122 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XV. 



the kraal. We felt quite certain that the king nuist 

 be dying with impatience to obtain possession of 

 the various presents we had brought for him, but 

 he thought it dignified to affect indifference, and 

 prosecuted his ideas of propriety so rigorously, that 

 his non-appearance became at length alarming. 

 We therefore dispatched Baba to say that every- 

 thing was prepared for his reception, and that we 

 were extremely anxious to pay our respects. Tn 

 the course of a few minutes, loud shouting and yell- 

 ing announced his approach. He was attended by 

 the spies that had accompanied us from Mosega, 

 several of his chiefs, and most of the warriors who 

 were not absent on the expedition I have alluded to, 

 armed with shields and assagais. As he advanced 

 others rushed up with a shout, brandishing their 

 sticks. A number of women followed with cala- 

 bashes of beer on their heads ; and two pursuivants 

 cleai'ed the way, by roaring, charging, prancing, 

 and caricoling as already described, flourishing 

 their short sticks in a most furious manner, and 

 proclaiming the royal titles in a string of unbroken 

 sentences. As we advanced to meet him, several 

 of the crowd exclaimed " Haiyah ! Haiyah .'" a 

 shout of congratulation and triumph. Having 

 shaken hands, we led him into the tent, and seated 

 him on a chair ; the courtiers and great men squat- 

 ting themselves on their hams on the ground in 

 semicircular order on either side. He was par- 

 ticularly glad to see Andries, and shook him by 

 the hand several times. 



