SOUTHERN AFRICA. 299 



would take, now openly avowed their abhorrence of the Eng-- 

 lish rule^ and freed themselves from its trammels. Some hav- 

 ing- yielded to the claims of relationship^ went because their 

 kinsmen had g^one ; others to g"ratify their ambition^ their love 

 of adventure, or passion for a nomadic life ; and not a few 

 from a natural desire to participate in the loaves and fishes. 

 For several weeks the whole of the frontier line was in a state 

 of ferment and commotion, and larg-e caravans were dail}" to 

 be seen hurrying* across the border, and flocking- to the 

 standard of their expatriated countrymen. In the month of 

 April, Piet Eetief, a g-allant and disting-uished field-cornet of 

 the Winterberg', who, with a very larg-e cavalcade was en- 

 camped at a distance from Maritz, was induced, after much 

 entreaty and persuasion, to accept the ofiice of Governor and 

 Commander-in-chief — a post which he was eminently quali- 

 fied to fill, and to which he was elected by the unanimous 

 voice of the united emig-rants. He appointed subordinate 

 ofiicers, enacted wholesome laws, and ratified treaties which 

 had already been concluded with the neig-hbouring- native 

 chiefs, the principal of whom are Sikon3^ela, king- of the 

 Mantatees ; Moshesh, chief of the Basuto ; Moroko, chief of 

 the Barolong's at Thaba Uncha ; Tauani, chief of the remnant 

 of the Baharootzi ; and Peter David, captain of the Lishuani 

 Bastaards. This last, it will be remembered, is the father of 

 True}^ the Griqua maid, and the successor of Barend Barends, 

 whose exploits have alread}" been sung-. One and all are the 

 deadly enemies of Moselekatse, ready to take up arms 

 ag-ainst him on the slig-litest reverse of his fortune. 



These arrang-ements completed, the emig-rants once more 

 advanced towards the scene of their former misfortunes, and 

 in May last (1837), upAvards of one thousand wag-g-ons, and 

 sixteen hundred efficient fig-hting- men, with their wives, fa- 

 milies and followers, were assembled near the confluence of 

 the branches of the Vet Rivi^re> A commando, consisting' 



