these latter days by European
ecclesiastical architects, I feel that even highly civilized
art might learn something from the Zu-Vendi masterpieces. I
can only say that the exclamation which sprang to my lips as
soon as my eyes first became accustomed to the dim light of that
glorious building, and its white and curving beauties, perfect
and thrilling as those of a naked goddess, grew upon me one by
one, was, 'Well! a dog would feel religious here.' It is vulgarly
put, but perhaps it conveys my meaning more clearly than any
polished utterance.

At the temple gates our party was received by a guard of soldiers,
who appeared to be under the orders of a priest; and by them
we were conducted into one of the ray or 'petal' courts, as the
priests call them, and there left for at least half-an-hour.
Here we conferred together, and realizing that we stood in great
danger of our lives, determined, if any attempt should be made
upon us, to sell them as dearly as we could -- Umslopogaas announcing
his fixed intention of committing sacrilege on the person of
Agon, the High Priest, by splitting his head with Inkosi-kaas.
From where we stood we could perceive that an immense multitude
were pouring into the temple, evidently in expectation of some
unusual event, and I could not help fearing that we had to do
with it. And here I may explain that every day, when the sunlight
falls upon the central altar, and the trumpets sound, a burnt
sacrifice is offered to the Sun, consisting generally of the
carcase of a sheep or ox, or sometimes of fruit or corn. This
event comes off about midday; of course, not always exactly at
that hour, but as Zu-Vendis is situated not far from the Line,
although -- being so high above the sea it is very temperate
-- midday and the falling of the sunlight on the altar were generally
simultaneous. Today the sacrifice was to take place at about
eight minutes past twelve.

Just at twelve o'clock a priest appeared, and made a sign, and
the officer of the guard signified to us that we were expected
to advance, which we did with the best grace that we could muster,
all except Alphonse, whose irrepressible teeth instantly began
to chatter. In a few seconds we were out of the court and looking
at a vast sea of human faces stretching away to the farthest
limits of the great circle, all straining to catch a glimpse
of the mysterious strangers who had committed sacrilege; the
first strangers, mind you, who, to