CHAPTER TEN.
Nearly all our fighting men had left our country, whilst I remained withthe very old men, the young boys and the women. I did not likeremaining inactive in this, way, yet I could not have fought against myown people. I felt very dull and lonely; so took my gun and wandered inthe bush, following the old elephant-paths, and looking out for a buckor a leopard. Left to myself, I was accustomed to sit in the bush forhours, meditating on my past life, and on my probable future. Lately, astrange longing had come over me to return to civilisation. The noveltyof my wild life had worn off, and the Caffres were not the companions tome that they had been when I was younger. Their aims and ambitions werelimited. To eat abundance of meat, to possess abundance of cattle, tohave four or five wives, was the looked-for happiness of the men.Anything that required mental exertion they seemed incapable of. Theycould with difficulty count beyond ten; they knew nothing about othercountries, or the habits of other nations. They believed the Zulus themost powerful nation in the whole world, whilst the whites they regardedas foolish people with wrong ideas.
Reflecting on my condition, I began to consider how I could make myescape from the Caffres, and rejoin my own people. I knew that if Icould reach England I could make myself known to my relatives, couldcommunicate with my father, and should have fair prospects even if Ireturned to India. This was quite a change in my ideas, from what Ifancied some months previously; but solitude seemed to have given me aclearer view of things as they really were, and I now thought over everyplan by which it might be possible to reach some English settlement,make myself known, and thus be enabled to rejoin my relatives.
Several days passed, during which I scarcely spoke to any of theCaffres. I felt depressed and out of spirits--perhaps a presentiment ofwhat was coming. I had received no news of the army that had gone tojoin with the Amakosa against the British soldiers, and so could notlearn whether or not they had been victorious. Half a moon had passedsince the army left, and the old men began to be anxious for news; stillnone came.
It was early morning, the sun not having appeared, that, as I lay rolledin my jackal-skin kaross in my hut, I heard the voices of men in mykraal. These voices were low, and subdued. Thinking it was ourwarriors who had returned, I jumped up and crawled out of my hut. Itwas not yet light enough to see clearly any objects except they werevery near; but before I could rise on my feet, I received a blow on myhead, which stunned me, and knew no more till I came to my senses, whenthe sun was nearly overhead. I then saw a sight which astonished me.Seated in our kraal were more than a hundred Zulu warriors, watching afire at which one of our young bulls was being roasted. They were allin full war-costume, and I saw that many of their assagies were stainedwith blood. I tried to rise, but found that my hands and legs weretied, and that I could not move. The Zulus, seeing I was sensibleagain, called to a chief who was sitting at a distance, and pointed tome attentively, and then said--
"Who are you?"
"I am an Umlungo who has been kept among these people," I replied, "andthey have made me a chief."
"Where do you come from?"
"I came in a ship which was wrecked on the coast; all the men werekilled except me."
"When do you expect your men to return?"
"I don't know; they have gone to fight with the Amakosa against mypeople."
"Why did they not take you?"
"I could not fight against my own tribe." The chief waited for a shorttime, looking at me attentively, and then said, "You will return withus; attempt to escape, and twenty assagies will be in your body." Hethen turned away, and walked to his seat outside the circle.
I was struck with the dignity and manner of this chief. He seemed oneborn to command, to be self-possessed, calm, and decided. He walkedlike a chief, and I could easily understand how it was that the Zuluswere so powerful if they possessed many men like this one. I felt beingtied, as it was very painful. So I spoke to one of the men near me, andsaid that, if the chief would unfasten my arms and legs, I would promisenot to attempt to escape; but if I remained tied, I should not be ableto move when they did unbind me. The Zulu carried my message to thechief, who nodded, and the young Zulu came and unbound me. I rose to myfeet, but felt very sick and giddy from the blow I had received from theknob-kerrie on my head, and was obliged to sit down again. The chiefthen called me, and I went over to where he sat, and he asked me if Iwas hurt. I pointed to a lump on my head where I had been hit. He feltmy head, and said, "That is nothing." He then inquired how many gunshad been taken by the warriors who had gone with the Amakosa.
I told him eight; and, thinking it better to deal fairly with him, Itold him that in the thatch of my hut there was my gun.
He immediately sent a man into my hut to search, and shortly my gun wasbrought out. The chief examined this carefully--a gun was evidently newto him--and I explained how it was loaded and fired. He was muchinterested in all I said. So, being anxious to gain his favour, I toldhim there was something else more wonderful still that I could show him.He told me to bring whatever it was. So I brought him myfield-glasses, and, adjusting them for a long sight, I placed them inhis hands, and told him to look at some cows about half a mile off. Heraised them to his eyes, and instantly started back with astonishment.He examined them carefully, and seemed more surprised as he looked againthrough them. I then made him look through the glasses the oppositeway, viz., through the large glasses, and to look down at his feet. Hislegs then appeared about twenty feet long, and he was more astonishedwith this than even with the fact that distant objects were broughtnearer by the aid of the glass. He called several of his men to lookthrough the glass, and laughed at their surprise.
The chief now told me that I was to return with them to the Zulucountry, when they drove off our cattle. He made no secret of how hecame here. He said that an _impi_, or army, had been sent against someof the Basutos; that when they were returning they heard that all ourmen had gone with the Amakosa to the westward. So they came down to ourcountry to take some cattle and carry off some of the young girls, andthat on the morrow they intended to start on their return journey. Ifound they had killed several of our old men, but as there was no one toresist them, they had easily gathered together the cattle they required.
On the following morning we started on our journey, and I found thatover a thousand men had come down to our country, whilst the main bodyof the army were up to the north-east and numbered several thousand.With the exception of the women, I was the only prisoner they had taken.The Zulus rarely take prisoners, they kill their enemy; but, seeingthat I was white, and therefore not a Caffre, they had spared me.
Our march was carefully made. About half a mile in front some dozenmen, who were good runners, kept a look-out, and signalled to us everynow and then to let us know that all was right and no enemy near. Wehad about a hundred cows and young bulls with us, which were drivenalong in our midst. Not a boy or female of our tribe was visible: theyhad all retreated to the bush and concealed themselves. The kraals wereempty and most of them burnt. I felt very sorry for my old companions,though they had gone to fight against the English. It seemed, however,like a punishment to them, to be thus attacked at home when there was noreason why they should go out and fight against those who had never donethem any harm.
Our march was first nearly northwards, till we came near the QuathlambaMountains. We then went east, crossed the Umzinyati river and theTugela, and entered the Zulu country.
I was surprised at the number of cattle I saw in the Zulu country.Thousands of beautiful cows were everywhere to be seen; and the grasswas finer and better suited for grazing than down near the Umzimvubu.Our small army was welcomed with shouts by crowds of Zulus who turnedout to meet us, and who looked on me with great surprise. When theyfound I could speak their language as well as they could, their surprisewas greater; and they at first would not believe that I was not anAlbino, or white Caffre, such phenomena being sometimes seen among them.
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bsp; I was taken to the kraal of the chief who had captured me, and who wascalled Inklanzi, the meaning of which is a fish. This name was givenhim because he was a very good swimmer, and could stop for a long timein the water. Inklanzi told me that on the following morning I was tobe taken to the Great Chief, who perhaps might order me to be assagied;so I must be careful how I behaved.
I slept but little that night, for I feared, from what I had heard, thatthe Great Chief of the Zulus, merely for his amusement, might like tosee how I died.
On the following morning I was called by Inklanzi to go with him to thechief's kraal. It was the largest I had yet seen. There were at leastfive hundred huts, the Great Chief's hut being much larger than were theothers.
Round the chief's hut there were always about thirty men on guard, forevery great chief feared being assassinated. It was also the law that,whenever any chief came to talk to the Great Chief, he was, onapproaching to within an assagy-throw of the Great Kraal, to stop andshout "Inkosi" three times. If he heard no reply, he was not allowed,under pain of death, to advance. If he was told to "come," he muststill shout "Inkosi," until he reached the hut. This plan preventedsurprise; for no stranger could even approach the hut without incurringthe penalty of death, unless he shouted to announce his arrival.
Inklanzi, after shouting "Inkosi," was told to come; so he and I went tothe hut of the Great Chief. We waited outside for some time, silentlylistening for orders to enter. At length a loud voice from inside said,"Is the white boy there?"
"Yes," replied Inklanzi. "Bring him in," said the same voice. Weentered the hut, and on seeing the chief I made him a low salaam, thesame as do the Hindoos, and said "Inkosi." The chief looked at me forsome time, and then asked Inklanzi if I spoke Zulu. On Inklanzireplying "Yes," the chief said, "Where do you come from? Tell me yourhistory."
I commenced by telling the chief that I came from far away in thedirection that the sun rose, and where men rode upon elephants, andwhere houses were so high that, if your brother were on the top of thehouse and you were at the bottom, you could not recognise him. I gaveother descriptions of India, to which the chief listened for some time,and then exclaimed, "Amanga" ("You are lying.")
"It is true, chief," I said.
"Go on," exclaimed the chief.
I then told him of our voyage, of the ship being wrecked, and of the menbeing assagied, whilst I and some women were spared.
"Where are the women now?" inquired the chief.
A glance at Inklanzi showed he was in terror, and I guessed the cause.So I said, "I don't know; I think they are all dead."
Turning to Inklanzi the chief said, "Why did you not bring those women?"
Inklanzi replied, "We searched everywhere, chief, and we only heard theyhad all died."
"If those women are alive, you shall be knob-kerried for not bringingthem."
"Did you fight against my men near the Umlass?" inquired the chief.
"Yes," I replied.
"Can you throw an assagy?"
"Yes, and I can run."
I was proud of my running, for among the Umzimvubu there was no mancould beat me for a short distance.
The chief shouted for one of his guard, who approached crawling on hishands and knees.
"Bring Cachema," said the chief.
The man jumped up, and rushed off to obey his orders. In a few minutes,the Zulu called Cachema rushed up within an assagy's-throw of the chief.He then stopped and shouted "Inkosi" three times.
"Come here," said the chief to Cachema. "You must run with this whiteboy and show him how to run."
I looked well at Cachema, and had never seen a finer specimen of a youngman. He was tall--six feet at least; his legs were large compared tohis body, but muscular and well-shaped; his skin shone like satin; and,as he moved, there was an ease and grace just as we see in a leopard. Ifeared I should stand no chance with this man; but I was in excellentcondition, and I saw that he failed in one respect, viz., that he wasflat-footed, whilst I was very high in the instep, and had thereforemore spring than he had.
The chief said, "You two run to that tree, touch it, and run back hereagain. I will give a cow to whoever wins." Cachema looked at me withsurprise. He seemed to consider it absurd for me to attempt runningwith him, as I was smaller and younger. We took each other's hands, andwhen the chief said "Hamba" ("Go") we started.
The tree was about two hundred yards away, and the ground over which weran was hard and firm. I got the best of the start, and managed to keepjust ahead of Cachema till we reached the tree. I knew from experiencethat most Caffres could run a mile at the same pace as they could run afew hundred yards, their wind was so good, and they never tired. So Idid not run at full speed to the tree; but, after touching it, I cameback as fast as I could run. I expected every instant to find Cachemarush past me. I dared not look round to see where he was, but continuedat my best pace, and rushed past the chief several yards ahead of myopponent.
I then returned; and, making a salaam in Indian fashion, said "Inkosi."
"Come here," said the chief. I approached him, when he felt my legs,looked at my feet, and took a general survey of me. He then said, "Youhave spoken the truth: you can run." Calling Cachema he said, "Why didyou let this white boy beat you?"
Cachema replied, "He is a springbok, and runs like one."
The chief laughed, and said, "The white boy will now be my head-runner.You, Cachema, must be called `gathly,'" which meant something like"slowly."
I was at once provided with some crane's feathers, a largeblack-and-white shield, six assagies, and made one of the body-guard ofthe Great Chief of the Zulus.
My life was now not as free or as pleasant as it had been among theUmzimvubu Caffres. Here I was a sort of servant of the chief: beforethis I was a chief myself. Sometimes I was days together with nothingto do: at others I was sent long journeys to take messages from theGreat Chief to some of his principal men. I soon saw that thesejourneys would give me an opportunity of escaping when I wished. Butthe Zulu chief never seemed to think I should care to get away from him;for his special body-guard were envied by all the young Zulus, becausethey had plenty to eat, plenty to drink, and were able to order nearlyevery other Zulu to do things.
A few days after I had been installed as runner, a great review was heldof the army that had gone against the Basutos. This army consisted ofabout 5,000 men. They were armed with assagies and knob-kerries: therewas not a gun among them, and as yet they had not learnt the power ofguns; although, when they attacked us near the Umlass, they had beendefeated because we possessed some guns. Their assagies and theirnumbers caused the Zulus to be usually successful in all their wars.The review was held on some hills about a mile from the chiefs kraal.He rode a trained ox to the scene; and I, with about thirty other men,attended as his guard.
There were five regiments to be reviewed. Each regiment had shieldsdifferently marked, and each of the assagies belonging to the regimenthad also a mark on it, so that, if lost, it would be known to whom itbelonged.
These Zulus were well-trained. They advanced at a run, wheeled,reversed, dashed forward, all fell to the ground as a shower of assagieswas supposed to be hurled at them, sprang again to their feet andcharged. It was a lively scene, and one that brought out the quicknessof the Zulus to perfection. The men were then all formed in a largecircle, and two young Zulus entered this circle from opposite sides.Each had his shield and assagies. They approached each other cautiouslyand slowly, watching every movement of the other. When within aboutforty yards, one man sent an assagy at his opponent. The spear flewtrue to its mark; but the Zulu aimed at jumped on one side, avoiding thesharp blade of the spear, and, running forward, cast an assagy at hisopponent. This was avoided with equal skill, whilst the lookers-onshouted with excitement. The two men drew closer and closer to eachother; and, as they did so, they found it more difficult to avoid eachother's assagies. Both became more and more excited, and at last theyclosed and grappled
with one another, when the chief called to them tostop. They were then brought to him and given a large calibash ofItchuala (beer) to drink, and were told they had done well. Several ofthese encounters took place, only one man being struck in the leg by anassagy. A great dance completed the review, and we returned to thekraal of the chief.
The only furniture in the huts of the Zulus was a wooden pillow or seat.All the men preferred sitting or lounging on the ground, and Iafterwards found that sitting in a chair was really tiring till you wereaccustomed to it. In the East men always lounged on cushions or lowseats, instead of sitting upright on chairs. Finding, however, somestrong canes growing near the rivers, I gathered a number of these andmade a chair for the chief, with which he was much pleased, although hewould sit on it only on rare occasions.