a smith's and a carpen- 
ter's shop, but found, that they had not been used for some time. 
Meanwhile Sister Schmitt procured some matting, our stock 
being much worn. Both she and Brother Stein had entered 
several houses, with a view to visit and converse with the inhabi- 
tants, but it did not seem, as if their visit gave much satisfaction. 
The people appeared timid and reserved, and we understood, that 
Dr. Van der Kemp's caution against making too free with stran- 
gers had created in their minds a disposition to reserve, which 
they did not at all understand when to lay aside. 
From the more elevated part of the settlement, Algoa Bay is 
visible. We would gladly have accepted of Mr. and Mrs. 
Messer's kind invitation to stay over night at Bethelsdorp, but 
we began to be covetous of our time, nor had we yet come to 
a determination respecting the landdrost's proposal for a con- 
tinuation of our journey towards Achter Bruntjes Hoogte, in search 
of unoccupied land. We had therefore ordered our waggon to be 
ready at seven o'clock, but heard, that the oxen had strayed and 
could not be found. Mr. Messer therefore hired a spann for us, 
when, unexpectedly, Lebrecht Aris brought back our own. It 
was dark, but fair, and Marcus, by good driving, brought us to 
Uitenhagen, in three hours and a half. 
7th. After breakfast, going to the drosty, I met Colonel 
Cuyler coming towards our tent. He turned back with me, 
observing, that he had something to communicate, which he 
thought would be worthy of our attention. We had been con- 
versing much at breakfast about his proposal to visit some situa- 
tions on the Zondag's or Sunday's river, and had nearly resolved 
