SOUTHERN AFRICA. 228 



to overcome tlie dread they entertained of tlieir enemies the 

 Dutchmen. An intimate acquaintance with the lying- pro- 

 pensities of the savages^ combined with other circumstances, 

 satisfied us that the unusual appearance of sheep-dropping-s, 

 to which they referred in support of their assertions, had 

 been occasioned during* Kalipi's return with the booty. 

 Feeling- confident, therefore, that they had no cause for 

 alarm, and having- every reason to be apprehensive for our 

 own safety, should they desert us under existing- circum- 

 stances, we steadily refused to comply with their demand. 

 Upon this they assumed a tone of ultra insolence, and in 

 the end menaced us with an attack from a neig-hbouring- 

 Matabili outpost, if we long-er withheld the presents. 



Without an}^ just grounds for doubting- the good faith of 

 the king, we had been a -little suspicious of the real object of 

 Um'Nombate's visit, and after this threat, felt doubtful to 

 what extent the guides might be acting- under the royal in- 

 structions, with a design of deterring- us from proceeding. 

 Personal considerations would have justified, if they did not 

 demand, our putting the caitiffs to death upon the spot ; but 

 after some deliberation, it Avas resolved, after adopting pre- 

 cautionary^ measures against a nig-ht surprise, that we should 

 see whether the morrow's dawn might not find them in a 

 more accommodating humour. Ammunition was accord- 

 ingly served out, and a place allotted to every one in case of 

 an attack — the horses being secured to the front of our own 

 wao-o-on, lest the weak nerves of the Hottentots should in- 

 duce them to jump upon their backs on the first appearance 

 of danger. As a last arrangement before going to bed, 

 Ethaldur — whose nights, if passed at a distance from the 

 " licensed retailer of wine and brandy," were usually rest- 

 less—was selected to perform the important part of Ccr- 

 herns, in ^^■hich duty he was voluntarily assisted by Coeur 



