a few months before. However, he said he would
consent to our pitching our tents at a spot indicated
about a mile- away, and would come and visit us and
receive the rest of his gifts on the morrow.
Somewhat crestfallen and highly indignant at our
treatment, we packed up our things again and hurried
off as fast as we could, so that we might get our tents
pitched before night came on.
A CO L L E C T IO N O F COMBS
The following day was advancing rapidly, and
still no signs of ’Mtoko’s visit. We were much annoyed
at the loss of time and the supposed insult, so
we collected our presents together, and determined
to take them and get them given, come what might.
We set off and marched behind the gift, which was
carried on the heads of many bearers. We had scarcely
gone two hundred yards on our way, when men came
running to us, announcing the advent of his majesty ;
so we went back again to prepare our rugs for the
reception, and sat in state.
Through the trees we saw him coming, with a
following of about fifty men armed with battle-axes
and assegais. About two hundred yards from our
camp they all seated themselves, and held a council
which we thought would never end. The result of
this was an envoy sent to state it as the monarch s
opinion that the white lady had bewitched the presents,
for she had been seen going to a stream and
sprinkling the things with water which she had fetched
from thence; that he would nevertheless graciously
receive the presents, but that he would not keep
them but give them at once to his uncle. Whilst we
were making up our minds whether we should be
annoyed or amused at this message, the chief and his
men moved one hundred yards nearer to us, so we
determined to await the progress of events. Here
again they stopped for another indaba. This time
the message, that the chief would like us to send
him the presents to the spot where he was, was accompanied
by a present to us of a kid and twenty
pounds of meal. This somewhat pacified us. Nevertheless
we sent a message back that if the chief wished
for the things he must come and fetch them in
person. To the indunas who brought the message
we gave a few articles for themselves.
The result of this last message was instantaneous.
His majesty came forthwith, but he refused to sit on
the rug prepared for him. He refused to shake