Evening star., 1909-02-26

ers. Can the Inkosazana have a father
and a mother?
Il don't know" answered Ishmael, but
she is a woman and I never knew a
woman who was without them. At least
| am sure that she looks upon them as
her father and mother obeying them in
all things. and that she will never leave
them while they live, unless they COM
mand her to do So.
Dingaan stared at him with his pig-like
eyes, repeating after him-"while they
live, unless they command her to do so.
Then he asked:
"If the Inkosazana desires to so, who
is there that dares to stay here, and if she
puts out her magic. who is there that has
the power? If a hand is lifted against
her. will she not lay a curse on Us and
bring destruction upon us?'
Il don't know answered Ishmael
again. but If she goes back among the
white folk and is angry, l think that she
will bring the Beers upon you.
Now Dingaan's face grew very troubled.
and bidding Ishmael stand back while.
he consulted with his council. Then he
said:
Listen to me, white man. 1t would be
a very evil thing if the InkoSaZana were
to leave us, for with her would go the
spirit Of our people, and their good luck,
so say the witch doctors with one voice,
and l believe them. Further, it is our de-
sire that she should remain with US a
ers has spoken, saying that the words OF
the Inkosazana which she uttered here are
too hard for them. and that other doc
tors of q people who live far away must
be sent for and brought face to face with
her. Therefore. here at UnGugundhloVo
she should abide until they come"
Indeed" answered Ishmael, indiffer-
emily.
In the doctors who dwelt far away and
the council of the OWNERS he had no be-
I2,t fo "a
he did he guessed correctly enough that
the latter found themselves In a cleft
stick. Worked on by their superstitions.
which he had first awakened for his own
thing more than human, as the fncarna-
ton of the spirit of their people. This
Mopo, who was said to have killed Chaka
by command of that spirit. had acknowl-
edged her to be, and therefore they did
not dare to declare that her words spoken
as an oracle were empty words. But
neither did they dare to interpret the
saying that she meant that no attack
must be made upon the Beers and should
be obeyed To do this would be to fly In
the face of the martial aspirations of the
nation and the secret wishes Of the king,
and perhaps, If war ultimately broke out.
would cost them their lives. So 1t came
about that they announced that they
could not understand her sayings, and
had decided to thrust off the responsibility
on to the shoulders of some other divin-
ers. though who these men might be
Ishmael neither knew nor took the trouble
to ask.
"But." went on the king. "who can
force the dove to build in a tree that does
not please it. seeing that it has wings
and can fly away? Yet II its own tree
that in which 1t was reared from the
nest-could be brought to it 1T might be
pleased to abide there. Do you under
stand. White Man?"
NO answered Ishmael. though, in
fact, he understood well enough that the
king was playing upon Rachefs English
name of Dove. and that he meant that
her home might be moved into Zululand.
mo, the 1nkosaZana Is not bird, and
who can carry trees about?
Have the spear shafts knocked the wit
out of you, Ibubesi," asked Dingaan, i'm
patiently, ''or are you drunk with beer?
Learn then my meaning. The Inkosazana
will not stay because her home Is yonder;
therefore it must be brought here and she
will stay. At first I gave orders that II
this old white teacher and his wife tried
to accompany her they should be killed.
Now 1 eat up those words. They must
come to Zululand.''
"How will you persuade them to be
such fools?" asked Ishmael.
How did I persuade the 1nkosazana
herself to come? Was 1t not to seek one
whom she loved?"
'They will think that you have killed
her and wish to kill them Also"
mo, because you will go in command
of an impi and show them otherwise
II cannot go; your brutes of captains
have hurt my head and famed me. 1 can
not walk or ride.
''Then you can be carried in litter,
orr he added, threateningly, you can
abide here with the vultures. The Inko-
sazana is merciful but why should 1 not
avenge her wrongs upon you. white dog,
who have dared to scratch at the kraal
gate of the Inkosazana-y- -Zoola?'
(To be continued tomorrow