ent for, and the conversation was begun by Daaka, who,
like most of the Caffre chiefs, with the hope of obtaining presents,
stated himself to be very poor, his cattle to be all dying, and his
children without milk. Our travellers allowed him to go on for some
time in this manner, and then sent for a present of beads and tobacco,
which they gave to him. They then commenced their inquiries, and the
first question they asked was, why he resided so near the sea.

"Because the sea is my mother," replied he "I came from the sea, and the
sea feeds me when I am hungry."

"In that reply he evidently refers to the wreck of the ship," observed
Swinton; "and I presume, from the fish-bones which we have seen about
the kraal, that these Caffres feed on fish, which the other tribes do
not, and therefore it is that he says his mother feeds him."

"Was your mother white?" inquired Alexander.

"Yes," replied Daaka, "her skin was white as yours; her hair was just
like yours, long and dark; but before she died it was quite white."

"What was your mother's name?"

"Kuma," replied the chief.

"Had you any brothers and sisters?"

"Yes, I had; I have one sister alive now."

"What is her name?" inquired Swinton.

"Bess," replied the chief.

"This is very confirmatory," said Alexander; "my aunt's name was
Elizabeth; she must have called her child after herself."

"Whom did your mother marry?"

"She first married my uncle, and had no children; and then she married
my father: both were chiefs, and I am a chief; she had five children by
my father."

A long conversation took place after this, the substance of which we may
as well communicate to the reader in few words. From the children of
Kuma, supposed to be Elizabeth, the aunt of Alexander, were produced a
numerous race of the European blood, who were celebrated in the
Caffre-land for their courage; they were continually engaged in war, as
their alliance was eagerly sought, and in consequence had nearly all
perished. Daaka himself was renowned for warlike exploits, but he was
now a very old man. In the evening the chief took his leave, and went
to his own hut.

As soon as they were alone, Alexander said to Swinton, "I have now so
far fulfilled my promise to my worthy relation that I have seen this
descendant of his child; but what am I to do? An old man like him is
not very likely to consent to go to England, and as for his sister Bess,
he states that she is equally infir