138 THE CHIEF ZWARTBOOI. 



friend's inhuman proceedings against the Damaras, Jonker 

 told him that if he (Zwartbooi) meddled with his affairs he 

 would pay him such a visit as would put a stop to his devo- 

 tions and make him cry for quarter. 



Within Zwartbooi's territory was a mountain called Tans, 

 where horses might pasture throughout the year without be- 

 ing exposed to the "paarde ziekte," the cruel distemper to 

 which these animals are subject. Almost all the northern 

 Namaquas, Jonker among the rest, are in the habit of send- 

 ing their horses here during the sickly season. 



On one occasion, when Jonker was about to make a 

 "raid" on the Damaras, he sent an express to Zwartbooi 

 for his horses ; but this chief, having been apprised of the 

 cause for which the steeds were wanted, refused, under some 

 pretext, to give them up, and, while parleying, the favorable 

 opportunity was lost. It seems Jonker never forgave Zwart- 

 booi this act of treachery, as he called it, and determined, 

 let the risk be whatever it might, never again to put him- 

 self in another man's power. 



Two days after Zwartbooi's arrival at Schmelen's Hope 

 Mr. Galton returned. He had been successful beyond his 

 most sanguine expectations, for Jonker had not alone for- 

 mally apologized to Mr. Kolbe for his brutal behavior at 

 Schmelen's Hope, but had expressed regret at his past con- 

 duct, and had faithfully promised, for the future, to live in 

 peace and amity with the Damaras. Several important reg- 

 ulations had, moreover, been proposed by my friend and ap- 

 proved of by Jonker and his tribe, with a view of upholding 

 order and justice in the land, but how far they were carried 

 out the sequel will show. 



Fresh messengers had also been dispatched to the respect- 

 ive Namaqua and Damara chiefs, with a request that they 

 would attend a general meeting in order to secure to -the 

 country a lasting peace. We could not, however, induce 

 them to do this. The late attacks were too fresh in their 



