of flame in the red firelight. "The sons of
Gcaleka will be the slaves of their former slaves--the dogs of their
former dogs. Not the sons of Gcaleka only, but all the children of
Xosa. Not the House of Gcaleka only, but the House of Ngqika. Who is
doing this? The Amanglezi! Who would tread upon the necks of our
chiefs and place the fetters of their lying and hypocritical creeds upon
the limbs of our young men till the latter are turned into slaves and
drunkards? The Amanglezi! Who would stop the mouths of our _amapakati_
[Councillors] and drown the collective wisdom of our nation in floods of
fire-water? The Amanglezi. Are we men--I say? Are we men?"

A low suppressed roar ran through the circle of fierce and excitable
barbarians as the orator paused. Again sounded the ominous rattle of
assegai hafts. It needed all the self-control of their habitually
self-contained race to restrain them from breaking forth anew into their
frenzied war-dance. But a wave of the speaker's hand availed to quell
the rising tumult and he continued:

"This is the `word' of the rulers of the Amanglezi. The time has come
when the Amaxosa races must be subdued. They are growing too numerous.
They are waxing too strong. Their power must be broken. We must begin
by breaking up the influence of the chiefs. We must put down
chieftainship altogether. Hear ye this, ye sons of Ngqika? Hear you
this, O Matanzima, warrior son of Saudili, the Great Chief of the House
of Ngqika? Hear you this, O Nteya--_pakati_ of the race of Ngqika?
Hear you this, O Nxabahlana, of the House of the Great Chief, you who
have led our bands to war before the very birth of many of the young men
I see before me? Hear ye this, Maquades and Mpanhla and Sivulele, and
you, Panganisi and Untiwa, of the House of Seyolo of the House of
Hlambi, golden mouthed in council--in the battle-field flames of
consuming fire? Hear ye this, all ye gathered here before me this
night--tried warriors, and young men who have never seen war. The
children of Xosa are growing too strong. They must be subdued. The
power of their chiefs must be broken. Such is the word of the rulers of
the Amanglezi."

This time, as the orator paused, there was no restraining the fierce
excitement of his hearers. Each warrior named, who had greeted the
mention of himself with a low, but emphatic "_ha_"--now sprang to his
feet. No further example was needed. Again, the wild rhythm of the