I could not have remained unconscious long, indeed it seemed but a
moment's space, when I was brought to by the excruciating pain caused by
the no gentle withdrawal of the spear or assagai, as I found it was
called, out of my arm. But the "moment's space" had been sufficient for
them to bind my hands firmly with a strip of hide behind my back. With
as little ceremony as gentleness they pulled me to my feet, when weak
and giddy, for the blood was flowing fast from my shoulder, I examined
my captors.
They were of the true Kaffir type--tall, well-made, noble and graceful
in their bearing, patterns of manly beauty, save the face, and even here
the features were far superior to most of the African dark-skinned
tribes; the cheek bones were not prominent, the lips were not of the
negro class, though thicker than the European. Quickly I took this
inventory of my captors, and also perceived that my being a white man
had created no little surprise among them--they talked and jabbered
together, ever glancing at me, then turning began to march forward,
myself in the midst.
What Mr Ferguson and Jack were doing I could not tell. I certainly
could not see them, and therefore hoped, by keeping quiet in the pit,
that they had escaped detection. I did not for an instant blame them
for not having endeavoured to rescue me, for what could they have done
without arms and pitted against fifteen times their numbers. It would
have led to the massacre of three instead of one--and one, I felt
certain, unless Providence again aided me, it would be.
Rapidly we moved along towards the hill, too rapidly for my strength. I
reeled and stumbled as I went, my pain added to by the tightness of the
hide about my wrists. Each moment I felt that I should fall, for the
loss of blood was growing serious, when a Kaffir, evidently one in
authority, who was walking by my side, seemed to become aware of my
situation, for he spoke to another, who gliding swiftly off returned in
a few moments bringing the leaves of some plant, cool and fresh, which
the one who had sent him bound round my arm. After this we went on
again, I striving to look my gratitude, hoping in my heart that the
tribe into whose power I had fallen was of those friendly ones of whom
Mr Ferguson had spoken.
On reaching the crest of the hill, which I had been looking forward to
with some curiosity, I perceived in the centre of a plain similar to the
one we had just quitted, the kraal, or home of the Kaffir, which I will
here describe according to how it appeared to me, only, to give
clearness to the description, using the native terms when necessary,
though I did not learn them till afterwards.
The kraal then was made of two circular fences, the outer being about
half-a-mile or more in diameter, the other much smaller, and enclosing
what we should call a meadow, termed here the isibaya, in which are
carefully kept the cows, the pride of the Kaffir. Between these two
fences formed of poles, whose tops crossing make a protection like a
_cheveux-de-frise_ against an enemy, were numerous huts in the shape of
half a Dutch cheese, the flat part being placed on the ground. These
were composed of thatch lashed together with baboon ropes. In respect
to the shape of the huts, I may as well mention here, that the Kaffirs
build everything round, and have no idea of any other form. I have
heard it said in jest that a tailless cat _must_ walk in a circle--from
whatever point they start from, they _must_ return to the same. So it
appears with the natives of Caffraria, for however the women, who are
the chief builders, begin, they are sure to bring the construction
finally to a circle.
Near the kraal a little on the outside grew a peculiar tree called the
_Euphorbia_, which grows to forty feet high, is entirely leafless,
prickly, and branches out like a candelabrum; its juice is extremely
acrid and poisonous, indeed the tree is of the same species as the wart
weed which grows, where weeds are permitted, in English gardens.
As we approached, my guards uttered a peculiar cry, upon which the
kraal, a moment before lying so still and peaceful in the clear
moonlight, became animated with numberless black figures, like a swarm
of bees. Breaking into a quicker step, we soon reached the small
aperture leading into the huts, and were instantly surrounded by a crowd
of Kaffirs dressed similarly to those I had already seen, that is, with
ropes of hides and beads coiled round their waists; the aprons of strips
of fur or animals' tails hanging in front and behind, and bracelets and
anklets of hide, string, or bone round their wrists and legs. Each also
bore an assagai and shield, giving them a most formidable appearance, as
with much gesticulation they stared at me.
A consultation seemed to be taking place between the head men, during
which the women and children, who also had turned out, took their full
share of inspection, so I, having nothing better to do, returned the
scrutiny, and speedily came to the opinion that, however well the men
might be made, the women when passed maidenhood were positively
disgustingly hideous.
The girls' attire was little more than the men--when women or married
they, on special occasions, wear a petticoat of some material, reaching
to the knee, now this was absent--while their rough woolly hair was
ornamented with bones, beads, and the spines of the white thorn. As for
the children, they were as devoid of clothes as when they were born.
I had scarcely taken all this in, when a young Kaffir, whom I had seen
sent away, returned; and no sooner had he delivered his message, than
about half-a-dozen of my guards surrounding me, began to move on, the
crowd falling back, yet still following and chattering like so many
monkeys.
Proceeding nearly half round the kraal, we came to a hut of much larger
dimensions than the others, while I observed on the thatch the skulls of
several oxen to be fastened. The entrance was so low that I had to pass
through on my hands and knees, preceded and followed by my guards. The
first thing that struck me on putting my head in, was the exceedingly
disgusting odour of the interior, most repulsive to the sensitive organs
of the European.
The anxiety respecting my position, however, made me pay little heed to
this; but rising to my feet I gazed round with some curiosity.
The interior walls were composed of hardened mud, the roof being
supported by pillars, covered, to my surprise, by beads, and from which
were hung shields, assagais, and gourds; while bunches of maize, much
blackened by soot, were suspended from the roof. Around the sides of
the hut were ranged rudely-made baskets, pitchers, and other culinary
utensils, and on the floor, flattened to a perfect evenness and polish,
were several sleeping-mats, constructed from animals' skins.
On one of the latter, I was not surprised to see the fat Kaffir who had
been present at the dance, and thinking it as well to be polite--even
should they not understand the European fashion of being so--I made a
most profound obeisance.
The chief having looked fixedly at me, addressed my guards who, I could
tell by their manner and actions, were explaining how I had fallen into
their hands. This coming to an end, with some dignity and much
importance he spoke to me, whereupon, shaking my head, I gave him to
understand that his language was unknown to me. Metilulu, for that I
afterwards learned was his name, then gave an order to one of the
attendants, who, quitting the hut, speedily returned with a young,
rather good-looking Kaffir, possessing a figure like the marble statues
I had seen in other lands and my own. He was indeed splendid, and I was
admiringly examining this fine specimen of humanity, when I was startled
by hearing myself addressed in my own tongue, though the pronunciation
was queer. I found it was the young Kaffir who thus spoke. He stood
between the chief and me, and said--
"The mighty Elephant, the pride of his tribe, says, are you European?"
"I am," I answered, no little pleased to think that I could explain my
position, and perhaps win their commiseration. "I am a shipwrecked
sailor, who was cast on your land the evening before last."
"You are not Boer?--you are not spy?" he continued suspiciously, after
repeating my words to the chief.
I speedily answered no, to this dangerous accusation, and pointing to my
tattered clothes explained how the sea had torn me and them. Then I
begged him to tell the great chief how I threw myself upon his mercy and
hospitality trusting that he would not treat as an enemy a poor
shipwrecked mariner such as I, who really was not one; and that could he
pass me over to an European settlement, I should be sincerely grateful;
but if he kept me prisoner, he must--I would bow to his decree, yet I
hoped he, so brave a warrior, would not think it necessary to take my
life, as my coming on the coast was, no fault of mine, neither was it to
do him wrong.
I made my words and manner as eloquent as I could, and fancied even
before my speech was interpreted to him that I had made an effect.