442 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



As soon as he heard the unwelcome news, he is said to 

 have thrown off his outer garments, and in the most 

 violent language accused his people of having become 

 women, of having forgotten the deeds of their fathers, 

 and of having descended to such a degree that only 

 entitled them to he slaves. This peroration he con- 

 cluded by a regret that he was born so long ago, that 

 he was now unable to take command of his troops in 

 person. 



The day after Sechelle's visit I returned it, and 

 was introduced to his queen. She is also exceedingly 

 pleasing in appearance and manner, although quite as 

 stout as her husband. Their residence is a large, well- 

 built cottage, with a wide verandah, surrounded by a 

 compound of about an acre and a half. The interior of 

 their dwelling was clean, but I could not say tidy, for 

 there were musical boxes, books, telescopes, wind instru- 

 ments, guns, swords, and articles of furniture and cloth- 

 ing huddled together in one indistinguishable mass. 



Before departing, the old king presented me with a 

 beautiful caross, and other curiosities, and came down at 

 the hour of my leaving, accompanied by hospitable and 

 kind-hearted Mr. Williams and Mr. Taylor, to see me 

 start. The natural position of Sechelle's village would 

 be very strong if it were not commanded by an 

 adjoining height, but in case of an attack it would 

 doubtless be fortified. After a rest here of four days 

 we started at three o'clock in the afternoon of the fifth, 

 our numbers being further reduced by a man, an ox, 

 and a dog. "We trecked all night, and reached water 

 at eight o'clock in the morning. The pasture around 

 this halting-place was excellent and abundant, so I did 

 not inspan till late the next afternoon. Here I met 



