AFRICA. 159 
along with them had tempted the CafFres; 
and that this was fufficient to induce that 
nation, then at war, in want of every thing 
ufeful for their defence, and particularly iron, 
to commit murder : and he advifed me not 
to fatigue the reft of my troop any longer ; 
for, without their afliftance, we fliould be able 
neither to advance nor to return. 
I was perfedly fenfible of the force of this 
reafoning, didlated by the fincereft concern 
for my perfon, and the fafety of my effedts, 
which I fhould have been obliged to leave 
behind me for want of people to affift me in 
tranfporting them. I was almoft on the 
point of giving way to the advice of Klaas, 
and of renouncing my folemn engagement of 
not quitting Rocks-Kraal, the only rendez- 
vous where thefe generous envoys could meet 
their mafter, when v/e obferved at a diftance 
one of the four people who watched my 
cattle running towards my camp, feemingly 
alarmed and out of breath. Having told 
me that he had juft feen, on the other fide of 
the river, a confiderable body of CaiFres who 
were preparing to crofs it, this information 
at firft ftruck a great terror into all my at- 
tendants ; while 1 alone, ftill flattered with 
