150 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XVIII. 



As we were now considered to be on terms of 

 close intimacy with his Majesty, we had no danger 

 whatever to apprehend from any of the native tribes, 

 through whose territories we might have occasion to 

 pass. All those that inhabit the country between 

 the Vaal River and the tropic of Capricorn, were his 

 tributaries, and the terror of his name filled the sur- 

 rounding nations. None of his own subjects indeed 

 woidd dare to refuse us assistance, without incurring 

 the certainty of his summary vengeance. 



Our course, in order to reach the Cashan range 

 of mountains, where it had been resolved that our 

 operations against the elephants should commence, 

 was for the first three days a little to the southward 

 of east. Mohanycom, now armed to the teeth, 

 had relinquished his appointment in the imperial 

 household for that of guide. He had received in 

 our presence, more than once, the most positive in- 

 junctions to accompany us wherever we pleased to 

 go within the king's dominions, and not to return 

 until he had safely conducted us to the Vaal River, 

 and he had been further directed to obtain from one 

 of the kraals on our route a subordinate captain 

 named Lingap, to assist in protecting us. Moha- 

 nycom having accompanied Um'Nombate, when 

 that minister visited the colony under Dr. Smith's 

 escort (for the purpose of forming an alliance on the 

 part of his Majesty with the Cape Government), 

 could understand the general tenor of conversation 

 held in Dutch, and could even express himself in- 

 telligibly. Andries could stutter tolerably in 



