Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-27

teri wined. and were sure that not rivers
or mountains or the will and violence or
men could keep them separate.
Il see said Rachel. at length. that
you believe that my fate NanSs upon this
embassy Of yours"
L do believe it, answered Noe con-
fidently
Then go. hut come back as swiftly rs
You may. for. my sister. I know not how
without YOU / shall live on i'm this lonely
greatness" and she took her in her arms
and kissed her lips
Afterward. as they were laying them
selves down 10 sleep. Rachel asked her 4
she had heard anything about Ishnael.
She answered that she learned at tho
great kraal that he had been brought
before the king that afternoon. and then
taken back tn his hut. where he was UNI
der guard. One of her escort told her..
too, that since he say the king Ibubest
had fallen very sick. ii was thought rom
a blow that he had received at the house
of InkosaZana and that now he was out
of his mind and being attended by the
doctors II WISH added Mole. Niciously.
that he We're out of his body also, for
then much sorrow would he spared. But
that cannot be before the time"
On the next day before noon Mole de-
parted upon her journey. Rachel sent
for the captains of her escort and tho
1sanusis- or doctors, who were TO accom-
pany her, and in few stern words gave
her into their charge. saying that theN
should answer for her safety with their
lives, 10 which they replied that they
knew IT. and would do so. If any harm
came to the daughter of Seyapi through
their fault they were prepared 10 die.
Then she talked for a long time with
Mole. telling her all she knew of the
Beers and the purpose OF their wander
ings, that she might be able to repeat IL 10
her people. and show them how dreadful
would be war between this white folk
and the Zulus.
Mole answered that she would give her
message. but that it was needless, since
the ghost-kings could see all that passed
lin the bowls of water beneath their
trees. and doubtless knew already of her
coming and of the cause of 1t. reply
of which Rachel had not time TO inquire
the meaning. After this they embraced
and parted. not without some tears.
When the gate shut behind Mole, I.acEel
walked TO the high ground at the back OF
her hut. whence she could see over the
fence of the kraal, and watched her de-
parture.
She had an escort of hundred picked
soldiers with whom Went fifty or sixty
strong bearers, who carried food. karosseS
and a litter Also there were three doc
tors of magic and medicine, and TWO
women. widows Of high rank. who were
to attend upon her. At the head of the
procession, save for two guides. walked
Mole herself. with sandals on her feet.
q white robe about her shoulders and IN
her hand little hough on which grew
know the meaning. She watched them
until they passed over the brow of tho
hill. on the crest of which Mole turned
and waved the bough toward her Then
Rachel went back to her hut and SAT
there alone and wept.
This was the beginning OF many dread
full days. most of which she passed wan
dering about within the circuit of the
kraal fence, space OF some three or
four acres or seated under the shadow
of certain beautiful trees which over
hung a deep. clear pool of the stream
that ran through the kraal. reed-friilSed
pool, wherein foated blooming lilies.
That quiet water, the happy birds that
nested in the trees and the lowering lilies
seemed to be her only friends OF the
last indeed, she would count the buds,
watching them open in the morning ana
close again for their sleep at night until
a day came when their loveliness turned
to decay and others appeared in their
place.
On the morrow of Noie's departure
Tamboosa and other indunas visited her
and asked her If she would not descend
to the kraal of the king and help him
and his council to try cases, since while
she was i'll the land she was its first
Judge. She answered: NO, that place
smet TOO much of blood. If they hau
cases for her to try. let them be brought
before her in her own house. This she
said idly. thinking no more of ii. but the
next day was astoniShed to learn that tii';
plaintiff and defendant In great SUIT.
with their respective advocates and from
thirty to forty witnesses. were waiting
without to know wien !! NnS her pleas.
ure to attend to their business.
With characteristic courage h. o. an
swered: Now" Her knowledge 1t 20
was it is true, limited To what. for lt"'l
of anything more exciting. she had read
in some hand books belonging 10 her IA
Their who had been a justice OF the peace
in the Cape, Colony. and to a few cases
which she had seen tried in a rough and
ready fashion at Durham to which must
be added an intimate acquaintance with
kaffir customs. Still. being possessed with
a sincere desire to discover the truth and
execute justice, she did very wei. The
matter in dispute was a large one, that
Of the ownership of a great hero of cat
tie which was claimed as an inheritance
by each of the parties. Rachel soon dis
covered that both these men were very
powerful chiefs, and that the reason or
their cause being RENTED TO her VAS
that the king knew that il lie decided in
favor of either of them he would mortaI-
ly offend the other
For a long while Rachel seated on her
stool, listened silently 10 the inpassioned
pIeadings of the PLAINTIFF lawyers. Pres
emily this plaintiff was called as W.T.
ness and in the course of his evidence
said something which conN lnced her that
he was lying. Then. breaking her silence
for the first tinle she asked him how he
dared 10 give false witness before the In
kosazana -Zoo!a To whom the truth was
always omen. and who was acquainted
with every circumstance connected win
the cattle in dispute. The man, seeing her
eyes fixed upon him and being convinced
of her supernatural powers, grew AFRAID.
broke down and publicly confessed his
attempted fraud, into which he said he
had been led by envy of has cousin, the
defendants, riches.
Rachel gave judgment accordingly
commanding that he should pay the costs
in cattle and fine to the king. and warn
ed him TO be more upright in future. The
result was that her fame as a judge
spread throughout the land. and every
day her gates were beSet with SuitorS
whose causes she dealt with to the best or
her ability and to their entire satisfac-
ton Criminal prosecutions that involved
the death sentence or matters connected
with witchcraft, however. she steadily re-
fused 10 try, saying that the InkosaZana
should not cause blood to flow. These
things she left To the king and his ccuu-
ell combining herself TO such actions as
in England would come before the court
of c.lancery. Thus IN her reputation as
spiritual queen Rachel added that of an
upright judge. who could not be inliu-
enced by fear or bribes-the first, per-
haps. that had ever been known in Zulu
land
But she could not try such cases al
day. the strain was too great. although
in the end most of them partooh OF TIE
nature of arbitrations. since the parties
involved having come to the conc uslcn
that il was not possible TO deceive one 50
wise grew truthful and submitted their
differences TO the decision OF her wisdom.
After they were dismissed. which was