The chief was seated on the ground, surrounded by several of his hemraaden. The subject of conversation had for many days touched upon the preparations for war, which, for months had been secretly progressing in Kafirland; and the intelligence which Amayeka brought, and which Lee confirmed, was soon conveyed by Doda: he told Umlala that the white men were making ready for battle. Even now, it was said, the white chiefs were beginning to count their red men by tens, for they were many. No immediate or noisy demonstration followed this announcement. Umlala sat, to all appearance, in deep thought, Doda waiting at his right hand till it should please his chief to address him. At last, having matured his thought, Umlala said, in a low and distinct voice, "Amakosa noburoti bona"--"The Amakosa are brave." The crowd testified their satisfaction by a murmur of assent that rolled through the assembly like the swell of an ocean wave. "Our chief is wise," said Doda; "without him we are as the land in drought--as a bundle of sticks scattered for want of a cord--as people journeying on vast plains without a purpose, without landmarks. It is he who leads us from dark places, and sets our feet on open ground--we are his children--hear him." "Umlala," answered Amani, "is my mouth, let him speak." "Our ears are open," said Doda, and sat down with an uneasy glance at Amani. For Doda was peacefully inclined--that is to say, though war was in his heart, he had tasted of the blessings of civilisation. He had seen his daughter, "sitting in the sun and eating honey," living under virtuous influences, in peace and plenty, at the mission station, and it was with inward reluctance that he had obeyed his chief in withdrawing her from thence. It would have been useless, as well as impolitic, to oppose his sentiments openly to Umlala's inclinations, especially as of late the malcontent Dutch had been tampering with the chiefs, and some mercenary and unprincipled traders had profited by the aspect of affairs to increase their traffic.