282 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



it was best to defer all minor transactions until our 

 trade in it was concluded. The king seemed highly 

 delighted with his purchases, and insisted on discharg- 

 ing each of the muskets as he bought it. It was amus- 

 ing to see the manner in which he performed this oper- 

 ation. Throwing back his kaross, and applying the 

 stock to his naked shoulder, he shut his good eye, and 

 kept the wall-eye open, to the intense amusement of 

 the Hottentots, who were his instructors on the occa- 

 sion. Each report caused the utmost excitement and 

 merriment among the warriors, who pressed forward, 

 and requested that they also might be permitted to try 

 iheir skill with these novel implements of war. 



The king had in his possession a most wonderful 

 knob-kerry, which I was determined to obtain. It was 

 made of the horn of the kobaoba, a very rare species of 

 the rhinoceros, and its chief interest consisted in its ex- 

 traordinary length, which greatly exceeded any thing 

 I had ever seen of the kind before, or have since met 

 with. Handing Sicomy my snuff-box, I pointed to the 

 kerry, and asked him where the kobaoba had been 

 killed. He replied that that kerry had been sent him 

 by a chief who resided at an amazing distance on the 

 borders of the Lake of Boats. I then asked him to pre- 

 sent it to ine, that I might have something to keep in 

 remembrance of him ; but he replied that it belonged 

 to his wife, and he could not part with it. Presently, 

 however, while sipping his coffee, he said that if I chose 

 I might purchase it. I asked him what he required 

 for it, and he answered, the cup which he then held full 

 of gunpowder. Accordingly, when his majesty had 

 drained the cup, I handed him the powder, and became 

 possessor of the kobaoba kerry, which is now in my 

 possession, and on which I place a very great value. 



