EMBASSIES FROM DINGrAAN. 343 
of wants, and the most friendly interourse was 
ever afterwards maintained between them. In 
the meanwhile, the emigrant farmers laid out 
the township of Pietermaritzburg and what is 
now called the town of D'Urban. Landrosts 
were appointed to both townships ; they esta- 
blished a more regular system of government, 
and, with the the able assistance of Mr. Boshof, 
(the present Eegistrar of the Court,) who, about 
that time, arrived in the district with his entire 
clan, various laws and regulations were framed, 
which gradually redeemed them from the state 
of anarchy, into which they were fast falling. 
While the winter of 1839 was thus taken up 
by these duties and labours, Dingaan, somewhat 
recovering from the effects of his late defeat, 
commenced sending in some special messengers, 
first delivering up 316 horses, which he, at va- 
rious times, had captured, and thereafter profess- 
ing every disposition to enter into amicable 
arrangements with the emigrants ; their answer 
was plain and manly, that they would not enter 
into any treaty of peace with him, unless ample 
restitution had been made of all their cattle, 
and sheep, and until the value of their property, 
taken or destroyed by him and the Zulus, had 
been paid for. This led to frequent embassies, 
promises of restitution, and fixing places where 
some at least of the cattle, and some guns, were 
