greased from
head to foot, and charcoaled as black as the King of Ashantee!

Although an object of the deepest interest to the white men, poor Junkie
was not at that moment personally attractive. He was, however,
unspeakably happy at seeing white and familiar faces once more. He was
also very much subdued, and had obviously profited by the rude teaching
he had undergone in Kafirland, for his obedience to orders was prompt
and unquestioning.

The first important matter was to clean Junkie. This was only partially
effected, and with difficulty. The next was to clothe him. This was
done, on the spur of the moment, with pocket-handkerchiefs, each hunter
contributing one till the costume was complete. A large red cotton one
formed a sort of plaid; a blue one with a hole in the middle, through
which his head was thrust, served as a pretty good poncho or tippet; a
green one with white spots, tied round the loins, did duty as a tunic or
kilt; and one of crimson silk round the head formed a gorgeous turban.

Returning to the village, the hunters found Eno the chief, and, after
expressing much satisfaction at having arrived in time to lend him
effectual aid at so critical a period, they presented him with gifts of
brass wire and cotton cloth, from the stores in Skyd and Dobson's
waggons.

The chief expressed his gratitude in glowing terms, and begged the
hunters to stay with him for some time. But this they would not do, as
it was important to return to the colony, and report what they had seen
without delay. Notwithstanding their professions of gratitude, however,
these rascals stole as many small articles front the waggons as they
could lay hands on, and would doubtless have taken all that the hunters
possessed, if they had not been impressed by their valour, and by the
dreadful firearms which they carried.

This accidental skirmish was the first meeting of the colonists with the
Fetcani. It was not till two years later that the Government felt
constrained to take active measures against these savages.

The Fetcani, or Mantatee hordes, having been driven from their own
country by the bloodthirsty Zulu chief Chaka, had been preying upon
other tribes for many years, and at last, in 1827, they precipitated
themselves on the Tambookies, and afterwards on the Galekas, threatening
to extirpate these Kafirs altogether, or to drive them into the colony
as suppliants and beggars. In this extremity the Kafir chief Hintza