The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-20
Mabande DUDE, the Grandson of a
Mighty Chief. Here.

by a lecture on Zululand given by Mabande
DUDE, a young native of what was once
the most hostile and savage of the South
African countries Mabande DUDE is a stu
dent of Wilberforce College, Ohio, and is
lecturing to get means with which to COM
plete his education. He has a brother in
Wilberforce and one in a theological sem
mary in Brooklyn 1t is the purpose of the
three young men to return to their ma
tive country and enlighten their fellow
men. Mabande DUDE expects to take a
course in architecture after he is through
at Wilberforce, and on his return to Zulu
land will establish an industrial school.
DUDE comes from one of the most power
full of the Zulu tribes. He was raised in
southeastern Africa, along the coast His
grandfather a mighty chief and his
father was a power in the tribe. Originally
the Matabeles, the savage race that has
given the British government so much trou-
bic, were of the Zulu people. But years ago
the Matabeles drew away from the other
tribes and the real Zulus have had little to
do with the recent South African troubles.
Young DUDE says his people are becoming
more civilized with the advent of the mis-
sionary and he has hopes OF final aban-
donmGnt Of the warlike ways and super
stitions of the people. Polygamy and the
Wltch-doctor are the worst elements that
the missionaries have to contend with.
Many of the natives OF the coun-
try have a multiplicity of wives.
When one of them accepts the Christian re-
ligion he must give up all his wives but
ole. Many of the natives hesitate about
breaking up their families, and thus the
missionaries have hard work in convincing
them of the true way of living. DUDE
father had but one wife. He was converted
after the family had removed to Natal
which they did in 1888. He accepted the
faith of the Congregational Church and
went to Cape Town, where he became a
Bible student.
DUDE relates an interesting story Of his
grandfather's time when the latter reigned
as high chief among the tribes. The elder
DUDE had a vast influence among the people,
which, it is said, excited the jealousy OF
King Chaka The latter became uneasy
and argued to himself that unless he did
something to lessen the power of the popu-
lar chief his throne was in danger. Young
Dube declares that the king conceived a
most devilish plot, which he proceeded 10
carry out. He invited to the mansion all
the tribes that were under the control OF
the elder DUDE and had his own men con-
cealed in a great forest near by DUDE did
not accompany the tribes to the King $
home, but all his men gathered there. About
forty thousand of them came at a stated
time and were fallen upon by the King men
and all save about one thousand put to
death. Those who escaped fled to Natal
with all the DUDE kth and kin.
1t is with the Zulu people that many Oh
the weirdy fascinating stories of II. Rider
Haggard have to deal. The story of "Nada,
the Lily" has to do with a tragic episode
in the life of King Chaka. Young DUDE Is
familiar with the tale. NADIA was beau
tiful Zulu maiden, who lived in a kraal
about twenty miles from the King. she was
the sweetheart of King Chaka's cousin:
Once Chaka saw. the girl and was impressed
with her pretty face and perfect hgure AL
though he had many wives, he made up
his mind he must have NADIA, and 1t was
the custom of the King to take what he de-
and told them to go to the kraal where
NADIA resided and fetch her to the mansion.
The men went as directed, but when they
found the girl they fell under the spell of
her rare beauty. They were friendly TO
Chaka's cousin, Nada's lover, and tnelr
hearts smote them They said to her: Ma va,
da, you hide yourself, and We shall tell
the King you cannot be found" The girl
secreted herself and the men returned to
be found Chaka was very angry and con-
ceived a violent hatred for his cousin.
Shortly afterward the men n, met and quar-
relied over the girl NADIA. They fought and
the King was stabbed to death with an
assegai in the hands of his cousin. The
story of NADIA was founded on this tragic
event. Young DUDE says that Haggard' s
st>.v of She is full of Zulu traditions.
Haggard has spent many years in Aululand,
where he is greatly beloved.
DUDE relates much of interest concerning
the manners and customs of his people.
All their men must marry by the IiIne
has only to go to her parents and offer
for her hand a certain number of cattle.
Five or six head of cattle will win the
average Zulu llidlueil, uilie9o 90 - e..
| blood. Then it squires a more costly otter-
| ing. The girl has nothing to say about
| her marriage. Her parents arrange all the
| details and often the young woman Is
| kept in ignorance of these preparations UNI
| til the day of the wedding. An OK team
| drives up to her door and she is told by
| her people that the man whose wife she IS
| to be has come for her. Should she refuse
| she is probably beaten. DUDE says these
! customs are yet observed among some of
| the Zulu tribes. He declares his people are
| far ahead of any other colored race in
| point of strength and intelligence. DUDE is
| small of stature and admits he is not fair
good English and has the appearance OF a
| Well-to-do young coored man. He says
| the British government is bound to have
serious trouble with the natives of South
! Africa He believes that on the death of
| the Queen there will be a general uprising
among the natives. The people OF his coun-
| try and in fact of all South Africa, he says,
| have great respect for the Queen.