64 JOHN THACKWRAY. 



alarm, until a tempestuous rain fortunately checked 

 its fury. Our situation had now become far from 

 comfortable : wrapping my cloak around me, I sought 

 refuge in the bush, while the storm raged with un- 

 abated violence for several hours : I was, however, 

 frequently compelled to leave my shelter, and assist 

 in heaping fresh fuel on the fire, which we now found 

 almost as difficult to preserve, as we had lately to 

 extinguish. About midnight our horses, which had 

 been fastened to some trees behind us, made a sudden 

 start, broke their bridles, and rushed past us, evi- 

 dently much terrified. 



" From the jungle-cumbered river 



Comes a growl along the ground ; 

 And the cattle start and shiver, 



For they know full well the sound." 



We hastily seized our guns, expecting some un- 

 welcome intruder ; but after waiting a few moments 

 in suspense, all was again quiet. Having little incli- 

 nation to sleep, we sat around the fire, when Thack- 

 wray related many perilous adventures in which he 

 had been at various times engaged. He was an 

 English settler, and made no secret of having been 

 concerned in an illicit trade with the Caffers, pre- 

 viously to the removal of restrictions, and the esta- 

 blishment of the fair at Fort Wiltshire. He recounted 

 several instances of good faith observed by the Caffer 

 Chiefs with whom he had dealt in transactions of this 

 nature. Having laid in a large stock of beads in 



