"Well, he is no common man and brave, if idle; one, too, who may grow tall in the world, should he live, when he has learned to think.

But, Macumazahn, if she met you both at the same time why did she not choose you ?" "Just now you said you were wise, Nombe," I replied laughing, "but now I see that, like most of your trade, you are but a vain boaster.

Is there a hat upon my head that you cannot see the colour of my hair, and is it natural that youth should turn to age ?" "Sometimes if the mind is old, Macumazahn, which is why I love the Spirits only who are more ancient than the mountains, and with them Zikali their servant, who was young before the Zulus were a people, or so he says, and still year by year gathers wisdom as the bee gathers honey.

Inspan your horses, Macumazahn, for I have done my business and am ready to start.".