Ciivp. XV.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 127 



less taste with which he had arranged some ma- 

 terials that had been presented to him by Sir 

 Benjamin D' Urban. It was an apron composed of 

 black goat-skin streamers, loaded with beads of 

 every size and colour, and with a profusion of brass 

 chains and ornaments disposed in an endless variety 

 of patterns that did ample honour to his inventive 

 genius. 



The production of this article led the king to 

 inquire after the health of our most gracious 

 Sovereign, of whom he said he had heard, and 

 whom he declared to be, next to himself, the greatest 

 monarch of the universe, adding, that the white 

 king's nation was undoubtedly second to his own 

 in power. The dialogue proceeded very slowly, in 

 consequence of the necessity of its hping conducted 

 through the tiresome medium of four different lan- 

 guages. Andries did not perform his duties with 

 much regularity, and seemed to consider that the 

 colloquy was intended for his own instead of for our 

 edification. Under this delusion, he fancied that 

 he had acquitted himself of the obligation w^e had 

 imposed, if he favoured us with an occasional scrap- 

 The king sometimes understood what Baba said in 

 Sichuana to Mohanycom, nodding his head gra- 

 ciously, smiling, and repeating " Tanta, tanta,tantar 

 At length the conversation flagged. Directing a 

 sheep and sundry calabashes of beer to be placed 

 before us, the despot arose, and abruptly, without 

 the slightest compliment, made his exist amid the 

 congratulations of his loyal subjects. The heralds 



