1812. 
AND TEN COLONISTS. 
121 
them growing insolent, and thinking it unsafe to remain amongst 
them, he was preparing to mount his horse ; when they treacherously 
seized the opportunity and, at the moment of turning his back, 
pierced him mortally with their hassagays. At this signal, the 
burghers were surrounded, and ten of them killed on the spot : the 
rest escaped, only by being on horseback ; though several were deeply 
wounded. On this occasion, the savages displayed a degree of bar- 
barity which had not hitherto been supposed to belong to their 
character, but which their own mistaken notions respecting warfare, 
rendered perhaps praiseworthy or, at least, not dishonourable. 
At this period, as Nieukerk informed me, the war had cost the lives 
of not more than thirteen Burghers, exclusively of soldiers and Hotten- 
tots ; while the Caffres had lost two hundred of their number, before 
the former could dislodge them from the woods of that district : and, 
as they still ventured to make incursions, from time to time, many 
more of these tribes were shot. 
I had much reason, in common with the Colony, to lament the 
death of the landdrost; whose character was, besides, an assurance that I 
should meet with every liberal assistance in obtaining the object of my 
journey to Graaffreynet. No other had yet been appointed in his 
place : the duties of the office, therefore, were fulfilled by one of the 
Heemraaden, of the name of Mare. 
The inmates of Nieukerk's cottage, besides himself and his wife, 
were, his two brothers, and his wife's father and mother. The two 
last were far advanced in years, and complained much of the coldness 
of the climate of Sneeuwberg (Sneeberg), to which they were not 
yet inured, having resided here not more than two months ; before 
which, they had lived in the Boschjesveld, a warm and dry country. 
Every one, in fact, seemed to be troubled with a cough ; and as they 
were but new-comers, they found these highlands unpleasantly chilly. 
They all wore their hats within doors ; but the effects of eat^ly habits 
and of a natural pleasure which I felt in showing respect to honest 
men, though tenants of the meanest cottage, always prompted me, on 
entering such a dwelling, to testify that respect by the same forms 
VOL. II. R 
