yg LOSS OF THE HERCULES. 
deed, tut all that he could afford he gave with cheerfulness 
His neighbor's letter was produced, which he read with great 
attention, and then said, " My friend is a good man, and I al- 
ways valued him ; but you wanted no other recommendation 
to my poor services than your misfortunes." 
They remained here during the night, after partaking of a 
frugal repast which their host had provided, and which was 
given with many innocent apologies for its scantiness. 
Before their departure on the ensuing morning the farmer 
generously presented them with nine sheep. The poor man 
lamented that he could not let them have a morsel of bread — 
" We live (said he) the year round chiefly on mutton and 
game, but seldom enjoy the luxury of a loaf" He insisted 
however on the captain's taking the sheep, which he accept- 
ed with many thanks, and then departed on their journey. 
During the four or five succeeding days they traveled on 
from house to house, generally at fifteen or sixteen miles dis- 
tance from each other, and were received at all of them with 
a disinterested hospitality. These occurrences are related 
with a scrupulous attention to fidelity, because the colonists, 
without distinction, have been frequently represented as a fero- 
cious banditti scarcely to be kept within the pale of authoritj^. 
During several days travelmg they could get but little 
bread, and not much water. The countries Avere alternately 
hill and dale, and often afforded the most romantic prospects. 
They frequently perceived vast quantities of wolves, and such 
droves of that species of deer which the farmers call spring- 
buck that one flock alone could not contain less than from 
twelve to fourteen thousand. Indeed many of the settlers 
said they had seen double that number at one time, and fre- 
quently killed three at a single shot. Our travelers likewise 
saw vast quantities of guinea-fowl, which after a shower of 
rain are easily caught by the farmers' dogs. 
The zebra and wild ass is common in these advanced co- 
lonies, and many of them were seen. Ostriches were like- 
wise very numerous. They had such plenty of venison at 
the houses where they stopped that their stock of nine sheep 
furnished by honest Englebrock was diminished but three in 
the course of six days. 
From the 8th to the 1 6th of July their journey was not inter- 
rupted by any disagreeable occurrence. The countries through 
which they passed displayed at every mile a new change of 
beauties. The mountains were in many places of stupendous 
height, and the valleys, decorated with wood, were astonish- 
