208 EXPEDITION INTO 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



INTERVIEW WITH UM'nOMBATE^ AND JOURNEY THROUGH 

 THE CASHAN MOUNTAINS TO THE SOUTH-EASTWARD. 



Contrary to our expectations^ Um'Nombate was actually 

 descried at an early hour the next morning- approaching- 

 our wag-g-ons with a larg-e retinue and three wretched oxen. 

 The important preliminary of snuff-taking' having- been duly 

 concluded^ the crafty old courtier^ without making- the slig-ht- 

 est allusion to the object of his visit^ delivered abundant 

 compliments on the part of his Majesty^ reg-arding- whose 

 aug-ust health we made befitting- inquiries. The table having* 

 in the meantime^ been spread with dainty viands^ among-st 

 the most inviting- of which I may be permitted to notice a 

 pile of rhinoceros' steaks^ we proceeded to breakfast^ and 

 were not a little diverted by the g-rand vizier's uncouth 

 attempts at the use of the knife and fork. Copying- the 

 polished example set by Mrs. John Smithy of Somerset^ he 

 presently cut the corner of his mouthy repeatedly placing* 

 his sig-ht in imminent jeopardy b}^ bring-ing* his hand to the 

 bleeding* orifice instead of the point of the fork, which, 

 loaded with meat, appeared above his head. His son, a fine 

 young- savag-e, to whom we were formally introduced, sat 

 upon a tar-barrel at the head of the table, but wisety pre- 

 ferred makino- use of his nails and assagai : whilst the 

 retinue, squatting* themselves behind the old man's chair, 

 quarrelled like dog-s for the scraps which he was pleased 

 from time to time to throw to them. The mass of meat 

 disappearing- like mag-ic before their reiterated attacks, in 



