1811. 
THE WAGGONS STATIONED. — CHURCH. 
355 
the journey. At the distance of a seven minutes' walk north-eastward 
from the village, there was a much more pleasant situation, having 
the mead on one side, and on the other a stony rising ground. * A 
small channel, conducting from a spring in the upper part of the 
mead to some huts and corn-land below, supplied us with plenty 
of good water. The station, like every one in the vicinity, was open 
and exposed; but it had a pleasant prospect of the whole of the 
village, to which a narrow path led across the mead. 
Hither the waggons and tent wei'e removed by the help of 
a team of Captain Dam's oxen ; and as they were likely to remain 
on this spot two or three months, large stones were placed under the 
wheels to keep them dry. A place was formed for our fire, shel- 
tered by a few pieces of rock piled round it. A spot was levelled for 
the tent ; and the little waggon was taken off the wheels, and placed 
on stone supports, f The neighbourhood was first reconnoitred, to 
ascertain where firewood was to be found ; but this article had been 
every where consumed by the inhabitants of the kraal, and was to be 
procured only at a great distance. 
Philip and Gei^t were the only attendants I retained at home ; 
for so, we always termed the spot where my waggons were stationed. 
The latter showed a disposition to make himself useful in various 
ways, and undertook the duty of cooking ; nor had I any cause of 
complaint against the former, excepting that he required very often 
to be reminded of the work to which it was his duty to attend. 
6th. This being Sunday^ I attended the service in the churchy or 
meeting-house. The building % which they call so was rudely built 
of rough unhewn timber and reeds, covered with a thatched roof, 
and having a smooth, hard earthen floor, kept in order by being 
frequently smeared with cow-dung, in the manner practised by the 
colonists. Within, the sides were plastered with mud ; and, being 
* Our station^ during the time I remained at Klaavwatcr, may be seen in Plate 8 ; it 
the two waggons in the distance, 
\ As may be seen in the vignette at the end of Chapter XX. 
:|. See the engraving at page 350. 
