The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-11-13

better stuff for fighting purposes than
Wambe's Matukus.
These odds, though large, were not.
under the circumstances, oyerWheim-
ing
The real obstacle to our chance Of
success was the difficulty Of delivering
crushing assault against Wambe's
strong place.
! This was, it appeared, fortified all
round with schanses, or stone walls,
and contained numerous caves and
koppies in the hillside and at the foot
Of the mountain which no force had
ever been able to capture.
1t was said that in the time of the
Zulu monarch Dingaan, great Impi
of that king having penetrated to this
district, had delivered an assault upon
the kraal, then owned by forefather
of Wambe, and been beaten back with
the loss of more than 1000 men.
Having thought the question over. |
closely Intercepted Maiwa az to the
Notifications and the typographical Pc
culiarities Of the spot, and not without
results.
/ discovered that the kraal was in
deed iInpregnable to front attack, but
that it was very slightly defended at
the rear, which ran up the slope of the
mountain indeed, only b. two lines Of
stone walls.
The reason of this was that the
mountain is quite impossible, except
by one secret path. supposed to be
known only to the chief and his coun-
cilors, and this being so, 1t mad not
been considered necessary to fortify it.
"Well," / said, when she had done.
"and now as to this secret path of
thine knowest thou aught Of it?''
SAY" she answered, Il am no fool,
Macumazahn.
knowledge learned is power earned,
II won the secret of that path"
"And canst thou guide an Impi there
on, SO that it shall fan upon the town
from behindG''
sYes, that can do, if only Wambes
people know not that the Impi comes,
for if they know, then can they block
the way
$50, then, here is my plan.
Listen, Nala, and say if it be good;
or, If you have a better, show it forth.
LET messengers go out and summon
all thy Inpi, that it be gathered here
on the third day from now.
''This being done, let the Impi, led by
Maiwa, march on the morrow Of the
fourth day, and crossing the noun
tains, let it travel along on the other
side of the mountains till it come to
the place on the farther side of which
is the kraal of Wambe; that shall be
some three days journey in all about
100 niles.
''Then, on the night of the third days
journey let Maiwa lead the Impi in
silence up the secret path, SO that it
comes to the crest Of the mountain
that is above the Strong Place, and
here let it hide among the rocks.
Meanwhile, on the sixth day from
now, let one OF the Inundas of Nala
bring with him two hundred men thar
have guns, and take me and my men as
prisoners, and take also girl from
among the Butiana people who by
form and face is like unto Maiwa and
bind her hands, and pass by the road
on which we came, and, through the
cutting in the cliff, on to the kraal of
Wambe.
But the men shall take no shields or
plumes with them, only their guns and
one short spear, and when they meet
the people of Wambe they shall say
that they come to give up the woman
and the white man and his party to
Wambe, and to make atonement to
Wambe.
$50 shall they pass in peace, and
travelling thus, on the evening Of the
seventh day we shall come to the gate
of the place of Wambe, and nigh the
gates there is, SO says Maiwa, koppie
very strong and full of rocks and caves,
but having no soldiers thereon except
in time of war. or, at the worst, but a
few such as can easily be overpowered.
This being done, at the dawn of day
must the Impi on the mountain behind
the town light a FIRE, and put wet
grass thereon, so that the smoke goes
up.
Then at the sight Of the smoke viii
we in the koppie begin to shoot into
the town of Wambe, wherein all the
soldiers will run to kill, us.
but we will hold our own, and while
we fight the Impi shall charge down
the mountain side and climb the
schanses, and put those who defend
them to the assegai, and then, falling
upon the town, shall surprise it. and
drive the soldiers Of Wambe as the
wind blows the dead husks Of corn
This is my plan. / have spoken
"Ou" said Nala; 1T is good; it is
very good
To be contin Iedl
A., 1rya T,aa<