398 
TRAVELS IN 
ment. For tlie wliolo of the first niglit his lamentations were 
incessant ; with a Stentorian voice a thousand times he voci- 
ferated, " Myn God ! is did ecu maniere offi Christian mcnsch te 
" handdcn !" My God ! is this a way to treat Christians ?" 
His, however, were not the agonies of bodiiy pain, but the 
bursts of rage and resentment on being put on a level witii 
one, as the boors call them, of XheZwarteNatie, betw^een whom 
and the Chridian Mensch they conceive the difference to bo 
fully as great as between themselves and their cattle, and 
whom, indeed, they most commonly honor with the appella- 
tion of Zwarte Vee, black cattle. Having roared for three days 
and as many nights, at first to the great amusement, but after- 
wards to the no less annoyance, of the whole camp, he was 
suffered to go about his business on paying a penalty in money, 
for the benefit of the boy, whom he had abused in so shameful 
a manner. 
Another instance occurred, since our departure from Algoa 
Bay, which strongly marked the little reluctance that is felt 
by the African boors in the shedding of human blood, even 
of Christian Mensch, for whom they affect so great a venera- 
tion. On leaving the bay it was discovered that three fine 
youno; lads of the 81st regiment had deserted with their 
arms ; and as these deserters knew that the troops were to 
march that morning towards the upper part of the country, 
Van Roy, from whose house we departed, concluding they 
might return, inquired of the General what he should do in 
case of such an event ? The answer was, " Secure them, to 
" be sure."- — " But if they should resist ?" — " You must take 
" them at any rate ; you and your sons and people about the 
