SOUTHERN AFRICA. 109 



them. He had always rei^lied with g-reat readmess that 

 they would soon g'et fat^ as there was abundance of g-rass 

 and water in the country to which we were journeying- ; 

 but we were certainly not prepared for so unequivocal a 

 specimen of the royal bounty. About dark he sent to 

 borrow some A\'ax candles, at the same time sending* by 

 Um'Nombate the stewed breast of an ox, and a supply 

 of beer. AVe requested the old man to honour us with 

 his company, which he readily did, emptying- his plate 

 faster than we could fill it, and swalloA\ ing- at a draught 

 the contents of a whole calabash of the native malt liquor. 

 This detestable beverag-e, which is denominated ontchtialla, 

 is of a whitish colour, fi'othy, and produced from fermen- 

 ted Kaffir corn. Moselekatse avowed himself an ardent 

 admirer of it, and we understood frequently drank it to 

 intoxication. Out of compliment to him I partook of it, 

 but found it very unpalatable. The Hottentots averred that 

 it was not strong-er than water, but they invariably talked 

 more at length and louder after drinking- it, and Claas 

 was lying" the whole day under a bush, sealed in a torpor 

 induced b}' the potations of it that he had swallowed. 

 Long- files of women, sing-ing- as they walked, were con- 

 stantly to be seen arriving- fi*om the adjacent kraals with 

 bowls of this nectar upon their heads j and our g'uides 

 were ready recipients for any quantity that mig-ht be sent 

 for our consumption, loudly in their cups shouting* the 

 praises of the king-. 



The full moon rose in cloudless beauty, rendering- the 

 nig'ht nearly as lig-ht as day. We had been a short time 

 in bed when Um'Nombate aroused me stealthily, offering* 

 me an elephant's tooth in exchange for beads, and assuring- 

 me that the king* should never know of the transaction. 

 We were too well acquainted with Moselekatse's character 

 to be lured by Um'Nombate's proposal, and never doubt- 



