JUNE.] JOURNEY TO LATTAKOO. 229 
Other defended the waggon with his gun, till the wives 
and children yoked the oxen. Then he drove it and 
defended them for a long time with his musket, which 
he frequently fired oft^ but only with powder to frighten 
them, not having time to load it with ball. When he 
came to this place, some of the Bushmen had got there 
before, and lay concealed behind a bush which he had 
to pass, and there they shot him dead with their poisoned 
arrows. The consternation of the two helpless widows 
and their fatherless children may be more easily con- 
ceived than expressed, when they saw the only remaining 
man breathe his last, and themselves at the mercy of 
the most savage of mankind ; but that God who is the 
widow's friend had help at hand. At this interesting 
crisis a Landdrost, who was travelling in the interior, 
came in sight with his people, on which the Bushmen 
ran off without obtaining the booty they had so eagerly 
desired. Thus these poor widows and fatherless child- 
ren were almost miraculously rescued from the hands 
of the cruel barbarians, when just lifted up to destroy 
them. Information was immediately conveyed to 
Klaar Water, from whence a party was instantly dis- 
patched to guard them thither. Kok was also mur- 
dered some time after. 
Halted at seven, P.M. by the side of some tall thorn 
trees, but there was no water. The moon shone very 
pleasantly, but the night was cold ; however, this was 
counteracted by a large fire, plenty of firewood being 
at hand. 
1 
