, each drawn
by two white horses. These chariots are two-wheeled, and made
of wood. They are fitted with a stout pole, the weight of which
is supported by leathern girths that form a portion of the harness.
The wheels are made with four spokes only, are tired with iron,
and quite innocent of springs. In the front of the chariot,
and immediately over the pole, is a small seat for the driver,
railed round to prevent him from being jolted off. Inside the
machine itself are three low seats, one at each side, and one
with the back to the horses, opposite to which is the door.
The whole vehicle is lightly and yet strongly made, and, owing
to the grace of the curves, though primitive, not half so ugly
as might be expected.

But if the chariots left something to be desired, the horses
did not. They were simply splendid, not very large but strongly
built, and well ribbed up, with small heads, remarkably large
and round hoofs, and a great look of speed and blood. I have
often wondered whence this breed, which presents many
distinct characteristics, came, but like that of its owners,
it history is obscure. Like the people the horses have always
been there. The first and last of these chariots were occupied
by guards, but the centre two were empty, except for the driver,
and to these we were conducted. Alphonse and I got into the
first, and Sir Henry, Good, and Umslopogaas into the one behind,
and then suddenly off we went. And we did go! Among the Zu-Vendi
it is not usual to trot horses either riding or driving, especially
when the journey to be made is a short one -- they go at full
gallop. As soon as we were seated the driver called out, the
horses sprang forward, and we were whirled away at a speed sufficient
to take one's breath, and which, till I got accustomed to it,
kept me in momentary fear of an upset. As for the wretched Alphonse,
he clung with a despairing face to the side of what he called
this 'devil of a fiacre', thinking that every moment was his
last. Presently it occurred to him to ask where we were going,
and I told him that, as far as I could ascertain, we were going
to be sacrificed by burning. You should have seen his face as
he grasped the side of the vehicle and cried out in his terror.

But the wild-looking charioteer only leant forward over his flying
steeds and shouted; and the air, as it went singing past, bore
away the sound of Alphonse's lamentations.

And now before us, in all its