254 EXPEDITION INTO [ChAp. XXIX. 



honied speech in reply, the substance of which was, 

 that no further difficulties would be made. A war- 

 rior, answering to the name of Maphook, was then 

 directed by the ambassador to reinforce our escort : 

 and having- duly enlisted himself under our banner, 

 they all received injunctions to accompany us, by 

 any route we fancied, to the Vaal River, but on no 

 account to return thence without the percussion gun. 



Having requested Um'Nombate to express to his 

 royal master the gratification that we had derived 

 from our visit to his extensive preserves, I proceeded 

 to the exhibition of the drawings I had made of the 

 different game animals, which was attended with the 

 usual theatric effect. The production of "the noble 

 elephant" caused an invohmtary elevation of the 

 eyelids, although no remark was made. On seeing 

 the giraffe, every one exclaimed " 'Intootla! 'Intootla! 

 ^Intootlar at the same time standing on tiptoe, and 

 stretching his neck to the utmost extent. Tao, or 

 the lion, caused a general flourish of weapons and 

 beating of shields ; and 'Imfooboo, the hippopota- 

 mus, whilst it nearly threw the old man into fits, 

 elicited the observation that I " undoubtedly took 

 very strong medicine !'' After some other equally 

 sapient remarks, the peer arose, and reminding us of 

 his sovereign's caution to return by Kuruman if we 

 visited him again, which he trusted we v.ould, took 

 leave of us in the usual manner, and set out on his 

 return, carrying the brown jug in his own hand. 



We forthwith continued our journey to the south- 

 eastward with renewed spirits, passing through the 



