SOUTHERN AFRICA. 117 



thein until he g'raiited us permission to depart^ it being: 

 in our countiy the custom to make a present on taking* 

 leave of a o-reat man. Lookino- eao-erly at the beads, he 

 exclaimed^ " Mooe, mooe ! monanti, monanti ! tanta, tatita, 

 tanta I" and added^ that although he deplored our depar- 

 ture^ 3 et trustworthy guides should be provided to conduct 

 us on our journey earh^ the following- morning'^ pointing* 

 at the same time to the eastern horizon. This bargain 

 being* full}^ settled^ his Majesty marched off in triumph, 

 a man before him carrying the box, containing thirty pounds 

 of blue and white beads. 



We were a little surprised at his having so readily con- 

 sented to part with us, and were half afraid he might alter 

 his mind before the mornino-. The desire of obtainino* 

 immediate possession of the beads without infringing' aj)- 

 pearances had of course due weight with him ; and there 

 can be no doubt that he felt considerable uneasiness at our 

 presence, now that the return of Kalipi^s commando from 

 the Vaal River drew so near. His anxiety to get rid of 

 ourselves, therefore, overcame the reluctance he felt at 

 parting* ^^ith the small remnant of our property A\hich 

 had escaped his too successful forays. It was the expected 

 return of the commando, too, that rendered him so anxious 

 to send us to the Great Lake, or indeed in any direction 

 but that in which Ave AAcre bent on proceeding*. AVe had 

 every inclination to a^ail ourselves of this most tempting- 

 offer, but our leave from India being limited, it Avould 

 have been imprudent to have undertaken this journey, 

 Avliich might have detained us beyond the Desert until 

 the next rainy season. And although every other cir- 

 cumstance subsequently conspired to favour the project, 

 and, by smoothing the path, to render it probable that 

 two ^'^ poor Indian gentlemen " could have achieved so desir- 

 able and arduous an undertaking, we were yet compelled 



