70 EXPEDITION INTO 



CHAPTER XI. 



ARRIVAL AT MOSEGA, THE CAPITAL OF THE CHIEF 

 MOSELEKATSE. 



Late in the evening" we were agreeably surprised by the 

 auspicious arrival of four Matabili warriors from Moseg-a^ 

 bringing- a civil message from the deputj^-g-overnor^ who, 

 in the absence of His Amazooloo Majest}", and of his 

 prime-minister Kalipi, had been apprized by Andries of our 

 advent. Tall, straig-ht, well-proportioned, and of regular 

 features, these men, although of very dark complexion, were 

 far superior in appearance to any tribe that we had hitherto 

 seen. Their heads were shaven, and surmounted by an 

 oval ring attached to the scalp j a large perforation in the 

 lobe of one ear receiving a small gourd snuff-box. Their 

 dress consisted of a leathern girdle, with a few strips of 

 cat-skin attached to the front and rear ; and each was armed 

 with two short javelins, and a knobbed stick used for throw- 

 ing. We made them heartily welcome to our fireside — filled 

 their stomachs with beef, and their boxes with snuff, and left 

 them making their nests among the sheltered bushes on the 

 river bank. A strong disagreeable wind setting in, com- 

 l^letely destroyed the fire j and after we had retired, it in- 

 creased to such a perfect hurricane that sleep was out of 

 the question. Our waggon was carefully closed and drawn 

 up under the shelter of a superb grove of trees j yet the 

 bitter blast that howled without, cut so keenly through the 

 blankets, that it penetrated even to the marrow of our bones. 

 I wrapped my sheep-skin coverlet closer about me, without 



