At this time I was quietly writing in my hut; one of the shield houses adjoined; and I shall never forget the unceremonious rush they made. Not contented with turning them all out, and each selecting one, but in order to prove them, and shake off the dust, they commenced beating them on the spot with sticks, which, in connexion with this sudden incursion, occasioned such an unusual tumult, that I almost thought a civil war had commenced. The chieftain above alluded to (Umselekáz) is of Zoolu origin, born not far from this very town; his people are the same; but during the reign of Charka, the predecessor to the present king, a separation was made, and, as is usually the case, the greatest jealousy and antipathy exist between these two independent and powerful

states.

the promptitude with which the most unusual and despotic order is obeyed, when issued by the king. Several men from a distant part of the country, and who had never seen a horse, were standing near, when Dingarn, in one of his frolicsome moods, suddenly turned round, and, pointing to my horse quietly grazing at a distance, cried out, "There's a lion!-go and bring it alive." Instantly the whole party were in pursuit. I did not witness the circumstance, but my interpreter informed me, that as they approached they extended themselves to surround him, one standing out in advance as though to tempt the attack, while those behind were prepaired to seize and master the animal after he had, as they expected, sprung upon his victim. But they soon discovered the mistake, and on their return were ironically rebuked by their sovereign for not bringing the lion. Had it been a lion, as Dingarn himself asserted, it would have been brought, and from this specimen I have little doubt of the fact, notwithstanding the great loss of life that must have attonded so unusual an enterprise.

The morning being generally the time for transacting business, as well as for slaughtering cattle, which is always an important operation, I used sometimes to join the select party assembled One of his most cruel acts was unfortunately around the king, who, seated on a chair near his induced by the sight of an eye-glass which I ocfence, was almost daily visible at that hour. The casionally wore. He had requested to look deaths and casualties which have occurred during through it, and was amusing the people near by the night among his cattle are now formally re- describing the effect. Now, he would remark, ported, and with such precision that even the color you are all run over the river, meaning that he and twist of the horns are described. A herd is could distinguish people on the opposite side; now then driven near and paraded before him for in- you are all come back, directing the glass to nearer spection; from these he selects the number re- objects; at length he asked whether it would burn, quired for the day's consumption-six, eight, and and on being told that it was only intended to assometimes ten or twelve, which are no sooner sist the eye, he sent to the Issigōrdlo for a large chosen than a person appointed thrusts a long burning-glass which he had formerly received as spear into their sides. But one puncture is made a present. His first essay was to ignite the dry about the region of the heart; still it is seldom grass on each side of his chair; but this was too that the animal drops immediately; many walk tame an occupation, and beckoning one of his serand stagger for a minute or two, and even, when vants near, he desired him to extend his arm, fallen, seem to die in great agony from the whole when he firmly seized his hand, and deliberately of the blood escaping through the mouth, and pro- held it until a hole has actually burnt in the skin ducing a degree of suffocation. It was this cruel a few inches above the wrist. Crouched before accompaniment which often deterred me from him in the humblest posture, the unfortunate man these morning visits. The fingering my watch seemed writhing with pain, but dared not utter was always a favorite amusement with Dingarn. even a groan, and, as soon as this wanton inflicIrrespective of consequences, I quite inadvertently tion was over, was directed to go round to the drew it out on one of these occasions; when a company and display the effect. Had my glass narrower inspection was immediately requested, been restored, I should long before have taken my and, as there was no alternative, it was consigned departure, unwilling to countenance such barbato a hand which had little regard for its delicate rous proceedings; but it was still retained, and I construction. How to recover it again I scarcely was necessitated to witness a repetition of the knew. Dingarn was already aware that there same torture on another servant, whom he held in was still one intended for him among the presents the same manner, and who appeared to suffer that had not yet arrived, and pleaded hard for an more intensely, yet without any further indicaexchange. "Why may not this be mine? Does tions of his feelings than a nervous writhing of the the other make the same noise? Is it as large?" Although satisfied on all these points, and even assured that the other was larger, he still seemed to regard present possession as vastly superior to the most costly promises. Hints were unavailing. At last I appealed to his feelings, by informing him that it was the gift of a very dear friend, on which, much to his credit, and greatly to my relief, he readily restored it uninjured to my hand. A singular phrase was used by the group assembed near, at one of these morning audiences. Dingarn had sneezed once or twice, when they immediately exchaimed, "May he grow greater."

A ludicrous proof was about this time given of

whole body. No sooner was he liberated, than he confessed that the pain extended through every part from his head to his feet, and that he was convinced he must have fallen had it been prolonged. He too was ordered to exhibit his arm to all present, and really, from the expression of many of the countenances as he went round, a stranger might have imagined that some honorary badge had been conferred.

In these military towns the whole food of the soldiers, consisting of ou chualla in the morning, and beef in the evening, is provided at the King's cost, and partaken of in public. It is no unfre quent thing to see a string of thirty or forty wo

men proceeding to the Issigördlo, with bowls of places in the centre of the ring. I waited near oûtchualla on their heads, singing as they go; the gate, for the purpose of accompanying him these are delivered to servants appointed, and and witnessing his reception, which was enthusoon after set before the assembled crowd, who, siastic, all voices being raised at his approach, to passing them from one to the other, empty them utter the mystical Byate," with other approon the spot. But the evening meal is the most priate epithets. Having but once before seen characteristic, and which, from the situation of Dingarn without his cloak, it was with the greatmy hut near one of their feeding places, I had the est difficulty that I could refrain from laughing most frequent opportunities of witnessing. Every outright. Of all the grotesque figures, either in regiment is divided into sections, and over each print or in propriâ personâ, his equal I never saw, of them is an officer appointed, whose particular though he bore the nearest resemblance to Falcharge are the shields and the distribution of staff of any I could recollect. Tall, corpulent, meat, of which he is the carver. The beer is al- and fleshy, with a short neck, and a heavy foot, ways drunk in the area included within the inner he was decked out as a harlequin, and, carried fence, and often in the presence of the king; but, away by the excitement of the moment, seemed for the supper, every section is separately collect- almost prepared to become one. He has a good ed in some convenient spot in that quarter, within ear and a correct taste, at least in these matters, the fences. The meat is generally stewed in a and had his figure but accorded with his equip. large black earthern bowl, with a smaller one in- ment, he would have carried the palm in the verted, and cemented round the top to prevent the dance, which he entered into with some zest, and steam from escaping; but with all this, and not- certainly sustained his part with much natural withstanding it may have been cooking during the grace, and, for so heavy a man, with no ordinary greater part of the day, it is generally so tough, ease and agility. The songs which are sung on that my teeth could make but little impression these occasions are chiefly of his own composition, upon the pieces which I now and then attempted and are varied every year; in fact, the dancing by way of experiment. It is usually dark before is but the accompaniment of the song, and stands their repasts are ready, when the meat is brought in the place of music, of which they have none upon a mat about two feet square, and placed that deserves the name. Each man is provided upon the ground, round which the whole party with a short stick, knobbed at the end, and it is thickly crowd in a dense circle, often two or three by the direction he gives to this, the motion of his deep. The carver then, with an assegai head other hand, and the turns of his body, that the acupon a short stick, which constitutes his knife, ap- tion and pathos of the song is indicated; the corportions rations to every second or third man, who, respondence is often very beautiful, while the feet in his turn, divides it with his collateral neighbors, regulate the time, and impart that locomotive by the joint effort of their teeth; the recipient be- effect in which they so much delight; sometimes ing always privileged to the first bite. So posi- the feet are merely lifted, to descend with a stamp; tive is the labor which is necessary before they sometimes, a leaping stride is taken on either side; can venture to swallow these tough morsels, that at others, a combination of both; but they have the operation is distinctly audible at a considera- yet a more violent gesture: forming four deep, in ble distance; and when the whole is devoured open order, they make short runs to and fro, leap(for the word "eat" is too mild an expression for ing, prancing, and crossing each other's paths, the operation, which is over in a few minutes,) the brandishing their sticks, and raising such a cloud whole body becomes a convenient napkin, and is of dust by the vehemence and rapidity of the explentifully besmeared with the fat and grease ercise, that to a bystander it has all the effect of which adhere to their hands and lips, while the the wildest battle scene of savage life, and which most thrifty take this opportunity of reburnishing it is doubtless intended to imitate. While all this the brass which encircles their throat and arms. is going on in the ring, the women in the centre But it is now time to speak of the graces. The new moon had already appeared, and preparation was made for a grand dance, a continuation of those which had commenced at the in-gathering, early in the preceeding month. For two or three days previously, a number of boys had been assembled, to collect very small pebbles, which were afterwards placed within the vacant cocoon of a winged insect of the beetle kind, striped yellow and black, frequently adhering to the mimosa trees; several of these strung together were worn at the ankles by the dancers, and made a jingling noise, which was not unpleasant. Some preliminary exercise having been gone through. by way of practice, the whole of the male population, now swelled to about 1000, arranged themselves in a ring three deep; the women, in ranks of about twenty, forming a close phalanx in the centre, on a spot at a little distance without the town. The king, in his dancing attire, soon after made his appearance; his women, dressed out in their best, having preceded him, and fallen into their proper

are not idle spectators; they do not indeed move from their position, but, bending their bodies forwards to the clap of their hands, stamping with both feet together, and raising their voices to the highest pitch, they fill in their parts, and follow out the chorus with such a degree of continued exertion, as would cause an European female to go upon crutches for the remainder of her life.When the king mingles in these festivities, he takes his place in the inner circle, exactly opposite the centre woman of the sable phalanx; and should he set the time, which he usually does when present, a shrill whistle from a number of men, (the king's herdsmen) stationed in the opposite part of the ring, announces the condescending act; and, at the conclusion of every song, whether he is present or not, two heralds swiftly cross each other, emerging at the same moment from opposite ends of the circle, and, running furiously along the line which faces the women, shouting the whole time at the top of their lungs, 0, 0, 0, O, O, O! to indicate its conclusion. These

these two important personages were actively engaged dancing in the ring, and as my intrusions at such a time would only have retarded my views, and the sun went down before they returned, I was obliged to content myself with a promise that they would attend to the business the first thing in the morning.

Soon after day-light, I sent to inquire if Umthella was disposed to receive me in his hut, or whether he and Tambooza would call on me; but though diligent search was made, neither could be found, and at length it was ascertained that both were with the king. For a long time I waited their return, my interpreter and myself taking different stations for this purpose; and although at last I succeeded in waylaying them, it was again but too evident that nothing could be expected from either. Orders, it appears, had been suddenly given, and arrangements were now making, for the removal not only of the court, but of the whole male population, to Imbelli-belli, a mili

heralds are always disguised by some grotesque attire; on this occasion, one of them was so completely enveloped in the entire skin of a panther, his own eyes piercing through the very holes in the skull, and his neck and shoulders streaming with long lappets of the same fur, that he bore no resemblance to a human being; the other was less hideous, being covered with streamers of ox tails and hair, a large fillet of which encircled his forehead, and hung wildly over his eyes. Every song, many of which were sung on these occasions, has a different air, and the corresponding attitudes vary also; some are humorous and colloquial, in which a conversation is kept up with the women, who ask questions, and are in return answered by the men; but the generality relate either to hunting or war. On one occasion, the boys were employed to water the ground, and in an instant every calabash, large and small, was in requisition; even bundles of wet grass were brought and switched about, to assist in laying the dust, but in a quarter of an hour it was again rais-tary town about ten miles distant, where a series ed by the continued stamping of so many feet. The black feathers of the long-tailed finch form the usual head plume of the men; the forehead is bound round with a fillet of white beads, having a square of red in the centre; white beads usually decorate the ankles, and a band of this, or some other color, as pink or blue, the leg below the knee; while heavy brass rings on the throat and arms, are the established uniform during the dancing season, and to the eye have a rich and dressy appearance. In this climate, however, they are a positive torture, and many are the complaints which I have heard among the wearers, of the blisters which they not unfrequently raise, after a long exposure to the direct rays of the sun; the marvel is, that the whole nation are not afflicted with sore throats, as the pressure and heat are endured throughout the hottest months of the year, while they are suddenly left off on the approach of winter.

But I must now revert to the more immediate subject of my visit. Nearly a month had elapsed since my arrival, and not the slightest progress appeared to have been made in what I had the most at heart-the religious instruction of this people-although no opportunity had been lost in urging the point with Dingarn. The horse which I had borrowed at the Tugăla was still with me, retained day after day in the full expectation that a final reply to my often-repeated applications would be given, and that its services might be required either for the purposes of the station here, or for my return to Port Natal. In order, therefore, to bring the matter at once to an issue, I requested an audience, and informed the king that I could no longer retain the horse-that it was my intention to send him back on the following day, but that it would be very inconvenient for me to do this, without having been previously made acquainted with his decision respecting my remaining to teach his people. His reply was, "You must go and speak to the Indoonas about it, and to-morrow morning bring them up with you, and I will give you an answer."

Delighted with this apparent opening, and anticipating a speedy result, I proceeded in quest of Umthella and Tambooza; but at that moment

of dances on a more extended scale was to finish the festivities of the season. The urgency of the occasion, and the press of business which devolved upon them, was the plea they advanced for not at once attending to my wishes; and perceiving that all prospect of success, amidst the hurry and bustle of the moment, was utterly hopeless, I fell in with Umthella's suggestion to accompany them, a promise at the same time being held out of a decided answer on reaching Imbelli-belli. My expectations of such a result, I must own, were by no means sanguine; the dancing was expected to continue for twenty-one days, and I had little hope that, in the midst of all the excitement and bustle of such a scene, my business was likely to be better attended to than here. Still there was a glimmering of hope-both the king and the Indoonas were now pledged to express their opinion, and I thought it very probable that something might arise during the march that might induce the Indoonas to espouse my cause.

The Unkunginglove regiment about nine hundred strong, marched out in single file about ten o'clock; a number of camp followers, bearing a few articles rolled up in mats upon their heads. had preceded, and several kept company at a respectable distance, on either flank; among whom were the king's servants, bearing his cloak in a basket, his gilt stick, a chair, and various other articles. Dingarn, followed by the two Indoonas, passed through the gate at the head of his people, but, on reaching the heights, ordered them to proceed, while he rested in his chair, and reviewed them as they filed past, those nearest to his person bending almost double as they approached, and continuing the obsequient posture until they advanced several paces forward. The line occupied a considerable space, and, as they wound up the irregular slopes of the hills, the effect produced by their glistening armlets and collars and waving plumes, was certainly fine; and Dingarn, who is a most notorious boaster, took advantage of the circumstance to expatiate to me on the numbers and efficiency of his troops. For some time he continued in the rear, and then ordering a general halt, passed along the line, and resumed his station at their head,

On approaching a military town called Issiclebăni, the whole male population turned out, formed on the hill, and soon after descended with an impetuous charge to within about two hundred yards of the advancing line; on which both halted, and shouts of welcome resounded from the Issiclebăni people, closely compacted in mélé order. Dingarn was at this time seated under the shade of a spreading mimosa, with Marquillana, his favorite dog, at his feet, and witnessing the stately walking and trotting of some of the principal ladies, who had come out to greet him. The troops of both towns soon after assembled on the top of the hill to await his arrival. Among these ladies of rank was his own sister, who, on approaching, kissed his hand, and then joined her companions, who were slowly moving backwards and forwards on the same line, in order to exhibit to the best advantage a long skin petticoat, of the blackest dye, studded round the waist with brass knobs, and furnished on each side with a long lappet, which trained upon the ground behind. The motion of the feet, half walk, half trot, gives the idea of wading through an opposite current of water, while the shoulders are alternately advanced and the bent elbow moved up and down in so constrained and inelegant a manner, that I never could regard these gauche manœuvres, though evidently intended to please, with any tolerable degree of composure. On reaching the hill on which the town is built, both parties had formed two sides of a square, and here a similar exhibition took place in leaping and athletic eccentricities to that which has already been described on the arrival of Georgo.

welcomed by his subjects in a similar manner. I immediately tossed my hat in the air, and gave three cheers, which, on being explained, greatly delighted him. During the whole of this journey we were accompanied by the two Imbongas, or professed praisers of the king, bearing shields, and keeping always within audible distance on one side or other of the path; these are the same men who perform the part of heralds in the dances, and who now, at every convenient opportunity, recounted the various acts and deeds of their august monarch in a string of unbroken sentences; the climax of this species of impromptu composition being the volubility of the speaker, and his total disregard to every rule of punctuation.

The entrance into Imbelli-belli was in the same style as the approach to Issiclebăni; the people of the town came out to receive the king, and then all moved forward together; the main body, as soon as they had passed the inner fence, opening to admit the king, who was in the rear, and then immediately closing and forming a circle around him, who, after witnessing a further repetition of warlike antics, retired to the Issigōrdlo, at the upper part of the town. Not so fortunate was I, although nearly the whole population of the place had been forced to turn out for the accommodation of the people from Unkünginglove, who may be considered as the body-guard, and were seen lighting their fires as we approached, and preparing to bivouac among the neighboring bushes. Not a hut could be obtained; and had it not been for the influence of the two Indoonas, who, at the express order of the king, accompanied us in the search, we should not have succeeded. Not ex

The object, however, was different, in the pre-pecting to remain beyond a night, the sum-total of sent instance, to assure their sovereign of the capacity and eagerness of each old warrior to emulate his former deeds; and certainly, if actions could speak, they must have made a most indelible impression upon his mind. Here was no speechifying, but out came a warrior with a bounce, brandishing his weapon and beating his shield, and covering as much ground in three strides as a tiger could spring,-stabbing, and parrying, and retreating, and again vaulting into the ranks, with so light a foot and so rigid a muscle, that the eye had scarcely time to follow the velocity of his movements. Another and another came out, each with a peculiar step and gesture; and, while in the performance of these exploits, pointed at throughout his meteor course, as well by the king as by all his compatriots, who, by the extension of their hands and their sticks towards the individual, accompanied by the prolonged sound of the letter Z, indicated their recognition of a warrior of known and tried courage. This continued some time, when the Unkunginglove troops passed on, followed by those of Issiclebani, who escorted us about a mile from their town to the bank of a dry rivulet; when, after a few more bounces and leaps, and simultaneous shouting, they took their leave, to slaughter and devour some beef which had been presented to them by the king, a herd having accompanied our progress at some distance from the line of march. As we now proceeded along more quietly, Dingarn turned round to inquire of me whether King William often visited different parts of his country, and whether he was

my baggage was a pocket-testament and a spoon, naturally calculating on procuring a mat; but even this luxury could not be obtained; and I was obliged to content myself with the solid floor for my bed, and a more solid stone by way of pillow, and that in a hut already occupied by two natives, independent of my interpreter. Having been promised an early interview with the two Indoonas in the morning (March 7th), and the actual height of the sun described at the time the intended conference should take place, I was at Umthella's hut rather before the hour appointed; but neither himself nor his colleague, who, in the crowded state of the town, were housed together, could be found. His servants informed me that they had been seen passing through the gate, intending to bathe in the river, which I believe was correct. However, in due time they were reminded of the appointment, and the long-promised meeting took place. Both Umthella Tambooza, who were the only individuals present excepting ourselves, expressed themselves in the kindest manner, and evinced so much cordiality and willingness to forward my views, that the object appeared almost gained before the final reference had been made to the king. Apparently animated with the subject, which was discussed at full length, they themselves proposed an immediate adjournment to the presence of the king; but this, even to them, was not so readily gained; and to my astonishment, notwithstanding all their previous boasting, we were all kept a full half-hour waiting attendance, happily under the shade of

and

some old trees in the centre of the area, until his majesty, at the time occupied, not like the nursery king, in "counting out his money," but in inspecting his herds of cattle, had finished his princely employment. His chair was then set beside the trunk of another tree, to which we soon after repaired; and I was called up by Dingarn to state the substance of what had just been advanced in Umthlella's hut.

was Sunday, and setting out on my journey on Monday morning. Dingarn, who throughout had always treated me kindly, said, that I must not leave him yet; that he wished me to see the dancing which would be going on for the next twenty days, and that after that period I could return. My mind was now too much grieved to take any pleasure in these wild pastimes. I told him that it was necessary, on many accounts, that I should return, and particularly as I had the keys of the boxes which contained the remainder of the presents, which, unless opened, might spoil, and, at all events, could not be forwarded across the Tugăla until unpacked. The high road to his heart having been thus gained, no further objection was made, and having promised to postpone my walk until the evening, in order to witness a grand dance which was shortly to take place, I took my leave for the present.

As these arguments will appear in the sequel, it will be unnecessary to say more than that I endeavored to explain to him, as I had frequently done before, that my only motive in visiting his country was the spiritual instruction of his people; enlarging on the blessings attendant upon Christianity, both individually and nationally; and assuring him that any intention to interfere with either their laws or their customs was the farthest removed from my thoughts, as, next to the fear of God, honor and respect to kings, and all in autho- There were some novelties in this dance. "We rity, was a prominent feature in the religion which must open a new path," said the inventive Dinwas taught in "the book," and which I was so garn, and shortly after he was escorted to the anxious to make known to them. To this point I dancing-ground, without the town, by his Unkungmet with no interruption; but here Tambooza inglove men, each bearing a large bunch of green observed that they did not wish for teaching; that bows in his right hand, exalted above his head, they could never learn; that such words as these who, in conjunction with the people of another they were sure they could not understand. If town, formed an exterior circle, while the IssicleI would instruct them in the use of the issibum | băni regiment occupied the ring, and danced with(musket) I could stay, but these were things they did not care about. As neither Umthlella nor the king had as yet expressed any opinion, I strove hard to combat these objections, hoping still to neutralise this unexpected rebuff, but to no purpose: Umthlella, though he said little, supported his colleague; and both soon cut the matter short by an appeal to the king for his final decision. His reply, a masterpice of "juste milieu" policy, and I am willing to hope at varience with his better judgment, was thus expressed:-"I will noting advantage of every rock and rising ground, to over-rule the decision of my Indoonas." As though thunder-struck, and scarcely believing my own ears, I still ventured to prolong the discussion, until reminded by the Indoonas, who, having now gained their point, were more authoritative in their manner, that the business was ended.

Some messengers just at this moment arrived from the Tugala with a package from Port Natal, containing a letter from Mr. Berkin and some Graham's Town Journals. The letter I eagerly opened; but, notwithstanding all my anxiety to learn the progress of the Kafir war, I was obliged to reserve the perusal of the papers for a less public occasion, as it would otherwise have been difficult to have concealed some of the prominent facts from the cross-questioning curiosity of Dingarn; and as yet we were in total ignorance of the circumstances which had occurred since the first breaking out of hostilities. From the tenor of the letter, some parts of which it was necessary to communicate, I was enabled to assure him that wanton aggression upon British territory would never be tolerated, and that all who aided in such fruitless expeditions would be severely chastised: a result which he seemed fully prepared to regard as by no means improbable. As the object of my visit had now, at least for the present, entirely failed, I signified my intention to return forthwith to Port Natal, going back immediately for my baggage to Unkunginglove. as the following day

in. The moving grove, intermingled with the bald heads, had a cheerful effect. Dingarn, although in his dancing costume, did not join the lists, but contented himself with witnessing the feats performed by the three regiments assembled, the Undünginglove, Imbelli-belli, and the Issiclebăni, who each took their turns in the ring. It was altogether a most animating sight; crowds of spectators were collected, and groups of women, with children on their backs, were seen tak

peep over the heads of the bystanders; even the trees were garnished with boys, who were more than once disturbed on their roost by an order from some of the Indoonas. There could not have been less than 4000 or 5000 people on the ground. A variety was also observed in the dress of the Imbelli-belli men; if a collection of skin streamers, like the tails of a lady's "boa" attatched to a thin waist-cord, deserves the name, but which, in fact, is the nearest approach to a habiliment which a Zoolu ever deigns to wear. In this instance, and expressly for the occasion, the short cottony fibre of a root was substituted, at least behind, and twisted into thick ropy pendants, with the ends hanging loose like a tassel below, which had a good effect, eight or nine of these tails forming a dress. But before the whole was ended, a thunder storm, attended with heavy rain, cut short the amusements, and all were obliged to leave the ground, and return for shelter to the town. As soon as it cleared up a little, I took a formal leave of Dingarn, who called his people around to show me how they could eat tough beef, asking, If that was the manner in which English soldiers received their meat? He then said, that I must come and see him again; that I could build at Port Natal, and teach the people there. Still, reluctant to leave him without some distant prospect

These bows had never been carried before.