The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-04
A Kafnr Heroine.
The AntiuuAry,

The following ls In outline the story of a real kafiir heroine A father who had been unfortunate and had lost all his wealth was importuned to give up his two daughters for wives to the master who had befrientied him in his necessities. He had no power, even ii he had the will, to resist the demand ; so in due time the daughters were sent to their intended lords kTUaL They would not go into the hut until at last they were carried in. It was night, and one of the girls, worn out with fatigue and weeping, had fallen asleep. But if she slept her sister was awake, and determined to be free, Her eyes turned toward the distant land of Ma tal, for among those of her tribe who hsd taken refuge there was certain young man with whom she had been acquainted from childhood, and who had obtained possession of her heart before that evil day which compelled him to run for his life. When she thought the fit moment had come Uzinto released herself from her bonds, and taking up her mat crept out of the hut.
 She determined to avoid the kTddls and travel as much as possible In the bush. X terrible fight caused by a leopard waaahe only incident she met with, and at the end of the fourth day she for,ied the river Tugela, very tired and very hungry. Uzinto now wont to a kYdai to obtain food, and to dis cover where her people lived. The owner saw that she was a fugitive, and thought 1t fine opportunity to gain wife without expense. She de- clined to become an inmate of his house. and abode with one of his wives for the night. The jealous wife communicated to her the information she wanted, and told her that the man wished to deceive her. When Uzinto departed in the morning the master of the krdsi met her and again cndeav- ored to persuade her to return. He was rich; she should have plenty of milk and plenty of beet; she had only to become his wifo to be happy and honored. She listened in silence and went on her way to her own people, where she was received by the chief as one of his wards. Then began her search for her lover. His brothers krddl adioined her new home, and one morning, meeting her lovers favorite nephew, affecting not to know him, she said that his face was not alto gether strange to her, and wondered where she had seen him. The boy did not think she had seen him anywhere, and when she suggested the Folosi river he told her he had never been there. The truth was the shrewd urchin knew her and wanted to make her more explicit and say whose nephew he was. She found that her lover was many miles away. The boy took message from her her lovers reply was favorable, though no pres ent accompanied 1t and when Uzinto thought thereon, her heart was sad Meantime two suitors paid her unre- hitting attention, but she turned q deaf ear to their prayers Alter awhile her lover came beck but the offended maiden would not deign to speak to 1 nm ana Wncfl ne DPcHHle SICK hne dt tended to him, but in silence. After his recovery she took a little girl and set off for his krddi under cover of the night, that she might have an inter view without creating suspicion. The entrance was closed, but she threw q stone upon the hut. Then, after q scene with her lover, she fixed hei value at ten cows, told him that wher he had worked long enough to obtain that number she would come to hi' hraoi and be betrothcd. Some tim, afterward she appeared pectcdly at her lovers krdai and demanded to be betrothcd. But the people wcr, afraid to kill the goat without tho chiefs sanction, and messenger bcing sent to their chief, she was obliged to go back. Again, however, she ap- peared at her lovers hut, and this time, in spite of the chiefs rights, the goat was killed and she became the wife of her old lover.