speedily set _tywala_ before them, I went at once to
learn the Great Great One's pleasure concerning them.

"And the man is not of the Amabuna, son of Ntelani," he said, when I had
told my tale.

"Not so, Black Elephant. He says he is of a race which comes from far
over the sea."

"Ha! And the man with him, he is of ourselves?"

"He is, Father, and yet not. He is of the Aba-gaza."

"_Hau_! Of the Abagaza? I would fain hear something of that people.
See now, Untuswa, when these strangers are rested, I will talk with them
here."

I saluted and withdrew. When I regained my hut the white _isanusi_ was
reading from a book softly to himself. _Whau_! I have seen many books
since, but at that time never, and it looked wonderful. At last he
ceased, and, making one of those strange turns of his hand such as we
had before noticed, he closed the book and looked up. Then I spoke the
King's message, and he rose to his feet, declaring he was ready.

Umzilikazi was seated outside the _isigodhlo_ as we drew near. The
white man halted in front of the King, and, inclining his head slightly,
raised his hand aloft and said, "_Bayete_!" The Gaza, however, bent low
to the ground, murmuring words of _bonga_ even as one of ourselves. Him
the King began to question first:

"Who art thou, who art of us and yet not of us? How art thou named?"

"Ngubazana, son of Tumela, of the people of Gaza, Great Great One,"
replied the man.

"And wherefore hast thou left thine own country--thou a _kehla_? Art
thou an _induna_?"

"No _induna_ am I, Black Elephant of the Amendebeli. I have left my
country to follow my father here."

"And the feet of those who pursue thee? When a man forsakes his
country, is it not that he may travel faster than the feet of those who
run behind him?" said Umzilikazi, with meaning.

"None such are behind me, Serpent of Wisdom," replied the man. "In due
time I return to my own country again, and to my wives. No evil have I
done there that I should not return."

"Ha! Thy wives?" said the King. Then, turning to the white man--

"And thou, stranger? They say of thee that thou art an _isanusi_--
though white--that thou wert making _muti_ of a wonderful and
unheard-of-kind?"

"That is true, O King."

"And wherefore was this _muti_?"

"Let the King listen," answered the white man. "When the _izanusi_ of
the peoples of the Zulu offer sacrifice of cattle to the spirits of
departed chiefs and ki