56^ ' • TRAVELS IN 
that it was morally impossible for the by-standers to observe 
the gravity of countenance which the occasion required ; and 
the awkward manner in which they dismounted, with the dif- 
ficulty that some of them experienced on account of the pro- 
tuberance of their bellies, in grounding their arms, were 
sufficient to throw the most serious off their guard. The 
General selected nine of the ringleaders, and sent them under 
an escort on board of his Majesty's ship the Rattlesnake, then 
at anchor in Algoa Bay ; on the rest he levied a certain fine 
towards defraying the expences of the expedition, which their 
absurd and rebellious conduct had occasioned. 
Before this termination of disturbances, Avhich, if suffered to 
extend to the other districts of the colony, might have been 
attended with more serious consequences, General Dundas ac- 
cepted my offer to proceed through the district of Zwellendam, 
for the purpose of cutting off any communication with Graaff 
Reynet, and particularly with a view of preventing any sup- 
plies of gunpowder from reaching the rebels ; at the same time 
to send up to the Cape certain persons, who had shewn them- 
selves active in promoting discontent in Zwellendam, and who 
were known to be disaffected, not only to the British govern- 
ment, but to every other that laid them under the restraint of 
laws. This journey, the extent of which was intended to be 
confined to the borders of the Camtoos river, dividing the two 
districts of Graaff Reynet and Zwellendam, was prolonged, by 
imforeseen circumstances, into the country inhabited by the 
Kaffers : and it thus afforded the principal part of the remarks 
and observations which are contained in the present chap- 
ter. 
