During that time my sole companion was the pretty young woman, Naya.

We became friends in a way and talked on a variety of subjects.

Only, at the end of our conversations I always found that I had gained no information whatsoever about any matter of immediate interest.

On such points as the history of the Zulu and kindred tribes, or the character of Chaka, the great king, or anything else that was remote she would discourse by the hour.

But when we came to current events, she dried up like water on a red-hot brick.