Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-05
TEE ZULUS MAKE HIM KING.
Singular Career of an Irishman in
in South Africa.
WITH THE FURY OF DEMON:
The Savage War Dance and the Hor.
rible Rites of the Muti-They
Objected to Being,
Sacrificed.
The Zulu Wnr nnnCe.

Especial Correspondence of THE BEE. +
The war dance is n great institution
among all the South African tribes.
Before engaging in battle 1t Is n sine
qua non. Indeed, most savage tribes in
any part OF the world have war dance;
but, as rule, this dance is simply
scene of wild disorder, each warrior
shouting, yelling and brandishing his
weapons without any aim at discipline.
With the Zulus it is very different
affair, they being guided by discipline
and precision of drill equal to that
found in regular army of civilized SOL
diers. Before assembling for the dance
they paint their faces scarlet or reu
color, put on all their ornaments and
carry their arms as If going into battle.
Being assembled, they form in lines, all
the while comforting their features in a
horrible manner and working them
selves up to a
TREMENDOUS PITCH OF EXCITEMENT.
They commence by stamping their feet
in perfect time with each other. Then
the war song Is raised and the drum
sounded. The vigor of the stamping
continually increases in proportion to
the excitement. With a yell the whole
body of men leap into the air simultane-
| ously, as If actuated by shock of cleo
tricity, the war song is chanted
louder and louder and in accordance
with its rhythm they leap from side to
side, coming down to the earth like
huge battering ram. Utterly lost in
| excitement they continue the dance,
their faces frightfully coptorted and of
| an absolutely demoniacal expression
| until the chief gives the order to dis
band. When under the influence of
the war dance they are quite devoid of
fear and will rush to the cannon's
| mouth, those behind clambering over
the fallen and dead in front. 1t may
| be imagined that, when Cetewayo had
10000. OF these warriors assembled at
| Fort Weber it was no child's play for
| the small British force of 800 men to
contend with them. The Zulus fought
( like demons, while the British moving
them down like hay with the Gatling
| guns, were in danger OF being literally
swept away by the vast numerical SUI
periority of the Zulus. Nearly half the
small British force was killed before
the Zulus were repulsed. The English
| government has now established rela-
tions more or less friendly with most of
the South African tribes and in some
WHITE MEN AS CHIEFS.
| Notable among these is the now cele-
brated John Dunn. This man, a native
OF Ireland, has been in this country
many years. He was trader, and be-
came very friendly with the kaf1rs.
| During war between the Usibepus and
Dinnizulus, he joined the former, and
was successful in defeating the latter.
After the war he was offered absolute
power, lands and cattle, and the pick
of the ladies of the tribe for his wives
| if he would become their chief. The
| latter inducement was more than the
gallant son of Erin could withstand. and
he threw in his lot with the warriors.
He lives in barbaric splendor, and owns
vast tracts of lands, herds of cattle and
horses. l once had an offer of a position
similar to that of John Dunn. Whilst
in Pretoria, Prince Siccoocuni, of the
tribe of that name, invited me to join
his tribe. He offered to give me first
position in his nation, his sister, the
princess, as chief wife, with as many
for each, and as many oxen and as much
land as desired. Treating the wht lie
thing as joke, consented. Directly
after the prince came along ac-
companied by the dark princess for his
acceptance. "There is tide in the
affairs of men, which, taken
at the flood, leads on to fortune" )"
1 was much disposed to think that the
tide in my affairs was at the flood, but
the thought OF the fair face and bright
eyes OF a true-hearted girl far away
the inducements offered by the gen.
erous barbarian. 1 was compelled to
excuse myself with the best grace pos
sible under the circumstances.
THE MEDICINE MAN.
Next to the chief in Kaffir tribes the
mutt (medicine man) has perhaps the
most influence. He is looked on as
possessing supernatural powers, and is
supposed to stand high in favor with
Incosi Pesulu (the Great Spirit, but to
judge by his appearance, one would
conclude that he was a minion of his
satanic majesty rather than an angel
OF the gods. He paints his face and
body In most demoniacal fashion, be-
decks his neck and arms with snakes
and other loathsome reptiles, garlands
his head with crows feathers,
and practices all kinds of fraud
on the people, exacting large
gifts for himself, and oxen
as sarifces to the Great Spirit. Some
times even human victims are de-
manded. In the latter case the victim
| Is generally one VINO mas incurred the
displeasure of the Mutt. l had mar
row escape from ending my days as a
Precipitation of that kind. Being
amongst the Sitantas, and the country
being badly in need of rain, the Mutt
having tried all other means without
producing the desired results, declared
that human sacrifice was desired to
appease the displeasure OF the Great
Spirit, and accordingly the necessary
preparations were entered upon. A
great feast was prepared. The people
gathered, forming circle, in the CEN
ter OF which was the Mutt. Fires were
kindled, and ten oxen were, one by one,
slaughtered, the beasts being led by a
number of young men to the Mutt, who
all the time repeating some unintelli-
gable jargon, stabbed them with long
knife, catching the blood in vessels,
wallowing in it and scattering it all
around and high in the air amidst the
shoutings and wild dancing OF the
chosen assistants, the
POOR BRUTES WHILE YET ALIVE
being ripped open, the entrails torn Out
and flung hot and smoking on the fire
The flesh was then roasted and eaten by
| the people, the mutt all the time bran.