Umhala was suspected of sheltering Pato's people and the cattle; and afterwards, when disturbed on his location by the operations of the troops, he had the insolence to remonstrate on the inconvenience he was put to by being thus suspected. Such fallacious reasoning did not influence Colonel Somerset's plans. The craftiness of these Kaffirs is the most difficult thing possible to contend with. What, for instance, could be more cunning than Kreli's reply, when accused of sheltering Pato? "Colonel Somerset's commands," he said, "had forced Pato over the Kei into his (the Amaponda) country, and so precipitately that the stolen Colonial cattle had got mixed up with Kreli's in the pasture-ground. Now," said Kreli, "this could not have been so, had Pato come hither with my permission, as, in that case, I should have separated my cattle from his." He also begged to know on what authority the British Government had decided that he had sheltered Pato. He was told, in reply, that the information had been received from certain Kaffir prisoners, whose names, however, were unknown; whereupon his councillors answered, "You, Colonel Johnstone (27th), and the Governor, and Somerset, and Stockenstrom, and Kreli, are great men, and are you going to settle an important national question, upon the report of prisoners of whom you know nothing?" Certainly a Kaffir would puzzle Lord Brougham himself, by his plan of meeting cross questions with crooked answers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. The poison used by the Bushmen is extracted from the serpent's bag, from the root of the agapanthus, lily, and other plants. Note 2. Captain Baker, Lieutenant Faunt, Ensign Burnop, and Surgeon Campbell, all of the 73rd, and Assistant-Surgeon Loch, 7th Dragoon Guards. PART TWO, CHAPTER NINETEEN. ARRIVAL OF SIR HARRY SMITH. On the 1st of December, 1847, Sir Harry and Lady Smith, with his Excellency's staff and suite, landed at Cape Town, amid the acclamations and rejoicings of assembled thousands. I have already alluded to Lady Smith as "once the favourite of the African Frontier;" and, at a public assembly. Judge Menzies welcomed the arrival of the Governor and Lady Smith, by proposing a toast, not to "His Excellency and his Lady," but to "Harry Smith and his Wife." On all sides their return was hailed with joy; but, as the colonists are too apt to be guided by results rather than motives, it is better not to dwell on this reception.