Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-21
CHAPTER w

MOPO GOES TO SEEK THE SLACGHTERER.
Now Dingaan, deserting the kraal
Duguza, moved back to Zululand and
built great lraal by the Mahlabatino,
which he named "Umgugundhlovu''-
that is, 1.-The rumbling of the elephant.'
Also, he caused all the fairest girls in
the land to be sought out as his wives,
and though many were found yet he
Craved for more. And at this time a
rumOr came to the ears of the king
Dingaan that there lived III Swaziland
among the HalaEazi tribe a girl of the
most wonderful beauty, who was named
the Lily and whose skin was whittier
than arc the skins of our people, and he
desired grestly TO have this girl to wife.
So Dingaan cent an embassy to the chief
Of the Halakazi, demanding that the
girl should be given to him.
This was the message Of the chief of
the Halakazi to Dingaan, king of the
Zulus: That the maid who was named
the Lily was indeed the wonder Of the
parth and as yet unwcd; for she had
found no man upon whom she looked
with favor, and she was held in such
love by this people that it was not their
wish to force any husband ON her.
Moreover, the chief said that he and his
PEOPLE detied Dingaan and the Xulus. as
their fathers had dpficd Chaka before
him, and spat upon his name, and that
no maid of theirs should 60 to be the
wife Of Il Zulu dog. Then the chief Of
the IIalakai caused the maid who was
no | to, IA l,1 Id 10,
Fcngers OF Dingaan, and they found her
wonderfully fair, for 50 they said: She
was tall as reed and her grace was the
grace of a reed that is shaken in the
wind. Moreover, her hair curled and
hung upon her shoulders; her eyes were
large and brown and soft as bucks,
her color was the color Of rich cream,
her smile was like ripple on the waters.
and when she spoke her voice was low
and swcetor than the sound Of an instru-
mcnt Of music.
NOW, when Dingaan heard this mes
sage he grew mad as Il lion in net, for
he desired this maid above everything.
and yet he who had all things could not
win the maid. This was his command.
that great ilnpi shouIl be gathered and
sent to Swaziland against the Halakazi
tribe, TO destroy them aid seize tho maid
But when the matter came on to be dis
uusscd with the indunas III the presence
Of the king, at the Amapakati, or coun-
Gil, |, as chief Of the induuas, spoke
against it, saying that the tribe Of the
HalakaHi were great and strong and that
war with them would mean war with
the Swazis also; moreover, they had their
dwellings, in caves which were hard to
win. Also | said that this was no time
TO send impis to seek a single girl, for
few years had gone by since the Black
One fell, and fOLs were many, and the
soldiers of the land had waxod few with
slaughter, half OF them having persisted
In the marshes of the Limpopo. Now,
time must be given them to grow up
again, for today they were as a little
child or like a man wasted with hunger.
Maids were many; let the king take them
and satisfy his heart, but let him make
no war for this one.
Thus ! spoke boldly in the face Of the
king, as none had dared to speak before
Lhaka, and courage passed from me to
The hearts Of the other indunas and gen
erals and they echoed my words.
Dingaan wasrotso firmly seated on the
throne that he dared put away our words,
for still there We're many in the land who
loved the memory Of Chaka and remen-
bered that Dingaan had murdered him
nnd Umhlangana also. For now that
Lhaka was dead people forgot how ovilly
be bad dealt with them, and remembered
lniy that ne was great man, VINO nae
made the Zulu people out Of nothing.
Also, though they had changed masters,
yet their burden was not lessened; for,
Is Chaka slew, SO Dingaan slew also,
and as Chaka oppressed so did Dingaan
ha.ress. Therefore Dingaan yielded to