Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-25

spoken in Maritzburg kitchens. Out Of
the facts extracted from Capelle and his
sister by cross-examination the follow
ing interesting narrative was evolved:
Some six months previous, this young
woman, whose name was 'Manthla,
had plighted her troth to n Umhlassu,
who was nov working as a porter at an
ironmonger's in Maritzburg, and was
rapidly saving up the money to buy the
necessary cattle wherewith to purchase
her from her papa. He had now eight
oxen, only two short Of the number re-
CURED, and had secured a hut for her
reception. Forher part, 'Manthla had
given Umhlassu a pair of earrings, a
necklace, a snuff-boN, bead ornaments
for the head, and other gifts such as
Kaffir maidcns present to their lovers.
Unfortunately, another wooer had come
to her father, offering twelve bullocks
for 'Manthla; and the parent, very
naturally-for such doings are not I'M
known even in Mayfair-favored the
Weather sutton. The oxen were ac-
cepted there and then, without the
daughter being consulted in the matter.
AS rule, tie reception of the live
stock by the father is an important
point in the marriage-service of the
Zulus. The next step is the arranging
of the w~edding-feast, at which there
generally is dancing for two or three
days, as we'll as the consumption of one
OF the oxen which form part of the
marriage settlement" not to mention
the drinking galore of native beer.
'Manthla had steadily declined to
take any part in the proceedings,
though she had been in the charge of
the matrons of the kraal, who dressed
her hair in the manner already de-
scribed. With still greater persistence,
she refused to accompany Indebbelish,
her would-be lord and master, to his
kraal, even going the length of pro-
ducing a knife and protesting she would
take away her life rather than become
his bride. Her father threatened to
beat her with a stick; all her friends
u%pbraided her: and, finally, she was
handed v e to the old women, who
kept her a prisoner and all but starved
her, to induce a better state of mind.
Her almost unheard of defiance of .suse
and WON'T astonished the marriage
party; but their amazement reached its
climax when, in the midst of the festiv-
tiles, it was discovered that 'Manthla
had seized a favorable opportunity to
escape. She had Travelled on foot fifty
miles into M%aritzburg, and it was at the
close of thatjourney that l had seen her
from u veranda.
When 'Manthla had greeted her
brother and told him the whole story,
he was of course highly indignant at her
disregard of tribal custom. He rated
her in good sound terms, jeered at her,
and treated her to a variety of ILL
favored epithets, in which the Zulu
vocabulary is unusually rich. 1t was
the sound of this fraternal reproof which
my wife had heard. There was really
nothing for it but to give shelter
to the fugitive for at least
one night. 1t would scarcely have
been humane to have turned 'Manthla
adrift, tired and hungry as she was;
and accordingly tho s.pilg grim of love''
was allowed to take her fill of porridee
and sleep on the kitchen floor.
Early next morning, asI was mount
ing my cob at the stable-door, prepara-
tory to a ''spin' over the veldt before
breakfast, there appeared an elderly
Kafir, who held up the forefinger of his
right hand and exclaimed t'Inkosi!'-
the native salutation of respect. This
was no less a parsonage than Pank, the
father of 'Manthla and of our boy
Capelle. He was attired in a soldiers
old coat, and ragged trousers that de-
scended no farther than his knees. On
his head was a battered felt hat; while
through the lobe of one ear was stuck a
cigar, and through the other a cylindri-
cal ''snuff-box." Though old Pank had
come in hot haste from the kraal all
those fifty miles, and was presumably
in a state of great mental agitation, he
sauntered into our backyard as care
lessly as if he had only casually dropped
in from next door. l have noticed the
same characteristic in several other
katfirs. After the aforementioned salu-
ton, Pank's lean face broadcned into q
grin, and he v%ivaciously calculated two
or three times: ''It's alice right, alice
right!' This phrase which proved to
be the only English at his Command,
was introduced with great frequency,
and sometimes with fudicrous effect
This optimist remark, however, was
IloG uPOu LIS Ups Nucu nc cauSnC SlglC
of his daughter 'Manthla timidly peep
ing out from the door of the Kafir-
house. His face darkened in expression
and pouring forth a~volley of reproaches,
the '.stern parent" approached her.
l stood ~anxiously watching the inter
view, fearing lest violence might be
the outcome. But after Pank had un-
corked the vial of his wrath, it quickly
evaporated and in a short time he sat
down on his launches, took the snuff
box from his a and RECALLED himself
with a hearty pinch.
Irode off; and on my return, bali an
hour later the old fellow was in our
kitchen, calmly;consuming alarge pot of
porridge. 1t turned out that he had or
dered 'Manthla to be ready to accom-
pany him at once to the kraal of Indeb-
belish. Alas, however, for the ''best-
laid schemes!" When the ba6ba
father) went into the Kaffir-house, he
found 'Manthla had again fled. His
anger and disgust were now turned upon
Capelle, who vowed he had had no hand
in her flight. The father retorted, the