Interior Parts: ofJfrit-a. 243,- 



mould 'fet fire to the grafs, which' was exceedingly long and • 

 almoft dry. 



In the morning they reached the fumtnit of the Milk 

 Mountains, where they found good pal'turc ; they therd 

 fet down to bpeakfaft, and tarived their feeep loofe to feed ; 

 but fcarcely had they put a mor'el to their month, when they 

 efpied ten men rapidly advancing towards them. O'ur tra- 

 veller having foon learned from his companions that thefe 

 Grangers were Bowmen, who no doubt would attempt to 

 plunder them of their fheep, he endeavoured to ihfpire them 

 with courage, and, immediately loading his piece, fired it at 

 the enemy, one of whom fell ; the reft then discharged their 

 affagays, and betook themfelves to flight- 

 Next morning our traveller arrived at the kraal where his 

 companions rtefided. As he was 1 neh fi tigued, having fpenf 

 feveral nights without the leaft repofe, he threw himfelf 

 down in one of the huts and enjoyed a found fleep. When 

 he awoke the Hottentots brought him fome milk and roaft 

 mutton ; and whilft he was partaking of this repaft the cinet 

 of the horde entered the hut in his drefs of ceremony, and, 

 bowing feveral times before him, thanked him for the a'difl- 

 ance he had given to his countrymen. The chief then told 

 him that thefe Bofhmen, a few days before, had ftolvn from 

 the kraal thirty fheep. Our traveller, in eonfequence of this 

 information, inquired what might be the ftrength of the 

 horde, and where they fended: Being informed, that they 

 confided of about thirty men, and that they refided at a place 

 in the mountains a few miles diftant, where, to guard againft 

 the danger of an attack, the; had fortified themfelves behind 

 a kind of abbafis, and were furniflred with a great number of 

 ftones, he told the Hottentots that bethought it not irrrpof-i 

 fible to drive them from their lurking-place, and offered to 

 lead the attack, if they would promife to fupport him. The 

 chief lificned to this propoj.il with great plcnfurc, as it 

 held forth hopes of recovering the ftolen fheep •, but he 

 ft... ted fome objections as to the practicability of carrying it 

 into execution. It was however at hut agreed that the at- 

 tempt fhould be made, and ; r. after giving proper 

 iuftructione to the Hottentots dtfired each to furnifli himfelf 



I i 2 With 



