314 JOURNAL OF A 
former are valued, and practically known, the farther the latter 
will recede into the back-ground. 
19th, This forenoon, I accompanied the Rev. Mr. Hesse to 
the free-school, which is conducted on Dr. Bell's plan. We saw 
the scholars write and cypher. 
]\Ir. Matthiesen had invited the whole of Mr. Zorn's yesterday's 
party, with others, to dinner at his house in de Heere-Kracht' 
near the parade. With him and Mr. Zorn, I had much conver- 
sation, concerning the present state and future prospects of this 
colony. They differed widely in their opinions, respecting the po- 
licy of present measures, but both seemed to be equally desirous 
of promoting their country's welfare. 
20th. This forenoon I visited my pleasant ship's-companion, 
Mr. Buck. He had been on a hunting expedition to Saldanha, 
bay, and informed me that he and his party, had shot a hundred 
and six antelopes. This led once more to a subject, frequently 
discussed on board the Albion, the useless waste of animal life. 
Very few of these antelopes could become food, either for the 
huntsmen or their dogs ; the rest were left miserably to perish in 
the wilderness, killed or maimed, merely to gratify the momentary 
vanity of being a good marksman. But is not this disposition in 
mankind owing to a diabolical influence ? The least that can be 
said of it, is this, that it belongs to those inordinate desires, which 
♦ for a time, seem to suppress all proper feeling, even in a heart 
otherwise benevolent and kind. 
To-day I was introduced by Mr. Alexander to Mr. Dashwood 
the proprietor of a farm, called Gaensekraal, near Groenekloof. 
21st. Having promised the Rev. Mr. Hesse that I would play 
the organ during the morning-service, at the Lutheran church,^ 
I went early, but found the great organ quite out of tune, and 
was obliged to be contented with the choir-organ and swell. An 
hundred dollars per annum, is paid to a person to keep it in order. 
I spent the whole day with my reverend friend and his family, 
