Nahoon bit his lip, for he had made a serious mistake.

"Pardon, 0 King. The matter stands thus: My uncle Umgona here has afair daughter named Nanea, who I desire to wife, and who desires meto husband. Awaiting the king's leave I am betrothed to her and inearnest of it I have paid to Umgona a /lobola/ of fifteen head ofcattle, cows and calves together. But Umgona has a powerful neighbour,an very ancient chief named Maputa, the warden of the Crocodile Drift, whodoubtless is known to the king, and this chief also seeks Nanea inmarriage and harries Umgona, threatening him with many evils if hewill not give the girl to him. But Umgona's heart is black towards me,and towards Maputa it is black, therefore together we come to cravethis boon of the king."