A TTA CK BY THE BOERS. 67 



In the report for 1S53, we find the following account of the long 

 threatened attack of the Boers, which took place in the previous year : — 



" Beference was made in the last report to the precarious tenure by which 

 Dr. Livingstone held possession of this field of labour, to the proposed 

 emigration of the Bakwains to a more favoured locality, and to the opening 

 prospects of Dr. L. in the regions to the north. 



"Subsequent events, however, of a most unexpected and disastrous nature, 

 have led to the abrupt abandonment of the station, both by the missionary 

 and his people. These events are detailed by Dr. Livingstone in the following 

 communication, dated Kuruman, 20th September, 1852 : — 



" On the 28th ult. 600 Boers and 700 natives appeared in the Bakwain 

 country. The natives were compelled to accompany them. Before going to 

 Sechele's town, they sent a party with four waggons down the Kolobeng to 

 my house. The town is eight miles distant, and, ever since the removal of 

 the Bakwains, the house was guarded by a few Balala placed by it for that 

 purpose by Sechele. It remained in perfect security for two years, and 

 gentlemen passing northward deposited a portion of their stores in it till their 

 return. And, so far as the Bakwains were concerned, these stores were as 

 safe as if under Chubb's locks in London. Well, the Boers broke it open, tore 

 all my books,* and scattered the leaves all over the place, destroyed my 

 medicines by smashing the bottles against the adjacent rocks, carried away 

 all the best furniture, and broke the rest ; took the smith's forge, all the tools, 

 corn-mills, and certain stores of coffee, tea, &c, left by English gentlemen, 

 who have gone to Sebituane's country. The whole body of the Boers then 

 went to Sechele's town, and attended church there, Mebalwe, a native teacher, 

 conducting the service. After the afternoon service, they told Sechele to send 

 away his women and children, for they had come to fight with him, because, 

 though repeatedly ordered by them to prevent Englishmen from going north- 

 wards, he had not only permitted, but encouraged them. He replied, that he 

 was a man of peace, and asked why he should obstruct Englishmen, who had 

 always treated him well. Next morning they commenced firing on the town 

 with swivels. It soon took fire, and the flames having compelled the women 

 and children to flee, and the men to huddle together on a small hill in the town, 

 the Boers killed 60 natives. The men, however, kept their position the 

 whole day on the hill, and killed 35 of the Boers. The Boers, having 

 horses, carried off all the cattle of the Wanketse and Bakwains ; they burnt 

 or carried off all the corn of the three tribes. My cattle and those of three 

 native teachers were also carried off. 



" Undeterred by these trials and discouragements, and cut off from the 



* Dr. Livingstone enumerates the Septnagint, Hebrew Bible, Lexicon, Cyclopaedias, Atlas, 

 Edinburgh, Quarterly, and Medical Reviews, &c. &c. 



