ed to
revenge themselves upon the Bechuanas, whom they considered but as the
dust under their feet.

"On this information, Mr M wrote to Waterboer, who commanded the
Griquas, requesting his immediate return; but Waterboer replied that an
immense body of Mantatees were coming down upon the Griquas by the Val
or Yellow River, and that they were forced to remain, to defend their
own property, advising Mr M to retreat with his family to the
Griqua-town, and put themselves under their protection.

"As they could no longer remain, the mission station was abandoned, and
the missionaries, with their wives and families, retreated to
Griqua-town. They had not, however, been long at Griqua-town before
news arrived that both the bodies of Mantatees had altered their routes.
One portion of them went eastward, towards the country from which they
had been driven by the Zoolus, and another, it appears, took possession
of the country near the sources of the Orange River, where for many
years they carried on a predatory warfare with the tribes in that
district. At last a portion of them were incorporated, and settled down
on that part which is now known as the Mantatee new country; the
remainder made an irruption into the eastern Caffre country, where they
were known as the Ficani."

"And what became of them?"

"They defeated one or two of the Caffre chiefs, and the Caffres implored
the assistance of the English colonists, which was granted, and a large
armed force was sent out against the invaders. They were found
located--for they had built a town near the sources of the Umtata River.
The Caffres joined with all their forces, and the Ficani were
surprised. A horrid slaughter took place; muskets, artillery, and
Congreve rockets were poured upon the unfortunate wretches, who were
hemmed in on all sides by the Caffres, and the unfortunate Ficani may be
said to have been exterminated, for the Caffres spared neither man,
woman, nor child. Such is the history of the Mantatees; their
destruction was horrible, but perhaps unavoidable."

"Very true," observed Alexander; "I cannot help thinking that desolating
contests like these are permitted by a controlling Providence as
chastisements, yet with a gracious end; for, surely it was better that
they should meet with immediate death, than linger till famine put an
end to their misery. This is certain, that they must have been
destroyed, or others destroyed to make room for them. In ei