312 JOURNAL OF A 
and came up to me, but forgot to deliver a parcel of letters he liad for 
me. I gladl}'^ pardoned his forgetfuhiess, which was altogether the 
consequence of extreme modesty. He is one of the most obliging, 
sensible, well-behaved men, I have ever met with in any country. 
Often have 1 admired the manner, in which he performed every part 
of his office, as a chapel-servant; and in his family and intercourse 
with mankind, he is a pattern of good conduct. 
As we were about to ford the Soute Revier, which was rather 
swollen, we were overtaken by a butcher in his cart or curricle, 
driving six liorses in hand. As he had seen me at Grocnekloof, he 
hailed and offered me a seat, to bring me dry through the river, of 
which I accepted. The Cape butchers are considered to be some 
of the richest men in the country. They fetch their cattle from the 
interior, pay little for them, run the risk of getting them safe to town, 
and sell the meat at a high price. 
With uiy worthy Cape friends I found a cordial welcome. 
17th. A passage to England was otfercd me on board the Revola- 
tionaire frigate, but though I was assured, that the man of war 
would bring me much sooner home, I felt some misgiving about 
accepting the offer. The evening was most agreeably spent with 
the Rev. Mr. Hesse. 
18th. This morning I met Captain Young of the Brilliant, by 
appointment, on the pier. We had long to wait for the boat, and 
M^ere meanwhile joined by Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, belongmg to Mr. 
Wesley's connexion, and sent out on a Mission to the Namaquas. 
The Captain invited them to go on board. The Brilhant is a very 
fine brig, and I soon made up my mind to engage a passage on 
board her, both for myself and Brother Bonatz's son, having pro- 
mised the parents to take him with me. 
Three boats were towing a whale into the bay, and on our re- 
turn to shore, we rowed up to it, and took a view of this enor- 
mous fish. It was a female, and pronounced to be but young. 
She lay on her back, and measured about t^venty-five feet in 
length, and ten in breadth across the middle. Having pushed 
