126 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XV. 



retain the heat ; but having eyed the different 

 drinking-cups for some time suspiciously, he handed 

 his own to his attendants, and then extending his 

 arm abruptly seized upon my goblet, and greedily 

 drained the contents. It is well known that savages, 

 however debased they may be in the scale of 

 humanity, are keenly susceptible of indignity ; and 

 he either considered himself slighted, or had pru- 

 dently determined, until we should become better 

 acquainted, to taste nothing of which we had not in 

 the first instance partaken ourselves. 



It was now time to allude to our affairs, and 

 having repeated that our principal object in coming 

 into his country, was to make his acquaintance, we 

 proceeded to ask permission to hunt elephants. 

 This request was readily granted : but on stating 

 that we had little time, and should wish to return 

 to the colony by a nearer route than the one we 

 had come, he shook his head and gravely remarked 

 that there was no other road. As this reply passed 

 through Andries, he became dreadfully agitated^ 

 and opening both eyes, he stuttered forth, with a 

 vehemence of manner which drew upon him the 

 attention of the whole assembly, that the king never 

 would consent to let any person depart by the Vaal 

 River, and that we should all have our throats cut if 

 we hinted further at such an arrangement ! At 

 this moment, however, the opportune return of a 

 messenger, gave a fortunate turn to the conversation 

 The king had sent for his dress of state, that we 

 might have an opportunity of admiring the match- 



