1812. 
CIRCUMSPECTION, AND PRECAUTION. 
267 
eight more Bushmen standing at the top of a low hill close on our 
right, apparently watching us. 
As there was, even under these circumstances, not much danger 
in an open country, for a person mounted on horseback, I would 
have sent some of my people forward to ascertain whether the two 
men with muskets, were natives or not ; but every one of them 
exhibited so much fear and reluctance for this service, that, to save 
my authority and avoid their refusal to obey my orders, I thought it 
most advisable not to insist on this step. My own station and duty 
in cases of danger, should, I conceived, always be that of protecting 
and defending the waggons, in which were contained all our pro- 
perty, our ammunition, and our provisions. My two baptized men 
betrayed more timidity than several of their companions ; and Cor- 
nelis to anticipate and prevent my orders, came to assure me that the 
backs of all the horses were too much galled to bear the saddle ; and 
was not ashamed to assert this, though he and Van Roye had 
ridden on horseback almost every day. 
In the mean time the enemy disappeared ; but I took the pre- 
caution of making all the men keep together in a body, and carry their 
muskets instead of leaving them tied up in the waggons, which they 
had done to spare themselves that fatigue. We now resumed our 
march, after having halted half an hour on account of this affair ; and 
advanced with watchful circumspection, not knowing how far we might 
proceed before the natives poured down from the hills to attack us : at 
least these were the sentiments of most of my men, who looked 
around them expecting to find the bodies of poor Speelman and 
Keyser. This they actually did ; for we had scarcely proceed a mile 
farther, when they were discovered at some distance on the left of 
our road, — but still alive, and, in good health and spirits, making 
the best of their way towards us, and having four Bushmen in 
company, with whom they appeared to be on perfectly friendly 
terms. At the same time the enemy on the hills poured down upon 
us, and — with every appearance of peaceable intentions joined our 
party. One of them being personally known to Muchunka, and 
being able to speak the Kora language, an amicable communication 
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