242 APPENDIX. 
ceeded, but whither, we scarcely knew ourselves. We were 
just debating upon which way we should steer our course, 
when to our astonishment we heard the crack of a waggon 
whip. “Gracious heaven !” I cried, “ the hand of Providence 
is in this!’ I jumped upon my horse and galloped off in 
the direction of the sound, although as yet I saw nothing, 
but I fired my gun to make them lay to, as they had evi- 
dently gone far past us. At last I caught a glimpse of two 
waggons, and made sure it was my friends of the African 
expedition. In that I was, however, mistaken; for it 
turned out to be a Mr. Gibson, a trader, on his way to 
Masilikatsie. Glad of an opportunity of saving a fellow 
creature's life, [ in a few words explained our situation to 
him, and the danger he was in of proceeding any farther in 
the present state of things. He heard me coolly out, and 
then said, that Masilikatsie must certainly have thought 
that we were all Griquas, for he knew that Chief, and could 
not suppose for a moment that he would otherwise have 
attacked white people. Mr. G. had also three of the Ma- 
tebely with him, one of whom had been in the Colony with 
him, and they were all of the same opinion as their master. 
I replied, that they probably might at first have mistaken us 
for Griquas, but to obviate that mistake, Jan Saver and 
myself purposely exposed ourselves in front of their line, 
before the attack commenced. Gibson, however, persisted 
in his determination to go on, at all risks, making sure that 
they would never attack him while he had their countrymen 
in his waggons. 
As there was still no sign of water, we accompanied the 
waggons to the place where they intended spanning-out, 
which was still two hours farther, that we might obtain 
some refreshments, having had nothing to eat the whole of 
the preceding day and night. On our reaching the out- 
