468 
TRIAL OF JAN VAN ROYE 
25 July, 
uncongenial alternative, of maintaining my command by violent 
measures. 
25th. In the evening, when my cattle returned home, I found 
that they had been the whole day under the care of Platje ; that Van 
Roye, who had again absented himself till the hour of their return, 
had ordered this Hottentot to attend them, and had himself not gone 
near them till a little before that time. In order more clearly to 
show me his disposition, and his inclination to disrespect, he con- 
ducted himself before me with a gait and looks, which were too clear 
and visible to the rest of my men and the natives, to admit of my 
pretending not to see and understand them. 
It became therefore unavoidable, to take serious notice of his 
conduct ; and I immediately ordered all my men to be present at 
the waggons, and declared that it was now my intention to punish 
his disobedience ; but that I would first hear, in the presence of all, 
what he had to say in his defence. Jan Hendrik was in the mootsi 
at this time, and I desired him to seek for Berends with a message 
requesting his attendance, as being a Hottentot captain, to witness 
my proceedings with one of my men who had dared openly to dis- 
obey me. 
I laid my pistols and sword close at hand on the chest in my 
waggon, to impress more strongly on my people the serious nature 
of the affair. The formalities with which I conducted every thing, and 
the approach of night, rendered the whole more solemn, and com- 
manded a certain degree of respect from all those who were present. 
The Hottentots waited in silence the arrival of Berends and Hen- 
drik, and stood motionless around my waggon. Mattlvi and his 
chieftains, whose whole attention was fixed on us, were sitting at a 
little distance : not a word was spoken by any one ; nor was the 
least sound to be heard in the mootsi. Neither the Chief, nor any 
of the natives, attempted to interfere with these transactions ; nor 
did they make the smallest remark : all were serious and still. 
At length Berends and Hendrik arrived ; together with most of 
their people ; I commenced the business by informing them that I 
had desired their presence, in order that what I was about to say 
