38 
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
enquired of us whence we came, whither we were going, and what 
was the cause of our journey. These questions are usual among the 
Dutch, and are considered as by no means impertinent. He was good- 
humoured, and amusing ; told us his name, his business, the number 
of his family, and the reason of his quitting his home. Having kept 
company with us for several miles, and smoked his pipe, which he 
ingeniously lighted with his flint, he gave his horse the rein, and 
was soon out of sight. 
We arrived about the middle of the day at the Paarl, a beautiful 
village, the houses of which were, as usual, white-washed, and sur- 
rounded by trees. A lofty mountain formed a back-ground to the 
view. On our road to Stellenbosch we passed through Mr. Duckett's 
farm at Klapmuty. This scientific agriculturist came over with Sir 
George Yonge, to endeavour to introduce the English method of 
husbandry into the colony. The Dutch had at first a perfect con- 
tempt for his implements, and method of managing the ground ; ex- 
perience has, however, convinced them that he was right ; and had 
the English continued masters of the colony, I have no doubt that 
his coming over would have answered many essential purposes. He 
w^as not at home, which I much regretted. We arrived in good time 
at Stillenbosch, and took up our abode at the house of an old ac- 
quaintance of the General; he is a Hessian, of the name of Wolfferum, 
who married a woman of large fortune at Batavia, with whom he 
returned hither, where he lives in a very comfortable manner. He 
and his family speak English ; and having associated much with that 
nation, his manners have nothing Dutch in them. The town is very 
neat, and the oaks, which form an avenue in every street, contribute 
to its coolness and beauty. I have seldom seen finer trees than 
