t having cautioned his men to keep together,
said that I had better ask the chief to come to us. I called out again,
asking the chief to come; when, from behind every tree and bush, and
apparently out of the ground, a Caffre appeared, each armed with his six
assagies and a knob-kerrie, and carrying his shield before him. Our
party was completely surrounded, and had war been intended we should
soon have been assagied. The chief who commanded this party was
Umnini's young brother, whom I knew well. As he quietly advanced to us,
he showed no surprise or any sign of fear. His appearance, I saw,
impressed the captain, who touched his cap as the chief advanced. This
young chief was called Ingwe, and I told him who the captain was, and
that he had come to pay a visit to Umnini. Ingwe shook hands with the
captain, and then, speaking a few words to the Caffres informing them
that we were friends, told them to go on to Umnini's kraal and announce
our arrival.

Ingwe led the way, and we walked through the bush-paths. The sailors
seemed surprised at the order and discipline of these Caffres, and the
dignified manner in which they behaved; but their surprise was greater
when we approached the chiefs kraal, and found the men drawn up in two
lines, between which we marched till we came near the huts, where Umnini
met us. Umnini addressed all his conversation to me, and I translated
it to the captain, and when the captain spoke I had to turn his words
into Caffre.

Umnini said he was glad to see the chief of the large ship, and was
sorry there had nearly been a mistake made, as the captain came armed
and like a war-party; but he was welcome to the kraal, and a young bull
would shortly be killed for a feast for the sailors.

The captain replied that he did not think his coming armed would have
been mistaken for war, as he had no cause of complaint against Umnini,
but wished to see the chief in his kraal; that he did not wish an ox
killed, as his men would not be allowed to eat at that hour.

Umnini then asked the captain and me to come into his kraal, where we
saw several of Umnini's wives and children. The captain sat down in the
hut, and we had a long conversation about the Zulus, and their attack on
the white people at the bay; also about the life the Caffres lived,
their habits, etc. The captain kept on making notes in a pocket-book as
he received his answers, and seemed much interested in what he heard.
He then asked