254 
HUNTING EXCURSION. 
[1820. 
I mentioned to the Regent in the evening 
that, if he and his people received the word of 
God, their children and their children's children 
w^ould hereafter consider our visit one of the most 
important events which had happened to their 
nation. He requested that the Hottentots who 
had muskets should accompany some of his people 
to the plain that lay to the eastward of the town, 
to assist them in hunting elephants ; to which we 
started no objection, though we were not pleased 
with the proposal. 
At break of day most of our people who had 
muskets set off with a numerous band of armed 
natives, professedly to shoot elephants. As they 
did not return till nearly sunset we were anxious 
for their safety. Our people reported that the 
Marootzee had never intended to hunt, for they 
had marched in one direction the half of the day, 
placing and keeping them in the front ; and seemed 
rather to be searching for enemies than for ele- 
phants. At one time their conductors pointed to 
a hill at no great distance, saying that a cattle-post 
of Makkabba s was there, but they did not pro- 
pose to them to attack it. They walked at a swift 
pace about forty miles, often through thick woods. 
One of our Hottentots was so overcome with heat 
and fatigue, that he was obliged to be supported 
for several miles. We could not discover the real 
object of this expedition, and only conjectured it 
