AFRICA. 177 
and It was then that, taking the whole blame, 
I juftly reproached myfelf for occafionnig 
the fenfible coolnefs I remarked among my 
people, which my too great precipitation 
had given rife to ; and I regretted that I 
had very unfeafonably flopped at Bruyntjes- 
Hoogte, to folicit the afliftance of all the 
planters, who by their fpeeches frightened 
my people, and difturbed the harmony of 
my caravan : fo true it Is that the fuccefs of 
every enterprife depends upon fecrecy. 
At this time I Inc^eed faw nothing to 
alarm me : for we had too great a fuperio- 
rity over our guefts, both In ftrength and in 
arms, had it been neceflary to have recourfe to 
violence, the laft means which ought to be em- 
ployed with favages. I had no occafion to be 
apprehenfive of any furprlfe on their part, as 
the fpot I had affigned them was fo fituated 
that the fmalleft attempt would have occa- 
fioned their deftrudion but this did not 
prevent me from redoubling my precautions 
and feverity, both to keep my people to their 
duty, and to convince my guefts that they 
could neither attack me openly, nor by ftra- 
tagem, with any hopes of fuccefs. If I ex- 
cept two of my chaffeurs whom I every day 
Vol. II. N fent 
