The king, a good-looking, well-figured, tall young man of twenty-five, was sitting on a red blanket spread upon a square platform of royal grass, encased in tiger-grass reeds, scrupulously well dressed in a new mbugu.

The hair of his head was cut short, excepting on the top, where it was combed up into a high ridge, running from stem to stern like a cockscomb.

On his neck was a very neat ornament--a large ring, of beautifully-worked small beads, forming elegant patterns by their various colours.

On one arm was another bead ornament, prettily devised; and on the other a wooden charm, tied by a string covered with snakeskin.

On every finger and every toe, he had alternate brass and copper rings; and above the ankles, halfway up to the calf, a stocking of very pretty beads.