THOMPSON. 223 



a serious attack. The missionaries, in this extremity, 

 made great exertions to save the nation. One of them 

 hastened back to implore the aid of the Griquas, a people 

 bordering on the English colony, and who had learned the 

 use of firearms from the Europeans. Mr. Thompson and 

 another went out to trace and report the progress of this 

 formidable inroad. On reaching Old Lattakoo they found 

 it silent and uninhabited, like the most desolate wilderness ; 

 while the pots boiling on the fires showed that its desertion 

 was recent, and that the enemy were probably at a very 

 short distance. Notwithstanding, they continued to ride 

 on, till, arriving at the top of a hill, their guide cried out, 

 "the Mantatees !" who were in fact seen moving in an im- 

 mense mass along the vallej'^ beneath. It was necessary 

 to put spurs to their horses, in oider to escape the hazard 

 of being surrounded. 



The arrival of Mr. Thompson at Lattakoo' spread a ge- 

 neral alarm ; for so rapid was the Mantatee march, that 

 only a little time could elapse before they would reach the 

 city. The queen, vidth her female attendants and the prin- 

 cipal chiefs, rushed into the house to ask the advice of the 

 missionaries in this fearful crisis. The general opinion 

 was in favour of flight. Even the warriors, who had been 

 poisoning their arrows and dancing the war-dance whole 

 nights without intermission, gave up all hopes of success- 

 ful resistance, and were preparing to follow the long files 

 of oxen, on which the inhabitants were already placing 

 their most valuable eflfects. Suddenly a cloud of dust was 

 seen in the south, which, on its nearer approach, announced 

 the first division of Griqua horse coming to their aid. 

 Hereupon, all who were endued with any portion of cou- 

 rage determined to remain and face the enemy. The allies 

 were received with unbounded exultation ; many oxen 

 were killed and roasted, and even at this critical moment 

 the two parties gave themselves up to feasting and jollity. 

 Their security increased, when notice was received that the 

 Mantatees still remained at Old Lattakoo, consuming the 

 cattle and pro\isions which they had found in that place. 

 Several of the missionaries then set out to endeavour to 

 open a negotiation. On coming within sight of the enemy 

 they rode forward in a peaceful manner, inviting them by 

 signs to a conference ; when instantly that savage host 



