The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-06
The Zulu King in Prison.


'De Dude molen," or the old mill which is
at present the prison of the ex-king of the Zu-
lus, is a two stored farmhouse, some four
miles from Cape Town. The mill has disap-
peared, but the house is in good repair, well
built and with large airy rooms. 1t would be
hard to find finer view. In the matter of
scenery and accommodation the captive has
little to complain Of Visitors to Citiwayo
must be furnished with an order from the Of
flee of the secretary for foreign affairs-a pre-
caution very necessary to prevent annoyance to
the ex.king, who is regarded by the crowd of
passengers calling at Cape Town as kind of
geological specimen. Among the names in
scribed on the visitors book are those of Ed.
ward and George (the tive sons of the Prince of
Wales0 written in boysh hands. The draw
ing-room is CHEEKY in aspect and scrupulously
clean, but coldly furnished with half dozen
American kitchen chairs, on one of which sits
Citiwayo in blue serge suit, with a gorgeous
smoking-cap on his head. No description
would, perhaps, hit him off as Falstaff's ideal
portrait of himself: ga goodly portly man in
faith, and corpulent; of a cheerful look, a
pleasing eye, and most noble carriage" 1t
is Citiwayo to the life.
Conversation is carried on through the me-
dunn of an interpreter. Citiwayo remarks that
he is too old ito learn English" but adds,
my son shall DO So" He liked the young
could see that. they were of royal blood" He
liked. de Dude molen'; but what was the good
OF liking anything, he was dead now. 81 and
Langabale," remarks his erewhile majesty,
"are like two old pauws (bustards) down here''
meaning birds who have no home-not a bad
paraphrase of Davids partridge on the
mountains" He followed every step of our
conflict with the Beers through the newspapers
which the Interpreters read out to him
daily; and on learning of the death of
Gen. Colley, dictated entirely from his
own idea letter of coincidence to the
governor of the colony. Before leaving ode
Dude molen" the visitor will be introduced
to the wives, four in number, great strapping
women in excellent condition, and about as
contented with their lot as the stalled OK,
resemble Court dress is, though becoming
enough, but scanty, and suits their fine bronzed
figures well-just sergeant's plaid of the 91st
tartan as sort of shawl, which seems to be re-
light-hearted creatures, who feet the time
carelessly enough i'll golden world of idleness
and Kaf1ir beer.
The ex-king, too, is fond of his joke, and the
house sometimes rings with his laughter at
some good-natured chaff. Can you use a
tall fellow of some six foot three. well"
said Ctiwayo, ''if 1 can't do that I can do
nothing" and picking up stick in a few rap
i'd passes he disarmed his inquiring friend !;
then, with hearty grasp of the hand, burst
into shout of laughter. Literature, the great
consolation of more civilized captives, is liter
ally sealed book to Citiwayo. He cannot
compose philosophic reflections, like the illus
trious prisoner of Ham: nor write his memoirs
and recollections, like his greater uncle; nor
can he even, like his own bitterest opponents,
solace an enforced leisure by writing justifica-
tory articles for the Nineteenth Century. There
is no resource beyond dismal brooding over
his misfortunes and the vain hope of possible
restoration.