VISIT FROM MAHURA. 293 



guns and rifles to be cleaned and loaded, and ammuni- 

 tion to be placed in readiness for action, I had also 

 four good muskets cleaned and loaded, which in all 

 gave me twenty shots at the first round ; these, if well 

 directed, in the open country, I calculated would keep 

 off a whole host of Boers. 



I pushed on the wagons as rapidly as I could, con- 

 sidering that the country was almost destitute of water, 

 my cattle' consequently being in a desperate condition ; 

 and in- the afternoon of the 13th I reached the Hart 

 River, where I outspanned within a quarter of a mile 

 of the town or kraal of the Batlapis. The river was 

 greatly swollen and quite impassable, the rain having 

 been very heavy in certain parts of the country. Short- 

 ly after we arrived old Mahura, with a party, made his 

 appearance, and came down to greet me across the 

 river, and beg for some coffee. 



In the morning, by Mahura's request, I inspanned and 

 crossed the Hart stream, and encamped on its southern 

 bank. In the course of the day I obtained ten karosses 

 in barter from the tribe, and one very good spotted cat 

 as a present from the chief I also obtained a large 

 sack of Kaffir corn in barter for beads, and milk was 

 pressed upon us to any amount. A few fine oxen were 

 offered for barter, but I did not require them-, preferring 

 to purchase karosses. Mahura favored me with a visit 

 morning and evening, remaining at the wagons about 

 three hours on each occasion, drinking coffee to an im- 

 mense extent, and pestering me with requests for vari- 

 ous articles of which he stood in need. 



On the 16th I deemed it high time to be getting 

 under way, being quite s^ick of the presence of Mahura 

 and his retinue, who came down to my wagons, and re- 

 mained there for the greater part of the day, merely 



