when each section of the tribe is under some sort of control by the head
chief, each will hesitate to rob or attack an European caravan, because
the whole would consider themselves aggrieved and injured by such a
proceeding. In war-time, on the other hand, each thinks, `If we do not
rob this rich caravan some one else is sure to do so; we may as well
have the plunder as another.' War is injurious to us in other ways;
instead of the tribes spending their time in hunting, they remain at
home to guard their villages and women, and we shall find but little
ivory and few ostrich feathers gathered to trade for our goods. I had
not intended to have encumbered myself with a larger following, but I
think, after what I have heard, it will be wise to strengthen our party
before going further. I will therefore hire twenty men from the village
here to accompany us; they will be useful in hunting, and will cost but
little; their wages are nominal, and we shall have no difficulty in
providing them with food with our rifles. In one respect they are more
useful than men hired from time to time from among the people farther
north for the purpose of driving game, for, as you see, many of them
carry guns, while beyond the river they are armed only with bows and
arrows."

"I am surprised to see so many guns." Dick said; "where could these
people have got the money to buy them?"

"It is the result of a very bad system," Mr Harvey replied. "The Cape
authorities, in spite of all the representations which have been made to
them, of the extreme danger of allowing the natives to possess firearms,
allow their importation and sale to them, simply on account of the
revenue which they derive from it, as a duty of a pound is charged on
each gun imported into the colony. From all parts of South Africa the
natives, Pondos, Basutos, Zulus, and other Kaffirs, go to the
diamond-fields and work there for months; when their earnings suffice to
enable them to buy a gun, a stock of ammunition, and a blanket, they
return to their homes. All these fellows you see carrying guns have
served their six or eight months in the diamond-mines; a dozen of them
would be a strong reinforcement to our fighting power, in case of an
attack."

There was no difficulty in engaging the required number of men. Each
was to be paid on the conclusion of the journey with a certain quantity
of powder and lead, a few yards of cotton, some beads and other cheap
trinkets, an