San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-05
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CURSE OF BALEKA.

which happened at the kings kraal.
After |, Mopo, had stood before the
king, and he had given me new wives
and fat cattle and a kraal TO dwell
in, the bones of Unandi, the Great
Mother Elephant, Mother of the
Heavens, were gathered together from
the ashes of my huts, and because
all could not be found some of the bones
of my wives were collected also to make
up the number. But Chaka never knew
this. When all were brought together
great pit was dug and the bones were
set out in order in the pit and buried.
Chaka gave orders that no crops should
be sown that year, that the milk of the
cows should be spilled on the ground,
and that no woman should give birth to
child for full year.
Then for a little while there was
quiet and Chaka went about heavily,
and he wept often, and we who waited
on him wept also as we walked, till at
length it came about by use that we
could weep without ceasing for many
hours. No angry woman can weep as
we wept in those days. 1t was an art,
my father, for the teaching of which
received many cattle, for woe to him
who had no tears III those days. Then
it was also that Chaka sent out the cap
tain and fifty soldiers to search for UNI
slopogaas, for though he said nothing
more to me of this matter, he did not
believe all the tale that had told him
of the death of UmslOpogaas in the Jaws
of lion. How that company Jared |
have told you.
At last came the night of the new
mOon-that dreadful night to be fol-
lowed by more dreadful morrow.
All night long the people drew on
from every side toward the kraal, and
filled the night with their cries. None
might cease their crying and none dared
to drink so much as a cup of water. The
daylight came and Chaka rose, saying,
Come, let us go FORTH Mopo and look
on those who mourn with US" So we
went out, and after us came men armed
with clubs to do the bidding of the king.
Outside the kraal the people were
gathered, and the land was black with
them. When they saw the king they
ceased from their bowling and sang the
war song, then once again they howled,
and Chaka walked among them weep
ing. Now, my father, the sight became
| dreadful, for as the sun rose higher tbH
day grew hot and utter WEAKNESS came
upon the people, who were packed to-
gether like herds of cattle, and though
oxen slain in sacrifice lay around, they
might neither eat nor drink. Some fell
to the ground and were trampled to
death, others took much snuff to make
them weep, others stained their eyes
with saliva, others walked to and fro,
their tongues hanging from their jaws,
| while groans broke from their parched
! threats.
"Now, Mopo, we shall learn who are
the wizards that have brought these ills
upon us, said the king, land who are
! true hearted men,"
AS he spoke we came upon a man,
| chief of renown. He was named
Zwaumbana, chief of the AmabOvus,
and with him were his wives and fol-
lowers. This man could weep no more.
He gasped with thirst and heat. The
king looked at him.
"See, Mopo," he said, "see that brute
who has no tears for my mother who is
dead! Oh, the monster without heart!
Shall such as he live to look upon the
sun while / and thou must weep, Mopo?
Never! never! Take him away and all
those who are with him! Take them
away. the people without hearts, who do
not weep because my mother is dead by
witchcraft!'
And Chaka walked on weeping, and
followed also weeping, but the chief
Zwaumbana and those with him were
all slain by those who do the bidding of
the king, and the slayers also must weep
as they Slew. Presently we came upon
another man, who, seeing the king,
took snuff secretly to bring tears to his
eyes. But the glance of Chaka was
quick and he noted it,
Look at him, Mopo," he said; "look
at the wizard who has no tears, though
my mother is dead by witchcraft. See,
he takes snuff to bring tears to his eyes
that are dry with wickedness. Take
him away, the heartless brute! Oh, take
him away"
SO this one also was killed, and these
were but the first of thousands, for
presently Chaka grew mad with wick
edness, with fury and with the lust of
blood. He walked to and fro weeping,
going now and again into his hut to
drink beer, and with him, for he said
that we who sorrowed must have food.
And ever as he walked he would wave
his arm or his assegai, saying, Take
them away, the heartless. brutes, who do
not weep because my mother is dead"
and those who CHANGED to stand before
his arm Mere killed till at length the