monarchs with
whom I expected to be brought into contact. So now, after due
consideration, I drew forth a drum-major's scarlet tunic, stiff with
tarnished gold braid, minus its regimental buttons, shockingly soiled,
and otherwise very much the worse for wear; a pair of ditto blue
trousers, with gold braid running down the outer seam; a naval
lieutenant's cocked hat, in which I inserted a bunch of cock's tail
feathers; an infantryman's white leather belt, with bayonet and sheath;
and a small round shaving mirror in a metal frame, which had cost me
sixpence, if I remember rightly: and made up the whole into a neat
bundle, in readiness for the moment when I should be summoned to the
royal presence. Then I proceeded to take particular note of the capital
of Basutoland.

It was a place of considerable importance, consisting of about a
thousand huts enclosed, like the place of my vision, in a very strong
and high palisade, rendered unclimbable by having the upper extremities
of the palings trimmed into long sharp points. It was built upon the
summit of a low knoll, was rectangular in plan, and covered an area of
about twenty acres of ground; and that was about all that I could
discover concerning it in the meantime, since the palisading was much
too high to permit of my seeing anything inside it.

After an absence of nearly an hour Piet returned with the information
that he had been detained at the outer gate of the kraal while my
message was conveyed to the king, and that during his detention he had
been subjected to a pretty severe cross-examination by an induna or
chief, respecting the purpose of my journey, my destination, and so on;
that, finally, a message had been returned by the king that when he was
ready to see me he would send for me, and meanwhile I was to remain
where I was and not attempt to enter the kraal. I confess that I was a
trifle disappointed at this reception, which I regarded as distinctly
chilly; but Mafuta had afforded me a little insight into the king's
character, and I trusted that a personal interview, coupled with a sight
of the resplendent drum-major's tunic and the rest of the outfit, would,
arouse a feeling of greater geniality in the breast of the savage
autocrat. So I hung about the wagon for the remainder of that day,
waiting for a summons which did not come. Nevertheless, although the
king did not condescend to manifest any undue eagerness to see me, I was
not exactly left to pine