Chap. XXVIII.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 245 



nations. Conquered by Moselekatse, however 

 and Caama,* their king, having been slain, they 

 fled to this part of the country, and are now reduced 

 to an extremity of misery and want, Uttle short of 

 actual starvation — the emaciated forms of many too 

 plainly testifying to their precarious means of sub- 

 sistence. 



The obtaining of information relative to the coun- 

 try and inhabitants had uniformly been attended 

 with much difficulty ; but our guides, who had 

 evidently received instructions from the king to 

 entice us as far as possible from the scene of con- 

 tention with the emigrant boors, in the hope of 

 eventually inducing us to return by Kapain, instead 

 of by the Likwa, being now apprized of our intention 

 of discontinuing our journey northward, brought 

 seven savages who volunteered information regarding 

 the gi'eat inland lake, and even proposed, for a 

 suitable remuneration in beads, to accompany us 

 thither as guides. They stated that this vast fresh- 

 water sea, towards the discovery of which geographi- 

 cal attention has long been directed, and the exist- 

 ence of which was first fully established by Dr. 

 Smith's expedition, might easily be reached from 

 our present position in two moons, through the 

 country of the Bukaws ; a small intervening desert 

 tract being passable at this season, the recent 

 heavy rains having filled the pools upon which the 

 supply of water depends. Nothing could be more 

 tantalizing tlian this proposal, made at a time when 

 * King Hartebeest! 



