The National tribune., 1893-11-23


war, with the result that to-day only small
proportion of the nation are Zulus of pure
blood.
Lobengula who is said to possess firm will,
great tact, much strength of mind, and some
humOr, is now an enormously fat old man of
60 years of age. His hight is not more than
five feet IL inches but owing to his excessive
stoutneSs he seems to be shorter than he is in
reality. Notwithstanding his corpulence he
has dignity of his own. When III full dress
he wears broad. brimmed black felt hat. with
O broad, black felt vest with band Of monkey
skins round his waist and a sword by his side.
Sometimes he twists a bit of blue calico round
his shoulders.
He always lives in q wagon and often has
oxen put in and moves off to another kraal at a
moments notice. and then the whole crowd OF
iudunas, wives and attendant slaves have to
follow him. Follow my wagon spoons is the
Kings answer when the white men ask him
where he is going. and so the British repre-
sentative and whoever has business with the
King follow him in their wagons or SHIFT their
camps to wherever he goes.
The scene in the Kings kraal is a very lively
and picturesque one. From early morning TO
sunset a stream of natives file into his presence.
With knees little bent, tho left shoulder high,
the right shoulder dropping to show no weapon
is concealed, they enter the kraal shouting from
a long distance the Kings praises alluding to
him in terms rather startling to U.S. for instances:
"Son of black COW" "Child of another child"
"Son of a sum-" ETC., the King apparently not
taking the slightest notice of all this.
Nothing happens in the kingdom, down to
the death of goat OF an OK, the killing of q
lion, the illness or death of a man, woman or
child, which is not Immediately reported TO the
King. While all these messengers squat down
before the King and tell their tale, there will
appear from another side long file of young
men carrying poles or reeds for hut building
singing i'm chorus until they have deposited
their burdens. Everything that is brought to
the Kings kraal, except meat and beer, is
brought in singing. All who are given audience
must squat on their launches, whether they be
white men of high degree or not.
This old fellow has SO queens and good
many mothers. not mothers-in-law, but suryiv-
ing wives of his fathers, who are treated with
great respect. This large hsrem is not kept
together, but dispersed all over the country,
where the women rule the different kraals and
only limited number arc always in personal
attendance at the Kings residence.
The Zulu customs are still adhered TO by the
Maltabeles One for instance, is smelling
out" Somebody dies or perhaps the King or
one of his wives suffers from mysterious pains,
or a child is born deformed, or a murrain
breaks out among the royal oxen. The witch
doctors aud doctresSes are consulted and de-
clare lDe evil 10 DC the WoEk OF al uUtaRdtl
or wizard. Then they proceed TO name the
wizard, who, by art magic has contrived the Ill
in question, and who. oddly enough, very often
happens to be man rich in cattle, of whom the
King or Chief is anxious TO be rid.
The circle is formed, the doctors and
dOctresses, bedizened in skins and bones, go
through their antics and ceremonies calling on
the shades of their forefathers and consulting
the spirits hy means of bones, which they
q hrou llta ut he af he
guilty person is tremendously revealed to them.
Perhaps he is sitting there in the circle before
them safe in his innocence and believing him.
selfto be trusted servant and soldier of the
King when the isaa&si creeps up to him and
touches him with the fateful wand, de-
nouncing him as the man whose spirit thought
the egil thing
From the touch Of that wand there is no ap-
peal, and for the most part the victim dies
within the hOHr. Heis led away and his neck
is twisted or bis brains are dashed out, and his
name becomes a Kissing and TepToach. That