50 LOSS OF THE 
people shipwrecked on the coast, of whom three old women 
M-ere still alive and married to a Hambonaa chief. This in- 
telligence roused their curiosity, and they were fortunate 
enough to obtain an interview with the old women in question, 
who said they were sisters, but having been shipwrecked when 
children, they could not say to what nation they originally 
belonged. The Dutch adventurers offered to take them and 
their children back on their return, at which they seemed much 
pleased. It appears probable that the reports which had been 
spread, in regard to some European women being among the 
natives, originated from this circumstance, and as the exist- 
ence of any other white people in this quarter was neither 
known nor suspected, it was naturally concluded that they 
must have belonged to the Grosvenor. 
The Dutch afterward fell in with Trout, whose name has 
been mentioned in the preceding narrative. He at first en- 
gaged to conduct them to the spot where the Grosvtnor was 
wrecked, and informed them that nothing was then to be seen, 
except some cannon, iron ballast, and lead ; adding, that all 
the unfortunate crew of that ship had perished, some by the 
hands of the natives, and the rest of hunger. 
Trout, who it is to be feared was guilty of much duplicity 
from the first, pretended that he was a freeman, and had sailed 
in an English ship from Malacca ; but finding himself likely 
to be detected, and probably apprehensive of being carried 
back to the Cape, he cautiously avoided the Dutch in the se- 
quel, and left them to find their way to the wreck in the best 
manner they were able. 
As they were proceeding to the spot, one of the party, 
named Houltshausen, unfortunately fell into a pit of burnt 
stakes, by which he was terribly wounded in the palm of one 
of his hands, which eventually produced a locked jaw, and 
terminated in his death. These pits are dug by the natives, 
and being covered over with branches of trees and grass, 
serve as snares for the elephants, which frequently fall into 
them, and are thus taken. 
Several of the party, however, proceeded on horseback to 
the wreck, and found nothing more than what Trout had de- 
scribed remaining. It was plainly perceived that fires had 
been made in the vicinity; and on a rising ground, between 
two woods, was a pit. where things had been buried and dug- 
out again. This likewise tallied with the information of Trout, 
who told them that all the articles collected from the wreck 
had been dispersed over the country, and that most of them 
