their hands out of our pot. But finding that we did not die, as
they expected we should, the argument between hunger, or rather
gluttony, and superstition, turned in favor of the former ; and even
the fear of death, was vanquished by the love of eating.
2nd. This day also passed without any occurrence deserving of
notice; but in the evening, about eight o’clock, the town was suddenly
thrown into the utmost alarm and consternation. Marina, the
Bichuana who, it has been mentioned, had set out a few days before,
on a journey into the country of the Karrikarries, unexpectedly returned
to Litakun in great haste, and spread terror among the inhabitants,
by crying out, as he ran along, that a strong body of
Batammdkas were in the land. When he had reached the distance of
a days-journey from the town, he fell in with their track to the westward,
and as it appeared to take a southward direction, he instantly
turned his steps back again, and travelled with the greatest possible
expedition, to give the Bachapins timely notice of the danger which
threatened their cattle-stations, and to warn them to remove immediately
all their herds out of the line of march which the invaders
seemed to be pursuing.
At this time Mattlvi happened to be sitting by our fire in the
hut, and, as usual, amusing himself in smoking and occasionally in
conversing with the Hottentots and with those of his friends and
attendants who were accustomed to join our evening parties. Before
Moruna arrived at our mootsi, the noise and confusion which his
intelligence caused in the more distant parts of the town, were
distinguishable. The Chief listened attentively for some minutes,
and as soon as he caught a few expressions which led him to suspect
the occasion of them, he started hastily up from his seat, without
saying a word, and we saw him no more that night.
The uproar and clamor soon became general, and confusion
reigned in every quarter. The vociferations of the men denouncing
vengeance against the invaders, and the cries and lamentations of
the women, filled the air and reached the ear in every direction.
Amid these tumultuous sounds, the violent howling of some of the
women, was heard above the rest, and impressed the mind with
sensations which may be more easily conceived than described, and
which were well suited to give a complete idea of a state of warfare
among savages. One of the chieftains who were sitting with us, rose
and in the loudest voice, upbraided all his countrymen for their
cowardice in suffering these marauders to continue their depredations
in the country, without instantly taking up arms and flying to meet
them. Otheri remarked that they had seen, during the afternoon,
unusual clouds of dust rising from the plains in the direction of
north-west ; and which, it now appeared, were occasioned by the
various herds of cattle which their keepers were driving out of the
way of thé enemy, and bringing towards the town for protection ;
having been warned by Moruna as he passed the different stations
where they were lying. Many women, in a state of great trepidation,
entered the mootsi, and assembled around my waggons ; probably,
supposing that greater safety was to be found under the protection of
our muskets than at their own houses.
The panic which had seized these poor creatures, soon communicated
itself to my own men, who, alarmed by the serious aspect
of affairs and the general consternation which prevailed among the
inhabitants, gave themselves up for lost ; and instead of endeavouring
to conceal from the natives, their weakness and want of courage,
and of showing, by outward appearance at least, that we felt confident
in the power of our fire-arms, nearly the whole of them
betrayed their fears by the most distressing agitation, and by the
greatest uneasiness of manners. Speelman, whom I had hitherto
believed to be one of the least timid of my party, came to me as I
was sitting in the waggon, and with terror strongly depicted in his
countenance, exclaimed, “ Sir, this will never do ! Give me some
more balls and powder ! We shall not one of us ever escape from
this place alive !” Fright rendered him unable to say more, or to
explain if hostilities had actually taken place in the town, or if any
affair had just occurred to cause in him so great an alarm : but it was
not till I had repeatedly put the question, that his spirits became
sufficiently composed to admit of his giving a coherent answer.
I endeavoured now, as I had done on every former occasion, to