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them； although one of them was black； or； rather； copper…coloured； and
the other whitethey both were lovely； moreover； they both were
faithless； and brought men by hundreds to their deaths。 There； perhaps；
the resemblance ends； since Mameena had much more fire and grit than
Helen could boast； who； unless Homer misrepresents her； must have been
but a poor thing after all。 Beauty Itself； which those old rascals of
Greek gods made use of to bait their snares set for the lives and honour
of men； such was Helen； no more； that is； as I understand her； who have
not had the advantage of a classical education。 Now； Mameena； although
she was superstitiousa common weakness of great mindsacknowledging
no gods in particular； as we understand them； set her own snares； with
varying success but a very definite object； namely； that of becoming the
first woman in the world as she knew itthe stormy； bloodstained world
of the Zulus。
But the reader shall judge for himself； if ever such a person should
chance to cast his eye upon this history。
It was in the year 1854 that I first met Mameena； and my acquaintance
with her continued off and on until 1856； when it came to an end in a
fashion that shall be told after the fearful battle of the Tugela in
which Umbelazi； Panda's son and Cetewayo's brotherwho； to his sorrow；
had also met Mameenalost his life。 I was still a youngish man in
those days； although I had already buried my second wife； as I have told
elsewhere； after our brief but happy time of marriage。
Leaving my boy in charge of some kind people in Durban； I started into
〃the Zulu〃a land with which I had already become well acquainted as a
youth； there to carry on my wild life of trading and hunting。
For the trading I never cared much； as may be guessed from the little
that ever I made out of it； the art of traffic being in truth repugnant
to me。 But hunting was always the breath of my nostrilsnot that I am
fond of killing creatures； for any humane man soon wearies of slaughter。
No； it is the excitement of sport； which； before breechloaders came in；
was acute enough； I can assure you； the lonely existence in wild places；
often with only the sun and the stars for companions； the continual
adventures； the strange tribes with whom I came in contact； in short；
the change； the danger； the hope always of finding something great and
new； that attracted and still attracts me； even now when I _have_ found
the great and the new。 There； I must not go on writing like this； or I
shall throw down my pen and book a passage for Africa； and incidentally
to the next world； no doubtthat world of the great and new！
It was； I think； in the month of May in the year 1854 that I went
hunting in rough country between the White and Black Umvolosi Rivers； by
permission of Pandawhom the Boers had made king of Zululand after the
defeat and death of Dingaan his brother。 The district was very
feverish； and for this reason I had entered it in the winter months。
There was so much bush that； in the total absence of roads； I thought it
wise not to attempt to bring my wagons down； and as no horses would live
in that veld I went on foot。 My principal companions were a Kafir of
mixed origin； called Sikauli； commonly abbreviated into Scowl； the Zulu
chief Saduko； and a headman of the Undwandwe blood named Umbezi； at
whose kraal on the high land about thirty miles away I left my wagon and
certain of my men in charge of the goods and some ivory that I had
traded。
This Umbezi was a stout and genial…mannered man of about sixty years of
age； and； what is rare among these people； one who loved sport for its
own sake。 Being aware of his tastes； also that he knew the country and
was skilled in finding game； I had promised him a gun if he would
accompany me and bring a few hunters。 It was a particularly bad gun
that had seen much service； and one which had an unpleasing habit of
going off at half…cock； but even after he had seen it； and I in my
honesty had explained its weaknesses； he jumped at the offer。
〃O Macumazana〃 （that is my native name； often abbreviated into
Macumazahn； which means 〃One who stands out；〃 or as many interpret it； I
don't know how； 〃Watcher…by…Night〃）〃a gun that goes off sometimes when
you do not expect it is much better than no gun at all； and you are a
chief with a great heart to promise it to me； for when I own the White
Man's weapon I shall be looked up to and feared by everyone between the
two rivers。〃
Now； while he was speaking he handled the gun； that was loaded；
observing which I moved behind him。 Off it went in due course； its
recoil knocking him backwardsfor that gun was a devil to kickand its
bullet cutting the top off the ear of one of his wives。 The lady fled
screaming； leaving a little bit of her ear upon the ground。
〃What does it matter？〃 said Umbezi； as he picked himself up； rubbing his
shoulder with a rueful look。 〃Would that the evil spirit in the gun had
cut off her tongue and not her ear！ It is the Worn…out…Old…Cow's own
fault； she is always peeping into everything like a monkey。 Now she
will have something to chatter about and leave my things alone for
awhile。 I thank my ancestral Spirit it was not Mameena； for then her
looks would have been spoiled。〃
〃Who is Mameena？〃 I asked。 〃Your last wife？〃
〃No； no； Macumazahn； I wish she were； for then I should have the most
beautiful wife in the land。 She is my daughter； though not that of the
Worn…out…Old…Cow； her mother died when she was born； on the night of the
Great Storm。 You should ask Saduko there who Mameena is；〃 he added with
a broad grin； lifting his head from the gun； which he was examining
gingerly； as though he thought it might go off again while unloaded； and
nodding towards someone who stood behind him。
I turned； and for the first time saw Saduko； whom I recognised at once
as a person quite out of the ordinary run of natives。
He was a tall and magnificently formed young man； who； although his
breast was scarred with assegai wounds； showing that he was a warrior；
had not yet attained to the honour of the 〃ring〃 of polished wax laid
over strips of rush bound round with sinew and sewn to the hair； the
〃isicoco〃 which at a certain age or dignity； determined by the king；
Zulus are allowed to assume。 But his face struck me more even than his
grace； strength and stature。 Undoubtedly it was a very fine face； with
little or nothing of the negroid type about it； indeed； he might have
been a rather dark…coloured Arab； to which stock he probably threw back。
The eyes； too； were large and rather melancholy； and in his reserved；
dignified air there was something that showed him to be no common
fellow； but one of breeding and intellect。
〃Siyakubona〃 （that is； 〃we see you；〃 anglice 〃good morrow〃） 〃Saduko；〃 I
said； eyeing him curiously。 〃Tell me； who is Mameena？〃
〃Inkoosi；〃 he answered in his deep voice； lifting his delicately shaped
hand in salutation； a courtesy that pleased me who； after all； was
nothing but a white hunter； 〃Inkoosi； has not her father said that she
is his daughter？〃
〃Aye；〃 answered the jolly old Umbezi； 〃but what her father has