The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-09-09


Now it is, my father, that the white
men come into the story whom we
named the Amaboona, but you call the
Beers.
Before this time, indeed, a few white
men had come to and fro to the kraals
Of Chaka and bingham, but these came
to pray and not to fight.
Well. when had been back from the
Ghost mountain something less than
moon, the Beers came, sixty Of them,
commanded by q captain named Retief,
q big man, and armed with roers-the
long guns they had in those days-Or
perhaps they numbered hundred in all,
counting their servants and after riders.
This was their purpose: To get grant
of the land in Natal that lies between
the Tugela and the Umzimoubu rivers
But, by my counsel and that of other
indunas, Dingaan bargained with the
Beers that first they should attack
certain chief named Sigomyela, who had
stolen the kings cattle and who lived
near the QuGthlamba mountains, and
bring back the cattle. This the Beers
agreed to, and went to attack the chief
and in a little while they came back
again, having destroyed the people of
Sigomyela, and driving his cattle before
them as well as those which had been
stolen from tia king.
The face of Dingaan shOne when he
saw the cattle, and that night he called
us, the council Of the Amapakati, to-
gether and asked Us as to the granting
Of the country. / spoke the first, and
said that it mattered little if he granted
it, seeing that the Black One who was
dead had already given it to the Eng
lish, the People of George, and the end
of the matter would be that the Anna
boona and the People of George would
fight for the land.
Now when l had spoken thus the
heart of Dingaan grew heavy and his
face dark, for my words stuck in his
breast like a barbed spear. Still he
made 10 answer, but dismissed the
council.
On the morrow the king promised to
sign the paper giving the lands they
asked for to the Beers, and all was
smooth as water when there is no wind.
Before the paper was signed the king
gave q great dance. for there were many
for three days this dance went on, but
on the third day he dismissed the regi-
ments, all except one, an impi Oh lads,
| who were commanded to stay. Now oil
| this while / wondered what was in the
mind of Dingaan and was afraid for the
| Amaboona. But he was secret, and told
nothing except to the captains of the
! regiment alore-no, not even to one OF
his council. Yet l knew that he planned
| evil, and was half inclined to warn the
| Captain Reticf, but did not, fearing to
make myself foolish.
On the fourth morning early Dingaan
| sent messenger to the Beers, bidding
them meet him in the cattle kraal, for
there he would mark the paper. So
they came, stacking their guns at the
| gate of the kriAal, for it was death for
| any man, white or black, to come armed
| before the presence of the king. Now,
| my father, tho kraal Ungugundhlovu
was built in a great circle, after the
! fashion of royal kraals. First came the
high outer fence, then the thousands of
| huts that ran three parts around be-
tween the great fence and the inner one.
Within this inner fence was the large
open space, big enough to hold five regi-
ments, and at the top Of it. opposite the
entrance, stood the cattle kraal itself,
that cut off piece of the open space by
another fence bent like bow. Behind
this again were the Emposeni, the place
of the kings women, the guardhouse,
the labyrinth and the Intunkulu, the
house Of the king. Dingaan came out
OH that day and sat on stool IN front
of the cattle krhal, and by him stood q
man holding a shield over his head to
keep the sun from him. Also we of the
! Amapakati, the council, were there, and
! ranged around the fence of the space,
| armed with short sticks only-not with
kerries, my father-waS that regiment
of young men which Dingaan had not
sent away, the captain of the regiment
being stationed near to the king on the
right.
Presently the Beers came in on foot
and walked up TO the king in body,
and Dingaan greeted them well and
shook hands with Retief, their captain.
Then Retief drew the paper from Q
| leather pouch which set out the grant
of land, and it was translated to the king
nv an interpreter. Dingaan said that il
was good, and put his mark upon it, and
Retief and all the Beers were pleased
and smiled across their faces. Now they
would have said farewell, but DingaaI
forbade them. saying that they must moi
go yet. First they must eat and sex
the soldiers dance little, and he com
manded dishes of boiled flesh which
had been made ready and bowls of mill
to be brought to them. But the Boer'
said that they had already eaten; still
they drank the milk, passing the bowls
from hand to hand. Now the regiment
began to dance, singing the Ingoma; thai
is the war chant of us Zulus, my ia
Their, and the Beers drew back toward
the center of the space to give the sol
diers room to dance in. 1t was at THU
moment that l heard Dingaan give al
order to a messenger to run swiftly Il
the white Doctor of Prayers, who wa'
STAYING without the kraal, telling hin
not to be afraid, and l wondered what
this might mean, for why should the
PRAYER Doctor fear dance such as be
had often seen before? Presently Din
gaan rose, and followed by all walked
through the press to where the cap
tain, Retief, stood, and babe him fare
| WE'LL Stunning u4AI ny IiAO A1hu dhN OAN
ding him hambla CACHE, to go in peace
Then he turned and walked back again
toward the gateway which led to his
royal house, and l saw that near this
entrance stood the captain of the regi
ment, as enc stands who waits for orders
Then of sudden, my father, Dingaar
stopped and cried with loud voice
'Bulalani Abatakatir' (slay the wizards)
and having cried it he covered his fact
with the corner of his blanket and passed
behind the fence.
We, the councillors, stood astounded
like men who had become stone; but be
fore we could speak or act the captain
of the regiment had also cried aloud
''Bulalani Abatakatit' and the sigma
had been caught mp from every side
Then, my father, came a yell and rusl
of thousands of feet and through tn
dust we saw the soldiers hurl theIuselve
upon the Amaboona, and above t5
shouting we heard the sound of falling
sticks. The AmaboOna drew thei
knives and fought bravely, but before
! -o., oo,,l1 count Al huuIraI tNxyipa II Nya