SOUTHERN AFRICA. 35 
Having, however, proceeded thus far, vvrlthout difplaying 
any extraordinary exploits of patriotifm, the fhame of their 
failure feemed to require that they ftiould go a ftep farther. 
With the afliftance of a fchoolmafter, w^hom they found no 
difficulty in perfuading to be of their party, they iffued circular 
letters to their brother boors, entreating fuch as they knew to 
be well difpofed to adt with them, and commanding, in a me- 
nacing tone, others whofe co-operation was doubtful, to affem- 
ble in arms without delay. Their firfi: movement was to ftation 
themfelves near the ford of the Sunday River, juft at the en- 
trance of the village ; and to fend from thence to the Landroft 
a threatening meifage, that, unlefs he would comply with all 
the demands they were about to make, they fhould, in the firft 
place, feize upon his perfon, and either hang him before his 
own door, or deliver him over to fome of the boors againft 
whom he had, on a former occafion, been the inftrument of ob- 
taining a decree of outlawry, and who were now living with 
the KafFers. The Landroft, by means of a few dragoons who 
luckily happened at this time to be ftationed at the drofdy, for 
the purpofe of forwarding difpatches through the country, was 
not only enabled to hold this undifclplined rabble, though ten 
times the number of his forces, at defiance, but alfo fecretly to 
convey to the government at the Cape fpeedy intelligence of 
the rebellious condud of the farmers of his diftri£t. 
I have already obferved, in the former volume of this work, 
that the diforderly and riotous behaviour of the boors of Graaf 
Reynet, in infulting and driving away the firft magiftrate, 
and the minifter of the gofpel, had determined General Sir 
F 2 James 
