Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-02-12
A FEAST IN zULULANo.
The Killing Of the Cattle for the oeea-
sion an Exciting Event.

The Killing Of the Cattle for the Oeca-
sion an Exciting Event.
A dozen magnificent long horned
cattle were run into the kraal, and sew
eral stalwart warriors followed them
In, assegais in hand. Crowding the
cattle in a bunch up against the wall,
each warrior singled out a victim, and
with a mighty thrust plunged the keen,
bright blade into the animals heart.
Generally speaking, the one swift, sure
stroke was sufficient, but in two or
three cases the stricken animals avoid
ed the death thrust, and, goaded to
madness by the deep wound, made
matters exceedingly lively for the Zu-
lus for the next few minutes, chasing
them frantically about the kraal until
some well hurled assegai brought them
10 earth. One big steer, horned like a
Texan, kept his feet, and fought until
\ dozen assegai blades were hurled in
his body, and in his blind rushing he
knocked over a couple of men and
ripped one very badly up the thigh.
The whole affair was as exciting rs a
Spanish bull fight. When they were
all killed the crowd, who had been en-
joying the fun from the kraal wall,
hoped into the arena and assisted in
the work Of skinning and cutting up.
As many as could get around All ami
NAL assisted, and one could scarcely
imagine a more barbarous spectacle
than a horde of Zulus skinning and
dissecting a dozen COWS. The blood
was allowed to remain in the flesh. and
men, women and children were seen
carrying off the huge pieces Of red,
~quivering flesh slung over their shout
ders. with the blood trickling down
their sleek. dark skins to their heels.
Children besmeared their faces and
bodies for fun, and about each carcass
a group Of talls black warriors hacked
and slashed. like the savages they were.
While the women boiled the beef in
big iron kettle, obtained from Natal.
the warriors engaged in a big dance
You can never quite catch the spirit
VI a Zulu dance by merely hearing il
described. any more than you can real
ne the cNhilaratiuu Of wine without
trying il. The warriors turned out
about 800 strong on this occasion. and
the dance took place on a level bit Of
ground outside the kraal. The whole
community was gathered in a black
mass. squatting in irregular ranks on
the grass to see the dance. After the
beeves had all been cut up the warri
- --es-.l -. W1.rr 1uuW- III. v.--
shortly they came struggling out again.
one by one. the blood washed of. and
their bodies decorated with all the cew-
gaws of war. Many wore kills # Fan
Lbar cat tails OF tire tails Of wolves and
foxes, and round their calves and bi-
ceps were Of bead and Of
leopard skin. On each warriors head
was a discus Of black mimoSa gum. pol
ished until il looked like a circlet Of
jet. With OK hide shields and bright
assegais they trooped into the kraal un-
I'll all were assembled.
Then forming into ranks AS natural
as a company Of greuadiers, they
marched out unto the dancing ground,
singing a strange. weird chant ia &c
compartment to the rattle Of assegai
on shield and measured tramp Of feet
One could see at "a glance now that
every Zulu is a warrior born. Here
they were. the veriest Savages 10 all
intent, naked a. animals. yet playing
soldier with "A bearing and precision Of
movement that European troops. with
all their scientific training, could hard
ly hope TO beat. Forward they stepped.
then filing of into symicirclc. two
deep they stood, proad and erect. the
most splendid specimens Of martial
manhood | evcr saw. their bl1ca eyes
glistening with suppressed tire. their
chests heaving and muscles fetching.
st. Louis Globc-DpmOcrat.