JOURNAL OF A 
in a line with the mountain, and in about an hour's time, reached 
the dwelhng of" this singular man. It was a poor cottage, no better 
than a Hottentot's house; but the vorhaus, or hall, was large enough 
to contain a pretty numerous company of rebels. 
Mr. P. is father to one of those lately executed : another son 
was transported; and one would feel more pity for the poor 
man, had he not been a principal promoter of the late disturb- 
ances, though prevented from taking an active part, on account 
of age and infirmities. His house, however, is said to have 
been the nursery of sedition, where the rebellious boors had fre- 
quent meetings, and were advised and encouraged by the old man. 
He had, throughout life, been noted for his opposition to Govern- 
ment, and more particularly hated the English, for makmgits mea- 
sures more effective, than the Dutch were able to do. 
Notwithstanding his escape from the fate, which overtook his re- 
bellious sons, yet both his former conduct in aiding and abetting, 
and even his present encouragement of every remaining disposition 
to revolt, has induced Government to use the power vested in it, 
and, by cancelling his lease, to make him quit the farm, remunera- 
tion being given for the opstall, that is, for the buildings and im- 
].>rovements. The official notice had not yet reached him. 
I could not help contemplating the old man with much com- 
passion. He spoke of the loss of his son, " who was no more," 
and of the other, " who had left the country," as having so dis- 
composed his affairs, and disturbed his mind, that he intended to 
sell his farm, and move into some other part of the colony. He 
related, that he had been settled in South Africa, ever since the 
year 1771, and for his own pleasure, travelled through it in all direc- 
tions, even among the Bosjesmen and Caffres, by whom he had 
always been treated with the greatest kindness and regard. He 
had a good deal of the cant of our English democrats, and self- 
named philanthropists about him. He behaved very civilly to 
us, though I was announced as an Englishman, but while I was 
walking over part of the grounds with Messrs. Austin, Schmitt, 
