Chap. XXXVI.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 325 



during their absence, from the assaults of vuUures, 

 the garbage and putrid skins with which the trees 

 were festooned. 



Taking a review of the whole of this unfortunate 

 affair, it was poor consolation to reflect that the 

 catastrophe liad been brought about by a tissue of 

 the grossest neglect, pusillanimity, and mismanage- 

 ment on the part of oiu* followers. Next to the 

 inexcusable want of vigilance, and subsequent cre- 

 dulity of Andries, in which the whole mischief had 

 originated, came the needless and provoking loss of 

 time on the morning of the 4th, followed by an 

 extraordinary lack of energy and zeal, on the part 

 of the Hottentots who were sent in quest of the 

 truants. The retreat of the marauders, whose 

 adroitness in driving off cattle has already been 

 noticed, was doubtless greatly favoured by the 

 undidating character of the ground; but if instead 

 of plodding on the trail, the mounted men had 

 galloped in advance, and reconnoitred the coimtry, 

 there can be no doubt that the event would have 

 been widely different. An examination of the foot- 

 marks showed that Piet, in the first instance, 

 without any reason whatever, had turned back when 

 actually within a quarter of a mile of the plunderers, 

 whom he must have seen had he ridden to the brow 

 of the next eminence. And even after the golden 

 opportunity of retaking the greater portion of our 

 oxen had been thrown away through the cowardice 

 of Andries and Cobus — still the day might have 

 been retrieved, had those doughty characters been 



