528 LIFE OF DA VI D LIVINGSTONE, LL.R 



as to making themselves turnkeys, or, like the inferior animals, bulls over 

 herds, turned the edge of his invectives, and he ended by an invitation to his 



harem to show that he could be as liberal as the English. Captain S , of 



H. M. S. Corvette, accepted the invitation also to be made everlasting friends 

 by eating bread with the prince's imprisoned wives. The prince's mother, 

 a stout lady of about forty-five, came first into the room where we sat with 

 her son. When young she must have been very pretty, and she still retained 

 many of her former good looks. She shook hands, inquired for our welfare, 

 and to please us sat on a chair, though it would have been more agreeable for 

 her to squat on a mat. She afterwards inquired of the captain if he knew 

 Admiral Wyvil, who formerely, as Commodore, commanded at the Cape 

 Station. 



" It turned out that, many years before, an English ship was wrecked at 

 the island on which she lived, and this good lady had received all the lady 

 passengers into her house, and lodged them courteously. The Admiral had 

 called to thank her, and gave her a written testimonial acknowledging her 

 kindness. She now wished to write to him for old acquaintance sake, and the 

 Captain promised to convey the letter. She did not seem to confirm her son's 

 low opinion of women. A red cloth screen was lifted from a door in front of 

 where we sat, and the prince's chief wife entered in gorgeous apparel. She 

 came forward with a pretty, jaunty step, and with a joleasant smile held out 

 a neat little sweet cake, off which we each broke a morsel and ate it. She 

 had a fine frank address, and talked and looked just as fair as an English lady 

 does who wishes her husband's friends to feel themselves perfectly at home. 

 Her large, beautiful jet-black eyes, riveted the attention for some time before 

 we could notice the adornments, on which great care had evidently been be- 

 stowed. Her head was crowned with a tall scarlet hat of nearly the same 

 shape as that of a Jewish high -priest, or that of some of the lower ranks of 

 Catholic clergymen. A tight-fitting red jacket, profusely decked with gold 

 lace, reached to the waist, and allowed about a finger's breadth of the skin 

 to appear between it and the upper edge of the skirt, which was of white 

 Indian muslin, dotted over with tambourine spots of crimson silk. The 

 drawers came nearly to the ankles, on which were thick silver bangles, and 

 the feet were shod with greenish-yellow slippers, turned up at the toes, and 

 roomy enough to make it probable she had neither corns nor bunions. 

 Around her neck were many gold and silver chains ; and she had ear-rings 

 not only in the lobes of her ears, but others in holes made a around the 

 rims. Gold and silver bracelets of pretty Indian workmanship decked the 

 arms, and rings of the same material, set with precious stones, graced every 

 finger and each thumb. A lady alone could describe the rich and rare attire, 

 so I leave it. The only flaw in the get-up was short hair. It is so kept for 

 the convenience of drying soon after the bath. To our northern eyes, it had 



