224 SOUTHERN AFRICA. 



raised a hideous yell, and rushed forward so rapidly, throw- 

 ing their spears and clubs, that the Christian plenipoten- 

 tiaries found the utmost difficulty in galloping out of their 

 reach. 



The allied force now came up, and on the following 

 morning offered battle to the vast army of the Mantatees. 

 Their aspect was truly frightful. They were almost quite 

 black, with only a girdle round their loins ; their heads 

 were crowned with plumes of ostrich feathers ; they had 

 numerous brass rings about their neck and legs, and were 

 armed with spears, javelins, battle-axes, and clubs. Their 

 whole body, which was supposed to amount to at least 

 40,000, rushed forward in an extended line, endeavouring 

 to enclose the little troop opposed to them. The Boshu- 

 anas gave way as soon as they were seriously attacked ; 

 the Griquas, on the contrary, kept up a close fire, which 

 stunned the enemy, who still, however, continued to ad- 

 vance. The horsemen galloped back to some distance, then 

 alighted, and again alternately fired and retreated, repeating 

 this manoeuvre for several miles. The Mantatees pressed 

 on with the utmost fury, confident, if they could once come 

 to close quarters, of annihilating in an instant the handfiil 

 of troops opposed to them ; but finding that all their efforts 

 were vain, and seeing their bravest warriors falling rapidly, 

 they paused, and began slowly to retire. The Griquas 

 pursued, but were several times exposed to extreme danger 

 by the enemy turning suddenly round and renewing the 

 combat. At length the Mantatees set fire to Lattakoo, and 

 retreated through the flames. The missionaries were now 

 deeply shocked by the base and barbarous conduct of the 

 Boshuanas, who, after their pusillanimous behaviour in the 

 field, began not only to plunder, but to butcher the wounded 

 as well as the women and children left on the field ; nor 

 was it without great difficulty that they succeeded in saving 

 some of these defenceless objects. 



The name Mantatee, which signifies wanderer, applies, 

 it is said, in no other respect to this desolating horde. They 

 appear to be a Caffre tribe, inhabiting the country near 

 Cape Natal, along the lower course of the river Mapoota. 

 They were impelled to this inroad, in consequence of having 

 been driven from their own possessions by the Zoolas, a still 

 more fierce and warlike race, who, on that occasion, were 



