SOUTHERN AFRICA. 115 
what the motives could have been that induced the choice of 
this place for the refidence of the landroft. It could not pro- 
ceed from any perfonal comfort or convenience that the place 
held out ; perhaps thofe of the inhabitants have chiefly been 
confulted, as the fituation is nearly central ; though it is more 
probable that fome interefted motive, or a want of judgment, or 
a contradictory fpirit, muft have operated in afTigning fo wild, 
fo fecluded, and fo unprofitable a place for the feat of the 
Drofdy. 
On the eleventh of Auguft we fet out from GraafF Reynet 
on our projeded expedition, accompanied by two hemraaden 
whom the landroft thought it advifeable to take, having pro- 
pofed to call a meeting of the inhabitants of the diftant divifions 
of his diftridt as he paiTed through them, to read his commiffion, 
adminifter the oath of allegiance, and to proclaim thofe parts of 
his public inftrudions as might particularly relate to fuch inha- 
bitants. He thought by doing this to fpare them the trouble 
and expence of a long journey to the Drofdy. 
Our firft route lay diredly to the fouthward towards the fea- 
coaft, through a country as fandy, arid, and fterile as any part 
of the Great defert, and equally ill fupplied with water. Two 
farm-houfes only were palTed on the firft day's journey, which 
was in the divifion called Camdeboo, a Hottentot word, figni- 
fying green elevations^ applying to the projecting buttreflJes 
which fupport the Snowy mountains, and which are moftly 
covered with verdure. The farmers here are entirely graziers; 
and for feeding their numerous herds each occupies a vaft 
2 extent 
