Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-03-30
AN AFRICAN ABROAD,
Or an Amusing Story of What Quick
witted Zulu Saw in England,

thor of Zulu Land and Of Grammar of the
Zulu Language"
Some years ago several Zuus were taken
from Natal to England for exhibition.
During their years stay there they saw
and. heard much that was to them alike
puzzling, amusing and amazing.
"Marvels many and many wonders.
Returning to their African home, one of
them was induced to respond to a request
from some of the older men of his race,
chieftains and other men of rank, and tell
them something of the sights he had seen,
the thew and strange adventures through
which he had passed, a story than which,
to the rude dwellers of the Kraals, a talk
about linen whose heads do grow beneath
their shoulders could hardly have seemed
more incredible. Among the hearers of
the much-traveed young man there hap
pened to be one whose alike command of a
facile pen and perfect knowledge of the
language and customs of the Zulus having
been, as it were, ''to the manor born" en-
abled him to make a record of what was
said, hardly less accurate than would have
been photograph of the scene.
In the present abridging and editing of
that record, the writer's aim has been to
retain, so far as possible, the exact express
sions used by the narrator, and so give a
true and vivid picture of what an untu-
tored yet quick witted barbarian and
his keen observing friends think of a high
order of civilization. The party of which
we speak was now gathered in a large hall
at the capital. After sitting silent for a
time, quietly cycling the now noted traveller,
yet all unwilling to admit the curiosity they
felt as to the story they had cong to hear,
one of the chieftains broke the oppressive
silence by saying,
"Well, young man, it is said you are
older than we are; you have travelled fur
ther and seen more; you have crossed the
sea. Now tell us of your wanderings, but
do not pour lies upon us"
eyes, father" replied the youth, rever-
entially, 81 have crossed the sea; l have
seen London, the great place of the Eng
lish and l have seen the great places of
other white nations. | will tell you no
lies, but what my own eyes have seen can
l relate to you"
go on, my son." said the old council
or. "Begin with the sea-"
eyes" said the young traveller, "but
l must first tell you that when we left this
country the native hut tax had only Just
been established and when we asked why
we had to pay, we were told that in every
country people paid taxes We did not be-
lieve this. We thought that when anoth-
er's property is wanted a hole can always
be found in the fence. We determined to
investigate for ourselves and bring back
the truth. We did so; we inquired all
over England, in France, in Germany, in
Prussia; wherever we went they all said
they paid taxes. So we concluded shat
where the world ends, there ends taxation.
Going on the sea was hard to us, but
we said, we will try. Others have gone
and gone safely. Should we be selected
for different fate because we are black?'
AT first the ship went well enough: soon
it began to lean from side to side, and we
said, lit will fall over Presently we be-
came very sick and could eat nothing. We
thought we should die. Our hearts turned
behind us and we lamented for our friends.
AT length, however, we found ourselves re-
covering and the ship still keeping right
side up. We reached Cape Town and
thought that great place, but when we
reached England we saw otherwise. Leav-
ing the cape we soon lost sight of land,
and we thought, how can the ship find its
way without path? Before, behind, on
every side is nothing but sea- We be-
""AiSA Otai NOllulblOlI anu Sdlu, we snail all
die in the waste together But the white
men laughed at us, and told us they saw
their way in The sky; that the stars were
their guides and the sun their path, We
hoped this might be true, but we could not
see such a path, nor could we believe. We
said, however, surely these people do not
lie joking; for if we die they must also
After time the captain said we should see
and the next day, and this would prove |
hat he knew where he was. And. truly. |
he next day we did see land. Then our |
ears ceased, and our bodies melted into |
comfort. This, however, was only some |
sland in the sea. In the third month of |
'ur being in the ship we saw England: |
hen we were told that we were in the
mouth of river and soon after that Lon
Ion was before us. Our eyes, however
aW nothing but cloud of smoke. then
houses, and presently poles standing in the
water, like reeds in marsh-the masts of
he London ships. We went in among
hem, and our ship stOSd still. And now
We found ourselves in London, the great
'lace of the English"
To one of the listeners, inquiring, GLOW
arge was this great place." the young man
eplied:
1--WE never saw the end of it; we tried
lard to find it but could not. We assembled
very high building, like pole the mon
mentJ, to see where it ended, but saw
My houses, and streets and people. We
card that many people, born and grown
Id there, had never seen the end of it.
nd we said, IF such is the case, WIN
hould we, who are strangers, look for it,
We gave 1t up The people are so numer-
us that they tread one on another. All
ay and night the streets are crowded. We
bought some great thing had happened.
nd said, let us wait till the people have
assed on but they never did pass. If
ny one falls down he is trodden upon and
les; there is no rising again for him. The
lrtace of the earth is too small for the
eople, and some live under the earth, even
nder the water an allusion to the shops
the Thames tunnell."
That must be lie, young man." ex-
aimed one of the listeners. 81 hate a
ar" said another. "Perhaps it NAV be
ne" suggested third, 'let him explain"
mo, chiefs, it is no lie," replied the
Dung man, "for saw it with M own {
yes. Over one part of the London river
ley have built bridge, which people and
agons can cross upon; then there are
pats by which you can cross over, and I'M ,
or the river is a passage cut, through {
hich wagons and people can go, without |
moving that they have passed river at '
], for the water is above them; and it was |
ere that | saw people living" Q