INTRODUCTION. vn 



tons of the guardians strewed all over the place. The 

 books of a good library — my solace in our solitude — were 

 not taken away, but handfuls of the leaves were torn out 

 and scattered over the place. My stock of medicines was 

 smashed ; and all our furniture and clothing carried off 

 and sold at public auction to pay the expenses of the 

 foray. 



"Ido not mention these things by way of making a 

 pitiful wail over my losses, nor in order to excite com- 

 miseration; for though I do feel sorry for the loss of 

 lexicons, dictionaries, &c, which had been the com- 

 panions of my boyhood, yet, after all, the plundering only 

 set me entirely free for my expedition to the north, and 

 I have never since had a moment's concern for anything 

 I left behind." 



The following letter, written by the Chief Sechele 1 , 

 to Mr Moffat, describes the above transactions, and is a 

 touching specimen of native eloquence : 



" Friend of my heart's love, and of all the confidence 

 of my heart, I am Sechele ; I am undone by the Boers, 

 who attacked me, though I had no guilt with them. 

 They demanded that I should be in their kingdom, and 

 I refused; they demanded that I should prevent the 

 English and Griquas from passing (northwards). I re- 

 plied, These are my friends, and I can prevent no one 

 (of them). They came on Saturday, and I besought 

 them not to fight on Sunday, and they assented. They 



1 For an account of this chief, see note, p. 4. 



