CAVES OF THE BUSHMEN. 69 



tian inhabitants with correct likenesses of most of the 

 game quadrupeds of Africa, as also unicorns, which of 

 course they never saw, and must therefore have heard 

 spoken of by other men. From this cave the Bushmen 

 were wont to sally forth not very long since, and lift 

 fat cattle from the sleek herds of their more industrious 

 neighbors, the Griquas and Bechuanas. Returning 

 with these cattle, their custom was to drive them all 

 into the cave, whence, being v/ell supplied with water, 

 they did not again proceed until the flesh was either 

 rotten or consumed. It was in vain that the exasper- 

 ated owners of the cattle followed on their traces to the 

 Bushman-cave, for here they well knew it was mad- 

 ness to follow further, as inevitable death would be the 

 result, by the poisoned arrows of their subtle foes within. 

 At length the Bushmen became so frequent and daring 

 in their attacks, that a number of the Bechuanas held 

 " a great talk" on the subject (as they say in America), 

 and ended by resolving to attack the Bushmen, and ac- 

 complish their destruction at whatever cost. 



Accordingly, when the next robbery was committed, 

 the Bechuanas marched upon the Bushman-cave, armed 

 with large oval shields and battle-axes ; and, entering 

 the cave, they steadily advanced under cover of their 

 shields, while the Bushmen's arrows rattled thick upon 

 them like a storm of hail. The Bechuanas thus con- 

 tinued to advance until they came to close quarters, 

 when they cut them down with their battle-axes. The 

 other cave is situated to the eastward of the wagon- 

 track ; here, on a similar occasion, fire was made use 

 of to smoke out the Bushmen, when those who escaped 

 death by suffocation fell l)y the battle-axes and assagais 

 of their foes without. 



When driven to extremity the Bushtnen are extreme- 



