52 
A RHINOCEROS HUNT PROPOSED. 
6 March, 
people, where alone such an important proof could have been pro- 
cured. She complained that the boors on the borders, were very 
harsh and unkind in not giving them tabak^ when they had tra- 
velled so far on purpose to beg a little ; and if they at last were 
so fortunate as to obtain any, it was but a crumb ; shewing me at 
the same time the tip of her little -finger, to impress an idea of the 
smallness of the quantity. But oftener was it their lot, she said, 
to be driven from the house with a whip. Here she imitated the 
act of whipping, in a manner so natural, and mimicked so well the 
tone of pain and crying, that the bystanders were highly amused 
by her imitative talents. She smiled however ; and went on to 
inform me, that the CafFres * and the colonists were at war against 
each other, and in one of their rencontres a boor was pierced through 
the thigh with hassagays. 
At length their attention was directed to the eland-meat, which 
my men were then placing on the bushes to dry. Our exposing 
before them so great a temptation, was a sufficient excuse for their 
' coveting and desiring' ; and I distributed among them a portion 
sufficient to fill their largest pot. 
The natives now made another request, and appeared very 
solicitous that we should stop a day or two with them, and hunt the 
rhinoceros; four of which animals had been seen at a short distance 
from their kraal. To this, my own people, who were now quite at 
ease as to the sincerity and friendly disposition of the Bushmen, 
were much inclined ; and all parties therefore were gratified when I 
consented to remain here a day for that purpose. The natives had 
in this, an additional proof of my goodwill towards them ; though 
it was, I confess, a favor which repaid itself, as our own stock of pro- 
visions would be replenished by the same means by which the Bush- 
men would be supplied. It was therefore agreed that the hunters 
should set out early on the morrow, and that a party from the kraal 
* The CafFres to which she alluded, were that same wandering kraal, often meny 
tioned in the first volume, as having emigrated to the banks of the Gariep ; this part of 
the Colony lying in the direct route between their present station and their own country. 
