Great One's seat.

He was a very tall man, in the full strength of middle age, but that
largeness of limb which peculiarly distinguishes the House of
Senzangakona imparted to him a stoutness of aspect which made his height
appear less than it really was. And his look was right kingly.
Straight he walked, with his head thrown back--lord, indeed, of the
"People of the Heavens" [The literal meaning of "Amazulu."]--and his
eyes burned like stars, as, without bending his head, his glance swept
down over the array of warriors there assembled.

He took his seat upon a wooden chair covered with a leopard-skin robe,
which was set at the upper end of the great space, the chief indunas
squatting on the ground on either side. The shield-bearer stood behind
the royal chair, holding aloft the great white shield of state, an
office I had many a time fulfilled in times past for Umzilikazi. Then
he beckoned Nomapela and the other leaders of the returning _impi_, to
draw near and make their report. They crept up, uttering the phrases of
_sibonga_, and set forth what had been done. They had gone through that
section of the Swazi people who had defied the King and made raids upon
tribes who did _konza_ to the Great Great One, and had carried the torch
and the assegai upon their path. None had escaped, save, perhaps, a few
who had fled to the mountains, having got warning of the approach of the
slayers.

"That they should not have been allowed to do," said Dingane. "Yet in
pouring _tywala_ from one bowl to another, a few drops will now and then
perforce be spilled. And what spoil have ye brought?"

"Much cattle and good, Ruler of the World," answered Nomapela. "Some we
left, for it looked weak and sickly, and we knew it was not the will of
the King that the remnant of that people should starve."

"Ye have done well on the whole, my children," said Dingane, who looked
pleased. "And how--what of the women? Were any good enough to bring
hither?"

"_Au_! Are _any_ good enough for the Father of Nations?" quickly
replied Nomapela. "Yet some we thought too well favoured to feed the
blade of the spear, and these we brought."

"Ha! I will see them, then," said Dingane, somewhat eagerly. "Bring
them hither. The cattle I will inspect some other time. But--hold.
Whom have ye there?" he broke off, as his glance now fell upon me, where
I sat among the warriors, conspicuous by the lack of plumes and war
adornments. "Is it the ch