472 NECESSITY OF MAINTAINING DUE AUTHORITY. 25, 26 July, 
I was desirous of inspiring them. As I had principally endeavoured 
to convince them that I wished to make them respect and esteem, 
rather than fear, me, they were not made uneasy by these pro- 
ceedings, but seemed satisfied that they were just, and such as the 
case required. As to Van Roye, I rejoiced to find that I had suc- 
ceeded in working a change in his feelings, which were at length, by 
means of some serious and admonitory conversation which I after- 
wards had with him in my waggon in the presence of Juli, converted 
into those of a becoming humility and obedience : and although, un- 
fortunately, this change was not permanent, yet it continued for some 
time to produce a good effect. The check which his and Cornelis's 
insolent temper now received, taught them and all my party, that 
they would not be suffered easily to take the reins of affairs out 
of the proper hands : unless, indeed, they resorted to open mutiny 
and force ; an experiment which I did not fear their being hardy 
enough to attempt, as they could not but know that by proceeding 
to that extremity they would render their return into the Colony 
impossible, and forfeit to the laws every advantage which they might 
expect, or hope to derive, from that quarter. 
To maintain a command over these Hottentots, I was compelled, 
by my peculiar circumstances, to assume an authority which legally 
did not belong to me ; but this affair served to convince me how 
important, and indispensably necessary, it is for the safety and success 
of every similar expedition, that the leader of it should be fortified 
with sijecial power to enforce, if occasion required, the obedience 
and due co-operation of its members : for, the perverseness of human 
nature when uncontrolled, seems every where alike to seduce men 
from unanimity, and strangely to mislead them to prefer turbulence 
to peace. 
26th. Observing a little child, apparently about five or six years 
old, standing by our fire and anxiously watching my men in hopes 
of getting a piece of meat, and seeing that its features were not those 
of a Bachapin child, I had the curiosity to go nearer to examine 
them. But I never beheld an object which more strongly excited 
my compassion: the sight of this wretched poor little creature, 
