Where are you going to battle now?
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!!
Where are you going to battle now?”
From the extracts it will be seen that flattery is not confined to European courts; the Kaffir carries it still further, for in addition to his own proper name (which it is deemed ill omened to speak) everybody of any rank, receives a number of isi-bonges or praise-names, alluding to some action or peculiarity. It is customary on all formal occasions, to recite several of these isi-bonges, just as a European nobleman on official ceremonies desires to have all his titles proclaimed. In songs, of course, the invention of these is unlimited. Thus the great Panda, a renowned ruler of enormous fatness, is spoken of as,—
“A swallow which fled in the sky,”
“A swallow with a whiskered breast,”
“Ramrod of brass,”
“Thigh of the bullock of Inkakavini.”
“Thou art an Elephant.”
“Monarch who art black,” etc., etc.