92 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



there was a rich display of fine white teeth. After some minutes of profound 

 silence, which was only interrupted by the breathing of our horses, the war 

 song burst forth. There was harmony, it is true, and they beat time with 

 their feet, producing a sound like hollow thunder, but some parts of it was 

 music befitting the nether regions, especially when they imitated the groan- 

 ings of the dying on the field of battle, and the yells and hissings of the con- 

 querors. Another simultaneous pause ensued, and still we wondered what 

 was intended, till out marched the monarch from behind the lines, followed 

 by a number of men bearing baskets and bowls of food. He came up to us, 

 and having been instructed in our mode of salutation, gave each a clumsy but 

 hearty shake of the hand. He then politely turned to the food, which was 

 placed at our feet, and invited us to partake. By this time the waggons were 

 seen in the distance, and having intimated our wish to be directed to a 

 place where we might encamp in the outskirts of the town, he accompanied us, 

 keeping fast hold of my right arm, though not in the most graceful manner, 

 yet with perfect familiarity. ' The land is before you ; you are come to your 

 son. You must sleep where you please.' When the ' moving houses,' as 

 the waggons were called, drew near, he took a firmer grasp of my arm, and 

 looked on them with unutterable surprise ; and this man, the terror of thousands, 

 drew back with fear, as one in doubt as to whether they were not living crea- 

 tures. When the oxen were unyoked, he approached the waggon with the utmost 

 caution, still holding me by one hand, and placing the other on his mouth, in- 

 dicating his surprise. He looked at them very intently, particularly the wheels, 

 and when told of how many pieces of wood each wheel was composed, his 

 wonder was increased. After examining all very closely, one mystery yet 

 remained, how the large band of iron surrounding the felloes of the wheel 

 came to be in one piece without either end or joint. 'Umbate, my friend and 

 fellow-traveller, whose visit to our station had made him much wiser than his 

 master, took hold of my right hand, and related what he had seen. ' My 

 eyes,' he said, ' saw that very hand,' pointing to mine, ' cut these bars of iron, 

 take a piece off one end, and then join them as you now see them.' A minute 

 inspection ensued to discover the welded part. ' Does he give medicine to 

 the iron?' was the monarch's inquiry. ' No,' said 'Umbate, ' nothing is used 

 but fire, a hammer, and a chisel.' Moselekatse then returned to the town, 

 where the warriors were still standing as he left them, who received him 

 with immense bursts of applause. 



" Moselekatse did not fail to supply us abundantly with meat, milk, and a 

 weak kind of beer, made from the native grain. He appeared anxious to please, 

 and to exhibit himself and people to the best advantage. In accordance with 

 savage notions of conferring honour, all the inhabitants and warriors of the 

 neighbouring towns were ordered to congregate at head-quarters, and on the fol- 

 lowing day a public ball was given in compliment to the strangers. A smooth 



