00 EXPEDITION INTO 



lu(l<»-e was still far distant, we obstiiiateh' insisted upon con- 

 tinuing- our journey after breakfast, so as to g'et clear of the 

 hills in the course of the day ; and Avere according-ly prepar- 

 ing' to start A\ hen a herald, called in the JVIatabili lang'uag'e, 

 ImhongOj a proclainier of the king-'s titles, suddenly made his 

 a})pearance outside the kraal, to g'ive us a little insig'ht into 

 his Majesty's biogTaphy. Advanchig- slowly towards the 

 Avag'g'ons, he opened the exhibition by roaring* and charg'ing", 

 in frantic imitation of the king* of beasts — then placing his 

 arm before his mouth, and SAAing'ing' it rapidly in pantomimic 

 representation of the elephant, he threw his trunk a])ove 

 his head and shrilly trumpeted. He next ran on tiptoe 

 imitating- the ostrich ', and lastly, luunbling- himself into the 

 dust, wept like an inflint. At each interval of the scene, 

 lie recounted the matchless prowess and mig-hty conquests 

 of his illustrious monarch, and made the hills re-echo with 

 his praise. He was a brawny athletic savag'e, upwards of 

 six feet in heig'ht, naked as he Mas born. Frenzied by his 

 energ'etic g'esticidations, the perspiration trickled from his 

 g'reasy brow, and white foam descended in flakes from his 

 distorted mouth, Avhilst his eye g"lared with excitement. 



The road now became almost impassable — large trees 

 overhung- the way, and threatened the destruction of the 

 wag"g-on tents ; we proceeded very sIoanIv, and narrowly 

 escaped being' upset, the jung'le becoming* more and more 

 intricate as we advanced. Game-traps and pit-falls Avere to 

 be seen throug'h every avenu(», many of the thorn fences 

 extending- across the path, and impeding* the a\ ag'g-ons until 

 cut away with the hatchet. A party of six natives had 

 followed oiu' tracks and volunteered to show a g'iraile.* I 

 emerg-ed under their g-iiidance from the forest we Avere 

 threading*, into a wide plain, on which I saw, for the fii'st 



* Cdiiuhipnrdalls Oirnjf'a. Delineated in tlie Portraits of (lame and Wild 

 AiiiniuLs orSuiilhcrii Africa. 



