regiment. From the circlet of otter skin on his brow rose his crest of
plumes, round his middle, arms and knees hung the long fringes of black
oxtails, and in one hand he bore a little dancing shield, also black in
colour. The other was empty, since he might not appear before the king
bearing arms. In countenance the man was handsome, and though just now
they betrayed some anxiety, his eyes were genial and honest, and his
mouth sensitive. In height he must have measured six foot two inches,
yet he did not strike the observer as being tall, perhaps because of
his width of chest and the solidity of his limbs, that were in curious
contrast to the delicate and almost womanish hands and feet which so
often mark the Zulu of noble blood. In short the man was what he seemed
to be, a savage gentleman of birth, dignity and courage.

In company with him was another man plainly dressed in a moocha and a
blanket, whose grizzled hair showed him to be over fifty years of age.
His face also was pleasant and even refined, but the eyes were timorous,
and the mouth lacked character.

"Who are these?" asked the king.

The two men fell on their knees before him, and bowed till their
foreheads touched the ground--the while giving him his _sibonga_ or
titles of praise.

"Speak," he said impatiently.

"O King," said the young warrior, seating himself Zulu fashion, "I am
Nahoon, the son of Zomba, a captain of the Umcityu, and this is my uncle
Umgona, the brother of one of my mothers, my father's youngest wife."