I remained on board ship this day, talking with the captain and sailors;
the former was anxious to get his water casks filled, and also to
procure some fresh meat and vegetables. I was able to tell him where to
get fresh water: to get this it was necessary to pull up to the head of
the bay to where the Umbilo river ran into the harbour. The water of
this river was very good, and at low tide was not affected by the salt
water that entered the bay. I told the captain he must be very
cautious; because, as the boat would be seen as it proceeded to the
river, an ambuscade could be arranged by an enemy without any
difficulty. The captain said he would take his pistols, and the men
would be armed with guns and handspikes; so he did not fear a few naked
niggers. I suggested to him that we should row up the bay whilst it was
dark, and get to the river before daylight, fill the casks and then
return; by so doing, no spies could be aware of the boat having left the
ship, and when it returned it would be too late to ambuscade us. The
captain, however, said that this was making too much fuss about the
matter; and, supposing after all no Zulus were near, we should have
taken all this trouble for no reason.
"If," I replied, "Zulus are here, and we don't take this trouble, we
shall all be assagied or made prisoners."
It was no use, however, talking to the captain. He was one of those
dull men who never can see a danger before it really occurs; and
probably would have gone and sat down in a mealie garden to eat his
lunch in an enemy's country, and so have been surprised and assagied;
whereas, had he selected a wide open space, he could have seen an enemy
approach, and could either have retreated, or prepared for defence.
Englishmen, however, are never fit for bush warfare with savages, until
by long experience they have been taught what to do, by the savages
themselves.
It was some time after sunrise when the captain and four men started in
his largest boat with his barrels to procure fresh water. I went with
him to show him where the Umbilo river was situated, and took with me a
double-barrelled pistol and ten rounds of ammunition. I cautioned them
all to converse in very low tones, because voices are heard from the
water at very long distances, and it was not advisable to give an
enemy's ears the chance of discovering us in case he was so situated as
not to be able to see us. I felt certain that if any Zulus were near
the bay, they would keep watching the ship, and would have seen the boat
leave, and would make their plans accordingly. It took us a long time
pulling to the river, and I had scanned every part of the country to try
and discover some sign of an enemy: not that I had much hope of seeing
one, even if he was there. We reached the mouth of the river, and
tasted the water, which was quite fresh. I suggested that we should
examine the bush a little way, to see if there was any sign of the
Zulus; for if they attacked us when we were busy with the casks, we
should be taken at a disadvantage.
"There are none of your niggers here," said the captain, "never fear;
let's get our water without more delay." So the barrels were filled,
and placed in the boat, and we were preparing to re-embark, when a
rustling in the bush near us attracted my attention. On looking round I
saw three or four Zulus crouching behind some bushes and watching us.
Pointing my pistol at them, I said to the captain, "Zulus are here, get
into the boat at once." I would not fire for two reasons: first, if I
discharged my pistol, I could not reload again before they could close
with me; secondly, I knew that a Zulu would retreat to some cover when
he saw a pistol pointed at him; and there would thus be time for us to
get into the boat.
I hoped that when the captain knew that all my caution had not been
without cause, he would get into the boat as rapidly as possible, and we
might then easily have pulled beyond the range of an assagy, for no man
can throw an assagy well when he is among the bushes. The captain,
however, instead of following my advice, shouted "Hurrah, we'll wallop
'em!" and before I could stop him, he had called to his men and had
rushed into the bush where the Zulus had been watching us. It was
useless to follow him. I called out to warn him that he was going to
destruction, but he made no reply; and I at once ran to the boat and
pushed off in it, so as to keep a short distance from the shore, and
there waited to see what should occur. I soon heard the report of
pistols and some loud shouting from the sailors, but not a sound came
from the Zulus, who when in the bush like to keep their position secret.
Soon, however, the shouts ceased, and I heard a groan, then another,
and soon all was quiet. I knew too well what had occurred: the captain
and his men might possibly have shot two or three Zulus; but then, when
their pistols were unloaded, the Zulus had closed with them and had
assagied them. I pushed the boat a little farther from the shore, and
waited on the chance of some one of the party having escaped, and of
this one reaching the shore; but in a very short time I saw four Zulus
come to the mouth of the river and beckon to me. They made signs for me
to come on shore, and pointed into the bush behind. I at once knew
that, in my sailor clothes, they did not recognise me; so I called out
in English, "What do you want?"
"He cannot speak Zulu," said one of the men. "We must get the boat, and
then we may get on board the ship in the night."
I then heard them arrange a plan: which was that six of their men were
to run down in the bush to where the channel was very narrow, through
which channel I must pass. They could then, by swimming, get before the
boat and hold on to it; and either get into it, or drag it on shore. A
sailor, such as they supposed I was, they did not seem to think able to
do them much damage. The Zulus sat down on the shore and took snuff
from their small snuff-gourds, and no one unacquainted with the cool
proceedings of these men, would have imagined that they had just been
engaged in a deadly combat.
I spoke to them a few words in English; and then, taking out the oars,
began pulling the boat down the bay. Luckily the tide had not yet
turned, so the stream was with me. The boat was heavy, and I was not
accustomed to using the oars. So I had great difficulty in moving the
boat. I managed, however, to make it travel through the water. I could
not help being amused at seeing how calmly the Zulus watched me. They
made no attempts to stop me, because they knew that they could then do
nothing effectually, and that if they did attempt to do anything it
would merely excite my suspicions. I knew it would be of great
advantage for me to conceal my identity; for, if they knew that they had
to deal with one who had been trained in their own school of warfare,
they would take extra precautions, to prevent being taken at a
disadvantage. The narrow channel through which I had to make my way was
about half a mile from the river, and as I approached this I kept a
careful watch on the shore. In the boat were two pikes--very good
weapons for close quarters, but no use against an assagy; for the latter
can be thrown and will pass through a man at forty yards' distance. As
I approached the channel, I saw the bushes near the shore moving more
than they would do if the wind alone had acted on them; so I knew where
to expect the enemy. I then saw four Zulus slip quietly into the water;
and, keeping all but their heads under water, make their way to the
centre of the passage where the boat must pass. I went on with my
rowing until I was within an assagy's-throw of these men. I then pulled
three or four strokes rapidly, so as to give the boat considerable
speed; and, dropping the oars in the boat, crouched down and seized one
of the pikes. All was quiet with the Zulus: not a ripple in the water
showed their presence, whilst not a man was seen on the shore.
Suddenly, standing up, I found two of the Zulus within a yard of the
boat. With my pike I thrust at one of these, and drove the pike into
his throat; the other had just placed a hand on the bows of the boat,
and had partly raised himself out of the water. A second thrust, in
this man's chest, sent him back, and he sank--I fancy to rise no more,
as the blood gushed out of his wound as I withdrew the pike.
At the same instant two assagies flew close past my head, and I saw two
Zulus up to their middle in the water and preparing to cast other
assagies at me. Dropping into the bottom of the boat, so that only my
eyes were above the bulwarks, I seized my pistol and aimed at the
nearest Zulu. As I pulled the trigger he was about to cast his assagy;
but it never left his hand, as I hit him in the chest and he sank in the
water, rose again and floated down the stream. The other Zulus made for
the bush and concealed themselves from view.
I again loaded my discharged barrel, and, taking the oars, pulled as
fast as I could towards the vessel. The report of the pistols had been
heard by the sailors on board, and they were on deck looking out. They
hailed me as soon as I came near: and when I told them that I believed
the captain and the other men had been killed, they were astonished, for
they also seemed to think that the captain, with his pistols, was more
than a match for any number of "niggers."
I told them that the Zulus were not men to be despised, that they were
brave in every sense of the word, and that they were clever in all the
arts of bush warfare, and would most probably try to capture the ship;
so that we must be prepared for them, and must keep a careful watch all
night. Had the wind been suitable, the sailors would have left the
harbour at once, but there was a heavy surf on the bar, and the wind was
blowing in the harbour, so we could not get out.
After I had been some hours on board, I found the sailors talking
together in low tones and looking at me very suspiciously. I had no
idea what this meant, but after a time two of them came to me and told
me they suspected me of being in agreement with the Zulus, and having
led the captain into an ambush. I told them it was not my plan for the
captain to go on shore for water; and if I had been friends with the
Zulus, how was it I had shot them, and killed one of them with a pike?
The sailors replied that they had no proof I had done so, and they would
rather not have me on board. I told them that, if I had not come on
board, they would have gone on shore fearlessly, and would all have been
killed by the Caffres, and their ship taken. This argument produced no
effect on the sailors; who, like all ignorant people, considered that no
amount of reason or facts were as powerful as their own prejudices.
They had somehow conceived the idea that I was in league with the Zulus,
and could not perceive how differently I should have acted had I been
so. They had, however, made up their minds to get rid of me, and to
turn me out of the ship; and though I begged hard to be allowed to stay
and go with the ship to Cape Town, they would not hear of it. They
seemed to consider they were very generous not to string me up to the
yard-arm, for having been concerned in what they called "the murder" of
their captain and shipmates. They would not allow me to keep the
pistol, but gave me a knife; and then, making me get into the boat, they
pulled ashore, and there left me.
When I found myself once more on the land, alone and unarmed, I began to
think that the Caffres were better than the white men. It was in
consequence of the ignorant obstinacy of the white men that they had
fallen into ambuscades and been slaughtered. This style of proceeding
seems common among white men, as was shown during the Zulu war; where,
in spite of all that has been written about the Zulus and Boers, the
English commanders acted just as foolishly and recklessly as did the
captain of the little ship, and the disasters which occurred might have
been avoided by any one acquainted with the Zulu style of warfare. It
was true that I was unarmed and without food, in a country where behind
every bush there might be an enemy; but I did not feel as helpless as
would a man who had lived all his life among towns and civilisation. I
could construct traps for animals, I knew what roots and berries were
good to eat, there was plenty of water to drink, and I might find some
weapons. Besides, it was possible that another ship might come to the
bay, the captain and sailors belonging to which would not be as
self-sufficient as were those I had just left. I might still remain
concealed in the bush for a long time, and probably might make my way
down to the Umzimvubu tribe, and live the remainder of my life as a
chief. The white men I had seen were not of a class to impress me much
with the advantages of civilisation. The Caffres, it was true, were
cruel in some ways, and had quite different ideas from the whites; but
there was something very pleasant in their wild life, the simple
requirements of existence, and their love of reasoning from facts.
White men had their sciences, about which I knew little; but none of
these could follow the spoor of a horse for miles over a hard-soiled
country, nor could they distinguish the footprint of a hyaena from that
of a leopard; and if any of them happened to be left alone in the bush
as I was, surrounded by enemies, and without weapons or food, they would
certainly starve or be captured.
The dress that had been given me by the captain was a blue flannel
jersey, blue trousers, and a jacket. To be seen in this dress at any
distance by a Zulu would have been fatal, for he would have recognised a
white man's attire. I therefore cut up the jacket to make "tails,"
which I hung round my waist. I kept on the jersey because it made me
look dark-coloured, but I dispensed with the trousers. People who have
worn clothes all their lives do not know how imprisoned a man feels in
clothing, when he has been accustomed to live without any. When I had
on a jersey and a jacket I felt as though I could not cast an assagy;
and as to running with trousers on, it was simply impossible. When I
had divested myself of my unnecessary raiment, I felt much more as if I
could take care of myself than I did when I was in sailor's clothes.
The weather was warm, but the nights were chilly. I had become so
accustomed to be without clothes that I suppose I was like an
Englishman's face, which he never covers with clothes even in the
coldest weather.
I did not long remain on the beach, but made my way into the bush to a
thick part where there were some large trees; I then sat down to think
what should be done. I knew there would be great danger in attempting
to make my way down to the Umzimvubu; and, once there, I could not
expect to get away in a ship, as no ships ever came near the coast at
that part. I believed it possible that when the news reached Cape Town
that white men had been murdered at Natal, some soldiers might be sent
up in large ships, either to revenge the death of the murdered men, or
to obtain particulars of the massacre, so if I remained near the bay I
should stand the best chance of getting out of the country. I suppose
it was on account of my white blood, if I may use the term, that made me
wish to go again to civilisation, as also the desire to see my father.
For there was much to attract me among my old companions. If I returned
to my old residence, I should at once take my place again as a chief and
have everything I wanted. My companions of years would be again with
me; and I should rest, as it were, on the laurels I had won in my
various adventures. I had already discovered that white men did not
seem to value or even understand the qualities I possessed, whilst my
being unable to read or write well was looked upon as indicating
ignorance. When I lived among youths of my own age in England, I
believed I should be laughed at because I did not know as much of book
learning as they were acquainted with. My books had been the forests,
the plains, the rivers and mountains, and the skies above us. To read
from the signs on the ground what animals had travelled over it, and
when they had travelled, was an interesting book to me, and quite
intelligible. To know the time at night by the position of certain
stars was also a page that was intelligible; but how should I feel when
asked to read from a printed book, and found myself laughed at as a
dunce? I had already seen that white men were suspicious of me, and
acted on these suspicions alone. Considering all these points, I felt
quite undecided whether to again join the Umzimvubu Caffres, and live
all my life as a Caffre; or wait on the chance of some ship coming into
the harbour, and of being able to get a passage to Cape Town or England.
Although much pre-occupied with these thoughts, I did not neglect the
necessities of the present. I must make myself secure from the possible
attacks of two forest enemies, viz., snakes and leopards. I must sleep,
and when asleep I might be seized by a leopard, or be coiled round by a
rock-snake; for there were, I knew, rock-snakes in this bush at least
thirty feet long, and to be seized by one of these monsters would be
certain death. There was no time before dark to build a kraal, so I cut
down branches and brushwood, and arranged this in a circle round the
spot on which I intended to pass the night. I cut also two sticks, one
having a large knob at the end; the other, which was very hard wood, I
sharpened so that it was like a spear. This was the best I could do in
the short time before it came dark. I then lay down and listened to
hear what might occur near me.
I soon heard some rustling in the bush, which sometimes came near and
then went away to a distance. This might be caused by a buck, but it
might be a leopard. It was so dark that I could see nothing. The
nights in Africa are darker than they are in England; and when I held my
hand up I could not see it, though it was not half a yard from my eyes.
It is difficult to imagine anything more exciting and trying to the
nerves than to be thus alone in the bush during a dark night; when you
know that dangerous animals are near you, and when noises indicate that
these animals are aware of your presence, and are examining you to see
whether you can be safely attacked. To sleep was impossible; I did not
like even to lie down in a position of rest, but crouched on the ground
with my sharpened stick ready for use in case I was attacked. Towards
daylight, however, I could resist the desire to sleep no longer; and, as
all seemed quiet round me, I lay down and was soon in a sound sleep.
When I awoke, the sun was many times its own size above the horizon, and
was shining on the trunks of the trees around me. I ascended one of the
trees, from which I could see the masts of the ships in the bay. The
wind was blowing from the south-east, and as long as this wind continued
the vessel would not get over the bar. I knew as long as this ship
remained in the harbour the Zulus would not leave this part of the
country; they knew the stupid character of the English sailors, and they
also must be aware that they could not leave until they had procured
fresh water. Having descended the tree, I procured some fruit and
berries; and, making my way to the edge of the bush, I procured some
fresh water, of which I drank a large quantity, for I did not think it
safe to move about in the bush, and did not wish to have to come again
to the water during the day. On my return from the _vlei_, I heard a
rustling in the bush near me; and, becoming instantly still, I heard
some animal creeping away. Being desirous of knowing what the animal
was, I moved cautiously to where I had heard the noise; and at only a
few yards from me came on the carcase of a red bush-buck which had been
only lately killed. There was a mark on the buck's neck which I knew
indicated that a leopard had been its destroyer; but little of the buck
was eaten, so I knew I had disturbed the leopard at its feast. With my
knife I cut several strips of meat from the back and hind quarters of
the antelope; and, wrapping these in some large leaves, I fastened them
round with strips of bark, and was then provided with food for at least
three days.
On again ascending the tree to look out, I saw a boat leaving the vessel
with some sailors, and I could see casks in the boat; so I knew they
were going to the shore to procure water. These sailors, instead of
going up the bay, had seen a small stream of water running down the side
of the bluff, and had determined to get their barrels filled from this
stream. It was certainly a safer place than the Umbilo river would have
been, and I saw the men fill several casks and return in safety to their
ship. Soon after a change of wind took place; and, the sea going
rapidly down, the surf on the bar decreased, the sailors set sails on
the vessel, and she glided out of the harbour, and, crossing the bar,
was soon lost to view behind the high land of the bluff.
I was now once more alone as regards white men, but I might be
surrounded by enemies; so after looking all round the country as far as
I could obtain a view, I descended from the tree and sat down to
consider what to do. Suddenly I heard a human voice--it came from the
shore outside the bush. Listening attentively, I heard the Zulu
language spoken; and as the men spoke loudly, their words were
distinctly audible.
"The ship has left now," said one of the men, "there is nothing for us
to wait for."
"He must have gone in the ship," said another.
"Yes, his people must have taken him with them. He was very cunning:
dressed like a white man, he deceived us at first, and he must have
heard us speak of the plan for capturing the boat at the narrows. I
knew him when he rose in the boat after shooting Copen."
"He has escaped us," said another Zulu, "but we have killed four white
men, and have their small guns to take to our chief." "_Hambani si
hambi_" ("let us be going"), said a loud voice, and I could hear the
tread of the men as they moved along the beach.
I remained motionless while the sun travelled about ten times its own
breadth, for I knew enough of the Zulus' cunning to be aware that this
conversation might be carried on in various places, as a trap to throw
me off my guard, in case I was concealed near enough to hear what was
spoken. I then crept through the bush as stealthily as a snake, and
examined the beach, and saw a long distance off a party of about forty
Zulus moving along the shore towards the Umganie river, which was the
direction of the Zulu country. I remained concealed until it became
nearly dark, and then made my way down to the entrance of the bay, where
the channel was very narrow. The tide was low, and no current was
running in either direction; so I swam across the channel without
difficulty, and made my way up the bluff to my old kraal, which I found
had not been burnt or destroyed. There were several excavations made by
the sea on the shore side of the bluff--sort of caves, in fact--and to
one of these I made my way; and, having lighted a fire in this cave,
cooked the whole of the antelope's flesh and made a good meal, whilst I
reserved a large quantity for future use. The light from my fire could
only be seen from the sea, and there was no chance of any Zulu getting a
glimpse either of the fire or its smoke. I found several small fish in
the various pools which had been left by the high tide, and these I
intended to cook and eat on the morrow, because fish will not last fresh
as long as will flesh, especially when the weather is very hot. Having
had a good meal I felt fit for anything.
There are probably some people who would feel unhappy if they were alone
in a wild country, without clothes, weapons, or a stock of food; but I
had been trained in a rough school, and having, at least, two days' food
with me, I was far from feeling in a bad way. There is always something
pleasant in knowing that, on one's own exertions only, one's success or
failure really depends. Half the pleasure in life is lost when we are
helped to everything by the hands of another, our independence is gone,
and we become too often dissatisfied and idle. Not only did my daily
food depend on my exertions, but actually my life was in my own hands:
any incautious act, such as showing myself on the beach or bluff, might
lead to my being attacked by the Zulus. It was necessary to think
before I did anything, and my daily habits were therefore the result of
long consideration.
I had a wish to visit the Umbilo river, to see whether any of the
weapons belonging to the captain remained on the spot where he had been
killed. I knew this was a dangerous expedition to make; but everything
I did was dangerous now, for I could not tell who was my enemy, or where
I might meet one. I decided that any expedition I might make ought to
be undertaken towards evening; because, if I should be seen by the enemy
and pursued, the darkness of night would soon prevent them from
following my spoor, and I should get a good start of them during
darkness. If I could procure some weapon, even an assagy, I should feel
more able to defend myself against some possible assailant. As soon as
the sun approached the western horizon I moved along the beach towards
the Umbilo river, which I reached just as there was light enough to see
surrounding objects. I found the bodies of the captain and his men:
these had been mutilated by the Zulus, and the clothes of all of them
had been carried off. I looked carefully over the ground and among the
long grass, for anything that might have been dropped, and was delighted
to discover a double-barrelled pistol, which I knew belonged to the
captain. It was unloaded, and had evidently been fired very recently.
Near the pistol I found a small leather bag, in which were ten
ball-cartridges, the bullets from which fitted the pistol. Before
finding this I was only a match for one enemy, but when my pistol was
loaded I knew I was equal to three at least.
I had no desire to pass the night near the dead bodies of the sailors,
so I made my way through the bush towards the beach, where there were
rocks and hollow places, amidst which I could find a secure
resting-place for the night.
I had slept for some time when I was roused by a noise not far from me.
It was a loud grunt or roar--I could not say which was the proper term.
So I listened with the hope of gaining more information. My pistol in
my hand, I crept to the opening of the cleft in the rock, in front of my
sleeping-place. The breakers on the shore before me were sparkling with
a thousand stars, for the sea-water here is very phosphorescent, and,
consequently, made objects between me and these breakers quite distinct.
I thus saw the form of an enormous animal standing near the shore, and
recognised it as that of the _imvubu_, which is the Caffre name of the
hippopotamus. If I had only possessed my bow and poisoned arrows, I
might now have tried them on this monster, and probably might have been
successful in driving an arrow through his thick hide; but to fire at
him with my pistol would, I knew, merely be wasting a bullet and a
charge of powder. Besides, I could eat but a small part of the
_imvubu_; and as the vultures would be sure to circle in the air above
where the carcase of the monster was to be found, any Caffres in the
neighbourhood would notice these, and would come to see what was
attracting them. At present I wanted to remain concealed, and to think
what was to be done in the future. I lay on the ground watching the
_imvubu_, which every now and then gave loud grunts, and opened his
enormous mouth, as though gaping after a long sleep. The monster then
moved along the beach; and, as I found on following his spoor in the
morning, he had his home in the Umlass river, about two miles from where
I had slept.
When the first signs of daylight appeared, I made a meal of oysters; and
then ascended the high land to examine the surrounding country and see
what was going on. I soon noticed vultures circling in the air, near
the head of Natal Bay, and knew that these birds had been attracted by
the bodies of the captain and sailors, whose bones they would pick, and
leave but little for the hyaenas and jackals.
As soon as I saw no indications of men anywhere I walked on the high
land near the sea, keeping a little on the side next the sea, so that I
could not be seen from the land side. Every now and then I ascended to
the ridge, just high enough to see over it, and then examined the
country to discover anything going on near me. I should have found the
opera-glasses very useful here; but my eyes had been well-trained, and I
was not likely to fail in seeing anything unusual within one or two
miles of me. People who have not been accustomed to use their eyes
much, especially in a wild country, do not know how the sight can be
cultivated. It is a case of eyes and no eyes. One man will see the
spoor of animals and signs of different kinds, whilst another will not
notice one of these things. A snake, for instance, I never missed
seeing, and was as unlikely to put my foot on a snake without seeing it,
as some men would be to put their foot in a pool of water.
I walked on towards the Umlass river, sometimes through thick bush,
sometimes on the open ground, but saw no indications of men having
lately passed over the ground. There were some old kraals here, but
they had been long deserted; but some mealies were growing near the
kraal, where the gardens had been, and some of these I gathered and ate:
though they were rather tough, still they were good for food.
Not having slept much on the previous night, and the sun being now high
in the heavens, and giving great heat, I decided to sleep for awhile. I
therefore examined all the ground for about the distance of two
assagy-throws from me, to see if there were any signs of snakes near;
for I did not wish to sleep where it was likely a poisonous snake might
crawl over me, or a large rock-snake become familiar. Seeing no signs
of snakes, I lay down under the branches of a large euphorbia tree; and
there, in the shade, I was soon fast asleep.
When I awoke, it was because of some noise which had disturbed me; and,
upon glancing round, I saw some twenty or thirty men, armed with
assagies, standing round me. At first I thought they were Zulus, but,
on a second look, knew they were men of the Umzimvubu tribe; and I then,
to my delight, recognised my old friend Inyati, and near him my
companion Inyoni. At first they did not recognise me, but believed I
was one of the sailors from the ship who had escaped the Zulus. When,
however, I called Inyati by name, and he had looked at me close, he was
astonished and delighted to find it was me. Inyoni shouted and danced
as though he were mad. Having sent four men in different directions to
keep watch and prevent a surprise, we sat down on the grass, and I
related to the men all that had happened to me since I had last seen
them. My journey from the Zulu country down to Natal, Inyati said, was
wonderful; whilst he laughed at the ignorance of the captain and
sailors, in allowing themselves to be caught in so simple a manner by
the Zulus. I felt rather small in being caught asleep by Inyati and his
men, so I asked him how he had discovered me.
He replied that he and his men had kept under the ridge of the hill, so
as to examine the country, without themselves being seen; that with his
glasses he could see everything a long way off, and he had seen me just
before I lay down. He and his men then crept up to where I was
sleeping, and had just surrounded me when I awoke. I informed Inyati
that I believed no Zulus were now west of the Tugela; and that, unless a
large army came to attack our tribe, none of the Zulus would come to
Natal, as their object of driving away the white man had been
accomplished.
Inyati then asked me what I was doing, or intended to do.
Thinking it unwise to tell him I wanted to get away in a ship, I replied
that I was making my way to my own tribe when he and his men surprised
me.
Being satisfied that no enemy was near us, it was agreed that we should
hunt, and procure some flesh for a meal. The spoor of several buck had
been seen, principally that of the _impenzi_, or duiker, as the small
antelope is called by the English. This buck lives in the country where
the bush is not thick, but is scattered, and where rocks and long grass
afford plenty of cover. The manner by which we secured these antelope
without firearms was simple and effective. The spoor of the animal was
followed until it was certain that the buck was concealed in a small
clump of bush. This bush was then surrounded, the Caffres being all at
some distance from where the buck was crouching. The circle of Caffres
then closed in rapidly and silently; and when only a few yards from each
other, stones were thrown into the bush. The duiker then started out on
the side opposite to that from which the stones had been thrown, and was
met by a shower of assagies, one or two of which usually hit it. If it
was missed, it would attempt to escape on the opposite side, when
another shower of assagies assailed it. By this means three duiker were
soon killed, and we then lighted a fire, and enjoyed a feast of venison.
There was much news which Inyoni told me that was interesting. One of
the English ladies had died: I could not find out which, but Inyoni said
she was not very young. He also told me that elephants had again come
down near the kraal in which I had lived, and that there was a lion not
far off. He was very anxious to kill this lion, not only on account of
the honour that would attend the performance, but also to obtain a
necklace of its teeth and claws. He suggested that when I came back to
the kraal, he and I might make an expedition and shoot this lion.
After the escapes I had passed through among the Zulus, and the manner
in which I had been treated by the English sailors, I felt quite at home
among my old companions, and thought, as I have often done since, that
the so-called savage is superior in many ways to the imperfectly
educated Englishman. The Zulus and the Caffres on the south-east coast
of Africa were what would be called gentlemanly men if they had resided
among civilised beings. They were most considerate in all their
proceedings one to another, and there was a ready acknowledgment of
superiority when this had been demonstrated; whereas, amidst so-called
civilisation, men too often attempt to claim merits which they never did
and never will possess, and thus to claim to command when they are only
fitted to obey. I soon discovered that my adventures and escapes had
raised me in the opinions of my old companions. They addressed me now
always as _inkosi_ ("chief"), and listened with great attention to all I
said.
After we had finished our meal, two Caffres were sent on to the
hill-tops to keep a look-out, and the remainder of our party lay down in
the shade and slept, till we felt ready to start on our journey down to
the Umzimvubu country.
I felt quite safe now that I had so many armed and watchful men with me.
We walked on over the hills and through the bush, occasionally stopping
for an hour or two, to hunt duiker or red bush-buck, both of which were
plentiful about this part of the country. We never neglected keeping
watch whilst we were hunting; because, knowing how rapidly the Zulus
move, and how fond they are of surprises, we never were certain that a
party of these men might not be concealed somewhere and might suddenly
attack us. Had the commanders on the English side, during the late Zulu
war, been as well acquainted with the habits of these men as we were,
such disasters as befell us would have been guarded against or avoided;
but it seems as though men were selected for that war because they knew
nothing either of the Zulus, their country, or language, but because
they had crammed successfully at the Staff College.
When we arrived at the first kraal in our own country and among our own
tribe, I was welcomed with shouts and congratulations by the men, and
with pleasant smiles by the females; and certainly for a time I felt
very glad that I had not sailed in the ship from Natal Bay, but was
again among my friends who knew me, and where my past acts had caused me
to be respected and admired. There are few things--as I have found in
after-life--so painful as being among strangers, where the past of which
we may be proud is unknown, and unthought of, and where we occupy the
same position as though in our previous career we had acted like fools
or rogues.