Uitenhage district, and 150 of the Groaff Reynet district under the command of Mr. Landdrost Stockenstrom, and marched on the 30th and 31st March and 1st April, to the Cat River, in the neighbourhood of which it was understood the Caffre chief was on a hunting expedition, attended by about 800 Caffres.

"Previous to taking up his ground, on his arrival, his lordship sent forward Major Fraser, of the Cape regiment, with the com. mandant Nel, and some armed burghers, to apprize the chief of his approach, and to invite him, with as many other chiefs as could be collected, to the conference, to which proposition he readily assented; but the day having proved extremely rainy, the meeting was postponed to the following morning, which circumstance was communicated to his Excellency by a deputation consisting of four persons, two of whom were chiefs, and the two others members of Gaika's council. A hesitation took place on the next morning, the chief's council having advised him in the night not to put himself in his Excellency's power, and the same deputation arrived early in our lines to apprize his Excellency of the change. These ambassadors, however, having received the usual presents, recommended that as Gaika was not far off, a message should be sent to him with assurances of his personal safety. This having been done, notice was brought of the chief's approach, upon which the troops were turned out, and formed into line upon his Excellency's marquee, the walls of which were

taken down, for the purpose of making the approaching confe rence as public as possible; the burgher cavalry was disposed at right angles with the troops of the line, thus making three sides of a square, the two pieces of ordnance were placed on each side of his Excellency's tent. His Excellency's body guard was formed in the rear of the tent. A chair was placed for his lordship's accommodation, and mats were spread for the chiefs who were to accompany Gaika. About eleven he made his approach, marching in the centre of a square formed with great regularity by a guard of about 300 well armed Caffres.

"Lieut.-Colonel Cuyler, Major Fraser, and Mr. Landdrost Stockenstrom, all known to him, went to greet him on his approach, and were introduced to the chief "Tsambie, Gaika's uncle. The square then opened and formed into line, and the chief's Gaika and 'Tsambie came forward, and walked to the marquee arm in arm with Lieut.-Colonel Cuyler, Major Fraser, and Mr. Stockenstrom, several other chiefs being in the rear, the Caffre guard following.

"His Excellency having taken his seat, Gaika was placed on his right hand, next to him 'Tsambie, then Botma 'Enno, Macommo, and several other chiefs, Gaika's son (a fine youth about nineteen, of remarkably expressive countenance), sat immediately behind his father; one of Gaika's council, and his interpreter, were immediately behind him on his left. His Excellency was attended by Lieut.-Colonel Bird and

Captain

Captain Sheridan, and by the Landdrosts and Heemraden of the two frontier districts, and two interpreters. The Caffre guard sat in semicircle behind their chiefs, and paid great attention to what was passing.

"The conference lasted near three hours, minutes of the whole being made by Lieut.-Colonel Bird; the mutual interests of the two countries were discussed.

"Gaika expressed great anxiety that his people should be permitted to trade with the colony for iron, copper, copper-wire, and other articles, of which the whole nation was much in want, and in return for which they could barter ivory and skins: this was agreed to, and it was settled that they should come to Graham's Town twice a year for the purpose, provided they had licence and passes from Gaika himself, which passes should be produced to the officer commanding at De Bruin'sDrift, the only entrance to be permitted. Gaika observing that other chiefs claimed equality with himself, and were quite independent; he was answered, that he had always been acknowledged by the Cape governors as the principal Caffre chief, and that if other chiefs wished to correspond and trade with the colony, they had it in their power to do so by applying for his passport, without which none could be admitted into our territory. Gaika expressed his satisfaction at this arrangement, and addressing the other chiefs, called their attention to the Governor's declaration. "Gaika, in presence of, and with the concurrence of the other chiefs, agreed to use his utmost

endeavours to put a stop to the continual depredations committed on the colonists; and he consented, that in future cases of cattle being stolen from the colony, and traced to any particular kraal, that kraal should be made responsible for the cattle, although not to be found there, and should be bound to furnish from its own herds the number of cattle stolen from the colony; he said this would be right and just, and would induce the kraals to give up and not to secret the thieves, as they now did. He said he would assuredly punish with death any Caffres he discovered plundering the colonists; and added, that he knew an Almighty Ruler presided over all chiefs, however great, and that they were accountable to him for the right or wrong they permitted.

"A Caffre who had been taken in the act of committing depredation on the Sunday River, was then returned to Gaika, and his pardon stipulated for. Gaika questioned him in a most authoritative manner, and then said that the whole Caffre people was indebted to his Excellency for saving this man's life, for that he should certainly have had him put to death, but for the powerful interference of the 'Koze 'Kooloo (Great Chief).

"The gracefulness with which Gaika spoke was very striking, and the manly and decided tone he took was extremely impressive.

"The Caffre language is very soft, abounding in vowels; the appears to recur frequently; they have a slight clack similar to the Hottentot aspiration, though not so strong.

Gaika's

"Gaika's dress did not differ from that of the commonest Caffre, except that he had a handkerchief tied round his head, "Tsambie's kaross was a handsome tiger skin, and he had round his head a bandeau of about an inch in breadth, made of very small beads.

"After the conference had terminated, presents were produced and given to the several chiefs; particular articles had been selected for Gaika and his son. His Excellency also presented Gaika with a beautiful grey horse.

"After the chiefs had withdrawn, various articles were distributed among the Caffre soldiery, and the whole party then retired, seemingly well pleased with the liberality they had experienced."

cess, for it was that failure which had caused the yellow spots above mentioned.

He prepared a wooden trough the length of the blades, four or five inches broad, with equal depth, full of liquid composition made of equal quantities of surege

or

sesamum oil, mutton suet, virgin wax, and Persian Naft (Naptha), or rather the dregs of the latter, it being too costly an article.

He began by making a charcoal fire in a small earthen vessel, which after being well alight, he strewed on the ground in the form of a blade, and put loose stones all round to keep it together.

He then fanned it till it was red hot all over, and laid the blade flat on the lighted coals, having first bent the handle for the convenience of holding it, by a pair of pinchers.

He then completely covered the blade with fresh charcoal unburnt, and continued to fan it with a large Turkish feather fan as equally and as forcibly as possible, until the latter charcoal had become as red as the first. When he judged (what experience alone can teach) that it was now sufficiently hot to be plunged into the trough above described, he seized the proper moment; and on this depends the success of the operation, for if the blade remain a little too long in the fire, the Giohar will be entirely effaced, or if it is not hot enough, or unequally so, it will have the defect that we were endeavouring to remove.

When he plunged the blade into the trough, it seemed to me of the colour of a soldier's dirty

coat,

coat, or cherry red. In plunging it he was anxious that no part of the blade should touch the composition but at the instant the whole was immersed. It lay in the trough a few minutes to cool. He then took it out and laid it upon the coals, fanning it an instant to set the grease that stuck on it on fire, and when it smoaked no longer, he let it again grow cool, and then scraped off gently with the back of a knife, the ashes of the stuff that still adhered to it.

The charcoal employed was in pieces of from half to three quarters of an inch square, more or less; the best sort is made of deal, and it must be fresh or virgin, for it will not do if it has been lighted and extinguished. I observed that he fanned the blade more at the thicker parts than towards the point.

The composition in the trough serves for a great number of blades, and is better the older it grows, requiring only to be replenished as the quantity dimi

hands, as its being perfectly free from grease is essential to its taking well the Giohar.

To secure that point further he rubbed tobacco ashes and water on it.

He then prepared a horse bucket full of clear water, and a small Turkish leaden drinking cup (porcelain or glass would do as well, but no other metal than lead). In this cup he dissolved in a few minutes a little zagh and pure water.

Then with the ends of his fingers he basted the blade with rapidity up and down, and seemed anxious that it should be served all equally, and as much as possible at once.

Every two or three minutes he washed the blade with the water in the bucket, and repeated the operation of the zagh water eight or ten times, that is until he perceived the Giohar did not become more distinct after fresh tending with the zagh.

He then wiped it dry and oiled it; and when this last operation is performed in the winter, the water in which the zagh is dissolved should have the chill taken off.

The names of the different sorts of Damascus blades are as follow, classed according to their relative value:-1. Kermani Daban. 2. Lahori Kará Khorasan. 3. Lahori Neiris. 4. Dishi Daban. 5. Herkek Daban. 6. Elif Stambool. 7. Eakd Sham. 8. Barjaż

The zagh made use of by the sword-cutlers here is procured from the mountains of the Druzes, and from no where else; it is produced by a mineral spring near a place called Ghazir.

Khorasan.