DEATH OF CAPTAIN KING. 271 



The Colonial authorities having refused to grant 

 a registry to the Elizabeth and Susan, the vessel was 

 consequently detained ; and reports reached Cape 

 Town, that Chaka, having become impatient at the 

 delay of his ambassadors, was advancing towards the 

 colony at the head of a numerous body of his fol- 

 lowers. This rumour, however, proved incorrect; 

 nevertheless, in consequence of it, in July, 1828, 

 Chaka' s ambassadors were sent back to Natal,, ac- 

 companied by Captain King in H.M.S. Helicon, 

 with presents to their Chief. Early in the October 

 following, John Cane, an Englishman, one of Lieu- 

 tenant Farewell's party, arrived on the frontier from 

 Chaka, having been thirty days travelling overland 

 from Natal, in company with a few natives. He 

 stated that the Helicon had safely arrived at her 

 destination with Captain King and the two ambas- 

 sadors, previously to his departure. On the 20th 

 December in the same year, Lieutenant Farewell 

 returned to the colony, bringing intelligence from 

 Natal, that the Chief Chaka had been assassinated 

 on the 23rd September by his brother Dingaan ; and 

 that Captain King had died a few days previously on 

 those inhospitable shores*. 



The tyrannical and outrageous cruelties which 



* This amiable and enterprising individual had been long known 

 to the Author, both in England and at the Cape, where his memory 

 will be cherished by many who sympathized in his misfortunes, and 

 regretted his melancholy fate. 



