1811. 
ALARMING REPORTS. 
223 
our party, that this is an artifice very commonly practised by the 
farmers, who, too often, are desirous of appropriating to the use of 
their own herds, that which is the common property of all, or, speak- 
ing more correctly, of government. 
This was an old deserted cattle-place, as appeared by the ruins 
of a miserable hut, where some of our people took up their quarters. 
After searching for an hour or two along the bed of the river, some 
water was at length discovered, at a great distance from the waggons ; 
but as it was barely sufficient for our own drinking, and for the pur- 
poses of cooking, our unfortunate oxen were obliged still longer to 
endure a painful thirst. 
Speelman and Philip, during our stay, were employed in making 
a step-frame for the little waggon, which the waggon-maker, in the 
hurry at Tulbagh, had omitted. For this work they cut down, with- 
out leave or ceremony, as much timber as they required ; no one 
reprimanding them for trespass, or calling them to account. Such 
is the custom, as I was told, in this part of the colony, that 
whoever has occasion to appropriate any particular tree, need only 
put his mark upon it, and his neighbours will respect it as his 
property. 
At Ongeluks river, we received information that the body of 
hostile Cqffres, before mentioned *, had separated into four divisions, 
waiting to attack us, either at the Zak river, or in the Karreeber^gen 
(Karree-mountains), in the Bushman country ; and that they had 
neither women nor children with them ; a certain indication of the 
party being on some warlike or plundering expedition. In the 
evening, two of our Hottentots returned from a visit to some of 
their countrymen, who lived in a hut not far off, and brought a con- 
firmation of the report, as far as regarded their numbers, their hostile 
intentions, and their lying in wait for us in the Karree-mountains. 
This intelligence created among all our party much weighty con- 
versation, respecting the most prudent steps to be taken. Our 
* At pages 64- and 185. 
