35 
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
received. Our baggage and wine were stored in two apartments, 
containing five beds ; the horses were turned loose, to feed on green 
barley ; and the orderly, with the permission of our host, paid a 
visit to the poultry-yard, where he seized on some very fine ducks, 
which were instantly consigned to the slaves, to be plucked and 
prepared for our dinner. The house was spacious and good ; cur beds 
tolerable ; and the roughness of the roads had given us every dis- 
position to enjoy a protracted rest. 
October 54. — We made an excellent breakfast, the milk, butter, 
and eggs being good. Our host prudently refused to make any 
charge for us or our horses; in consequence of which we gave him 
fifteen dollars for the party, but nothing to the slaves, as we knew 
the mistress would take our donation from them. We departed at 
seven o'clock. The country, for the first four hours, was equally 
unsightly with that which we had seen yesterday. At two o'clock 
we stopped, according to our determination, and devoured our pro- 
vision, while the horses were grazing. We sent to a neighbouring 
boor for wine for our servants and slaves, and learning that a wed- 
ding was celebrating, proceeded thither to pay our compliments to 
the bride and bridegroom. The younger part of the company were 
dancing merrily to a tabor and pipe, while the elder males smoked, 
and the females distributed wine. All of us, except Major Hippisley, 
joined in the dance, which seemed to give them great satisfaction, as 
they had learnt from our servants, who the General and I were. 
The scene w^as amusing, and we should have stayed longer, had we 
not been told that we had a great distance to go, and a river to pass. 
We therefore took our leave, under a salute of small arms from the 
company. The scenery began to improve as we approached the 
