Part 16 (1/2)

”One of you, I fear, ons,” observed Alexander; ”or both of you, if you please I have no right to ask you to go upon any wild-goose chase, and run into danger for nothing”

”That one should reons will be necessary,” said Swinton; ”and I think that the Major, if he does not object, is the proper person The party who are left uns; and it will require e that and to defend the wagons I will accompany you, Wilmot, as I can speak better Dutch, and the interpreter will not get on ithout e of the wagons, Major, during our absence?”

”I think, perhaps, it will be as well; although I had rather have gone with you,” replied the Major ”I propose that you take thirty of the Caffres, Breht Hottentots with you; leave me Swanevelt and the other Hottentots”

”Yes, that will do very well; ill leave the Caffre head er portion of his party; he could not well be separated froons, and stockade ood job for the Hottentots, and I dare say I shall do very well”

”I shall not leave you Omrah, Major,” said Swinton; ”for, as we shall take four horses with us, I wish him to ride one, and he can attend upon us, as you have Mahoum to ride the other,” replied the Major, ”if you please; then you will each have a groom”

”No, no, it would be a pity to part you and her; however, there is no tireat chief and warrior Quetoo is advancing, it may be as well to be ready for a retreat; the sooner we are off, the sooner we shall be back; so now to pack up”

CHAPTER XVI

The first step taken by Alexander was to send for the Hottentots, and, after again reproving them for their former behavior, he asked ere ready to volunteer to proceed with hions with Major Henderson, and proceed on horseback the short distance of his journey which remained to be accomplished

Several of the Hottentots immediately came forward; the heads of the mutiny held back, and thus proved to Alexander that the men who had coretted what they had done He therefore immediately accepted their services, and their muskets were returned to them Alexander then stated his intentions to the Caffre head man, who selected the thirty warriors that were required, and in the course of three hours every thing was ready for their departure

It was arranged that in case of danger arising to either party, they should, if possible, fall back to the newly established Mission of Morley, on the sea-coast; but otherwise, the wagons would re packed up all they required in ses, to be carried by the Caffres, they bade farewell to the Major, and set off, having no baggage but e have mentioned; for Alexander would not be encumbered with a load of heavy articles which ress, or rapid retreat if necessary

In two hours they arrived by difficult passes at the banks of the U in with a Caffre kraal, they were inforht, did not reside uide to show them the way

The reports of the advance of the Amaquibi ar to leave the kraal with all their cattle It appeared, however, that at present the ar theained over the Caffres As these had been assisted by white uns, the spirits of the Aree, and they were intending to carry their arms to the southward, as soon as Quetoo, their chief, had somewhat recovered from his wounds received in the late action Indeed, it was the wounded state of their chief which was the principal cause of the ar i obtained this infor the banks of the U beauty, the deep river being full of hippopota in the strea the daytime, but promised the , after their day's march was over Toward sunset, they stopped on the banks of the river on a rising ground, and the Hottentots and soo down to the river in chase of the hippopotami, as it was advisable to save their provisions as ht they had succeeded, and the carcass of the animal was hauled on shore As soon as the party had taken as much as they required, the native Caffres carried off the re by the fire which had been lighted, the Caffre head warrior came up to the interpreter, and told Alexander and Swinton not to say that they were Hinza's warriors if asked where they ca asked why, he told thehter of the chief of this country, and after a tiain to her father, and that this had created ill blood between the tribes, although no war had taken place Alexander and Swinton, who perceived that the advice was judicious, told hi of the hippopota branches of a large tree

The next uide told them that they were at the kraal of Daaka, the descendant of the Europeans The bellowing of the cattle and noise of the calves soon directed the of several very wretched huts On inquiring for Daaka, a woman pointed out a hut at a little distance, and, as they dismounted and walked up, he came out to meet them Swinton and Alexander shook hands with the chief, and said that they were very glad to see him, and that they had come far to pay him a visit The chief ordered a hut to be swept out for their accommodation, which they took possession of

”You have no idea, Swinton,” said Alexander, ”how much I aine it, my dear Wilmot,” said Swinton; ”it is but natural, for he is your kinsh a Caffre in his habits and ly European”

”That I have observed myself, and it has fully convinced me of the truth of the statement I am most anxious to examine him--we must call the interpreter”

The chief entered the hut soon afterward, and took his seat; the interpreter was sent for, and the conversation was begun by Daaka, who likepresents, stated hi, and his children without o on for some time in this manner, and then sent for a present of beads and tobacco, which they gave him They then commenced their inquiries, and the first question they asked hy he resided so near the sea

”Because the sea is my mother,” replied he; ”I cary”

”In that reply he evidently refers to the wreck of the shi+p,” observed Swinton; ”and I presume, from the fish-bones, which we have seen about the kraal, that these Caffres feed on fish, which the other tribes do not, and therefore it is that he says his mother feeds him”

”Was your mother white?” inquired Alexander

”Yes,” replied Daaka, ”her skin hite as yours; her hair was just like yours, long and dark; but before she died it was quite white”