Well； since I lived in England I have been reading up this subject； and
I find that quite recently similar cruelties were practised throughout
Europethat is in a part of the world which for over a thousand years
has enjoyed the advantages of the knowledge and profession of the
Christian faith。
Now； let him who is highly cultured take up a stone to throw at the
poor； untaught Zulu； which I notice the most dissolute and drunken
wretch of a white man is often ready to do； generally because he covets
his land； his labour； or whatever else may be his。
But I wander from my point； which is that a clever man or woman among
the people whom we call savages is in all essentials very much the same
as a clever man or woman anywhere else。
Here in England every child is educated at the expense of the Country；
but I have not observed that the system results in the production of
more really able individuals。 Ability is the gift of Nature； and that
universal mother sheds her favours impartially over all who breathe。
No； not quite impartially； perhaps； for the old Greeks and others were
examples to the contrary。 Still； the general rule obtains。
To return。 Mameena was a very able person； as she chanced to be a very
lovely one； a person who； had she been favoured by opportunity； would
doubtless have played the part of a Cleopatra with equal or greater
success； since she shared the beauty and the unscrupulousness of that
famous lady and was； I believe； capable of her passion。
I scarcely like to mention the matter since it affects myself； and the
natural vanity of man makes him prone to conclude that he is the
particular object of sole and undying devotion。 Could he know all the
facts of the case； or cases； probably he would be much undeceived； and
feel about as small as I did when Mameena walked； or rather crawled； out
of the hut （she could even crawl gracefully）。 Still； to be honestand
why should I not； since all this business 〃went beyond〃 so long ago？I
do believe that there was a certain amount of truth in what she
saidthat； for Heaven knows what reason； she did take a fancy to me；
which fancy continued during her short and stormy life。 But the reader
of her story may judge for himself。
Within a fortnight of the day of my discomfiture in the hut I was quite
well and strong again； my ribs； or whatever part of me it was that the
buffalo had injured with his iron knees； having mended up。 Also； I was
anxious to be going； having business to attend to in Natal； and； as no
more had been seen or heard of Saduko； I determined to trek homewards；
leaving a message that he knew where to find me if he wanted me。 The
truth is that I was by no means keen on being involved in his private
war with Bangu。 Indeed； I wished to wash my hands of the whole matter；
including the fair Mameena and her mocking eyes。
So one morning； having already got up my oxen； I told Scowl to inspan
theman order which he received with joy； for he and the other boys
wished to be off to civilisation and its delights。 Just as the
operation was beginning； however； a message came to me from old Umbezi；
who begged me to delay my departure till after noon； as a friend of his；
a big chief； had come to visit him who wished much to have the honour of
making my acquaintance。 Now； I wished the big chief farther off； but；
as it seemed rude to refuse the request of one who had been so kind to
me； I ordered the oxen to be unyoked but kept at hand； and in an
irritable frame of mind walked up to the kraal。 This was about half a
mile from my place of outspan； for as soon as I was sufficiently
recovered I had begun to sleep in my wagon； leaving the big hut to the
〃Worn…out…Old…Cow。〃
There was no particular reason why I should be irritated； since time in
those days was of no great account in Zululand； and it did not much
matter to me whether I trekked in the morning or the afternoon。 But the
fact was that I could not get over the prophecy of Zikali； 〃the Little
and Wise；〃 that I was destined to share Saduko's expedition against
Bangu； and； although he had been right about the buffalo and Mameena； I
was determined to prove him wrong in this particular。
If I had left the country； obviously I could not go against Bangu； at
any rate at present。 But while I remained in it Saduko might return at
any moment； and then； doubtless； I should find it hard to escape from
the kind of half…promise that I had given to him。
Well； as soon as I reached the kraal I saw that some kind of festivity
was in progress； for an ox had been killed and was being cooked； some of
it in pots and some by roasting； also there were several strange Zulus
present。 Within the fence of the kraal； seated in its shadow； I found
Umbezi and some of his headmen； and with them a great； brawny 〃ringed〃
native； who wore a tiger…skin moocha as a mark of rank； and some of
_his_ headmen。 Also Mameena was standing near the gate； dressed in her
best beads and holding a gourd of Kafir beer which； evidently； she had
just been handing to the guests。
〃Would you have run away without saying good…bye to me； Macumazahn？〃 she
whispered to me as I came abreast of her。 〃That is unkind of you； and I
should have wept much。 However； it was not so fated。〃
〃I was going to ride up and bid farewell when the oxen were inspanned；〃
I answered。 〃But who is that man？〃
〃You will find out presently； Macumazahn。 Look； my father is beckoning
to us。〃
So I went on to the circle； and as I advanced Umbezi rose and； taking me
by the hand； led me to the big man； saying：
〃This is Masapo； chief of the Amansomi； of the Quabe race； who desires
to know you； Macumazahn。〃
〃Very kind of him； I am sure；〃 I replied coolly； as I threw my eye over
Masapo。 He was； as I have said； a big man； and of about fifty years of
age； for his hair was tinged with grey。 To be frank； I took a great
dislike to him at once； for there was something in his strong； coarse
face； and his air of insolent pride； which repelled me。 Then I was
silent； since among the Zulus； when two strangers of more or less equal
rank meet； he who speaks first acknowledges inferiority to the other。
Therefore I stood and contemplated this new suitor of Mameena； waiting
on events。
Masapo also contemplated me； then made some remark to one of his
attendants； that I did not catch； which caused the fellow to laugh。
〃He has heard that you are an ipisi〃 （a great hunter）； broke in Umbezi；
who evidently felt that the situation was growing strained； and that it
was necessary to say something。
〃Has he？〃 I answered。 〃Then he is more fortunate than I am； for I have
never heard of him or what he is。〃 This； I am sorry to say； was a fib；
for it will be remembered that Mameena had mentioned him in the hut as
one of her suitors； but among natives one must keep up one's dignity
somehow。 〃Friend Umbezi；〃 I went on； 〃I have come to bid you farewell；
as I am about to trek for Durban。〃
At this juncture Masapo stretched out his great hand to me； but without
rising； and said：
〃Siyakubona ＇that is； good…day＇； White Man。〃
〃Siyakubona； Black Man；〃 I answered； just touching his fingers； while
Mameena； who had come up again with her beer； and was facing me； made a
little grimace and tittered。
Now I turned on my heel to go； whereon Masapo said in a coarse； growling
voice：
〃O Macumazana； before you leave us I wish to speak with you on a certain
matter。 Will it please you to sit aside with me for a while？〃
〃Certainly； O Masapo。〃 And I walked away a few yards out of hearing；
whither he followed me。
〃Macumazahn；〃 he said （I give the gist of his remarks； for he did not
come to the point at once）； 〃I need guns； and I am told that you can
provide them； being a trader。〃
〃Yes； Masapo； I dare say that I can； at a price； though it is a risky
business smuggling guns into Zululand。 But might I ask what you need
them for？ is it to shoot elephants？〃
〃Yes； to shoot elephants；〃 he replied； rolling his big eyes round him。
〃Macumazahn； I am told that you are discreet； that you do not shout from
the top of a hut what you hear within it。 Now； hearken to me。 Our
country is disturbed； we do not all of us love the seed of Senzangakona；
of whom the present king； Panda； is one。 For instance； you may know
that we Quabiesfor my tribe； the Amansomi； are of that racesuffered
at the spear of Chaka。 Well； we think that a time may come when we who
live on shrubs like goats may again browse on tree…tops like giraffes；
for Panda is no strong king； and he has sons who hate each other； one of
whom may need our spears。 Do you understand？〃
〃I understand that you want guns； O Masapo；〃 I answered dryly。 〃Now； as
to the price and place of delivery。〃
Then we bargained for a while； but the details of that business
transaction of long ago will interest no one。 Indeed； I only mention
the matter to show that Masapo was plotting to bring trouble on the
ruling house； whereof Panda was the representative at that time。
When we had concluded our rather nefarious negotiations； which were to
the effect that I was to receive so many cattle in return for so many
guns； if I could deliver them at a certain spot； namely； Umbezi's kraal；
I returned to the circle where Umbezi； his followers and guests were
sitting； purposing to bid him farewell。 By now； however； meat had been
served； and as I was hungry； having had little breakfast that morning； I
stayed to eat。 When I had finished my meal； and washed it down with a
draught of tshwala （that is； Kafir beer）； I rose to go； but just at that
moment who should walk through the gate but Saduko？
〃Piff！〃 said Mameena； who was standing near me； speaking in a voice that
none but I could hear。 〃When two bucks meet； what happens； Macumazahn？〃
〃Sometimes they fight and sometimes one runs away。 It depends very much
on the doe；〃 I answered in the same low voice； looking at her。
She shrugged her shoulders； folded her arms beneath her breast； nodded
to Saduko as he passed； then leaned gracefully against the fence and
awaited events。
〃Greeting； Umbezi；〃 said Saduko in his proud manner。 〃I see that you
feast。 Am I welcome here？〃
〃Of course you a