1811. 
SPEELMAN. 
167 
The master was immediately applied to, and readily consented 
to relinquish him. Upon which the Flottentot, highly pleased with 
the change, got himself ready in less than half an hour, with his wife 
and his budget, to set off with the rest of our party. 
'i'he name of this Hottentot was Stoffel Speelman * ; his height 
was above the common standard, being about five feet seven inches : 
he was of thin and bony figure, and had a very upright port, 
acquired, perhaps, during his military service, and possessed a share 
of activity, which in a Hottentot might be accounted considerable. 
His age, at a guess, (for a Hottentot scarcely ever knows how old 
he is) might be about forty ; and though his countenance exhibited 
no features of beauty, it displayed a look of intelligence and readi- 
ness, which soon prepossessed me with the opinion, that he would 
prove a very useful addition to my little party. His eyebrows were 
stronger than usual in this nation ; his cheek-bones protuberant ; 
cheeks hollow ; nose flattened and wide, with large distorted nostrils : 
his mouth large, and lips thick and projecting ; the chin narrow, 
having several unusual protuberances ; and the beard very scanty, 
excepting on the upper lip. 
On making enquiry into his character, I learnt that he was an 
excellent marksman ; .an important and valuable qualification, and 
one which was indispensably required for such an expedition. He 
was besides, a great traveller, and had visited most parts of the 
colony. The opportunity of seeing the country beyond the Gariep, 
and a wish he had long entertained to go to Klaar water, were the 
great inducements to add himself to my party. 
His wife, Hannah.^ was a genuine Hottentot ; and her com- 
* 'HXs portrait IS gvf&a. aX. Plate 2. It was drawn in September 181*, at the time 
when he quitted my service ; in exactly the same dress which he happened then to wear. 
His cap, which is a fashion of his own, was made of calf-skin prepared with the hair on. 
A red cotton handkerchief was bound round his head, and a blue one of the same kind, 
loosely tied about his neck. He woi'e a pair of leathern trowsers and a blue cloth jacket, 
over which was buckled a kogel-tas (bullet-pouch) made by himself, from the skin of a tiger 
which he had shot. - 
