KAPONG. 
175 
Darby very bad: I bled and blistered him severely, 
but all to no purpose; he died in the night, putting 
me sadly about, as I depended solely on him. He 
was as good a bit of stuff as ever was put together. 
The Kaffirs bring all sorts of things to the wagons to 
trade, but charge very high, and principally want 
powder, and lead, and caps. They reckon the Kaffirs 
here to amount to 20,000 ; and Sechele himself lives 
on the top of a huge berg, with kraals all around in 
every direction. They are an independent lot of 
Kaffirs, and have no end of guns. Some fellows from 
Phillipolis have been here the last week, putting 
them in order for his people. 
Old Keffler, a Hottentot driver, took himself home 
again this morning, without giving any reason, or 
even saying he was going. 
2 ith. — Spent a lazy day at the wagons, .the 
weather being very hot. Some fine karosses came, 
but all wanted guns or powder in exchange, and took 
them away again. Tried to buy a horse from the 
Bastards for a gun, but they were going in to hunt, 
and could not miss one. Lots of ostrich feathers 
and eggs — the former very dear, and most of the 
latter bad. 
25 th .—Left Sechele and had a long trek, leaving 
the main road in order to obtain water, through 
gardens most of the way, the Kaffir women having 
done an immensity of work. 
26^.—Came on to a place called Kapong, where 
we await the arrival of Sechele, who is going with 
