ng there
would be danger in passing through his dominions without his
permission."

"But," said Alexander, "I suppose if we send a message to him and
presents, there will be no difficulty?"

"Perhaps not, except that our caravan may excite his cupidity, and he
may be induced to delay us to obtain possession of its contents.
However, we had better put this question to the Griquas, who probably
can answer it better."

The Griquas, on being questioned, replied, that the best plan would be
to send a message to the Matabili capital, where Moselekatsee resided,
requesting permission to hunt in the country, and begging the monarch to
send some of his principal men to receive the presents which they had to
offer;--that it would not take long to receive an answer, as it would
only be necessary to deliver the message to the first officer belonging
to Moselekatsee, at the advanced posts. That officer would immediately
despatch a native with the message, who would arrive much sooner than
any one they could send themselves. Bremen and three other Hottentots
offered to take the message, if our travellers wished it: this was
agreed to, and that afternoon they mounted their horses, and crossed the
river. By the advice of the Griquas, the camp was shifted about a mile
farther up the river, on account of the lions.

The weather now threatened a change; masses of clouds accumulated, but
were again dispersed. The next day, the weather was again threatening;
thunder pealed in the distant mountains, and the forked lightning flew
in every direction; but the rain, if any, was expended on the
neighbouring hills.

A strong wind soon blew up so as to try the strength of the canvas
awnings of their waggons, and they found it difficult to keep their
fires in at night. They had encamped upon a wide plain covered with
high grass, and abounding with elands and other varieties of antelopes:
here they remained for five days, waiting the reply of the king of the
Matabili, and went out every day to procure game. On the Sabbath-day,
after they had, as usual, performed Divine service, they observed a
heavy smoke to windward, which, as the wind was fresh, soon bore down
upon them and inconvenienced them much.

Swanevelt stated that the high grass had been fired by some means or
another, and as it threatened to come down upon the encampment, the
Hottentots and Griquas were very busy beating down the grass round about
them. When they had so done