104 EXPEDITION INTO 



was no other road. As this reply passed throug-h Andries^ 

 he became dreadfully agitated; and; opening- both eyeS; he 

 stuttered forth; Avith a vehemence of manner which drew 

 upon him the attention of the whole assembly; that the king- 

 never would consent to let any person depart by the Vaal 

 River; and that we should all have our throats cut if we 

 hinted further at such an arrang-ement ! At this moment; 

 however; the opportune return of a messeng-er; g-ave a 

 fortunate turn to the conversation. The kino- had sent 

 for his dress of statC; that we mig-ht have an opportunity 

 of admiring- the matchless taste with which he had arrang-ed 

 some materials that had been jiresented to him by Sir 

 Benjamin D'Urban. It was an apron composed of black 

 g'oat-skin streamers; loaded with beads of every size and 

 colour; and with a profusion of brass chains and ornaments 

 disposed in an endless variety of patterns that did ample 

 honour to his inventive g'enius. 



The production of this article led the king- to inquire 

 after the health of our most g-racious Sovereig-U; of whom 

 he said he had heard; and whom he declared to he, next 

 to himself; the g-reatest monarch of the universe; adding-; 

 that the white king-'s nation was undoubtedly second to 

 his own in power. The dialog-ue proceeded very slowly; 

 in consequence of the necessity of its being- conducted 

 throug-h the tiresome medium of four different lang-uag-es. 

 Andries did not perform Jds duties with much reg'ularity; 

 and seemed to consider that the colloquy was intended 

 for his own instead of for our edification. Under this 

 delusion; he fancied that he had acquitted himself of the 

 obligation we had imposed; if he favoured us with an 

 occasional scrap. The king- sometimes understood what 

 Baba said in Sichuana to Mohanyconi; nodding- his head 

 g-raciously; smiling-; and repeating- ^' Tanta, tanta, tcmta." 

 At leng-th the conversation flag-ged. Directing a sheep and 



