SOUTHERN AFRICA. 2dS 



tnig-edy. A party of the Matabili soldiers had in the mean- 

 time detached itself from the main body, and fallen upon 

 nine other wao'O'ons that were assembled at a distance from 

 the principal camp. The wag'g'ons were saved^ but the 

 g"reater part of the flocks and herds were carried off, and 

 twenty-four persons massacred — viz., Barend Liebenberg-, 

 sen. StephanuSj Hendrick, and Barend Liebenberg-, jun. 

 Johannes de Toit^anEng-lish schoolmaster^ named M'Donald, 

 Mrs. H. Liebenberg", Mrs. de Toit, four children, and twelve 

 black servants. Six days after this catastrophe, Erasmus's 

 curiosity prompted him to ascertain the fate of his family 

 and property. Proceeding* to the spot, he found the bodies 

 of his five black slaves, and could disting'uish the wheel- 

 tracks of his five wag-g'ons g'oing* in a northerly direction. 

 Two of his sons, and a youth named Carel Krug'er, had been 

 taken prisoners, and it was afterwards ascertained, that 

 having- attempted to effect their escape, they were merci- 

 lessly put to death on their way to the king-. 



