THE GREAT DANCE. 99 



learnt it was the day of the Great Dance, and hurried 

 the drying and locking up of my things, so as to be 

 ready to go and see it. Some majakas came out 

 and had a row, and bruised one another near my 

 waggon. 



"As soon as I had finished packing I joined 

 the Thomsons, whose waggon had drawn up in front 

 of Myers's store, where the dancing was to be. 

 Meantime, Thomson says, they had been going 

 through ceremonies at the kraal, where dancing was 

 still going on, but very shortly they expected the 

 king and people out. However, Thomson and I 

 went to the kraal to see, and were well repaid. In 

 the midst of a large circle formed by warriors, four 

 wives of the king, dressed all alike and modestly 

 covered, were dancing, or rather slowly pacing. 

 Each had a checked print over her shoulders, and a 

 black skirt reaching low down. With them was a 

 future wife, partially clad in gaily-coloured calicoes, 

 but without skirt. The wives, Thomson says, are 

 very nice women. As I went with him through the 

 crowd, I could not help seeing what respect is shown 

 him, and how all make way for him. 



"Suddenly the royal sister appeared, and presented 

 a most singular, not to say magnificent, appearance. 

 It was something like the appearance of the prima 

 donna at the opera, or the leading spirit in some gor- 

 geous pantomime. She is very stout, and tremend- 

 ously en bon point, and her skin is of a coppery hue. 

 She wore no dress, and the only covering above her 

 waist was a number of gilded chains, some encircling 



