THROUGH ZAMBESI A 
345 
during war, and brought to the king by his fighting 
men. 
Some days elapsed before we again visited Lo-ben, so 
that we had ample time to think over the plans which 
might be successfully adopted in approaching him with 
my request. The most feasible seemed to be to present 
him with a very elaborate silver-mounted sword-knife, 
and a fine bull. 
The day arrived when we should visit the king. We 
THE ROYAL KRAAL. 
had heard that he was suffering from gout, doubtless 
through over-indulgence in native beer. He would soon 
leave for one of his other towns, so Fairbairn and my¬ 
self again approached, and found him encircled by a 
multitude of endunas. Preferring to await a favourable 
opportunity for our request, we sat down beside the 
monarch. Patience, however, entailed great personal 
inconvenience. For four weary hours we sat drinking 
beer and trying to devour great chunks of beef handed 
to us upon the royal fork of His Majesty ; who, while 
attending to the orations of his people, was busily en- 
