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132 When Mr. Gellibrand, junior, joined me at the place appointed, we all proceeded to Captain Pollack's station, from whence, after necessary refreshment, the latter gentleman accompanied us on our search, following the course the guide said the lost travellers had taken, to the spot where they had left him. We traced the spoor of the horses, as the Cape men say, much farther on, into an extensive plain recently burnt, and here we lost it altogether. We now struck across the country, still hoping to gather some intelligence; and falling in with a native encampment, and having reason to think it was not a tribe likely to receive the white men in a friendly manner, I requested them to remain where they were, whilst I endeavoured to obtain some information. This being acceded, I approached, but being on horseback, and in an unknown dress they, at first, did not know me, but ran away in great alarm, having never seen a horse before. After a time, however, I made them understand who I was, and dismounting, they all came round me in a friendly manner. Just when I was explaining the object of my visit, our white party rode up, and one of them began asking questions in a jargon of language no one could understand; and by this interference prevented my doing any service, for I had scarcely had time to express even a hope that they would go in search and do their best to bring the lost gentlemen to the settlement. The abrupt appearance of our people on horseback, so much alarmed the natives, that I could do nothing, except accompany them alone to their camp as they