APRIL.] JOURNEY IN ALBANY. 
145 
occasions of necessity. This occurrence convinced us 
that the cattle ought to be kept nearer the waggons in 
the night, and that one person at least should be ap- 
pointed to watch them. A second messenger was im- 
mediately dispatched to Lieutenant Gare to inform 
him of the recovery of the cattle, to prevent trouble to 
him or his soldiers. Thermometer, at noon, 58, and 
much rain. Some of our people were of opinion that 
the cattle were taken away by the CafFres, and that 
they had driven them into the wood to conceal them 
during the day, and had fled in consequence of seeing 
the Hottentots approach with their muskets. At five, 
P.M. a corporal and eight Hottentot soldiers arrived 
after a fruitless search for our cattle. Though it had 
rained hard the whole time they had been tra\'^lling, 
they made no complaint, nor indeed did they speak a 
word about their journey, but shook hands with their 
friends who were with us, and conversed with them, 
while we made a little tea for their refreshment. The 
corporal and several others belonged to Bethelsdorp. 
When the oxen were found, they were very warm, and 
so tired that they could hardly be driven back. In 
consequence of the rain continuing to fall the whole 
day, we could not move forward, for the oxen cannot 
endure travelling in it, as it injures their necks so 
much by rubbing against the yoke. I spent most of 
the afternoon and evening in obtaining information 
respecting tlie CafFre nation from our Hottentots. 
Our tent was pitched at the side of the ruins of a 
boor's house, whose name was Grobler, who with 
another farmer was murdered there by the Caffres. 
