362 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XL. 



speedily filled by an industrious peasant ; and 

 when the colony shall have recovered from the 

 first shock, it will probably be found not to have 

 suffered from the change. Yet, taking a political 

 view of this important feature in the colonial history, 

 it cannot but appear extraordinary that so large a 

 body of disaffected subjects, from what cause soever 

 their discontent may have arisen, should have been 

 permitted to detach themselves from their alle- 

 giance, and cross the frontier in open defiance of 

 existing laws — taking with them their slaves, and 

 forcibly entering the territories of an ally, for the 

 avowed purpose of establishing themselves in a 

 position where they might shortly become the 

 most formidable of our enemies. Fortunately, how- 

 ever, many and insuperable obstacles are arrayed 

 against the success of their scheme. The golden 

 opportunity of crushing the formidable viper in 

 their path is gone; and Moselekatse, having gained 

 wisdom from the past, is not likely to be assailed 

 a second time with success. No sooner had the 

 tidings of his disastrous defeat at Mosega reached 

 the ears of his hereditary foe Dingaan, than the 

 Zooloo tyrant despatched an army with orders to 

 complete what the emigrant farmers had, in his 

 eyes, so laudably begun. Already harassed by a 

 long march, in the course of which they had suffered 

 the severest privations, the invaders were promptly 

 met by the Matabili, and routed with terrible 

 slaughter. Taking advantage of the confusion, a 

 band of vagabond Griquas and Korannas slunk. 



