the king, to the effect that His Majesty was
now prepared to grant me an interview. I did not hurry, however, but
rose and dressed with more deliberation than usual, for my experience is
that a savage--even although that savage happens to be a king--respects
a white man in direct proportion to the time that the latter keeps him
waiting; therefore I directed Piet to inform the messengers that I was
not yet ready to receive them, but would do so as soon as I had partaken
of breakfast. I kept the men--it required six of them, it appeared, to
bring the king's message--about an hour, and then condescended to
interview them, sending them back with an intimation that I was about to
select from among my treasures certain articles which I intended to
offer as gifts to His Majesty, and that when I had done so I would so
far honour him as to call and make the presentation in person.

I delivered this message with all the aloofness and dignity of manner
that I could muster, and was gratified to observe that it was not
without its effect upon the king's envoys, who accorded me the salute of
"'Nkos'!" upon their departure. Then, as soon as they were gone, I
unpacked my bales and proceeded to sort out and set aside the gifts
which I intended to offer for His Majesty's acceptance. By dint of a
little artful questioning I had contrived to gain the information that
King Lomalindela was a man of about my own stature and build, and I kept
this information in mind when selecting my gifts. I assumed that, as in
the case of King Moshesh, a military uniform would prove the most
acceptable gift that I could possibly offer a savage monarch; and upon
examining my stock in trade I discovered that I possessed the complete
uniform of a sergeant of hussars--tunic, pelisse, trousers and boots
combined, shako with red and white horsehair plume complete, and a
sabre--which, upon trial, seemed to fit me pretty well, if perhaps just
a shade tight. I therefore decided upon this, together with a length of
some two and a half feet of brass chain, the ends of which I united by a
split ring, to which I attached one of my small circular shaving
mirrors; and to this I added a dozen little brass boxes full of mixed
beads, these last being intended as gifts for the king's favourite
wives. Then, putting the whole in a parcel which I entrusted to Piet's
care, I mounted Prince, and, accompanied by my trusty Hottentot henchman
on foot, set out to traverse the s