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SOUTHERN AFRICA. 423 
of the gregarious grossbeak, that at a distance they appeared 
like so many hay-ricks. Several species of large beautiful 
aloes and tali euphorbias appeared on the heights ; and great 
abundance of that particular species of the latter, with which 
it is pretended the Hottentots poison the springs of Avater, in 
order to distress their enemies ; but of which the commis- 
sioners met with no instance in the course of their Ions: 
journey. Several Kora villages were situated in the route,- 
the inhabitants of which appeared to be every where happy 
and contented with their few flocks and herds and humble 
sheds ; always cheerful and in good humour ; and from the 
first to the last quarter of the moon never failing to pass the 
greater portion of the night in dancing and singing. 
On the 11th February the party arrived at the place of itsi 
destination, where they found a considerable village inhabited 
by a mixed society, consisting of Kaffers, Hottentots, and half- 
casts of a variety of kinds, under a chief of the name of Kok, 
who was one of those people usually distinguished in the colony 
by the appellation of Bastaard, that is to say, the offspring of a 
connection between a colonist and a Hottentot, To every ap- 
pearance this horde was abundantly rich in cattle ; but they 
complained that they had lately suffered to a very considerable 
extent, from the predatory attack of a certain free-booter of 
the name of Africaaner, of whose future visits they were under 
great apprehension, and the more so on account of his having 
lately enlisted into his gang a number of vagabonds of various 
descriptions, who had found the means of escaping out of 
the hands of justice from different parts of the colony. To 
