the elbow to the knee, under penalty of a fine. The unfortunate man had certainly not the requisite amount of clothing on him, but his defence was very novel and amusing. 3. He said that he had come from some distance up the country with his brother (by the way, all the natives of the same tribe call themselves brothers), and although they both wished to enter the town to make some small purchases, they only possessed one lot of clothes between them. So he had thought that the only way to get over the difficulty was for one to go in at a time. His friend or brother dressed first and started, but not returning at the appointed time, and it now being dark, he, the remaining one, had thought best to enter the town as he was; but he was unfortunate enough to be seen by a native policeman and arrested. 4. This defence, however, was not considered sufficient to acquit him, and he was sentenced to pay a fine of seven shillings and sixpence. This he could not pay at the time, but said, if he were allowed to go at liberty he would return to his kraal,' some sixty miles up country, and fetch the money. This, as a matter of course, was not listened to, and he was ordered back to prison. 5. I was very much struck by the simplicity of the request, and being curious to test his truth, I waited till the culprit was escorted out of the court, and then followed and offered him the amount of his fine. He seemed very puzzled at first, and said something to his gaoler which I could not understand, but which was interpreted to me that he would not accept the 'Kraal, an enclosure, a village. F V. & VI. money as a gift, but, if I would make him a loan of the amount, he would gladly accept it. This I did; never thinking that a native whom I had never seen before, and whom I should not know again, even if I saw him, would take the trouble to travel on foot over a hundred miles to keep his word.. 6. I was, however, to be agreeably surprised. The next day I left D'Urban, and two days afterwards had reached the house of a friend some fifty miles away, where I stayed the night. I was awakened about four o'clock next morning by some one nudging me, and looking up, saw a large black face grinning over me with such evident satisfaction, that I remember it strongly impressed me with the idea of a faithful retriever dog who had just found its master. I was, however, too sleepy to think at all, and seeing by my manner that I was scarcely pleased by this interruption to my rest, he quietly withdrew. 7. About two hours afterwards, I got up and dressed, and, stepping out on the verandah, was greatly surprised to see my friend of the court-house sitting, or rather squatting, some few feet from me, patiently waiting my appearance. Immediately on perceiving me he rose, and raising his right arm in the air, with his two first fingers extended as a token of respect, approached and offered me back the money I had lent him. I was so delighted at this instance of honour and truth, that I would gladly have allowed him to keep it, and tried to make him understand by signs that such was my wish. 8. But this seemed greatly to trouble him, and my host, coming on the scene at the moment, advised me to take it from him, as otherwise he would feel offended, which I reluctantly did. I have heard many tales of this sort from colonial people, but here was an instance which, had I not had actual proof of, I could scarcely have believed. Fifty hours had barely elapsed since I had seen this good fellow at D'Urban, and he had walked, or rather run, as is their custom, a distance of over one hundred and fifty miles to redeem a promise made to a perfect stranger. 9. I was then totally unacquainted with the musical language of the Kaffirs, and so had to get my host to interpret to him my esteem of his conduct and principle. It seemed rather to surprise him that I should think anything of it except as a matter of course. He was with me in the afternoon when I made a sketch of some of the delightful scenery which is to be found in and near Natal, and was so pleased with the idea of watching me, that I easily prevailed on him to accompany me in all my sketching tours, and during the few months I stayed in the colonies he was my constant and faithful companion. 10. I soon acquired sufficient of his language to understand him, and I learnt much of him that was both instructive and amusing. I once asked him how he had managed to follow me after he had returned to D'Urban, and found I had left, not having known my name; and he told me that every white man directly he lands has a nickname given to him by the natives, which they pass from one to another, and that by this means he had found my whereabouts. He was a fine fellow, and a good specimen of the Zulu people. The average height of these people is about 5 ft. 10 in., and they are most symmetrically1 Symmetrical, well-shaped. made; yet, with the strength of a lion, this man was as docile as a lamb. II. Many people since my return have asked me if I did not feel nervous at being alone with natives on my excursion into their country; but to all these queries I have only one answer to give, and that is, that if any man acts honourably and fairly with the natives he may, unless the tribes are actually at war with the white man, travel alone through the South African States unmolested. 12. I left my faithful companion and friend with great regret, and I am sure he was equally sorry for me to leave; but I hope shortly to return to South Africa on a sketching expedition on a more extensive scale, and I feel confident that I shall at least have one coloured friend who will give me a hearty welcome to his kraal. 13. I had many opportunities of judging of the Zulu people whilst in their country last year. They are one of the finest races of men I ever saw; they are blessed with one of the healthiest climates in the world, and living a happy though perhaps indolent life, with few, if any, unnatural vices, they early arrive at the perfection of symmetrical beauty. The men at the age of seventeen or eighteen are full-grown, and capable of enduring the greatest trials of strength. Perhaps, from this age to that of twenty-five they are at their best as regards personal appearance, for after this they commence in many cases to grow very fat, which is to be accounted for by their diet. This, however, instead of being regarded as an inferiority, is considered by them as a great mark of beauty, and I have been many times told that the loyalty of the Zulus for their late king Cetewayo is exceeded by their admiration of his person, for he, besides being extremely tall, is also very fat, and without doubt the largest man in his tribe. I. THE TWO SIDES OF WOLSEY'S SCENE. Kimbolton. Enter KATHARINE, Dowager, sick; led between Grif. How does your grace? O, Griffith, sick to death: 1 Didst thou not tell me, Griffith, as thou led'st me, Grif. Yes, madam; but I think your grace, 10. If well, he stepp'd before me, happily, For my example. Grif. Well, the voice 2 goes, madam : For after the stout Earl Northumberland Arrested him at York, and brought him forward (As a man sorely tainted 3) to his answer, 1 Willing, wishing, desirous. |