SOUTHERN AFRICA. 227 
the scorching rajs of the sun, not having dared to move from 
the spot, lest they should be discovered and cut off by the 
Bosjesmans ; and they had but just returned from giving 
their horses a little water, near fifteen miles off, in the Sea- 
Cow river. They informed us that, during the dajs vast 
numbers of the savages had appeared upon the plain digging 
up roots : that they came from different quarters, and in so 
many groupes, that they concluded there must be several 
hordes in the neighbourhood of this spot : that the nearest, 
which it was our intention to surprise, was within two or 
three miles. 
Having halted here a couple of hours, in order to arrive at 
the mouth of the defile, in which the kraal was situated, just 
at the first dawn of day, the march again commenced, and 
we proceeded along in solemn silence. On entering the de- 
file we perceived that at the opposite extremity a hill stretched 
across it, admitting a narrow pass on either side ; our party 
therefore divided into three companies, in order to possess all 
the passes which led to the kraal; and as the day advanced they 
again closed together slowly towards the hill, at the foot of 
which the horde was supposed to lie. A Hottentot, having 
ascended one of the heights, waved his hat as a signal of hav- 
ing discovered the huts, and then pointed to the spot where 
the horde was situated. We instantly set off on full gallop 
in the direction pointed out, and in a moment found our- 
selves in the middle of the kraal. Day was but just begin- 
ning to break ; and by the faint light I could discover only a 
few straw-mats, bent each between two sticks, into a semi- 
circular form, and just elevated above the surface of the earth. 
