按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
not answer。 Some of the nation favour one of us and some favour the
other； but you； O King； and you alone； have the voice of judgment。
Still； before you speak； I and those who stand with me would bring this
to your mind。 My mother； Umqumbazi； is your Inkosikazi； your head…wife；
and therefore； according to our law； I； her eldest son； should be your
heir。 Moreover； when you fled to the Boers before the fall of him who
sat in your place before you ＇Dingaan＇； did not they； the white Amabunu；
ask you which amongst your sons was your heir； and did you not point me
out to the white men？ And thereon did not the Amabunu clothe me in a
dress of honour because I was the King to be？ But now of late the
mother of Umbelazi has been whispering in your ear； as have others〃and
he looked at Saduko and some of Umbelazi's brethren〃and your face has
grown cold towards me； so cold that many say that you will point out
Umbelazi to be King after you and stamp on my name。 If this is so； my
father； tell me at once； that I may know what to do。〃
Having finished this speech； which certainly did not lack force and
dignity； Cetewayo sat down again； awaiting the answer in sullen silence。
But； making none； Panda looked at Umbelazi； who； on rising； was greeted
with a great cheer； for although Cetewayo had the larger following in
the land； especially among the distant chiefs； the Zulus individually
loved Umbelazi more； perhaps because of his stature； beauty and kindly
dispositionphysical and moral qualities that naturally appeal to a
savage nation。
〃My father；〃 he said； 〃like my brother； Cetewayo； I await your word。
Whatever you may have said to the Amabunu in haste or fear； I do not
admit that Cetewayo was ever proclaimed your heir in the hearing of the
Zulu people。 I say that my right to the succession is as good as his；
and that it lies with you； and you alone； to declare which of us shall
put on the royal kaross in days that my heart prays may be distant。
Still； to save bloodshed； I am willing to divide the land with Cetewayo〃
（here both Panda and Cetewayo shook their heads and the audience roared
〃Nay〃）； 〃or； if that does not please him； I am willing to meet Cetewayo
man to man and spear to spear and fight till one of us be slain。〃
〃A safe offer！〃 sneered Cetewayo； 〃for is not my brother named
'Elephant；' and the strongest warrior among the Zulus？ No； I will not
set the fortunes of those who cling to me on the chance of a single
stab； or on the might of a man's muscles。 Decide； O father； say which
of the two of us is to sit at the head of your kraal after you have gone
over to the Spirits and are but an ancestor to be worshipped。〃
Now； Panda looked much disturbed； as was not wonderful； since； rushing
out from the fence behind which they had been listening； Umqumbazi；
Cetewayo's mother； whispered into one of his ears； while Umbelazi's
mother whispered into the other。 What advice each of them gave I do not
know； although obviously it was not the same advice； since the poor man
rolled his eyes first at one and then at the other； and finally put his
hands over his ears that he might hear no more。
〃Choose； choose； O King！〃 shouted the audience。 〃Who is to succeed you；
Cetewayo or Umbelazi？〃
Watching Panda； I saw that he fell into a kind of agony； his fat sides
heaved； and； although the day was cold； sweat ran from his brow。
〃What would the white men do in such a case？〃 he said to me in a hoarse；
low voice； whereon I answered； looking at the ground and speaking so
that few could hear me：
〃I think； O King； that a white man would do nothing。 He would say that
others might settle the matter after he was dead。〃
〃Would that I could say so； too；〃 muttered Panda； 〃but it is not
possible。〃
Then followed a long pause； during which all were silent； for every man
there felt that the hour was big with doom。 At length Panda rose with
difficulty； because of his unwieldy weight； and uttered these fateful
words； that were none the less ominous because of the homely idiom in
which they were couched：
_〃When two young bulls quarrel they must fight it out。〃_
Instantly in one tremendous roar volleyed forth the royal salute of
〃Bayete〃； a signal of the acceptance of the King's wordthe word that
meant civil war and the death of many thousands。
Then Panda turned and； so feebly that I thought he would fall； walked
through the gateway behind him； followed by the rival queens。 Each of
these ladies struggled to be first after him in the gate； thinking that
it would be an omen of success for her son。 Finally； however； to the
disappointment of the multitude； they only succeeded in passing it side
by side。
When they had gone the great audience began to break up； the men of each
party marching away together as though by common consent； without
offering any insult or molestation to their adversaries。 I think that
this peaceable attitude arose； however； from the knowledge that matters
had now passed from the stage of private quarrel into that of public
war。 It was felt that their dispute awaited decision； not with sticks
outside the Nodwengu kraal； but with spears upon some great battlefield；
for which they went to prepare。
Within two days； except for those regiments which Panda kept to guard
his person； scarcely a soldier was to be seen in the neighbourhood of
Nodwengu。 The princes also departed to muster their adherents； Cetewayo
establishing himself among the Mandhlakazi that he commanded； and
Umbelazi returning to the kraal of Umbezi； which happened to stand
almost in the centre of that part of the nation which adhered to him。
Whether he took Mameena with him there I am not certain。 I believe；
however； that； fearing lest her welcome at her birthplace should be
warmer than she wished； she settled herself at some retired and outlying
kraal in the neighbourhood； and there awaited the crisis of her fortune。
At any rate； I saw nothing of her； for she was careful to keep out of
my way。
With Umbelazi and Saduko； however； I did have an interview。 Before they
left Nodwengu they called on me together； apparently on the best of
terms； and said in effect that they hoped for my support in the coming
war。
I answered that； however well I might like them personally； a Zulu civil
war was no affair of mine； and that； indeed； for every reason； including
the supreme one of my own safety； I had better get out of the way at
once。
They argued with me for a long while； making great offers and promises
of reward； till at length； when he saw that my determination could not
be shaken； Umbelazi said：
〃Come； Saduko； let us humble ourselves no more before this white man。
After all； he is right； the business is none of his； and why should we
ask him to risk his life in our quarrel； knowing as we do that white men
are not like us； they think a great deal of their lives。 Farewell；
Macumazahn。 If I conquer and grow great you will always be welcome in
Zululand； whereas if I fail perhaps you will be best over the Tugela
river。〃
Now； I felt the hidden taunt in this speech very keenly。 Still； being
determined that for once I would be wise and not allow m