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and rats, but even large snakes, which she attacked by beatuig 
them about the head, till they were stupified, then, seizing them 
by the neck, killed them with her teeth. 
The road continued to lead through bushes, during the whole of 
the day, excepting where an opening occurred, with a few scat- 
tered copses of trees. On our approaching Geelhoutboom, which, 
according to the directions given, we were to make our first night's 
station, the Plottentot soldiers and old Paerl rode forward in full 
trot. This made us rather uneasy, especially when it grew dark, 
our own people being unacquainted with the road; but when 
we arrived, we forgave them, on finding that they had kindled a 
large fire in the wood, and fixed upon a place of shelter for our 
tent. The weather now seemed to clear up, and the moon shone 
bright. Two fires were kindled, to which we dragged branches 
of trees, if possible, to keep them blazing through the night, as a 
guard against wild beasts, buffaloes having been observed by our 
liorscmen to enter the wood before them, and elephants being 
often seen in these parts. I slept in the baggage-waggon; and to- 
wards morning heard, Avith concern, the rain violently beating 
against the covering. 
9th. When we rose, the clouds had dispersed. We were thank- 
ful for the return of fair weather, as this was the day, when we 
hoped to see the spot, on which, if it so please God, a congregation 
gathered from among the heathen, at some future period, may 
dwell, in the enjoyment of Christian privileges. 
One of our Hottentot soldiers having shot a brace of wild Guinea- 
fowl, brought them into the tent, and presented them to Sister 
Schmitt. They were remarkably large and fleshy. 
We now surveyed the place, where we had spent the night. It 
was an opening in a wild wood, with tall trees, and much under- 
wood, not five minutes walk from the banks of the Sunday's river. 
A quantity of elephant's dung, partly fresh, lay between us and 
the river, which seemed to indicate, that even during the night, 
some of these huge creatures had passed that way. Tygers are said 
