Before his visit I had been given the tip to have in readiness a bottle of good port wine, but upon pouring out a glass I was told that he judged it wiser to delay any refreshment until after breakfast. In the meantime small boys had collected at the entrance to my studio, being attracted by the Royal carriage waiting at the door. When they saw the chief occupant enter it they simply stared in amazement with open mouths. Finding a second interview necessary, which was arranged for at the Westminster Palace Hotel, I called at the appointed hour, but being kept waiting for a very considerable time sent up a reminder. Sir John was very angry at the delay, and after persuading the Ras that it was not the custom to treat gentlemen in such a manner he came out from an inner room (where he had been busily occupied sorting coloured silks) and did his duty to me, in fact sat in quite a stately manner, holding his long gun characteristically. During the process of sketching him I was given the hint not to make him quite as black as nature had painted him. A kind of levee (if I may say so) was occasionally held by Cetewayo when he visited England and was housed in Melbury Road. As I wanted to see him I procured an invitation to one of these receptions. [Illustration: CHINESE AMBASSADOR. KUO SUNG TUO. 1877.] [Illustration: RAS MAKOUNNEN. 1903.] [Illustration: CHINESE AMBASSADOR. CHANG TA JEN. 1903.] The deposed monarch who looked quite jolly and robust shook me by the hand as though I might be some one in authority. My visit afterwards bore fruit in _Vanity Fair_, for I represented him as I saw him, nearly bursting through his light grey tweed suit with a kingly headgear of black velvet enriched with gold braid and a golden tassel attached. On leaving this country I was told that his chief ambition was to take back with him some good specimens of our best sporting dogs. Well-bred fox terriers were procured, therefore, but when shown to him he feared they would not be strong enough, for it was for hunting he required them, "for hunting the man," so I believe bloodhounds filled their place. In the case of the Shah of Persia it was different, for when eventually I gained an audience at Marlborough House he received me with courtesy, and I was somewhat embarrassed on seeing him desert (at all events _pro tem._), several gentlemen, great authorities on the latest improvement in guns which were being shown him at his especial request. I was directed to the window and His Majesty evidently anxious to assist me, ordered the curtains to be drawn further apart that I might see him in a good light, he then came so close that I could focus only his nose which certainly was _the_ feature in his face. After making my obeisance I withdrew in favour of those I previously stood in the way of; and from the slight sketch I made and, relying on my memory for the rest, I eventually made my picture.