288 EXPEDITION INTO 



houses reduced to ruins^ to add bitterness to g'nll^ they hure 

 been taunted as the authors of their own misfortunes^ by 

 those Avho, strang-ely biassed by ex j^u^'te statements^ have 

 judg-ed them unheard^ at the distance of several thousand 

 miles from the scene of pillag^e^ bloodshed^ and devastation. 



It does indeed furnish matter of amazement to every think- 

 ing* person^ how such a state of thing's should so long* have 

 been suffered to exist ; how those who have legislated for the 

 affairs of the Colony should not long- ag"o have seen the impe- 

 rious necessity, dictated alike by reason, justice, and human- 

 ity, of exterminating- from off the face of the earth, a race of 

 monsters, who, being- the unprovoked destroyers, and im- 

 placable foes of Her Majesty's Christian subjects, have for- 

 feited every claim to mercy or consideration. Denied redress, 

 however, and deprived of the power of aveng-ing- themselves 

 of the wrong' under which they have writhed, in utter hope- 

 lessness of recovering- their property, or even enjoying- future 

 tranquillity, the border colonists have at leng-th thrown off 

 the yoke of their allegiance 3 and whilst seeking- out for 

 themselves an asylum in other lands, are now retorting- 

 upon our allies the injuries they have so lon^ sustained at 

 home. 



My visit to Moselekatse, and subsequent return by the 

 Jiitherto unexplored route of the Vaal River, afforded me 

 opportunities of observing- the proceeding's, beyond the boun- 

 dary, of these voluntary exiles, and of making- myself ac- 

 quainted with their position in relation to the numerous 

 native tribes, by which they are surrounded. Neither being- 

 correctly understood, I shall endeavour, as briefly as pos- 

 sible, to trace their steps from the commencement of the 

 emigTation. 



Weary of the insecurity of their homes, several of the 

 frontier farmers, who had heard much of the soil and capa- 

 bilities of Port Natal, resolved to decide for themselves on 



