AFRICA. 281 
and habitations laid wafte and reduced to 
afhes ; that the proprietors, to avoid fudden 
and certain death, had abandoned their pof- 
feflions, dragging behind them a few feeble 
remains of their flocks ; and that, in a word, 
I ought not to approach the country of Caf- 
fraria. So alarming a caution, I muft own, at 
firft ftarcled me a little : I immediately affem- 
bled my people, and we deliberated what plan 
it would be mod prudent to purfue. I was 
very defirous of founding the difpofition of 
every one. Their unanimous opinion, which 
coincided very well vdth my private intention, 
was, that we fhould firfl: avoid, but not in fuch 
a manner as to retard us too much, this dan- 
gerous troop of CafFres ; that, as we were very 
near them, we ought always to be on our 
guard both night and day ; that, to prevent 
being furprifed, we fhould never encamp but 
In the open country ; that our oxen, v\^hen 
out at pafture, fhould be protected by four 
men, armed with fufees ; that my horfes fhould 
never quit the flakes to v/hich they were tied, 
that in cafe of an alarm they might be always 
at hand ; and that my large fufee, well loaded, 
fliould remain at the camp; and that three 
flxots, fired at equal intervals, fhould be a fig- 
nal 
