ese roads was about two
and a half miles long, with a great gate at either extremity, pierced in
the high and strong circular palisade which completely surrounded the
kraal; and at the point where these two main roads intersected in the
centre of the kraal each was widened in such a manner as to form a great
square about one hundred and sixty acres in extent, this doubtless being
the spot where all business of a ceremonial character was conducted.

That some such business was impending we shortly afterward became aware,
for during the descent of the wagon into the valley we were overtaken
and passed by regiment after regiment of warriors, all decorated in full
war paraphernalia; and the induna of one of these informed me that a
general muster was proceeding, in preparation for the annual festival,
which was to be held on the day after the morrow. During the remainder
of that day we beheld an almost continuous stream of armed men
converging upon the town, not only by way of the road along which we
were travelling, but also from passes in the mountains all round the
valley.

When the wagon had arrived within about a mile of the southern gate of
the town I was met by an official, who bore me a formal message of
welcome from the king, with an intimation that His Majesty would see me
on the morrow. The officer also indicated a certain spot, about half a
mile outside the south gate and near the bank of the stream, where he
suggested I should outspan the wagon, explaining that the king was of
opinion that I would be more comfortable out there, in comparative
seclusion, than in the overcrowded town, an opinion with which my own
completely coincided. And this opinion was strengthened to absolute
conviction when, as the sun sank behind the western mountains and the
soft, tropical night settled down upon the valley, our ears were
assailed by a perfect babel of sound emanating from the town, which,
even at the distance of half a mile, rendered sleep almost impossible.
What it would have been like to be lodged in the midst of the storm
focus I trembled to think.

The din above hinted at was kept up until such a preposterously late
hour that it was not until early in the morning of the following day
that I finally fell asleep, with the result that I rather overslept
myself; and when Piet brought me my usual cup of coffee he at the same
time brought me an intimation that envoys had already arrived from
Gwanda with a message from