Stay at Gubuleweyo--New Year’s Day--The Great Dance--Cattle
slaughtered--Departure of the king; the royal procession--A
dispute referred to him--Lobengula’s court.
Frank Oates remained at Gubuleweyo or in its immediate neighbourhood
some time--from December 5th 1873 to January 26th 1874. This was
considerably longer than he had originally intended, but he was partly
detained by the weather, which, besides being close and oppressive, was
for a long time very wet and unfavourable for travelling, and partly
that he might see the Great Dance, which took place in the early part
of January. After this some trouble with his servants still further
delayed him, as the case of one of them had to be taken before the
king. He was able, however, meantime to make some additions to his
collections of birds and other objects of natural history, though owing
to the state of the weather he attempted little hunting; indeed, near
the kraal, large game was invariably scarce and wild.
The incidents of the first part of his stay--until the end of
December--were apparently of little interest. After that came the
preparations for the Great Dance, which took place on the 8th of
January. The following day dancing was again continued, though with
much less ceremony, and the 10th was the day appointed for a state
slaughtering of cattle--one of the annual customs gone through at
this season. This over, the king took his departure next day for a
neighbouring abode of royalty. Commencing with the new year, the
entries in the traveller’s Journal, with some particulars of the above
events, stand as follows:--
“_January 1st, 1874._--Intensely hot, as yesterday was, and as they
say it will be till the rain falls. Sent bullocks to fetch wood for
making a scherm, having engaged John Jacobs and two Kafirs by the day.
Rode over to Thomson’s to dinner (two and a half miles) and lost myself
amongst the kopjes. The fine hot day and the luxuriantly green country
and rapidly-growing Indian corn make it seem more like June than New
Year’s Day to me. Petersen, Fairbairn, and Mandy went to Thomson’s in
cart, and we sat down to a most excellent dinner--roast and boiled
mutton, potatoes, cabbages, and turnips, plum-pudding, and mince-pies.
Such dinners as this and my Christmas dinner at Petersen’s are worthy
of notice, considering how few and far between they are. Pleasant
evening just before and after sunset; moon nearly full.
“_January 2d._--Fine hot day; heat, however, by no means so oppressive
as it has been for the last day or two, on account of a pleasant
breeze. Unpacked the front-box of my waggon. King called, and asked
for his bottle of brandy and some large shot. He afterwards sent a boy
for the brandy, whom I accompanied back to the king’s, and having given
the brandy and shot, offered him six muskets I had been hoping all this
time to sell him, and without any trouble got four fine elephants’
teeth for them, about 150 lbs. of ivory altogether.
[Illustration: DANCING-STICK, BOW AND ARROWS, AND
KNOB-KERRIES.]
“_January 3d._--Moonlight night--full moon, I think. Looked out early;
the moon was still gorgeously bright, and surrounded by a halo of
light in a violet sky, studded here and there also with a star. In
the east was the deep red of approaching sunrise. Morning at first
slightly overcast and tolerably cool, but the day soon became very hot,
though tempered somewhat by the wind. Decided to have a new sail made
for the waggon. Myers working at the old framework, patching it up.
Having things out of the waggon, and also out of the tent (as I was
rearranging the latter), I stayed about a good deal, not trusting John.
A lot of cheeky ‘majachas’ (warriors) about. Whilst one of them was
selling me honey, a lot came in, and I saw one abstract a knob-kerry
of rhinoceros horn from under the waggon, and throw it out of the
scherm.[27] He then ran away, seeing himself detected, but did not
go far, and afterwards came and stayed outside the scherm, asking for
a ‘tonso’ (present). However, this must have been mere bravado, as he
was too much on his guard to give me a chance of thrashing him, and
when I removed a bush for him to come in, only came in a foot or two,
and bolted when at length I approached him. I bought guinea-fowls’
eggs, some tobacco, and a dancing-stick. The second of the two sheep
bought for a cotton blanket and a shirt was killed this morning. It is
wonderful what a lump of fat the tail is. A miserable little famished
boy, who, they say, was picked up in the veldt and belongs to the
king, came into the scherm on being invited, and had food. He speaks
by nodding his head. He is a pitiable object, and coughs.... Wind rose
high at night. Mutton and guinea-fowls’ eggs for supper. There are
plenty of ‘majachas’ here now. They are everlastingly dancing. This
seems to be their whole drill.
“_January 4th._--Cool cloudy morning; a little drizzling rain. There
are caterpillars here of many very pretty varieties. Old well-known
forms both of caterpillars and moths are reproduced in this country,
with a change. The king sent me a caterpillar lately--green, with green
moss-like horny tufts; a flesh-coloured stripe on each side; on the
back a row of snow-white spots, circled with rich blue, and white spots
also along the sides. A long string of people came this morning from
Inchlangin for the dance. Macloule called on me soon after his arrival;
and again in the evening, when he asked me for a blanket, saying he had
lost a child through going with me, and had missed the time for burying
it. I sent him away till to-morrow. The day has been cloudy and cool,
but fair and delightful.
“_January 5th._--Hot day, and though there was a good deal of wind
I felt the heat. Gave Macloule a cotton blanket. Myers and Hendrik
working at my waggon sail. Took Hans, and went to king’s. Dance
going on, consisting of the men of two large kraals, forming a
circle, ‘marking time,’ and waving sticks, whilst the king, with
rhinoceros-horn knob-kerry, acted as bandmaster. There was also
singing. Nina[28] requested me to stand up and join, which I did. Every
now and then a man rushes out into the space in the middle, shaking
his shield and brandishing his assegai, enacts his fighting, and shows
how many he has killed, whilst loud shouts are raised on all sides.
The usual dress consists of a head-dress of black feathers, and a
bunch of monkeys’ tails round the loins, with white frills of ox-tails
on the arms, and (in the case of veterans I suppose) a long solitary
feather to top all, and a piece of fur round the head. The king had on
a broad-brimmed black felt hat, a huge bunch of monkeys’ skins round
his middle, and carried an Elcho sword bayonet (my present) and a
rhinoceros-horn knob-kerry. When the dancing and singing was over, the
men defiled past the king in companies, singing a monotonous but not
unmusical chorus, which they accompanied by rapping their shields with
their sticks, producing a dull heavy sound. Strings of girls bore huge
calabashes of beer, under the weight of which some of them staggered,
to the kraal. For the most part they were magnificent specimens of
shapely young Kafir women. A tall handsome girl, who has been sometimes
begging at my waggon, was a looker-on, and presented a fine picture
of a well-developed savage woman. She seemed fully aware of her own
striking appearance. A lot of old Mosilikatze’s wives sat watching.
“There is a good deal of wind to-night, and the moon is obscured by
dark gathering clouds. To-night, after I left the king, I was standing
beside a group of Kafirs cutting up the carcasses of two oxen just
killed, when the king’s dogs made a set at me. Afterwards the boys came
to my waggon asking a tonso for calling them off. I suspect they set
them on on purpose.
“_January 6th._--Intensely hot, and though there are clouds, the rain
still keeps off. Sent John with Wankee to cut a tree for a dissel-boom,
and he says the axe was taken from him on the pretext that they must
not cut wood now, and that the axe would be returned.... I asked if I
could go shooting, and they say no, not till the dance is over.
“_January 7th._--Sky overcast, but the heat is still intense. Crowds of
people about, as yesterday; difficult to keep the scherm clear. Dancing
going on at the kraal. Heat insufferable. The tent was a furnace, but
at sundown there was a little thunder, and it was pleasant and cool. A
beautiful mild-looking rose-tinted sunset.
“_January 8th._--Day of the Great Dance. Very heavy rain fell at
sunrise. As rain fell, girls bathing in rain-holes. Things in tent got
very wet, and it was late before I could come out and begin to dry
them. The heat soon became great, but the sun kept being more or less
obscured by clouds. I learnt it was the day of the Great Dance, and
hurried the drying and locking up of my things, so as to be ready to
go and see it. Some majachas came out, and had a row, and bruised one
another near my waggon.
“As soon as I had finished packing I joined the Thomsons, whose waggon
had drawn up in front of Myers’s store, where the dancing was to be.
Meantime, Thomson says, they had been going through ceremonies at the
kraal, where dancing was still going on, but very shortly they expected
the king and people out. However, Thomson and I went to the kraal to
see, and were well repaid. In the midst of a large circle formed by
warriors, four wives of the king, dressed all alike, and modestly
covered, were dancing, or rather slowly pacing. Each had a checked
print over her shoulders, and a black skirt reaching low down. With
them was a future wife, partially clad in gaily-coloured calicos, but
without skirt. The wives, Thomson says, are very nice women. As I went
with him through the crowd, I could not help seeing what respect is
shown him, and how all make way for him.
[Illustration: OX-HIDE SHIELD.]
“Suddenly the royal sister appeared, and presented a most singular, not
to say magnificent, appearance. It was something like the appearance
of the _prima donna_ at the opera, or the leading spirit in some
gorgeous pantomime. She is very stout, and tremendously _en bon
point_, and her skin is of a coppery hue. She wore no dress, and
the only covering above her waist was a number of gilded chains, some
encircling her, some pendent. Round her arms were massive brazen
bracelets. A blue and white freemason’s apron appeared in front, and
looked strangely anomalous there, though really not unbecoming. From
her waist also there hung down behind a number of brilliantly-coloured
woollen neck-wraps, red being the predominant colour. Under the apron
was a sort of short black skirt, covering the thighs, made of wrought
ox-hide. Her legs and feet were bare, but round her ankles were the
circlets of bells, worn by the women to make a noise when they dance.
Her head-dress was decidedly pretty--a small bouquet of artificial
flowers in front, and amongst the hair, standing in all directions,
feathers of bee-eaters’ tails. A small circular ornament, fashioned out
of red clay, was on the back of her head. She put herself in posture
for the dance, but did not move very much or energetically whilst
keeping time; she suffered too much from adiposity. She held one of the
large oval black and white ox-hide shields, surmounted by a jackal’s
tail, such as are carried by the warriors. The wives held long slender
wands upright in their hands. The men, when they dance, usually carry a
carved stick, with which motions are made, whilst it is generally held
upright. The girls carry very pretty brooms, which they likewise raise
and move about to time; but the girls’ dances were yet to come.
[Illustration: ASSEGAI-HEADS AND BATTLE-AXE.]
“The dress of the soldiers is very striking, and suggestive of savage
warfare. Over the shoulders, and continued into a sort of hood, which
either surmounts the back of the head, or hangs loose behind the neck,
is a large fabric of jet-black ostrich feathers. Around the forehead
is a circlet of tawny fur, and a single long steel-coloured crane’s
feather rises above, giving a most artistic finish to the picture.
Around the loins are a collection of monkey and cat skins, dangling
in long strips, together with a number of tails, some of the latter
nearly large enough for those of leopards, which hang in thick bunches
nearly to the ground. Around each arm is a graceful, wavy tuft of white
ox-tail hair, and sometimes the same around the legs. Very little
limbo is worn, unless a strip or two--usually of blue selampore or
white calico, well worn and defaced--around the waist. The shield and
assegais complete the picture.[29] If all were uniform in appearance
the effect would be much heightened; but unfortunately the dress is
not _de rigueur_. Some omit the fur round the forehead; some both
fur and feather; and some of those in command have even shabby shirts
or hats on, contrasting badly with the fine warrior costume of the
majority. The only military evolution gone through is marching past in
kraals, or what we should call companies, the men singing, dancing,
and making some most unearthly and awe-inspiring noises the while. One
sound is produced gutturally, and resembles the low growl of a wild
animal. Another is made by striking the shields--a sound resembling
distant thunder. Then they have a way of whistling, not unlike the
cat-calls of a London theatre. During their dances a warrior rushes
out into the middle of the circle from time to time, and goes through
the pantomime of his late exploits, brandishing spear and shield, and
rushing wildly about. He denotes, by repeated thrusts, the number of
people he has slain, whilst the surrounding warriors shout loudly.
“Standing about are many pretty girls in most fantastic head-dresses,
worn only on special occasions, and highly prized. Predominant is
the pink bead, appropriated by the royal family. A small group of
waggon-drivers, either those who have come up here with white men,
or who belong to the doctor’s party, whose waggons accompany the
king in all his movements, are dressed to the height of fashion--as
near as they can manage it--in European dress, for which the stores
of the place have been ransacked, and high prices paid, no matter at
what sacrifice. One has a chimney-pot. These fellows are usually the
greatest scamps in the country--idle, vain, insolent, and vicious. The
king is dressed much like his warriors, and looks himself. He is a
fine-looking man, and has an agreeable expression and a ready smile. He
is one of the darkest-complexioned people I have seen belonging to this
nation.
“Now Thomson tells me we must make haste and return to the waggon,
as the soldiers are beginning to march out, and they are all going
outside, accompanied by the king and his court. We return, and the
troops march out and take up position in a huge, dense circle outside
the kraal. There may be three, four, or even five thousand of them, and
perhaps ten thousand people in all.”[30]
“_January 9th._--Hot day; short heavy shower in the afternoon. Dancing
at the kraal--second day (or was Wednesday also a day? If so, this is
the third). Different parties dancing; majachas and girls separately,
though in some cases girls are introduced into the majachas’ dance.
King had waggon taken out by Kafirs. Selous[31] looked at my guns.
Rain came on, and he sat in my tent. He tells me how he was once lost
between Bamangwato and Tati for four days. He had had a cup of coffee,
and gone out hunting. That night he slept in the veldt; it was July,
and the nights were very cold. He had only a shirt and trousers on, and
had no matches. He used his last three cartridges in trying to make a
fire. The second and third days he still wandered. I think it was the
end of the second day that he lost his horse. The evening of the fourth
day he came to Palatswe water, and got milk of a Kafir. He walked
back next day to his waggon at Tchagani pool--he thinks about twenty
miles. It was on the evening of the third day he reached a hill, by
moonlight, whence he saw other hills he knew. Started before daybreak,
and that night got the milk. He thinks he could have gone another day
without food or water. He had nothing whatever, between the coffee,
at starting, and the milk. He carried his gun, perspired profusely,
and suffered much from cold at nights. He experienced a difficulty in
swallowing.
“A letter from Mandy, at Inyati, to-day, states that he saw a crocodile
there the other day, which got hold of his dog, and pursued himself in
his bathing hole. It was ten or twelve feet long, he says.
“Dancing in little parties going on all day; the girls very lively in
their dance. Bought a goat for about three quarters of a pound of beads.
“_January 10th._--Very cloudy day, inclined to rain. Went up to kraal,
where slaughtering was going on. I had heard nothing of it, but the
number of bullocks slaughtered this year must have been next to nothing
compared with former years. I saw a dozen or twenty down, or being
assegaied. The bullocks are driven together, one out of the number
being intended for slaughter. The opportunity is watched for to hurl
the assegai, which sometimes remains in the ox, who runs some distance
before he falls, bleeding at the nostrils, and soon dies. They are
stabbed in the region of the heart and lungs. The first thrust is often
not successful, as it is not easy to hit the victim in the right place
when he is in a state of excitement. I went to see the king, who was
looking very sulky. There is no dancing to-day. It appears the king is
very angry at the fighting of yesterday.
“_January 11th._--Heavy rain very early; a little bright sunshine
about breakfast-time, when I partially dried the things that had got
wet in the tent, causing me considerable discomfort. It soon came on to
rain again, however, and rained more or less during the day. I was to
have taken my things out of Myers’s store and packed the waggon, but
the rain prevented me. In the morning I heard the king was inspanning
to go to some neighbouring abode of royalty, and hurried to take him
his horse. After handing it over to him, and being told to give it in
charge of Petersen, I asked him if he would buy a saddle and bridle, to
which he replied, these were always supposed to go with the horse, the
saddle being part of its back. However, I hope he won’t insist on this
any more, and, indeed, I may go away without seeing him again, unless I
do so voluntarily. Piet, who interpreted for me, told me that the king
is very angry about the disturbance, and will probably kill a number
of the people, and for this they think he is going away in such a
hurry. There were twelve black, or nearly black, bullocks in the royal
waggon, and, when it started, the throne was carried--as it always has
to be done--on a boy’s head. It is a straight-backed, substantial, and
extremely plain, green chair, with red daubs on it. Over the back and
seat is stretched a piece of lion-skin. The dogs rushed off with the
waggon, the second waggon started, in the back of which I could see
a lot of meat and two young lambs or kids trying to keep their pins
amongst the miscellaneous cargo inside; the majachas started, and the
royal procession was on its way. Busy a good deal in Myers’s store.
Unpacked and packed boxes there, and watched the rain. Terrible soaking
wet evening and night. I managed, however, to keep dry in bed.”
From this time for some days the weather continued so persistently
and miserably wet, that it seemed out of all question to think of
commencing the return journey to Tati, which the traveller was now
preparing to undertake. The heat, at the same time, was also so intense
that any exertion was laborious, and even the occupation of writing
was a task. About the 18th, however, there was some improvement, and
two days after this he was ready for a start, when the dispute with
one of his servants above referred to necessitated his seeking a fresh
interview with Lobengula, whom he followed to his present quarters, but
a few miles off, on the evening of the 20th. This dispute arose from
Frank Oates’s dismissal of the Kafir driver Dick, who had come up with
him from Natal; the latter maintaining his right to retain the services
of the young lad Jacob, whom he had originally brought with him for
engagement in Pietermaritzburg, and who still accompanied the party.
The two appeared to bear no relationship to each other, and Frank
Oates would have been glad to keep Jacob in his service, but the latter
seemed afraid to come, and it was agreed to refer the question to the
king. The Journal of this time continues:--
“_January 20th._--Fine, bright, windy morning; a few clouds in the
sky. Finished what was left to be done to the waggon, and was going to
trek early when Jacob came and claimed his wages, and I decided to go
away to the king’s to-night, and thence start on my journey. A Kafir
woman has also claimed Jacob as her son. Though Jacob asked for his
wages and said he did not wish to leave Dick, he half admitted directly
that it was only his fear of Dick that made him say so, and that he
really wished to go with me. After the waggon was loaded, I waited
some time for Jacob’s return, he having gone with his would-be mother
to the king. He did not come back, and I inspanned for the king’s.
After about ten minutes’ delay in getting off--unruly bullocks and bad
trek-gear--started fairly about half-past five, and in about an hour
and forty minutes got to where the king is, meeting Jacob with the
woman going to Gubuleweyo. Jacob turned back with me. The king has said
the woman is not to claim him. It seems she gave Jacob some locusts and
milk when he was hungry, for he and Dick have fared badly of late. She
then professed to see a likeness in him to her lost child, taken in the
war, and he did not deny it, and afterwards she insisted on keeping
him. Jacob still says he wants to go with me, but is afraid of Dick,
and also wishes for his wages, as Dick urges him to get them, though
he knows Dick will appropriate them. He will let it be arranged before
the king, he says. The sun set as I trekked, and the peculiar aloe-like
trees of this country had a fine effect against the glowing sky. I
should say this trek is four and a half or five miles pretty direct.
The last two days have been fine drying days, but still there are some
very soft places in the road. Supped with Fairbairn on some excellent
beef, and had a long chat with him. Cool, starlight night, with heavy
dew.
“_January 22d._--Fine hot day, but with slight clouds, and at night a
heavy shower. Fairbairn had a row in trading with the king, who had
chaffed him a good deal last night. A large quantity of ivory had come
in (Fairbairn was here by the king’s express desire, to trade), and a
small tooth had been put down before him. He had made his offer for
it, which did not satisfy the king. Fairbairn said, ‘It is a small
tooth.’ ‘Did you ever shoot as large a one?’ asked the king. This is
considered a poser. Then a hot argument ensued between Fairbairn and
the king, through John, the king maintaining that Fairbairn would show
unequivocal signs of fear at the sight of an elephant. Fairbairn said
white men were not afraid of them; whereupon the king cited, H----, a
big man, who had not even shot a little calf; W----, ‘Where are the
elephants _he_ shot?’ Many white men had said the same as Fairbairn,
and where were the elephants they had killed? Then Fairbairn referred
to Selous, a small man; he had not been afraid, he said. ‘Would he tell
if he had shown signs of fear, or were you there to see?’ asked the
king. Then the king told Fairbairn that he was getting rich and did
not want his trade. Fairbairn got angry, and the result was that this
morning he had a row. The king sent some large decayed teeth, which
Fairbairn bought, and then some other teeth, which he could not buy,
and which were sent to Gubuleweyo and sold; but in the meantime the
king had offered Fairbairn two small teeth for a double-barrelled gun,
less than cost price, and Fairbairn had left the king in disgust.
“Went to the king’s kraal with John, and greeted the king, who was
lying in his waggon, but as, after greeting us in return, he took no
further notice of us and remained lying, I went away and had a nap in
my waggon. Fairbairn afterwards had tiffin with me, and then we went
together to the king, but he was still in his waggon--if not asleep,
lying invisible; put out, I think, about Fairbairn. We waited long
outside the kraal, and at length, near sundown, an induna came in
white man’s clothing, and with a shield, wearing feathers on his head
hanging under his hat, and accompanied by warriors. He, to call the
king, began shouting out compliments in a loud voice, amongst which
the words ‘Mosilikatze’ and ‘Incose’ (king), were frequently repeated,
and a request made that the king would treat him kindly. This referred
to beer and beef, which of course he would get. At last he finished,
and went away unnoticed by the king, who, however, soon came out, and
Fairbairn, John, and I, went to him, Dick and Jacob following. It was
so late that we did little.
“Had supper on Australian meat in Fairbairn’s waggon. Rain came on, and
I heard showers during the night. When we left the king, he chaffed
John, and said he looked weak, as if he was hungry. Last night John had
asked for meat, and he said he had no beef and his sheep were poor.
He seems really not to be killing oxen at present. Fairbairn has told
Nina that we are eating tinned fish. Fish is held in utter abomination
by these people, and Nina said her brother ought not to let us eat it.
Fairbairn says they used, when they wanted meat, to rig up a dummy
fishing-rod, and march off with it, taking care to pass in sight of the
king, and the moment he suspected fishing, he would send them a large
piece of meat.
“One sees all shades of colour in these people. The Makalakas are much
darker as a rule than the Matabele, who are usually coppery red or
sometimes yellow. The king, however, is black, and, I believe, about
as black as any of his race, and far more so than most. He deserves
his epithet of ‘black king.’ The dogs are a great source of fear at
present. They are constantly attacking people, and lately half, if not
altogether, killed an induna. Fairbairn says the king showed him his
own trousers torn the other day, as proof that even their master was
not exempt.
“_January 23d._--Wretched rainy and gusty morning. Nina in Fairbairn’s
waggon, as she was also a good deal yesterday. She is very fond of him,
as of other white men; and is said to wish to marry a certain white
trader here, who has left for a time--hoping, I believe, that she may
be married when he returns. She can’t marry till the king takes his
wife from whom the future king is to be born. His present wives have
nothing to do with it.
“John Lee’s waggon arrived to-day, to my great pleasure. I had just
returned from visiting the king, whom John and I had found standing at
the entrance of his kraal in a Mackintosh coat. Dick and Jacob joined
us, and the case of Jacob was discussed, Dick also urging the hardship
of his own dismissal, in which the king seems partly to agree, and says
it would be better not to leave him in _his_ country, but where
we can try the case with our own laws. At length the king went to his
hut, saying this case would take a long time, and it was not a day to
discuss it. Certainly the weather was against a law-suit being carried
on in the open air. In the evening I went again to the king. Lee was
sitting on the front-box of his waggon, and went over my case with him,
and thus I got a decision quickly. The king said his decision had been
that I was to take Dick _and_ Jacob, but I had refused to do this,
so now I must pay the wages of the boy, as he considered Jacob, having
been brought by Dick, was under his protection. I sent for them, and
paid the money to the king, who promised to keep it for Jacob as far as
he could, though he said if they left the country he must then give it
up. Supper again with Fairbairn.
“_January 24th._--More promising morning, though cloudy and showery.
Fairbairn, Lee, and I, to the king. Fairbairn does a good trade with
him after the row. Nina and her friends were eating a large dish of
excellent vegetable marrows. The smoke got into my eyes, and Banyai
kindly motioned me across the hut. John Lee killed a lung-sick heifer
of the king’s, and opened her chest with a saw, taking out the liquid
which accumulates in the cavity of the lungs during the sickness. With
this I helped him to drench some young cattle of the king’s. Each has
about a small beakerful. Lee says he never lost one that he drenched in
this way.
“_January 25th._--Lovely morning. Rose and dressed leisurely. The heat
soon became intense, and of that moist character that seems to make
it far worse to bear. Felt quite prostrated by it. The wife of Lee’s
boy, who tried to leave him, and is now undergoing punishment after
being tried before the king, came crying to my waggon. Lee drove her
away. It appears that the boy had to pay Lee £6, which the girl owed
the latter, before he could have her, both being in Lee’s service, as
well as the father-in-law, mother, and sister of the boy. The boy told
Lee he had paid the money to the king. This was a lie, so Lee demanded
the money of the king in the presence of the boy. Thus the offence was
shown to be against the king, and Lee told the king it was for him
to punish it. The two indunas present seized the boy, and he was half
throttled, and much knocked about. They would have killed him there and
then, had it been Lee’s wish. The king said, ‘Is he to be thrown out?’
which means put to death. Lee, however, said he should be satisfied
by the boy being tied up, which was done.... Went with Lee to the
king’s afterwards. More drenching was going on. I saw the boy tied up;
he could neither sit nor stand, but squatted on the ground, his arms
nearly on the full stretch, fastened on either side to one of the poles
that support the large wooden structures on which meat is piled. When
the sun set Lee was told, if he did not give the word to have the boy
taken away, he would rot where he was. The king and the indunas then
chaffed the poor wretch, as, Lee having consented, he was cut down. He
was told that he had been kicking Mosilikatze’s bones.
“The scene, with the king sitting on his front-box, would make a
picture: the setting sun; the dark green trees beyond the kraal, and
the green walls of the newly-erected kraal; the yellow beehive-like
huts; the yellowish trodden grass in the space; the herds of goats
and sheep, with lambs and kids, and pack of dogs, crowding round the
king’s waggon; the group of natives, some all but naked, some adorned
with feathers, some with a single article of European dress, as a hat,
crouching on their haunches, forming the court of the black king; tusks
of ivory lying about. To complete the picture, a white trader or two
should be introduced, not above crouching before his sable majesty, who
sits there in his broad-brimmed black felt hat, pipe in mouth (a small
briar-root, worth perhaps 2d. at home), cotton shirt not over clean,
unbraced baggy trousers, and large clumsy shoes, a benignant smile
generally on his black face.”
The day after this the king took his departure for another place, John
Lee left for Mr. Thomson’s, and Frank Oates started back to Tati.
[Illustration: MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.]