DISTURB A PARTY OF NATIVES. Oe 
seemed anxious to steal past them unobserved ; but 
not participating in his apprehension, I proceeded 
towards the light, and on coming up found a party 
of natives asleep round the dying embers of a fire, 
under the shelter of some tall bushes ; they had their 
guns by their sides, in readiness against surprise. 
We were enabled to approach and gaze upon the 
party without disturbing their slumbers, there being 
no dogs to give alarm,—rather an unusual circum- 
stance among these people. On my uttering a loud 
shout, they sprang up and grasped their guns in an 
instant, glancing suspiciously round, and inquiring 
with some astonishment who we were, and whither 
we were bound, Perceiving that we were unarmed, 
and that there was nothing in our appearance to 
excite alarm, being satisfied also that we were alone, 
they sat down again, entered cheerfully into conver- 
sation, and afforded me the intelligence I desired re- 
specting the place 1 was in search of. They men- 
tioned that the country was in a very disturbed state, 
owing to a party of Griquas and Corannas having 
committed terrible depredations on a Zoulah Chief 
named Matakatzee, who had threatened vengeance 
in consequence, against all the Griquas ; they were 
therefore fearful of his coming down to attack them, 
although not one of their Chief’s people had been 
concerned in the aggression. Having, after some en- 
treaty, obtained a draught of water from a large ox- 
horn which the natives are in the habit of carrying 
