SOUTHERN AFRICA. 110 



on this eventful occasion^ and tliey remained standing* round 

 the kino-, who was seated in the open air. They were 

 g-enerally swarthy and somewhat en-bo n-point. Many were 

 even obese, with enormous pendant bosoms, and their heads 

 were shaved, a small tuft of hair only being- left on the 

 crown, which was decorated with feathers. Their dresses 

 consisted of short black kilts of leather, the fur worn 

 inside, and the outside rubbed with some hard substance 

 and charcoal until it had acquired the appearance of black 

 clotted wool. These were studded with brass ornaments 

 and a profusion of beads of divers colours ; they had 

 besides a vast accumulation of these ornaments upon their 

 bodies. Some wore blue from top to toe, others were 

 enveloped in one mass of red, the endless variety of pat- 

 terns in which they were disposed having* doubtless emana- 

 ted from the inventive brain and prolific fancy of his 

 Majesty, a larg-e portion of whose valuable time is passed 

 in devising* and superintending* the construction of orna- 

 ments for the Harem. 



Among'st the ladies, I observed a captive Griqua, called 

 Truey. This is the familiar name for Gertrude. She is 

 the unfortunate daug'hter of Peter Davids, chief of the 

 Lishuani Bastards, and successor to Barend Barends. This 

 chief had, about three years before, undertaken a hunting* 

 expedition to the Yaal Kiver, and in the natural course of 

 events was attacked by a party of Moselekatse's warriors 

 who were scouring* the country in that direction ; he nar- 

 rowly escaped with his life, but the whole of his property 

 was carried off, and his nephew and daug-hter were taken 

 prisoners. 



When the tent was nearly pitched, the king- suddenly 

 chang*ed his mind, and resolved to have it immediately in 

 front of the palace door. In order to accomplish this, it 

 became necessary to remove a portion of the wattle fence 



