Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-29
CETYWAY0 INTERVIEWED.


FOR HIS FIRST BOOTS
Cetywayo, the deposed Zulu King, was inter-
viewed on the list ult. by some British ficer5
previous to their departure for England. The
interview is thus described: At 10 a. m. we were
introduced and found Cetywayo summing him.
self on the ramparts OF bastion of the castle
and having his hair dressed. He shook hands
with all OF us-a good wholesome grip, with a
cool hand and huge fist. He was sitting on
mat spread on the ground, and had on a red
table-cloth, which partially covered his body
and enormous thighs We had brought with us
a basket full OF figs oranges, sweetmeats ana
raisins, OF which last he is inordtnately fond. a
bottle of whisky and some cOlOred kerchtefS. We
asked permission to give him these things. as
we had heard that he was shy of visitors and
often would not talk to them. As with many
less renowned men. an Offering to his appetite
loosened his tongue and he spoke to Us openly
and pleasantly. His appearance by this time
will have been SO often described and must be
50 well known by the thousands of photographs
that have already been sold that we will touch
but lightly on this point. His manner was sub
dued and self-posSeSSed and he was extremely
shy Of being looked at. He cannot look any one
in the face, but after quick, Intelligent glance
looks aSkance and answers questions and talks
in a low voice. When inclined to talk at all
he likes being questioned and answers at
once through the Interpreter. We asked him If
he felt afraid Of the sea as he embarked at Port
Durnford He said, ''Yes, of the surf boats bat
not at all when got on board the big Ship
He said that he had known in his head all
along that his army would be beaten by the
English, and he did all he could to prevent
war, but was driven to 1t by the young men of
the army; that after Isandhlwana and kambuls
where his regiments lost very many men, more
than he could count, they had only half hearts
in the fights and that 1t was only with the
greatest difficulty that he could get the men to-
gether again; that very few OF the things taken
at 1Sandhlwana were ever brought to him, and
when he asked about them his men said they
had got nothing, but he knew that they had,
and he supposed they had them hidden away at
their kraals. The two guns were brought to
him by his order week after ISandhlwana,
during which time they had been left on the
battlefield; one was caught his side of the mill,
the other ours He had never heard anything
OF the lost cOlorS, and did not know what they
were, and did not think it likely that we should
hear of them again. The young men would
fringes to their intombis girls. The white
people living in Zululand might in years
to come hear of them and other things, If they
long time would be afraid to give up anything,
through fear Of being killed for being in posses
sion. He was exceedingly angry with the army
for killing the officers at 1sandhlwana, and had
given his men strict orders to bring all the Off
GERS to him alive; his men had said that they
could not tell the officers from the men, and SO
killed them all. He called them fools, as he had
told them that the officers wore sword and the
men had guns. ut will be remembered that before
the campaign commenced, the officers received
orders to aSSimilate their dress as much as pos
sible to that of the men, to prevent the fire of
the enemy being drawn on them) When asked
what he would have done with the officers Getty
WayO replied: 81 should have used them for po-
ltttcal purposes" On being pressed for mean
ing he said: az should have made use OF them.
knew what to do with them. was very angry"
Cetywayo then began to talk about his living
and some arrangements for his comfort, and
grumbled because he could not have
a whole OK every day for himself, and
then he asked Captain Poole If he knew
what his name with click in front of
it ment. in the Zulu language? Being
answered in the negative, the king, laughing,
told the interpreter to tell him that It meant a
small thorn, very troublesome in some parts of
the country, and that he must take his name to
be warning to take care of him and not get
pricked. The ZuluS pride themselves on their
conversational powers, and never miss an op-
portunity of playing upon word, and in this
the King is an adept He has been measured for
a suit OF clothes and pair of boots, and he was
counting the days on his fingers till they were
completed as promised, thus assuming very
quickly raimentS of a civilization to which few
days before he was such a determined enemy
and an adoption to fortune and circumstances
worthy OF great mind. Our visit terminated
as it had begun, with a "shake hands" ali
round. On our way out we stopped to speak to
the Kings four wives, or rather concubines, VINO
were captured with him-four strapping wenches
of five feet seven or eight inches In height, and
for black women, not Unlocking. They looked
happy enough now that they are assured that
they are not going to be killed and were hum
ming away as one was strtnging beads, another
cooking and the other two looking on.-Londoa
Telegraph, Nor. TO-