notable men； that he had made up his quarrel with Masapo； and； indeed；
apologised to him； as he found that he had not really meant to insult
the princess； his wife； having only thrust her over by accident。 Saduko
added indeed that now they were good friends； which was well for Masapo；
a man whom the King had no cause to like。 I said that I was glad to
hear it； and went on to call upon Masapo； who received me with
enthusiasm； as also did Mameena。
Here I noted with pleasure that this pair seemed to be on much better
terms than I understood had been the case in the past； for Mameena even
addressed her husband on two separate occasions in very affectionate
language； and fetched something that he wanted without waiting to be
asked。 Masapo； too； was in excellent spirits； because； as he told me；
the old quarrel between him and Saduko was thoroughly made up； their
reconciliation having been sealed by an interchange of gifts。 He added
that he was very glad that this was the case； since Saduko was now one
of the most powerful men in the country； who could harm him much if he
chose； especially as some secret enemy had put it about of late that he；
Masapo； was an enemy of the King's House； and an evil…doer who practised
witchcraft。 In proof of his new friendship； however； Saduko had
promised that these slanders should be looked into and their originator
punished； if he or she could be found。
Well； I congratulated him and took my departure； 〃thinking furiously；〃
as the Frenchman says。 That there was a tragedy pending I was sure；
this weather was too calm to last； the water ran so still because it was
preparing to leap down some hidden precipice。
Yet what could I do？ Tell Masapo I had seen his wife being embraced by
another man？ Surely that was not my business； it was Masapo's business
to attend to her conduct。 Also they would both deny it； and I had no
witness。 Tell him that Saduko's reconciliation with him was not
sincere； and that he had better look to himself？ How did I know it was
not sincere？ It might suit Saduko's book to make friends with Masapo；
and if I interfered I should only make enemies and be called a liar who
was working for some secret end。
Go to Panda and confide my suspicions to him？ He was far too anxious
and busy about great matters to listen to me； and if he did； would only
laugh at this tale of a petty flirtation。 No； there was nothing to be
done except sit still and wait。 Very possibly I was mistaken； after
all； and things would smooth themselves out； as they generally do。
Meanwhile the 〃reviewing；〃 or whatever it may have been； was in
progress； and I was busy with my own affairs； making hay while the sun
shone。 So great were the crowds of people who came up to Nodwengu that
in a week I had sold everything I had to sell in the two wagons； that
were mostly laden with cloth； beads； knives and so forth。 Moreover； the
prices I got were splendid； since the buyers bid against each other； and
before I was cleared out I had collected quite a herd of cattle； also a
quantity of ivory。 These I sent on to Natal with one of the wagons；
remaining behind myself with the other； partly because Panda asked me to
do sofor now and again he would seek my advice on sundry
questionsand partly from curiosity。
There was plenty to be curious about up at Nodwengu just then； since no
one was sure that civil war would not break out between the princes
Cetewayo and Umbelazi； whose factions were present in force。
It was averted for the time； however； by Umbelazi keeping away from the
great gathering under pretext of being sick； and leaving Saduko and some
others to watch his interests。 Also the rival regiments were not
allowed to approach the town at the same time。 So that public cloud
passed over； to the enormous relief of everyone； especially of Panda the
King。 As to the private cloud whereof this history tells； it was
otherwise。
As the tribes came up to the Great Place they were reviewed and sent
away； since it was impossible to feed so vast a multitude as would have
collected had they all remained。 Thus the Amasomi； a small people who
were amongst the first to arrive； soon left。 Only； for some reason
which I never quite understood； Masapo； Mameena and a few of Masapo's
children and headmen were detained there； though perhaps； if she had
chosen； Mameena could have given an explanation。
Well； things began to happen。 Sundry personages were taken ill； and
some of them died suddenly； and soon it was noted that all these people
either lived near to where Masapo's family was lodged or had at some
time or other been on bad terms with him。 Thus Saduko himself was taken
ill； or said he was； at any rate； he vanished from public gaze for three
days； and reappeared looking very sorry for himself； though I could not
observe that he had lost strength or weight。 These catastrophes I pass
over； however； in order to come to the greatest of them； which is one of
the turning points of this chronicle。
After recovering from his alleged sickness Saduko gave a kind of
thanksgiving feast； at which several oxen were killed。 I was present at
this feast； or rather at the last part of it； for I only put in what may
be called a complimentary appearance； having no taste for such native
gorgings。 As it drew near its close Saduko sent for Nandie； who at
first refused to come as there were no women presentI think because he
wished to show his friends that he had a princess of the royal blood for
his wife； who had borne him a son that one day would be great in the
land。 For Saduko； as I have said； had become a 〃self…eater；〃 and this
day his pride was inflamed by the adulation of the company and by the
beer that he had drunk。
At length Nandie did come； carrying her babe； from which she never would
be parted。 In her dignified； ladylike fashion （although it seems an odd
term to apply to a savage； I know none that describes her better） she
greeted first me and then sundry of the other guests； saying a few words
to each of them。 At length she came opposite to Masapo； who had dined
not wisely but too well； and to him； out of her natural courtesy； spoke
rather longer than to the others； inquiring after his wife； Mameena； and
others。 At the moment it occurred to me that she did this in order to
assure him that she bore no malice because of the accident of a while
before； and was a party to her husband's reconciliation with him。
Masapo； in a hazy way； tried to reciprocate these kind intentions。
Rising to his feet； his fat； coarse body swaying to and fro because of
the beer that he had drunk； he expressed satisfaction at the feast that
had been prepared in her house。 Then； his eyes falling on the child； he
began to declaim about its size and beauty； until he was stopped by the
murmured protests of others； since among natives it is held to be not
fortunate to praise a young child。 Indeed； the person who does so is
apt to be called an 〃umtakati〃； or bewitcher； who will bring evil upon
its head； a word that I heard murmured by several near to me。 Not
satisfied with this serious breach of etiquette； the intoxicated Masapo
snatched the infant from its mother's arms under pretext of looking for
the hurt that had been caused to its brow when it fell to the ground at
my camp； and finding none； proceeded to kiss it with his thick lips。
Nandie dragged it from him； saying：
〃Would you bring death upon my son； O Chief of the Amasomi？〃
Then； turning； she walked away from the feasters； upon whom there fell a
certain hush。
Fearing lest something unpleasant should ensue； for I saw Saduko biting
his lips with rage not unmixed with fear； and remembering Masapo's
reputation as a wizard； I took advantage of this pause to bid a general
good night to the company and retire to my camp。
What happened immediately after I left I do not know； but just before
dawn on the following morning I was awakened from sleep in my wagon by
my servant Scowl； who said that a messenger had come from the huts of
Saduko； begging that I would proceed there at once and bring the white
man's medicines； as his child was very ill。 Of course I got up and
went； taking with me some ipecacuanha and a few other remedies that I
thought might be suitable for infantile ailments。
Outside the huts； which I reached just as the sun began to rise； I was
met by Saduko himself； who was coming to seek me； as I saw at once； in a
state of terrible grief。
〃What is the matter？〃 I asked。
〃O Macumazana；〃 he answered； 〃that dog Masapo has bewitched my boy； and
unless you can save him he dies。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 I said； 〃why do you utter wind？ If the babe is sick； it is
from some natural cause。〃
〃Wait till you see it；〃 he replied。
Well； I went into the big hut； and there found Nandie and some other
women； also a native doctor or two。 Nandie was seated on the floor
looking like a stone image of grief； for she made no sound； only pointed
with her finger to the infant that lay upon a mat in front of her。
A single glance showed me that it was dying of some disease of which I
had no knowledge； for its dusky little body was covered with red
blotches and its tiny face twisted all awry。 I told the women to heat
water； thinking that possibly this might be a case of convulsions； which
a hot bath would mitigate； but before it was ready the poor babe uttered
a thin wail and died。
Then； when she saw that her child was gone； Nandie spoke for the first
time。
〃The wizard has done his work well；〃 she said； and flung herself face
downwards on the floor of the hut。
As I did not know what to answer； I went out； followed by Saduko。
〃What has killed my son； Macumazahn？〃 he asked in a hollow voice； the
tears running down his handsome face； for he had loved his firstborn。
〃I cannot tell；〃 I replied； 〃but had he been older I should have thought
he had eaten something poisonous； which seems impossible。〃
〃Yes； Macumazahn； and the poison that he has eaten came from the breath
of a wizard whom you may chance to have seen kiss him last night。 Well；
his life shall be avenged。〃
〃Saduko；〃 I exclaimed； 〃do not be unjust。 There are many sicknesses
that may have