120 
A PANIC. 
Chap. VI. 
however, that a tribe where an Englishman had lived had begun 
to shed their blood as well, it was considered the strongest 
presumptive evidence against me. Loud vows of vengeance 
were uttered against my head, and threats of instant pursuit 
by a large party on horseback, should I dare to go into or 
beyond their country; and as these were coupled with the 
declaration that the English Government had given over the 
whole of the native tribes to their rule, and would assist in their 
entire subjection by preventing fire-arms and ammunition from 
entering the country, except for the use of the Boers, it was not 
to be wondered at that I was detained for months at Kuruman 
from sheer inability to get waggon-drivers. The Enghsh name, 
from being honoured and respected all over the country, had 
become somewhat more than suspected; and as the pohcy of 
depriving these friendly tribes of the means of defence was 
represented by the Boers as proof positive of the wish of the 
Enghsh that they should be subjugated, the conduct of a govern¬ 
ment which these tribes always thought the paragon of justice 
and friendship was rendered totally incomprehensible to them; 
they could neither defend themselves against their enemies, nor 
shoot the animals in the produce of which we wished them to 
trade. 
At last I found three servants willing to risk a journey to the 
north; and a man of colour, named G eorge Fleming, who had 
generously been assisted by Mr. H. E. Eutherford, a mercantile 
gentleman of Cape Toto, to endeavour to establish a trade with 
the Makololo, had also managed to get a similar number; we 
accordingly left Kuruman on the 20th Kovember, and proceeded 
on our journey. Our servants were the worst possible specimens 
of those who imbibe the vices without the virtues of Europeans, 
but we had no choice, and were glad to get away on any terms. 
When we reached Motito, forty miles off, we met Sechele, on 
his way, as he said, to the Queen of England.” Two of his own 
children, and theK mother, a former 'wife, were among the captives 
seized by the Boers; and being strongly embued with the then 
very prevalent notion of England’s justice and generosity, he 
thought that in consequence of the violated treaty he liad a fair 
case to lay before Her Majesty. He employed all his eloquence 
and powers of persuasion to induce me to accompany him, but I 
