114 EXrEDITION INTO 



had been tliinking- the matter over, and that we were at 

 hberty to g*o wherever we pleased! Having made this 

 gratifying announcement the king withdrew. 



Our object was now accomplished, but the miscreant 

 Andries no sooner heard that his predictions had been 

 falsified, than he industriously circulated a report that the 

 Bushmen across the Vaal were so cruel and vindictive that 

 there was not the most remote probability of our regaining 

 the colony by that route j and from that moment the fear 

 of death by poisoned arrows took the place of the dastardly 

 dread of the " great black one," whom our followers now 

 pronounced to be a " very fine gentleman." I need scarcely 

 add, that the despot's beer had no small effect in producing 

 this revolution of sentiment. In about half an hour the 

 kino* sent for the tent. This we had anticipated in the 

 natural train of events j but in order to enhance the value 

 of the bribe, we took the liberty of reminding him of the 

 terms of the agreement, and declined to part with it until 

 the hunting should be over, inwardly hoping that this 

 ruse would hasten our dismissal, for which we were hourly 

 becomino* more anxious. 



The wealth of this barbarous sovereign may be said 

 almost to consist in his innumerable droves of horned catle. 

 These are herded in various part of the country, and furnish 

 employment to a considerable portion of his lieges, who are 

 precariously maintained by his bounty, but depend chiefly 

 for support upon their success in hunting. The deaths and 

 casualties which occur amongst the oxen at different out- 

 stations are regularly reported, and we had an opportunity 

 of seeing this fi'equently done during our visit. Running 

 with all speed to within fifty yards of the king, a warrior 

 places his arms upon the ground, and assuming a subdued 

 posture, with his head bowed to the dust, crawls within 

 ear-shot, when all those about the ro} al person exclaim, 



