T779* Europeans they had even feen. They fpeedily returned, and February. r J • i i_ *— > alarmed the whole village before we arrived ; but on our am- val, they received us kindly, brought us milk, and offered us a fat bullock, agreeably to their ufual hofpitable cuftom. This village confiited of about fifty houfes, fituate on the banks of a pleafant river, called in the Caffre language, Mugu Ranie ; and it belongs to their chief. It contained about three hundred inhabitants, all of whom were fervants or foldiers to their chief, who was likewife the proprietor of the numerous herds of cattle. Thefe people fubiift on the milk of their cows, and on game, not being allowed to kill any of their ca ttle., The men milk the cows, and the women take care of the gardens and corn. We were accompanied by all thefe people from one village to another, till we arrived at the place belonging to the per- fon whom they denominate their chief or king. His habitation was fituate on a pleafant river, called Becha Cum, or Milk River. Indeed all their houfes are built on the banks of rivers or itreams; but there was no corn or garden near it. The chief had about an hundred cows, which fupplied him and his houihold with milk. His family confifted of about twenty-two fervants, who attended him wherever he went. On our arrival he feemed very ihy, and kept at a great diftance for about an hour, when a number of Caffres met and accompanied him to his houfe. He foon afterwards fent one of his fervants to invite us thither. The firfi thing I prefented him with was fome beads, of which he freely accepted. I alfo offered him fome of our tobacco; but he feemed to prefer his own, which was much lighter. He foon offered me a herd of FJb7r^'ry fat bullocks in return; but I refufed to take them, which v— feemed to affront him greatly, and he often repeated, « What do you think of our country.” After a few words between us, I accepted of one, which we immediately fh o t; this furprifed all the fpedfators, who were about fix hundred perfons, few of them having ever feen a gun, or heard the report of one. We had a part of the bullock dreffed, which I thought much fu- perior to the beef near the Cape. The reft of the animal I diftributed to the king and his fervants. He ftill feemed dif- pleafed that I would accept of nothing more in return. I then aiked him for fome of their balkets, which he gave me, and alfo two of their lances or Haffagais, which they make with great ingenuity ; but the conilruition of the balkets, which are made by their women, is much more furprifing; they are com- pofed of grafs, and woven fo clofely that they- are capable of holding any fluid. Khouta, the chief, intreated me to remain with him a few days; this, however, we did not confent to ; but after much perfuafion, agreed to flay all night. In the afternoon I ranged the neighbouring woods in fearch of plants, and at night returned to my companion, who flayed at the Becha Cum. As the weather was hot, we chofe to fleep in the woods rather than in any of the huts. During the night I obferved that there were two guards placed on each fide the door of the chief’s houfe, who were relieved about every two hours. On the ninth, I propofed to proceed farther to the eaft, allured by the pleafantnefs of the country, and its affording
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