The New York herald., 1879-03-07
THE KING OF THE ZULUS.
STORY OF KING CETYwAYo's LIFE-THE DE-
sCENDANT OF A KAFFIR HERO.
from the London Daily Newsl

STORY OF KING CETYwAYos LIFE-THE DE-
sCENDANT OF KAFFIR HERO.
From the London Daily News
When Sir Theophilus Shepstone. then Mr.. Shep-
stone six years ago visited Zululand with escort
Of British troops for the purpose of pro-
claiming Cetywayo king in succession to his
father, Umpanda. he was very favorably
impressed with the bearing of the new
ruler He pronounced him immeasursby superior
to any other native chief with whom he had into
relationship. Cetywayo not only struck Mr.. Shep-
stone as being entirely frank and straightforward
In all his communications. but as being
man Of great ability and force Of character.
He had o power Of seixing the of
the considerations that were laid before him and
contempt for superauous vcrbiage which
would have delighted the author Of the epgram that
'.specch is silvern. but silence golden" In the
course of one of Mr. shepstono's interviews. held
with the King in full council, when some of
tho old men fencing after the manner Of
Polonius with one Of the English proposals,
he suddenly up and bade them all be
silent. ''silence, all OF you'll" he cried. ''You
like the wind, which says nothing when
he speaks Don't you sec what my father mcansY'
Then he proceeded 70 lay clearly before them the
act point for which Mr.. shepstono contending.
missioner had difficulty in obtaining the assent OF
Cetywayo to all the conditions which the English
government was willing to give him our friendship
and moral support, and he was convinced besides
that the ruler thoroughly alive to the value
of friendship and fully minded to do his utmost to
deserve it,
THE ZULU NAPOLEON
But was not 20 be disguised that absolute as Getty
wayo was in Zululand he had great difficulties in
carrying out to the full all his engagements II
all very we'll for him to promise that hencelorth in
discriminate bloodshed was. to cease; that no
Zulu should be put 10 death without open
trial and tho subsequent sanction of the
King and that minor punishments should be
substtu ted for death Ia the trivial offences
But he had turbulent people to reckon WITH who
inherited military traditions, and of these traditions
he he as well as they were proud. Setywsyo, in short
founder Of the Zulu power IL was necessary for Getty
wayo that he should prove himself u worthy men-
Der Of his dynasty and between humoring the thirst
OF his young for military renown. which he was
himself old and too tat aspire to, and consult
ing the true interests Of himself and his people by
keeping good with the British hc had very
difficult part 10 play. But he gave earnest of his
good Intentions ut tho time OF his socesson by making
q much less indiscriminate slauahter of dangerous
persons than the custom Of tho country. and
the prudence with which lac acted throughout his
long tenure of the position Of heir apparent and 1n
duna, Prime Minister. of his father. another
good guarantee OF his peaceful tendences In Getty
teIa-roat. that s 70 say. Tor savage African tribe
which his Uncle Chaks had founded. and Din
gaan. another OF his unces had used with terrible
effect against the Dutch colonists Of Natal ut
tcrly shattered by small band of brave Dutch
farmers under the leadership Of Andrics prctorius
In the course OF the struggle Dingaan assassi-
mated and the Dutch proclaimed Umpandn, Getty
wayo's father. king In his stead. uhipanda was thon
old and tat. as Cetywayo In now, becoming 50 fat
eventually that he had 10 be lifted aud out of his
state carriage. This obesity and the wholesome
lesson which his brother had received from the
Dutch indisposcd Umpanda to an aggressive policy,
aud Coywayo. his eldest sou, bold and enterprising
and gifted with much OF tlD ability of tho most re-
nowIed warriors of his family, became the hope
OF the young men, who sighed for tho former
glory OF their tribe. An opposition arose
Ia The Court of Zululand such as
has often existed between sovereigns and heirs sp-
parent in more civilized countries. IL says not
little for the scliconroi OF the young savage chief
that he did not, in accordance with q custom
which had moro than been honored In the OBJ
scrvancc in Zululand put his fat old father out OF
tho way and the throne In his stead 1t shows
how profoundly even IN the heat of youthful blood no