272 
JOURNAL OF A 
distance from the other dwellings, and in a by-path, leading to- 
Robyntjes Kraal, young people of dubious characters, both Hotten- 
tots and boors, began to make it a place of rendezvous, and re- 
sorted to it at night, taking advantage of a situation, which eluded 
immediate detection. Thus it became a haunt of disorderly per- 
sons, and Peter received warning to quit. He refused to leave 
the place, and gave the missionaries much trouble. Notice was 
therefore sent to the Veldcornet, who expelled him. Since that 
time, the premises have not been occupied, the missionaries fear- 
ing, that they might be turned to the same use, if let to improper 
persons, and the Hottentots being, in general, too poor to keep them 
in repair. We spent part of this day in conference. 
14th. I walked with Brother Schmitt to the Caffre Kraal, and 
engaged a Caffre, Ernest Apolh, to tan and dress some tyger and 
other skins I had brought with me from the interior. This is done 
by spreading them on the grass, covering them with sheep's fat, 
strewing a species of chalk over them, and with a sand-stone, by a 
circular motion of the hand, rubbing them, till the skin becomes as 
soft and pliable as wash-leather. The hair remains undisturbed. 
Any laceration by shot or other violence, they contrive to mend with 
great neatness, so as hardly to be perceived. 
I wrote to-day to Mr. Von Buissini, the landdrost of Zwellendam> 
in behalf of the poor, who cannot possibly pay the new poll-tax of 
five rix-doUars per man. The tax seemed to be levied without 
any discrimination, or proportionate distribution. I was the more 
anxious to do away any impression, unfavourable to the present Go- 
vernment, as I have, to my sorrow, perceived in the minds of many 
people in the interior, considerable alienation from that attachment 
to the English, which, in the beginning, seemed sincere, but has 
suffered much, probably from misapprehension, as they are not ac- 
quainted with English forms, nor easily turned from their old cus- 
toms. I have been credibly informed, that there is not much dif- 
ference as to the amount of their contributions towards the public 
expenditure; but they have very imperfect ideas of commutation. 
