AFRICA. 301 
dreadful noife. On this occaiion part of my 
people, perfuaded that we were invefted by 
Caffres (for I tnuft here repeat that fear made 
them imagine that they faw CaiTres every 
where), propofed to leave the camp, and to 
flielter themfelves in the bufhes ; as if we 
fliould have been in greater fecurity, when 
feparately concealed in a wretched coppice, 
than when colletted in a body, well armed 
and refolute. Klaas and I were quite furious. 
The venerable Swanepoel joined us, \vith a 
view of encouraging thefe daftardly fouls ; 
and he fw^ore that he would Hand by me 
whatever might be the event, and that he 
would fpend the lad drop of his blood in my 
defence. In the midft of this converfation, 
and the timid irrefolution of the reft of my 
company, I heard a voice begging, in broken 
Dutch, that I would recal my dogs, which I 
imm.ediately did. When I was fully afTured 
that thefe people were only Hottentots, I fuf« 
fered them to approach ; upon which they 
made their appearance, to the number of fif- 
teen men, with feveral women and children. 
They had fet out to remove themfelves from 
the flames of war; and I was informed by 
them that when I palled the mountain I 
ihoiild' 
