AFRICANER'S MODE OF FIGHTING 25 



siderable body of banditti as that of Africaner, may be ascribed to bis mode 

 of warfare. He endeavoured always to attack bis enemy on the plain ; or, if 

 entrenched, or among bushes, the usual mode of fighting in the country, he 

 instantly drove them from their sheltering-places ; where, if both parties were 

 of the same mind, they would continue, from day to day, occasionally dis- 

 charging their missiles, or firing a shot. By Africaner's mode of warfare the 

 conflict was soon decided. His reasons were these : he did not like suspense 

 when life was at stake : he preferred to conquer a people before they had 

 time to be alarmed, which saved them much agony of mind, and spared the 

 unnecessary effusion of blood. Africaner was a man of great prowess, and 

 possessed a mind capable of studying the tactics of savage warfare. His 

 brother Titus was, perhaps, still more fierce and fearless ; and, though a little 

 man, he was an extraordinary runner, and able to bear unparalleled fatigue. 

 He has been known, single-handed, to overtake a party of twenty possessing 

 firearms, and only retired when his musket was shot to pieces in his hand. 

 On one occasion Berend's party, who were far superior in numbers, headed 

 by Nicholas Berend, unexpectedly carried off every ox and cow belonging to 

 Africaner ; only a few calves being left in the stall. After a desperate though 

 very unequal contest for a whole day, having repeatedly taken and lost their 

 cattle, they returned home, slaughtered the calves which were left them, and 

 rested a couple of days in order to dry the flesh in the sun, ready for the in- 

 tended campaign. For several days they pursued their course along the 

 northern banks of the Orange Kiver, and having, by spies, found out the 

 rendezvous of the enemy on the southern side of the river, they passed beyond 

 them, in order to attack them from a quarter on which they fancied they were 

 safe. They swam over in the dead of the night, with their ammunition and 

 clothes tied on their heads, and their guns on their shoulders. The little force 

 thus prepared, not unlike that of Bruce at Bannockburn, seized their oppor- 

 tunity, and, when all the enemy were slumbering in perfect security, aroused 

 them by a volley of stones falling on their fragile huts. The inmates rushed 

 out, and were received by a shower of arrows ; and before they could fairly 

 recover their senses, and seize their guns, the discharge of musketry convinced 

 them that they were besieged by a host encamped in the most favourable 

 position: they consequently fled in the greatest consternation, leaving the 

 captured cattle, as well as their own, in the hands of the Africaners. 



"Nicholas Berend, to whom reference has been made, was brother to 

 the chief Berend (afterwards of the Griqua mission, and now of the Wes- 

 leyan mission among the Basuto), and a very superior man both in appearance 

 and intellect. I have frequently travelled with him, and many a dreary mile 

 have we walked over the wilderness together. Having an excellent memory, 

 and good descriptive powers, he has often beguiled the dreariness of the road, 

 by rehearsing deeds of valour in the days of heathenism, in which this struggle 



