19, 23 June, 1811. 
SCENE BY FIRE-LIGHT. 
173 
In the evening, our little caravan, which consisted only of the 
Missionary's waggon and people, together with my own, had to me, 
who till now had never passed a night in the open air, a most 
curious and romantic appearance. * The novelty of the scene 
kept my mind continually amused, and the sight of the Hottentots, 
and all their movements, fixed my attention. Their number was 
about a dozen, men and women : they seemed now to have recovered 
their natural manners, having left behind them the constraints of 
Cape Town. It was easy to perceive, that this was the mode of life 
which suited them, and that they felt quite at home amongst the 
bushes. Seated on the ground by a blazing fire, they passed the time 
in talking and smoking ; while the light, thrown against the nearer 
shrubs, and various parts of the waggons, produced an effect really 
picturesque. As soon as their supper was finished, they retired to 
sleep ; some wrapping themselves up in their karosses, (sheep-skin 
cloaks,) lay down under a bush, others by the fire, and others under 
the waggons, sheltered from the wind by a skreen of mats. 
20th. In the morning I arose, refreshed by sleep, and recovered 
from all indisposition. The business of the day commenced by 
examining the state of the waggons and oxen, and giving out orders 
to the men. Mrs. Anderson, who was to accompany her husband to 
Klaarwater, having yesterday remained at Salt-river, joined us this 
morning at eight o' clock, attended by a party of friends. 
We proceeded on our journey at two in the afternoon, and after 
a few miles, began to ascend Tygerberg. Here the party who had 
travelled with us from Zand-valley took their leave ; and as soon as 
we were nearly out of sight, they repeatedly saluted us with the 
reports of their pistols, which they had brought for that purpose ; 
this being an old colonial custom. They thus bade us their last 
farewell, while we waved our hats, and returned it by discharging 
our muskets. There was something pleasing, though melancholy, 
* The engraving at the beginning of this chapter is a representation of one of these 
night-parties. 
