CiiAP. XXXVIIL] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 339 



which it was found necessary to perform every other 

 day), was fortunately in great demand amono-st 

 the boors. Every Hottentot now tricked himself 

 out in ostrich plumes, and dragged to light some 

 hidden article of finery which had been reserved 

 against his return amongst his clansmen^ for whose 

 especial edification he had also prepared right 

 wondrous tales of his deeds in arms, and his perils 

 by field and flood. The town of Colesberg beino- 

 known to possess a licensed retailer of ardent spirits, 

 we preferred passing the night of the 18th without 

 water, to visiting it ; but after all, it was only by 

 frequent pointed allusions to field cornets, and 

 clerks of the peace, that the impatient and thirsty 

 souls were prevented from absconding thither. 



Blending their craggy summits with the passino- 

 clouds, the lofty Sneuwbergen next rose to view ; 

 and on the 21st we struck into the high road near 

 Dassies' Fontein, where we had the happiness of 

 finding our ancient Kafir acquaintance inhaling his 

 dacca with unabated industry. Our followers, more 

 fantastically arrayed than a band of banditti, were 

 here unexpectedly met by a party of their cronies 

 with waggons from Graati Reinet, who greeted 

 them as men risen from the dead, with the astound- 

 ing intelligence that a report had gone forth in the 

 colony of our whole party having been put lo death 

 by the king. It was known that we were in the 

 neighbourhood of the emigrants at the time of their 

 massacre, and so long a time having elapsed w^ith- 

 out any tidings being received of our safety, the 



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