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Mr. Farewell gave Lieut. King and his comrades some account of Charka, the then king of the Zoolus; of his cruelties to the natives and his hospitality to white people. He conjured them to be particularly cautious not to let his majesty know that the Mary had been wrecked, but to give out that they had been sent by the Cape authorities in search of him (Mr. Farewell); Jacob, the interpreter, having given him a splendid account of the Cape government.

The next event of importance that happened to our little company of wanderers was an expedition of part of their number to the king: their reception was friendly, and Charka did not seem at all indisposed to extend towards them his protection and countenance.

The account which these ambassadors gave of the Zoolu king, raised in Mr. Isaacs a strong desire to visit the interior. He accordingly set out upon his journey. Upon his arrival at the king's kraal, he found a multitude of persons congregated around it, who were seated in a half circle. Charka sat by himself on a large mat rolled up. Mr. Isaacs' natives saluted him after their manner, and their master after his European custom.

Charka asked our traveller whether he knew any thing about the Portuguese, stating that he had a Portuguese with him; and on Mr. Isaacs expressing a wish to see him, sent for that individual. The king then desired our traveller to go away; who not understanding the command, the interpreter dragged him away from one place to another, like a man confused and apprehensive. The natives all appeared alarmed as they approached the king, who sent for our countryman again, and presented to him a paper on which he had made some marks: these, he was directed to decipher, but not being competent to do so, and his interpreter being but a poor translator, they made but a sorry figure; when Charka turning to his people said, "He does not understand the ungnorty" (letter) and they replied " Yubo Barlu” (“ Yes father, we see it"). After amusing himself at the expense of his guests the king directed them to retire to their huts.

On their next interview, Charka asked the Portuguese "who were the greatest warriors," when he replied, "that the English had subdued all the powers on the other side of the great water,” upon which, his Zoolu majesty observed "King George's warriors are a fine set of men: in fact, King George and I are brothers; he has conquered all the whites and I have subdued all the blacks.”*

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Passing over a length of time, we shall take up our narrative when the "Maloongas" were obliged, in order to avoid the dangerous wrath of the king, to go and fight the "Umbatio," a small tribe, with whom Charka had been at war for some time, and had never been able to conquer. Charka, in his address to them before they set off upon their expedition, ordered them not to leave one alive, but to kill all, man, woman, or child belonging to the hostile tribe.

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For an extended account of the reign and acts of this king, see the January number of the New Series of Monthly Mag. S. C.

The enemy had taken up their positions in small detachments on the neighbouring heights. The whites advanced and ascended the hill that led immediately to them, expecting that the Zoolus would follow; but in this they reckoned without their host, for the Zoolus were observed getting off as fast as they could to the opposite side of the river, about a mile from the Maloonga station. This was a critical moment; but our countrymen did not want courage, and with one accord pushed for the summit of the hill, or rather the large rugged rocks, behind which the enemy had taken shelter.

In front of them, the Maloongas saw a small party of about fifty whom they attacked and defeated. The report of the muskets reverberated from the rocks, and struck terror into the enemy; they shouted and ran in all directions.

The Maloongas had just finished loading once more, when they perceived a large body of Umbatio approaching them, in the height of rage, and menacing them with destruction. Mr. Isaacs' party now began to feel some doubt, upon perceiving which he rushed forwards and got upon the top of a rock, when one of the enemy threw a spear at him, which he avoided by stooping down. He levelled and shot the savage dead. Upon this, his party fired too, and the whole of the savages ran off with great fear and trepidation. The whites now felt some confidence from their success, and advanced along the sides of the rocks to dislodge some few of the Umbatio, who had halted with a design to oppose the Maloongas, and hurled stones at their enemy with prodigious force, the women and children lending their aid with extraordinary alacrity. At last, however, after some hard fighting, during which Mr. Isaacs was wounded, the Umbatio retreated.

On the next morning the Maloongas followed up their success, but were this time accompanied by the Zoolu warriors. The Zoolu forces arranged themselves for the attack, as they thought in front of the enemy, but it turned out to be in front of the forest, for no enemy was to be seen. Three persons, however, belonging to the enemy made their appearance unarmed, on a conspicuous part of the mountain. Some of the Zoolus went towards them, and scon ascertained, to their great joy, that they were chiefs sent by the enemy to announce to the king's white people, that they had surrendered, and were willing to accept of any terms of peace, as "they did not understand the Maloonga way of fighting-did not know what roots or medicines they used; and therefore could not contend with people who spit fire as they did." They were now entirely subdued and became tributary to Charka.

This bravery quite restored the king's confidence in the settlers; and the schooner, now being in a fair way of completion, he determined to send a mission, "to show," he said, "King George, that he desired to be on terms of amity with him."

The schooner after indefatigable labour, having been at length completed, and found sea-worthy, this mission proceeded with Lieut. King to the Cape ; but soon returned, without having produced any good result.

On the 7th of December, 1828, Lieutenant King died at Port Natal of a decease very common on that coast-a day which the survivors of this ship-wrecked party will long remember, as having bereft them of a most estimable companion, and sincere and gallant

friend.

SECTION II.

As a remuneration for the presents which we had expended upon Charka, and for the services he had rendered him, the Zoolu monarch created Mr. Isaacs, who now had determined to stay and form a settlement on the coast, Chief of Natal, and granted him all the tract of country between the river Umslutee to the river Umlass, a space of twenty-five miles of sea-coast, and one hundred miles inland, including the bay, islands near the point, and the exclusive right of trading with his people. After the king had made his mark or signature to the grant, the interpreter made his, which happening to be larger than the king's; Charka asked in a stern voice, how it was possible, that a common man's name should be greater than a king's? Insisting on having the pen and grant again, he scribled and made marks all over the blank parts, and said, "there," pointing to his signature, "any one can see that is a king's name, because it is a great one. King George will also see that this is King Charka's name."

Charka also at this time (17th December), talked about sending John Cane to the Cape, to negociate a friendly alliance with the governor, and to obtain for him (Charka) such articles as be wanted, when the vessel should again be ready for sea. Soon after this, however, Charka came by his death, as related in a previous Number of this Magazine. This event made very little difference in the affairs of Port Natal, as his successor Dingarn was found to be as favourable to the Maloongas, as ever Charka was.

The "Colony," as the Maloongas termed their residence, now prospered exceedingly. It mostly consisted of natives who had attached themselves to the whites for protection. The number of these natives was considerable, and continued daily to increase. Dingarn had confirmed the grant of territory to Mr. Isaacs, making him in fact a kind of tributary king over it. It was soon, therefore, apparent that certain regulations must be made, and the whole settlement put under a regular government, if any thing like good order or friendship was to be expected among the mixed inhabitants, of the "Maloonga" country y'clept Port Natal. They accordingly established a "Senate," consisting of the principal persons among the natives, the business of which was to enact laws and try offences.

All this harmony, however, was interrupted by the imprudence of one of the settlers-John Cane. This individual had been dispatched by the king with Jacob, the interpreter, on a mission to the Cape. This mission was, like all the others, unsuccessful. To the surprise and astonishment of every one, Cane instead of proceeding, as he ought, at once to report to Dingarn, went to hunt the elephant, whilst Jacob and Ogle (his coadjutors), remained at home, without

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hibiting any intentions of proceeding to the king to communicate the result of their mission to the Cape. Mr. Isaacs, having other business to transact with his Majesty, proceeded to the "palace."

On his road, he found that a great many mischievous reports were abroad. Intobaler (one of their friends), informed him, that it was said that Cane was only waiting under the pretence of hunting, for an "impee" (armed force), that was coming from the Cape to subdue the Zoolus under his guidance, and that a messenger from Jacob, the interpreter, had originally propagated the news.

Mr. Isaacs was exceedingly surprised at this information, and determined to make all haste to Dingarn to contradict it; being sensible how much it might operate to the Maloongas' prejudice.

as me.

Upon his arrival Dingarn asked him "whether it was possible that the report of the impee could be true?" Mr. Isaacs told him, that it was impossible that a Maloonga invasion could have been contemplated (much less on the eve of execution), without his having been apprised of it; and that if hostilities had been in agitation, it was not probable that he would have presented himself before his Majesty. "But," continued Mr. Isaacs, "if your Majesty have an idea that our countrymen are about to proceed here in any other character than as friends, I will remain with you until ye shall be convinced that the report is a gross fabrication." "I am perfectly satisfied," answered Dingarn, "of your innocence, as I am aware that you Maloongas do not tell lies; but I am angry with John Cane; I think he might deceive you, as well His Caffres came here with goods from the British Colony. I was surprised he did not come with them, when they told me he remained at home on account of Thomas Holstead's indisposition. The next day my man, the messenger, arrived, and informed me, that John was at the river Umsluti, hunting the elephant: I then concluded that Jacob's report was true, and that John was waiting for the commands under the cloak of hunting. I did not care about the present, and should not have blamed him if he had returned without any thing; as I well knew that if the people on the other side of the water would not give him anything, he could not execute his mission. I blamed him for not coming, as he well knew that I was always anxious to hear news from the white people: but when I considered the matter, I saw that he was afraid to come, and that instead of attending to the mission he had undertaken, he had tried to injure me, by inducing the white people to prepare to fight against me. I therefore told the messenger to return, and summon the boys of Slome-en-line, proceed to his place, and take his cattle away; but I gave orders to them to go forward and apprise Mr. Fynn previously, that he might acquaint the Maloongas, and prevent any alarm. I further desired that Mr. Fynn should drive the fellow away from Natal, as he would be disturbing the peace we have so long enjoyed."

The king delivered this address, not with any angry gestures, but in a calm, deliberate way, which convinced Mr. Isaacs that he had confided a great deal in the integrity of Cane, and had found

his confidence abused. That Cane was censurable for not going forward to his majesty, to report the result of his mission, cannot be denied; but that he should so far have forgotten his situation as to lose sight, not only of his duty, but his security, was surprising. With respect to Thomas Holstead, Mr. Isaacs knew that he was ill, and incapable of further travelling. Mr. Isaacs, therefore, told Dingarn, that he thought Jacob had borne animosity against Cane, and that a demand, made on a former trip against the latter, had occasioned a strife between them, which might have been the cause of the indifference of Cane in the present instance; that he felt positive that as soon as the latter heard of the king's wrath, he would at once arrive, and give him every necessary explanation of his mission, and of the feelings of the people whom he visited. Dingarn answered, "I do not wish to see him again; I wish you, very much, to drive him away."

After this, Mr. Isaacs told the king of the death of George the Fourth, and that his brother, William the Fourth, now filled the throne, as his hereditary successor. Dingarn, upon this, asked if the late king had any sons, and if a prince of England could dethrone his father. Mr. Isaacs assured him that there existed in England such affection between king and subject as made the former adored, and the latter respected; and that the monarch, as father of his people, sought to rule over them, not with the rod of terror, but by laws mild and efficient; whilst his subjects submitted to those laws, as people ought, who admired their sovereign and loved their country. The king of Great Britain, Mr. Isaacs also added, reigned in the hearts of his subjects, who were happy because they were secure; and it was their union, the love borne by the people to the monarch, that made England invulnerable. Dingarn sat for a few minutes, as if in thought, and ruminating on our description of England and the English monarch; but looking at Mr. Isaacs again, he said, with a smile of pleasure," Ah! your king must be a happy monarch, when he has to reign over such faithful and brave people."

Upon the departure of Mr. Isaacs for Port Natal, Dingarn said, "I have sent for Mr. Fynn; if you meet him on his way I wish you to return together, and come to me again when your vessel arrives. I am sorry," continued he, "for what has happened; but you have to blame John Cane, and not me. I have sent to have his cattle taken away, and if you see him in the bush, tell him to come here with Jacob, and his case shall be settled; but time will prove whether false information has been sent to me; if it be false, Jacob shall not go unpunished, I assure ye. If I knew that a Maloonga impee was coming against me, I would distribute the cattle to my people, and tell them to separate in all directions; and, for my part, I would take only five men, and go where you should never find me; and then what would your soldiers do for food? Besides, I would poison our waters, which would be fatal to them."

"As you have not commenced hostilities," Mr. Isaacs replied,