Part 16 (1/2)
”You have no idea, Swinton,” said Alexander, ”how much I aine it, my dear Wilmot,” said Swinton; ”it is but natural, for he is your kinsh a Caffre in his habits and ly European”
”That I have observed myself, and it has fully convinced me of the truth of the statement I am most anxious to examine him--we must call the interpreter”
The chief entered the hut soon afterwards, and took his seat; the interpreter was sent for, and the conversation was begun by Daaka, who, likepresents, stated hi, and his children without o on for some time in this manner, and then sent for a present of beads and tobacco, which they gave to him They then commenced their inquiries, and the first question they asked hy he resided so near the sea
”Because the sea is my mother,” replied he ”I cary”
”In that reply he evidently refers to the wreck of the shi+p,” observed Swinton; ”and I presume, from the fish-bones which we have seen about the kraal, that these Caffres feed on fish, which the other tribes do not, and therefore it is that he says his mother feeds him”
”Was your mother white?” inquired Alexander
”Yes,” replied Daaka, ”her skin hite as yours; her hair was just like yours, long and dark; but before she died it was quite white”
”What was your mother's name?”
”kuma,” replied the chief
”Had you any brothers and sisters?”
”Yes, I had; I have one sister alive now”
”What is her name?” inquired Swinton
”Bess,” replied the chief
”This is very confirmatory,” said Alexander; ”my aunt's name was Elizabeth; she must have called her child after herself”
”Whom did your mother marry?”
”She first married my uncle, and had no children; and then she married my father: both were chiefs, and I a conversation took place after this, the substance of which we may as well communicate to the reader in feords From the children of kuma, supposed to be Elizabeth, the aunt of Alexander, were produced a numerous race of the European blood, ere celebrated in the Caffre-land for their courage; they were continually engaged in war, as their alliance was eagerly sought, and in consequence had nearly all perished Daaka himself was renowned for warlike exploits, but he was now a very oldthe chief took his leave, and went to his own hut
As soon as they were alone, Alexander said to Swinton, ”I have now so far fulfilled my promise to my worthy relation that I have seen this descendant of his child; but what am I to do? An old land, and as for his sister Bess, he states that she is equally infireny of the rest of the fa about them; to collect them would be impossible, and if collected, equally impossible to remove them, for they would not leave My old relative fancies, in his ing to be restored to her country and her relations; still retaining European feelings and syht up by her with the sa forward to their ee state of existence: I think if he were here, and saw old Daaka, he would soon divest himself of all these ro which has struck me very forcibly, Alexander, which is, if this Daaka is the son of your aunt how comes it that he is so old? When was the _Grosvenor_ lost?”
”In the year 1752”
”And we are now in 1829 Your aunt you stated to have been ten or twelve years old at the tie, Daaka could not well be ht years old; and surely he is more than that”
”He looks e, who has been living a life of constant privation, and who has been so often wounded as his scars show that he has been? Wounds and hardshi+p will soon make a man look old”
”That is very true, but still he appears to be to be older than the dates warrant”
”I think his stating that his sister was named Bess is full corroboration”
”It is rather circumstantial evidence, Wilmot: nohat do you propose to do?”