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CHAPTER III.

Murder of Lober and Son-Moonlight Scene on the Banks of the Orange River-Bushman's Kraal-Anecdotes of BushmenThunder-storm-Ostrich Nest-Melancholy Accident-Gemsboks-Tremendous Hail-storm-Awkward situation-Enraged Farmer-Immense Flight of Locusts-Beaufort-ZwartbergHex River-Village of Worcester-Tulbagh-General condition of the border Boors.

CONSIDERING that, under present circumstances, it would be advisable to avail myself of the company of my friend Jacobs, whom I had left cutting timber on the banks of the Orange River, I determined on rejoining him; when Mr. Wright very kindly offered his waggon, and accompanied me. He informed me that, near the place where I had left my waggon, a farmer named Lober had halted about twelve months before with his sheep, when a party of marauding Bushmen and Corannas came up and murdered him and his son, carrying off his wife, together with the sheep, far into the interior. The woman ultimately escaped, and made her way to GraaffReinet, where she related the particulars of the outrage. The principal concerned in this atrocious. murder was a Coranna, and was at this time known to be residing with other marauders in the neighbourhood of the Haart River, making no secret of