San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-06


he destroyed many for sport alone, also
he slew on this day all those whom he
hated or whom he feared.
At length the night came down, the
sun sank red that day, all the sky was
like blood and blood was all the earth
beneath. Then the killing ceased, be-
cause none had now the strength to kill
and the people lay painting in heaps upon
the ground, the living and the dead to-
gether. looked at them and saw that
if they were not allowed to eat and
drink before day dawned again the most
of them would be dead, and | spoke to
the king, for cared little in that hour
if | lived or died. Even my hope of
vengeance was forgotten in the sickness
of my heart
"a mourning, indeed, o king"
said; "a merry mourning for true heart
ed men, but. for wizards a mourning
such as they do not love. think that
thy sorrows are avenged, o king, thy
sorrows and mine also"
mot so, Mopo," answered the king;
''this is but the beginning. Our mourn
ing was merry today, it shall be mer-
rier tomorrow"
Tomorrow, o king, few will be left
to mourn, for the land will be swept OF
them"
"Why, Mopo, son of Makedama? But
a few have persisted of all the thousands
who are gathered together. Number
the people and they will not be missed. y
But few have died beneath the as,
segai and the kerry, o king. Yet hun,
ger and thirst shall finish the spears
work. The people have neither eaten
nor drunk for day and a night, and
for day and a night they have walled
and moaned. Look without, Black One
there they lie in heaps with the dead
By tomorrow's light they also will be
dead or dying"
Now Chaka thought awhile, and he
saw that the work would go too far,
leaving him but small people oven
whom to rule.
1t is hard, Mopo," he said, chat thou
and must mourn alone over our woes
while these dogs feast and make merry
Yet because Of the gentleness of my
heart l will deal gently with them. GC
out, son of Makedama, and bid my chill.
dren eat and drink if they have the
heart, for this mourning is ended"
Happy are the people over whom
such king is set" said in answer
Then | went out and told the words OF
Chaka to the chiefs and captains.
On the morrow many of the people
went back to their homes, having sought
leave from the king; others drew away
the dead to the place of bones, and yet
others were sent out in impis to kill
such as had not come to the mourning
of the king. When midday was passed
Chaka said that he would walk, and or
dered me and other of his indunas and
servants to walk with him. We went
on in silence, the king leaning on my
shoulder as on a stick. what of thy
people, Mopo?' he said at length; what
of the tangent tribe? Were they at my
mourning? did not see them"
Then | answered that did not know.
They had been summoned, but the way
was long and the time short for SO many
30 march so far.
dogs should run swiftly when their
master calls, Mopo, my servant, said
Chaka. Then grew sick at heart, my
father-aye, though | loved my people
little and they had driven me away.
Now we had come to a spot where there
is great rift of black rock, and the
name of that rift is UDonga-lu-ka-TatI-
yana On either side of this rift the
ground slopes steeply down toward its
yawning lips, and from its end man
may see the open country. Here Chaka
sat down at the end of the rift, ponder
ing. Presently he looked up and saw a
vast multitude of men, women and
children, who wound like a snake across
the plain beneath toward the kraal Giba-
maxegu.
"Methinks, Mopo," said the king
that by the color of their shields yon-
der should be the Langeni tribe-thine
own people, Mopo."
1T is my people, o king" l answered.
Then Chaka sent messengers, running
swiftly, and babe them summon the
Langeni people to him where he sat.
Other messengers he sent also to the
kraal, whispering in their ears, but
what he said did not know then.
Now for awhile Chaka watched the
long black snake of men winding to-
ward him across the plain till the mes
sengers met them and the snake began
to climb the slope of the hill.
How many are these people of thine,
Mopo" asked the king.
81 know not, o Elephant" answer
ed, "who have not seen them for many
years. Perhaps they number three full
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