Page 57 - The Diary of A. H. W. Behrens

23
1868
Missionary Dahl had only been in the country for a short while and knew no other language than his own and Missionary Müller conducted rudimentary conversation with him in
Latin (!) to make himself understood. On the next day we accompanied Missionary Filter on his visit to King Umpande, where he had announced his visit and where he was well known because he had rendered him multiple services. It was a tremendous kraal, it was said to have had about 3000 huts that were built in a circle around a huge cattle kraal. We walked through the cattle kraal to a huge pile of wood and sat down while a subordinate chief announced our visit to the King.
The King had a messenger ask whether we had brought gifts. We answered in the affirmative and said that we had brought two large woollen blankets. The answer was that these were but small gifts and that the King was used to bigger ones. When we said that we had only come on horseback, we were eventually granted audience and followed the subordinate chief. Filter walked in front, then Müller, Rösler, Bryant and then at the back myself of 14 years. We walked through many huts and on both sides men and youngsters were sitting. There was so much to see and I did not notice that everybody in front of me had taken off their hats.