AFRICA. 307 
and had I not, feconded by two or three of 
my brave friends, ftruck a terror into thefe 
wretches by my geftures and looks, I fhould 
have infallibly fallen a vidim to their fedition. 
One of them I greatly terrified by clapping a 
piftol to his head ; but all my efforts were of 
no avail. The horde who followed me, with- 
out any preamble, told me that they were 
free \ that they no longer confidered me as 
their chief ; and that they w'ould inftantly 
return, v/ith the fifteen Hottentots who had 
lately arrived. Even my own people, w^ith a 
bold air, fignified that they were not difpofed 
to be cut to pieces by thoufands of CaffreSj 
unanimoufly declaring, vv^ith loud cries^that they 
would not follow me ; and that they would, 
without .delay, fet out for the Butch fettle- 
ments* I however kept firm to my purpofe, 
and oppofed them to the very laft ; but nei- 
ther my reprefentations, nor the entreaties of 
Klaas, produced any effedl, except on two of 
them, who at length confented to expofe 
themfelves with me. Old Swanepoel was one 
of them : but what could four people have 
done alone? I in vain remonftrated with thefe 
favages on the ingratitude with which they 
repaid my condefcenfion, in fufferiag them 
j , X 2 . to 
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