160 DEPREDATIONS OF THE BUSHMEN. [1820, 
Before he came to Berend's place, which is half 
way, he went to a pool of water to drink. Being- 
observed by some Bushmen he was pursued, 
but saved his life by out-running them. A short 
time after leaving Berend's place he was followed 
again by Bushmen ; fearing they were gaining 
on him he threw away his sheepskin caross. 
This being all he possessed worth having they 
gave up the chase. It is said that such is the 
hatred of the Bushmen to the Griquas, that if 
they find a Griqua travelling alone they are sure 
to murder him, and are pleased with the reflection 
that they have thereby lessened their number. 
In the evening we were informed that the 
Bushmen had carried off cattle from another out- 
post, belonging to an old captain, (Polekanny,) at 
a lower district of Lattakoo, and that the herds- 
men were forced away also, with the design, it 
was feared, of being murdered, in order to pre- 
vent their bringing intelligence to Lattakoo. 
These depredations threw a general gloom over 
the place. We did not hear even a whisper 
among the inhabitants after sunset, nor were any 
moving about, all was perfectly still ; nor is their 
concern on such occasions to be wondered at, as 
their chief dependence is on the cattle for sup- 
port ; they cannot trust to productions of their 
fields from the frequent droughts which blast all 
their hopes of a supply from thence. 
