248 TRAVELS IN 
Jimited power over the lives of those who were taken prison- 
ers. It failed, at the same time, to fix any bounds to the 
f^xtcnt of the expeditions made against them, which, if at all 
allowed, certainly ought not to go beyond the limits of the 
colony. Nothing could be more unwarrantable than the 
attack which was made by our party upon the Bosjesman's 
kraal ; and the only palliation it can admit of is the con- 
sideration of the laudable purpose it was meant to answer. 
The poor wretches were peaceably sleeping under their hum- 
ble covering of mats, in the midst of their own country, far 
removed from the boundary of the colony, and it was ex- 
tremely doubtful if they had ever been guilty of any acts of 
aggression against the boors. Their inroads would in fact be 
more effectually checked by charging them boldly, vv^hen caught 
within the colony, than by pursuing and hunting them in 
their own country. This, however, would not answer the ob- 
ject of the farmer, which is that of procuring children. To 
attend his numerous flocks and herds, he must have many 
people ; and Hottentots are now so scarce that a sufficient 
number is not to be had. These, too, must be paid wages ; 
but the poor Bosjesman has nothing except his sheep-skin 
and his meat. The fatigues, however, that the peasantry un- 
dergo in their long expeditions against these poor creatures 
are by no means of a trifling nature. They are frequently, 
for many days together, without a drop of water, enduring 
hunger, want of rest, and the vicissitudes of heat and cold. 
Many of them suffer from the wounds of poisoned arrows, 
which, if not mortal, frequentl}^ by injudicious treatment, 
bring on lingering complaints of which they never recover. 
Some are prudent enough to carry with them cupping vessels 
