CHAPTER XXVII. 



THE BIG ZULU IN FORM BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. 



TRECK, TRECK, was again the pass-word ; the patient 

 steers once more strained upon their yokes ; inch by 

 inch we cut our way through the heavy sand, and 

 soon entered upon firm ground, when the rate of 

 progression increased. From it we got to grass 

 land, crisp, short, and firm, when the cattle broke 

 into a trot, and in a few minutes after we were out- 

 spanned upon what, with some show of justice, 

 might be called the village green. 



All the mature men, those that were young and 

 fit for active service, were away from the kraal with 

 their chief, Bareekey ; thus we were received by that 

 potentate's new wife and a large staff of eligible 

 young ladies, the whole being under the care of three 

 decrepit greybeards, of an average age of at least 

 fourscore years. These venerables unquestionably 

 did their best to preserve propriety in the ranks of 

 their charges, and I doubt not but that they thought 

 that they succeeded admirably; but never were elderly 



