350 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
soon came to a village, where they were received 
with the same frankness and cordiality. The 
natives, and particularly the females, shewed here 
peculiar readiness in helping themselves to to- 
bacco, and to the provisions which the travelling 
party spread out for dinner* Soon after their 
departure from this village, they crossed the river 
Kuruhman, and by a winding path through a 
wood of fine trees, arrived at Leetakoo. They 
were conducted to a spot shaded by three Giraffe 
trees, of which the middle one was particularly 
fine, and said to be the favourite tree of the king. 
An immense crowd soon assembled, and blocked 
up the passage of the waggons* Kok expressed a 
wish to see the king, who quickly appeared ; an 
old man about sixty, of a serious aspect, with a 
mantle over his shoulders, and a cap on his head. 
He approached slowly, followed by a number of 
men of his own age, who formed a semicircle be- 
hind him. He welcomed them cordially, and pro- 
mised soon to pay them a visit at their own resi- 
dence. After some conversation, a pipe of to- 
bacco was presented to his majesty ; who, having 
lighted it, immediately began to inhale the smoke 
by large draughts after the African manner. He 
then handed it over his shoulder to the prime 
minister, who, having imitated his master's ex- 
ample, transferred it to another, and it thus pass- 
ed from hand to hand, till it reached the lowest 
