The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-08
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WAR WITH THE HALAKAz1 pEop1

THE WAR WITH THE HALAKAZI PEOPLE.
Now. my father, must tell of how
Umslopogaas the Slaughterer and Galazi
the Wolf Jared in their war against the
People, of the Halakazi. When | had
gone from the shadow of the Ghost
mountain Umslopogaas summoned a
gathering of all his headmen and told
them that the People of the AK should
no longer be a little people: that they
should grow great and number their
cattle by tens of thousands.
The headmen asked would he then
make war on Dingaan, the king? UNI
slopogaas answered, No, he would win
the favor of the king thus, and he told
them of the Lily maid and of the Hala-
kazi tribe in Swaziland, and of how he
would go up against that tribe. Now
some of the headmen said yea to this,
and some said nay, and the talk ran high
and lasted till the evening. But when
the evening was come Umslopogaas rose
and said he was chief under the ak, and
none other, and that this was his will
that they should go up against the Hala-
kali. If there was any man there who
would gainsay his will let him stand
forward and do battle with him, and he
who conquered should order all things.
To this there was no answer, for there
were few who cared to look upon the
beak of Groanmaker, and so it came
about that it was agreed that the Peo-
pie of the AK should go up against the
Halakazi, and Umslopogaas sent out
messengers to summon every fighting
man to his side.
But when Zinita, his wife. came to
hear of the matter she was wroth and
4upbraided Umslopogaas and heaped
curses on me, Umbova, whom she knew
only as the mouth of Dingaan, because.
as she said truly. had put this thought
into the mind of the Slaughterer.
"Whatr' she said; "do you not live here
in peace and plenty. and must you go to
make war on those who have not harmed
you, there perhaps to perish or come to
other i'll! You say you do this to win a
girl for Dingaan and to find favor in his
sight Has not Dingaan girls more than
he can count? 1t is more likely that
i wearying of as, your wives, you go to
win girls for yourself, Bulalio, and as
for finding favor. rest quiet; SO shall you
find most favor If the king sends his
impis against you then it will be time to
fight, o fool with little wit"
Thus Zinita spoke to him, and Um-
slopogaas could not challenge her to
battle.
Now on the third day all the fighting
men were gathered, and there might
have been two thousand of them, good
men and brave Then Umslopogaas
went out to them and spoke to them.
telling them of this adventure. and Ga
lazi the Wolf was with him.
Now great ishout rose from every
throat.
I'VE will go with you. Bulalio. to vic
tory or DEATH"
So on the morrow they went and trav-
eled fast, and after awhile entered the
territory of the Halakazi. At dawn
Umslopogaas looked out over the wide
plains beyond and Galazi showed him a
long, low hill, two hours march away
There, my brother" he said, sis the
head kraal of the Halakazi, where was
born, and in that hill is the great cave. '
Then they went on, and before the
sun was high they came to the crest OF
rise and heard the sound of horns on
the farther side of the rise. They stood
upon the rise and looked, and 10! yet far
off and running toward them, was the
whole impi of the Halakazi, and it was q
great impi
Then Umslopogaas and Galazi made
ready for the battle. They posted all
the young men in the broken ground
above the bottom of the slope. for these
could best be spared to the spear. and
Galazi the Wolf took command of them;
but the veterans staid upon the hillside.
and with them Umslopogaas.
Now the Halakazi came on, and there
were four full regiments of them; the
plain was black with them and the air
was rent with their shoutings, and like
ightnings flashed their spears. On the
farther side of the slope they halted and
cent q herald forward to demand what
the People of the AK would have Of
them. The Slaughterer answered that
they would have three things: First
the head of their chief, whose place Ga
hzi should fill henceforth; second, that
fair maid whom men named the Lily
third, thousand head of cattle. Il
these things were granted then he woulG
spare them. the Halakazi; if not, HI
would stamp them fiat and take all.
So the herald returned, and when b,
reached the ranks at the Halakazi h,
called aloud his answer. Then grea
roar Of laughter went up from the Hala
kazi--a roar that shook the earth. TIL
brow of Umslopogaas the Slaughtere
burned red beneath the black when h
heard it, and he shook Groanmaker to
ward their host.
s "Ye shall sing another song befor
this sun is set he cried, and strod
along the ranks speaking to this ma
and that by name, and lifting up thei
hearts with great words.
Now the Halakazi raised shout an
charged.
It was soon done when once it wa
begun. Some We're fled and some wer
dead, and this was the end of that fgh1
f At .,lt farL. ,i1t. 10 q