265 JOURNAL OF A 
little dark kitchen, in which lay two or three slaves, it had only two 
rooms, not much larger than closets. William Sluiter s psalm-book 
lying on a shelf, and an old pewter coffee-pot, appeared to be 
the only moveables left in the house ; for the few articles, which 
serve them at home, w ere also their travelling equipage. We did 
not see one of the family, to thank them for the use of their house^ 
as they were yet fast asleep in their waggons, when we set out, 
before day-break. 
7th. We passed through a country, where formerly that beauti- 
ful antelope, the buntebock, was found in great numbers. The 
destruction made among them has caused the Governor to prohibit 
the shooting of them, under a penalty of five hundred rix-dollars. 
They are therefore again multiplying, and we saw several of them, 
not far from the road. They are very stately-looking animals. 
Ostriches also made their appearance, and were followed, but with- 
out success. 
The mountains, to our right, being by degrees disencumbered of 
clouds, afforded us a most agreeable prospect. About two o'clock, 
we reached Mr. Buissini's farm on the Bueffeljagd's Revier, and 
hoped to have been able to get to Zwellendam that night; but the 
river had swollen, and was not fordable. The people treated us with 
civility, and we spent the evening in a variety of useful employ- 
ments. Mr. Melville, however, anxious to get home, and to meet 
his family as soon as possible, left us here, swam across the river 
with his horse, and proceeded through Zwellendam to Gnaden- 
thal. The wolves howled dreadfully, and we were afraid, lest our 
oxen, running loose on the waste, might be attacked in the night; 
but on the 
8th. Early, they were all brought safe to the yoke. On examina- 
tion, the river had fallen sufficiently, to allow us to venture to ford 
it. For about a quarter of a mile in breadth, its banks are covered 
with thorn, and other bushes. 
Every thing likely to suffer by wet, being put upon the seats 
of the waggons, we entered the river. The passage is not easily 
