1812. 
THE BUSHMEN ALARMED. 
201 
already described ; and observation inclines me to suppose that it is 
a common amusement with these people. 
\.5th. Platje, Van Roye, and Cornelis, requesting leave to ride 
forward on horseback and hunt through the country before the game 
should have been disturbed, I permitted them to set out several 
hours earlier than the time fixed for the departure of the whole 
party : while at the same time Speelman, Keyser, and Stuurman, went 
on foot. This I did with a view to procuring a sufficient quantity of 
meat to be sent back as payment with Kaabi's four oxen. 
Before our departure, much delay was occasioned by sending 
our oxen and dogs to the water^ which, according to the report of the 
Hottentots who took them, lay at a distance which, thither and re- 
turning, made a journey of nearly ten miles. The sheep were spared 
this fatigue, by being naturally better able than the oxen to endure 
thirst. 
When we were about to pack up our baggage, Kaabi came to 
inform me that it was not in his power to lend us the four j^ack-oxen ; 
that he himself was perfectly willing to give me that assistance, but 
that he had been opposed in this affair by some of the principal 
members of the kraal. 
Now it appeared that the presence of my Graaffreynet Hottentots, 
had created among them some alarm and mistrust : for Keyser, who 
understood their language, overheard them mentioning to each other, 
their suspicions that he and Stuurman were spies sent by the boors ; 
as they were recognised as having been seen in the service of the ■ 
colonists, and Keyser was even pointed at as having been one of a 
former ' commando' which came into their country to retake some 
stolen cattle. Platje also made to me a report of the same nature ; 
and all who understood their language, discovered that the cause of 
their having removed their kraal from Waterpoint, was, the fear 
of being pursued, and that they now, in consequence of the place 
of their retreat being known to Hottentots connected with the 
boors, had resolved to remove to another spot, on the very next 
day after our departure. On this account, they were themselves 
VOL. II. D D 
