Twala the King

           ItwillnotbenecessaryformetodetailatlengththeincidentsofourjourneytoLoo. Ittooktwofulldays’travellingalongSolomon’sGreatRoad,whichpursueditsevencourserightintotheheartofKukuanaland. Sufficeittosaythataswewentthecountryseemedtogrowricherandricher,andthekraals,withtheirwidesurroundingbeltsofcultivation,moreandmorenumerous. Theywereallbuiltuponthesameprinciplesasthefirstcampwhichwehadreached,andwereguardedbyamplegarrisonsoftroops. Indeed,inKukuanaland,asamongtheGermans,theZulus,andtheMasai,everyable-bodiedmanisasoldier, sothatthewholeforceofthenationisavailableforitswars,offensiveordefensive. AswetravelledwewereovertakenbythousandsofwarriorshurryinguptoLootobepresentatthegreatannualreviewandfestival, andmoresplendidtroopsIneversaw. 

           Atsunsetonthesecondday,westoppedtorestawhileuponthesummitofsomeheightsoverwhichtheroadran, andthereonabeautifulandfertileplainbeforeuslayLooitself. Foranativetownitisanenormousplace,quitefivemilesround,Ishouldsay,withoutlyingkraalsprojectingfromit,thatserveongrandoccasionsascantonmentsfortheregiments, andacurioushorseshoe-shapedhill,withwhichweweredestinedtobecomebetteracquainted,abouttwomilestothenorth.