104 
VARIOUS OCCURRENCES, &c. [1820. 
to the distance of thirty or forty yards, both before 
and behind, imitating attacks upon the Bushmen, 
or pretending to defend themselves against them. 
On entering the town they proceeded directly to 
the inclosure in front of Mateebe's house, where 
the king and his captains were seated on the left 
side of the gate. A considerable assemblage of 
women greeted them on their arrival. The cap- 
tains were seated in the form of a crescent, the 
king sitting in the middle and in front. The 
commando sat immediately opposite, about twenty 
yards distant. 
The ceremony commenced by singing a grave 
song, during which all by turns leaped out from 
the ranks, two at a time, exhibiting warlike evolu- 
tions. Having performed these, the singing 
ceased, and Malalla, brother to the king, who had 
commanded the expedition, rose and gave an ac- 
count of what had taken place The king was 
informed before-hand by messengers sent out on 
ox-back to meet them on their approach, these 
returned hastily to Mateebe with the particulars. 
Malalla began his speech by upbraiding many 
young men who had remained at home, instead of 
accompanying them. He then said, that on 
reaching the King Fountain, they observed the 
traces of five of the oxen, which had been driven off 
to the right, towards Reyner Mountain ; but they 
