134 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XVI. 



fited, and the result, proved that we were not wrong 

 in our conjecture. 



Shortly after daybreak, and almost before we had 

 dressed, the despot himself was seen approaching 

 with solemn step, accompanied by Um'Nombate, 

 and a man bearing the identical elephant's tusk 

 on his shoulder. He was instantly surrounded by 

 ten or twelve persons, who ran from a distance and 

 crouched before him. All this looked exceedingly 

 ominous. We had heard of the execution of two 

 culprits some time before, in presence of a trader, 

 and were half afraid that the old man, having been 

 detected in his delinquency by some of the spies 

 about the waggons, was about to suffer condign 

 punishment. The king seated himself upon a chair 

 and looked mysterious; Um'Nombate squatted 

 himself upon the ground with the dejected air of a 

 criminal, and the rascally tooth was placed before 

 them. We felt very uneasy, but pretended not to 

 notice it, until his Majesty himself drew our atten- 

 tion to it by kicking it with his foot, and observing 

 that Um'Nombate wished to receive some beads 

 in exchange for it. This speech, although bearing 

 more the character of a demand than a request, 

 relieved our anxiety, but we replied that ivory vvas 

 of no use to us, our oxen being quite unable to 

 transport so heavy a commodity, — that we were 

 ready to barter beads, or indeed anything we pos- 

 sessed, for fat oxen, adding, that if the king wished, 

 we would gladly present a few beads to our friend 

 Um'Nombate, but begged to decline accepting the 



