se most cruel. The undulating country around was
covered with warriors--Griquas, Mantatees and Bechuanas, all in motion--
so that it was impossible to say who were enemies and who were friends.
Clouds of dust rose from the immense masses, some flying, others
pursuing; and to their screams and yells were added the bellowing of the
oxen, the shouts of the yet unvanquished warriors, the groans of the
dying, and the wails of women and of children. At last the enemy
retreated to the town, which they set in flames, to add to the horror of
the scene.

"Then another desperate struggle ensued, the Mantatees attempted to
enclose the Griquas in the burning town; but not succeeding, they fled
precipitately. Strange to say, the Mantatee forces were divided into
two parts, and during the time that the Griquas engaged the one, the
other remained in the town, having such confidence in the former that
they did not come to their assistance.

"When the town was set on fire, both armies united, and retreated
together to the northward in a body of not less than 40,000 warriors.
As soon as the Mantatees retreated, the Bechuanas commenced the work of
slaughter. Women and children were butchered without mercy; but as for
the wounded Mantatees, it appeared as if nothing would make them yield.
There were many instances of an individual being surrounded by fifty
Bechuanas, but as long as life remained he fought.

"Mr M says that he saw more than one instance of a Mantatee fighting
wildly against numbers, with ten or twelve arrows and spears pierced in
his body. Struggling with death, the men would rally, raise themselves
from the ground, discharge their weapons, and fall dead, their
revengeful and hostile spirit only ceasing when life was extinct."

"And yet these same people permitted their own country to be taken from
them by the Zoolus."

"Yes, it was so; but want and necessity had turned them into desperate
warriors."

"I wonder they never thought of going back and recovering their own
country. They would have been a match for the Zoolus. Is that the end
of their history, Swinton?"

"No, not quite. But perhaps you are tired?"

"Oh, no. Pray go on."

"The Mantatees, although defeated by the Griquas, soon recovered their
courage, and intelligence came that they were about to make a descent
upon Kuruman, where the missionaries had their station. The Mantatees,
having been informed that the Griquas had gone home, now determin