Chap. XVI.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. ]33 



contents of a whole calabash of the native malt 

 liquor. This detestable beverage, which is denomi- 

 nated outchualla, is of a whitish colour, frothy, and 

 produced from fermented Kafir corn. Moselekatse 

 avowed himself an ardent admirer of it, and we 

 understood frequently cljank it to intoxication. Out 

 of compliment to him I partook of it, but found it 

 very unpalatable. The Hottentots averred that it 

 was not stronger than water, but they invariably 

 talked more at length and louder after drinking it, 

 and Claas was lying the whole day under a bush, 

 sealed in a torpor induced by the potations of it he 

 had swallowed. Long files of women, singing as 

 they walked, were constantly to be seen arriving 

 from the adjacent kraals with bowls of this nectar 

 upon their heads ; and our guides were ready re- 

 cipients for any quantity that might be sent for our 

 consumption, loudly in their cups shouting the 

 praises of the king. 



The fidl moon rose in cloudless beauty, rendering 

 the night nearly as light as day. We had been a 

 short time in bed when Um'Nombate ai'oused me 

 stealthily, offering me an elephant's tooth in ex- 

 change for beads, and assuring me that the king 

 should never know of the transaction. We were 

 too well acquainted with Moselekatse's character 

 to be lured by Um'Nombate's proposal, and never 

 doubting that he was a mere tool in the hands of 

 the king, dismissed him without ceremony, appriz- 

 ing him that we could make no exchange, except by 

 jiis Majesty's order. The courtier retired discom- 



