ans as that of Pizarro and his followers towards the
Mexicans. In either case the poor aborigines were hunted to death."

On Monday they started at daylight, and proceeded on the journey; but
they made little progress, on account of the difficulty of travelling
with the waggons in a country consisting of alternate precipices and
ravines, without any roads. The second day proved to be one of greater
difficulty; they were obliged to cut down trees, fill up holes, remove
large pieces of rock, and with every precaution the waggons were often
out of order, and they were obliged to halt for repairs.

At night they were about ten miles from the Umtata River, and it was
doubtful, from the accounts received from the natives of the country, if
they would be able to go further with the waggons than to its bank. But
in the evening, news was brought that the Amaquibi, the nation of
warriors who were governed by Quetoo, and which had come from the north,
had been attacked by two of the native tribes, aided by some white men
with guns; that the white men had all been destroyed, and that the
hostile army were marching south.

The native Caffres appeared to be in a panic, and this panic was soon
communicated to the Hottentots. At first, murmurings were heard as they
sat round the fire, and at last they broke out into open mutiny. Big
Adam, with three others, came up to the fire where our travellers were
sitting, and intimated that they must return immediately, as they would
proceed no farther; that if it was decided to go on, the Hottentots
would not, as they had no intention of being murdered by the savages who
were advancing. Swinton, who could speak the Dutch language, having
consulted with Alexander and the Major, replied that it was very true
that the army of Quetoo was to the northward; but that the report of the
defeat of the Caffres and of the army advancing was not confirmed. It
was only a rumour, and might all be false; that even if true, it did not
follow they were advancing in the direction in which they themselves
were about to proceed; that it would be sufficient time for them to
retreat when they found out what were the real facts, which would be the
case in a few days at the furthest. But the Hottentots would not listen
to anything that he said; they declared that they would proceed no
further.

By this time all the other Hottentots had joined the first who came up
to our travellers, and made the same demand,