Chap. XXIX.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 253 



country we had visited, the game, and the liberal 

 supply of rain which it had been the king's gracious 

 pleasure to send us, the ambassador proceeded, 

 without further preamble, to disclose his important 

 errand, by acquainting us with his Majesty's sudden 

 determination to become the proprietor of a fowling- 

 piece upon the detonating principle ; at the same 

 time declaring his own readiness immediately to 

 receive charge of the weapon, together with any 

 other trifling presents that we might be desirous 

 of sending. We evaded compliance with the first 

 part of this very modest demand by promising, 

 when the elephant-hunting should be concluded, to 

 send a gun by our escort party on its return from 

 the Vaal River; at the same time meeting the 

 spirit of tlie request by producing another coil of 

 the identical brass-wire which had proved so at- 

 tractive at Kapain — several articles of crockery ware 

 — a gross of gilt regimental buttons, and a brown 

 jug, with raised representations of Toby Philpot in 

 five different stages of intoxication — from wliich 

 most appropriate vessel we begged that his Majesty 

 would be pleased to quaff" his beer in futvire. 



The mention of the Vaal River passing off" without 

 any remark, our anxiety on tbat score was relieved; 

 and the jug having been duly admired, we proceeded 

 to complain of the mutinous behaviour of the guides, 

 who we requested might be exchanged for others. 

 Mohanycom being the channel through which this 

 communication must pass, had an opportunity of 

 distorting it as he pleased, and delivered a smooth 



