a party to the nearest Caffre kraal,
as he wanted to see the people in their natural state. I told him it
might be dangerous, as the Caffres would suppose we had come to attack
them or to make slaves of them. He laughed at the idea of being
attacked; for, as he would take a large party with him, who would be
armed, he considered he would be more than a match for all the Caffres
in the country. I told him he did not know what these people were in
war, and how by a surprise they would to a certain extent do away with
the advantages which his firearms gave him. About fifty sailors were
armed, and being led by the captain we landed at the upper part of the
bay, and marched on towards the Umlass. The chief in that neighbourhood
was named Umnini, and was a very fine fellow. I was anxious to let him
know we were a friendly party come to see him, but I could not meet or
see any Caffres by whom to send a message. I felt quite sure that we
had been observed, for Caffres are very watchful. We had passed over
some open ground just beyond the Umslatazane river, and had entered a
bush-path beyond, when I heard a shrill whistle which I knew meant a
signal for attack. I at once shouted in Caffre, "We are friends, come
to see Umnini." The captain looked at me in astonishment and said,
"What are you shouting about?" I told him he must halt his men and keep
them quiet, or we might have a thousand men on us in half a minute. As
he could not see a Caffre, or even hear one, he said, "A thousand men!
why there is not one to be seen." I again called out in Caffre and
said, "I have brought the chief of the big ship to talk to Umnini. He
is friendly and wants to see him." There was silence for a short time,
and then a voice from the bush was heard, and inquiry was made as to why
a messenger was not sent first to say we were friends.

I replied that the chief of the ship did not know what the law was in
this country.

The captain, who was much surprised at hearing the voice come from the
bush when he could see no one, asked me what they were saying. I told
him that the Caffres suspected that he had come to attack them or to
capture some slaves, and if I had not spoken he would have been attacked
in this bush. I inquired of him if I should ask the Caffre chief to
advance and to talk to us, for it would not be prudent for us to go on
any farther unless the Caffres allowed us. The captain seemed rather
suspicious of treachery, bu