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of the Prince's death； he was well aware that Umbezi was but a boastful
liar who hoped thus to ingratiate himself with an all…powerful
conqueror。
Well； this tragic incident had its sequel。 It seemsto his honour； be
it saidthat Saduko refused to be the executioner of his father…in…law；
Umbezi； so those with him performed this office and brought him back a
prisoner to Cetewayo。
When the Prince learned that his direct order； spoken in the accustomed
and fearful formula of _〃Take him away；〃_ had been disobeyed； his rage
was； or seemed to be； great。 My own conviction is that he was only
seeking a cause of quarrel against Saduko； who； he thought； was a very
powerful man； who would probably treat him； should opportunity arise； as
he had treated Umbelazi； and perhaps now that the most of Panda's sons
were dead； except himself and the lads M'tonga； Sikota and M'kungo； who
had fled into Natal； might even in future days aspire to the throne as
the husband of the King's daughter。 Still； he was afraid or did not
think it politic at once to put out of his path this master of many
legions； who had played so important a part in the battle。 Therefore he
ordered him to be kept under guard and taken back to Nodwengu； that the
whole matter might be investigated by Panda the King； who still ruled
the land； though henceforth only in name。 Also he refused to allow me
to depart into Natal； saying that I； too； must come to Nodwengu； as
there my testimony might be needed。
So； having no choice； I went； it being fated that I should see the end
of the drama。
CHAPTER XV
MAMEENA CLAIMS THE KISS
When I reached Nodwengu I was taken ill and laid up in my wagon for
about a fortnight。 What my exact sickness was I do not know； for I had
no doctor at hand to tell me； as even the missionaries had fled the
country。 Fever resulting from fatigue； exposure and excitement； and
complicated with fearful headachecaused； I presume； by the blow which
I received in the battlewere its principal symptoms。
When I began to get better； Scowl and some Zulu friends who came to see
me informed me that the whole land was in a fearful state of disorder；
and that Umbelazi's adherents； the Isigqosa； were still being hunted out
and killed。 It seems that it was even suggested by some of the Usutu
that I should share their fate； but on this point Panda was firm。
Indeed； he appears to have said publicly that whoever lifted a spear
against me； his friend and guest； lifted it against him； and would be
the cause of a new war。 So the Usutu left me alone； perhaps because
they were satisfied with fighting for a while； and thought it wisest to
be content with what they had won。
Indeed； they had won everything； for Cetewayo was now supremeby right
of the assegaiand his father but a cipher。 Although he remained the
〃Head〃 of the nation； Cetewayo was publicly declared to be its 〃Feet；〃
and strength was in these active 〃Feet；〃 not in the bowed and sleeping
〃Head。〃 In fact； so little power was left to Panda that he could not
protect his own household。 Thus one day I heard a great tumult and
shouting proceeding apparently from the Isigodhlo； or royal enclosure；
and on inquiring what it was afterwards； was told that Cetewayo had come
from the Amangwe kraal and denounced Nomantshali； the King's wife； as
〃umtakati〃； or a witch。 More； in spite of his father's prayers and
tears； he had caused her to be put to death before his eyesa dreadful
and a savage deed。 At this distance of time I cannot remember whether
Nomantshali was the mother of Umbelazi or of one of the other fallen
princes。*
＇*On re…reading this history it comes back to me that she was the
mother of M'tonga； who was much younger than Umbelazi。 A。 Q。＇
A few days later； when I was up and about again； although I had not
ventured into the kraal； Panda sent a messenger to me with a present of
an ox。 On his behalf this man congratulated me on my recovery； and told
me that； whatever might have happened to others； I was to have no fear
for my own safety。 He added that Cetewayo had sworn to the King that
not a hair of my head should be harmed； in these words：
〃Had I wished to kill Watcher…by…Night because he fought against me； I
could have done so down at Endondakusuka； but then I ought to kill you
also； my father； since you sent him thither against his will with your
own regiment。 But I like him well； who is brave and who brought me good
tidings that the Prince； my enemy； was dead of a broken heart。
Moreover； I wish to have no quarrel with the White House ＇the English＇
on account of Macumazahn； so tell him that he may sleep in peace。〃
The messenger said further that Saduko； the husband of the King's
daughter； Nandie； and Umbelazi's chief induna； was to be put upon his
trial on the morrow before the King and his council； together with
Mameena； daughter of Umbezi； and that my presence was desired at this
trial。
I asked what was the charge against them。 He replied that； so far as
Saduko was concerned； there were two： first； that he had stirred up
civil war in the land； and； secondly； that having pushed on Umbelazi
into a fight in which many thousands perished； he had played the
traitor； deserting him in the midst of the battle； with all his
followinga very heinous offence in the eyes of Zulus； to whatever
party they may belong。
Against Mameena there were three counts of indictment。 First； that it
was she who had poisoned Saduko's child and others； not Masapo； her
first husband； who had suffered for that crime。 Secondly； that she had
deserted Saduko； her second husband； and gone to live with another man；
namely； the late Prince Umbelazi。 Thirdly； that she was a witch； who
had enmeshed Umbelazi in the web of her sorceries and thereby caused him
to aspire to the succession to the throne； to which he had no right； and
made the isililo； or cry of mourning for the dead； to be heard in every
kraal in Zululand。
〃With three such pitfalls in her narrow path； Mameena will have to walk
carefully if she would escape them all；〃 I said。
〃Yes； Inkoosi； especially as the pitfalls are dug from side to side of
the path and have a pointed stake set at the bottom of each of them。
Oh； Mameena is already as good as dead； as she deserves to be； who
without doubt is the greatest umtakati north of the Tugela。〃
I sighed； for somehow I was sorry for Mameena； though why she should
escape when so many better people had perished because of her I did not
know； and the messenger went on：
〃The Black One ＇that is； Panda＇ sent me to tell Saduko that he would be
allowed to see you； Macumazahn； before the trial； if he wished； for he
knew that you had； been a friend of his； and thought that you might be
able to give evidence in his favour。〃
〃And what did Saduko say to that？〃 I asked。
〃He said that he thanked the King； but that it was not needful for him
to talk with Macumazahn； whose heart was white like his skin； and whose
lips； if they spoke at all； would tell neither more nor less than the
truth。 The Princess Nandie； who is with himfor she will not leave him
in his trouble； as all others have doneon hearing