'At the station Sir John could only protest his identity anew, and that
his account of the parcels was correct. The officials, secure in their
man, commended him on his report of himself, which, they joked, was
capital. Sir John Herschel! A brilliant idea! In the end Sir John had to
send for friends who could vouch for him, and who were amazed at his
plight. With many expressions of regret for the blunder, the police then
allowed him to depart. He was late, to be sure, for dinner, but the worst
of it was that he had no excuse to offer; at all events he had none which
he cared, then and there, to communicate to his wife and guests.'
Nobody likes to be haled before the world at a disadvantage, as Sir John
Herschel was in the above experience. People, great and small, naturally
wish to appear fairly in the sight of others. Anything else, were to
count out a human instinct which Sir George Grey utilised, when he
visited the Kaffir chief Sandilli. Sir George discovered the innocent
ways, by which the kingdom of civilisation could be advanced, to be a
surprising number. Moreover, they were the most effective.
Sandilli was a chief of wide influence, and as yet had not quite taken to
the new order of native administration. When the Governor walked into his
kraal, a full-rigged dance was in progress.
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