200 
THE MEESTER'S LEARNING. 
7 July, 
acquainted ; and, not to hurt his vanity, or lower him in the eyes 
of his scholars and employers, I sometimes confessed myself van- 
quished by his arguments, because, indeed, they were incompre- 
hensible ; ^nd was rewarded for my submission by the complacency 
and sood humour which he showed in return. The three sisters 
and the good old lady, listened with attention to all that was said, 
and whenever they gave an opinion, it was in favor of the Heer. At 
last, having exhausted the learned sciences, he began to prove his 
knowledge of the politer accomplishments, by introducing the subject 
of dancing. This art he offered to teach the young ladies ; where- 
upon, immediately starting up, he proceeded, in a laughable attitude, 
to show them the five positions ; and, happening to be correct in 
three of them, looked round with a happy satisfaction, to receive my 
approbation. 
All these harmless vanities excited a great deal of good- 
humoured mirth, and the coldness and ceremoniousness of strangers 
very soon wore off. They insisted on my taking all my meals in the 
house, and omitted nothing in their power to convince me that I was 
heartily welcome to partake of their homely fare. This offer of 
hospitality was no empty complimentary pretension to friendship, 
such as, in more polished society, is too trite to deceive : it was 
the more sincere for being made under a knowledge of the pro- 
bability of my remaining here several days ; for they had received 
intelligence that the missionaries, whom I must have passed on the 
road during the night-time, were far behind, and not likely, from 
their slow rate of travelling, to come up with me for three or 
four days. 
A boor, who had received orders to furnish the next voorspans, 
sent in the morning to enquire when they would be wanted ; but, as 
I had now determined on proceeding with my own oxen, he was 
informed that no further services would be required. 
A young farmer, living in the neighbourhood, who had heard 
of my being on my way to the countries beyond the Gariep, or 
Groote rivier, as it is called by the colonists, a country where he had 
spent all the first portion of his life, paid me a visit. His name was 
