148 BIG GAME SHOOTING 
defining the limits of safety and danger. Nothing, however, 
would persuade them to take the jump from the bank into 
the deep black water. Our friend whistled, and from the 
fringe of reeds on the opposite side four or five canoes full of 
men shot across the narrow channel. As they landed they 
presented the most motley appearance. They had evidently 
dressed to astonish us, and each bore about his neck or 
shoulders some article of European manufacture. Here was a 
fellow with a yard and a half of green baize or red drugget 
tied with a leathern thong about his throat, the ends streaming 
away behind him ; another with a yard or two of some cheap 
gaudy cloth with a hole cut in the middle, wearing it @ Za poncho ; 
two yards of calico of the commonest adorned the person of a 
third ; itwas a most ridiculous sight, but was evidently considered 
most impressively overwhelming. Still the cattle resisted our 
united efforts. At last, a canoe was paddled over to the other 
side, and in three or four minutes appeared again with a tiny 
cow and a most diminutive calf as passengers. The little cow 
was lifted on to the bank, and the canoe paddled back with the 
calf ; we got our oxen as much together in a lump as we could, 
close to the river, surrounded them on three sides, loosed the 
lowing little mother, who instantly took a header into the 
water, and then by shouting, pushing, and twisting tails induced 
our oxen to follow the example set them, and they were safe. 
The horses gave no trouble. 
On questioning these Kafirs and their chief (Sebitoani) 
afterwards as to the mystery of the fine clothes, this was the 
interpretation. ‘Do you see that little hill? A mnumber of men 
with hair like yours and with guns came from the eastwards and 
sat down on that hill. We sent to ask them what they wanted, 
and they said “to buy men.” We explained we had none to 
sell ; it was the first time they had ever come to us, though 
we had heard of them before. Wouldn’t they buy ivory 
cr ostrich feathers? No, they didn’t want anything of that 
sort ; they had beautiful cloths, which they showed us.’ ‘I 
told them,’ said Sebitoani, ‘that I thought it was an “ugly” thing 
