VISIT TO SOUTH AmiCA. ^97 
had the pleasure to see our worthy friends Mr.IIancke and Mr. Mel- 
ville. I also found here Mr. Edward Grant, from Bombay, uith 
whom I contracted a very agreeable acquaintance. 
22d. This day was spent in visiting friends, old and new. I like- 
wise increased my collection of horns, by the purchase of those of 
a koodoo, gnou, hartebeest, and gemsbock. 
23d. We attended divine service in the Lutheran church. The 
hymns are sung in German, but the sermon delivered in Dutch. 
I did not understand much of the Rev. Mr. Hesse's discourse, though, 
by this time, I am tolerably well acquainted with Gnadenthal Dutch. 
This is a very convenient variety of that ancient language, and 
much to be recommended; for as our missionaries have learnt 
Dutch, chiefly by books, and from each other, their dialect is so 
Avell mixed with German, both as to words and pronunciation, 
that it is easily understood, both by a person acquainted with 
the German language only, and by a native Dutchman, ignorant 
of German; and surely no one will deny, that a language so 
constructed, that of two different nations, each may underst&,nd 
it, is a most desirable medium of conveying ideas, wdiich is the 
proper use of speech. 
24th. At nine in the morning. Brother Leitner and his wife ac- 
companied me, by invitation, to the villa of our friend, Mr. Hoetz, 
who sent his carriage for us. The morning was delightful. The 
villa is situated about three English miles from Capetown, on the 
road to Newlands, at the back of the Table-Mountain. From 
the gardens, the view of the house, with so magnificent a back- 
ground, is charming. Its elegant portico is half hid by the 
branches of large trees, with which the premises abound. Many 
singular varieties of the aloe and Indian fig are found in the gar- 
dens. The plantations of oak and firs, between the house and 
the mountain, are extensive, and kept in good order by Mr. Hoetz, 
who took the trouble to walk with us through the greatest part 
of his grounds. About a fortnight ago, a male tyger was shot 
near the back-wall, the skin of which was remarkably beautiful. 
