VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 26S 
Lebrecht Aris with our new purchase, and on the other side, saw 
Johannes coming across the heath with the oxen, left at George. 
He brought me a most obliging letter from Mr. Van Kervel, 
regretting his absence in Plettenberg Bay, and desiring, that if 
we returned by George, we would <;onsider his house as our home. 
This he had left with the secretary, Mr. Stopforth, to be deli- 
vered to me at my expected arrival at George. The cattle-keeper 
had suffered our Gnadenthal oxen to stray, and Johannes was ob- 
liged to follow five of them as far as Kayman's Gat. Not far from 
us, on the steep bank of the river, between twenty and thirty ba- 
boons, large and small, sat watching our movements. Marcus 
approached towards them, cracking his long whip, when the old. 
dams took up their young, some in their mouths, others on their 
backs, and all scrambled up the steep with astonishing swiftness. 
Some had one young one in their mouth, and another sitting on 
their backs. 
The shores of the Gowritz ri^^er are covered with bushes, for 
about two miles in breadth. Many large aloes mixed with, and 
rising above them, showed their magnificent radiant crown of 
scarlet flowers to much advantage. In the evening, by moonlight, 
we reached Mr. Lombard's farm, where we meant to take up our 
night's lodging. We went up to the house, in which we heard 
laughing, clapping of hands, and other tokens of merriment. Our 
humble knock was often repeated, before it procured us admis- 
sion. Now general silence ensued. After giving a proper account 
of ourselves, we requested to know, whether Ave might have a 
room to sleep in, which was answered in the affirmative, yet with 
hesitation enough to prove, that we were not welcome guests. 
This was also plainly to be traced in the countenances of the wo- 
men, who did not speak a word, but eyed us with fallen looks, as 
intruders, spoiling sport, and perhaps disturbing some family fes- 
tivity. Hearing, therefore, that the Veldcornet's house was only 
one hour's distance, and the moon shining bright, we determined 
to leave the merry party to enjoy their frolics, and drove off. 
