1812. 
KRAAIKOFS KRAAL. 
189 
of conversing freely in his own language : but, after the anxiety I had 
suffered on his account, it afforded me the greatest gratification to 
observe the brightness of his countenance, at his return home, 
and his smiling happy looks. When I reflected on the misunder- 
standing and possible consequences which might have ensued from 
our not bringing him back with us, I regarded it as providential 
good-fortune, that he had been intercepted in his flight, by an honest 
boor, and by his means placed again in our hands. 
As the people of the kraal informed us that the spring, which 
supplied them with water, was at a considerable distance farther, I 
judged it most convenient to proceed thither. The chief sent some 
of his men to guide us ; for without that assistance we should cer- 
tainly not have found it that night, as it lay about two miles and a 
quarter northward in the open plain. The reasons which they gave, 
for pitching their huts so far from any water, were, I think, such as 
could be imagined only by a nation like the Bushmen ; — the com- 
mandoes of boors in search of stolen cattle, would not so easily find 
them out in their present situation ; while, by being at a distance 
from the spring, they not only escaped the annoyance of lions and 
beasts of prey, but they left the water open for the use of other 
animals, so that they often had an opportunity of shooting game, 
by lying there in ambush. 
It was quite dark when we arrived at the spring. As the 
Hottentots were much fatigued, and desirous of retiring early to rest, 
I was not sorry that the natives did not follow us to our halting- 
place. Their visit was reserved till the morning, which was the time 
I had appointed for making the distribution of tobacco. 
9th. My new stock enabled me to give more liberally than I had 
done on my former visit, and the whole kraal were rendered as happy 
as before. 
When I mentioned to them, that the boors laid heavy com- 
plaints against their nation for coming into the colony and com- 
mitting so many robberies, they cunningly replied, that they knew 
other kraals did so, but as for them, they never stole cattle from any 
body, but were content to live always on game and wild roots. I 
