"A warning, Nangeza!" I said. "There is a greater than Notalwa, and a
long tongue is a worse thing than dangerous. It is wearisome. The King
is not fond of those who wag their tongues overmuch, claiming to be in
the counsels of his _izinduna_. Have a care, Nangeza!" And with these
words I left her; yet not without seeing that she was alarmed.
Now, by the time the sun was at his highest in the heavens, the great
kraal, Ekupumuleni, was packed full of people, and all were in a
brooding and breathless state of dread; for the rumours which filled the
air were as the early rumblings of a mighty storm brooding over the face
of the world. It was known that the witch-doctors were making _muti_.
It was whispered that the King's sleeping visions had so shaped that
vast and unmentionable wizardry had been at work. It was known further
that a man of the House of Ncwelo had died in blood, wandering abroad in
the night. Things looked dark for the House of Ncwelo. None doubted
but that, before the sun went down, some, if not many, should walk in
the darkness of the Great Unknown.
All the morning, from every direction, people came flocking. Ncwelo's
kraal to the number of nearly a hundred, Janisa's clan, who were in
charge of some of the cattle outposts, and the followings of many petty
chiefs. All these took up positions in the circles within circles
ranged around the inside of the great open space. But belting round the
whole, hemming in all in a ring of iron--a fence of spear blades--were
two half-moons of warriors fully armed, those of my own particular
following, and those of Kalipe. And at the high end of the kraal were
two companies of slayers, or executioners, bearing thongs and heavy
knob-sticks.
Seated among the _izinduna_ awaiting the arrival of the Great Great One
was my father Ntelani, the same morose and dissatisfied expression upon
his face. But upon that of Tyuyumane, the King's relation, I thought I
could detect a lively expression of fear--also upon that of Senkonya--
and I laughed behind my shield, for I was in full dress as a
war-captain.
"Ah! ah!" I said to myself. "The Great Great One was right. These
_abatagati_ are about to weep blood. No swift and merciful death in the
darkness is to be theirs."
Now the King came forth attended by his shield-bearer, and all the
nation assembled there bowed low and thundered out the _Bayete_. But
the countenance of the Great Great One was gloomy and stern, as his gaze
travelled over the enormous bending crowd. He advanced to his usual
place, at the head of the open space, and seated himself. And then the
_izanusi_, bedecked in all their hideousness of skulls and entrails and
streaming blood and rattling bones, came dancing and howling before the
King, and clamouring to be let loose upon the wizards who had bewitched
his dreams.
Notalwa was at their head. He was arrayed in a cloak of quagga-skin
vividly striped, and was crowned with the lower jaw of a sea-cow
cunningly joined with the upper part of a lion's skull, the whole
painted red and surmounted by cranes' feathers. For my own part, I
laughed to myself at the sight of this cowardly boaster, who had never
shed blood, save that of some wretched _umtagati_ whom he had smelt out,
trying to render his appearance terrific. So, too, did several among us
war-captains. But the bulk of the people saw terror in him, and groaned
loudly.
This hideous band began to dance before the King, sweeping the ground
and air with wands tipped with giraffe tails, as they circled round, and
howling--
"Great Great One! Black Buffalo Bull! Elephant who bears the world!
give the word, that we may name the _abatagati_! Thou whose glance is
brighter than the sun! give the word that we may consume them with
lightning! Hou! Hou! Hou!"
With these and such-like bellowings did the _izanusi_ rave for long; but
the King sat and took snuff in silence, as though they were not there at
all. At last he said--
"Away from me, ye jackals! ye who are impostors, and no _izanusi_ at
all! Still your howlings; for there is a greater than you, who shall
find out quickly what ye never shall."
I had my eyes upon Notalwa's face, and saw that he feared. The others
fell back in awed silence, for there was that in the King's eyes, in the
King's glance which meant death, and nothing less. And then old Masuka
advanced to take their place.
His little bowed, shrivelled figure was undecked by gauds of any kind,
but his eyes were keen and bright, and searching as ever. He was
attended by three others--young men of our own people, whom the King had
appointed to him to be instructed in his magic; for Umzilikazi was too
clear-sighted to arouse disaffection among our own people by leaving the
chief magic entirely in the hands of strangers. Besides, he wanted to
set up a rival band to that of Notalwa.
"Hearken!" said the King. "This morning a man was found who had died in
blood in the night--had died in blood under the very shadow of where I
sit. Who is he that arrogates to himself the right to slay where that
right is of one alone? Who dares take life without my decree? Here has
been _tagati_ of the most deadly kind!"
These words were taken up by a trumpet voiced _imbonga_, and rolled
forth aloud, that all the nation might hear. And the people heard, and
the shivering that went through those crouched circles was as the
shaking of the forest leaves just before a gale.
[Note: an imbonga is a professional "praiser," or herald.]
"Find him!" said the King, with a sweep of the hand.
The three who were learners of Masuka's sorcery sprang to their feet,
and began to intone the witch-finding chant. Then they ran softly
hither and thither, striking the ground with their tail-tipped wands.
But the old Mosutu himself remained rigid and motionless where he had
first been standing.
The three witch-finders, running lightly, entered among the people, for
lanes had been left between the densely-serried ranks. As they advanced
down these a dread silence lay upon all. Tens of thousands of eyeballs
rolled white in chill apprehension. There alone, gloomy, and with
lowering brow, sat the King, terrible in his fell and destroying wrath.
Even I, who was in the counsels of the Great Great One, felt a shiver of
awe; remembering, too, the words my father had let fall in the conclave
of the midnight conspirators.
Down the ranks went the witch-finders, chanting, and twirling their
rods. And behind them came a grim and fearsome company--the whole body
of the slayers, namely--the fierce light of expectancy upon their dread
faces, as each held his thong ready, grasping in a cruel grip the heavy
knobstick.
Ha! The witch-finders have halted, and their singing rises shrill and
loud. A man is touched with the fatal wand. In a moment a thong is
about his neck, and two of the slayers are leading him forth to the
great gate--are leading him forth to the place of slaughter--to die!
Two more now are touched! They also are led forth in like manner
immediately behind the first. A great gasp, like a sob, sways the
multitude; and in dead silence a way is opened out for these ill-fated
ones, passing through to their death. Then, as the people take up once
more the chorus of the wizard song, an _imbonga_, standing at the King's
side, names aloud those who have thus looked their last upon the sun.
But the progress of the _izanusi_ continues, and by the time they have
gone half through the ranks some thirty men have been named: and now we
can see these stringing up the slope outside the kraal, in the direction
of the place of slaughter--they and their slayers--and, in the dead and
awesome silence which now and again falls upon the immense crowd, can
hear the dull crashing of broken skulls, and the distant and hollow
groans, as the great knobsticks of the executioners are already
beginning their fell work. And still the line of doomed men is
ascending to the hill of death; and far above, like a gathering cloud in
the heavens, the white pinions of vultures are wheeling and soaring,
impatient to begin, for such a feast as this great destruction of
evil-doers has never yet been theirs since they began to follow our
migrating nation for their food.
By the time the witch-finders had made the complete round of those
gathered together, upwards of fourscore men had been smelt out, and the
remaining body of slayers, with disappointment upon their fierce
countenances, stole envious looks out towards the place of death, where
the crash of knobsticks and the hollow groans of the doomed had almost
ceased. Not a cry, however, floated from thence, for no women had been
among those named. All were warriors; and the warriors of our race
faced death in those days without a cry, albeit the groan which often
followed the crash of the knobstick was the voice of the parting
_itongo_, or spirit, not of the body which had contained it. And of
those who had been named a number were of Ncwelo's kraal; others were of
the houses of other chiefs, including that of Senkonya; some few,
indeed, were of my own particular fighters. These last, on being
touched, were immediately disarmed by their brethren, and turned over to
the slayers.
Now, when the three witch-finders had completed their task, and returned
once more into the presence of the King, an immense sigh of gladness
went up from all the people--a very heave of the bosom of a whole nation
relieved; and with one voice all broke forth into a fierce song of
thanksgiving that so many _abatagati_ had been removed from their midst.
But I, if nobody else, knew that they were crying aloud their thanks
too soon. For among those thus named was no man of any great
distinction, albeit a petty chief or two. I knew, however, that the
greater number of them were of the families of chiefs, some of great
note. There was to be yet another stage in this grim game, whose stakes
were the lives of men. "Ye have done well, sons of the stranger's
magic," said the King, as the three young _izanusi_ returned to his
presence, their eyeballs rolling, and their mouths still drooping foam
after the frenzied excitement attendant upon the discharge of their
dread office. "Well have ye done; and the wizard spells of those ye
have named soar aloft to the heavens beneath the wings of yonder
vultures?"--with a glance in the direction of the hill of slaughter,
upon which already multitudes of the great white pinions were beating
down. "Still the blood which has been shed is not dry. Who am I, that
others claim the right to slay--here, at my very gates? _Hau_! I am no
King!"--and now the tone was fierce and bitter, and those who listened
trembled once more. "I am a servant--a slave--lower than the lowest of
the Amaholi--until those who shed this blood at my gates are made known.
Wherefore, now, Masuka, hasten to rid us of them, so that we may sleep
in peace once more. There are yet those who have not been within touch
of the wand."
A dead silence of eagerness and awe fell upon all the people at these
words. For the only ones who had not been within touch of the
witch-finder's wand were the _izinduna_ grouped at the side of the King,
and the _izanusi_ themselves. Could it be that from these more victims
were to be chosen? A flash of anxiety was to be seen on the faces of
more than one of the councillors; and I, from where I stood, a little
way down the circle of armed men, saw just such a shade of fear flit
across that of Tyuyumane. My father's lined features, however, only
puckered into a contemptuous grin. But before Masuka had time to obey
the King's behest, Notalwa rushed forward howling that now was the time
for him and his "dogs"--that the stranger's _muti_ had been tried, and
that now it was his own turn.
Kalipe was standing near the Great Great One, and as the head _izanusi_
thus bounded forward he advanced a pace, and I could see that he held
his broad _umkonto_ gripped, and in readiness. So, too, did the picked
warriors ranged at his back; and I, who knew what underlay all this, was
likewise prepared to spring up, and deal forth death. But Umzilikazi
changed not a muscle, as he sat playing with his broad-bladed spear,
similar to the one which he had bestowed upon me. Yet in his eyes
burned a soft and cruel light, as he met the glowering glances of
Notalwa and the _izanusi_.
"Patience!" he said, softly and pleasantly, waving these back.
"Proceed, Masuka."
The old Mosutu muttered a few words to one of his young assistants, who
started off in the direction of the magician's hut, and presently
reappeared, bearing upon his head a large bowl of burnt clay. This was
lowered to the earth, and now I knew that something terrible would be
manifested; for I had already looked into that bowl myself, and terrible
things had been shown me, which, indeed, came to pass, as you know,
_Nkose_.
The bowl was half-filled with some black yet shining, liquid; and over
this old Masuka crouched, spreading forth his skinny and clawlike hands;
now chanting high, shrill snatches of a strange song, now muttering
incantations in an unknown tongue. Then he looked up.
"Draw near, Black Elephant, thou ruler of the world," he said. "Look in
the face of this _muti_, and say what thou seest."
Umzilikazi rose, and, advancing with majestic step, stood, and with head
slightly bent, gazed downward into the bowl. All the people held their
breath for awe.
"I see a face," he said. "Yes; it is the face of a man having a ring
on. Hither, Mcumbete! Look with me. Whose is the face?"
The old _induna_, his brow clouded with anxiety, advanced to the side of
the King.
"_Hau_!" he cried, with a start of amazement. "It is indeed a face,
Great Great One. It is the face of Ncwelo."
A deep murmur of awe went up from all who heard. Ncwelo, though a chief
of some influence, was not an _induna_. His place at the head of his
people was near me. Glancing at him, I could see that his look was that
of a man who knows himself to be already dead.
"Look again, Mcumbete," said the King. "I see another face. Whose is
it?"
"Ha!" cried the old _induna_, trembling with awe. "It is the face of
Senkonya."
A cruel smile played upon the King's lips as he bade him look again.
"It is the face of Ntelani, Great Great One," almost yelled the old
_induna_.
"Look again, Mcumbete, look again," laughed the King.
"I see now Tyuyumane," faltered the old man. "Ha," he went on, with a
gasp. "Now I see a head, and it is wreathed in snakes--a head, a face.
It is the face of Notalwa, the chief of the _izanusi_."
The terror-stricken countenance, the shaking limbs, of the old _induna_
were too true, too real, for any suspicion of make-believe. There was a
silence of indescribable awe upon all who heard, all who beheld. It was
broken by Notalwa.
Uttering hideous yells, the head _isanusi_ leaped in the air, dancing
and roaring, bellowing forth all his incantations and wizardry.
Stripping off his zebra robe, he gashed himself until his body streamed
with blood, mouthing out wild predictions as to the fate that would
speedily befall our race for supplanting its own sorcerers in favour of
the magic of a stranger. But the King, with a frown, bade him cease his
bellowing, for he might early need all his magic for himself. The
others named sat still as stones, but their demeanour was various. Upon
the face of my father Ntelani, was the set drawnness of despair, but it
was the courage of a dogged despair; fierce, fearless to the last.
Senkonya, too, looked as one who had already tasted death, but
Tyuyumane, ah! his look was that of one who had tasted death a hundred
times over. He was a tall, strong man, with a sullen and evil face,
very near in blood to the King--indeed, it had been whispered, though
cautiously--that he was an elder son of Matyobane. Now he showed signs
of strong and restless fear. His glance rolled to right and to left, as
though seeking means of escape. But behind each of those thus named had
stealthily closed up a group of armed warriors.
And now the attention of all was diverted to old Masuka, who had fallen
into one of his trances, and was mouthing wildly. Then he began to
speak. He told of a pool, overhung by rocks, and whose waters reflected
the stars and the waning moon. He told of the assembling of men by
stealth, and of the tramp of horses, of the talking together of men who
wore head-rings, and of men who wore large hats. Then he described so
exactly the _indaba_ which we had witnessed--the Great Great One and I--
that it seemed he must have been present concealed on the spot where we
had lain and listened to it. But all this he told in a very low, and
scarcely audible, voice, only to be heard by such few as were
immediately bending over him, among whom was myself; for the King had
beckoned me to his side. Then, when he had finished, he lay as still as
though dead, and the faces had faded out of the _muti_ bowl, whose
contents were as smooth and shining as before.
"I think we have heard enough," said Umzilikazi. Then turning to the
_izimbonga_, he bade them cry aloud to the people to depart, but that,
until the third day after the new moon, none should venture beyond the
chain of the furthest tattle-posts. And the people leaped gladly to
their feet, shouting the _Bayete_, for their hearts were light again.
Death had passed through their ranks, yet there were still many left.
As for those _izinduna_ who were named last, few at that time knew what
their fate was, or what became of them, nor yet of Notalwa, the head of
the _izanusi_, who lay at first pretending to be dead. But I knew;
likewise did I know that every one of those who had gone forth that day
to the hill of slaughter was concerned in the treasonable plot which had
for its object the death of the King. Yet, because of its mystery, and
the witch-finding on such a large scale, and the slaughter of so many
warriors as _abatagati_, a great fear rested upon all the people for
many days. And the marvellous power of Masuka as a magician was in the
minds of all; for, of course, none knew that the Great Great One and I
had witnessed that dark and treasonable midnight gathering; nor, indeed,
that any had.