ueen's speech, indeed, that Nongkause put forth; yet there were
conditions attached. Before anything could happen, the Kaffirs must
destroy their own cattle, grain, and other belongings, to the uttermost.
The chief who had many oxen must slaughter them, and throw the bodies to
the wild beasts. The clansman who had a little store of corn must
straight way destroy it. Even the kraals, which gave shelter from the
elements, were to be burned down, as if an enemy were being pillaged.
Otherwise the new heaven would not appear; while the starry heaven above,
would fall and destroy the disobedient.

'When I heard of the movement,' Sir George Grey narrated, 'I at once
hurried north to grapple with it. I could not have believed it so
serious, until I was actually on the spot. Kaffraria was in a ferment,
and a wave of destruction might roll from it across Cape Colony. Here
were nearly a quarter of a million of Kaffirs, a large proportion of whom
were busy acting upon the advice of the prophetess. They were destroying
their cattle and produce, and looking forward eagerly to a triumph over
the whites.

'I went among the chiefs, although warned that I endangered myself
unduly, hoping to check the movement. However, it was useless to talk to
natives aflame with superstition and passion. Those who doubted the
prophetess, would do nothing to keep within bounds the majority who
accepted her as a divinity. Yet, the chiefs invariably received me with
kindness, and thanked me for the counsel I gave them. Simply, they could
not accept it.'

The Governor adopted every means to place the borders of Cape Colony in a
state of military security. As one detail he had to ensure that, in the
event of war, the frontier settlers should not be massacred. A line of
men was drawn across country, so as to make a buttress against any
advance by the crazy Kaffirs. Each picket had charge of a stretch of
ground, and in the morning soldiers would ride sharply to right and left,
covering it. They could tell, by footmarks on the dewy grass, whether any
Kaffirs had been about in the night. The chief military officer was for
falling back upon a less extended position, where he believed he could be
more secure. He sought the Governor's authority for the step, which fact
well indicates the critical nature of the whole situation. Sir George
scribbled an emphatic 'No,' and resumed the scanty sleep from which he
had been aroused.

'I had several reasons,' he explai