Major Peterson belonged to the East India service when accepted the offer of his brother to send Julius home for an English education; the lad set sail from Delhi on the "Madagascar," which was wrecked after leaving Calcutta; the few survivors washed ashore were taken captive by the Caffres; excepting Julius they all sink into oblivion, the latter winning favor with the savages, who name him Umkunkinglavu -- "The white chief of the Caffres."