SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
269 
creature, as there was littfe doubt of their being already well 
apprifed of our approach. This in fad: was the principal objedt 
of our prefent journey, that we might be eye-witneffes of the 
manner In which the farmers condudled their expeditions 
againfl: thefe miferable fet of beings. I thought it, however, a 
necelTary ftep to make a previous ftipulation with the com- 
mandant, that the extent of hoftilities againfl: thefe favages 
fhould be that of furrounding one of their kraals ; that after 
this had been done we fhould ad: only on the defenfive ; and 
he was enjoined to deliver to his people a mofl ferious charge 
not to fire a fmgle fhot unlefs it fhould be found abfolutely ne- 
ceffary for their own perfonal fecurity ; for that the fole objed 
of our journey was to bring about, if poffible, a converfation 
with fome of the chiefs of this people. On thefe conditions, a 
party, confifling of fix farmers and as many Hottentots, were 
ordered out after fun-fet to reconnoitre, with inflrudions to 
examine well if any fires fhould appear on any of the hills by 
night ; to watch well, from fome concealed fpot, the plains by- 
day ; and to make a circuit from eaft to north, not exceeding 
thirty miles from the prefent encampment. If nothing fhould 
appear before the expiration of the third day, they were then 
to join us again at a certain fpot upon the banks of the river, 
to the northward. 
The following morning, at day-break, one of the fcouting 
party, attended by a Hottentot, returned with intelligence that 
they had difcovered from a high hill feveral fires at the bottom 
of a narrow defile about twenty miles to the eaflward. In con- 
fequence 
