100 VARIOUS OCCURRENCES, &c 
[1820. 
sent off in a different direction from the main body. 
Having on the way noticed that the footsteps of 
one Bushman and an ox turned off towards the 
mountains on the right, they concluded that the 
ox was a reward to the man for guiding the 
robbers to the cattle-post at the source of the 
Krooman. 
A large party of Bushmen went some time ago to 
old Lattakoo, and at mid-day captured some of their 
cattle in sight of the town. The inhabitants, in con- 
sequence of a late discomfiture which they had re- 
ceived from the Bushmen, were so intimidated that 
they declined pursuing them. This timidity so em- 
boldened the Bushmen, that they advanced to the 
side of the town, and demanded pots to boil the 
flesh of the captured cattle. But on a later occa- 
sion the Matchappees acted with more spirit, and 
completely overcame a party of those plunderers, 
since which time they have not been molested. 
5th. I visited a smith who makes knives and 
assagais, or spears. His implements were few, 
having a stone for an anvil, a rough-made iron 
hammer, the head of which might weigh about a 
pound, and two small bellows made of skin, with 
a piece of cow-horn at one end, through which the 
blast went, the other end being open, like a purse, 
and sewed to two round pieces of wood. These 
bellows were laid upon the ground opposite the 
/ 
