The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-15
CetywayO I'm Captivity.

De Ouuc Moien, OF Tie Ola mill
which is at present the prison of the
ex-King of the Zulus, is two-sto-
ried farmhouse, some four miles
from Cape Town. The mill has
disappeared, 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 Cetywayo must be fur
nished with an order from the office
of the Secretary for Native Affairs
a precaution very necessary to pre-
vent annoyance to the ex-King, who
is regarded by the crowd of passen-
gers calling at Cape Town as kind
of geological specimen. Among
the names inscribed on the visitors
book are those of Edward and
George (the two sons of the Prince
of Wales written in boyish hands.
The drawing room is CHEEKY in as
pect and scrupulously clean, but
coldly furnished with half dozen
American kitchen chairs, on one OF
which sits Cetywayo in a blue-serge
suit, with a gorgeous smoking cap
on his head. No description would,
perhaps, hit him off as Falstaff7s ideal
portrait of himself: A goodly port
ly man i faith, and a corpulent; of a
cheerful look, pleasant eye, and a
most noble carriage" 1t is Cetywa-
yo to the life.
Conversation is carried on through
the medium of an interpreter. Get
ywayo remarks that he is too old "to
learn English; but adds, "My son
shall do So" He liked the young
princes much; "They were fine
boys, and he 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" II and Langabale,' remarks
his erewhile Majesty, "are like two
old pruws (bustards) down here
meaning birds who have no home
not bad paraphrase of David's
partridge on the mountains" He
followed every step of our conflict
with the Beers through the newspa-
pers which the interpreters read out
to him daily; and on learning the
death of General Colley, dictated en-
tirely from his own idea letter of
coincidence to the Governor of the
colony. Before leaving 'De Dude
Molen" the visitor will be introduc-
ed to the wives, four in number,
great strapping women in excellent
condition, and about as contented
with their lot as the stalled OK,
whom in intellectual developement
they much resemble. Court dress
is, though becoming enough, but
scanty, and suits their fine bronze
figures well-just a''sergeant's plaid
of the ninety-first tartan as sort of
shawl, which seems to be regarded
as an encumbrance. They are mer-
ry, light hearted creatures, who
fleet the time carelessly enough in a
golden world of idleness and Kafiir
beer.
The ex-King, too, is fond of his
joke, and the house sometimes rings
with his laughter at some good-na-
tured chaff.
"Can you use q know-kerry?" in
quired one young visitor, a tall fell
low OF some six feet three.
"Well," said Cetywayo, ''ii l can't
do that | can do nothing and pick
ing up a stick, in a few rapid passes
he disarmed his enquiring friend ;
then with a hearty grasp of the
hand, burst into shout of laugh
ter.
Literature the great consolation of
more civilized captives, is literally a
sealed book to Cetywayo. He cannot
compose philosophic reflection, like
the luxurious prisoner of Ham; nor
write his memoirs and recollections,
like his greater uncle; nor can he
even, like his own bitterest oppo-
nents, solace an enforced leisure by
writing justificatory articles for
The Ninetecath Century. There is no
resource byond dismal brooding
over his own misfortunes and the
vain hope of possible restoration
London World.