360 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XL. 



into a flame, and caused the rage for emigration to 

 burst forth and spread like wild -fire. The promise 

 of land unlimited, and of relief from taxation, tempted 

 hundreds whose remoteness from the border had 

 smothered the incentives which actuated the original 

 projectors of the scheme. Another class, who, like 

 the bat in the fable, had been prudently watching 

 the turn that affairs would take, now openly avowed 

 their abhorrence of the English rule, and fieed 

 themselves from its trammels. Some having yielded 

 to the claims of relationship, went because their 

 kinsmen had gone; others to gratify their ambition, 

 their love of adventure, or passion for a nomadic 

 life ; and not a few from a natural desire to par- 

 ticipate in the loaves and fishes. For several weeks 

 the whole of the frontier line was in a state of 

 ferment and commotion, and large caravans w^ere 

 daily 1o be seen hurrying across the border, and 

 flocking to the standard of their expatriated coun- 

 trymen. In the month of April, Piet Retief, a 



Qfallant and distinguished Field-cornet of the Winter- 

 to o 



berg, who, with a very large cavalcade w^as encamped 

 at a distance from Maritz, was induced, after much 

 entreaty and persuasion, to accept the office of 

 Governor and Commander-in-chief — a post which 

 he Avas eminently qualified to fill, and to which he 

 was elected by the unanimous voice of the united 

 emigrants. He appointed subordinate officers, 

 enacted wholesome laws, and ratified treaties whicii 

 had already been concluded with the neighbouring 

 native chiefs, the principal of whom are Sikonyela, 



