Chap. XXX.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. '2(J9 



From our present position, the Vaal River was 

 stated by the guides to be only two days' journey to 

 the southward, the range of mountains in which it 

 rises being indistinctly visible to the south-east. 

 Having conducted us thus far on our journey, they 

 now declared their intention of returning immediately 

 to the king, for whom they had the impudence to 

 demand the gun, as well as the promised wages of 

 their own services; adding, in reply to our remon- 

 strances, that as we were now standing on the ground 

 where the emigrants had been routed, they found it 

 impossible to proceed farther, or to overcome the 

 dread they entertained of their enemies the Dutch- 

 men. An intimate acquaintance with the lying 

 propensities of the savages, combined with other 

 circumstances, satisfied us that the unusual appear- 

 ance of sheep-droppings, to which they referred in 

 support of their assertions, had been occasioned 

 during Kalipi's return with the booty. Feeling 

 confident, therefore, that they had no cause for alarm, 

 and having every reason to be apprehensive for our 

 own safety, should they desert us under existing 

 circumstances, we steadily refused to comply with 

 tlieir demand. Upon this they assumed a tone of 

 ultra insolence, and in the end menaced us with an 

 attack from a neighbouring Matabili outpost, if we 

 longer withheld the presents. 



Without any just grounds for doubting the good 

 faith of the king, we had been a little suspicious of 

 the real object of Um'Nombate's visit, and after 

 this threat, felt doubtful to what extent the guides 



