116 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XIV. 



insisted upon continuingour journey after breakfast, 

 so as to get clear of the hills in the course of the 

 day ; and were accordingly preparing to start when 

 a herald, called, in the Matabili language, Imbongo, 

 a proclaimer of the king's titles, suddenly made 

 his appearance outside the kraal, to give us a little 

 insight into his Majesty's biography. Advancing 

 slowly towards the waggons, he opened the exhi- 

 bition by roaring and charging, in frantic imitation 

 of the king of beasts — then placing his arm before 

 his mouth, and swinging it rapidly in pantomimic 

 representation of the elephant, he threw his trunk 

 above his head and shrilly trumpeted. He next 

 ran on tiptoe, imitating the ostrich ; and lastly, 

 humbling himself in the dust, wept like an infant. 

 At each interval of the scene, he recounted the 

 matchless prowess and mighty conquests of his 

 illustrious monarch, and made the hills re-echo 

 with his praise. He was a brawny athletic savage, 

 upwards of six feet in height, naked as he was 

 born. Frenzied by his energetic gesticulations, the 

 perspiration trickled from his greasy brow, and 

 white foam descended in flakes from his distorted 

 mouth, whilst his eye glared with excitement. 



The road now became almost impassable — 

 large trees overhung the way, and threatened the 

 destruction of the waggon tents ; we proceeded very 

 slowly, and narrowly escaped being upset, the 

 jungle becoming more and more intricate as we ad- 

 vanced. Game-traps and pit-falls were to be seen 

 through every avenue, many of the thorn fences 



