294 JOURNAL OF A 
however, no annoyance, for their being no cieling to the apart- 
ment, the volumes of smoke, which rose curling from his lips, had 
room to spread to the top of the roof. 
1.5th. Our oxen having strayed far away, in search of food, we 
were detained some hours after dawn of day. I improved the 
time, to make an accurate drawing of a remarkable mountain, 
called the Helderberg or Simonsberg, belonging to the Stellen- 
bosch range, the rocky summit of which exhibits a most singular 
variety of peaks and copulas. The village of Stellenbosch pre- 
sents itself beautifully, with its groves, avenues, and plantations 
of fir and other trees. While the waggon followed slowly, I walk- 
ed through some of its streets. We were hospitably received 
and entertained at Mr. Dirk Cloete's farm, and in the afternoon, 
continued our route to Mr. Neukirch's house, where we met with 
a reception equally kind, and spent an agreeable evening. The 
house is new, and when completed, and the grounds improved by 
plantations and gardens, the situation promises to be one of the 
most pleasant in the whole country. Over the principal door, in 
a medallion, are the words, " memento mori.'' 
Our driver, Marcus, and the leader, had meawhile driven the 
oxen to a feeding-place at some distance. The poor beasts were 
,so much fatigued, that we hardly expected them to bring us to- 
day to Groenekloof. We proceeded through an uninteresting 
countr}^ to an outspann-place, near Diep Revier, where Sister 
Xeitner provided us both with breakfast and dinner. Between 
these two meals, I walked about the waste, and found some situa- 
tions, from which the Stellenbosch hills are seen to advantage, as 
likewise the Table-Mountain, and the lower ranges of the Tyger- 
berg, Koeberg, and Paerdeberg. I found some odd varieties of 
iron-stone, and sitting down among the bushes, made an index 
to the many sketches and drawings, which Mr. Melville and I 
had made, during our journey. 
Thus employed, I seldom found time to hang heavy upon my 
hands, during the many tiresome delays by outspanning and other 
