11 PREFACE. 



with the specimens of Natural History which he 

 had collected, numerous and repeated inquiries were 

 made relative to the inhabitants of the country 

 whence these specimens were brought : this circum- 

 stance, together with the interest recently excited 

 towards this quarter of the world, suggested the 

 idea of preparing his journal for publication. 



The growing importance of the Cape Colony — 

 the increasing intercourse with the vast population 

 inhabiting the regions lying beyond the Colonial 

 boundary, — the expedition that has recently started 

 from Cape Town for the purpose of penetrating 

 Central Africa (the results of which are looked 

 forward to with expectations not unmingled with 

 anxiety, from the hostile movement of some of the 

 interior tribes), together with the late unexpected 

 incursion of the Caffers along the Eastern frontier — 

 the destruction of life and property, and the conse- 

 quent distress and suffering entailed upon the Colo- 

 nists from the overwhelming invasion of this rude 

 and barbarous people, confirmed the Author in his 

 determination of laying before the public the results 

 of his gleanings, augmented from various sources of 

 information, to which he here begs to acknowledge 



