nd then, signing to the
females to follow him, he strode off towards the north, and away from
the sea. By this time we were all much frightened: we did not know what
had happened, but we supposed the men had been taken inland, as we could
see no signs of them. We did not hesitate about following the man who
had spoken, for the other men closed round us and shook their sticks at
us if we hesitated about moving.

It was not till I had been many months in this country and had learned
the language that I heard all that had taken place on that eventful
night; and it may aid the reader to better understand our position if I
now describe those details which were afterwards so graphically
described to me.

Our ship had been wrecked on the coast of South Africa, about midway
between Natal and Algoa Bay, and not far from a river termed the
Umzimvubu, Imvubu being the native name of the hippopotamus, several of
which animals are inhabitants of this river. The natives in this part
were a branch of the great Zulu nation, but independent of the Zulus.
They were sometimes called the Amapondas, but they were more pleased to
be called Amazimvubu. This tribe was ruled over by a chief called
Inyati, or the Buffalo, and was strong enough to be feared by the
Amakosa tribes to the west, and respected by the Zulus to the east. In
their habits they resemble the Zulus, and were given to use the short
stabbing assagy in preference to the light assagy used for throwing by
the Amakosa. They lived in huts similar to those of the other South
African Caffres, and were great cultivators of the soil, growing mealies
or Indian corn, a smaller grain called m'beli, pumpkins, and sugar-cane.
They were lovers of cattle, and a man's riches consisted of herds of
cattle and of wives.

I learned that the second day after we had been wrecked we had been
discovered by these people, who had then set a watch on us; and it
having been discovered that the men possessed firearms, and that there
were women belonging to the party, it was decided that an attack should
be made on the men during the night, and by surprise. Every detail of
our camp was known to these people. By concealing themselves in the
bush they had noted where each man lay down to sleep. Two Caffres had
then been told off to assagy each individual, and to do it so quietly
that no alarm should be given. Every plan was so well arranged that, at
a given signal, each man had been stabbed dead