nsed with water, but that I have been careful to find his
little box with the white man's medicines."

I could extract nothing more from this soldier, who was either
very stupid, or chose to appear so; nor indeed did I dare to put
direct questions about the cart and those who travelled in it.

Soon we marched again, for Goza would not allow me to ride the
horse, fearing that I should escape on it. Nor would he let me
carry either of the guns lest I should make use of them. All day
we travelled, reaching the Nongoma heights in the late afternoon.
On this beautiful spot we found a kraal situated where afterwards
a magistracy was built when we conquered the country, whence
there is one of the finest views in Zululand. There was no one
in the kraal except two old women who appeared to be deaf and
dumb for all I could get out of them. These aged dames, however,
or others who were hidden, had made ready for our arrival, since
a calf lay skinned and prepared for cooking, and by it big gourds
filled with Kaffir beer and "maas" or curdled milk.

In due course we ate of these provisions, and after we had
finished I gave Goza a stiff tot of brandy, of which Nombe, or
perhaps Anscombe, had thoughtfully sent a bottle with my other
baggage. The strong liquor made the old fellow talkative and
enabled me to get a good deal of information out of him. Thus I
learned that certain demands, as to which he was rather vague,
had been made upon Cetewayo by the English Government, and that
the King was now considering whether he should accede to them or
fight. The Great Council of the nation was summoned to attend at
Ulundi within a few days, when the matter would be decided.
Meanwhile all the regiments were being gathered, or, as we should
say, mobilized; an army, said Goza, greater than any that Chaka
had ever led.

I asked him what I had to do with this business, that I, a
peaceful traveller and an old friend of the Zulus, should be made
prisoner and dragged off to Ulundi. He replied he did not know
who was not in the council of the High Ones, but he thought that
Cetewayo the king wished to see me because I was their friend,
perhaps that he might send me as a messenger to the white people.
I asked him how the king knew that I was in the country, to which
he replied that Zikali had told him I was coming, he did not know
how, whereon he, Goza, was sent at once to fetch me. I could get
no more out of him.

I wondered if it woul