APPENDIX. 239 
into its bed, no doubt with a view of being protected from 
our fire by its banks, and of having an opportunity of sur- 
rounding us on both sides, without our perceiving it. At 
one of the boldest fellows we fired, I think, six shots, neither 
of which struck him, although one ball went through his 
shield, and another struck the ground just between his feet. 
On the other wing, however, Hendrik Klaas shot one dead, 
which, whether from the circumstance, probably of his 
being a chief, | am unable to say, but after that they 
seemed to have no further inclination to advance. ‘Those 
that were on this side the river recrossed it, and then the 
whole body turned their shields on their backs and quietly 
returned to our waggons. We now drew together, my Hot- 
tentot Klaas also getting courage to join us, and resolved to 
go in search of the Hottentot Piet, and the Griqua women 
and boys. In pursuance of this intention, we had pro- 
ceeded down the left bank of the river but a little way, 
when a dense smoke arising from the spot where our Wwaggons 
stood, made us fear that they had set fire to them. A little 
more careful attention to that subject convinced us of the 
truth of our suspicions, for the three different fires answered 
exactly to the relative position of our three waggons. On 
reaching a Bechuana kraal about four miles below where 
our skirmish had taken place, we found the miserable in- 
habitants, in great consternation, preparing to flee, for to be 
found there by the Matebely they knew would be certain 
death, those cruel wretches murdering every tribe through 
whose country they may carry their arms. These people 
confirmed our suspicions with regard to their burning the 
wageons, as one of them had just returned from the wood in 
whose vicinity they stood. Here we, with difficulty, each 
obtained a mouthful of dirty water, and got the pleasing 
tidings that our infantry had passed that kraal only a little 
