seciiele's letter. 
65 
proventod from being present at tho attack of the Boor* 
on tho Bakwains, nows of which was brought, about the 
end of that time, by Masebolo, tho wifo of Sochele. She 
had herself been hiddon in a cleft of a rock, over which a 
number of Boors woro tiring. Her infant began to cry, 
and, terrified lost this (mould attract the attention of the 
men, the muzzles of whoso guns appeared at every discharge 
over her head, she took off her armlets as playthings to quiot 
tho child. Sho brought Mr. Moffat a letter, which tolls its 
own talo. Nearly literally translated it was as follows : — 
“Friend of my hoart’s love, and of all tho confidence of 
my heart, I am Socliolo. I am undone by tho Boors, who 
attacked mo, though I had no guilt with them. Thoy de- 
manded that I should bo in their kingdom, and I rcfusod. 
Thoy demanded that I should prevent tho English and 
Griquas from passing (northward). 1 replied, Those are 
my frionds, and I can prevent no one (of them). Thoy 
eamo on Saturday, and I besought them not to fight on 
Sunday, and thoy assontod. Thoy began on Monday 
morning at twilight, and fired with all their might, and 
burned tho town with fire, and scattered us. They killed 
sixty of my pcoplo, and captured women, and childron, 
and men. And tho mothor of Baloriling (a formor wifo of 
Sechelo) thoy also took prisoner. They took all tho cattle 
and all tho goods of tho Bakwains; and tho houso of Living- 
atono they plundered, taking away all his goods. The 
number of wagons they had was eighty -five, and a cannon; 
and after thoy had stolon my own wagon and that of 
Macabo, then tho numbor of thoir wagons (counting tho 
cannon as ono) was eighty-eight. All tho goods of the 
huntors (certain English gontlomcn hunting and exploring 
in tho north) woro burned in tho town; and of tho Boor* 
were killed twonty-oight. Yos, my bolovod friend, now 
my wife goes to soo tho children, and Kobus Hao will ooi> 
voy her to you. “I am Seciiele, 
“The son of Mochoasolo.” 
