One evening, the news ran round the kraal that Metilulu, perhaps being
in want of a lion skin, had issued his royal orders that a hunt of that
animal should take place on the morrow, at which--hearing it was
conducted differently to that of other beasts--I determined to be
present, rather against Tugela's desire, for he assured me it was
sometimes a most dangerous affair, and seldom took place without one or
two hunters being severely wounded, if not killed. Yet for all this I
resolved to make one of the party, telling Tugela that I did not dream
of joining the hunters, except as a spectator.
So the next morning I was up betimes, and ready to set out with the
Kaffirs, whom I found carried, beside their usual weapons, an assagai
having a bunch of feathers at the top, the purpose of which I could not
divine, but patiently waited, as I often had had to do previously, for
time to show. I was now, as may be imagined, very familiar with all the
tribe, and, by being able to make myself just understood, could join
them in any affair, though Tugela was not present, as at this hunt.
After our assembling we soon set off, and proceeded in so straight a
direction that I supposed the lair of a lion had already been
ascertained, which surmise proved correct, for we had not gone a very
great distance before we came in sight of the king of the desert, alone
and majestic, having by his side the bare bones of an eland, the flesh
of which animal had just served to stay his royal hunger. On perceiving
him the Kaffirs, with the greatest caution, separated, and placed
themselves so as entirely to surround the place where he stood, then at
the same time disclosed themselves to his view. It is the nature of
these animals never to attack a body of men unless urged by extreme
hunger, but usually to retreat before them, thinking, like some
two-legged animals, that discretion is the better part of valour.
It was therefore with the full intention to make a retreat that the
noble beast regarded the human circle, till, by its growing smaller and
smaller, gradually hemming him in, he appeared quickly to guess their
intent, and, with a terrific roar of rage, turned fiercely upon them.
Having excited him up to this point, one of the Kaffirs, advancing
before the rest, shook the plumes on his assagai provokingly in his
face, when, to my terror, he rose suddenly up, and, with the litheness
of a cat, made a wondrous bound at his adversary. I could have declared
the poor fellow was done for; but with an agility equal to the lion's,
or to a monkey's, the hunter struck the spear of his assagai in the
ground and nimbly leaped aside, so that the powerful paw of the beast
fell with a force upon the feathered head of the weapon, which too well
proved what the fate of the man would have been had he stood in its
place. At the same moment a shower of spears assailed him from the
rear, hurled by the enemy behind. Uttering a terrific roar, turning, he
flew savagely at his nearest assailant, who performed the same rapid
feat as the first, while another cloud of weapons shot through the air.
From the distant bush I watched this strange and most dangerous method
of hunting--dangerous truly, for even as I looked I perceived one of the
men, taken off his guard by an abrupt swerve of the lion, fail in
striking his spear and in his leap aside. The next moment the large paw
had fallen on the hunter's head with so awful a blow that it must
instantly have dislocated the spine, such, they say, being the way these
animals have when seizing their prey. The poor fellow dropped as if
struck by a thunderbolt, while the strong white teeth of the lion
fastened immediately upon his shoulder. The rest of the hunters,
quickly seizing the opportunity, sent assagai after assagai, till,
bleeding from numerous wounds, and giving one final roar, the brute sank
dead by the side of his victim.
I ran forward instantly, as did the others, to find life extinct both in
man and beast. Save the wound of the cruel teeth in the shoulder, the
body of the Kaffir showed no other disfigurement, but looked as calm as
if in sleep. His death did not seem much to concern his companions. No
doubt they had expected some such event, and perhaps rejoiced that only
one had fallen under the paw of the kingly brute; for a lion hunt
frequently ends far less fortunately.
Therefore slinging the beast over their shoulders, we returned to the
kraal, where we laid our prize at the chief's feet.
It was a few days after this that, calling an assembly of his head
warriors, Metilulu informed them that it was his will that on the next
day a war party should depart to attack a distant tribe, from whose
chief he affirmed he had received a most grievous insult.
The announcement was received with a shout of joy, for war is the
opportunity which the "boys," or "black shields," have of distinguishing
themselves, and thus acquiring the honourable title of "man" and bearer
of a white shield. All shields are conferred by the chief alone, who
bestows them on none but those who by daring deeds have proved
themselves worthy to be one of his soldiers. To the "boys" a black
shield is given till they have distinguished themselves greatly in
battle, when it is changed for a white one. Both are of a long oblong
shape, covered with cow-hide, and only vary in colour.
Through this war expedition I became a witness of many peculiar
ceremonies attendant thereupon. First, I learned that by some means
Metilulu had procured a portion of a hide-belt belonging to the other
chief, which, having been scraped into a medicine prepared by the
witch-doctor, he had drank, believing by that he would literally swallow
up his enemy from his path. After this the warriors' turn came. All
being assembled, an ox was slaughtered by the witch-doctor, who, having
cut off one of its legs, chopped it in pieces, sprinkled them with a
magic powder, then distributed the morsels to the warriors, who devoured
them with the greatest avidity. That ended, the whole animal was cooked
for them to feast upon.
This concluded that day's ceremony. On the next the witch-doctor
administered a medicine which acted as an emetic; then, as a
purification, to which I have previously referred, Metilulu,
approaching, sprinkled those appointed to fight with water.
Strange as it may appear, if these rites were not performed the Kaffir's
heart would fail him in battle, not through want of courage, but merely
through superstition.
The present expedition was under the command of a n'genana, or captain,
whose costume, like those of the other warriors, was very peculiar.
Each one had seemed to adopt his own idea of a strange head-dress,
formed of tall and short feathers; while long goats' hair hung flowing
down their backs, over their chests, and from the knee-joints more than
half-way down the calf.
They drove with them several head of cattle, which I naturally
considered to belong to the commissariat department, but learned they
were taken for a far different purpose. On attacking an enemy's kraal,
a Kaffir's first thought is to seize the cattle--his dearly-beloved
cows. These, however, prove rather difficult to manage in a hasty
retreat; but the strangers will speedily follow if headed by oxen who
know the way, for in Caffraria, it seems, these animals are endowed with
the same instinct as dogs possess in our country. Provisions, however,
were sent with them, but to my idea, knowing the capacity of the Kaffir
appetite, scarcely sufficient for half the time they said the expedition
would take. Tugela told me that this was owing to a desire not to
encumber the army more than possible; for which same reason the
soldiers, save feathers and ornaments to show their rank, wore little
clothing,--indeed, even in the Kaffir acceptation of the word, I might
say none--not even taking with them the kaross, but sleeping without the
least covering in the open air.
I need hardly state that, as cunning, cruelty, and bloodshed are the
leading points of warfare in Caffraria, I did not join this expedition.
No doubt I should have been refused permission had I asked it. So,
having watched the warriors off, I returned to the kraal to pass the
time in the ordinary mode--attending to my cows and corn and tobacco
patches, for so had my wealth increased, as I supposed, correctly as it
proved, that little of much interest would transpire during the war
party's absence.
It happened, as I passed to my own hut, and casually looked in at
several others--for I had now become on familiar terms with most of the
families--that, at the principal warrior's dwelling, I found the wives
hanging their husband's sleeping-mat, pillow, and apron upon a certain
part of the wall. I should not have noticed this had it occurred merely
once; but as I saw it repeated by many, repaired to Zenuta--a common
practice of mine--to ask if there were any reason in what I had seen.
"Oh yes!" she replied, "the wives hang them up so when their husbands
are absent. They visit them every morning to see if they cast a shadow,
for while they do she knows her husband is safe; but," she added, with a
sudden lowering of her tone and manner, "if they do not, she feels he is
dead--dead! and mourns him as if his companions had really brought the
news. Oh!" she continued, with a deep sigh, "if you, Gabbrth,"--her
mode of pronunciation--"if you had been a warrior, and had gone with the
others, I should have done the same."
I could not but be touched by this manifestation of womanly feeling,
and, with a pressure of the hand and a smile, tried to show my
gratitude.
Several days elapsed before anything was heard of the war party, and
nothing of any consequence took place at the kraal till it was proposed
that a few of us should make a party to hunt the koodoos. This animal
is much admired owing to its splendid spiral horns, while its flesh--a
rarity with South African animals--is both tender and of a good flavour.
On setting out, the direction we took was that where, between two
shelving plains, covered with bright green vegetation, a sparkling river
flowed; for the koodoo requires water. Here we soon came upon several
of them, which, with much caution, we proceeded to slay. It being a
most wary animal, we, according to the Kaffir method, appearing at some
distance, approached them by large, circles, as if the last thing we saw
were the animals themselves, which proceeding apparently much puzzled
them. This we continued to do, gradually lessening the distance till
within shooting range, when, wheeling round, we hurled our assagais at
the startled herd, who sprang off at full speed, but not before we had
slain several, among which was a pretty little antelope, called an
ourebi.
Before returning, we stretched ourselves upon the grass to enjoy the
pleasant day and rest a little; but we had not been long in this
position before we suddenly perceived a considerable party of Kaffirs,
in all the native panoply of war, fording the river much higher up than
where we were. Following the example of my companions, I instantly
seized my shield and spears, and, wriggling like a snake through the
grass, reached some bushes, from which concealment we inspected the
strangers earnestly. The head man affirmed it must be a regiment of
some hostile tribe, no doubt coming to attack our kraal, and, upon this
surmise, was just sending off a swift messenger to give the alarm at
home, when one of our party, uttering a cry of joy, declared that the
men before us were our own warriors returning from their expedition.
After a few moments' inspection, this really proved to be the fact,
whereupon we immediately quitted the bushes and advanced quickly towards
them. In doing so, I noted that, while the men rapidly forded the
river, they raised the water in the palms of their hands to their lips,
as if suffering from thirst, and I could not help asking a Kaffir near
me if he thought there was any reason for this haste.
"No doubt," he said, "they are on a forced march, when the men are not
permitted either to stop or leave ranks; though," he added, pointing to
some dead-looking logs, like tree-trunks, which lay here and there on
the muddy banks of the river, "they would not in any case stop now.
See--crocodiles!"
I gave almost a leap at the sound. Yes! those _logs_ were indeed
crocodiles, as I speedily was made aware, for, on our drawing near the
river, several slipped into the water with a dull lazy splash. I
remember that at the sight I felt no small amount of satisfaction that I
had not to ford the river; for though they say if you walk straight
forward, splashing the water as you go, these repulsive looking monsters
dare not touch you, I had not the least desire to try the experiment.
We found the warriors much attenuated, having suffered greatly from want
of food, which their hunger-belts drawn very tightly proved. These
hunger-belts are made of leather, fastened several times round the body,
and are gradually tightened over the stomach to stay the cravings of
hunger. One or two "boys" of the party had suffered so much from lack
of provisions that they had actually flawed their cow-hide shields.
Such being the state of things, it may be imagined with what alacrity
they fell upon some koodoo flesh we had prepared; in fact I thought they
would never stop. After a while, however, they left off, more from want
of provender than appetite, and continued their march homeward, we
joining company. They said they expected to be well received; for,
beside the vengeance they had taken upon the enemy having been severe,
they had also brought away with them numerous heads of cattle, which
they were well aware would be regarded with extreme satisfaction by
their chief, Metilulu.