THE GRIQUAS ARRIVE. 239 thighs, and we shall then renew the war-song and dance, and relate the story of our conquest." At the conclusion of this speech the air was rent with acclamations, the whole assembly occasionally joining in the dance; the women frequently taking the weapons from the hands of the men and brandishing them in the most violent manner, people of all ages using the most extravagant and frantic gestures for nearly two hours. CHAPTER XXII. DURING the interval of eleven days which elapsed before assistance could arrive from Griqua Town, very great uneasiness prevailed on the station, and most of our heavy goods were packed and buried, that we might not be encumbered should flight become inevitable.* As it had been frequently reported that there were white men among the invaders, when the commando, consisting of about a hundred horsemen, arrived, it was the general opinion that I ought to accompany them; as, having some knowledge of the language, my presence might have more influence in bringing about a treaty; and Mr. Melvill, government agent at Griqua Town, having arrived with the intention of accompanying the commando, we started on the following day. Before leav ing, we all met to pray for divine counsel, which we felt we greatly needed. The future appeared dark and portentous, and we were convinced that nothing but an Almighty power could preserve the country from an impending * Mr. Thompson, who, with a guide, reconnoitred the movements of the Mantatees whom he witnessed entering Old Lithako, returned to the colony to give information of the near approach of so powerful an enemy. He had taken the liveliest interest in the whole affair as well as in the welfare of the mission, which endeared him not only to us, but to the natives, who had very characteristically described him as a "man on whom the light of day might shine. His kind and generous disposition sympathised with us in our anxieties and troubles, which at the same time afforded him opportunities of forming a correct estimate of our real situation and danger, which he has so well described in his "Travels," long before the public. ruin, by arresting the progress of those whose feet were swift to shed blood. A blessing on the means of preventing its further effusion was earnestly implored, and if recourse must be had to violent measures, that the heads of those engaged might be shielded in the day of battle. Having bivouacked at the Matluarin River, Waterboer, the Griqua chief, I, and a few others, mounted our horses, after dark, rode forward for about four hours, and then halted among some trees till morning. At day-break we again proceeded till we came within sight of the enemy, who were lying a short distance south of the town of Lithako. A second and more numerous division occupied the town itself. Our first impressions were, on seeing an immense black surface on the opposite declivity, from which many small columns of smoke were arising, that the bushes and grass had been set on fire during the night; but on closer inspec tion were startled to find it the camp of one portion of the enemy containing a mass of human beings. As we drew nearer, we saw that we were discovered, and considerable confusion prevailed. The war axes and brass ornaments could be distinctly seen glittering in the sun. Waterboer and I rode up to a young woman whom we saw in one of the ravines. In reply to our question, made in the Bechuana language, she said that the invaders had come from a distant country, but would give no farther information. She was gathering the pods of the acacia, and eating them; which, as well as her appearance indicated the most extreme want. Having told her who we were, and that our object was to speak to the people, and not to fight, we gave her some food, and a piece of tobacco,-requesting her to go and apprise them of our wishes. We then advanced within two musket shots of the enemy, where we found, reclining under a small rock, an old man and his son; the latter without the least signs of animation, while the father could scarcely articulate that he too was dying from hunger. We could only learn from this object of pity, that the people to whom he belonged were the common enemy so much dreaded. We remained here for about half an hour, to allow the young woman ample time to inform the main body, and at the same time to convince the enemy we were not afraid of them, nor disposed to injure them. In the mean time we despatched one of our men to give information to the commando, who were about twenty miles behind. On looking around in search of water, we saw the dead bodies (reduced to skeletons) of several of the enemy, who had come to the pool to drink, and there expired; one lying partly in the element with which we had to quench our thirst. While standing, we observed that all the cattle were collected and inclosed in the centre of the multitude. No one came near us, except a few warriors, who, in a threatening attitude, dared our approach, but whose spears fell short of the mark. It had been agreed that one of our number, and I, after advancing within a short distance of the enemy, should dismount, and go forward unarmed, and invite two or three of them to come and speak with us. This plan, however, was entirely defeated. We had all just approached within a hundred yards, and two of us were just about leaving our saddles, when the savages uttered a hedious yell; and I had hardly time to say, "Be upon your guard, they are preparing to attack," when several hundred armed men rushed forward in a furious manner, throwing their weapons with such velocity, that we had scarcely time. to turn our terrified steeds, and gallop clear of them. Having retreated a few hundred yards, we stopped, and stood perfectly astonished at their savage fury. Seeing no possible means of bringing them to a parley, we retired to a height at a short distance, but within view of the enemy. Here we remained the whole day, and, to supply our wants, shot two khoris, called by the colonists wild peacock, a species of bustard, which we very thankfully roasted and ate. We, at a very great risk, sent the horses to the water,-all to inspire confidence in the Mantatees, that some one might be influenced to draw near,—but none approached. At sunset I left Waterboer and the scouts, and rode back, to confer with Mr. Melvill and the other Griqua chiefs, and to devise some scheme to bring the enemy to terms of peace, and prevent, if possible, the dreadful consequences of a battle. The Griquas had come, headed by their respective chiefs, Adam Kok, Berend Berend, Andries Waterboer, and Cornelius Kok; but it was unanimously agreed that Waterboer should take the command. Cornelius, nobly and generously, insisted on my taking his best horse, urging that my life was far more valuable than his. This kind act was the more sensibly felt as the horse was one of the strongest in the commando; and but for this circumstance, I could not have done what I did, nor, humanly speaking, could I have escaped with my life. Having spent an almost sleepless night on the plain, from extreme cold, we were all in motion next morning before daylight. The attempt made the preceding day to bring 242 THE BATTLE COMMENCED. about a friendly communication having entirely failed, it was judged expedient for the commando to ride up to the invaders, hoping from the imposing appearance of about one hundred horsemen, to intimidate them, and bring them to a parley. For this purpose, the commando approached within 150 yards, with a view to beckon some one to come out. On this the enemy commenced their terrible howl, and at once discharged their clubs and javelins. Their black dismal appearance, and savage fury, with their hoarse and stentorian voices, were calculated to daunt; and the Griquas, on their first attack, wisely retreated to a short distance, and again drew up. Waterboer, the chief, commenced firing, and levelled one of their warriors to the ground; several more instantly shared the same fate. It was confidently expected that their courage would be daunted when they saw their warriors fall by an invisible weapon; and it was hoped they would be humbled and alarmed, that thus farther bloodshed might be prevented. Though they beheld with astonishment the dead, and the stricken warriors writhing in the dust, they looked with lion-like fierceness at the horsemen, and yelled vengeance, violently wrenching the weapons from the hands of their dying companions, to supply those that they had discharged at their antagonists. Sufficient intervals were afforded, and every encouragement held out for them to make proposals, but all was ineffectual. They sallied forth with increased vigour, so as to oblige the Griquas to retreat, though only to a short distance, for they never attempted to pursue above two hundred yards from their camp. The firing, though without any order, was very destructive, as each took a steady aim. Many of their chief men fell victims to their own temerity, after manifesting undaunted spirit. Again and again the chiefs and Mr. Melvill met to deliberate on how to act, to prevent bloodshed among a people who determined to die rather than flee, which they could easily have done. Soon after the battle commenced, the Bechuanas came up, and united in playing on the enemy with poisoned arrows, but they were soon driven back; half-a-dozen of the fierce Mantatees made the whole body scamper off in wild disorder. After two hours and a half's combat, the Griquas, finding their ammunition fast diminishing, at the almost certain risk of loss of life, began to storm; when the enemy gave way, taking a westerly direction. The horsemen, however, intercepted them, when they immediately descended towards the ravine, as if determined not to return by the way they came, which they crossed, but were again intercepted. On turning round, they seemed desperate, but were soon repulsed. Great confusion now prevailed, the ground being very stony, which rendered it difficult to manage the horses. At this moment an awful scene was presented to the view. The undulating country around was covered with warriors, all in motion, so that it was difficult to say who Clouds of dust were were enemies or who were friends. rising from the immense masses, who appeared flying with terror, or pursuing with fear. To the alarming confusion was added the bellowing of oxen, the vociferations of the yet unvanquished warriors, mingled with the groans of the dying, and the widows' piercing wail, and the cries from infant voices. The enemy then directed their course towards the town, which was in possession of a tribe of the same people, Here again another desperate strugstill more numerous. gle ensued, when they appeared determined to inclose the horsemen within the smoke and flames of the houses, through which they were slowly passing, giving the enemy time to escape. At last, seized with despair, they fled precipitately. It had been observed during the fight that some women went backward and forward to the town, only about half a mile distant, apparently with the most perfect indifference to their fearful situation. While the commando was struggling between hope and despair of being able to route the enemy, information was brought that the half of the enemy under Chuane were reposing in the town, within sound of the guns, perfectly regardless of the fate of the other division, under the command of Karaganye. It was supposed they possessed entire confidence in the yet invincible army of the latter, being the more warlike of the two. Humanly speaking, had both parties been together, the day would have been lost, when they would, with perfect ease, have carried devastation into the centre of the colony. When both parties were united, they set fire to all parts of the town, and appeared to be taking their departure, proceeding in an imIf their number may be mense body towards the north. calculated by the space of ground occupied by the entire body, it must have amounted to upwards of forty thousand. The Griquas pursued them about eight miles; and though for at they continued desperate, they seemed filled with terror at the enemies by whom they had been overcome. As soon as they had retired from the spot where they had been encamped, the Bechuanas, like voracious wolves, began to plunder and despatch the wounded men, and to |