6, 7 May, 1812. 
HALFWAY SPRING. 
187 
1th. At about eleven miles beyond this spring, we joined our 
former track ; and a little more than six miles farther, we passed 
Rhenoster poort (Rhinoceros Pass). It was dark before we arrived 
at the Halfway Spring : here we conveniently stationed ourselves for 
the night, and made use of our shelter of reeds, which we found re- 
maining just in the state in which we had left it. 
My new men, who were all utter strangers to the following part 
of the journey, and to whom the existence of a kraal of Colonial 
Hottentots in this direction, was hitherto unknown, seemed much 
pleased at an opportunity of learning the way to it, and took great 
interest in our daily progress. Some indeed were a little inclined to 
fear, at thus venturing into the heart of a country which had always 
been reported as unsafe for a colonist ; but my other people now 
boldly talked of the Rushmen and their friend Kaabi, in so familiar 
a tone, that these fears were soon quieted ; yet they often expressed 
their surprise that we could have found any means of gaining the 
good-will of a race of savages, whom they had been accustomed to 
look upon as the greatest scoundrels in Africa. 
Not one of the natives had yet approached us, although we 
were certain that we had been seen by them, as two were observed 
at a distance by some of our party who had straggled from the main 
body. Their absence was occasioned by our numbers being so much 
greater than before, that they at first feared it might be a commando 
sent in search of stolen cattle ; and our increased number of horses 
strengthened that suspicion. 
A troop of horsemen is the most alarming sight which can present 
itself to a kraal of Rushmen in an open plain, as they then give 
themselves up for lost, knowing that under such circumstances, there 
is no escaping from these animals. Their conscience allows them 
little hope of mercy ; as they feel aware, that by their repeated 
incursions and robberies, they have given the colonists sufficient 
excuse for treating them with severity, and that their own plea of re- 
taliation, or revenge for former injuries, is now turned against 
themselves. 
We had no doubt that, when they had fully reconnoitred us 
B B 2 
