VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. f9-5 
circumstances, connected with an African journey; and may I ne- 
ver be wanting in gratitude to God, for granting to me such health, 
liveliness and activity of mind, during this whole period, insomuch 
that I never felt disposed to take an African nap after dinner. 
Our evening-worship consisted in singing several verses in the 
waggon, which I should not notice, were it not to record the be- 
haviour of the Hottentots, who, though before obliged, by conti- 
nual shouting and cracking of whips, to keep our wearied cattle 
from stopping, or even lying down, walked quietly and devoutly 
near the waggon, and left the poor beasts to take their time. 
We reached the miller Bruckman's house at eight o'clock, and 
found good quarters. A loquacious countryman, who had come 
in to spend the night, treated us with his opinions on the state of 
the Hottentots and Caftres, whom he considered as the Canaanites 
of this land, destined to be destroyed by the white people, who 
were the Israelites of God! It is strange, that the same notions 
haunted the brains of many wicked fanatics in North America, 
about seventy years ago, who, on that account, opposed the Missions 
of our Church among the Indians, as may be seen in Loskiel's 
history. 
17th. We did not reach Groenekloof till eleven o'clock. The 
day was spent in visiting some of the families, and making various 
arrangements. 
18th. We were visited by Mr. Slabbert, the i)roprietor of the 
Langefonteyn farm. Vaillant has made honourable mention of 
this family, and I was glad to become acquainted with a man, who 
in many respects, is superior to most so-calied Africaner, in intel- 
lect and liberality of sentiment. Speaking of Vaillant, he was ra- 
ther surprised to hear, that his own account states him to have been 
a man of an undaunted spirit, whereas he passed with the Slabberts, 
for a very timid and faint-hearted traveller. 
19th. We conferred together about the site of the new church, 
and made a calculation of the Avood required for that, and the re- 
pairs of one of the out-houses, which had been burnt some years 
