98 EXPEDITION INTO 



CHAPTER XV. 



ARRIVAL AT KAPAIN^ AND VISIT FROM THE CHIEF 

 MOSELEKATSE. 



The absence of water^ added to our anxiety to kiss the hand 

 of his Majesty^ induced us to 3'oke the oxen much earlier 

 than usual on the 24th. The Hottentots were all in hig-h 

 spirits^ their timidity having' actually left them for a season. 

 It seemed as if some new and exciting* emotion were felt at 

 our near npproach to the king"^ which they considered as a 

 crisis in their fate. Even Coeur de Lion was resig-ned to his 

 doom — he had dried his eyes^ and went like a lamb to the 

 slaug-hter. It was a soft g-olden morning-^ and five miles 

 travelling- over a fertile plain^ broken occasionally by isolated 

 hills of inconsiderable altitude — and covered with larg-e 

 herds of oxen^ brought us within a short distance of three 

 conical mountains^ disposed in a triang'ular relation^ within 

 the area enclosed by which we were told that the ro3^al kraal 

 would be found. As our approach was discovered^ the tops 

 of the hills became Ihied Avith natives^ some of whom ran 

 down at intervals to report our progress^ but it was not 

 until we had actually entered the g'org'e^ that a miserable 

 hamlet was perceived^ which Baba immediately pointed out 

 as the imperial residence. 



Piet and the Parsee now g'uided the wag-gons : Coeur de 

 Lion^ not wishing* to find himself in the front of the battle^ 

 volunteered to drive the cattle in the rear, and the other six 

 Hottentots proceeded in advance with solemn step^ saluting* 

 the king* with, repeated discharges of musketryj as a com- 



