LOSS OF THE HERCULES. 75 
hue. These emotions appeared as the effervescence of sensi* 
bility, and to exhibit in glowing colors the complexion of 
virtue. 
As no time, he said, should be lost in preparing for the re- 
lief of the unfortunate people, he immediately directed two of 
his sons to harness eight oxen to a wagon. His orders were 
obeyed with a cheerfulness that evinced an hereditary good- 
ness, and that it had descended, unimpaired, from the sire to 
his children. They were directed to travel all night ; and 
the guides described the spot so minutely as to avoid all pos- 
sibility of a mistake. The wagon was soon out of sight, and 
they all sat down to partake of a sheep, which our liberal 
host had ordered to be killed for their entertainment. 
When the meal was over, the worthy colonist began to in- 
terrogate them respecting their journey through Caffraria. 
He could not possibly conceive, he said, how the Tambochis 
could be induced to suffer their departure. They were such 
a horrid race, that nothing was so gratifying to their nature 
as the shedding of human blood. The Boshismen, he also ob- 
served, were so numerous, and so perpetually on the look-out,/ 
that he was amazed at their traveling with any degree of se- 
curity ; but when he considered that they came through a part 
of Caffraria so infested with carnivorous animals that people 
could never travel safely but in parties, and well armed, he 
declared their being then in his house appeared to him a kind 
of miracle. 
The captain took this opportunity of giving our worthy 
host a proper idea of the Tambochis. His mind had been 
poisoned by some of his depredating neighbors, and never 
going on such parties himself, had entertained these prejudices 
without having an opportunity of knowing the contrary. He 
appeared much pleased at the conduct of the Tambochis 
during our abode in their country, and declared this circum- 
stance alone would relieve him from many hours of uneasiness. 
His sequestered mansion was nearly surrounded by trees, 
on which were hung to dry, the skins of lions, tigers, pan- 
thers, and other destructive animals, killed in the vicinity of 
his own habitation. The carcasses of two enormous creatures 
were observed lying near the door, which had the appearance 
of being recently destroyed. They were two rhinoceroses 
that the farmer's sons had killed but the day before, on their 
own land. This gave rise to a narrative respecting these 
animals, which the good man related with great circumspec- 
tion, and which appeared very extraordinary. 
