APPENDIX. | 269 
and almost driven to desperation from extreme distress. 
In riding a few miles Mr. Painton counted above three 
hundred people seeking roots for food: there are a great 
many eatable roots which will support life, but they are 
not very nutritious; they cause the people's bodies to 
swell to an enormous size, and the striking contrast between 
their emaciated limbs and swollen bodies is very painful to 
behold. In consequence of this scarcity of food many men 
are driving from their kraals their least valued wives, and 
the old and infirm who cannot go far to seek roots are left 
to starve. A great many people, especially women, come 
every day, hoping “to be picked up.’”’ We do what we 
ean for the most distressed objects, but our stock of food 
will require very good management, and some self-denial, 
on the part of ourselves and people, in order to make it 
hold out until the harvest time, which is yet six weeks or 
two months off. However we are favoured with peace in 
our immediate neighbourhood ; Api,* the Ficani Chief, who 
was last April living above Faku, near the sources of the 
Zimvooboo, has been driven thence, by a commando from 
Dingaan the Zulu Chief. He has fled (according to what 
we could learn) to the Amastutz tribes, near the sources of 
the Orange River, and has made an inroad into the Tam- 
bookie country, near Mr. Haddy’s Station. I think we are 
as safe here as in any part of this country beyond the fron- 
tier. I do not suppose, in the event of any war, we should be 
molested, as the late expedition under Colonel Somerset and 
Major Dundas against the marauding tribes have left upon 
the minds of the natives a salutary impression of the power 
of the English; and the humane and equitable conduct pur- 
sued and enforced by the commanders has tended very 
much to raise the character of the English nation, of which 
in many instances of our journey we have reaped the adyan- 
* Capaai. 
