We did not see Dingaan that day, except at a distance, and after the dance was over returned to our camp to eat the beef which he had provided for us in plenty.
On the third day--that was Monday, the 5th of February, there were more dancings and sham fights, so many more, indeed, that we began to weary of this savage show.

Late in the afternoon, however, Dingaan sent for the commandant and his men to come to see him, saying that he wished to talk with him about the matter of the treaty.

So we went; but only three or four, of whom I was one, were admitted to Dingaan's presence, the rest remaining at a little distance, where they could see us but were out of earshot.
Dingaan then produced a paper which had been written by the Reverend Mr.Owen.This document, which I believe still exists, for it was found afterwards, was drawn up in legal or semi-legal form, beginning like a proclamation, "Know all men." It ceded "the place called Port Natal, together with all the land annexed--that is to say, from Tugela to the Umzimvubu River westward, and from the sea to the north"-- to the Boers, "for their everlasting property." At the king's request, as the deed was written in English by Mr.Owen, I translated it to him, and afterwards the lad Halstead translated it also, being called in to do so when I had finished.
This was done that my rendering might be checked, and the fact impressed all the Boers very favourably.

It showed them that the king desired to understand exactly what he was to sign, which would not have been the case had he intended any trick or proposed to cheat them afterwards.
From that moment forward Retief and his people had no further doubts as to Dingaan's good faith in this matter, and foolishly relaxed all precautions against treachery.
When the translating was finished, the commandant asked the king if he would sign the paper then and there.

He answered, "No; he would sign it on the following morning, before the commission returned to Natal." It was then that Retief inquired of Dingaan, through Thomas Halstead, whether it was a true story which he had heard, that the Boer called Pereira, who had been staying with him, and whom the Zulus knew by the name of "Two-faces," had again asked him, Dingaan, to have me, Allan Quatermain, whom they called Macumazahn, killed.