BUSHMEN DEPREDATIONS. 107 



borders of the Zaak River, sent out his son Carel, 

 accompanied by two Hottentot boys, in charge of 

 four hundred and thirty sheep. They were sur- 

 prised about mid-day by a party of six Bushmen, 

 who seeing young Kruger armed with a gun, imme- 

 diately took aim at him with their poisoned arrows 

 and shot him through the body. Having only ob- 

 served one of the Hottentot boys, they quickly dis- 

 patched him with stones : the other, at the com- 

 mencement of the affray having crept under a 

 bush, witnessed the whole transaction with the 

 greatest terror. After the Bushmen had taken away 

 Kruger's gun and ammunition, and driven off the 

 sheep, the poor lad escaped from his hiding-place, 

 and ran home to his master with the mournful intel- 

 ligence. The parent thus deprived of the support 

 of his old age, and likewise of all his property, 

 applied immediately for a Commando to go in search 

 of his flock. The party succeeded in discovering 

 the kraal of the Bushmen, who, no doubt fearful of 

 the issue of such a daring outrage, had decamped. 

 Some Hottentots, being sent to reconnoitre, observed 

 a number of those savages, on whom they instantly 

 fired, when four fell, while the others fled into the 

 bush, and made their escape. Only two out of the 

 whole number of sheep w r ere recovered. 



The case of Lewis Nel was still more aggravated : 

 while sitting by his waggon, in the dusk of evening, 

 conversing with his servant, the latter was shot dead. 

 Lewis ran for his gun, but before he could reach it, 



