130 Progress and present State of Geogrcqylical 



ment of Mosambique or Sofala. — The last tidings heard from 

 them were contained in a letter from Dr. Cowan, dated at the 

 residence of a native Chief, named Makkrakka, in about 

 24o S. lat. as stated by him, but which position has since be«n 

 found to be erroneous, as tire sources of the Moloppo, which 

 in Cowan's despatch is said to water that Chief's domains, lies 

 southward of the 25th parallel. — In an account brought into 

 . the Colony by the Missionary Campbell from the Griquas or 

 Bastards of Klaarwater or Griqua Town in 1812, it was stated 

 that they were murdered by Makkaba, the Chief of the 

 Bawanketz tribe, at his capital of INIelita, in lat. 24. 45, and 

 long. 2G. 15 ; but this report has been subsequently traced to 

 originate in the representations of one of that Chieftain's sons, 

 who, having revolted from his father, tried to induce the 

 Griquas, whom he thought the natural avengers of white men, 

 to assist him in his treason, and his falsehood was fully de- 

 tected, from the circumstance of his having specified a particular 

 part of the Moloppo, into which the wagons and other articles 

 he stated had been thrown, in order to avoid discovery; 

 for upon a careful search made shortly afterwards nothing 

 of the kind could be found. — From a close examination of 

 Makkaba himself, who was visited by the Missionary, Mr. 

 Moffatt, (a man of great shrewdness and tact, and well 

 acquainted with the native language,) in 1824, just previous 

 to the destruction of this Chief by the Mantatee hordes of 

 invaders, and the concurrent evidence of the neighbouring 

 tribes, the party, it would appear, were well received and most 

 kindly treated by the Bawanketz, and having found the stock 

 of sheep they carried with them for food troublesome, they 

 exchanged them Avith Makkaba for cattle, and it was the 

 possession of this flock by the supposed murderer which 

 naturally strengthened the suspicion occasioned by his son's 

 testimony. — In corroboration of the innocence of the Bawan- 

 ketz and their Chief, it may be at once stated, that a party of 

 traders in 1826, who visited Sibigho, the successor of Mak- 

 kabba at his kraal or village of Siloqualalie, in about lat. 25, 

 and long. 26. 10. found indubitable evidence of the Expedition 

 having passed safely through Melita, where they left some 

 looking-glasses in exchange for ivory (mutual presents), and 

 they traced them through Litabaruba, a town of the adjoining 

 tribe, that of the Baquina within 40 miles of the Tropic, 

 bibigho's people averred that they heard of the unfortunate 

 travellers for five or six days after they left them, and that 

 •when coming to a Bastard nation (probably a mixed race of 

 Portuguese and natives) they had turned towards the sea or east- 

 ward. — At Siloqualalie these traders found a singular memorial 

 of the visit of the Expedition in possession of Sibigho, and 



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