TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
85 
During the night, one of the natives made an 
attempt to steal something from one of the tents, 
and would have succeeded, had not Sergeant 
Major Lee, observing the bale stirring, fired in 
the direction, but I believe without effect. This 
served, at least, to deter others from a similar 
attempt. 
Having selected the present, consisting of am- 
ber, coral, bafts blue and white, silver, guns, &c., 
in all amounting to upwards of five hundred 
bars, thirty pounds sterling, and submitted them 
to the inspection of Modiba, who appeared to 
be pleased with them, we waited on the king 
on the morning of the 4th, and were shewn into 
the inner inclosure of the palace, which was, if 
any thing, more filthy than the rest of the town. 
Here we found him seated on a lion's skin, to 
which were attached a number of grigris, under 
the shade of a miserable hovel in the shape of a 
balcony, outside the door of his bed-room, sur- 
rounded by four or five of his head men or mi- 
nisters; and, notwithstanding Modiba's promise 
to the contrary, the rum bottle had been in use, 
to what extent we cannot say, but he, on this 
occasion, favoured us with his conversation, 
asking several questions about our country, the 
Expedition, its object, &c. ; all which we an- 
swered as briefly and explicitly as possible. 
When the present was laid before him, he conde- 
