NATIVE LIFE
MAFEKING, _January 10th, 1900_.
During the time which has elapsed since Christmas an interesting event
has been the deposition of Wessels, the chief of the Baralongs. At a
_kotla_ of the tribe, to which the councillors and petty chiefs were
bidden by the Civil Commissioner, Mr. Bell notified the tribe of his
decision. The deposed chief, a man of no parts whatever, but one who
unfortunately reveals all the vices of civilisation, has been put upon
sick-leave, the reins of government being placed in the hands of his
two chief councillors. Wessels had been instigating his tribe to
refuse to work for the military authorities here, and through his
instrumentality it has become difficult to obtain native labour and
native runners. He told them in his amiable fashion that the English
wished to make slaves of them, and that they would not be paid for any
services which they rendered; nor would they, added he, taking
advantage of an unfortunate turn in the situation, be given any food,
but left to starve when the critical moment came. With the change
which had been adopted and which has been given the sanction of the
_kotla_, it is hoped that matters may progress more smoothly and the
tribe itself increase in prosperity. It was an interesting meeting,
and one which recalled the early days of Africa, when the authority of
the great White Queen was not a power paramount in the council
chambers of the tribes. Wessels, unwilling and assuming an air of
injured dignity, filled his place in the _kotla_ for the last time;
around him there were the chiefs of the tribe, his blood relatives,
and his councillors. Their attire was a weird mixture of effete
savagery and of the civilisation of the sort which is picked up from
living in touch with white Africa and missionary societies. Many black
legs were clothed in trousers, many black shoulders wore coats. Here
and there, as relics of the past, there was the ostrich feather in the
hat, the fly whisk, composed of the hairs from the tail of an animal,
the iron or bone skin-scraper with which to remove the perspiration of
the body. A few wore shoes upon naked feet, a few others sported
watch-chains and spoke English. At the back of the enclosure there was
a native guard who shouldered Martini-Henri rifles, elephant guns,
Sniders, or sporting rifles. A few of these were garmented with skins
of animals upon the naked body. After a stately and not altogether
friendly greeting to the man who had ordered the assembly to meet, the
reasons which had brought about the contemplated change in the head of
the tribe were stated in English and then translated by the
interpreter. The old chief snorted with disgust and endeavoured to
coerce his people to reject the demands made upon them. But they had
been made before a body of men who were capable of realising the
worthlessness of their chief, and who, under the protection of the
Imperial delegate, did not mind endorsing the suggestions and
expressing their opinions. The younger and more turbulent, who
recognised, in the failings of the chief, follies dear to their own
hearts, were inclined to express sympathy for the man who was so soon
to be compelled to relinquish the sweets of office. They spoke at once
in an angry chatter and confused chortle of sounds, which, if
eloquent, were wholly insufficient. The chief then threw himself back
upon his chair, spat somewhat contemptuously, and finally acquiesced
in the decision, obtaining some small consolation from the fact that
his official allowance would not be discontinued. Then the _kotla_
ended, and the indunas rose up and left, standing together in animated
groups around the palisades, for the discussion of the scene in which
they had just taken part. Then, as the decision spread throughout the
tribe, children and women, young and old, banded together to watch
these final indabas.
The scene had been solemn enough beneath the _kotla_ tree, but outside
the natural instinct of these children of the veldt soon asserted
itself, and they began to dance. They formed into small groups of
about forty, to the sound of hand-clapping, a not unmusical intoning,
and much jumping and stamping of feet. It would seem that they were
dancing an old war-dance which had degenerated into one symbolical of
love and happiness. Around the joyous groups the old crones
circulated, clapping their withered hands, shrieking delight in
cracked voices, and generally encouraging the festivity. The dance was
curious, and appeared to catch echoes of many lands. There was the
diffident maiden, anxious to be loved, but bashful, modest in her
manner and in her gestures, until she saw the man that could thrill
her; then she glowed, and her steps were animated, buoyant, and
caressing. A smile irradiated her face, while a slight, almost
imperceptible, movement pulsed through her body. Behind her were her
companions, the same age as herself, who imitated her with feverish
sympathy, instinctively reproducing her moods of body and of mind. The
vibration that stole through the bodies of the dancers increased
gradually until, from statues with wicked eyes, full of sensuous
expression and amorous allurement, they wavered like thin flames of
love in a gust of passion. As the potency of their feelings grew
steadily stronger, they swayed in languorous movements, throwing out
sinuous arms, their feeble faces smiling, their graceful bodies
bending in eager attitudes of expectation. The air became heavy with
noise, thick with a veritable tumult, as the dancers jumped more
wildly; now they threw themselves into postures in the circle,
shifting rapidly with tiny screams of delight and a gliding, clinging
motion of their arms and legs as though, coy and eager, they would
escape the cherished caresses of their lovers. As they glided, their
actions seemed always to be marked with the same regularity, with the
same regard to rhythm, and with an innate conception of grace. When
they shook their bodies it was with an abandonment that was, at least,
graceful; if they stood, rocking in a sea of easy emotion, as though
victorious, they would hug their capture with an air of conquest which
was delightful to behold. As they rose to the pinnacle of their
happiness, when their countenances were suffused with love and
tenderness, they infused into their emotions an appearance of sadness.
It was as though a cloud had suddenly fallen upon them, revealing to
them that their endearments had been abortive, that their ambitions
were not to be realised and that they themselves had been flouted.
Then there stole upon them the incarnation of sorrow, in which,
finding themselves alone, uncared for, unconsidered, they resolved, in
a burst of artificial tears, to have done with giddiness, and to take
up with the delights of placid domesticity. Then the dance terminated,
she, who had by her graceful contortions and sympathetic bearing moved
her audience to laughter and tears first, being considered the
victorious. Thus did these simple natives celebrate the new era.
If dancing be one form of amusement here, the siege has also brought
the means and opportunity of indulging in a pastime of quite a
different character. If sniping be the rule by day, cattle raiding by
night gives to the natives some profitable employment. During last
night the Baralongs secured, by a successful raid, some twenty-four
head of cattle, and in the course of last week another raiding
detachment looted some eighteen oxen. The native enjoys himself when
he is able to participate in some cattle-raiding excursion to the
enemy's lines, and, although the local tribe may not have proved of
much value as a unit of defence, their success at lifting the Boer
cattle confers upon them a unique value in the garrison. We were
deploring the poorness of the cattle which remained at our disposal
only a few days ago, but the rich capture which these natives have
made has given us a welcome change from bone and skin to juicy beef.
These night excursions are eagerly anticipated by the tribe, and
almost daily is the consent of the Colonel sought in relation to such
an object. During the day the natives who have been authorised by
Colonel Baden-Powell to take part in the raid approach as near to the
grazing cattle as discretion permits, marking down when twilight
appears the position of those beasts that can be most readily detached
from the mob. Then, when darkness is complete, they creep up, divested
of their clothes, crawling upon hands and knees, until they have
completely surrounded their prey. Then quietly, and as rapidly as
circumstances will allow them, each man "gets a move on" his
particular beast, so that in a very short space of time some ten or
twenty cattle are unconsciously leaving the main herd. When the
raiders have drawn out of earshot of the Boer lines they urge on their
captures, running behind them and on either side of them, but without
making any noise whatsoever. As they reach their stadt, their approach
having been watched by detached bodies of natives, who, lying
concealed in the veldt, had taken up positions by which to secure the
safe return of their friends, the tribes go forth to welcome them, and
when the prizes have been inspected and report duly made to
Headquarters they celebrate the event with no little feasting and
dancing. Upon the following day merriment reigns supreme, and for the
time the siege is forgotten.