"Twould puzzle poet-painter tooIn vivid colors bright and true

That living chaos to portray: The twilight shed a ghastly glare On all the group assembled there,

As round the flick'ring fires they lay.

The Zoolus' song, the white mens' cheers
With grating Dutch, assailed our ears,

As we approached their lair;
E'en faithful Echo stood amazed
At the wild Babel they had raised
Upon the evening air.

E'en now the image haunts my brain!
Those hideous forms and shouts remain,

Like fever'd dreams on restless nights;
And perhaps 'twere better here to end
These sorry rhymes, lest I offend

By painting such outlandish sights.

circuit, in order to prevent the oxen from actually getting out of their depth. The whole scene was highly amusing the floundering of the oxen, the energy of the drivers, the loose cattle urged on by a number of natives, wading with the lighter baggage-the river itself (a fine feature) wending through precipitous banks, altogether left an impression I will not easily forget. The day closed upon us as we ascended the opposite bank; and being too dark to proceed, I rode on to a village, two miles distant, in order to obtain a guide, which was affected not without difficulty, the man himself losing his way while attempting to direct me back to the wagon; however, we all soon after reached Mangnenas village, and I again occupied the same hut in which I had slept on my former journey.

Friday, May 1st.-The darkness of the preceding night having obliged me to leave several things to be carried across the river this morning, we were unable to proceed until half-past ten. Thursday, 30th.-Travelled yesterday until a Umpondombeeni preceded to show the way, being quarter past one, when we stopped to breakfast the only person in the party acquainted with it; on the left bank of the Umshlala, and in the after- but as native footpaths are the only tracks, and he noon reached the Mavototie, the largest stream was but little experienced in the description of between the Umgăni and Tugăla. At daylight | road necessary for a wagon, we were in conthis morning, observed the buffalo birds very bu-sequence obliged to make frequent detours. Passily employed, perched upon the backs of the sing through a hilly country, with scarcely any oxen they are generally found where cattle or trees, we stopped at twenty minutes to two, at a buffaloes are numerous, living upon the insects town called Neki. Sequabana, the Indoona, and which they find in their coats; they are rather his people, were very civil; and having procured larger than a swallow, with a thick red bill, and some sour milk, soon after three we continued our make a chirping noise during the whole time they route. Crossing the Amatekoola, the bank by are thus occupied. Soon after sunrise, descended which we emerged was so steep, that the oxen the hill, and crossed the Mavootie: from the ford knelt on many parts of the ascent in order to raise the embouchure of the river can be seen, the their bodies by their hind feet. The country is coast being not more than three-quarters of a mile here prettily broken, and more clothed with trees. distant. The country, for a few miles on each While riding at a little distance in front of the side of the river, is bare of trees. Passing this wagon, a hyena sprang up from the long grass, district, a wild cat was started, which, pursued by just before my horse. Soon after five, stopped for the people, took refuge in a tree, from which it the night at a village situated on a hill, called was soon pelted down with sticks, making a sur-Muckachani. This is one of the king's places, prising bound to reach the ground. Its next retreat was a clump of bushes, out of which, with the aid of a dog, it was at length beaten and killed. In colour it very much resembled some of our tabbies, but was considerably larger. It became so desperate at last, that the dog would have been unable to secure it, but for the assistance of the people. After crossing the Norte, the country, as we approached the Tugăla, became more clothed with trees, chiefly mimosa. Crossed the Singuassie at a quarter-past twelve, to breakfast, and proceeding again at three, reached the Tugăla, through a beautiful and undulating country, at half-past four.

The river being pronounced fordable, though over the floor of the wagon, the necessary preparations were made, but cutting stout poles, and laying them across the sides, and on these the contents of the wagon were placed, leaving a clear passage for the water below. Having procured assistance from Mambayendi, we proceeded to the ford, but so steep was the descent to the water, that it was only by the weight of several natives holding on the ropes attached to the right side of the wagon, that its equilibrium was preserved. Once in the stream, all went on well, though it was necessary to make a considerable

contains twenty-nine huts, and is under the control of Marwa (Dingarn's great aunt, who resides at Intoutella,) she being a daughter of Jama, his grandfather. Much art had been employed in clipping the ears and bending the horns of the cattle at this place-the horns of many were made to turn inwards, and the ears to flap down somewhat similar to the elephant.

Intermingled with the huts, at this season of the year, a number of temporary granaries are seen stuck about in all directions; they are generally either bell-shaped or cylindrical, lightly formed of grass or reeds, and daubed on the outside with a composition, which will not bear analyzing, in order to exclude the rats as well as the rain.

Saturday, 2nd.-Set out at half-past ninecrossed an extensive plain, in the centre of which is a large military town, called Itontella. Mankăna, the Indoona, was absent with the king. Proceeding from thence, the country is open, with high grass, but scarcely a bush to be seen. After passing the Neazani, a small stream, the country is more elevated and broken, but equally bare of trees. At one, stopped to breakfast at a small village, Empendiswani, and proceeded again at half-past four. Soon after crossing the Kūkusi, a

"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy."- whom we met accoutred with head-plumes and (Exodus xx. 8.)

town, some men came up bearing a dead leopard bound to a pole upon their shoulders; it had been caught, a few miles distant, by the dogs, and afterwards speared; and they were now carrying it to king, from whom they expected the usual reward of a head or two of cattle. There are three kinds of this species in the country, all included by the Dutch and the colonists under the general name of the tiger, although that animal is here unknown, the panther and the leopard alone being met with on this part of the continent. While engaged at the wagon, which had been drawn up near the gate, I received a visit from Ulangăzâna, one of Senzanakona's wives, who resides here; although only an inferior wife of his father, she bears, with many others, the appellation of "the King's Mother." She is of middle age; possesses a mild and intelligent countenance; and, like her august relative, is of a very dignified size. So rigidly are infants proscribed from these military towns, that I was last night much surprised at hearing the cry of one in an adjoining hut, and observing several young children in the course of the day. I found on inquiring, that in consequence of the king having been brought up when a child among the people of this place, an exception has been made in its favor. There is something so repulsive in this unnatural exclusion, that this circumstance alone has prepossessed me in favor of Congella, more especially as it is thus calculated to afford a wider field for missionary labor than Unkunginglove. It is between these two places that Dingarn generally divides the year; the latter however, being the capital, is his principal residence.

he had so often worn at Unkünginglove, made
somewhat more gaudy by a strip or two of some
red baize I had given him, sewn on the skirts.
Scarcely had I seated myself, when his inquiries
were directed to a leathern sack borne by Um-
pondombeeni, and placed on the ground beside me.
On being told that it contained some few presents
intended for him, he was all curiosity until the
whole had been displayed before him, consisting
of a long deck glass, a pair of naval epaulettes,
three pairs of lady's gilt bracelets, a silk sword-belt
and tassel, some small looking-glasses, rolls of
colored riband, red baize, printed calico, and several
colored engravings of English costume and field
sports, which a view of the Pavilion at Brighton,
and a full-length portrait of George the Fourth,
and also of our present gracious sovereign. He
was delighted with the epaulettes, but much puzzled
how to display them to the best advantage, until
informed that the shoulder was the proper place,
and that they would greatly become his red cloak,
when he took the hint and directed them to be
sewn on it. His endeavor to squeeze his wrists
into the compass of the bracelets was quite amus-
ing; fearing that he would break them, I assured
him that in my country they were only worn by
ladies. "Ah!" he replied, "they shall not wear
them here." With the prints he was greatly
amused, and what surprised me not a little was,
that he was enabled to appreciate the beauty of
the female faces, which he pronounced very hand-
some. He greatly admired the full-length por-
traits of the king, one in his robes, the other in a
naval ur.iform; but was evidently more gratified
with the hunting scenes than with any that had
been shown him. While looking over the view
of the Pavilion, he called me near, to point out the
entrance, which happened to be hid by a coach
and four, represented as standing before the door.
Observing also, among the groups in the same
place, a gentleman and lady arm-in-arm, he ex-
claimed with some surprise, "Is that your mode
of walking with women?" The sword-knot was
no sooner exhibited, than it was placed round his
neck, the tassel hanging in front. With the glass,
which I had purpostly reserved for the last, he
was highly gratified; and on once seeing it ad-
justed to the proper focus, he managed it toler-pared.
ably well himself, even declining my offer to assist
him in directing it to the moon, which was shining
brightly at the time. Having recommended the
support of a man's shoulder, he persevered until
he suceeded in catching a glimpse of the moon,
when he exclaimed in triumph, "Deaibona cona-
lappa" (I see it here.) As no allusion was made
to the object of my visit (some idea of which had
already been conveyed to him by Mambayendi) I
concluded he was awaiting the return of the two
Indoonas, Umthlella and Tambooza, who were at
Unkunginglove, and had, I understood, been sent
for immediately on the arrival of Mambayendi.
This interview lasted three-quarters of an hour.

Tuesday, 5th.-Both yesterday and this morning I have been visited by Eoto, the Indooana of this place, and of the whole Clomanthleen district; he is an elderly person of mild appearance. While seated under a tree, to which I afterwards walked, enjoying the view of a richly wooded valley surrounded by mountains, about two miles from the

The setting sun gives a remarkable effect to the bold mountain ridges which surround this town; and I was returning to my hut after witnessing this splendid scene, when my attention was attracted by a number of female voices ascending from the valley. A string of women, forty-one in number, bearing large bowls of beer upon their heads, soon made their appearance, winding up the hill, singing as they went, until they reached the Issigōrdlo. They had come from one of Eōto's places, where, during the king's residence here, the beer for himself and his umpăgăi is pre

Wednesday, 6th. My enemies the rats, are here in greater force than ever; and, although I purposely brought a stretcher with me, in the hope of raising my bed beyond their reach, one of them actually contrived to pearch upon my head in the course of the night. This morning Umthlella and Tambooza arrived. It is singular to trace the rapidity with which even the most trivial conversation I hold with the people is conveyed to the king. Having yesterday inquired respecting the appropriation of the leopard-skin, and understood that it would be given to one of the Zebōngas, or praisers, to make a new dress for the dance, one of them by order of Dingarn was sent down early this morning, habited in the same skin cloak in which he had appeared at Unkünginglove, which he exhibited for some time, praising the king, leaping and floundering about in imitation of the wild animal which he was supposed to personate, but of the two appeared the more ferocious. As I was now enabled to inspect his dress more narrowly, I

took the opportunity to sketch his appearance as he stood before the hut.

"true Englishmen never broke a treaty; that it had always been our boast to adhere to them; At four o'clock a message came from the king, and that, if he had met with white people who desiring to see me; and knowing his passion for had deceived him, he had been unfortunate-they dress, and concluding that he would now enter were not the right sort of Englishmen." Dingarn upon the business of my visit, I went up in full replied, “I believe you. I am glad, very glad, and uniform. He was seated as before, just without thank you much for the word you have brought. his fence, accompanied, at a respectable distance, I have seen many white people, but now a great by Umthlella and Tambooza. Having seated my-chief is come among us, to whom I can speak my self, I waited, as usual, for the king to commence heart." I told him that "I needed no thanks; the conversation, until I feared my silence might that it was only my duty; that I feared God, and appear rude, when I inquired of Mambayendi, who therefore he might rely upon all I told him, for I accompanied me, whether he was waiting for me dared not speak what was not true. In God's to speak. Dingarn, who overheared my question, word we were told to do to others as we would be and was eyeing my dress with great earnestness, done by; and, therefore, while in his country, I replied that he must have time to look at me be- should study his interest as much as I should that fore he could say any thing. I told him that this of my own sovereign." Here he pointed his finwas my war-dress, and that I always wore it ger at me in their usual style of recognition and when I approached my own sovereign. He said satisfaction when animated, and again thanked it was very handsome, and commenced a close me for the good word I had brought. The parexamination of every part, particularly the sword, ticular object of the conference being now conwhich I handed to him. Seeing that he was cluded, the sword again became his plaything, and greatly pleased with the workmanship of the hilt, he asked several questions respecting the devices tassel, &c., I said that if he would like to have it on the hilt and blade, particularly how the lion's I would present it to him. He readily accepted head was formed. Dingarn then inquired the obit, saying, that he "liked every thing," and amus-ject of Mr. Fynn's mission to Faku; which I told ed himself for some time with drawing and sheath-him was to encourage Faku, who had resolved to ing it again. The ridiculous part of the ceremony stand fast by the English, who were driving the being over, Dingarn commenced the business by Amakasa before them, and were shortly expected observing that he had not before asked me respect- to enter Hinza's territory. Being desirous, while ing the news I had brought, as the Indoonas were on this subject, to impress him with some idea of absent, but that now they were come he wished the power of the field-pieces which accompanied to hear it. A meeting of the white people at the British force in Kafirland, I could scarcely Port Natal, I informed him, had lately taken place, keep my countenance on hearing them designated to consider what was the best method to prevent by the ridiculous term "by and bye," an adopted his people from deserting and coming down to us expression now universally applied to cannon or in future. The advice I had given, and which great guns. The origin of this term is somewhat was unanimously adopted, was then stated, as curious. Lieutenant Farewell, R. N., who was also the request that I should communicate it to the first settler at Port Natal, had constructed a him, which I was glad to undertake, being de- fort round his house, on which some carriage-guns sirous at all times to be the king's friend. In re- were mounted.* These guns excited much curiference to the proposition to send deserters back, osity among the natives, and he was frequently provided he agreed to the arrangement, he asked, questioned by them as to their use. His usual "Would you send them bound?” “We could do reply was, "You shall see by and bye;" until nothing," I replied, "unless he agreed to guaran- hearing the last words so frequently repeated in tee the lives and property of every individual now reference to the guns, they naturally concluded residing at Port Natal. The white people were that it was the proper name. A messenger was but few, while the natives were comparatively now sent for the colored prints, in order that they numerous; and as the greater part were deserters might be exhibited before the Indoonas. Cerfrom him, they would never (being themselves in tainly nothing could have been more happy than similar circumstances) be induced to lend their aid the selection. Dingarn was delighted with every to secure a single individual who sought refuge one, and told me that during the whole of yesteramong them; and, however desirous the white day, until the sun went down, he had amused himpeople might be to second the views of the king, self with looking them over. Observing a carit would be quite beyond their power, as the na- riage drawn by horses, in one of the prints, he tives would contrive to harbor and secret them in expressed his surprise that they should be emdefiance of all their vigilance. On the other hand, ployed for such a purpose, having always imagin once assured of their pardon and security, the ed, as he said, that wagons were only drawn by black people would, I had no doubt, assist us; oxen. Having never seen any other description and it would then be difficult for any deserter to of wheeled carriage, it was difficult to convey an make his escape." Dingarn at once entered into idea of the distinction, and he seemed astonished the plan, which he considered equitable; and after at the rapidity with which I told him carriages in picking a little of the fence, and considering a England were whirled along. It was amusing to minute or two, he turned round and with some observe that the Indoonas were as much struck energy said, "he granted all; that he never with the beauty of the female portraits as Dingarn, would molest any of his subjects now at Natal for which, considering the antipathy generally evincpast offences; that he should keep fast his word; ed by blacks to a white skin, could hardly have but that he knew the white people would be the first to break the treaty." I observed here, that

*No vestage remains of these buildings.

been anticipated. Dingarn was quite animated ternoon with Dingarn, in the Issigōrdlo, the con while talking over the sporting pieces, and, in imi-versation was nearly in the following words:tation of one of these scenes, (partridge shooting,) placed the hilt of the sword to his shoulder, and pointed it upwards, in the attitude of taking aim. Contrary to my expectation, he had contrived to squeeze his wrists into a pair of bracelets I had given him yesterday, and which I had thought scarcely possible. At half-past five, I took my leave, thankful at the good success of this my first attempt at negotiation.

"To-morrow is our holy-day, on which we do no work." Dingarn.—“ Are not my people to do any work?" A. "They have not yet heard God's words: those who have understood them, will not work on that day, but employ it in worshipping God; it is, therefore, my wish to say all that is in my mind, to the king, on this day. It is necessary that the agreement between us and the king should be taken to Port Natal as soon as possible, as I wish the king's words to be known there, and, therefore, it is my intention, that the wagon should return the day after to-morrow, but I do not wish to take leave of the king, without letting him know all that is in my heart." Dingarn.- -"Say on." A. "I feel just as anxious to do your people good as ever, and I know that the best way is to teach them the word of God. This was what I came up for before, and now it is my only desire." Dingarn." It was in my heart to let you stay and teach when you came before, but the Indoonas were against it." A. "I thought so at the time. If the king pleases, I will now stay for this purpose, but if not, I will return with the wagon." Dingarn.-"How will you teach the people at Port Natal?" A. "I have already sent to Granam's Town for another person to come out and teach them, so that I can now remain with the king if he pleases." Dingarn.—“ I wish you to go to Port Natal, and see that they keep the agreement, for I have often spoken to them, and know that they will not adhere to it unless you are there." A. "It will not be necessary that I should go, a letter will do as well; they will then hear your words, and keep them." Dingarn.

Thursday, 7th.-This morning had a long conversation with Umthella and Tambooza, in my hut; making them at the same time a present, consisting of cloth, printed calico, and a few naval buttons. I told them that my heart was still as anxious as before to speak to them the words of God, and that I should be much obliged if they would take my words to the king. They both replied in the most friendly manner, saying that they had held fast the word which I had spoken yesterday, namely, that I desired to be the king's friend; that those were good words, and had made their hearts glad. They said, that the king's heart was now towards me, and inquired if there was any thing else which I wished them to mention to him. I told them that the king had well provided for all my wants; that I had nothing further to ask, and no other wish, but his permission to tell them what God had said. It was, I informed them, by keeping His word that we had risen to be a great peopel, and as it was my desire to do them good, I wished them also to become acquainted with it. They left me, much pleased with the presents, and promised to acquaint the king with what I had said. Though not relevant to this subject, I cannot omit the curious reply of Um- "How do you mean to teach; shall you want thella to my question-" How do you manage to the children?" A. "I shall not trouble the chilsleep with so many rats continually running over dren at first*; all I wish to do, is to speak openly you?" "We don't mind them," he said; "it's the words of God." Dingarn.-" Do you mean only play; they are poor little wild animals, look- the Book"" (alluding to the Testament I usually ing out for food; the only harm they do us, is eat-carried with me). A. Yes, that book contains ing our corn." I felt almost inclined to envy the God's words. I should speak them to all the peoperfect indifference with which he treated these ple, before the king, who could then judge for unwelcome visiters. The evening set in with hea-himself, whether they were not good words." vy rain, which, much to my inconvenience, pene- Dingarn.-" How many could you teach; would trated my hut in several places. Dingarn kindly these be enough?" (pointing to about fifty of his sent to inquire if I was cold, and whether I should women, who were standing near). A. "Yes, not like a fire. I desired the messenger to assure and many more; if they were all seated round, I him that I was very comfortable, but I had not at could speak to all the people of this town at the that time discovered the leaks in my roof. same time." Mambayendi, who was present, asked how long he should be learning the words? I replied, if he paid attention, three moons would be sufficient; but we never ceased to read them, for they taught us how to be happy; how we were to behave to each other; and how we were to serve God. Dingarn.-"Can we learn them?" A. "Certainly; there was a time when we ourselves did not know them; before that time we were a poor people, but, by keeping those words, we had become a great people. They were now a great people, but I wished them to know these words that they might become greater." Dingarn.-"I must speak with the Indoonas about it." (They had never delivered my message to him.)` I then told him, that I was desirous to take

Friday, 8th.-Dingarn sent to say, that some of the people had observed me walking about alone among the bushes, a long way from the town, and that he recommended me not to go there again, as there were many wild beast in that part, and several of the people had been taken off by them, and never heard of since. The fact is, there is so little water about this place, and that so polluted by the washing of hides for shields. &c., that I had crossed the mountain in quest of a place to bathe, and, finding the walk and scenery so pleasant, had been induced to extend it. Having desired them to thank the king for his consideration, he soon after sent his servant Barka, who, accompanied by Mambayendi, had directions to shew me a place where the water was good, and much nearer.

Saturday, 9th.-Had a long interview this af

* I thought it prudent to waive this point, as it had been a stumbling block on a former occasion.