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All round the outside fence stood a row of
huts, which were the habitations of the king's wives. Exactly opposite
the gateway, on the further side of the open space, was a very large
hut, built by itself, in which his majesty resided. All the rest was
open ground; that is to say, it would have been open had it not been
filled by company after company of warriors, who were mustered there
to the number of seven or eight thousand. These men stood still as
statues as we advanced through them, and it would be impossible to
give an adequate idea of the grandeur of the spectacle which they
presented, with their waving plumes, their glancing spears, and iron-
backed ox-hide shields.

The space in front of the large hut was empty, but before it were
placed several stools. On three of these, at a sign from Infadoos, we
seated ourselves, Umbopa standing behind us. As for Infadoos, he took
up a position by the door of the hut. So we waited for ten minutes or
more in the midst of a dead silence, but conscious that we were the
object of the concentrated gaze of some eight thousand pairs of eyes.
It was a somewhat trying ordeal, but we carried it off as best we
could. At length the door of the hut opened, and a gigantic figure,
with a splendid tiger-skin karross flung over its shoulders, stepped
out, followed by the boy Scragga, and what appeared to us to be a
withered-up monkey, wrapped in a fur cloak. The figure seated itself
upon a stool, Scragga took his stand behind it, and the withered-up
monkey crept on all fours into the shade of the hut and squatted down.

Still there was silence.

Then the gigantic figure slipped off the karross and stood up before
us, a truly alarming spectacle. It was that of an enormous man with
the most entirely repulsive countenance we had ever beheld. This man's
lips were as thick as a Negro's, the nose was flat, he had but one
gleaming black eye, for the other was represented by a hollow in the
face, and his whole expression was cruel and sensual to a degree. From
the large head rose a magnificent plume of white ostrich feathers, his
body was clad in a shirt of shining chain armour, whilst round the
waist and right knee were the usual garnishes of white ox-tail. In his
right hand was a huge spear, about the neck a thick torque of gold,
and bound on the forehead shone dully a single and enormous uncut
diamond.

Still there was silence; but not for long. Presently the man, whom we
rightly guessed to be the king, raised the great javelin in his hand.
Instantly eight thousand spears were lifted in answer, and from eight
thousand throats rang out the royal salute of "/Koom/." Three times
this was repeated, and each time the earth shook with the noise, that
can only be compared to the deepest notes of thunder.

"Be humble, O people," piped out a thin voice which seemed to come
from the monkey in the shade, "it is the king."

"/It is the king/," boomed out the eight thousand throats in answer.

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