Dingaan then produced a paper which had been written by the Reverend Mr. Owen.  This document, which I believe still exists, for it was found afterwards, was drawn up in legal or semi-legal form, beginning like a proclamation, “Know all men.”

It ceded “the place called Port Natal, together with all the land annexed—­that is to say, from Tugela to the Umzimvubu River westward, and from the sea to the north”—­to the Boers, “for their everlasting property.”  At the king’s request, as the deed was written in English by Mr. Owen, I translated it to him, and afterwards the lad Halstead translated it also, being called in to do so when I had finished.

This was done that my rendering might be checked, and the fact impressed all the Boers very favourably.  It showed them that the king desired to understand exactly what he was to sign, which would not have been the case had he intended any trick or proposed to cheat them afterwards.  From that moment forward Retief and his people had no further doubts as to Dingaan’s good faith in this matter, and foolishly relaxed all precautions against treachery.

When the translating was finished, the commandant asked the king if he would sign the paper then and there.  He answered, “No; he would sign it on the following morning, before the commission returned to Natal.”  It was then that Retief inquired of Dingaan, through Thomas Halstead, whether it was a true story which he had heard, that the Boer called Pereira, who had been staying with him, and whom the Zulus knew by the name of “Two-faces,” had again asked him, Dingaan, to have me, Allan Quatermain, whom they called Macumazahn, killed.  Dingaan laughed and answered: 

“Yes, that is true enough, for he hates this Macumazahn.  But let the little white Son of George have no fear, since my heart is soft towards him, and I swear by the head of the Black One that he shall come to no harm in Zululand.  Is he not my guest, as you are?”

He then went on to say that if the commandant wished it, he would have “Two-faces” seized and killed because he had dared to ask for my life.  Retief answered that he would look into that matter himself, and after Thomas Halstead had confirmed the king’s story as to Pereira’s conduct, he rose and said good-bye to Dingaan.

Of this matter of Hernan Pereira, Retief said little as we went back to the camp outside the Kraal, though the little that he did say showed his deep anger.  When we arrived at the camp, however, he sent for Pereira and Marais and several of the older Boers.  I remember that among these were Gerrit Bothma, Senior, Hendrik Labuschagne and Matthys Pretorius, Senior, all of them persons of standing and judgment.  I also was ordered to be present.  When Pereira arrived, Retief charged him openly with having plotted my murder, and asked him what he had to say.  Of course, his answer was a flat denial, and an accusation against me of having invented the tale because we had been at enmity over a maiden whom I had since married.