268 
A MEETING WITH CAFFRES 
16— 18 Aug. 
language fluently, being nearly all Hottentots of the mixed race, 
and in the yearly practice of visiting the colony. 
Besides these Hottentots, a party of five Caffres, and their wives, 
were resting here. These men were not less than six feet in height, 
strong and finely proportioned ; and, excepting a leathern kaross, wore 
no covering whatever ; a circumstance, as far as I have since been able 
to learn, quite peculiar to the Kosas, or CafFres on the eastern side 
of the colony. Their bodies and cloaks were reddened all over with 
ochre mixed up with grease. They accosted us in an easy manly 
tone, and with manners perfectly free from servile timidity. These, 
with seven others left on the Sack River, had come from their 
kraal on the Gariep^ for the purpose, as they stated, of bartering in 
the colony for tobacco ; and begged the missionaries to give them a 
letter to the Veldcornet Maritz ; which however was very properly 
refused. We were rather surprised at so unexpected a rencontre with 
some of the very men on whose account so much uneasiness had 
been felt, and could not avoid suspecting them of being sent as spies 
to discover the strength of our party. We taxed them with the 
intention of attacking and robbing us in the Bushman country ; and 
threatened them on our part with a warm reception, if they thought 
proper to make the attempt. 
But whether the report we had heard to this effect was really 
unfounded, or whether, seeing our caravan so strong, they thought it 
prudent to relinquish the plan, or to dissemble, they. now affected the 
greatest submission, and the most friendly disposition. They protested 
vehemently against the falsity of what had been reported to us, and 
attributed it to the malice and jealousy of the Bushmen, with whom 
they had long been on hostile terms, and who, in a recent skirmish, 
had killed their chief, one of Sambie's brothers ; in consequence of 
which their whole kraal liad meditated a return to their own country, 
or at least as far as the borders of Bruyntjes Hoogte. 
They assumed a canting good-natured tone of voice, and were the 
most importunate beggars I had ever met with ; soliciting for tobacco, 
or whatever else they saw which they thought would be useful; com- 
plaining also that their wives' heads were uncovered, and much required 
