274 
NEW SETTLERS. 
26, 27 Aug. 
occurrence, as it presented once more an opportunity of writing 
letters. 
This man, whose name was Gaertner, was a native of Germany, 
and his wife of Holland : they had been five years servants to a rich 
Cape boor, and were now beginning the world on their own account. 
They seemed industrious and active ; but their industry, together 
with a certain degree of superiority, which European knowledge 
generally gives, excited, as they said, some jealousy and unkindness 
in the behaviour of their Africaander neighbours towards them. 
They possessed a good stud of horses, to the breeding of which 
they paid much attention. Four or five Hottentot shepherds and 
herdsmen accompanied them in their migrations from place to place. 
A young man, also a native of Germany, followed their fortunes 
in the capacity of an overseer or bailiff ; but seemed to have no 
relish for such a life, as he complained much of its dull monotony. 
Day after day, said he, our mouths open for nothing but mutton, 
and to repeat those remarks that have already been made on the 
same subjects a thousand times before. Sheep, oxen, waggons, 
horses, elands, guns, fat and lean, came, he complained, so often into 
conversation, that he heartily longed to give up this mode of living ; 
and would, if permitted, gladly follow me. To the latter wish, 
however, I gave no encouragement. He might, it is very likely, 
have found his servitude irksome and unprofitable ; but, I doubt not, 
had these sheep and oxen been his, that he, would have found as 
much pleasure and satisfaction in talking about them as the honest 
German, his master. 
A new settler cannot expect at first setting out, any other than 
a life of labor, difficulties, and privations ; from which he will only 
be relieved gradually, and in proportion to his industry and frugality. 
The resources of a European mind will help him on rapidly towards 
comfort and enjoyment ; but it too often happens that, instead of 
holding fast the advantages of his education, he adopts the rude man- 
ners he at first despised, and, step after step, his life degenerates into 
mere sensual existence. His children follow ; and, for want of better 
example in their parents, complete the retrogression. But such, it is 
