haka himself. In the arrangements of his army, he
followed the same plans as Chaka, and has now become a most powerful
monarch, and, they do say, is almost as great a tyrant and despot as
Chaka himself was. I believe that the Griquas are right in saying there
would be danger in passing through his dominions without his
permission."

"But," said Alexander, "I suppose if we send a message to him and
presents, there will be no difficulty?"

"Perhaps not, except that our caravan may excite his cupidity, and he
may be induced to delay us to obtain possession of its contents.
However, we had better put this question to the Griquas, who probably
can answer it better."

The Griquas, on being questioned, replied, that the best plan would be
to send a message to the Matabili capital, where Moselekatsee resided,
requesting permission to hunt in the country, and begging the monarch to
send some of his principal men to receive the presents which they had to
offer;--that it would not take long to receive an answer, as it would
only be necessary to deliver the message to the first officer belonging
to Moselekatsee, at the advanced post. That officer would immediately
dispatch a native with the message, who would arrive much sooner than
any one they could send themselves. Bremen and three other Hottentots
offered to take the message, if our travelers wished it. This was agreed
to, and that afternoon they mounted their horses, and crossed the river.
By the advice of the Griquas, the camp was shifted about a mile further
up the river, on account of the lions.

The weather now threatened a change; masses of clouds accumulated, but
were again dispersed. The next day the weather was again threatening;
thunder pealed in the distant mountains, and the forked lightning flew
in every direction; but the rain, if any, was expended on the
neighboring hills.

A strong wind soon blew up so as to try the strength of the canvas
awning of their wagons, and they found it difficult to keep their fires
in at night. They had encamped upon a wide plain covered with high
grass, and abounding with elands and other varieties of antelopes: here
they remained for five days, waiting the reply of the king of the
Matabili, and went out every day to procure game. On the Sabbath-day,
after they had, as usual, performed Divine service, they observed a
heavy smoke to windward, which, as the wind was fresh, soon bore down
upon them and inconvenienced them much.