194 
TRAVELS IN 
remain independent had been permitted to do fo, without being 
confidered in the light of enemies. He then informed us, that 
his father died, and left him, when very young, under the 
guardianfhip of Zambie, one of his firfl: chiefs and own bro- 
ther, who had aded as regent during his minority ; but that 
having refufed to refign to him his right on coming at years 
of difcretion, his father's friends had fhewed themfelves in his 
favor, and that by their affiftance he had obliged his uncle to 
fly : that this man had then joined Khouta^ a powerful chief to 
the northward, and with their united forces had made war 
againfl him : that he had been victorious, and had taken Zam- 
bie prifoner : that he had never been at war with, nor to his 
knowledge had ever given the flightqft offence to, the chiefs of 
the other fide of the Keifkamma, but, on the contrary, had 
always endeavoured to conciliate their good-will : that fmce his 
friends and fubjeds had fupported him in the alTumption and 
maintenance of his right, he had obferved a difpofition in thofe 
chiefs to withdraw themfelves from his friendfhip : that the 
people of Malloo and Tooley particularly had committed great 
depredations on the cattle of his fubjeds ; and that, when he 
fent to them a civil meflage to enquire if any had by chance 
ftrayed into their territories, to his great furprife he was in- 
formed they had quitted the country : that he had more than 
once, fmce that period, fent to them his proffers of friendfhip, 
but that they had detained, and, as he fuppofed, put to death 
his mefTengers : that ftill to avoid giving them any pretext for 
commencing hoftilities, he had ftridly forbid any of his fubjeds 
to moleft their habitations, or even to pafs the Keifkamma. 
Aflonifhed 
