CAFFRES ON THE GARIEP. — BACHAPIN LAWS. 
543 
Fish River, which, by passing through the Colony by twos and threes, 
without attracting notice, they accomphshed some years before, and 
estabhshed themselves on the Gariep not far below the Asbestos 
Mountains, had proved themselves, by the aid of fire -arms, formidable 
enemies to the Bachapins, and had, about the year 1805, made an 
incursion into their territory and murdered great numbers of the 
inhabitants, and carried off large herds of their cattle. On this occa- 
sion, the Hottentots at Klaarwater and the missionaries, as they 
informed me, joined in remonstrances and threats to the Caffres, and 
compelled them to restore the stolen cattle, and conduct themselves 
peaceably in future. To this spirited step, the Hottentots were not 
only moved by the complaints of the Bachapins who believed, till 
assured of the contrary, that it was they who had supplied the 
robbers with guns and ammunition, but were equally urged by their 
fear of losing the friendship of the people of Litakun, from whom, 
in fact, they derived considerable gains by trading ; while on the 
other hand, the Caffres were both unprofitable and troublesome 
neighbours. The interfering on such an occasion, was much to the 
credit of the missionaries, and strictly becoming the character of men 
who profess a religion the prominent feature of which is peace. It 
is sufficient to prove that the utility of a missionary among savages, 
is not necessarily confined to preaching. 
A short time before the Caffres made this incursion, they had 
murdered six of Afrikaaner's men; by which act they became pos- 
sessed of six additional muskets. Thus strengthened they drove the 
Bachapins before them, and struck them with a panic which, together 
with the fear of an expected attack by Afrikaaner himself, was the 
cause of their removing their town from the banks of the Kruman, 
farther northward to the spot where it was at this time standing. 
Of the particular laws by which the Bachapins are governed, I shall 
say but little ; because, whatever they may be, they are not to be known 
correctly but by a long residence among this people, and by the aid 
of a better knowledge of their language than I at that time possessed : 
and the same remark may, with still greater propriety, be applied to 
