Chap. IX.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 71 



ever, overtook them uhen within sight of the camp ; 

 nearly all the followers fled in disorder on the first 

 alarm, leaving their master to shift for himself, who, 

 finding the camp surrounded and resistance vain, 

 jumped on his horse, and, accompanied by four of 

 his people, narrowly escaped with life, by riding 

 through and killing some of the assailants. After 

 travelling several days, and suffering dreadfully 

 from want of food and water, the party reached 

 Motito nearer dead than alive. 



The reports of four savages of the Batlapi tribe, 

 who joined us yesterday, determined us to halt a 

 day for the purpose of hunting. Richardson and 

 myself left the waggons at daybreak, attended by 

 these men, and crossing the river, took a north-west- 

 erly direction through a park of magnificent camel- 

 thorn trees, many of which were groaning under 

 the huge nests of the social grosbeak ; whilst others 

 were decorated with green clusters of misletoe, the 

 bright scarlet berries of which were highly orna- 

 mental. We soon perceived large herds of quaggas 

 and brindled gnoos, which continued to join each 

 other, until the whole plain seemed alive. The 

 clatter of their hoofs was perfectly astounding, and 

 I could compare it to nothing but to the din of a 

 tremendous charge of cavalry, or the rushing of a 

 mighty tempest. I could not estimate the accumu- 

 lated numbers at less than fifteen thousand; a 

 great extent of country being actually chequered 

 black and white with their congregated masses. 

 As the panic caused by the report of our rifles. 



