Chap. XVI.] SOUTHERN AFKICA. 129 



CHAPTER XVI. 



RESIDENCE AT KAPAIN. 



We were shortly afterwards visited by the king 

 without either pageant or ceremony. This he con- 

 sidered a confidential interview, and said he had 

 come " to see what we had got for him." The 

 weather being cold, he was attired in a handsome 

 black leathern mantle ; its ample folds, reaching 

 to his heels, well became his tall and manly person ; 

 and he looked the very bemt ideal of an African 

 Chief. He had completely thrown aside that re- 

 serve and gravity which in a public assembly he 

 had conceived most becoming, and now appeared 

 in high good humour, joking, laughing, and fami- 

 liarly pulling our beards, of which the luxuriant 

 growth elicited his admiration and surprise. He 

 frequently asked us how many wives we had, and 

 whether they also had beards. We thought this 

 an auspicious moment in which to revert to the 

 subject of our desired exit by the Vaal River, but 

 took especial care to exclude Andries from the con- 

 ference. Besides being a bad interpreter, we had 

 seen that he was personally opposed to the measure, 

 and we consequently preferred Richard, who had 

 now recovered his self-possession, and was a much 

 more impartial dragoman. 



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