Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-13
TROUBLE IN AFRICA
PROBABLE.
Fear That the Bioodthirsty Zuius VIII
Rise against British rule.


Tho zulrs characterized as "the fcrc-
est. most bioodthirsty nation OF fighters
in the world" Judging from their recent
restiveness and organized disorders, seem
TO be on the point OF an uprising. When
1t is remembered that in Natal alone
there are million of them as against one
hundred thousand white population, it
can he seen what tremendous havoc
they could create before England's full
power could be excrted to restore tran
guilty.
Chieftains like Rambaata and Dinizulu
have shown a defiance of British rule,
and. worse still, the horrid practice OF
sacrificing children to make the black
warriors immune from British bullets
has already begun.
This custom is taken as an almost in
falible sign of impending rebellion by
tho British colonial office
Under ordinary conditions, the Zulu
chicftsin n his own rougn way is fond
of his children. and the mother passion
atcly dcvotcs herself to them. whe. she
goes to work in the nd the little ones
arc apped to her back. and her care
over them Is constant, and no less de-
voted than tho mother love TO be found
in the Occident
But in time of warfare all family love
must be s'iborvlinatcd TO patriotism Then
the mothers deliver their little girls over
TO the witch doctors. The boys are
spared because Of their duty to grow
I'm, and become soldiers ready to fight
for their country.
Ruthlcssly are the poor little girls pu.
to death. and from tho slaughtered bod
ios is connected a nud, which. when
rubbed over the bodies OF warriors Is
believed to make them immune from the
effects of British bullets.
When about 70 practice their ncan-
tations these wizard doctors smear their
bodies and faces with white paint
Around their heads they wear circlcts of
tSh hlad1crs. and their bodies are CARRIED
IN buloCk's hides. Then to tho hclish
music of native instruments they sing
and dance about tho soldiers. daubing
them with the nuid. prepared in advance.
once anointcd thus, the Zulu has add
cd to his natural ferocity a fanatical
belief that he is safe: that he cannot be
injured. and goes forth to battle with a
reckless contempt of danger that oven a
japanese, secure in the rewards to come
to him after death, could not match.
The history of tho Zulu race has been
ono Of unceasing slaughters. or late the
blind courage OF tho people has been reg
ulatc1 by a certain craft learned from
associa ton with the white man in his
wars and his politics. This knowledge
has made the Zulu an infinitely greater
peril.
Thus Dnizulu. despite his habits, is
recognized as a menace because of his
mastery Of the white mans methods
Dni2ult. lives in a well constructed
building, furnished in the English STYLE
with large mrrored wardrobes in his
bedroom, and all the appliances of civil
lied life He has a brick house for his
occasional English guests and an Eng
fish valet to attend them. The graphic
phone forms main feature OF his
arusoments lie is a scholar OF some
pretcnsons. both in Zulu and English.
writes a bold lcgible hand and. despite
his drunkenness. he has force and di-
plomacN. and by virtue OF tradition
Yields over his followers power which
cannot be measured by the white mans
standards.
Dinzulu is to stand trial for the doc
trine Of instruction. British plans 10
try him for treason have been intcr-
fored with by tho danger that tho in
slant any attempt is made to punish him
tho uprising will be precipitatcd
In his appeals to his people, D nizulu
has craftly invoked the memory of
'haka, that mighty warrior of tradition
before whom none could stand. and in
the course Of whose wars were destroyed
moro than a million people.
After his triumph Chaka declined to
lot his own chosen soldiers marry, be-
cause hc said that home tics had
softeninE effect on a soldier. and do
rrived him OF that love of blood which
should he the first attribute of tho true
man Of war.
Chaka was killed by his brother. and
still another brother killed him, and so
the history Of the nation runs. the sue
cossion passing from king to king only
through tho success Of the asprant to
tho throne in killing Off ITS occupant.
In fact. it is said that the only king
~ Tho Zulus who ever died a natural
death was Pandu. who escaped assas-
sina ton by pretending insanity, AS
maniacs are sacred in the Zulu code,
none dared remove him. and he went to
his grave from natural causes.
Much OF the military success of the
ZGlus has been due to their methods of
drilling and fighting. Each 'impi," or
regiment is composed OF three thousand
mon, and advance to the attack is made
IN three lines Of battle. the ranks being
filed up quickly by those in the rear,
when the cncmy's fire proves dcstruc-
tive.
Dingiswayo, a native chieftain intro
duced the present elaborate system Of