Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-01
THE CAPTIVE ZULU KING.
CETYwAY0, AN ENORMOUS MAN. MEASURING SIXTY
INCHES ROUND THE CHEST
IFrom the Cape Times.

INCHES ROUND THE CHEST.
tFrom the Cape Tmes.l
reporter who accompanied Cetywayo on his
voyage to simo ms Bay SAYS: In the surf boat
ness, and II he wanted to be shot when caughV
by Maj Marten. it is certain that he wished he
were dead ten minutes after embarking. All the
dignity with which Cetywayo had borne his cap
ulity gave way as he saw the sea and realized
his fate. while the antics Of the whole party in
the surf boat are said to have been ludicrouS.
quietly, and when they moved they did so crawl
ing On all fourS.
"Cetywayo was placed on deck, inasmuch as
the builders of the Natal never contemplated
four wives should sleep in his cabin with him
In the kraal His Majesty occupied q central
mattress and his four wives and an intombi
young girD had mattresses around him. Every
thing in the way Of personal comfort that he
asked for has been given to him. During the
voyage OF the Natal there was one rough night,
and the King had very bad time Of It, but he
generally kept up his spirits, and conveyed in
his cheerful moods his impression Of new sights.
The first morning, when there was no land In
view, he, after looking around, held up his hands
he does not permit himself to appear to be much
surprised at anything. At home he was rather
a considerable beer drinker, but he thinks our
beer very inferior stuff, and palms that off on
his wives while he is quite ready to do his share
OF the ''firewater" In the shape of gin.
'He has rather wild way of taking to Euro
pean food, and as preliminary to substantial
feed Of beef the other day he devoured pot and
a half of jam, He was good enough to come out
of bis shell during the time his photograph was
being taken and the smiling face he put on, as
his photograph will show proves that he Is not
world. When his wives were being photographed
nothing could induce them to leave off giggling
or to sit still until Cetyweyo sternly commanded
them to do so, and then at once they were mo-
tionless as statues. 1t was evident that they had
not forgotten the temper of the King. and the
way he once raigned In Zululand When he was
afterward asked to sit for another photograph he
declined doing so, on the ground that he was not
going to make a fool Of himself twice In one day.
He would not sit with his wives, because he
said, having his photograph they could easily
cut the group of women In two to put him in the
center and he suggested that If other phOtOgra-
piers wanted his likeness they could photo his
followers as often as they liked, and the pictures
would sell Just as well, for the white man would
buy anything.
"The photo will show Cetywayo to be an
enormous man, OF little under six feet high;
handsome, overfed specimen OF humanity, with
nothing repulSive whatever about him. tape
measured around the chest would probably show
sixty inches, and each thigh half that number of
inches; and this should convey what an i'm
menSe fellow the King is. Yet he Is not ungain-
ly in figure, and there is an unmstakable dignity
about him, which, together with his fits of socia
bility, have drawn toward him the good feeling
OF his escort. He is not unappreciative, either OF
the duties of his rank, and l mention these in
cidents to indicate in some degree what the Zulu
court was like, and that, barbar1c as it was, it
must have had a dignity of its own. For in
stance, on Saturday last the medical officer in
charge introduced his superior officer to the
King, when the latter reported that the medical
attendance during the voyage was all that
could be desired. The whole party eyince a very
earnest wish 1or clothes, and Cetywayo was In
great delight on wearing suit sent him by the
Commodore, and strutted about quite proudly
with black hat which he had managed to
squeeze over his head ring
''He has lately developed wonderful taste
for scribbling, and in a few months, under the
careful tuition of Maj Poole, would probably
become a polite letter-writer. Indeed Major
Poole has the King, excepting the sulkS, which
are exceedingly inconvenient, perfectly under
control, and the attempts at letter-writing are
an infinite source Of amusement The wives of
the King, who are his felow-captives, are four
in number, and are tall, 1.-THE, shapely women of
about 20 years OF age. The photographs are
not just to them for their attractions seem to be
in their viyacity and their good temper. Like
their lord and master they are anxious about
their dress. On Sunday Cetywayo was taken on
a tour of inspection of Her Majestys ship Boa
dicae, which visit seems to have given him a
terrible shock; such visit year ago might
have saved England some millions of money"