GOVERNMENT UNDER RETIEF. 
323 
brethren over the Vaal, just at the period when 
Gert Maritz* had returned from his successful 
attack upon Matzule-Katze and the Matabilii. 
Having been elected commandant general of 
the emigrant boers, Eetief immediately set about 
forming regular treaties of friendship and al- 
liance with the native chiefs by whom he was 
surrounded, except Matzule-Katze. Moroko, 
Mosesh, Tonana, and Sikonyela, entered ap- 
parently with cordiality into all his arrange- 
ments, and, upon this footing, all the emigrants 
then spread themselves over the land situated 
between and along the Modder, the Vet, and 
the Sand rivers, and gradually formed them- 
selves into a more settled form of government. 
Their numbers were, about this time, also in- 
creased by another large clan, headed by the 
venerable J acobus Uys, then about seventy years 
of age, and his eldest son Pieter Uys; who, 
having visited this district before, cherished 
the idea of settling down here in preference 
to going further into the interior of Africa. 
This party issued a manifesto, declaratory of 
their intention to shape their course towards 
Natal, and to secede from all those parties who 
seemed more intent on occupying the banks 
* The principal town of Natal, Pieter Maritzburg is named aft&* 
these two Boers, viz, Pieter Retief, and Gert Maritz, being two of 
their most distinguished leaders, " burg" being, in Dutch, a town, 
Y 2 
