70 LOSS OF THE HERCULES. 
was not good, yet it still relieved them from a dreadful situ- 
ation. 
Having traveled this day about thirty miles, they deter- 
mined to remain where they were during the night. All hands, 
therefore, went immediately to work, for the purpose of get- 
ting fuel. They had seen no wild animals in the course of 
the day, but frequently observed the dung of the elephant and 
the rhinoceros. 
As their situation for the night was as dangerous and de- 
plorable as on the preceding one, they determined to enlarge 
their fires, as the only means of safety they had left. This 
was accordingly done, and they had the pleasure to find, 
when the day appeared, not an individual was missing of the 
whole party. 
They proceeded on their journey shortly after sunrise ; and 
as they were to travel through a wood of considerable extent, 
the guides told them to be upon their guard, as they would 
certainly be intermpted by wild animals, which resorted to 
that place in prodigious numbers. They determined, notwith- 
standing, to brave all dangers, and accordingly proceeded. 
They indeed escaped the lions, the panthers, the rhinoceros, 
the elephant, &c. but, unfortunately, about noon, came up with 
a horde of Caffres, that were distinguished by their own 
countrymen as a bad tribe. They spoke at first to some Caf- 
fre women, who behaved kindly, and gave them one or two 
baskets of milk. These baskets are made of twigs, wove so 
closely together as to hold water. 
Having proceeded but a short way, after receiving this in- 
stance of female liberality, they were stopt by twelve Caffre 
men, armed with spears and clothed in leopard skins. Their 
guides, alarmed at the appearance of these savages, flew to 
the banks of the Great Fish river, which at that time was not 
more than two hundred yards from the place where they 
stood. They repeatedly called on them to return, but in vain ; 
they immediately crossed the bed of the river, which was dry, 
and having reached the opposite shore, ascended an adjoining 
mountain with the utmost precipitation. The savages bran- 
dished their spears, and appeared by their gestures to menace 
the destruction of the people. They could not understand them, 
but supposed they demanded from them whatever articles they 
possessed ; and as these principally consisted of the little stock 
of provisions they had left, and their clothes, they determined 
not to part with either. 
One of the captain's people had a knife, which was slung 
