1811. 
BUFFELS KRAAL. 
195 
blished many years. Some fine lemon-trees, at this time both in flower 
and fruit, grew before the door. It produces the two staple commo- 
dities of wine and tobacco, and a well-cultivated garden affords abun- 
dance of every useful fruit and vegetable. It yields, also, large 
quantities of pumkins, to secure which, a singular kind of storehouse 
was formed among the branches of one of the large trees, with poles 
and hurdles. On these the fruit was heaped, and appeared to keep 
very well, notwithstanding their being quite exposed to the weather. 
Besides the business of farmer, that of waggon-maker was also carried 
on ; and I took the opportunity of having some spare articles of iron- 
work made here, as a reserve against future wants or accidents. 
I now laid in -my stock of brandy, flour, and biscuits; and, 
although I had already with me a large quantity of tobacco, I here 
doubled my store, as the additional waggon enabled me to carry 
more than was at first intended, and as it is a merchandise of which a 
traveller in this part of the world can hardly take with him too much. 
It was amusing to observe the alacrity with which my men assisted in 
loading up the barrel of brandy, and the delight which brightened up 
their countenances, when they saw the large stock of tobacco that 
was to be taken with us. At this moment they would have pro- 
mised almost any thing I should have asked ; but still I dared not, 
before experience had given them a confidence in their new master, 
make them acquainted with the whole plan of my travels. 
A fresh set of oxen and drivers, put in requisition by the Veld- 
cornet of this subdivision, met us here punctually at the hour ap- 
pointed, and we left Buffels Kraal at noon. 
In this sheltered and enclosed valley, the weather was very 
warm, and various symptoms of a different soil and climate be- 
came more observable. Our road now abounded in trees of the 
Cape Acacia*, the colonial name of which is Dooriiboom (Thorn- 
tree). It is also called Wittedoorn (White-thorn), and Karrudoorn 
* Acacia Capensis ; of which a part of a branch, of the natur:il size, is represented at 
the head of this chapter. 
C C 2 
