1811. 
DINNER. — OXEN STATIONED AT ELAND'S FOUNTAIN. 
353 
was served up ; and two or three Hottentot women, who formed 
part of their domestic establishment, waited on us in a very attentive 
and proper manner. The circumstance of our being the only white 
people in this part of the world, and all seated round the same table, 
together with the idea of our being in the heart of a wilderness, and 
surrounded only by savage nations, created in me some peculiar 
feelings, and a strange interest in every thing that was passing, and 
in all that I saw about me. 
A small tent, which had been found an unnecessary part of 
their baggage, and was left here by the travellers sent into the 
interior by Lord Caledon, was lent me by the missionaries ; but the 
ground by the waggons was so rocky, that it was with difficulty it 
could be pitched. It was found more convenient to sleep in the 
waggon than in the tent ; which, to those who travel as I did, 
would prove much more to be an incumbrance than an article of 
utility. 
2nd. The first affair of importance to be attended to, was that 
of providing for the recovery of my oxen, which were miserably thin 
and weak, and quite unable to do any work for at least a couple of 
months, as their feet were worn tender by the ruggedness of the 
stony roads, and their strength had been quite exhausted by the 
labor and hardships of the journey. In the neighbourhood of the 
village there was, at this season, hardly pasturage enough for a few 
cows and sheep ; and it was, therefore, advised to send them to a 
place called Elands Valley, or Elands Fountain, one of the outposts of 
the settlement, where, it was said, they would find more grass than 
could any where else be met with at this time. An old friendly 
Hottentot, named Hans Lucas, who had been one of our caravan 
from the Karree Kiver, and was now residing at Elands Valley, 
offered, in that case, to befriend and advise my herdsman. I there- 
fore resolved to send the oxen to that place, under the care of Speel- 
man, whom I now began to value as a useftd, clever, and active 
servant, and one who might be trusted, as he seemed to take a 
cordial interest in the business of the journey. His wife, Hannah, 
had not gained so much on my good opinion ; and the little work 
