returned Verna, producing another. She
was presiding goddess on this occasion, as indeed she often was.

But the other, although red and striped, did not seem to please. It was
examined critically by the whole committee, except one or two, who,
squatted on the floor, were giving undivided attention and,
incidentally, nutriment to their infants. The stripes were white
instead of yellow, and they ought to be yellow. No white things were
worn now.

Verna laughed good-humouredly. She knew her customers. No deal was
ever effected with such without seemingly endless discussion--and
objections.

"No white things!" she echoed. "Why, _I_ wear white things."

"_Inkosikazi_!"

"Well, why not you?"

"_Au_!" and the intending buyer brought a hand to her mouth with a
smothered laugh. "Inkosikazi does not belong to the chief."

"The chief. What chief?"

"U' Sapazani."

"Sapazani?" rejoined Verna. "But he does not like the clothing of white
people at all. Yet you are buying it."

This was a fact. Though on terms of friendship with Ben Halse Sapazani
was anything but fond of the trader's compatriots, and discouraged as
far as he could the introduction of European customs and clothing. With
the latter, in consequence, the store was but scantily supplied.

"It is for wear in the towns, _Nkosikazi_," was the answer, and then
after some haggling the deal was completed. Then others came forward.
Some wanted one thing, some another, but all haggled. Verna, of course,
was used to this. It was all in the day's work, and took up some time.
The deal completed, the buyers went outside to talk it over. Two young
men came in next. One wanted a sheath-knife and one a green blanket.
These were paid for without haggling, Verna throwing in a length of roll
tobacco by way of a _bonsela_, or gift to seal the bargain.

The interior of the up-to-date trading store in Zululand presents a very
different appearance to the old-time one. There are the knives, and
strings of beads, and three-legged cooking-pots, and tobacco of the old
days; but there is also a large and varied assortment of European
clothing--male and female--the latter preponderating in quantity and
degrees of gorgeousness. Umbrellas, too, and looking-glasses, even
boots, form no unimportant items in the general "notions" displayed.
This particular store, however, did less trade in such things than most;
and the reason may be found in the dialogue set forward a