1811. 
SPEELMAN'S FIDDLE. 
499 
which will be fully explained in another part of this journal. * A 
short time after his return to Klaarwater, he set out alone, intending 
to find his way back into the Colony ; conceiving that by what he 
had done he had earned his pardon : but this ill-fated man had 
scarcely passed Modder-gat, when he was met by a party of Bush- 
men, and barbarously murdered. 
Speelman came from Groote-doorn, for a fresh supply of pro- 
visions, tobacco, and brandy, and communicated the pleasing intel- 
ligence that my oxen were fast recovering their strength ; but threw 
in with it some alloy, by surmising that unless the rains fell before 
long, they would soon begin to lose what they had gained ; as the 
herbage was now every where entirely parched up. The idle life 
of a herdsman, together with plenty of milk, and occasionally some 
boiled wheat, had, in some measure, fattened him also. He was in 
high spirits, and by his account appeared to be living happily 
enough, amongst his new-formed acquaintances; one of whom, 
named Hendrick Abrams, he had engaged to go with us on our 
journey into the Interior, As he called him his cousin, I for some 
time supposed him to be really a relation, whom he had unexpectedly 
discovered in this distant part of the country ; but, with a Hottentot, 
as with a Boor, every one towards whom they feel friendly disposed, 
is either cousin, uncle, or nephew ; according as it happen that the 
age may be equal, or greater, or less. 
He brought with him a curious proof of his ingenuity ; a jiddle 
of his own making. I could not be otherwise than exceedingly 
amused, for the rudeness of its appearance was really laughable. 
Yet it gave, every thing considered, an excellent tone, and proved, 
during our travels, a most valuable article. This mirth-inspiring 
utensil was a kind of oblong bowl, carved out of willow-wood, and 
covered over with sheep-skin or parchment. A finger-board, with 
screws, bridge, and tail-piece, together with a bow, were all formed in 
imitation of a European violin, and nearly in the proper proportion. 
* Under the date of the 3d of August 1812. 
3 S 2 
