CHAP. XXI. 
THE GRAND BATTUE. 
191 
invited by His Excellency Sir George Grey, the 
Governor, to accompany the Prince on this tour and on 
to Natal; but it was intimated to us that we must do 
so at our own expense, as the cost could not be defrayed 
out of public funds. Sir Walter, therefore, fitted up 
a private wagon with eight mules, and started from 
Graham’s Town direct for Queen’s Town, where he 
joined us ; but by the time we reached Aliwal North 
some of the mules were so done up that we had to pur¬ 
chase others to replace them. We had also to purchase 
fresh shooting horses. Sir George Grey had previously 
in anticipation despatched riding horses and horse 
and mule wagons from Cape Town, and these fresh 
materiel were waiting for the Prince’s party at Aliwal 
North; and it was therefore a little hard on Currie 
and myself to keep up with the fresh teams. How¬ 
ever, I will explain how we did this as I go on. 
At Aliwal the Prince was met by Mosheish, the 
great chief of the Basutos, with his sons and a number 
of followers, who came from his own territory, beyond 
the Orange and Caledon Rivers, to pay friendly greeting; 
and also by a large number of natives under British 
rule from the Reserve, under Mr. Austin, the native 
agent at the Witt-berg, to tender allegiance. 
On August 20 His Royal Highness crossed the 
Orange River and passed into the Orange Free State ; 
and making a long day, reached Smithfield about dark 
