252 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXIX. 



upon a tar-barrel at the head of the table, but wisely 

 preferred making use of his nails and assagai ; whilst 

 the retinue, squatting themselves behind the old 

 man's chair, quarrelled like dogs for the scraps 

 which he was pleased from time to time to throw to 

 them. The mass of meat disappearing like magic 

 before their reiterated attacks, in the course of a 

 few minutes the board was swept of its smoking load, 

 and tea having been baled out of a large kettle to 

 the whole party, the repast was concluded by the 

 greedy consumption of half a pound of snufF. 



After a long and mysterious conference with the 

 guides, which was conducted at a distance, in an 

 under tone of voice and with great earnestness, 

 Um'Nombate proceeded with an air of cold reserve 

 to open the business of his embassy by presenting 

 to each of us first, and then to Andries, a leopard's 

 skin, a bag of Kafir corn, and a scrubby ox. The 

 animal sent expressly for Andries, besides being 

 hornless, was wall-eyed on the dexter side — a pe- 

 culiarity which elicited many personal jokes at the 

 expense of our trusty follower, whom his Majesty, 

 when in merry mood, was in the habit of addressing 

 by the familiar soubriquet of Mutlee, or cock-eye. 

 The pleasantry of the conceit being fully appre- 

 ciated, that designation was immediately bestowed 

 upon the ox ; and we learned shortly afterwards 

 that Andries had engaged to return from the colony 

 and enter the despot's service, upon condition of being 

 rewarded by the handof Truey, the Griqua captive. 



After a few unimportant remarks relative to the 



