our fathers; our fathers drove them out of the
Zurweld, and we dwelt there because we had conquered it; there we
married wives; there our children were born; the white men hated us, but
could not drive us away; when there was war, we plundered you; when
there was peace, some of our bad people stole; but our chiefs forbade
it.

"`We lived in peace; some bad people stole, perhaps; but the nation was
quiet; Gaika stole; his chiefs stole; you sent him copper; you sent him
beads; you sent him horses, on which he rode to steal more; to _us_ you
only sent _commandoes_. We quarrelled with Gaika about grass;--no
business of yours; you send a commando; you take our last cow; you leave
only a few calves, which die for want, and so do our children; you give
half the spoil to Gaika; half you kept yourselves.

"`Without milk; our corn destroyed; we saw our wives and children
perish: we followed, therefore, the tracks of our cattle into the
colony; we plundered, and we fought for our lives; we found you weak,
and we destroyed your soldiers; we saw that we were strong, and we
attacked your head-quarters, and if we had succeeded, our right was
good, for you began the war; we failed, and you are here.

"`We wish for peace; we wish to rest in our huts; we wish to get milk
for our children; our wives wish to till the land; but your troops cover
the plains, and swarm in the thickets, where they cannot distinguish the
men from the women, and shoot _all_. You wish us to submit to Gaika;
that man's face is fair to you, but his heart is false; leave him to
himself; make peace with us: let him fight for himself; and we shall not
call upon you for help; set Mokanna at liberty, and all our chiefs will
make peace with you at any time you fix; but if you still make war, you
may indeed kill the last man of us, but Gaika shall not rule over the
followers of those who think him a woman.'

"If eloquence consists (as it does not in the English House of Commons)
in saying much in few words, I know no speech more comprehensive of the
facts and arguments of a case than the above. I am sorry to say it had
no effect in altering the destination of Mokanna, or of obtaining any
relief for his countrymen, who were still called upon to deliver up the
other chiefs _outlawed_ by the government."

"I before remarked the absurdity of that expression," said Mr Swinton;
"we outlaw a member of our own society and belonging to our own country;
but to _outlaw_ the