suitable, thou and other white men
might come in and try to take it from me; but since thou dost indeed
merely desire to pass through it, I give thee free leave to do so, the
more readily that I learn thou didst help my people by slaying a leopard
that was troubling them."

"It is well, O king, and I thank thee," said I. "And now, in
acknowledgment of thy friendliness, I ask thine acceptance of certain
presents," and I beckoned Piet to approach with his parcel, which I
forthwith proceeded to open.

The trousers were on the top of the parcel, and as I unfolded them and
turned them about, showing off their gold braid, I saw the king's eyes
begin to glisten, for finery appeals quite as strongly to the savage as
it does to the child. He took the garment in his hands, inspected the
gold braid narrowly, and seemed more than half-inclined to insinuate
himself into the article there and then; but his dignity rose superior
to the strain upon it, heavy as it was, and with a sigh he handed the
trousers over to the captain of the guard to hold for him. Then, with a
suitable flourish, I displayed the drum-major's tunic in all its bravery
of soiled scarlet and tarnished gold lace; and as I turned it about to
exhibit its varied splendours even the iron discipline to which the
guards were subjected so far broke down as to elicit from them a low
"Wao!" of admiration. As for the king, he did not attempt to conceal
his delight, even forgetting himself so far as to direct the induna's
attention to its beauties; and for several minutes he continued to
fondle the coat, seeming quite unable to allow so precious a thing to
pass out of his own hands. At length, however, I created a diversion by
producing the belt and bayonet, withdrawing the latter from its sheath
and explaining that it was used as a sort of rapier. This also received
its due meed of appreciation, but the royal glances still clung fondly
to the tunic; therefore I produced the cocked hat with its plume of
feathers, putting it upon my own head for a moment to show how it ought
to be worn, and then handing it to the king, who immediately clapped it
upon his own pate, and kept it there. And, finally, I produced the
shaving mirror, of which the king at first seemed somewhat afraid,
pronouncing it "'mkulu 'mtagati" (great or powerful magic); but when I
had succeeded in making him thoroughly understand what it was, he was as
delighted as a child, sitting in his chair intently