70 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. IX. 



Siklagole^ had the unspeakable satisfaction of per- 

 ceiving the waggons drawn up under a large tree 

 in the middle of the plain. The discharge of ray 

 rifle at a little distance, had relieved the anxiety of 

 my companion and followers, who, during the night, 

 had entertained the most gloomy forebodings on 

 my account, being convinced that I had either been 

 torn piecemeal by lions, or speared by the assagais 

 of the cannibals ! A cup of coffee was immediately 

 offered me, which, as I had scarcely tasted nourish- 

 ment for thirty hours, proved highly grateful ; and 

 I learned that Richardson had been obliged to halt 

 in the plain the preceding night, in consequence of 

 the great length of the march, and the darkness 

 overtaking him. This accounted for my not meet- 

 ing him on the river bank, which we again reached 

 in about two hours, encamping under a grove of 

 spreading mokaala trees. 



Both the Siklagole and the Meritsane take their 

 source in the low range of hills called Kunuana, 

 considerably to the eastward of the point where 

 we crossed them ; and, joining about the same dis- 

 tance to the westward, empty themselves into the 

 Molopo. Near their confluence the camp of Mr. 

 Bain, a trader to whose name I have already alluded, 

 was attacked in 1834 by Moselekatse. A party of 

 marauding Griquas, whom he had imprudently 

 taken with him to assist in hunting, entered the 

 territories of that prince, and succeeded in capturing 

 several head of cattle, with which they had made 

 good their retreat. A large party of warriors, how- 



