FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201  
202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   >>  
ng for a while, and thought it wisest to be content with what they had won. Indeed, they had won everything, for Cetewayo was now supreme--by right of the assegai--and his father but a cipher. Although he remained the "Head" of the nation, Cetewayo was publicly declared to be its "Feet," and strength was in these active "Feet," not in the bowed and sleeping "Head." In fact, so little power was left to Panda that he could not protect his own household. Thus one day I heard a great tumult and shouting proceeding apparently from the Isigodhlo, or royal enclosure, and on inquiring what it was afterwards, was told that Cetewayo had come from the Amangwe kraal and denounced Nomantshali, the King's wife, as "umtakati", or a witch. More, in spite of his father's prayers and tears, he had caused her to be put to death before his eyes--a dreadful and a savage deed. At this distance of time I cannot remember whether Nomantshali was the mother of Umbelazi or of one of the other fallen princes.[*] [*--On re-reading this history it comes back to me that she was the mother of M'tonga, who was much younger than Umbelazi. --A. Q.] A few days later, when I was up and about again, although I had not ventured into the kraal, Panda sent a messenger to me with a present of an ox. On his behalf this man congratulated me on my recovery, and told me that, whatever might have happened to others, I was to have no fear for my own safety. He added that Cetewayo had sworn to the King that not a hair of my head should be harmed, in these words: "Had I wished to kill Watcher-by-Night because he fought against me, I could have done so down at Endondakusuka; but then I ought to kill you also, my father, since you sent him thither against his will with your own regiment. But I like him well, who is brave and who brought me good tidings that the Prince, my enemy, was dead of a broken heart. Moreover, I wish to have no quarrel with the White House [the English] on account of Macumazahn, so tell him that he may sleep in peace." The messenger said further that Saduko, the husband of the King's daughter, Nandie, and Umbelazi's chief induna, was to be put upon his trial on the morrow before the King and his council, together with Mameena, daughter of Umbezi, and that my presence was desired at this trial. I asked what was the charge against them. He replied that, so far as Saduko was concerned, there were two: first, that he had sti
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201  
202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   >>  



Top keywords:

Cetewayo

 

Umbelazi

 

father

 

mother

 
Nomantshali
 

Saduko

 

messenger

 
daughter
 

thither

 
Endondakusuka

safety

 
happened
 

recovery

 

Watcher

 
wished
 

harmed

 

fought

 

tidings

 

husband

 

Nandie


replied

 

induna

 

Mameena

 
Umbezi
 

presence

 

desired

 
council
 

charge

 

morrow

 

Prince


brought

 

broken

 

English

 

account

 
Macumazahn
 

congratulated

 
Moreover
 

concerned

 

quarrel

 
regiment

tumult

 

household

 
protect
 

shouting

 
proceeding
 

Amangwe

 
denounced
 
inquiring
 

apparently

 
Isigodhlo