defend themselves."

"And who may that be?"

"Quetoo, the chief of the Amaquibi, is in arms with a large force, and
threatens the other tribes to the northward of us; if he conquers them,
he will certainly come down here. He was formerly one of Chaka's
generals, and is, like him, renowned for slaughter. At present he is
too far to the northward to interfere with you, but I should advise you
to lose no time in effecting your mission; for should he advance, you
will be compelled to retreat immediately. I had better send to Hinza
to-morrow to let him know that strangers have come and wish to see him,
that they may make him a present. That notice will bring him fast
enough; not but that he well knows you are here, and has known that you
have been in his country long ago."

"It will be as well, after the information you have given us," said Mr
Swinton.

"What is your opinion of the Caffres, Mr S, now that you have resided
so long with them?"

"They are, for heathens, a fine nation,--bold, frank, and, if anything
is confided to them, scrupulously honest; but cattle-stealing is
certainly not considered a crime among them, although it is punished as
one. Speaking as a minister of the Gospel, I should say they are the
most difficult nation to have anything to do with that it ever has been
my lot to visit. They have no religion whatever; they have no idols;
and no idea of the existence of a God. When I have talked to them about
God, their reply is, `Where is he? show him to me.'"

"But have they no superstitions?"

"They believe in necromancy, and have their conjurers, who do much harm,
and are our chief opponents, as we weaken their influence, and
consequently their profits. If cattle are stolen, they are referred to.
If a chief is sick, they are sent for to know who has bewitched him;
they must of course mention some innocent person, who is sacrificed
immediately. If the country is parched from want of rain, which it so
frequently is, then the conjurers are in great demand: they are sent for
to produce rain. If, after all their pretended mysteries, the rain does
not fall so as to save their reputation, they give some plausible
reason, generally ending, however, in the sacrifice of some innocent
individual; and thus they go on, making excuses after excuses until the
rain does fall, and they obtain all the credit of it. I need hardly say
that these people are our greatest enemies."

"Are you satisfied with t