12 BOTUMAN. 



might be allowed to take possession of the territory 

 from which they had been driven — a neutral tract that 

 lay between Cafferland and the colony, and which he 

 (Botuman) described as the best part of their country. 

 He then asked if I had travelled all the way by land 

 from the Great Chief's kraal, and when he heard that 

 I had come part of the distance by sea, he was very 

 inquisitive to know how I found the track, and if 

 there were trees to fasten the Sea Waggon to at 

 night. I inquired, in turn, when the ox was to be 

 killed ; Botuman seemed immediately to remem- 

 ber the promise he had made at Fort Wiltshire, and 

 directed one to be slaughtered without delay ; but, 

 as my object was merely to ascertain the sincerity of 

 his pledge, I begged that he would in no respect 

 consider it necessary. Two baskets of refreshments 

 w T ere then brought in, one containing boiled corn, or 

 millet, and the other sour milk, which were handed 

 in the first instance to the Chief, and afterwards in 

 regular succession to those around him. This repast 

 was by no means unpalatable, and proved very ac- 

 ceptable after our long ride. 



In the course of the evening Thackwray alluded 

 to the murder of several colonists, which had been 

 perpetrated by the CafFers some years previously, and 

 told the Chief that he was reported to have been 

 concerned in this barbarous transaction. I could 

 not help thinking that, in our present circumstances 

 and situation, it was singularly bold and imprudent 



