Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-03-28

away, they said, and now the cnier, nj.
enemy, was dead Old Indaba-zimbi lis
tened to them till they had done. and. as
he listened, raked sand into a little heap
with his toes. Then he spoke, pointing
to the little heap
There is your tribe to-day" he said
Then he lifted his heel and stamped the
heap fiat. There is YOUR tribe before
three moons are gone. Nothing is left of
it. You drove me away: / will have no
more TO do with you; but when you are
being killed think of my words"
The messengers went. Three months
afterwards I heard that the whole com
munity had been wiped out hy an Impi of
raiding Pondos.
When | was at length ready to start up
on my expedition, went to old Indaba-
zimbi to say good-by to him, aud was rath-
er surprised TO md him engaged IN rolling
up medicine, assegais, and other sundries
in his blankets
''Good-by, Indabazimbi," said. 81 am
going to trek north.
yes, Macumazahu," he answered, with
his head on one side; land so am II
want to see that country. We will 90 to-
gether."
"Will wen' 1 said; "wait till you are
asked, you old humbug"
You had better ask me, then, Macum-
azahn, for if you don't you will never
come back alive. Now that the old chief
(my father is gone to where the storms
come FROM" and he nodded to the sky,
II feel myself getting into bad habits
again. SO last night | just threw up the
bones and worked out about your Journey,
and can tell You this, that If you don't
lie,
you will lose one who is dearer to you than
life. So just because you gave me that
hint a couple of years ago, made up my
mind to come with you"
Don't talk stuff to me,' l said.
"Ah, very well, Macumazahn, very we'll;
but what happened to my own people six
months ago, and what did tell the mes
sengers would happen2 They drove me
away, and they are gone If you drive
me away you will soon be gone, too, -
and he nodded his white lock at me and
smiled.
Now | was not more SUperStitiouS than
other people, but somehow old Indaba-
zimbi impressed me. Also knew his eX
traordinary influence over every class of
native. aud bethOught me that he might
be useful in that way.
"All right" l said; II appoint you
wftch-finder to the expedition without
pay"
First serve, then ask for wages" he
answered. Il am glad to see that you
have enough Imagination not to be alto
pether fool, like most white men, Ma
cumazahn. Yes, yes, it is want of imag-
inatiOu that makes people fools; they
won't believe what they can't understand,
You can't understand my prophecies any
more than the fool at the kraal could I'M
derstand that l was his master with the
lightning. Well, it is time to trek, but if
| were you, Macumazahu, l should take
one wagon, not two"
"Why?" | asked
Because you will lose your wagons, and
it is better to lose one than two"
ooh, nOnsenseI' | said.
''An right, Macumazahn, live and
learn" And without another word he
walked to the foremost wagon, put his
bundle into it and climbed into the front
| seat.
So having bid an affectionate adieu to
my white friends, including the old
Scotchman who got drunk in honor of the
event, and quoted Burns till the tears ran
down his face, at length I started and
Travelled slowly northward.
For the first three weeks nothing very
| particular bafelI me. Such Knffirs as we
came in contact with were friendly, ADD
| game literally swarmed. Nobody living
in those parts of South Africa nowadays
| can have the remotest idea of what the
veldt was like even thirty years ago.
Often and often l have crepU shiverine
On to my wagonbOX just as the sun rose
| and looked out. At first one would see
nothing but vast field of white mist
| suffused towards the east by a tremulOus
! golden glow, through which the tops OF
stony koppies stood up like gigantic bea
| cons. Through the dense mist would
come strange sOunds-snorts. gruutings
bellows, and the thunder of countless
| hOOfs.
TO be continued.)