The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-06-26
An African General.

All AFRICAN GGltrdl.
The Zulus who live north OF
Natal IRE. paramount among the
tribes Of South Africa, and they |
gained this preeminehce through
tie commandixD energy and abrli
ty of one man, Chska, who, had he 4
been an European, would surely
have been called "the great" but
being only an African barbarian,
is simply surnamed "The Bloody"
Previous to Lis reign his people
were least among their brethren:
They occupied = tract of land hof
not more than ten or twelve squarc
miles in extent. Chaka was a
son OF the chief of this little
community. From some peculiar
circumstance attending upon his
birth, he wac regarded by the PEG.
pic Nc the possessor Of superhnmau
gifts. Probably his mother, in her
ambition for her child, suborncd
the medicine men to fabricate q
lying wonder on his behalf. But
as he grew in years he did not
disappoint the expectations that
we're thus formed OF him. lie was
tall in stature, great in strength,
and in all deeds Of daring aud
energy he outstripped those OF his
own age. The reputation which
these qualities obtained for him
excited the jealonsy'o OF his father,
and Chaks, to save his life fled to
the Amstetwe, a neighboring
tribe, whose chief gave him pro-
lection. With these people he
remained until he was thirty years
of age, when his father died, aid
by which time he was distinguish
ed above all mon as the possessor
of gifts that are in high esteem
with the Zulas. by the aid 0f
como Of the Amatetwe he made
himself chief Of hrs own people;
! and tho first act that signalized
his reign was the putting TO death
uf all whom he suspected OF. be!
ing hostile to himself. This was
sanguinary. but from his point u
view no worse, and fully as neces-
sary as the c up d'etat Wy. which,
more civilized potentates have
obtained the supreme power. -,
Ills next exploit was to make
war upon and to subdue the tribe
that had protected him when he
was an exile. This was migrate
tul, bnt men OF great ambition
nearer home have contemplated
ingratitude as great. Then he
abolished the old laws, and enact.
cd the Code Chaks, by which, as
chief he was invested with abso-
lutte persona! authority, and, az
in more enlightened lands, the en-
tire nation was made subservieni
to tho production aud maintenance
of all army. Then he introduced q
ne " system of warfare. He mar,
shalcd his troops into regiments,
which were formed into three div
isions, a portion of each being in.
corporatcd with every force that
took the field. Instead of the or.
binary bush fighting, ho made
his men fight at close quarters, and
for the slender javelin which was
thrown from u distance, he substi
tutcd u single stabbirg spear Of
stouter materials, the loss ofwhicl
wac punished with death. For
man large shield made out Of
buffalo hide. His discipline was
severe. HIS soldiers had no alter
native but to conquer or to die
tor retreat, even when compelled
thereto 10y superior numbers, wal
visited by HIM with death. Blu
such punishment was rarely nc
cessary; for Chaka was a consurn-
mate general, and had the art o
inspiring his followers with hi
own irresistible spirit. Hc mad,
war upon all around him, and trib,
after tribe was conquered, until he
had been p oclaimed victoriou'
r.,>,,, u, 4, NJ, s,,.rx. A. a. TT -,