SOUTHERN AFRICA. 151 
rest of his subjects, except that he was always obhged to re- 
side in the same village with the king. 
Gaika was a young man, at this time under twenty years 
of age, of an elegant form, and a graceful and manly de- 
portment ; his height about five feet ten inches ; his face of 
a deep bronze colour, approaching nearly to black ; his skin 
soft and smooth ; his eyes dark brown, and full of animation ; 
his teeth regular, well-set, and white as the purest ivory : his 
countenance open, but more marked with the habit of re- 
flexion than is usually observed in that of a KafFer ; he had 
the appearance, indeed, of possessing in an eminent degree, 
a solid understanding and a clear head : to every question 
that related to their manners, customs, laws, and various other 
points, he gave, without embarrassment or reserve, direct and 
unequivocal answers ; and it is to him I am principally in- 
debted for the little information I am enabled to give con- 
cerning the Kaflfer nation : his understanding was not more 
strong than his disposition appeared to be amiable : he seemed 
to be the adored object of his subjects; the name of Gaika 
was in every mouth, and it was seldom pronounced without 
symptoms of joy. He had one wife only, very young, and, 
setting aside the prejudice against color, very pretty, by whom 
he had a little girl called Jasa. Like the chiefs in the colony, 
he wore a brass chain suspended, on the left side, from a 
wreath of copper beads that encircled his head : on his arm 
he had five large rings cut out of the solid tusks of elephants, 
and round his neck was a chain of beads ; his cloak was faced 
with skins of leopards ; but he threw this dress aside, and, like 
the rest of his people, appeared entirely naked. 
