1811. 
DEPARTURE FROM SNYMAN'S 
247 
ceed at .a slow pace, and wait for us at the house of a colonist 
named Jan Van der Westhuisen. Gert was despatched with a letter, 
to give notice to the missionaries, that I should set off on the 
morrow ; and at night he returned with an answer, by wliich it was 
arranged that we should all meet at the Riet (Reed) river, at the dis- 
tance of five or six days' journey, according to our rate of travelling. 
Srd. Having omitted making a legal agreement with Gert 
while at Tulbagh, we here signed the usual contract before the field- 
cornet ; as, without this, a Hottentot would not consider himself 
under any obligation to continue his services, if he should feel in- 
clined to desert his master before the expiration of the term for 
which he had eno-aged. 
A good pack of dogs, of different kinds, was a very necessary 
part of the equipment ; and these we endeavoured to collect at every 
opportunity. Yet, although every farm-house was apparently over- 
stocked with these animals, the boors, knowing their value, could 
seldom be persuaded to part with any : Snyman, however, was in- 
duced to let me have one. 
The field-cornet, also furnished me with' a requisition to several 
colonists residing near the mountain, to supply, on payment, the quan- » 
tity of flour we stood in need of He would not receive any pecuniary 
remuneration for the meals I had taken at his house : but beffo-ed to 
have his brandy-bottles filled. Although there could not possibly 
be any further opportunity of replenishing this part of my stores, so 
necessary for keeping my Hottentots in good humour, I did not 
hesitate to comply ; notwithstanding the evident looks of dissatis- 
faction with which they viewed my giving away this much-valued 
commodity, as I had found Snyman willing to do all that was in his 
power to render us assistance. 
As soon as every thing was safely repacked, the relays were 
yoked to, and we started at half-past one in the afternoon. The 
oxen, being quite fresh, were not easily to be checked in going 
at a trot ; and the road, being at the same time rough and stony, 
occasioned some of the goods in the chests to be much damaged. 
Every loss was to us of serious importance ; and if the mentioning 
