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and； walking up to the King side by side； they saluted him with raised
hands； calling out 〃Baba！〃that is； Father。
〃Greeting； my children；〃 said Panda； adding hastily； for he foresaw a
quarrel as to which of them should take the seat of honour on his right：
〃Sit there in front of me； both of you； and； Macumazahn； do you come
hither；〃 and he pointed to the coveted place。 〃I am a little deaf in my
left ear this morning。〃
So these brothers sat themselves down in front of the King； nor were
they； I think； grieved to find this way out of their rivalry； but first
they shook hands with me； for I knew them both； though not well； and
even in this small matter the old trouble arose； since there was some
difficulty as to which of them should first offer me his hand。
Ultimately； I remember； Cetewayo won this trick。
When these preliminaries were finished； Panda addressed the princes；
saying：
〃My sons； I have sent for you to ask your counsel upon a certain
matternot a large matter； but one that may grow。〃 And he paused to
take snuff； whereon both of them ejaculated：
〃We hear you； Father。〃
〃Well； my sons； the matter is that of Saduko； the son of Matiwane； chief
of the Amangwane； whom Bangu； chief of the Amakoba； ate up years ago by
leave of Him who went before me。 Now； this Bangu； as you know； has for
some time been a thorn in my foota thorn that caused it to festerand
yet I did not wish to make war on him。 So I spoke a word in the ear of
Saduko； saying； 'He is yours； if you can kill him； and his cattle are
yours。' Well； Saduko is not dull。 With the help of this white man；
Macumazahn； our friend from of old； he has killed Bangu and taken his
cattle； and already my foot is beginning to heal。〃
〃We have heard it；〃 said Cetewayo。
〃It was a great deed；〃 added Umbelazi； a more generous critic。
〃Yes；〃 continued Panda； 〃I； too； think it was a great deed； seeing that
Saduko had but a small regiment of wanderers to back him〃
〃Nay；〃 interrupted Cetewayo； 〃it was not those eaters of rats who won
him the day； it was the wisdom of this Macumazahn。〃
〃Macumazahn's wisdom would have been of little use without the courage
of Saduko and his rats；〃 commented Umbelazi； and from this moment I saw
that the two brothers were taking sides for and against Saduko； as they
did upon every other matter； not because they cared for the right of
whatever was in question； but because they wished to oppose each other。
〃Quite so；〃 went on the King； 〃I agree with both of you； my sons。 But
the point is this： I think Saduko a man of promise； and one who should
be advanced that he may learn to love us all； especially as his House
has suffered wrong from our House； since He…who…is…gone listened to the
evil counsel of Bangu； and allowed him to kill out Matiwane's tribe
without just cause。 Therefore； in order to wipe away this stain and
bind Saduko to us； I think it well to re…establish Saduko in the
chieftainship of the Amangwane； with the lands that his father held； and
to give him also the chieftainship of the Amakoba； of whom it seems that
the women and children； with some of the men； remain； although he
already holds their cattle which he has captured in war。〃
〃As the King pleases；〃 said Umbelazi； with a yawn； for he was growing
weary of listening to the case of Saduko。
But Cetewayo said nothing； for he appeared to be thinking of something
else。
〃I think also；〃 went on Panda in a rather uncertain voice； 〃in order to
bind him so close that the bonds may never be broken； it would be wise
to give him a woman of our family in marriage。〃
〃Why should this little Amangwane be allowed to marry into the royal
House？〃 asked Cetewayo； looking up。 〃If he is dangerous； why not kill
him； and have done？〃
〃For this reason； my son。 There is trouble ahead in Zululand； and I do
not wish to kill those who may help us in that hour； nor do I wish them
to become our enemies。 I wish that they may be our friends； and
therefore it seems to me wise； when we find a seed of greatness； to
water it； and not to dig it up or plant it in a neighbour's garden。
From his deeds I believe that this Saduko is such a seed。〃
〃Our father has spoken；〃 said Umbelazi； 〃and I like Saduko； who is a man
of mettle and good blood。 Which of our sisters does our father propose
to give to him？〃
〃She who is named after the mother of our race； O Umbelazi； she whom
your own mother boreyour sister Nandie〃 （in English； 〃The Sweet〃）。
〃A great gift； O my Father； since Nandie is both fair and wise。 Also；
what does she think of this matter？〃
〃She thinks well of it； Umbelazi； for she has seen Saduko and taken a
liking to him。 She told me herself that she wishes no other husband。〃
〃Is it so？〃 replied Umbelazi indifferently。 〃Then if the King commands；
and the King's daughter desires； what more is there to be said？〃
〃Much； I think；〃 broke in Cetewayo。 〃I hold that it is out of place
that this little man； who has but conquered a little tribe by borrowing
the wit of Macumazahn here； should be rewarded not only with a
chieftainship； but with the hand of the wisest and most beautiful of the
King's daughters； even though Umbelazi；〃 he added； with a sneer； 〃should
be willing to throw him his own sister like a bone to a passing dog。〃
〃Who threw the bone； Cetewayo？〃 asked Umbelazi； awaking out of his
indifference。 〃Was it the King； or was it I； who never heard of the
matter till this moment？ And who are we that we should question the
King's decrees？ Is it our business to judge or to obey？〃
〃Has Saduko perchance made you a present of some of those cattle which
he stole from the Amakoba； Umbelazi？〃 asked Cetewayo。 〃As our father
asks no lobola； perhaps you have taken the gift instead。〃
〃The only gift that I have taken from Saduko；〃 said Umbelazi； who； I
could see； was hard pressed to keep his temper； 〃is that of his service。
He is my friend； which is why you hate him； as you hate all my
friends。〃
〃Must I then love every stray cur that licks your hand； Umbelazi？ Oh；
no need to tell me he is your friend； for I know it was you who put it
into our father's heart to allow him to kill Bangu and steal his cattle；
which I hold to be an ill deed； for now the Great House is thatched with
his reeds and Bangu's blood is on its doorposts。 Moreover； he who
wrought the wrong is to come and dwell therein； and for aught I know to
be called a prince； like you and me。 Why should he not； since the
Princess Nandie is to be given to him in marriage？ Certainly； Umbelazi；
you would do well to take the cattle which this white trader has
refused； for all men know that you have earned them。〃
Now Umbelazi sprang up； straightening himself to the full of his great
height； and spoke in a voice that was thick with passion。
〃I pray your leave to withdraw； O King；〃 he said； 〃since if I stay here
longer I shall grow sorry that I have no spear in my hand。 Yet before I
go I will tell the truth。 Cetewayo hates Saduko； because； knowing him
to be a chief of wit and courage； who will grow great； he sought him for
his man； saying； 'Sit you in my shadow；' after he had promised to sit in
mine。 Therefore it