192 Diary of a Journey to the Amaquas. 



reason to believe such, and from the marks of friendship shewn 

 to them through presents of tobacco and brandy, they resolved 

 to send that same evening some of their number to fetch their 

 wives, huts, and cattle. 



Saturday, 22nd. — We were compelled to remain for the 

 arrival of the kraal, in order to barter some cattle and milk 

 for tobacco. In the afternoon, part thereof arrived, and 

 located near us; and shortly afterwards they brought their 

 milk, together with some cattle, to us for barter. His Honor 

 the Commander feasted them with mutton and rice, and pre- 

 sented them wiih some brandy, by means of which they 

 regaled themselves during the whole night. 



Sunday, 23d. — We still remained, because they, (the Gregri- 

 quas) requested us yesterday to remain another day, and they 

 would bring more cattle for barter, which they did towards 

 noon. 



In the mean while the Commander endeavoured to settle 

 the afore mentioned quarrel of the Gregriquas, who were 

 partly here assembled, earnestly recommending it to them, by 

 the use of a great deal of advice and argument; that this 

 would be their best course, because they were but a small tribe, 

 and that it was bad to war among themselves, because other 

 tribes would rind it easier then to rob them of their cattle. Upon 

 this they promised at last to restore the cattle, which for the 

 sake of greater satisfaction, His Honor the Commander paid for, 

 piece by piece with tobacco. The Captains before mentioned, 

 agreed to live together for the future in peace. 



In the afternoon, His Honor paid a visit to the kr^al, and 

 when he arrived, they killed a sheep for a parting feast to one 

 of their Captains, a Chief, who was to accompany us on our 

 journey. The operation of slaughtering was performed in the 

 following manner: — the sheep was laid on its back, upon 

 which the operator ripped open its belly, introduced his hand 

 into it, and took out the intestines, while the animal was alive. 

 The skin was then removed in a slovenly manner on the one 

 side, and also the flesh of the shoulder. The ribs of one side 

 were then broken from the back bone, and separated from the 

 flesh, one by one. Their reason for not killing the animal as 

 we do, is their anxiety to preserve the blood, which they collect 

 carefully, cook, and eat; nay, in times of want, even the skin 

 is roasted and eaten by them, so that of a sheep nothing but 

 the excrements are thrown away. 



Monday, 24th.— We departed at 9 o'clock, a. m. with rainy 

 weather from the Backeley Plaats, and went on through a 

 kloof; we then passed over an extensive plain, and at its 

 termination came to a rivulet running with great rapidity, in 

 which other travellers at an earlier season had found very little 

 or no water, while it was now nearly three feet deep, but brack. 



