132 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XVI. 



wanted." The visit \vas a very long one : the king 

 begged that we would publish to the white traders 

 in the colony, his anxiety to obtain muskets and 

 ammunition in barter for elephants' teeth. He spoke 

 also on various subjects that interested him, par- 

 ticularly respecting the productions of the white 

 men's country. His eyes had repeatedly wandered 

 towards, and latterly been riveted upon a coil of 

 brass wire, a portion of which protruded from the 

 waggon, and before quitting us, he darted suddenly 

 upon it, grinning with triumph, and bearing it along 

 with him with the greatest exultation. 



In the evening, as his numerous herds of cattle 

 were returning from pasture, the king gave us a 

 proof of the munificence of his nature, by selecting 

 two of the worst oxen and a toothless cow, of which 

 he begged our acceptance. We had repeatedly in- 

 troduced the subject of cattle, bringing to his notice 

 the miserable condition of our own teams, and hint- 

 ing an expectation that he would recruit them. He 

 had always replied with great readiness that they 

 would soon get fat, as there was abvmdance of grass 

 and water in the country to which we were journey- 

 ing ; but we were certainly not prepared for so un- 

 equivocal a specimen of the royal bounty. About 

 dark he sent to borroto some wax candles, at the 

 same time sending by Um'Nombate the stewed 

 breast of an ox, and a supply of beer. We request- 

 ed the old man to honour us with his company, 

 which he readily did, emptying his plate faster than 

 we could fill it, and swallowing at a draught the 



