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the Zulu。 Now you may ask why have I kept you so long with this tale；
which is as are other tales of our people。 But that shall be seen； for
from these matters； as a tree from a seed； grew the birth of
Umslopogaas Bulalio； Umslopogaas the Slaughterer； and Nada the
Beautiful； of whose love my story has to tell。 For Nada was my
daughter； and Umslopogaas； though few knew it； was none other than the
son of Chaka； born of my sister Baleka。
Now when Baleka recovered from the weariness of our flight； and had
her beauty again； Chaka took her to wife； numbering her among his
women； whom he named his 〃sisters。〃 And me Chaka took to be one of his
doctors； of his izinyanga of medicine； and he was so well pleased with
my medicine that in the end I became his head doctor。 Now this was a
great post； in which； during the course of years； I grew fat in cattle
and in wives； but also it was one of much danger。 For when I rose
strong and well in the morning； I could never know but that at night I
should sleep stiff and red。 Many were the doctors whom Chaka slew；
doctored they never so well； they were killed at last。 For a day would
surely come when the king felt ill in his body or heavy in his mind；
and then to the assegai or the torment with the wizard who had
doctored him！ Yet I escaped； because of the power of my medicine； and
also because of that oath which Chaka had sworn to me as a child。 So
it came about that where the king went there I went with him。 I slept
near his hut； I sat behind him at council； in the battle I was ever at
his side。
Ah！ the battle！ the battle！ In those days we knew how to fight； my
father！ In those days the vultures would follow our impis by
thousands； the hyenas would steal along our path in packs； and none
went empty away。 Never may I forget the first fight I stood in at the
side of Chaka。 It was just after the king had built his great kraal on
the south bank of the Umhlatuze。 Then it was that the chief Zwide
attacked his rival Chaka for the third time and Chaka moved out to
meet him with ten full regiments；＇1＇ now for the first time armed with
the short stabbing…spear。
＇1＇ About 30；000 men。ED。
The ground lay this： On a long； low hill in front of our impi were
massed the regiments of Zwide； there were seventeen of them； the earth
was black with their number； their plumes filled the air like snow。
We； too； were on a hill； and between us lay a valley down which there
ran a little stream。 All night our fires shone out across the valley；
all night the songs of soldiers echoed down the hills。 Then the grey
dawning came； the oxen lowed to the light； the regiments arose from
their bed of spears； they sprang up and shook the dew from hair and
shieldyes！ they arose！ the glad to die！ The impi assumed its array
regiment by regiment。 There was the breast of spears； there were the
horns of spears； they were numberless as the stars； and like the stars
they shone。 The morning breeze came up and fanned them； their plumes
bent in the breeze； like a plain of seeding grass they bent； the
plumes of the soldiers ripe for the assegai。 Up over the shoulder of
the hill came the sun of Slaughter； it glowed red upon the red
shields； red grew the place of killing； the white plumes of the chiefs
were dipped in the blood of heaven。 They knew it； they saw the omen of
death； and； ah！ they laughed in the joy of the waking of battle。 What
was death？ Was it not well to die on the spear？ What was death？ Was it
not well to die for the king？ Death was the arms of Victory。 Victory
would be their bride that night； and oh！ her breast is fair。
Hark！ the war…song； the Ingomo； the music of which has the power to
drive men mad； rose far away to the left； and was thrown along from
regiment to regimenta rolling ball of sound
We are the king's kine； bred to be butchered；
You； too； are one of us！
We are the Zulu； children of the Lion；
What！ did you tremble？
Suddenly Chaka was seen stalking through the ranks； followed by his
captains； his indunas； and by me。 He walked along like a great buck；
death was in his eyes； and like a buck he sniffed the air； scenting
the air of slaughter。 He lifted his assegai； and a silence fell； only
the sound of chanting still rolled along the hills。
〃Where are the children of Zwide？〃 he shouted； and his voice was like
the voice of a bull。
〃Yonder； father；〃 answered the regiments。 And every spear pointed
across the valley。
〃They do not come；〃 he shouted again。 〃Shall we then sit here till we
grow old？〃
〃No； father；〃 they answered。 〃Begin！ begin！〃
〃Let the Umkandhlu regiment come forward！〃 he shouted a third time；
and as he spoke the black shields of the Umkandhlu leaped from the
ranks of the impi。
〃Go； my children！〃 cried Chaka。 〃There is the foe。 Go and return no
more！〃
〃We hear you； father！〃 they answered with one voice； and moved down
the slope like a countless herd of game with horns of steel。
Now they crossed the stream； and now Zwide awoke。 A murmur went
through his companies； lines of light played above his spears。
Ou！ they are coming！ Ou！ they have met！ Hearken to the thunder of the
shields！ Hearken to the song of battle！
To and fro they swing。 The Umkandhlu gives wayit flies！ They pour
back across the streamhalf of them； the rest are dead。 A howl of
rage goes up from the host； only Chaka smiles。
〃Open up！ open up！〃 he cries。 〃Make room for the Umkandhlu GIRLS！〃 And
with hanging heads they pass us。
Now he whispers a word to the indunas。 The indunas run； they whisper
to Menziwa the general and to the captains； then two regiments rush
down the hill； two more run to the right； and yet another two to the
left。 But Chaka stays on the hill with the three that are left。 Again
comes the roar of the meeting shields。 Ah！ these are men： they fight；
they do not run。 Regiment after regiment pours upon them； but still
they stand。 They fall by hundreds and by thousands； but no man shows
his back； and on each man there lie two dead。 Wow！ my father； of those
two regiments not one escaped。 They were but boys； but they were the
children of Chaka。 Menziwa was buried beneath the heaps of his
warriors。 Now there are no such men。
They are all dead and quiet。 Chaka still holds his hand！ He looks to
the north and to the south。 See！ spears are shining among the trees。
Now the horns of our host close upon the flanks of the foe。 They slay
and are slain； but the men of Zwide are many and brave； and the battle
turns against us。
Then again Chaka speaks a word。 The captains hear； the soldiers
stretch out their necks to listen。
It has come at last。 〃Charge！ Children of the Zulu！〃
There is a roar； a thunder of feet； a flashing of spears； a bending of
plumes； and； like a river that has burnt its banks； like storm…clouds
before the gale； we sweep down upon friend and foe。 They form up to
meet us； the stream is passed； our wounded rise upon their haunches
and wave us on。 We trample them down。 What matter？ They can fight no
more。 Then we meet Zwide rushing to greet us； as bull meets bull。 Ou！
my father； I know no more。 Everything grows red。 That fight！ that
fight！ We swept them away。 When it was done ther