CHAP. IV.] CONFERENCE "WITH HIM. 115 



received in great state the humble messages which he 

 sent me. 



Now all this may seem laughable, but Oerlams 

 are like children, and the manner which wins respect 

 from them is not that which has most influence with 

 us. To go a step higher, — to the burly broad-limbed 

 Dutch colonists : I must relate a rather amusing 

 instance of the views some acquaintances of mine 

 among them entertained of the physique of those 

 high officials in England, whose enactments wielded 

 their destiny. It was after the anti-convict agitation ; 

 and the friends I aUude to expressed the utmost 

 surprise, and even disbelief, at hearing that the then 

 Colonial Minister was not a person of six foot stature, 

 else how could he have dared to oppose their wishes. 

 I inquired further, and found that report commonly 

 painted his lordship as a kind of ogre or violent giant. 



I desired Jonker to come to me with his chief 

 people, and I lectured them soundly. We had three 

 or four interviews. I spoke in English, and was 

 interpreted both into Dutch and Hottentot. I saw 

 clearly that I had made a favourable impression upon 

 them. I insisted upon a full and ample apology being 

 Nvritten to Mr. Kolbe, and an assurance given of future 

 forbearance and justice being shown towards the 

 Damaras. Jonker begged that Cornelius, the chief of 

 the red people, should be called to his place, and such 

 other people of importance in these parts as could be 

 brought together ; and he also mentioned his willing- 

 ness to enter into any feasible plan for the establish- 

 ment of better order in the country. The four 



