Wichita eagle., 1890-01-05


oe. For my own part, I firmly believe
that, had by advice been taken, we
should have routed the Z,alas. Seven
teen desperate white men, armed with
guns, would have produced no small eff
feet upon camp ST sleeping savages.
But it was not taken, SO it is 10 use talk
ing about it.
After that we went back 30 our posts,
and slowly the weary night wore on to-
wards the dawn. Only those who have
watched under similar circumstances
while they waited the advent Of almost
certain and cruel death, can know the
torturing suspense of those heavy hours.
But they went somehow, and at last in
the far east the sky began 10 tighten,
while the cold breath Of dawn stirred the
tits Of the wagons and chilled me to the
bones. The fat Dutch woman behind
me woke vita yawn. then, remember
ing all, moansd aloud, while her teeth
chartered with cold and fear. Hans
Botha went to his wagon and got a bot
tie Of peach brandy, from which he
poured into tin pannikin, giVing Us
each stiff draw, and making astempts
to be cheerful as he did SO. But his af-
fected popularity only seemed to depress
his comrades the more. Certainly it op-
pressed NE.
Now the light wes growing, and we
could see some way into the mist which
still hing dsnsely over the river, and
now-ah. there it was. From the other
side of the hill, a thousand yards or more
from the laager, came faint humming
sound. It grew and grew till it gathered
to a chant-the awful war chant OF the
Zulus. Soon I could catch the words.
They were simple enough:
We shall stay, We shall shay. Is it not SO, my
brothers?
Our spears shall blush blood red. Is it not So nv
brothers?
For we are toe Stockings Of Chasa, blood is our
milk, my brothers
Awake, children Cf the Cr1tetga, awake!
The v,1lt,re wheels the jaeI;al shifts the air;
Awake, children OF the UIntetwa-cry aloud, We
There is the foe, We shall slay them. Is it not So
my brothers?
s'gee! S'gee! S'Geel
Such is rough translation of thas
hateful chant which l often hear to thi.
very day in my dreams. It does not
look particularly imposing ON paper, buG
if the reader coald have heard it as ir
rolled through the still air from the
threats of nearly three thousand warriors
singing all to time, ne would have found
it impressive enough.
Now the shields began to appear over
the brow of tie rise. They came by
companies, each company about hum
dred strong. Altogether there were
thiEty-one companies. l counted them.
When all were over they formed them
selves into q triple line, then trotted
down the slope toward us. At dis
lance of hundred and fifty yards or
just out OF shot Of such guns as we had
in those days, they halted and began
singing again:
Yonder is the kraal of the white mana little
kraal, my brothers;
We shall 60: it up. we shall trample it fat, my
brothers,
But where are the white mans cattle-where are
his oxen, my brothers:
This question seemed to puzzle them a
good deal, for they sang the song again
and again. At last herald came for
ward, great man with ivory rings on
his arm, and putting his hands to his
mouth, called out to US asking where our
cattle were.
Hans Botha climbed ON to the top Of a
wagon and roared out that they might
o,,cvrar no c,Ioc+iNp fbar,,caIx-o-
Then the herald called again, saying
that he saw that the cattle had been sent
away.
1--WE shall go and find the cattle" he
said, ''then we shall come and kill you,
because without cattle you must stop
where you are, but if we wait to kiIl you
before we get the cattle, they may have
trekked too far for Us TO follow. But if
you try to run away we shall easily
catch You white menu
This struck me as a very odd speech,
for the EUlus generally attack an enemy
first and take bis cattle afterwards; still,
there was 4 certain amount of plausi
bility about it. While was stiIl won
dering what it all might mean, the
Zulus began TO run past us in companies
towards the river. Suddenly q shout
announced that they had found the spoor
of the cattle, and the whole imp of
them started down It at q run TIL shey
vanished over a rise about quarter Of .
mile away.
We waited for half an hour or more,
but nothing could We see of them.
Now I wonder if the devils have
really gone said Hans Botha to me.
at is very strange
twill go and see said Indaba-1mbi,
"if you VIII come with mo, Macuma-
zahn. We can creep to the top Of the
ridge and look over
at first hesitated, but curiosity over
came me. / WIS young in those Gays
and weary with suspense.
VERY well" said. I'VE viii 60"
So we started l had my elephant gun
and ammunition. Indaba-zmbi had his
medicine bag and an assegai. We crept
20 the top Of the rise like sportsnen stalk
ing buck. The slope on the other side
was strewn with rocks, among which
grew bushes and tall grass.
'~Tbey must have gone down the Don
ga | said TO Indaba-1mbi, Il can't see
one of them
As 1 spoke there came roar Of men
all around me From every rock, from
every tuft OF grass rose Zulu warrior.
Before could turn, before could hft
gun, l was seized and thrown.
Hold him, Hold the white spirit
fastr' cried q voice. Hold him. or be
viii slip away ike snake. Don't hurt
him. but hold him fast. Let Indaba-
ziu1hi walk BIZ has side