tion from his family, and
instant banishment for life from his country, was pronounced upon him,
he offered no plea for pardon or mitigation of his punishment; he urged
nothing in extenuation or justification of his conduct, but simply bowed
his head in token of his submission to the inevitable, and begged a
respite of a few minutes in which to bid farewell to his family before
setting out upon his journey to the frontier, whither he was to be
escorted by a small well-armed party, in whom Seketulo knew he could
place implicit trust.

This somewhat painful scene over, the troops and people there present
were required to swear allegiance and fidelity to their new king, which
they readily did with all the formalities customary among them on such
occasions; after which the crown of gold and feathers worn by M'Bongwele
was brought forward and placed upon Seketulo's head; and the new king
was then invited on board the ship to confer with--and in reality to
receive instructions respecting his future policy and conduct from--the
men who had raised him to the supreme dignity. The advice--given with
sufficient firmness and emphasis to constitute a command--comprised many
valuable hints for the wise and humane government of the nation, and was
concluded with a powerful exhortation to treat with fairness, justice,
humanity, and hospitality all strangers who might be brought by accident
or otherwise into the country; to succour, nourish, and carefully
protect them from molestation or spoliation of any and every kind whilst
within its borders; and to afford them every help and facility to leave
whensoever they might desire. And, finally, a satisfactory arrangement
was made whereby the baronet and his companions were enabled to continue
and complete their exploration and examination of the ruins.

The _Flying Fish_ and her inmates remained in the country for rather
more than three months from that date; quite long enough to satisfy the
party that they had really acted wisely, and for the benefit of the
nation, in deposing M'Bongwele; and long enough to enable them to make
several most surprising and interesting discoveries among the ruins--
discoveries which it is not necessary to describe or particularise here,
since the professor has prepared, and is now revising for the press, an
elaborate and exhaustive treatise upon the subject.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

AN ADVENTURE ON THE TOP OF MOUNT EVEREST.

Leaving the country at las