The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-26
KING CETYWAYO.

|
So
KING CETYWAYO.
| Narrative of a visit to the Zulu Country
Interview with the African Chief
A resident of New York, born in Mauritius
has spent many years in Madagascar, and
penetrated the Zulu country in Africa, in com.
pany with nephew of Isifani, king of NJ ada
gascar, In the autumn OF 1870. At Delagoa
bay they met kremaio, younger brother
of Chief Cetywayo. He was naturally bland
and princely i'll his bearing, and stalwart
and muscular in physique. He wore a wide
belt OF panther'S skin, that was fairly Gov
cred with jewels, rough and irregular in size
and shape, butlarge and OF the purest water
He spoke 1luently the language Of the Ma,
gasci, in which Tsfanis nephew addressed
him. Two of his officers, who wore white
linen visors, with linen skull-caps to which
wells were attached which covered the neck
presented the visitors with leather drinking
vessels, in which they poured p cordial from
| canyas-coyered TASKS. The TASKS were at
tached to their BELTS and contained the cor
dial that they call wayunba. Only officers
| high in rank had thep privilege of carrying and
! dispensing wayumha, which is made OF Spir-
its they call yeaur "a species Of white rum,
| ripe juice strongly fermcnted, gum that
| tastes mildly OF turpentine, and cocoanut
milk.
From DeIagoa bay the visitors were taken
|
| horses, to spot about seven miles in the in
| terror named Ksen-s-ta Kan, Country seat
OF the chief" or the kings country resi-
dence. at was a fairy-like scene," the
/ gentleman said. can immense circle of
palms and expresses girded a leveled plain.
Slaves in snowy livery were sprinklng the
| bright green sward with spongeS or mop-like
| instruments that answered the purpose of
| sponges, us they were stepped in vessels OF
water, and squeezed in sprinking the grass.
| ha Gyua r1iy
gaudily dotted with ornaments like Chinese
lanterns. They were globular lamps con-
| structed OF pure gold wire and a species of
thick parchment trregularly perforated. At
night they held three-fold taperS or candles,
and after they were lighted the heavy Gordon
of trees was wonderfully beautiful scene.
In the center OF the sward a large tent, sex
agOn in shape, was pitched. In front guard
OF four sentinels and petty officer marched
to and fro without intermission. At intervals
an order was given, and the guard wheeled to
| the right or left and made the circuit of the
| tent.
"Kremaio, Chief Cetywayo's brother, who
| accompanied the visitors, advanced as thev
approached the royal tent, placed his hand
| across his forehead, and then aloft. At these
gestures the guard of sentinelS were ordered
to halt, front and present arms. They did SO
| by dropping on one knee, placing their arms,
European rifles, in the position known as
| point, and then thrusting them forward
| horizontally. From that position they did
not rise until Prince Kremaio motoned to the
officer on duty, who gave another order in a
curt, loud and monosyllabic manner, like all
| his orders, and the troops resumed their for
mer position. Sitting on low, vari- eolored
| benches or upon the grass, or walking in pairs
or groups around the sward, were Zulu
mobiles and officers in their flowing white bon
| nets and jeweled uniforms, some wearing tidy
| jackets, some with clumsy tunics, and many
with slovenly, shapeless cloaks of a red mate
| rial.
"As soon as Kremaio was perceived ap-
preaching the officers FASTENED to form in
| line, and with bowed heads and uplifted right
arms paid obeissance to their chieftain's
brother.
"Ihe interior of the tent was carpeted with
the skins OF panthers, lions, tigers and other
wild animals. There were grotesgue paint
| ingS attached to the sides of the tent in rude
| frames OF solid gold. The Chief Cetywayo
was reclining, apparently after liberal drafts
| OF wayumba. His couch was about half a
foot from the ground, but overspread with
heavy skins, highly perfumed, and rich cover
| 1ngS woven from costly and rare materials,
and lavfshly encrusted with diamonds and
various precious stones. A thick curtain of a
material like camel's hair shawls separated
the apartment In which the king lay from an
inner section OF the tent. A heavy block of
rich wood, with its edges studded with gems,
served as table, and upon it were laid books
in French and English and swinging aloft
was an immense lamp Of solid gold, of crude
workmanship, but looking all the richer in
its barbar1c shape and maSSiveneSS.
"The king arose to receive King Tsifani's
nephew with uplifted arms, that ne slowly
lowered and rested on the shoulders of the
young Magasci noble The Zulu chieftain
despite his backness, had at that period a
slDgularly handsome and expressive face.
His frame was brawny and powerful, his
arms and legs being wonderfully hard and
finely developed. He spoke English slowly
ana aI with much caution, as If it would offend
his pride to make a grammatical or idiOma-
tic error. He related his journey some years
before to Bourbon island, south of Mauritius
and east of Madagascar when he visited,
1ncOgnito, friend, a French merchant named
Adolph LIE Roy, who was also consular agent
for Italy. Through him he procured many
articles OF European manufacture for his
palaces. He expressed himself eager to con-
verse in French, that he understood better
than English.
"When his mobiles entered the ROYAL tent at
the call OF a peculiar drum, they knet on one
knee, with bowed head and uplifted arms. In
recognition of this the king raised his face
upwards and uplfted one arm. His action
was in alteration OF the sun-theirG in homage
to their chief. Then highly-seasoned uncook-
ed meat, hard sweet crackers, and wayumba
were served. This modest lunch was speedily
disposed OF and the mobiles Summarially dis
missed. Then an official conversation ensued
between Getywayo and Tsifani's nephew. 1t
was brief, and ended bluntly, whatever was
the nature of it. Then the chief drew aside
the rich curtain which divided the tent into
compartments, and, pointing to a massive
casket of gold, invited Tslfanis nephew,
Yatsintf, to remove little slab at one end of
it: He did SO, and the immense vessel
of gold was found to be filled with
every variety of precious stones. He was
then. with princely wave OF the arm, re-
quested to help himself But, with chval
rous self-denial, Yatsinif did not avail him
self to any great extent of the opportunity al
forded him. Raising a little purple medal
from the dazzling mass, he showed it to
gem into his bosom. Whatever Grand
Tsifanis nephew went on was evidently I'M
successful; but Cetywayo's display of his
lewelry and his offer to Yatsinf were sug-
friendship charaet t with which he de-
sired the yourg mans uncle to invest him.
AT that time, in 1870" the gentleman con-
cluded, ''Cetywayo was powerful and popu-
lar chief, and it is perfectly true that his army
are we'll drilled and we'll cIpDlia6 wifi h tho