those which I have already related. The free, independent life I led,
the perpetual outdoor exercise, and the fine climate, had so agreed with
me that I had grown to be quite a young man. I was strong for my age,
tall, and very active. There were only two Caffres in the country who
could run faster than I could; and although I could not throw an assagy
as far as some of the Caffres, yet my aim was good, and several times I
had hit a running buck with one of my assagies, when the animal was
forty yards from me.

It was at this date that news reached us which caused the greatest
alarm. The Zulu country was about three days' journey from us, that is,
about 140 miles. The chief who ruled over the Zulus was named Chaka.
He was a man never satisfied unless he was at war with some other tribe;
and as he had trained a very large army to fight skilfully, he always
gained a victory over those he attacked, and consequently was able to
appropriate the cattle of the tribes he had conquered. Of all the
chiefs in South Africa none were as powerful, and as much feared as
Chaka. For he would not always wait for a cause before he attacked a
tribe. It was provocation enough for him if another nation were rich in
cattle. He considered that no one ought to be rich but he. So he would
assemble his army, often without letting them know what he intended them
to do. Then he would march off, and suddenly attack and destroy a tribe
who had no suspicion that anything was intended against them.

The Caffres who lived near Natal Bay, and the Umlass river, were always
on the alert. For they feared Chaka, and suspected that he would attack
them some day.

Our tribe near the Umzimvubu were on very friendly terms with the
Caffres near the Umlass, and it was agreed that if Chaka attacked them
we should help them, and send as many fighting men as possible to aid
them. We knew that if the Caffres near the Umlass were eaten up, it
would only be a matter of time before our turn would come. If we
allowed Chaka to attack each tribe separately his victory would be easy,
but if we joined we should give him some trouble. The probability of
Chaka coming down to attack us was a subject often discussed in our
kraals, and also the best plan of defence. We knew that we should be
outnumbered, and that therefore it would not do to meet his warriors in
the open country. We must endeavour, by skill and stratagem, to make up
what we wanted in numbers.