used in linings, was presented, and gave infinite satisfaction; the
king tried it on first himself, then judged of the effect upon the back
of one of his servants, caused it to be carried flowing through the air,
and finally hung it up outside his palace for the admiration of his
subjects, then laid it by for the great national festival at the feast of
first-fruits.

Captain Gardiner's object was to obtain a house and piece of land and
protection for a Christian missionary, and with this object he remained
at the kraal, trying to make some impression on Dingarn, and the two
indunas, who assured him that they were the king's eyes and ears. Thus
he became witness to much horrible barbarity. One of the least shocking
of Dingarn's acts was the exhibiting the powers of a burning-glass that
had been given him, by burning a hole in the wrist of one of his
servants; and his indifference to the pain and death of others was
frightful. His own brother, the next in succession, was, with his two
servants, put to death through some jealousy; and, more horrible still,
every living creature in thirty villages belonging to him was massacred
as a matter of course.

Captain Gardiner, though often horrified and sickened by the sights he
was obliged to witness, remained for a month, and then, after
accompanying the king on his march, and seeing some astonishing reviews
and dances of his wild warriors, made another effort; but the king
referred him to the two indunas, and the indunas were positive that they
did not wish to learn, either they or their people. They would never
hear nor understand his book, but if he would instruct them in the use of
the musket he was welcome to stay. Dingarn pronounced, "I will not
overrule the decision of my indunas;" but, probably looking on the white
man as a mine of presents, he politely invited Gardiner to return.

So ended his first attempt, and with no possessions remaining except his
clothes, his saddle, a spoon, and a Testament, he proceeded to the
Tugela, where he met his friend Berken, who had made up his mind to
settle in Natal, and he set out to return to England for the purchase of
stock and implements; but the vessel in which he sailed was never heard
of more.

Captain Gardiner remained at Port Natal, which in 1835 consisted of a
cluster of huts, all of them built Kaffir-fashion, like so many hollow
haycocks, except Mr. Collis's, which was regarded as English because it
had upright side