their nourishment milk, and skins their cloathing; peaceful by nature, warriors only from neceffity; and by no means a nation whose name ought to infpire horror.

As I wished to be informed of the real motives of these cruel wars, the Hottentots, on being particularly queftioned, told me without reserve, that the perpetual vexations and cruel tyranny of the Colonists, was the fole caufe; they likewise informed me, that the Bofhis-Men (a fet of vagabond deferters, of no particular nation, living by rapine, and robbing alike Caffree, Hottentot or Colonift) would willingly inftigate the Caffrees to distress, and put in one general profcription, both Colonist and Hottentot; confidering the latter as fpies, attached to the whites, and employed to enfnare them with the greater facility; perhaps this idea is not totally without foundation, but cannot, by any means, extend to the diftant Hoords. Thus

the

the innocent fuffer with the guilty; for how should favages make a distinction that civilized people are frequently incapable of? Amongst other information I learned, that the Caffrees had procured a few firearms from some of the pillaged habitations, or from the Hottentot Colonifts who had been fet on unawares.

These people likewife gave me a long detail of the attacks and combats they had fuftained, in which the Caffrees had ever been worsted; this did not seem at all furprizing, as the affaygay, which is their most destructive weapon, and which they throw with exquifite skill, is by no means comparable to fire-arms, especially when directed by markfmen who feldom or ever mifs their aim,`

I found myself particularly interested in what I heard, and felt an ardent defire to serve these unfortunate beings; their unhappy fate fo much excited my compaffion,

that could I but have perfuaded my people to accompany me, I would gladly have traverfed fifty leagues of Caffraria, and run all hazards, to atmpt the establishment of a lasting peace; but on difclofing my wishes, no one feconded my intention; and all perfuafion was useless to this terror-ftruck people, for which reafon I was rather fparing of my reproaches, tho' I was far from being fo to the Colonists, whofe affiftance I requested two days after.

A misfortune which had lately happened, contributed not a little to heat my imagination. I was informed, that fix weeks before, an English ship, the Grosvenor, EastIndiaman, had been wrecked on the coaft, that part of the crew and paffengers, escaping the turbulent element, unfortunately fell into the hands of the Caffrees, by whoin they were barbarously deftroyed, the women excepted who were referved to undergo ftill greater hardships; fome few, it was fup

posed,

4

pofed, had escaped, and were now wandering on the coaft, or exploring melancholy and almost impenetrable forefts, where they could not fail in the end of perishing miserably. Amongst these unfortunate people, were feveral French officers, prisoners of war, who were coming to Europe.

My heart was wounded by this afflicting detail; a thoufand projects bewildered my head.

I could not be above fifty leagues from the unfortunate fpotVarious means occurred to fuccour the unhappy fufferers, whofe fituation was fo truly deplorable. I propofed these means to my companions, but every propofal was refused. In vain I offered prefents, prayers, intreaties, nay, even threatenings had no more weight; to thefe laft I must infallibly have fallen a facrifice, had I not been feconded by three of my bravest fellows, and alfo fhewn the utmost refolution, both in words and actions, being obliged to clap a piftol to the head of one of the

moft refractory; however, nothing I could do was of any fervice to my favourite project; the Hoord I had given leave to accompany us, told me they were free, nor did they confider me as their chief, and that they would immediately depart with the fifteen Hottentots recently arrived; even my own men declared they would not hazard being cut to pieces by the Caffrees, and feconded the general cry, openly avowing their determination to return to the colonies, if I ftill persisted in my resolution.

The reprefentations and perfuafions of Klaas and myself at length brought over two, who confented to hazard themselves with me; Swanepoel was one, but four was infufficient. In vain I painted to thefe favage Hoords, the ingratitude with which they repaid the fervices I had rendered them; in vain I called them weak cowards, and worse than Caffrees; all did but encreafe their fears, and inspire them