it, knowing all the story, which may
be true or false. Do as your husband bids you, but do not talk of it in
the camp except to those whom he mentions.--PIETER RETIEF."

So the messenger departed at dawn, and in due course delivered my letter
to Marie.

The next day was Sunday. In the morning I went to call upon the Reverend
Mr. Owen, the missionary, who was very glad to see me. He informed me
that Dingaan was in good mind towards us, and had been asking him if he
would write the treaty ceding the land which the Boers wanted. I stopped
for service at the huts of Mr. Owen, and then returned to the camp. In
the afternoon Dingaan celebrated a great war dance for us to witness, in
which about twelve thousand soldiers took part.

It was a wonderful and awe-inspiring spectacle, and I remember that each
of the regiments employed had a number of trained oxen which manoeuvred
with them, apparently at given words of command. We did not see Dingaan
that day, except at a distance, and after the dance was over returned to
our camp to eat the beef which he had provided for us in plenty.

On the third day--that was Monday, the 5th of February, there were more
dancings and sham fights, so many more, indeed, that we began to weary
of this savage show. Late in the afternoon, however, Dingaan sent for
the commandant and his men to come to see him, saying that he wished to
talk with him about the matter of the treaty. So we went; but only three
or four, of whom I was one, were admitted to Dingaan's presence, the
rest remaining at a little distance, where they could see us but were
out of earshot.

Dingaan then produced a paper which had been written by the Reverend
Mr. Owen. This document, which I believe still exists, for it was found
afterwards, was drawn up in legal or semi-legal form, beginning like a
proclamation, "Know all men."

It ceded "the place called Port Natal, together with all the land
annexed--that is to say, from Tugela to the Umzimvubu River westward,
and from the sea to the north"--to the Boers, "for their everlasting
property." At the king's request, as the deed was written in English
by Mr. Owen, I translated it to him, and afterwards the lad Halstead
translated it also, being called in to do so when I had finished.

This was done that my rendering might be checked, and the fact impressed
all the Boers very favourably. It showed them that the king desired to
understand exactly what he was to sign, which would