Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-11-26
A FEAST IN zULULAND.
The Killing of the Cattle for the Occasion
an Exciting Event.

- -
an Exciting Event.
A dozen magnificent long-horned
cattle were run into the kraal and
seven stalwart warriors followed them
in, assagais in hand. Crowding the
cattle in a bunch against the wall,
each warrior singled out a victim,
and with a mighty thrust plunged
the keen, bright blade into the ami
mails heart. Generally speaking, the
one swift, sure blow was sufficient,
but in two or three cases the stricken
animals avoided the death thrust,
and, goaded TO madness by the deep
wound, made matters exceedingly
lively for the Zulus for the next few
minutes, chasing them frantically
about the kraal until some we'll
hurled assegai brought them to earth.
One big steer horned like a Texan,
kept his feet and fought till a dozen
Rssegai blades were hurled buried
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 as
a Spanish bull-fght. When they
were all killed the crowd, who had.
been enjoying the fun from the kraal
wall, hoped into the arena and as
sisted in the work of skinning and
cutting up. AS many as could get
around an animal assisted, and one
could scarce imagine more barbar-
Gus spectacle than horde OF Zulus
skinning and dissecting dozen COWS
The blood was allowed to remain in
the flesh, and men, women and chill
dren were seen carrying off huge
pieces Of red, Quivering flesh, slung
over their shoulders, 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 tall,
black warriors hacked and slashed,
like the sayages they were. While
the women boiled the beef in big iron
kettles obtained from Natal, the war
riors engaged in big dance.
You can never quite catch the
spirit Of Zulu dance by merely hear
ing it described, any more than you
can realize the exhilaration of wine
without trying it. The warriors
turned out about 800 strong on this
occasion, and the dance took place on
level bit Of ground outside the.
kraal. The whole community was
gathered In a black mass, squattingi
in irregular ranks on the grass to see
the dance. After the beeves had all
been cut up, the warriors retired to-
their huts, Then very shortly they
came struggling out again, one bY
one, the blood washed off and their
bodies decorated with an the gew-.
gaWs OF war. Many wore kits of
Zanzibar Cat-tails or the tails Of
wolves and foxes, and round their
calves and biceps were ornaments Of
bead and of leopard skin. On each
warriors head was discus of black
mimosa gum, polished until it looked
like a circle of Jet With ox-hide
shields and bright assegais they
trooped into the kraal until all were
assembled.
Then, forming into ranks as natu-
raj as company of grenadiers, they
marched out into the dancing ground,
singing a strange, weird chant in ac-
compartment to the rattle Of assegai
on shield and measured tramp of
feet. One could see at a glance now
that every Zulu is warrior born.
Here they were, the yeriest savages
TO all intent, naked as animals, yet
playing soldier with a bearing and
precision Of movement that European
troops, with all their scientific train
ing, could hardly hope to beat. For
ward they stepped, then filing off
into semi-circle, two deep, they stood,
proud and erect, the most splendid
specimens Of martial manhood l ever
saw, their black eyes glistening with
suppressed fire, their chests heaving
and muscles twltching in auticipa-
ton Of the signal to begin. For
minute they stood there, every foot
in the crescent keeping time, and
every assegai softly tapping time
against the shield to low, buzzing
melody.-Boston Bulletin.