The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-03-26

safety. Of course. if the Zulus saw them
they would be taken. but the nature of
the ground was favorable. and it was
possible that they might escape if they
started at once. The proposition was at
once agreed to, and. what is more, it was
settled that one Dutchman and such of
the women and children as could travel
should go with them. In half an hours
time twelve of them started with the ma
tives, the Boer in charge, and the cattle
Three of my own men went with the
latter, the three others and Indaba-zimbi
stopped with me in the laager.
The parting wasa heart breaking scene,
a. upon which do not care to dwell. The
: women wept, the men groaned, and the
children looked on with scared white
7 faces. At length they were gone, and
for one was thankful of it, There re-
manned in the lager seventeen white
men, four natives, the two Boer fraus
who were two stout to travel, the woman
in childbed and her baby, and Hans
Botha's little daughter Tota. whom he
could not make up his mind to part with.
Happily, her mother was already dead
And here / may state that ten of the
women and children, together with about
half of the cattle, escaped. The Zulu
impi never saw them. and on the third
day of travel they came to the fortified
place of Griqua chief, who sheltered
them on receiving half the cattle in pay
ment. Thence by slow degrees they
journeyed down to the Cape Colony,
reaching a civilized region within little
more than year from the date of the
attack on the lager
The afternoon was now drawing to-
ward evening, but still there were no
signs of the impi. A wild hope struck
us that they might have gone on about
their business. Ever since Indaba-zimbi
had heard that the regiment was sup
posed to belong to the Umtetwa tribe,
he had, noticed, been plunged in deep
thought. Presently he came to me and
volunteered to go out and spy upon their
movements. At first Hans Botha was
against this idea, saying that he was
"verdOmde swartzel' accused black
ereature-and would betray us. point
ed out that there was nothing to betray
The Zulus must know where the wagons
were, but it was important for us to
gain information of their whereabouts.
So twas agreed that Indaba-zimbi should
go. told him this. He nodded his white
lock. said "All right, Macumazahn. and
/. started. noticed with some surprise,
however, that before he did so he went
to the wagon and fetched his 'mouti,"
or medicine, which, together with his
own magical apparatus, he always car
ried in skin bag. | asked him why he
did this, He answered that it was to
make himself invulnerable against the
spears of the Zulus. did not in the
least believe his explanation. for in my
heart was sure that he meant to take
the opportunity to make bolt of it, leav-
ing me to nay fate. did not, however,
interfere to prevent this, for | had an
affection for the old fellow, and sincerely
hoped that he might escape the doom
which overshadowed us
So Indaba-zimbi sauntered off, and as
looked at his retreating form thought
that should never see it again. But 1
was mistaken, and. little knew that he
was risking his life, not for the Beers,
whom he hated one and all, but for me.
whom in his queer way he loved.
When he had gone we completed our
preparations for defense. strengthening
the wagons and the thorns beneath with
earth and stones Then at sunset we