324 
JOURNAL OF A 
Vvere from half, to near three quarters of an ineh lono-. Ahnost 
every stone seemed to atford protection to larger or smaller ants. 
They differed from those, which raise solid nests of clay in all parts 
of the wilderness, in shape like a baker's oven, and used for that 
j)arpose in the interior. The Caffres, when first permitted to settle 
at Gnadcnthal, before they could build ovens, according to the 
custom of their country, availed themselves of these tumuli, and 
having expelled or destroyed the inhabitants by fire and smoke, 
scooped them out hollow, leaving a crust of a few inches in tliick- 
ness, and used them for baking, putting in three loaves at a time. 
The clay, of which the nests are formed, is so well prepared by 
by these industrious insects, that it is used for the floors of rooms, 
both by Hottentots and farmers. 
7th. The people continued their work at the stones as long as 
the weather remained fme, and I frequently accompanied Brother 
Schmitt, Avhen he attended them. No European labourers could 
work with greater diligence and effect. We had engaged a Dambra 
Hottentot, called Ephraim, to work in a quarry at the top of the 
eminence, where the granite was split into irregular strata, nearly 
in a perpendicular direction. The quarry yielded good stone for 
building walls. The large masses above ground, ^^ ere of a harder 
texture, than the stones under the surface. Thin layers of schistus 
cleaved to some part of the latter. Ephraim distinguished himself 
by his steadiness and persevering diligence. The Dambras differ 
much in their manners from the Hottentots of this country, they 
are of a more swarthy complexion, and have features better formed. 
When a large stone was dislodged, 1 generally met with some- 
thing deserving attention. To-day I saw, for the first time, that 
singular animal, called by the Hottentots, the mountain-salamander. 
It is shaped like a lizard, but broader, seven or eight inches long, and 
scaly. The scales on the tail are pointed, and stand off from the 
bod}^ but whether generally, or only in fright or anger, I cannot tell. 
A nest of young cuytges was uncovered. This is a small species of 
