It was quite possible that Pereira and his companions had been murdered, though as we found the Tongas very quiet folk if well treated and given the usual complimentary presents for wayleaves, this did not seem probable.

Indeed, a week later our doubts upon this point were cleared up thus.
We had reached a big kraal called Fokoti, on the Umkusi River, which appeared to be almost deserted.

We asked an old woman whom we met where its people had gone.

She answered that they had fled towards the borders of Swaziland, fearing an attack from the Zulus, whose territories began beyond this Umkusi River.

It seemed that a few days before a Zulu impi or regiment had appeared upon the banks of the river, and although there was no war at the time between the Zulus and the Tongas, the latter had thought it wise to put themselves out of reach of those terrible spears.
On hearing this news we debated whether it would not be well for us to follow their example and, trekking westwards, try to find a pass in the mountains.