254 TRAVELS IN 
had forgot two aflagays ; and in another a 
woman's fmall apron, a few wooden utenfils 
for tilHng the earth, and fome other trifles of 
very little value : thefe different obje£ls I 
took poffeffion of. The fmall corn-fields did 
not here exhibit, as in the firfl: kraal where 
we flopped, a pidture of defolatlon and de- 
ftrudlion ; on the contrary, It appeared that 
the crops had been carried away in peace. We 
determined to flop here two or three days, in 
order to diftribute a few fcouts at a diftance, 
and to fee if we could not difcover fome Caf- 
fres in the neighbourhood. I well knew that 
by going diredly northward I fhould fall in 
with the centre of CafFraria, which I above 
all things wafhed to avoid, as I thought it 
better to advance gradually towards it by 
long circuits, and not to expofe myfelf, but 
in proportion as I fhould fee the dangers leC- 
fened, and according to the Information which 
I might acquire bythe way. All our ftrata- 
gems, and all our refearches, ended however 
in nothing, for not a fingle CafFre appeared. 
I will be candid enough to confefs, that, 
from my own prejudice, and the pompous 
defcriptions of the magnificence and luxury 
of the Afiatic defpots, I imagined that I fhould 
find 
