VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 
321 
CHAPTER XX. 
Hard frost. Account of Sister Sclimitfs school. Visit to the Go- 
vernor at the Groote Post. Destruction of trees by Hottentots. 
Their diligence at zvork among the rocks. Ants' nests, used as ovens. 
Quarry. Aloe garden destroyed. Cuytges, salamanders, and 
serpents found. Foundation of the new church. Zaccheus Deba, 
a Caffre from Gnadenthal. Journey to Capetown. Refections 
. on the enjoyjnent of earthly con forts. Mr. Sieurvogel. Cape- 
town dogs. Rev. Dr. Jones, Senior chaplain. Apologies not 
attended to. Mr.Slahbert's waggon and ten horses. Yellow finches. 
Cameleons. Elephant-stones. Moy-Mack's Revier. Farewell- 
discourse. Laying the foundation-stone of the nezo church. Mr. 
Schroeder. Dacha, a poisonous plant. 
August 1st. It had frozen very hard last night, and the ice was in 
some places nearly an inch thick. The air, however, was perfectly 
clear, and the sun shone warm. As I was making a sketch of the 
rocks behind the stables. Sister Schmitt's school-girls came towards 
me, one carrying a plate, with a piece of ice in it, fast melting in 
the sun. They asked me, whether the water, flowing from the ice, 
might be drank with safety, as they thought, that it was poisonous. 
I gave them some information on the subject, and when 1 described 
the quantity and thickness of the ice in the northern regions, and 
told them of the immense ice-mountains and fields, floating in the 
ocean, I perceived, by their astonished looks, that, had they not 
thought one of their teachers incapable of falsehood or exaggeration, 
the}^ would have suspected me of sporting with their credulity. 
These children are from ten to fourteen years old, and instructed, 
out of pure charity, by Sister Schmitt, in sattin-stich, tambour, and 
plain work. It is surprising, with what neatness the}' have learnt 
TT 
