874 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



his principal men and warriors. He appeared to me to 

 be about thirty years of age, and was of middle stature. 

 His distinguishing feature is a wall-eye, which imparts 

 to his countenance a roguish look that does not belie 

 the cunning and deceitful character of the man. As 

 he came up to the wagons I met and shoolc hands with 

 him, and invited him to partake of coffee with me. I 

 could see that he was enchanted at my arrival. He 

 talked at a very rapid pace, and assumed an abrupt and 

 rather dictatorial manner, occasionally turning round 

 and cracking jokes with his counselors and nobility. 

 He was very anxious to ascertain from Isaac the con- 

 tents of the wagons, and said that he would buy every 

 thing I had brought, and that he would give me a large 

 bull elephant's tusk for each of my muskets. 



This was a fishing remark to hear what I should say; 

 so I replied that the muskets cost many teeth in my 

 own country, and that I had not stolen them. I had 

 resolved to niaintain a firm and independent manner in 

 my dealings with him, treating him, at the same time, 

 with the utmost affability. I told him that other men 

 feared to come so far to trade with him, but that his 

 friend Dr. Livingstone had directed me to come, and 

 had sent him a present by me. I then gave him Dr. 

 Livingstone's present, with a similar one from myself, 

 consisting of beads, snuiT, and ammunition. It amus- 

 ed me to observe the timid and cringing demeanor of 

 the men of Booby when seated in the presence of the 

 king. Approaching him with the utmost humility, 

 they saluted him by stretching out their hands and 

 clapping the palms together, saying at the same time 

 " Rumela, cosi," signifying Hail, king! which his maj- 

 esty was graciously pleased to acknowledge by squint- 

 ing at them with his cock-eve. and saving " Eh,*' which 



