AFRICA. 65 
it would coft me much lefs inconvenience to 
bring Bafter back with me. 
On the fuppofitlon that I fliould do this, 
the family requefted me to employ my intereft 
with the governor on my return, in behalf of 
his horde, and to obtain for them the liberty 
of carrying arms, which are forbidden to all 
the Hottentots, yet were neceflary to thefe, to 
defend them not only from the incurfions of 
the Bolhmen, but from the attacks of their re* 
lations, who had already often difarmed them. 
To this requeft I acceded as inconfiderately as 
I had done to the former ; though indeed it by 
no means expofed me to a breach of promife, 
for if I fliould not have it in my power per- 
Tonally to folicit this favour, I could at leaft do 
it in writing, and on parting with Bafter could 
give him letters of recommendation to Colonel 
Gordon and the new fifcal. 
In the mean time I gave the horde ten pounds 
of powder, with ball in proportion, and left 
them a fufee for their defence during the ab- 
fence of Bafter. This gift was the more 
agreeable, as the horde had long been in want 
of ammunition. I alfo made fome prefent tp 
every individual belonging to it : the wpmenj, 
Vol. IL F io 
