Its wings outspread reached further than
the height of a man; we must go and show it to the brothers.
Even that was not enough - we must show it to the mother; and away
we all rattled as fast as our legs could carry us.
Arrived at the queen's palace, out of respect to his mother, the
king changed his European clothes for a white kid-skin wrapper,
and then walked in to see her, leaving us waiting outside. By
this time Colonel Congow, in his full-dress uniform, had arrived
in the square outside, with his regiment drawn up in review
order. The king, hearing the announcement, at once came out with
spears and shield, preceded by the bird, and took post, standing
armed, by the entrance, encircled by his staff, all squatting,
when the adjutant was placed in the middle of the company.
Before us was a large open square, with the huts of the queen's
Kamraviona or commander-in- chief beyond. The battalion,
consisting of what might be termed three companies, each
containing 200 men, being drawn up on the left extremity of the
parade-ground, received orders to march past in single file from
the right of companies, at a long trot, and re-form again at the
other end of the square.
Nothing conceivable could be more wild or fantastic than the
sight which ensued - the men all nearly naked, with goat or cat
skins depending from their girdles, and smeared with war colours
according to the taste of each individual; one-half of the body
red or black, the other blue, not in regular order - as, for
instance, one stocking would be red, the other black, whilst the
breeches above would be the opposite colours, and so with the
sleeves and waistcoat.
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