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Europeans. Mr Thompson and another went out to trace and report the progress of this formidable inroad. On reaching Old Lattakoo they found it silent and uninhabited, like the most desolate wilderness; while the pots boiling on the fires showed that its desertion was recent, and that the enemy were probably at a very short distance. Notwithstanding, they continued to ride on, till, arriving at the top of a hill, their guide cried out, "the Mantatees!" who were in fact seen moving in an immense mass along the valley beneath. It was necessary to put spurs to their horses, in order to escape the hazard of being surrounded.

The arrival of Mr Thompson at Lattakoo spread a general alarm; for so rapid was the Mantatee march, that only a little time could elapse before they would reach the city. The queen, with her female attendants, and the principal chiefs, rushed into the house to ask the advice of the missionaries in this fearful crisis. The general opinion was in favour of flight. Even the warriors, who had been poisoning their arrows and dancing the wardance whole nights without intermission, gave up all hopes of successful resistance, and were preparing to follow the long files of oxen, on which the inhabitants were already placing their most valuable effects. Suddenly a cloud of dust was seen in the south, which, on its nearer approach, announced the first division of Griqua horse coming to their aid. Hereupon, all who were endued with any portion of courage determined to remain and face the enemy. The allies were received with unbounded exultation; many oxen were killed and roasted, and even at this critical moment the two parties gave them

selves up to feasting and jollity. Their security increased, when notice was received that the Mantatees still remained at Old Lattakoo, consuming the cattle and provisions which they had found in that place. Several of the missionaries then set out to endeavour to open a negotiation. On coming within sight of the enemy they rode forward in a peaceful manner, inviting them by signs to a conference; when instantly that savage host raised a hideous yell, and rushed forward so rapidly, throwing their spears and clubs, that the Christian plenipotentiaries found the utmost difficulty in galloping out of their reach.

The allied force now came up, and on the following morning offered battle to the vast army of the Mantatees. Their aspect was truly frightful. They were almost quite black, with only a girdle round their loins; their heads were crowned with plumes of ostrich feathers; they had numerous brass rings about their neck and legs, and were armed with spears, javelins, battle-axes, and clubs. Their whole body, which was supposed to amount to at least 40,000, rushed forward in an extended line, endeavouring to enclose the little troop opposed to them. The Boshuanas gave way as soon as they were seriously attacked; the Griquas, on the contrary, kept up a close fire, which stunned the enemy, who still, however, continued to advance. The horsemen galloped back to some distance, then alighted, and again alternately fired and retreated, repeating this manœuvre for several miles. The Mantatees pressed on with the utmost fury, confident, if they could once come to close quarters, of annihilating in an instant the handful of troops opposed to them;

but finding that all their efforts were vain, and seeing their bravest warriors falling rapidly, they paused, and began slowly to retire. The Griquas pursued, but were several times exposed to extreme danger by the enemy turning suddenly round and renewing the combat. At length the Mantatees set fire to Lattakoo, and retreated through the flames. The missionaries were now deeply shocked by the base and barbarous conduct of the Boshuanas, who, after their pusillanimous behaviour in the field, began not only to plunder, but to butcher the wounded as well as the women and children left on the field; nor was it without great difficulty that they succeeded in saving some of these defenceless objects.

The name Mantatee, which signifies wanderer, applies, it is said, in no other respect to this desolating horde. They appear to be a Caffre tribe, inhabiting the country near Cape Natal, along the lower course of the river Mapoota. They were impelled to this inroad, in consequence of having been driven from their own possessions by the Zoolas, a still more fierce and warlike race, who, on that occasion, were led to victory by their king, Chaka, who can arm 100,000 fighting men, and has 15,000 constantly ready for war. A small English settlement has been formed on his maritime border, which is encouraged by that powerful chief with a view to commercial advantages; but of course much precaution is requir ed in dealing with a potentate who commands so many savage bows and spears.

The Mantatees, after their defeat, separated into several detachments, one of which settled among the Kureechanes, while another advanced against the Caffres, whom they defeated, and part of whose terri

tory they have since continued to occupy and plunder. In 1826, they came within two days' journey of the British frontier, where there was nothing to prevent them from advancing upon the Scotch locations in Albany; but measures have since been taken, by which these settlements are placed in full security.*

We possess only a very limited knowledge respecting the eastern coast of Africa, washed by the Indian Ocean, a region scarcely visited except by the Portuguese, who continued to throw a veil of mystery over all their discoveries. In 1498, when Vasco de Gama had rounded the Cape of Good Hope, he touched at Mozambique, Mombasa, and Melinda, where he found the ruling people Arabs and bigoted Mohammedans. His object was merely to obtain pilots to guide his fleet to India; but at the two former of these ports he met an inhospitable and treacherous reception; while, on the other hand, he experienced at Melinda the utmost courtesy, and readily found the means of continuing his voyage to the coast of Malabar. Cabral, who followed in the footsteps of Gama, likewise visited Quiloa, which he describes as the capital of an extensive kingdom, and the seat of a flourishing trade; but it was not till he, too, reached Melinda, that he could obtain any friendly assist

ance.

The Portuguese, engrossed for some time with the more brilliant objects presented by the shores of India, sought in African ports only refreshment and

*The group in the annexed plate represents the Queen of Lattakoo, a Lattakoo warrior, and two Bosjesman Hottentots.

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