The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1879-02-26
CETYWAYO.
A Graphic Account Of the Canre King and
His Court


The defeat and annihilation of an
English expedition in South Africa by
the hordes of King Cetywayo, chief of
Caffre tribe, at once turned all eyes
from the war in Afghanistan-where the
British troops had been uniformly sue
cessful-to this new theater OF war. As
anything concerning the victorious CAT
FIRE monarch and his belongings is now
of more than ordinary interest, we ap-
pend an account of the hostile chief, as
he was seen by a New York traveller,
taken from the Sun.
A resident of New York, born in Mau-
ritius, has spent many years in Madagas,
car, and penetrated the Zulu country ID
Africa in company with a nephew of
Tsifani, king of Madagascar, in the au-
tumn of 1870. At Delagoa bay they
met Kremaio, younger brother OF Chief
Oetywayo. He was naturally bland and
princely in his bearing, and stalwartand
muscular in physique. He wore wide
belt of panther's skin that was fairly
covered with jewels, rough and irregu-
lar in size and shape, but large and of
the purest water. He spoke fuently
the language of the Magasci, in which
Tsifani's nephew addressed him. Two
of his officers, who wore white linen
visors, with linen skull caps to which
walls were attached which covered the
neck, presented the visitors with leather
drinking-vessels in which they poured a
cordial from canvas-covered TASKS.
The TASKS were attached to their belts
and contained the cordial that they call
wayumba. Only officers high in rank
had the privilege of carrying and dis
pensing wayumba, which is made of
spirits they call yeaur "a species of
white rum), rice juice strongly ferment-
ed, gum that tastes mildly of turpen-
tine, and cocoanut milk.
From Delagoa bay the visitors were
taken in a fiat kind of wagon, drawn by
three fine horses, to spot about seven
miles in the interior, named Ksen-si-t ia
Kan, country seat of the Chief" or
"the kings country residence"
"It was a fairy-like scene," the
gentleman said. can immense circle
of palms and Expresses girded a
level plain. Slaves in showy hv-
cry we're sprinkling the bright
green sward with sponges or mop-like
instruments that answered the purpose
of sponges, as they were stepped in
vessels of water and squeezed in sprink-
ling the grass. The trees surrounding
the great sward were gaudily dotted
with ornaments like Chinese lanterns.
They we're globular lamps constructed
of pure gold wire, and species OF
thick parchment irregularly perforated.
At night they held three-fold tapers OF
candles, and after all were lighted the
heavy Gordon of trees was wonderfully
beautiful scene. In the center of the
sward q large tent, sexagon in shape,
was pitched. In front guard of foul
sentinels and petty officer marched tc
and fro without intermission. At inter
walls an order was given, and the guard
wheeled to the right or left and made
the circuit of the tent.
"Kremaio, Chief Cetywayos broth
er, who accompanied the visitors, ad
vanced as they approached the roya
tent, placed his hands across his fore
head, and then aloft. At these gestures
the guard of sentinels were ordered t.
halt, front, and present arms. They
did so by dropping on one knee, placing
their arms, European rifles, in the posi-
tion known as point, and then thrust
ing them forward horizontally. From
that position they did not rise unit
Prince Kremaio motioned to the office
on duty, who gave another order in
curt, loud and monosyllabic manner, lik
all his orders, and the troops resumed
their former position. Sitting on lov
vari-colored benches or upon the grass
or walking in pairs or groups around th
sward, were Zulu mobiles and officers il
their flowing white bonnets and jewele,
uniforms, some wearing tidy jackets
some with clumsy tunics, and many wit
slovenly, shapeless cloaks of red ma
terial.
GAS soon as Kremaio was perceive
approaching, the officers fastened t
form in line. and with bowed heads an
uplifted right arms paid obeisance t
their chieftain's brother.
"The interior of the tent was carpet
ed with the skins of panthers, lions
tigers and other wild animals. Their
were grotesque paintings attached t
the sides of the tent in rude frames {
solid gold. The chief, Cetywayo, wa
, reclining, apparently after hberf
, draughts of wayumba. His couch wa
j about half foot from the ground, bu
> overspread with heavy skins, highl
, perfumed, and rich coverings wove
, from costly and rare materials, and la,
ishly encrusted with diamonds an
various precious stones. A thick GU
tain of a material like camel's-ha
9 shawls separated the apartment in whic
! the king lay from an inner section of h
, tent. A heavy block of rich wood, wit
, its edges studded with gems, served {
: table, and upon it we're laid books
a French and English. and swinging alo
was an immense lamp of solid hold,
= crude workmanship, but looking all IL
!, richer in it's barbaric shape and niassiv
90 ness.
: "The king arose to receive King Tsif
a mis- nephew with uplifted arms that |
. slowly lowered and rested on I'll