The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-28
The Zulu King.

John Mullins, Jr., trader who had a
store at Unlundi, where the last great
battle was in Zu!uland, and who has
been Cetewayo's friend in this war and
was thrown into prison on trumped-up
charge of selling guns to the savages, has
arrived at London, and gives this ac-
count of the Zulu king: In administer
ing justice he judges sternly and Impair
TALLY, passing sentence on his own
brothers with the same severity and
fearlessuess that would be exercised on
the meanest subject; approachable at all
times and always pleased to see stran-
gers whom he treats with unvarying hos
pitality. In private the King leads q
life of wonderful abstemiousness and
regularity. His wife lives in the royal
inclosure, each one having hut of her
own and bevy of Zulu damsels, who
act as maids of honor. He has fewer
wives than repute has palmed off on him.
Cetewayo has several residences-one at
each of the military kraals. Each of
these houses is built in the European
style, but furnished after native custom
that is, they have little or no furniture.
The principal article in each royal resi-
dence is state chair, in which he sits
while dispensing justice or transacting
State business. This chair is hewn out
of the solid trunk of tree, and is carved
and fashioned in the highest style of
Zulu art. Presents of beautiful eception
chairs have been made to Cetewayo by
John Dunn and others, but ne casts them
aside in favor of home manufacture.
When not seated be reclines on a mat
after the fashion of the race. At all
times he is attended by body-guard,
and when sitting in state the great coun-
cillors, consisting of the chief indunos or
head men of the nation, are grouped
around him. Sometimes such councils
are held in the open air, when a large
umbrella is held over him or lawn tent
is pitched. lie may be seen thus when
reviewing his army or speaking to his
regiment. The kings favorite pastime is
hunting. He possesses rifles and dou-
ble-barrelled breech-loaders, by the best
makers, and is a fair shot. Six o'clock
every morning finds him afoot, attended
by his body-guard, on his constitutional
hunting expedition. During this he
walks from ten to fifteen miles, return
ing to the palace at ten, when he is imme.
diately rubbed with soapstone and bathed
by attendants. After this the business
routine of the day commences. Kaffer
beer-a light beverage, about as intoxi-
eating as larger beer-is Cetewayo's
favorite drink-in fact, it is the only one
the people had until white traders
brought rum into the country, the sale
of which is prohibited by the king.
Drunkenness among his subjects is
sternly frowned upon by him. The mo-
ment subject is reported to have
committed a crime the king says of the
culprit: "He does not belong to my peo-
ple," and, after hearing the case, passes
sentence in just manner. 1t is prece-
dent laid down by him "that Zulu can
not commit crime" This accounts for
the thousands of refugees who are in
Natal and dare not return to Zululand.
He has pleasant powers of conversation,
and often INDUCES in witty small talk,
but is noted, at the same time, for his
cute and logical sayings. Of course, he
only knows the one language-the Zulu.
Kafer dialect. The Zulu King, like all
of his subjects, has an inherent distrust
and dislike to the Dutch Beers; on the
other hand, he has always looked upon
the English in the most friendly and
coniding manner. "The English have
beaten all the white nations and the
Zulus all the black ones," observes Cete-
wayo, "and why should not two such
great powers be the best of friends 2"
This is how matters stood unit! the
British troops were sent across the Iu-
gela SO rashly last January. Mr.. Mullins
believes in speaking of a man as he finds
him, and the above is how he has always
found Cetewayo, the Zulu King; or, as
hypocritical governors and mercenary
colonists call him, "the blood-thirsty
wretch"