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diff --git a/36950.txt b/36950.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6cf7d84 --- /dev/null +++ b/36950.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6437 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Richard Galbraith, Mariner, by Emma Watts Phillips + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Richard Galbraith, Mariner + Life among the Kaffirs + +Author: Emma Watts Phillips + +Illustrator: Vauteille; Engraver Delangle + +Release Date: August 2, 2011 [EBook #36950] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICHARD GALBRAITH, MARINER *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Richard Galbraith, Mariner +Life among the Kaffirs +By Emma Watts Phillips +Illustrations by Vauteille; engraver Delangle +Published by Dean & Son, London. +Richard Galbraith, Mariner, by Emma Watts Phillips. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +________________________________________________________________________ +RICHARD GALBRAITH, MARINER, BY EMMA WATTS PHILLIPS. + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +A WORD ABOUT MYSELF AND HOME. + +I was born, as near as I can calculate, in the year 1801, at the time of +the Equinoctial gales, a fact which made the old fisherwives present at +my birth declare that I was marked out by the finger of Providence for a +sailor. + +To confirm them, as it seemed, on this point, when the winds, with a +whirling rush, used to shriek around my parent's cottage, that clung, +limpet like to the face of the rocks which sheltered the little Cornish +fishing village, I, baby as I was, used to shriek in unison, not from +fear or pain, but unmitigated delight at, and sympathy with, its rough, +boisterous turmoil. + +Certainly as I look back to my early days and what I have heard related +of them, the Breton saying, which in my voyages I have come across, "_Il +a de l'eau de mer autour du coeur_," appeared most true in my case, for +the rough shingly beach was my home in stormy weather or fine. [He has +the sea water about his heart.] + +During the former I would perch on some rocky crag and, only partly +sheltered from the cutting, drifting rain, cling curlew-fashion to its +rugged surface, and silently, but with infinite enjoyment, watch the +mountain waves, with their white dancing crests flung into myriads of +flashing particles by the wind, break with a roar like thunder on the +beach beneath, adding their contribution of spray to the rain which +drenched me to the skin. + +When the weather was fine, especially if it were warm, I used to tumble, +paddle, and roll in the clear pools left by the receding tide, like some +amphibious little imp of creation, often getting within dangerous +proximity to the fingers of death, and being saved by a miracle, till +the inmates of the fishing hamlet had some reason for their reiterated +remark that I assuredly was not born to be drowned. Assuredly not, nor +to be burned, boiled, nor served up for the supper of some dark-skinned +Indian chief and family neither, though in due course of my adventurous +life I have often fancied myself on the point of one of these pleasant +finales to existence. + +It may naturally be thought that I was a constant source of anxiety to +my parents, and no doubt so I should have been, had not, at about the +time I had attained the second year of my life, a sudden squall caught +my father's fishing smack, and, capsizing it before he could luff, sent +him and his two companions into eternity. The smack was found by some +fishermen much damaged, quite empty, every vestige of tackle gone, its +sails rent, and my father and the others nowhere. My mother took this +so much to heart that she scarcely survived her husband's death a week, +and by joining him left me an orphan on my own hands. I say "my own," +though only two years old, for I had already displayed my wandering +propensities by toddling and scrambling alone among the rocks; and, +notwithstanding the few pounds my parents left would have procured me +the protection of many an honest, good-hearted fisherwife, I scorned all +such control, and resisted every effort to prevent my perambulations +among the rocks and pools, where, not unfrequently when older, and on +warm moonlight evenings, I used to spend even my nights; though, at +other times, I condescended to accept the shelter offered me in Jack +Brunscombe's cottage, for whose little blue-eyed daughter I had early +shown a marked liking, and would speedily have talked her into being the +companion of my idle hours, but for the vigilance of her mother, who +valued her darling's tender little form far too highly to trust it with +so wild, daring, idle a scapegrace as I. + +Idleness, however, I soon proved they had no right to lay to my charge. +Hardly had I acquired the great age of five, than the fishermen began to +accept very willingly little Dick Galbraith's services in hanging out +their nets to dry, in swabbing the boats, or in any other minor capacity +to which they found me ever ready to lend a hand, though a baby one. + +It is a true saying that "let an energetic nature once get his foot on +the world's ladder, he will never lose it again." So with me. The +willing child was found the willing boy, which soon raised me to the +dignity of going on fishing expeditions with the fishermen, who out of +the great kindliness of heart to be found with these people, seemed each +to adopt me--an orphan and a waif--for his own. The old men, some of +whom had been sailors, were never tired of talking and telling yarns, +while I--as if conscious of the future before me, and of what importance +the information I was drinking in would hereafter be--was never tired of +listening and asking questions. + +So had years passed over my head, when, on my eighteenth birthday, as +Jack Brunscombe with his family and I were seated in the little +cabin-like parlour, after a long and thoughtful pause, I suddenly broke +silence upon a subject which for months I had been turning over in my +mind. + +"Brunscombe," I said, "you have frequently told me that there is a bit +of money I can lay claim to, when old enough to know what to do with +it." + +"Right Dick, my bo'," replied the old man, removing his pipe from one +side of his mouth to the other, having on its passage rubbed his bristly +beard with the stem, "its what yer father's fects realised arter his +death bo', with compund interest." + +"But, Brunscombe," I interrupted, "I don't consider that mine at all. +Have I not lived here with you ever since? That money is fairly yours." + +"If yer mean mine, to pay for your board and lodgin' bo', yer had better +take and chuck it to the rocks and pools, for them alone 'as pervided +for yer." + +I laughed, but persisted, on which he rejoined. + +"No, lad, the money's yours. Never a penny will Jack Brunscombe touch. +If when a little 'un yer were any expense, you've more than repaid it +now you've growed up, for you've been a mort o' help to me. But come +bo', let's to the point. What made yer put that question about the bit +o' money to-night? You'd some reason--so all fair and above board--fire +your broadside. I'm prepared. What is it?" + +"Why, Brunscombe, I was thinking," I began, "that if I really had a +little money I would like to carry out a plan I have been turning about +in my head." + +"And that?" + +"Why, to go over to Liverpool or London, and enter the merchant +service." + +"You find this here place then, too circumcised for your talents," he +rejoined, with a wink at Katie. + +"I certainly think it too circumscribed for a young man beginning life," +I replied. "You, yourself, Brunscombe, did not pass all your existence +here, though _your_ native place as mine." + +"Quite right, bo', quite; and joking apart, I think what you propose is +the correct thing to do. So you may go into the town to-morrow, draw +out the money, and then up to Liverpool. First of all, my old woman +will write yer a list of things necessary for your kit, and you've been +your own master long enough to know how to lay out the twenty punds, for +that's about the sum it is, judiciously." + +Thus things were arranged quite to my satisfaction, and any of my +readers possessed with so eager a desire after adventure as held me +captive, will not wonder that I got little sleep that night. I tossed +and turned, my brain busy with plans for the future; and no sooner did +the faintest glimmer of light show in at the little dormer window in the +roof, than I was up, dressed, and taking farewell of the dear old beach, +the rugged friendly rocks, and clear silver pools, natural aquaria, +bright with the beautiful delicate green _ulva latissima_ and _Porphyra +laciniata_, whose splendid fronds hanging in graceful festoons, formed +caves and grottos where lurked the sea _anemones_ or _actinias_, with +their tentacles tipped with rosy red--the more splendid crass, the sly +hermit crab in search for periwinkles, and the _uraster rubens_, or +five-fingered fish. + +To each and all I bade a fervent, though silent adieu, and then, though +the sun was still not very much above the horizon, turned back to the +cottage, feeling certain that breakfast _must_ be ready, notwithstanding +that it yet wanted over half-an-hour to the time. + +On nearing home, as I rounded a sharp angle of the rock, I came suddenly +upon Katie Brunscombe. She was seated on a large boulder, her small +hands clasped round her knees, a bright handkerchief over her shoulders, +and her little feet just peeping out from beneath her rough blue serge +petticoat. Her eyes were fixed on the sea, now sparkling like molten +gold, while the breeze off which tossed her yellow curls in sportive +play. + +The expression of Katie's face, so sadly thoughtful, with a moisture +glistening on her long lashes, was such a marked contrast to my own +joyous one that involuntarily I stood still in wonder, then advancing, I +placed my arm gently about her waist, for we were as brother and sister +to each other, and said as I sat down by her side, "Why, Katie darling, +what is the reason of so sad a countenance this morning?" + +She turned her blue eyes with a start upon me, while a rosy colour +rushed to her pretty cheeks as she strove to speak; but, suddenly, +bending down her head, and trying to free herself from my arm, she burst +into a flood of tears. + +"What _is_ the matter, Katie?" I asked, fairly puzzled at her +behaviour, stupid dolt that I was. Then as the idea suddenly occurred +to me, I added, "Is it Katie that you would rather I did not go away?" + +She was silent, still keeping her face from me, but at last I managed to +turn it round. + +As if a veil had fallen both from my eyes and heart I read her secret, +and--my own--she loved me, and, with the knowledge, I became conscious +of my true feelings towards her. + +My arm still about her waist, a familiarity she no longer resisted, I +again strolled down to the beach; and this time the visit must have been +far more agreeable than the former one, for I forgot all about my joy at +my departure, and do not know how long our conversation would have +lasted, had it not been interrupted by the voice of old Brunscombe, +hulloaing for me to come in, or I should be too late for breakfast. + +So we went back to the cottage, betrothed lovers; the ceremony of +betrothal having taken place over a holey sixpence, which was to be +suspended round Katie's neck, and a tress of gold which reposed very +comfortably in my waistcoat pocket. + +One hour after, Brunscombe and I sailed round to the point of land +nearest the town where he had deposited the money. This I drew out; +made my necessary purchases, including a bright ribbon and work-box, for +Katie. Then bidding Brunscombe a warm farewell, started for Liverpool. + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +MY ADVENTURES COMMENCE. + +On reaching Liverpool, the second port in Britain, the delight with +which I wandered about the vast docks and quays, can be easily imagined. +Here I found splendid ships--ships that were even giants to those I had +so frequently built up in my imagination. As I gazed at their slender +tapering masts and net-work of cordage, I despaired in my heart of ever +being able to distinguish one of the myriad of ropes from another; but I +did what it is the best to do in all cases--I determined to try. + +It so happened that at the time of my arrival there was a demand for +sailors before the mast, and with my knowledge of the sea it was not +difficult for me to procure a berth. Thus on the third day I found +myself enrolled as one of the crew of a splendid merchant ship--the +_Columbus_, 2,500 tons, bound for Jamaica with full cargo. + +So many accounts have been written of sailor's first voyages and +experiences that I shall pass over mine; they proved very uneventful +till seven years had nearly elapsed, during which period I had made many +visits home, bringing numerous curiosities for Katie, who now was my +wife, and had one or two little sailors in embryo to console her during +my absence. + +Ten years then do I skip over, and come to the time when I shipped on +board the _Lively Ariel_, merchantman, bound for Madras. + +As it was the first time I had been in this part of the globe, I was no +little delighted at the change, and promised Katie many Indian rarities, +such as ivory work-boxes, etc--little dreaming what a long, long voyage +I was about to take, and the vastly different things I should bring her +to those I intended. + +But a merciful Providence kindly hides the future from us, for the +knowledge would make cowards of us all; therefore, ignorant of what was +to come, I bade her an affectionate farewell, tossed the crowing babies +in my arms, and started on the longest voyage I ever made. + +It was a light favourable breeze with which we cleared out of the +Mersey, and went down Saint George's Channel, all sails set, and the +ship flying, gliding along, over the blue waves, like a perfect beauty +as she was. + +With the wind thus in our favour, it was not long before we had lost +sight of Cardigan Bay, passed the Scilly Islands, and entered the ocean, +the broad Atlantic. We had long passed the Cape Verde Isles, which +derive their names from being covered with quantities of _Adansonia_ or +baobab trees, whose stems are at times 34 feet in circumference, though +they rarely exceed 60 feet in height. These trees so cover the sandy +plains of the above-mentioned Islands with their umbrella-shaped tops, +that approaching them they present the appearance of one vast field of +green verdure. We had long passed them I say before the weather at all +changed, then but for a brief space, as we had scarcely crossed the +line, before the wind again chopped round to north, and so continued +till we reached the Cape of Good Hope, sighting the Table Rock, and the +misty cloud hanging above--its tablecloth, as it has been termed--about +six a.m. Here we stayed to take in water, of which we were growing +scarce, and afterwards proceeded on our course, bringing as it seemed +the wind with us, for it speedily veered due south. + +It was about the middle watch, which was mine, of the second night that, +leaning over the side of the ship, I looked into the dark depths of +ocean, and above at the splendid blue sky--a blue only to be seen in the +southern hemisphere--studded with stars like gems of immense magnitude. +I was looking, I repeat, upon these wondrous beauties of nature, and +thinking of Katie and the little ones at home, when my reverie, which +had been running as smoothly as the ship glided over the billows, was +broken by the voice of Tom Grimes, the boatswain, who, coming up, and +leaning over the side like myself, said, as he turned a quid in his +cheek. + +"Well, Dick Galbraith, this here's stunning weather, ain't it. _My_ +stars--I mean them at home and not those there big moons up yonder with +which I've nothing to do--but in all my viages, I've never made such a +run as this." + +"No, indeed," I rejoined; "it seems almost too good to last." + +"Ah, that's it, my boy--that's it," answered the old boatswain. "That's +it; we ain't in sight of Madras _yet_." + +The stress on the last word made me say, "Do you expect any change, +Grimes? Is bad weather brewing?" + +"Rather," he replied; "and when you have been a sailor as long as I +have, and with as grey hair, you'll think so too. Haven't you noticed +that the wind has slightly veered?" + +"No," I said, instinctively putting his words to the test by wetting the +palm of my hand and holding it up to the soft night breeze. "Yes, +Grimes, you are right," I continued. "It's Sou'-Sou'-West, and was due +South but half-an-hour ago." + +"Yes, it's been varying from South to Sou'-West and Sou'-Sou'-East for +the last hour, and may chop round to East or North-East and send a +perfect hurricane in our teeth. It's _my_ opinion that that is what it +just will do." + +"Why?" I asked, for old Tom Grimes was an oracle with the crew. + +"Why? my lad, why? Because--there just notice the vibration of the ship +as she bounds over the waves--don't you notice a kind of imperceptible +stress in the movement, and a slight recoil?" + +"Well, I certainly do; yet it is so slight." + +"Ah! A hurricane can come from a cloud only the size of a man's hand, +and that vibration shows a cross-sea running. Mark my words, Galbraith, +we shan't go many days, if one, before there is an unpleasant change of +weather." + +"Well, never mind, if we can only _weather_ it," I laughed; and just +then, the watch being changed, I went below and turned into my hammock, +where, falling speedily asleep, I forgot all about old Grimes' +prophecies. + +The next morning's dawn, however, proved them only to be too true. The +blue sky we had enjoyed for so long was overcast with large +ominous-looking clouds, while the wind had already chopped round to +East. The ship was rigged for hard weather; and just an hour after +sunset, when about latitude 33 degrees 29 minutes South, longitude 42 +degrees 12 minutes East, the gale struck us dead in our teeth. The +heavens had suddenly become of an inky blackness; the sea rushing high, +with that hollow roar as if it rose from vast caverns in its depths, +frequently swept the decks; while the wind increased to such a terrific +pitch that it was with the greatest difficulty we could hold our course. + +Scarcely half-an-hour elapsed before we saw that the danger of the ship +was imminent. In my seven years' experience never had I witnessed such +a storm, nor one which did such speedy execution. At each succeeding +wave the large ship started and quivered in every one of her timbers, +while sail after sail flew from the bolt ropes, and was lost in a +minute's space in the darkness to leeward. Each man that night had his +full share of duty; and I noticed the Captain--a noble, brave-hearted +fellow, as he stood issuing his orders, which the gale scarcely +permitted to be heard--looked every moment anxiously at the rigging. +Finally surrendering his speaking trumpet to the mate, he descended +quickly to the cabin. + +It was not many moments before he returned, and, hidden by the darkness, +I heard him address the mate in a grave tone. + +"Sanders, I fear we are in a bad way." + +"Where abouts are we, sir?" responded the other. + +"Heaven alone knows; for the electricity in the storm has rendered the +compass almost useless. But, judging from where we were before the gale +struck us, and from how we have been drifting since, I fancy we are near +the African coast--too near, I fear, for we cannot with certainty make +for any known harbour." + +"I reckon," said the mate, "that we are not far from the Mozambique." + +"I fancy so too. Would to Heaven I could get but one glimpse of the +Southern Cross. We might then with some chance make for Natal or +Delagoa Bay." + +And he turned his eyes hopelessly up at the impenetrable blackness-- +hopeless indeed, for there was no sign of breaking there. + +Hardly had I noted this when a cry of terror escaped from the lips of +the whole crew. A terrific wind, accompanied by a quick succession of +mountainous waves, had carried away at one sweep the jib-boom, +fore-top-mast, gallant-mast, and royal-mast, leaving them still clinging +to the ship by the stays, so impeding her progress that she rolled in +the deep troughs of the sea as if every moment she would plunge in to +rise no more. Our peril was not, however, yet at the worst; for hardly +had a little calm succeeded this last damage, and the wreck had been +cleared away--at the expense of two poor fellows' lives--than, +staggering on to the deck with pallid face, came the carpenter, with the +awful announcement that the ship had sprung a leak, and the water was +even then some feet deep in the hold. + +The order was given--"All hands to the pumps;" and men wearied beyond +apparent endurance before, at this danger were animated with fresh +strength, and worked like giants. + +Worked!--but to what purpose? Each anxious message sent down to learn +how much the water had decreased, only brought back the desponding reply +of an increase,--first, so many inches; then a foot; then two; then the +terrible truth that, work with the strength of fifty giants, all would +be useless. The ship was doomed--was sinking, sinking rapidly into the +midst of that black, boiling, awful sea. If all men's hearts grew faint +at the news, was it a matter of wonder? Even the Captain's cheek was +pale as he gave the order to lower the boats, a command rapidly obeyed, +but which only disclosed fresh disasters; for it was found that the +starboard lifeboat had gone. They had therefore to repair to the +starboard cutter, and with difficulty was it lowered to leeward, when it +was speedily filled by some of the crew. + +I stood by the captain, determined not to leave him; and cutting away +the ropes, we watched the cutter take its course. Not for long did it +keep it; for with a terrific cry from its wretched freight, echoed by +all on the doomed ship, it foundered, leaving but a struggling mass of +human beings on the surface, to be quickly engulphed by the mighty +waves. The captain gave one lingering look, uttered a short prayer for +them and for us, then, turning, wrung my hand, saying, while, I fancy, +tears stood in his eyes-- + +"Galbraith, my man, our time will come next--our hour is at hand. +Orders, now, in the wreck my poor, my beloved ship have become useless. +We must part. Her fate is sealed, and so, I believe, is ours. God help +us! Let each one now look for what safety he can. Goodbye--farewell-- +my men! God have mercy upon us! Should any chance to survive this +terrible night, let him take the last farewells of those less fortunate +to the dear ones left at home." + +A sad cheer rose from the poor fellows' throats, and solemnly the +captain, raising his eyes to heaven, uttered a brief appeal to God for +himself and his crew--an appeal fervently repeated by each man. Then +one and all sought some spar or other to which to attach himself, and +thus await death; for there was little chance that any there would +survive to take home those last solemn farewells. + +One by one I saw my companions borne overboard by the giant waves till I +grew sick at the thought that my turn would be the next. But not yet-- +the brave captain went first. Then, suddenly, death seemed to seize +me--the sea was all about me--its horrible rushing was in my ears, and I +felt sinking--sinking to the very bottom of the ocean. I believe for +the moment I lost consciousness; but when I came to, I was again on the +surface of the waters, rising like a cork upon the waves. + +So I floated here and there for, it appeared to me, hours--though it +could not have been one--alone on the ocean--alone, for all I knew; for, +as far as I could see, when on the top of some great billow, not a +vestige of the fine ship, or her crew, was in sight. + +Abruptly, almost as abruptly as it had risen, the hurricane began to +abate. As it did so, I became aware of the sound, so well known to +sailors, of breakers in the direction to which I was driving head first. +In vain I strove to turn, to ascertain whether the breakers to which I +was evidently hastening were created by rocks above or below the +surface. If the former, with such a surf running, I must assuredly be +dashed to pieces. But all I could see was a vast expanse of white +boiling foam, into the midst of which the next wave flung me, to be +tossed among a mass of sharp pointed rocks. Existence here would have +been of short duration had not another billow, more kind than the first, +raised me in its arms and thrown me over the reef into comparatively +calm water. A few seconds after I fancied my feet touched land. I +waited anxiously for the next wave. Yes--land it was, and oh, thank +Heaven! the tide was running in. + +Releasing one of my arms, I strove to aid my progress; but, as if +wearied of its terrible play, the ocean at last cast me, rolling over +and over, on to a sandy beach. Fearful that it might repent of its +kindness, and drag me back again, I managed to free myself entirely from +the spar. Then, faint and staggering--for, besides my exertions, the +jagged rocks had inflicted many bruises on my person--I crawled far up +the beach, till my hand, touching some plant that I knew by its fresh +dryness had never been covered by the salt sea, assured me I was safe; +then I sank down insensible, utterly ignorant, nor at the moment caring, +upon what portion of the African coast I had been thrown. + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +COMPANIONS IN TROUBLE--A SURPRISE. + +It was, as far as I could calculate, some three hours after sunrise, +before I returned to consciousness, to find myself weak and in some +little pain from the bruises occasioned by the reefs, among which the +sea had so unmercilessly tossed me. + +My first glance rested on my clothes, only a pair of duck trousers and a +red shirt, which to my no little vexation, I found had suffered but +slightly better than their master, for they were rent and torn in +various places. + +With difficulty, rising partly up, for every limb was stiff, I in some +curiosity and a great deal of anxiety, looked around. + +The sea, in wonderful contrast to the phase under which I had last seen +it, now lay forty yards from me beneath the tropical sun; its emerald +green surface broken only by minute waves with their crests of flashing +crystals, which broke with a deceitful murmur like the purring of a +tiger, on the beach. + +In its direction I could learn nothing of the locality in which my fate +had thrown me, so turning I looked behind. + +I was perfectly ignorant of Southern scenery, and as my eyes rested on +it I was struck with wonder and admiration. Shelving up, gently here-- +with boldness there--was a sweep of land covered by forests of noble +trees, many of a species with which, at that time, I was perfectly +unacquainted. Beyond were gently undulating hills, clothed by a strange +and splendid vegetation, intermingled--for the view was of some extent-- +with the rugged face of rocks, their hardness softened by masses of +clinging plant. + +Never had I seen a more beautiful landscape, nor one so eloquent of +repose--though there was an immense drawback to a man in my position. I +could not perceive a single sign of humanity. From the appearance, I +might have fancied myself washed upon some terrestrial paradise, yet +untrodden by the foot of man. I could not remain contemplating this +Southern Eden for long, however, as nature began to assert itself, and I +became aware that I was exceedingly hungry, so staggering to my feet I +determined to go, cautiously, in search of something to stay it, and +also to inspect the country. First, however, feeling very sorry +respecting my companions, I kneeled down and fervently thanked God who +had preserved me so far, and humbly beseeching Him in His mercy yet to +continue with me in my trouble. Trouble truly, for I had been traveller +enough in strange lands to know that, especially in this part of the +world, these quiet beautiful spots of nature, not unfrequently made +homes for all manner of wild animals, and tribes of men but little less +savage in their disposition. + +Therefore, I regarded the cool shade of the forest trees with distrust, +knowing that, from the luxuriant bushes of the flowering mimosa, even at +that moment the large eyes of some fierce inhabitant of the forest--the +lion, tiger, or leopard, for instance--might be waiting to seize its +prey. For which reason, though a tropical sun was pouring its intense +rays on my head, I, being so utterly unarmed, merely skirted the forest, +seeking among its numerous and varied vegetation for some kind of fruit +to stay my craving. One plant I speedily recognised--that was the +banana; the fruit of this tree, now so generally known, is usually from +four to five inches long, shaped something like a cucumber, and grows in +great bunches that weigh twelve pounds and upwards. Here, however, I +was perfectly astonished at their immense size, doubling, if not +trebling, those in other parts of the world. With the aid of a stick +and some climbing I succeeded in procuring enough to satisfy my hunger, +and in doing so startled a swarm of birds, which flew so speedily away +that I could but see numerous flashes through the boughs of bright +plumage, while the screaming and jabbering of monkeys in the depths of +the forest assured me of those gentlemen's presence. + +My wants respecting breakfast being appeased, I determined to make for a +ridge of rocks that, running into the sea, formed a small promontory, +for the shore was a small secluded bay, which easily accounted for the +calmness of the water when I had passed the reef. I hoped there to find +shelter from the broiling sun, that was beginning most unpleasantly to +blister my skin where it showed through the tatters in my clothes, while +as to my brain, I believe it would have been scorched up long ago had I +not gathered a small banana leaf--I say _small_, for they grow to two +yards in length--and fastened it over my head with a piece of the stem +of a beautiful parasitical plant which I found growing over nearly all +the forest trees, climbing up to their topmost branches, and from thence +sending a mass of slender threads, from branch to branch, in graceful +festoons to the ground. The name of this beautiful creeper I learned +later to be _Cynanchum obtusifolium_; the Dutch settlers, however, call +it Bavian-tow, or baboon ropes, because by their aid baboons and monkeys +climb the trees to gather the fruit. The Kaffirs also use these ropes +to lash together the thatch of their huts. + +It may be thought, if these creepers are strong enough to support +baboons, and serve as cordage, how I could break them asunder. First, +then, the commencement of the filaments are scarcely stronger than +pack-thread, but grow thicker and thicker, till about the size of a +man's arm. Secondly, by a happy chance, the large clasp-knife--the +sailor's constant companion and friend--which I always carried in my +pocket, yet remained there, despite the buffeting I had received. + +While talking of plants, I will here mention one that particularly +attracted my attention, and whose unpleasant nature I was yet to +discover. It grew along the ground or hang in festoons from bush to +bush, and, at the time I saw it, was one mass of splendid purple bloom; +but what mostly drew my notice, was that all along its branches there +were strong sharp thorns, like hooks, arranged in pairs, looking just as +if they were traps extended by some bunting lion, to catch his victim +and hold it till his majesty chose to dine. Fortunately for me, despite +its beautiful blossoms, I was too anxious respecting my position to +inspect it more closely, but hurried on eager to get to the rocks, where +I resolved, if I could possibly do so, to remain, that I might ever be +on the watch, and near at hand should any ship pass within sight of the +shore. + +On reaching the base, I began cautiously to climb to the summit--no +difficult task, as the face was extremely rugged, being composed of +masses, forming ledges and huge gapping crevices, covered with lichen +mimosas and hard spined cacti. At the first outset, however, I was much +startled by a sudden rushing among the bushes, as of some animal close +by. Not knowing what it might be, I quickly drew back, but my fright +speedily subsided, when I saw a little creature, bearing a close +resemblance to the rabbit, dash across my path evidently as much afraid +of me as I had been of him. Continuing my way, I mentally resolved that +if, by dinner time, I came across another such little gentleman, or even +the same, I would try to catch it for that repast. + +I had nearly reached the top of the promontory when my terror was again +renewed. I fancied I heard the murmur of voices above, coming in my +direction. Instantly I crouched down among the bushes with suspended +breath. + +There were people here then, but the question was, who were they? + +From the appearance of the land altogether I felt certain there could be +no English settlers so near--therefore it was evident that the +inhabitants must belong to the savage tribes; whether acquainted with, +and friendly, or otherwise to, the white man, was to me a most +unpleasant doubt. I therefore resolved, if possible, to avoid being +seen, at any rate till I had inspected them further, as I had no desire +to serve for the dinner of a hungry Kaffir family, or even, if not +cannibals, to be tortured for their amusement. Hidden from view, I +listened anxiously. All was silent, not a sound came, though once I +fancied the bushes moved on the rock above, followed by a low +whispering. Had they discovered my proximity, and were also watching, +preparatory to making a seizure? + +I knew that, bold as the Kaffirs are in a body, in a single attack they +are cunning and fond of strategy. Therefore had I been perceived, they, +not knowing but that others were with me, might be at that very moment +stealthily encircling the bushes where I lay, which the next moment +would perhaps be pierced as well as my body with a hundred arrows or +spears, whichever it was their custom to use. + +At this thought I crouched still lower, and cannot divine how long a +time I remained there, my danger and the suspense making it, no doubt, +appear far longer than it really was; when, everything remaining quiet, +I grew nervous at the very silence, and at last determined, though +totally unarmed, to reconnoitre the top of the promontory. I had +certainly heard voices, but perhaps the speakers had passed on, really +unaware of my presence; if not, it was better for me to brave it out +than to die like a dog without making any resistance. Besides, if the +natives were so close, the place was no safe retreat for me, unless they +happened to be friendly. + +Stealthily quitting the bushes, and softly climbing the intermediate +space, I, reaching my hands to the ledge, pulled myself up to its level +and looked over. I had hardly done so than I was so startled that I +nearly let go my hold and fell back among the rocks; for the first +object that met my view was a human face looking savagely into mine. My +exclamation of surprise was echoed by one of no friendly character, +accompanied by a round true English sounding oath, addressed to the +black race in particular, as a heavy stick was poised in the air, and +would have inevitably ended the career of Richard Galbraith, had I not +cried out just in time. + +"Good heavens! Jack Thompson, is that you and alive?" + +The stick dropped from his hands, for it was indeed no other than the +third mate of the wrecked ship; and with a second exclamation, seizing +my arms, he pulled me on to the ledge. + +"Why, Dick Galbraith! Spars and rope-yarns, but you only spoke in time. +Lord forgive me! but with that there gigantic cabbage leaf over your +head, I took you for some savage cannibal." + +In truth, I must have presented a strange figure, and despite our +position, I could not help indulging in a laugh at Jack Thompson's face +of dismay at what he had been about to-do; but speedily checking it, I +asked with much concern how he had been saved, and whether there were +any others of the crew as fortunate as ourselves. + +"Only one more that I know of," replied Jack, "and that's the young +minister chap as was allus reading." + +"What, the Reverend Mr Ferguson, the missionary that we were to set +ashore in Madagascar?" + +"Yes, that's him, and I must say he improves upon acquaintance. I +confess I didn't think much of him on board, with his preachifying; but +dash my top-sail if, with all his pale quiet face he ain't a jolly +fellow in the moment of trouble. Ay, he's as cheerful as a sandboy, and +somehow, his little bit of scriptur now seems rather consoling than +otherwise." + +"But how, Jack, in Heaven's name, did you escape from those terrible +waves?" + +"Why, much about the same way you did, I guess. We lashed ourselves to +spars, and after a bit of severe tossing, got pitched up on this here +shore." + +"And what made you come to these rocks?" + +"Why to seek shelter from that blessed furnace of a sun." + +"And," I added eagerly, "have you seen any of the natives?" + +"No, but we thought we heard one about half an hour ago," said a voice +behind me. Looking round, I saw it belonged to the young missionary, +who was standing looking down upon us, for we were seated on the rock. +"However," he continued, "`the native' has turned out to be no other +than a fellow-comrade in distress." + +The Reverend Mr Ferguson had a slim, gentlemanly figure, and a pale, +thoughtful, studious face, but one which was frequently lighted up by +the most pleasant, sunshiny, and kindly of smiles. + +"Thank God," he added devoutly, as he raised his eyes upward, "that +there is, indeed, another of us saved." + +As Jack Thompson had said, Mr Ferguson's "preachifying" no longer +seemed out of place; and for myself, I am sure in my heart I most +devoutly said Amen to the thanksgiving. Then, getting up, I asked if he +could at all tell in what part of Caffraria we were--for that we were +somewhere on that coast I was certain. + +"From the few observations I have been able to make, I fancy this spot +must be between Delagoa Bay and Natal," he replied. + +"And the natives, Sir," put in Jack Thompson. + +"Of them I know little by recent report, save that some of the tribes +are friendly, while others are very hostile to the white man." + +"Pray Heaven," I ejaculated, "that we may signal a ship before there is +time to make their acquaintance." + +"If it be Heaven's will, yes," rejoined the missionary, fervently. "But +who knows, He may have cast us on these shores as a fitting soil to +plant the seeds of His religion, which alone can give eternal +happiness." + +Jack and I made no answer, for as yet we were too worldly and weak of +faith to feel as resigned to the ways of Providence as this +self-sacrificing young minister, whose constant study was his Master's +will. + +"But come," he added cheerfully, "now we find it is an old comrade that, +for the last half hour has been frightening us, let us continue our +search for shelter and rest." Instantly concurring in this proposal, we +soon found an overhanging rock, which formed a species of cave, the +inside being well sheltered from the view of anyone on the outside by +thickly tangled _mimosa_, and other bushes. + +Into this we crept, I first, with a skill surprising to myself, having, +by the aid of a stick knocked over one of the little animals such as I +had seen, and which Mr Ferguson informed us was called a hyrax, or rock +rabbit, they being very plentiful on this coast. + +When we all three were inside the cave, we began to prepare our dinner. +Jack skinned the hyrax, while I looked about for the means to kindle the +dry branches I had collected, to cook it. I had, I am sorry to say, +never thought much of book-learning, but now I was to discover its +immense value. While still puzzling my brains as to how to procure a +spark, to no purpose, Mr Ferguson, who had quitted the cave after +borrowing my knife, returned bringing two pieces of wood, one flat, the +other of a different kind, sharpened to a keen point. + +"Is that touchwood, Sir," I asked eagerly. + +"Well, yes," he replied with a smile. "I will show you how the natives +of Abyssinia, and I believe in this place also, procure fire when they +want it. This," he added, meaning the flat piece, "is a soft wood; this +pointed one is of the hard _acacia_. Now be ready to help when I want +you." + +So saying, he sat down, holding the flat piece of wood firmly on the +ground with his feet, then, placing the pointed _acacia_ stick +vertically upon it, began twirling it rapidly between the palms of his +hands. + +Jack and I attentively watched the process, and soon saw the hard point +make its way slowly into the other, producing a fine dust, which +presently began to darken in colour, and finally to smoke; upon this, by +Mr Ferguson's orders we blew softly, and speedily after a flame +springing up ignited the wood. + +"Well, that's stunning, at any rate!" cried Jack, as the flame began to +kindle the heap of branches. + +"Yes; but we must not let the smoke be seen, else it will warn any +keen-eyed Kaffir who may be in the neighbourhood of our whereabouts." + +We now all set to work, and in this in voluntary picnic began to forget +the dangers which encompassed us. A first-rate dinner we made, and, for +my part, it tasted all the better for the short but earnest blessing Mr +Ferguson asked for it. Afterwards he insisted upon Jack and I taking +some sleep, of which we all stood in great need, saying it was necessary +for one to remain awake, and that he would take the first watch, +arousing one of us when our turn came. + +To use an old expression, we were really dog-tired, and notwithstanding +the hardness of our beds, scarcely a minute elapsed before we were +sleeping soundly. Once, before falling off, I heard Mr Ferguson tell +Jack that if he snored so loud he would arouse all Caffraria. I am +ashamed to confess it even now, but so tired were we, that Jack and I +never woke for our turn of watch, and the kind-hearted young clergyman +never disturbed us, though he must have been quite as weary as we were. + +We had been asleep some hours, for the sun had set, and a large, +glorious-faced moon was shining down full upon this uncultivated but +splendid land, when I was startled broad-awake by a hand being placed on +my shoulder. At the same moment Mr Ferguson's voice whispered in my +ear-- + +"Richard--Richard Galbraith, get up; I believe our retreat is +discovered, and the Kaffirs are upon us." + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +A VISIT FROM A NATIVE--THE MERCY OF PROVIDENCE. + +The moon shone in over the tops of the bushes outside the cave, with a +broad flood of splendid silver light, throwing fantastic shadows inside +upon the minister and me, the heap of ashes left from the fire, and on +Jack Thompson, still sleeping in the further corner. + +The beams falling at a direct angle, the foot of the bushes, by +contrast, was left in intense darkness, and in this direction it was +that, as the minister aroused me, I caught the sound of a stealthy +movement. With suspended breath I half raised myself on my elbow. The +minister knelt by my side, his left hand clutching my arm, his face +turned to the entrance of the cave, with a finger raised to his lip, +commanding silence. + +We felt at that moment that our lives trembled in the balance, and, +scarcely permitting a nerve to stir, we watched. + +The stealthy rustling among the bushes, continued, evidently coming +nearer. Once I motioned towards Jack Thompson with a look that I +thought he ought to be awakened, but bending to my ear Mr Ferguson +whispered,-- + +"I fear to do so. Our presence may yet be unknown to our enemies, and +Thompson makes such a noise, sleeping or waking, that for his safety, as +well as ours, he had better remain quiet while he is so." + +"If not conscious of our presence," I returned in the same low tone, +"why are they here? Is it for fishing?" + +The missionary shook his head, as he replied, "Scarcely. Why they are +here I cannot tell, but certainly not for fishing, for the Kaffirs never +eat fish; it being such an aversion to them, that they cannot even fancy +other people doing so." + +A few minutes passed in silence, while still the cautious sound +approached nearer--yes, up to the very mouth of the cavern in which we +were--when with a great gawp, as I peered into the bushes, I ejaculated, +"Heaven have mercy upon us!" + +"What is it, Galbraith?" asked Mr Ferguson eagerly, bending to my +level. + +"See," I whispered, "See; the lion." And there it stood, its two red +eyes of flame glaring in upon us, or rather into the cave. + +I felt the tremor in my own frame spread to my companion, and I made an +effort to rise so as to be on my guard, but Mr Ferguson prevented me, +whispering,-- + +"Make no noise, Galbraith, he may pass on." + +I shook my head as I pointed to the fresh skin of the hyrax, the smell +of which had no doubt attracted the animal. My sign was all eloquent, +and like statues--for we felt how utterly armless, and therefore +powerless, we were--we waited, our eyes fixed on our foe. Even in this +terrible moment, I could not help thinking how justly the lion had been +termed the king of beasts. To see him properly, if not comfortably, is +to see him free in his native land. The grandness of his head, the rich +tawny hue, the eyes bright as fire, the graceful, flowing mane, are +beauties of nature which are lost when the fierce bold spirit is caged. + +But I had little time, had I had inclination, to take a longer survey, +for with his flexible yet massive paw he crushed down the remaining +barrier of _mimosa_, then crouching prepared to spring. + +As I noted the action, the twisting, quivering movement of the lithe, +cat-like body, all the muscles contracted ready for the jump, the cry of +terror remained frozen on my lips--I seemed, I felt as stone. The next +moment, however, I was aroused by a sharp ejaculation of horror from the +missionary. Starting forward he seized the heavy stick I had cut from +the bush. + +"Merciful Heaven! Look there, Galbraith," he cried. "Jack Thompson! +The terrible brute will have him. For God's sake, let us save the poor +fellow!" + +Before the words could be uttered, the beast with a roar had sprung upon +his victim. Like a flash of light his heavy body rose through the air, +and the next instant its fearful teeth had fastened upon the poor mate's +shoulder. + +He awoke with a terrific scream, then as he saw those fearful, +relentless eyes glaring down upon him, must from fear and pain have +fainted, for he lay like one dead. + +In the meanwhile the minister and I were not idle. Though we felt our +efforts must be futile, we yet could not see our companion thus carried +off without resistance, for the lion had already begun to back out of +the cave, dragging its prey after him. + +Opening my knife, I bade the minister stand clear, then prepared to +spring upon the animal and plunge it in his throat; but, as if conscious +of my design, with a low angry growl, it kept its gleaming eyes upon +mine and stopping, seemed to await my attack with disdainful contempt, +never, however, letting go of poor Jack, who now with returning +consciousness began to moan piteously. + +"Great Heaven! have mercy on him," I heard Mr Ferguson exclaim. "You +can never help him, Galbraith; lions are not killed with pen-knives, and +the beast has already read your intent. It will be your death as well +as Thompson's." + +"I will try something," I muttered, never taking my eyes from the +lion's; for I had heard how great the power of the human glance was over +these animals, and, certainly mine seemed to hold him spellbound. +Suddenly, a thought struck me; I remembered the thick bushes that hung +over the top of the cave, and hurriedly said to the minister-- + +"Our only chance, if we have any, is to make a general attack. Will +you, by the help of the bushes, climb to the top of the cave--I feel he +will not move yet--while I keep my eyes on his. Then at a given signal +you drop on him with that pointed stick of hard _acacia_, while I will +spring at his throat with my knife. We may at least startle him into +making a retreat--only for the love of Heaven be quick! or Thompson will +recover, and, by his struggles, change the animal's position." + +In a moment, though the act was so perilous, and indeed, was likely to +end in three lives being sacrificed instead of one, the young minister +was climbing the bushes. + +Anxiously I waited, still keeping my eyes on the lion which, at the +sound of the rustling branches, began to beat his tail ominously. + +By sense of hearing I tried to divine how Mr Ferguson was progressing, +and was congratulating myself by the certainty that he must be near the +top, when, suddenly letting go Thompson, with a warning roar, I in +horror perceived that the lion intended to make me his victim instead of +the mate. + +My fate, I felt was sealed. Thoughts of home, of Katie, of my little +ones, rushed with the speed of light to my brain, while my heart grew +sick. + +A prayer escaped my lips, as I saw the wide, blood-red jaws expand to +seize me, and the body rise with a noiseless spring. Tottering back, in +imagination I already felt the hot breath of the animal on my face--his +teeth in my flesh, when a crashing noise abruptly rung in my ears, +followed by a cry of fear, and a howl of agony from the lion. Then a +cloud of blinding dust enveloped me, and I fell back stunned against the +wall of the cave. + +It was some seconds before I could clear my eyes sufficiently to look +for the cause of the noise, the dust, and of my yet being untouched by +the lion, whose moans I could still hear. + +On looking up, I saw to my surprise that the moonlight now streamed in +at the _top_ of the cave instead of the front which was blockaded by a +great mass of rock, partly covered by which was the lion, writhing in +agony, and utterly powerless--his hind quarters being crushed beneath +the weight. + +How the rock had come there, and what was the fate of my companions were +mysteries, and I was striving to get my confused senses together to make +a search when the head, and then the body of Mr Ferguson appeared, +climbing over the fallen rock. + +"Galbraith, in mercy speak if you be yet alive!" he cried in accents of +terror. + +"I am all right, Sir," I answered, "but for Heaven's sake tell me how +all this happened." + +"I scarcely know--I was climbing the rock when, as I neared the top, I +fancied the bush was giving way. I should have fallen just in front of +the lion's jaws, and before I could reflect on the matter, the instinct +of self-preservation innate in us all, made me spring out among the +bushes beneath. No sooner had I done so, than I heard a terrific noise +accompanied by a fall, and, turning, perceived there had been a +landslip, the mouth of the cave being barricaded by this rock." + +"And it has saved our lives," I ejaculated. "The hand of Providence is +in it, Sir. We were helpless, and it has saved us by a miracle, for the +lion is half-crushed and will be dead shortly, while I can hear +Thompson, moaning, not as if in any greater pain than the lion's teeth +must have occasioned. Come in, Sir, and aid me to look." + +Mr Ferguson instantly sprang down, when I with my clasp-knife soon +despatched the now powerless and fainting lion; then we groped about for +Jack. We quickly discovered him, and found it was the second narrow +escape from death that he had had in the last hour, for the rock was +scarcely an inch from his head. Drawing him away we bound up his +shoulder as well as we could with our handkerchiefs. When this was done +and he had recovered consciousness I said-- + +"I have been thinking, Mr Ferguson, that the unpleasant visit we have +had to-night may be repeated. So what do you say to trying to get down +to the edge of the sea? The wild animals will hardly come there." + +"You are right, Galbraith; but I doubt if poor Thompson could manage +it." + +"Yes, Sir, I think I can," he answered. "I'm precious weak and faint, +sartinly; that beggar's teeth were rather large skewers and nearly did +for me, so I would sooner try to walk to where we shall be safe than +risk such another rough style of trussing." + +This being agreed upon, Mr Ferguson and I lent our aid to get Jack over +the rock, from whence we began to make our way to the shore. Once the +poor fellow fainted, and I thought we should have to stop where we were, +but he managed to proceed after a while, and on reaching the sea was +much refreshed by having his wounds bathed in the water. After which, +as neither of us felt inclined to sleep, we sat down to wait for dawn, +though what fresh perils it might bring us was a question we did not +care to contemplate. + +We had been lying on the beach for, I should imagine, nearly two hours, +in silence watching the ocean alight in the trough of every wave with +brilliant flashing phosphorescence and silver moonlight, and thinking of +our terrible position, when Mr Ferguson, who had remained so motionless +that I had believed him to be asleep, and naturally after his two +nights' fatigue, spoke-- + +"Galbraith," he said, "I have been reflecting that our wisest plan after +all will be to make across the country, for, unarmed as we are, we are +like to find the animals about here as dangerous as the natives, who +possibly might be friendly and hospitable should we fall in with them." + +I hadn't much trust in the latter hope, for I had heard many travellers' +tales respecting the Kaffirs, but I answered-- + +"You know best, Sir; and I think you are right." + +"At any rate, God will be with us anywhere as He is here," he added. +"We must trust in Him, who has already saved us from one terrible +danger." + +"That is true, Sir; when shall we start?" + +"Not till dawn," he rejoined. "I have been looking at the stars, also +at that headland, and recalling all I have read and seen respecting this +coast, and fancy Natal cannot be far off. Who knows but while we are +endangering our lives here, some English or Dutch settlement may be at +the other side of that headland?" + +"You are right, Sir," said Jack, joining in; "I'm blessed if you ain't; +and if the Dutch only have their schnapps with 'em, I shall be +uncommonly glad, for I feel as if I want something to stir me up." + +No doubt he did, for his wounds must have sorely troubled him, though he +bore them so patiently. + +"I vote," he added, "that we start at once." + +"No, Jack," said Mr Ferguson; "there are several reasons for our not +doing so first, a few hours' rest will do us good; secondly, you must +have the handkerchiefs round your shoulder wetted again and again to +keep down the inflammation; and thirdly, as we must pass through the +bush, we had better do so when the beasts of prey have returned to their +lairs, for I suspect the visit of one has been already quite enough for +you." + +"Too much, Sir, and your third reason is stronger than all the rest put +together, so for another wash of these kind remembrances left me by his +majesty, the King of the Hanimals, though I could well have excused him +paying the compliment, then to wait for dawn." + +Wait for dawn! yes truly; but with what laggard steps it appeared to +come. As the hours advanced, the beautiful Southern constellations, the +Columba noachi, or Noah's-dove, the Crux Australis, or Southern Cross-- +the guiding star of the southern hemisphere, appeared rather to grow +brighter than more faint; and it seemed an age before the first golden +streaks of the sun shot up into the sky. No sooner had it done so, than +I awoke Jack, who, by our earnest entreaties had taken a little sleep, +then we started for the bush. + +On our way we began really to believe that the place was uninhabited by +man, for in the distance we saw nothing to resemble a human being, +either black or white; while our own progress, remaining so +uninterrupted, proved we had not attracted observation, which we could +scarcely have failed to have done, had there been any of the natives +near. + +On entering the bush we managed to make a breakfast off some fruits +which the minister, from his book-learning, knew not to be poisonous, +while from the coiled-up leaves of the plantain, we procured sufficient +water to slake our burning thirst. We had not gone far, before Mr +Ferguson saved me by a quick jerk backwards from the grip of one of +those thorns I have before referred to. He informed us that it was a +plant very plentiful in the bush, known by the name of _uncaria +procumbens_, from its manner of trailing along the ground; and also +called the hook thorn, being armed, as I had noticed, with strong hooks. +Besides those on the branches, when the seed vessels break, each of the +sides is covered with hooked thorns, which possess such strength and +sharpness, that their grasp is with difficulty avoided by the natives, +while when the unfortunate European once is caught, all his efforts +serve but to fasten him the tighter; for the action of unhooking one +thorn only causes him to be seized by a dozen. Indeed, without aid it +is almost impossible for him to get away. There is another kind called +the Karra-dorn or white thorn, found generally on the banks of rivers, +whose thorns are nearly seven inches long, and of such strength and +sharpness that a lion has been known to have been impaled on them, and +died of the wounds inflicted. + +Hearing this account of them, I loudly rejoiced at my good fortune which +had kept me from too close a proximity, when first seeing them in the +bush. + +Mr Ferguson's anecdotes pleasantly whiled away the time; and to our +relief we came across no more savage animals than monkeys, who, as we +passed, jabbered and chattered in hundreds from the trees above, which +were in general, all festooned with the before-mentioned Baboon ropes. +Frequently, however, the Hook thorn presented impenetrable barriers +across our path, compelling us to turn out of our course; and more than +once, I know the thought occurred to all of the probability of our being +lost in the bush. But Mr Ferguson kept a constant watch on the sun, +and encouraged Jack with comforting words when, poor fellow, his heart +began to fail, for his wounds had made him weak and hopeless. + +We must, I am sure, have been over ten hours in the wood before we began +to find the trees grow less thickly together, when we made more rapid +progress. In another hour we had got to the outskirts of the forest +when, laying my hand on Jack's arm, I said, pointing with the other to a +beautifully green plain some little distance off, and slightly below our +level. + +"Jack, look, we have got to the natives at last. Do you see them, Mr +Ferguson?" + +"_I_ do," responded Jack, "and a rum set of outlandish niggers they are. +Lor, who can expect to be understood, much less receive hospitality +from _them_. Far more likely to give us a warmer reception than we care +for. But what on earth are they about?" + +"They are evidently performing some native ceremony," said Mr Ferguson. + +But the description of the tribe of Kaffirs we had come upon, and the +ceremony in which they were taking part, I shall leave for the +commencement of the next chapter. + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +JACK AGAIN IN GRIEF--THE KAFFIRS!--CAPTURED. + +The stretch of country so suddenly disclosed to our view was one of +surpassing loveliness. We had much diverged from our path, owing to the +impervious walls of the hook thorn, and the sea was no longer visible, +indeed, it might have been miles away, the country we looked upon had +such an air of inland vegetation. The vast plain that lay before us +slightly sloped down till near the centre, where it became flat, even, +and, like the sides, covered by grass of a splendid emerald green. +Around this, on our side and to the left, was the bush, the peculiar and +splendid trees, and parasitical plants composing it, lending a powerful +aid to the general picturesqueness of the scene. + +Before us, a hill not of much altitude closed in the horizon, while to +the right suddenly rose up a range of rocks, covered with trees of the +cactus species, and others of quaint form, of the names of which we were +ignorant. Between these, flashing red in the light of the setting sun, +which was now making the blue sky aflame, was a cataract, that must have +bounded from rock to rock with the roar of thunder, but which, owing to +the distance, only came as a pleasant murmur to our ear as it passed +under the trees, that, clinging to the rocks by their roots, seemed, as +they bent over the water, ever about to plunge in, and be carried away +to annihilation. + +On a closer acquaintance with this cataract I found it fell into a dark +gloomy ravine, dense with vegetation, whose foliage concealed the wary +paths of the lion, wild cat, and tiger, the sinuous, graceful movements +of the deadly serpent, and other venomous reptiles. + +But as dangerous enemies as all these were, in our opinion, still nearer +at hand. + +In the centre of the plain were some fifty to a hundred blacks, whom the +missionary instantly declared to be Kaffirs. We were too far off to +distinguish features, but I know, expecting, as I did, to find the +natives of the same type as the common African, or that of the Guinea +coast, often in our country designated as "niggers," I was infinitely +surprised to see them of a good height, slim, gracefully yet firmly +made, with an erect carriage, and an easy grace in all their movements. +Nevertheless, any man, had he been perfection itself, would scarcely +have looked anything but grotesque and comical when going through the +antics these men were performing, which evidently was intended as a +dance commemorating some triumph. + +At the side further from, yet facing us, sat a Kaffir, no doubt a chief, +from the authority he seemed to exercise, though certainly my above +description of the race did not extend to him, for he was of the most +pursy, nay, fat and unwieldy build imaginable. His dress was apparently +two aprons of fur or feather, fastened round the waist, so as to fall +behind as in front; several bracelets decked his pudgy arms, while his +head appeared perfectly denuded of hair, but ornamented with a hard dark +ring, and a large round tuft of some material fastened to the top of the +forehead like that on a private soldier's hat. By his side was a +roughly made utensil, evidently containing liquid, for he drank from it +continually; while extended on the ground just before him were the +carcases of several recently slaughtered animals. + +In front of his chiefship were nearly all the other Kaffirs, dressed in +a similar fashion, but without the tuft on the forehead, and dancing the +wildest dance I ever saw. Dance they did like mad, yet evidently +according to some rude idea of figure, the time being perfect. Each +waved in one hand a kind of spear, ornamented with a bunch of feathers, +and in the other carried a large oval shield. They stood in lines, +advanced and retired in perfect order, all the while shouting, singing, +and working themselves apparently to the highest pitch of wild frenzy. + +"I say, Galbraith," said Thompson, as, concealed in the bush, we watched +their fierce movements and listened to their horrible yelling, "they are +not quite the right sort of customers to which I care to entrust my +life, though I ain't more particular about it than others are of +theirs." + +I nodded acquiescence when Mr Ferguson, who had overheard Jack, spoke: + +"They certainly do not look very peacefully inclined, yet we ought not +to judge them from what we see of them now." + +"I can say, for myself, Sir," put in Jack, "that I don't care to see +them again. So rather let my verdict stand." + +"No doubt," laughed the missionary, "yet the ceremony to me seems a +harmless one. I fancy it is a rejoicing after a successful hunting +expedition. Look yonder how thickly the game lies." + +"By that little fat man," said Jack. "Lor'! what a sight of good things +he must have eaten to have reached such a girth." + +"What do you say, Thompson," laughed Mr Ferguson, "shall we make a +descent on them, or no?" + +There was a most eloquent silence on Jack's part, whereupon the +missionary turned to me-- + +"Well, Galbraith, what do you say? With the few resources we have here, +starvation may soon be our lot, if we are not previously devoured by +some of the fierce denizens of the bush." + +"That is true, Sir," I replied, "and I have no desire for either one nor +the other. If I had but a rifle and a few rounds of powder and ball, I +would not fear, Crusoe-like, living on these shores, despite the animals +and those black dancers, till I could hail a ship; but the ocean is not +so kind to us as to him, and has not cast up chests containing just the +things we want. Still, as to joining those gentlemen in undress below +there, I confess I am rather of Jack's opinion, for those frantic +movements with the spear, and demoniacal yells scarcely look friendly." + +"You are probably right, Galbraith; yet were I alone it would be my duty +as a true soldier of my Master's cross to go among them, and try to sow +in these ignorant minds the seeds of His Word, and so I would do, only I +will not lead others into the danger I would run myself, for if I have +not read the disposition of you two wrongly, were I to go you would +follow." + +"That we would," echoed Jack, and I also responded in the affirmative. + +"But see!" continued Thompson, "what are they after?" + +I looked back to the spot from which my attention had been momentarily +withdrawn, and perceived the chief had arisen, and with a waddling gait +was moving to the hill opposite, followed by the other Kaffirs, some of +whom had lifted up and were carrying the slaughtered game. As quickly +as the slow pace of the fat chief would permit, they crossed the hill +and vanished over the other side. + +When the last black fellow had gone, Mr Ferguson said-- + +"They are returning to their dwellings, called here Kraals, which no +doubt are pretty near at hand." + +"Which is sartain," put in Thompson, "or that little fat man of theirs +will have to be carried as well as the game." + +"Well, then, let us stay here till the sun sets, and when the night--as +it does in all tropical countries--quickly follows, we will track them +and reconnoitre more closely as to their vicinity." + +Agreeing upon this, the minister and I--for Jack's arm having grown +stiff and sore, would not allow him to make himself useful--set about +procuring bananas, nuts, and other edible fruits to stay our hunger. +Even had we come across another rock rabbit I doubt whether we should +have ventured to kill it, being, as we were, in such close quarters with +the natives. + +Thompson once or twice argued that we should make again for the shore, +and I half agreed with him till Mr Ferguson, overhearing a few of his +whispered remarks, convinced me to the contrary by asking-- + +"If we did make directly back, and build a hut of rock as Jack proposed, +how first should we catch the fish he mentions, and how should we obtain +water? without which we must in this hot climate inevitably die of +thirst and madness." + +This sensible reasoning convinced Jack and me also, when the minister +continued-- + +"As certainly we have no chance of sighting a ship here, suppose we make +our course as straight in advance as we can, when we shall assuredly +reach the banks of some river such as the Imfolosi or Umlalaze, along +whose banks we can proceed till we again reach the shore, where then, if +you like, we can build a hut, for we shall have both fish and fresh +water close at hand." + +There could not be a better plan proposed, and we were for instantly +putting it into execution. + +"We must wait till the sun has set, and then we shall not be able to go +far to-night, for we must traverse the bush, not to be seen by the +Kaffirs. Indeed, I do not think we shall do more than cross the plain, +and wait for the moon to rise that we may each select the branches of +some tree to rest in till dawn, when we must start instantly, taking the +bush, and working towards the east, for the Kaffirs generally build +their kraals far inland." + +Accordingly, directly the night closed in, we set out. Our "straight +course" led us nearly in the same tracks the Kaffirs had gone, that is +as well as we could judge in the darkness; therefore we had to proceed +with much caution, and hoped to reach the crest of the hill before the +moon rose, least our figures, crouch down as we would, should attract +the keen glance of some Kaffir, whose kraal might be for what we knew, +within a few yards of the other side. + +As we went, distant sounds, such as a distant roar and creaking of +branches, told us that the fierce dwellers among its luxuriance were out +in search of food, and we all shuddered at the idea of what our position +would have been at that moment, had we lost ourselves in the terrible +bush. + +We had more than half crossed the plain, and were hurrying on in +silence, when my steps were suddenly arrested by a cry, partly of +surprise, partly of terror from Jack Thompson who had been walking by my +side. I started round, fully expecting to find ourselves once more in +the presence of the King of Beasts or some other animal, though I do not +think its red eyes would have astonished me more than what did indeed +meet my view--which was nothing; yes, nothing. Jack Thompson had +entirely vanished. + +"Good heavens! Mr Ferguson," I exclaimed, catching his arm, "where is +Thompson; just now he was by my side, and see, he has gone!" + +As I spoke, a voice coming up apparently from our feet addressed us-- + +"Shiver my top-sails, but if I ain't in another cussed fix! Here, +Galbraith lad, lend a hand to help us out." + +Looking down in surprise we discovered that we were on the very edge of +what in the darkness appeared a vast chasm, the depths of which we could +not penetrate. Instinctively I recoiled from my close proximity; but +the next moment drew near again, for it was from this pit that Jack +Thompson's voice had proceeded. + +"Jack!" I called down; "is it deep? I can't see you; are you hurt, or +can you reach me your hand?" + +"I have fallen on my wounded arm and the pain's awful," he responded; +then as if he had tried, he added, "no, I don't think you can reach me, +for it's precious deep. But can't you find some way to get me out of +this infernal place?" + +"What shall we do?" I asked, turning to Mr Ferguson, "how ever are we +to help him?" + +"The darkness may make him misjudge the depth," he replied. "Let us try +to reach the poor fellow." + +Lying flat on the ground, therefore, I bade him, if possible, seize my +hand, but soon found he was unable to do so--being remarkably short of +stature, besides which his falling on his wounded arm had rendered him +faint and unfit for exertion. + +"It is useless," said Mr Ferguson, after he also had tried. "One of us +must go to the bush, and get some baboon ropes." + +I was on my feet in an instant, but the next moment's reflection made me +say-- + +"That plan would be useless, sir, for in this vast plain, even if I got +the ropes, how could I find you again in the darkness, and to call for +directions would undoubtedly bring the Kaffirs upon us." + +"True; you ever have your wits about you, Galbraith, but what are we to +do?" + +"Why the moon will be up in less than half an hour, and whatever the +danger, we must wait till then." + +Having told Jack what we were compelled to do, and bidding him rest +assured we would not leave him, we took our places at the pit's mouth to +wait. We did not speak for we had no heart to. Even at the very +moment, the vast plain was perhaps peopled with beasts in search of +prey, which each instant they might find in our vicinity. The brave man +may face a danger, however terrible, without the quiver of a nerve when +he _does_ face it; but it would require the bravest, if indeed, the one +ever did exist, who could sit calmly in the midst of a strange country, +which he knows to be inhabited by Kaffirs, lions and tigers, and feels +that any moment the spear of the one, or the fangs of the other might be +quivering in his flesh, without his being able to raise a hand in +self-defence. I own, for my part it was a time of terror, and my blood +even now runs chill in my veins when I recall the sensations I then +experienced. + +Once, Jack broke the silence in a rather loud whisper, saying,-- + +"I say, Dick Galbraith, old fellow just ask the minister to take a peep +at that book-larning he carries in his head, and see if he can't tell me +why this cussed hole was made--if its natur or Kaffir architecture." + +"I believe, my friend," answered the minister, "that you have fallen +into a pit, dug by its depth, to catch giraffes. Ah! by the way, tell +me, is there not a bank of earth left in the centre?" + +"Yes," answered Thompson, "that there is; and but for my arm, I'd climb +it and be out in a jiffy, but this here member burns--saving your +presence, Mr Ferguson--like blazes, and won't move no how." + +While he was talking, an idea occurred to me, and I said,-- + +"If it be as Jack says, about that bank of earth, the mouth of the hole +not being very large, for I have walked round it, do you not think by my +getting down, I might help Thompson up?" + +"That is very possible, but you being the strongest, Galbraith I think +had better remain here, so that when I hoist him on to the point of +earth, you can pull him out." + +"And you?" I said. + +"Can afterwards very easily climb out with your aid. What a pity we did +not think of this before. What time it might have saved. See yonder, +in the sky is already the reflection of the moon." + +I could have said that I was not aware as to the kind of pit-fall it +was, but only remarked-- + +"Never mind, Sir, let us set to work as quickly as we can now." + +Whereupon he, warning Jack of his coming, lowered himself into the pit, +and dropped. + +I waited impatiently, and so occupied were we all with our work that I +did not perceive that the moon, rising higher and higher, was disclosing +the outline of many dusky forms which were hovering about me. It was +just as Mr Ferguson exclaimed, "Now Galbraith, he is getting on my +shoulders, be ready to seize him," that there echoed in my ears a yell +as if arising from the throats of a myriad of fiends. I sprang to my +feet, and gazed around. + +The moon was up--from it a ray of broad silver light fell over the +plain, disclosing to my terrified glance the black forms of some thirty +to fifty Kaffirs ranged in a circle about the pit's mouth, all in +defiant attitudes, their spears upraised. My wisest plan would have +been, I know, to have thrown myself on the ground, and let them come up +quietly, but in my surprise I made a few steps backward, hastily +whispering to the others to keep still, as any efforts they could make +would be useless against such numbers. The action was a foolish one, +and might have proved my death-warrant, for the next instant a cloud of +spears whistled around me, one of which, piercing my arm, brought me to +the ground. At this, with renewed yells of triumph, the Kaffirs came +rushing and capering, jabbering and leaping like fiends incarnate, as if +with the intention to tear my wretched body limb from limb; their eyes, +their teeth gleamed down upon me, and with the belief that my last hour +had indeed come, I fainted. + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +METILULU--I HAVE FAINT HOPES. + +I could not have remained unconscious long, indeed it seemed but a +moment's space, when I was brought to by the excruciating pain caused by +the no gentle withdrawal of the spear or assagai, as I found it was +called, out of my arm. But the "moment's space" had been sufficient for +them to bind my hands firmly with a strip of hide behind my back. With +as little ceremony as gentleness they pulled me to my feet, when weak +and giddy, for the blood was flowing fast from my shoulder, I examined +my captors. + +They were of the true Kaffir type--tall, well-made, noble and graceful +in their bearing, patterns of manly beauty, save the face, and even here +the features were far superior to most of the African dark-skinned +tribes; the cheek bones were not prominent, the lips were not of the +negro class, though thicker than the European. Quickly I took this +inventory of my captors, and also perceived that my being a white man +had created no little surprise among them--they talked and jabbered +together, ever glancing at me, then turning began to march forward, +myself in the midst. + +What Mr Ferguson and Jack were doing I could not tell. I certainly +could not see them, and therefore hoped, by keeping quiet in the pit, +that they had escaped detection. I did not for an instant blame them +for not having endeavoured to rescue me, for what could they have done +without arms and pitted against fifteen times their numbers. It would +have led to the massacre of three instead of one--and one, I felt +certain, unless Providence again aided me, it would be. + +Rapidly we moved along towards the hill, too rapidly for my strength. I +reeled and stumbled as I went, my pain added to by the tightness of the +hide about my wrists. Each moment I felt that I should fall, for the +loss of blood was growing serious, when a Kaffir, evidently one in +authority, who was walking by my side, seemed to become aware of my +situation, for he spoke to another, who gliding swiftly off returned in +a few moments bringing the leaves of some plant, cool and fresh, which +the one who had sent him bound round my arm. After this we went on +again, I striving to look my gratitude, hoping in my heart that the +tribe into whose power I had fallen was of those friendly ones of whom +Mr Ferguson had spoken. + +On reaching the crest of the hill, which I had been looking forward to +with some curiosity, I perceived in the centre of a plain similar to the +one we had just quitted, the kraal, or home of the Kaffir, which I will +here describe according to how it appeared to me, only, to give +clearness to the description, using the native terms when necessary, +though I did not learn them till afterwards. + +The kraal then was made of two circular fences, the outer being about +half-a-mile or more in diameter, the other much smaller, and enclosing +what we should call a meadow, termed here the isibaya, in which are +carefully kept the cows, the pride of the Kaffir. Between these two +fences formed of poles, whose tops crossing make a protection like a +_cheveux-de-frise_ against an enemy, were numerous huts in the shape of +half a Dutch cheese, the flat part being placed on the ground. These +were composed of thatch lashed together with baboon ropes. In respect +to the shape of the huts, I may as well mention here, that the Kaffirs +build everything round, and have no idea of any other form. I have +heard it said in jest that a tailless cat _must_ walk in a circle--from +whatever point they start from, they _must_ return to the same. So it +appears with the natives of Caffraria, for however the women, who are +the chief builders, begin, they are sure to bring the construction +finally to a circle. + +Near the kraal a little on the outside grew a peculiar tree called the +_Euphorbia_, which grows to forty feet high, is entirely leafless, +prickly, and branches out like a candelabrum; its juice is extremely +acrid and poisonous, indeed the tree is of the same species as the wart +weed which grows, where weeds are permitted, in English gardens. + +As we approached, my guards uttered a peculiar cry, upon which the +kraal, a moment before lying so still and peaceful in the clear +moonlight, became animated with numberless black figures, like a swarm +of bees. Breaking into a quicker step, we soon reached the small +aperture leading into the huts, and were instantly surrounded by a crowd +of Kaffirs dressed similarly to those I had already seen, that is, with +ropes of hides and beads coiled round their waists; the aprons of strips +of fur or animals' tails hanging in front and behind, and bracelets and +anklets of hide, string, or bone round their wrists and legs. Each also +bore an assagai and shield, giving them a most formidable appearance, as +with much gesticulation they stared at me. + +A consultation seemed to be taking place between the head men, during +which the women and children, who also had turned out, took their full +share of inspection, so I, having nothing better to do, returned the +scrutiny, and speedily came to the opinion that, however well the men +might be made, the women when passed maidenhood were positively +disgustingly hideous. + +The girls' attire was little more than the men--when women or married +they, on special occasions, wear a petticoat of some material, reaching +to the knee, now this was absent--while their rough woolly hair was +ornamented with bones, beads, and the spines of the white thorn. As for +the children, they were as devoid of clothes as when they were born. + +I had scarcely taken all this in, when a young Kaffir, whom I had seen +sent away, returned; and no sooner had he delivered his message, than +about half-a-dozen of my guards surrounding me, began to move on, the +crowd falling back, yet still following and chattering like so many +monkeys. + +Proceeding nearly half round the kraal, we came to a hut of much larger +dimensions than the others, while I observed on the thatch the skulls of +several oxen to be fastened. The entrance was so low that I had to pass +through on my hands and knees, preceded and followed by my guards. The +first thing that struck me on putting my head in, was the exceedingly +disgusting odour of the interior, most repulsive to the sensitive organs +of the European. + +The anxiety respecting my position, however, made me pay little heed to +this; but rising to my feet I gazed round with some curiosity. + +The interior walls were composed of hardened mud, the roof being +supported by pillars, covered, to my surprise, by beads, and from which +were hung shields, assagais, and gourds; while bunches of maize, much +blackened by soot, were suspended from the roof. Around the sides of +the hut were ranged rudely-made baskets, pitchers, and other culinary +utensils, and on the floor, flattened to a perfect evenness and polish, +were several sleeping-mats, constructed from animals' skins. + +On one of the latter, I was not surprised to see the fat Kaffir who had +been present at the dance, and thinking it as well to be polite--even +should they not understand the European fashion of being so--I made a +most profound obeisance. + +The chief having looked fixedly at me, addressed my guards who, I could +tell by their manner and actions, were explaining how I had fallen into +their hands. This coming to an end, with some dignity and much +importance he spoke to me, whereupon, shaking my head, I gave him to +understand that his language was unknown to me. Metilulu, for that I +afterwards learned was his name, then gave an order to one of the +attendants, who, quitting the hut, speedily returned with a young, +rather good-looking Kaffir, possessing a figure like the marble statues +I had seen in other lands and my own. He was indeed splendid, and I was +admiringly examining this fine specimen of humanity, when I was startled +by hearing myself addressed in my own tongue, though the pronunciation +was queer. I found it was the young Kaffir who thus spoke. He stood +between the chief and me, and said-- + +"The mighty Elephant, the pride of his tribe, says, are you European?" + +"I am," I answered, no little pleased to think that I could explain my +position, and perhaps win their commiseration. "I am a shipwrecked +sailor, who was cast on your land the evening before last." + +"You are not Boer?--you are not spy?" he continued suspiciously, after +repeating my words to the chief. + +I speedily answered no, to this dangerous accusation, and pointing to my +tattered clothes explained how the sea had torn me and them. Then I +begged him to tell the great chief how I threw myself upon his mercy and +hospitality trusting that he would not treat as an enemy a poor +shipwrecked mariner such as I, who really was not one; and that could he +pass me over to an European settlement, I should be sincerely grateful; +but if he kept me prisoner, he must--I would bow to his decree, yet I +hoped he, so brave a warrior, would not think it necessary to take my +life, as my coming on the coast was, no fault of mine, neither was it to +do him wrong. + +I made my words and manner as eloquent as I could, and fancied even +before my speech was interpreted to him that I had made an effect. + +With much anxiety I listened for the reply. It came-- + +"The Great Elephant says he cannot send you to a settlement. They are +far distance with much bush, much danger between--you must remain his +prisoner. If you are peaceful, in his great mercy, he gives you your +life; if not, you must die." + +Upon this I knelt and bowed low in token of gratitude, then awaited what +was to come next, which was that the following day the chief and his +councillors would hear me give an account of the land I had come from, +meanwhile, my place must be with the "boys," who should be ordered not +to ill-treat me, but who also should receive positive commands to pierce +me with their assagais the instant I showed the least intention of +escaping. Again I made my obeisance, and rising, prepared to take my +leave with my guards. I once had it on my lips to mention the close +proximity of my companions, yet, on second thoughts I remained silent, +for despite my present good luck, I felt certain that the least thing +might prove my death-warrant with the great chief, such as a raid of the +Dutch Boers, of whom by their desire to know if I were a spy of theirs, +and the frequent repetition of the name, I fancied they stood in no +small dread. + +Therefore I held my tongue, as I certainly did not feel very easy in my +mind in regard to my ultimate fate. + +The "boys" I found to be, not boys in years, but the unmarried men of +the tribe, who had separate huts to themselves. Conducted by my guards +into one of these, I was instantly surrounded by the "boys" who never +seemed as if they could look at me enough. The inspection was anything +but pleasant; and seeing that the interpreter had accompanied us, I +ventured to say I was suffering both from hunger and thirst, whereupon I +had handed me some sour clotted milk, termed amasi, some maize, and a +liquid which passes there for beer. Eagerly I drank the latter, then +having eaten the rest, hunger alone making it palatable, I took +possession of the mat allotted me, and feeling from the chief's words, +and curiosity to know more about me, that I should at any rate be safe +till the morning, soon fell into a sound sleep--as sound rather as the +pest of Kaffirland, the fleas which swarm there, would permit--in which +the staring "boys" about me, and my strange and perilous position were +forgotten in dreams of my pleasant Cornish home among the rocks, and of +Katie and my children. + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHIEF--THINGS LOOK BRIGHTER. + +I awoke early next morning, earlier even than my companions, who laid +slumbering on their mats, or beds made of stems of grass lashed +together. So having nothing better to do, I began to inspect them as +they had inspected me, and could not help again admiring the perfect +symmetry of their dark forms, accompanied by the easy grace attendant +upon every movement of limbs which had never been confined or crippled +by clothing. + +I have called them, and till that moment believed them to be of negro +blackness, but I now discovered my error--dark almost to black they +were, but through the skin showed the red blood, giving a peculiar tint, +and anything but an unpleasing appearance; it was, however, rather +spoilt in my opinion by the excessive quantity of grease it is the +custom in Caffraria to rub into the skin, till they shine like a +gentleman's patent leather boot. But on this point, as on many others, +Europeans and Kaffirs differ, for the latter, either male or female, +regard full dress to be the having the body resplendent with grease, +which mode of "dressing" produces, as may be imagined, an exceedingly +disagreeable odour in the close confined spaces of the huts, the only +opening being the low entrance; though in this, as in everything else, +there are few things but have their use--for the oiling the bodies is +absolutely compulsory to prevent the skin cracking under the rays of the +scorching sun. + +It was with some little reasoning as to the wherefore that I noticed +that though all were similarly attired in respect to anklets, bracelets, +and aprons, some wore their black woolly hair in its natural state, +while others were shaved entirely, save a ring of matted hair on the top +of their heads. This I learned on after enquiry was called the +issikoko, or head-ring, an adornment much esteemed and venerated by the +wearer, as it proves his social position in his tribe. Before a "boy" +can wear it he has to obtain the permission of his chief; this being +obtained, the ceremony commences. An oval ring is made of some kind of +sinews, which is fitted on the head, and the hair about it rolled round, +being kept thus by the aid of grease and gum, which so mats it together +that it is capable of bearing a polish. Then the hair dresser takes the +keen edge of the assagai and shaves off all the remaining hair, leaving +only the issikoko; upon which the wearer is made a happy man, it being, +according to the Kaffir mind, the greatest ornament he could possess, +and a warrior would sooner lose his life than his head-ring. It also +has its uses, for on occasions of ceremony or war expeditions it forms +an excellent place to stick in the feathers which a Kaffir is always +profuse in using for his head-gear, especially those of the peacock when +they can be procured. Besides this, in domestic life the issikoko +always holds the wearer's snuff spoon, of which I shall speak further +on. + +I had barely ended my inspection, and was beginning to think with some +anxiety of what the day would bring forth, when my companions awoke, +and, having no clothes to put on, were not long over their toilet, so +were quickly ready for the first meal, that consisted of amasi and maize +made into a kind of porridge. + +This repast made me acquainted with another Kaffir custom, and not a +pleasant one. + +The large pot containing the porridge is placed in the centre, the +partakers sitting round it, when, to prevent one getting more than +another, they _all use the same spoon_; thus the first plunges it into +the porridge, brings it out as full as it can be, gulps down the +contents, then passes the spoon to his neighbour. + +As I had from a child adapted myself to the rocks, to the sunshine, to +the ocean and to its storms, so did I try to do with these people among +whom fate had cast me, and sitting on the floor making one of the circle +I so strove to imitate them, that I soon might have passed for a Kaffir +myself, save for the colour of my skin and dress. + +The sour amasi--the natives never use fresh milk, calling it +indigestible--was at first anything but pleasant; but I determined to +make as good a meal as I could, not knowing when I might get another. + +Scarcely had I finished when two or three, evidently Kaffirs of +distinction, appeared, and notified by signs that I was to follow them. +I immediately did so, and crawling out of the hut was again conducted to +the chief Metilulu's presence. + +This time, however, the interview was not to take place in the hut, but +an open space, where I found him seated, surrounded by his councillors, +and with the rough jug containing the beloved joila, Kaffir beer, by his +side. Indeed, it seemed to me that he never moved without it, and so it +proved, eating and drinking being the prerogatives of a Kaffir chief. +Thus they alone of the race are fat. + +Metilulu's dress was also different. No doubt he wished to awe me with +his appearance. On his head, stuck into the issikoko, were numerous +feathers of brilliant hues, some long and erect, others drooping by the +side of his dusky face. Fastened round his throat, so as to fall on his +chest, were the tails of wild animals, as the leopard; from his waist +fell others to the knee, so thickly as to answer the purpose of the +Kaffir apron, while hanging from the elbow and the calf of the leg was +the long white silky hair of some kind of goat, finally, a kaross or +cloak of splendid fur fell from his shoulders. + +In his hand he carried an assagai, while a young Kaffir standing a +little behind, held his high oval shield. The councillors' costumes +were something similar, though their head-dresses were rather eccentric, +and they did not possess so many tails, which can only be procured by +killing the animals to whom they belong, and the Kaffir who does _that_, +will seldom be found to part with this trophy of his courage. + +Being led up to Metilulu, I was told through the interpreter to sit +down, upon doing which I was ordered to begin my description of my +native land. They had heard of it--a country over there--pointing +northward; but they would hear more. + +I instantly complied, and gave a glowing account of the power of +England, her wealth, and customs. To all, the chief and his councillors +listened with the greatest attention, and the only time he expressed +incredulity was on my mentioning it to be governed by a Queen. + +"A woman!" he ejaculated, "impossible." + +I assured him it was not so: that four queens had ruled England at +different periods. + +"If so," he rejoined, of course through the interpreter, "how would you +have me believe the nation brave and warlike who could be governed by a +woman?" + +Such a speech was not surprising, when it is remembered that the Kaffir +regards himself as a very superior being to a woman, whom, though termed +wife, he knows only as a servant to fulfil his behests, and wait upon +him in all minor offices. The only things a Kaffir does being to attend +to his beloved cows, which often he values far more highly than his +wives,--for polygamy is practised in Caffraria--to hunt, to smoke, and +to sleep. + +In conclusion, I begged him not to regard me as an enemy, assuring him +if he were ever to visit my land that he would be treated as the great +man he was; therefore though only a poor sailor, I hoped he would not +hold me as a prisoner, but let me learn the habits and manners of his +people, in which I took much interest. + +I put this half authoritatively as became a native of the great country +I had been describing, and half with suitable reverence for the +mightiness of him I was addressing. + +For some little while he talked with his councillors, and by the +constant repetition of the word "Molonga," which I had discovered to +mean "white man," I knew it was about myself. Then through the +interpreter, he again addressed me, his speech signifying that lately +they had been much troubled by attacks upon their cattle by the Boers, +and had at first taken me for a spy of theirs; but if my words were true +I should be at liberty to go where I liked about the kraal, during his +chiefship's pleasure, and that all they could show me they would; yet +should I prove an enemy a thousand assagais should pierce my body +through and through. He ended with a request to know if I had saved +anything from the wreck. + +I answered I had nothing but the few rags of clothes that covered me, +whereupon I saw his little bead-like eyes fasten on my shirt front with +a most unmistakeable expression. Glancing down in the same direction, I +perceived it was the large pearl buttons which had attracted his notice; +and having heard something of the cupidity of these tribes for such +articles, I instantly plucked them off--no difficult matter--and with +those at the wrists, presented them to him, saying I had nothing worthy +his acceptance, nor to show the great gratitude I felt for his kind +behaviour to me, than those. + +With a pleased smile he took them, evidently much delighted, then +plucking a string or fibre from some part of his dress, he strung the +buttons upon it and suspended them round his neck. So proud was the +little chief of this new ornament, that I am sure he held his head an +inch higher for a good while after. + +Then the interview broke up, and I returned to the "boys'" hut to +partake of some of the game caught the evening before, now rather high. +I was attended by the interpreter by Metilulu's express orders, and he +informed me that an elephant hunt was to take place that afternoon, they +having tracked a splendid one, at which the chief had given permission +for me to attend if I chose. It may be imagined that I did choose. +Indeed, I was beginning to feel very anxious about my two companions; my +position was looking brighter; and I hoped, if they had not escaped and +were now upon some eligible point of land from whence they might signal +a passing ship, that I might come across them, and, if they liked, +introduce them to Metilulu and Kaffir life. + +On entering the hut dinner was ready, to which I was invited, and found +the repast no unsavoury one. When it was concluded I strolled out to +wait for the hunt to start, too accustomed now to care for the +observation I created. During my wandering I came across a rather +amusing little scene to an European. + +My approach concealed by a hut, it was as I glanced round it to windward +that I was a witness of the following custom:--Leaning against the side, +my white face concealed by the skull of a cow fixed on the thatch--stay, +before going further, let me for a moment digress, and explain why these +skulls, to which I have twice referred, are here. I have already +remarked upon the great love of the Kaffir for his cows. All his +ambition is to possess them; dreadful frays take place because of them; +and stealing, or, as the Scotch term it, "cattle lifting," is very +prevalent; yet at some ceremonies, or when vanity, which exists in these +uncivilised regions as elsewhere, steps in, the owner of the kine will +kill a cow to entertain his friends; but to show that he did once +possess, and was rich enough to spare it, he keeps the skull to place +upon the thatch of his hut. Thus the residence of a chief, who is rich +in cattle, has often several of these--I must say hideous adornments. +But to go back to what I saw. + +I had observed two Kaffirs advancing, and had drawn back, not anxious to +meet them, when abruptly they came to a halt, and with all the gravity +imaginable squatted on the ground. I was turning away, thinking I might +disturb some private conference, when I perceived--for I was on the +watch for everything peculiar--one of the Kaffirs take from his ear a +kind of little bottle, and from his issikoko an ivory spoon with a round +bowl. This he filled completely with snuff from the bottle, and +afterwards passed it to the other, turning his head away, according to +Kaffir etiquette, so that he might not appear to watch the quantity +taken. His companion--not sufficiently rich, I suppose, to own a +spoon--poured some on the palm of his hand, which he worked to a conical +shape to fit the nostril, whereupon the two inhaled the luxury without +losing a grain; which no sooner had they done than, not to my surprise, +considering the enormous heap of the pungent powder they had taken, +large tears began to roll down their cheeks. But this was not all. As +their eyes overflowed, with their thumb-nails the Kaffirs made a channel +down each cheek for the water to have free course to the corners of +their mouths, and there they sat in solemn state, enjoying, as they +really do, their snuff. + +The sight, however, was so ludicrous to my English notions, that I had +to beat a rapid retreat, lest by a burst of uncontrollable laughter I +might betray my presence. I hurried round the other side of the hut, +and came full upon the interpreter, who announced that the hunting party +was prepared to start. + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +A VISIT TO THE CATTLE--A KOODOO HUNT--MY POSITION IS RATHER IMPROVED. + +The interpreter, had been coming in search of me, and I was no little +pleased to meet him, for we got on very well together. Whether +Tugela's--that being his name--stay in the colonies had given him a +liking for white men, or he desired to practice the language, I cannot +tell, but certainly he was unremitting in his attentions, and I have to +confess that I should never have witnessed many of the curious customs +of Caffraria which I have now the pleasure of relating but for his kind +aid; as a proof of this even at the present moment the young fellow had +sought me out, that I might be a witness to the peculiar and cruel--but +of the latter the Kaffir thinks little, being apparently incapable of +understanding the suffering of others--practice of training the horns of +the cattle. + +In Tugela's company, therefore, leaving the snuff-takers to enjoy the +powder to their hearts' content, or rather _boxes' contents_, we +proceeded to the isibaya, or enclosure, within the kraal. The place was +full of the beloved oxen. The affection experienced for them, however, +as I before remarked, does not keep the poor animals from being cruelly +tortured, as I speedily found, when, from an advantageous position, I +beheld the following scene. + +The place was full of cattle, and I had the opportunity of noticing the +peculiarities of these animals. Smaller than ours, their horns take the +most eccentric shapes, some being bent downwards, curving back even to +the head again; others curled outwards, while some of the cattle +appeared to possess four, nay, eight horns. + +I might, and no doubt should, have thought this a natural production, +had I not witnessed the following. Those creatures which I have +mentioned were browsing at pleasure, but a large number of calves were +collected together, surrounded by "boys" and men; these were armed with +knives and roughly made saws, with which, to my astonishment, they were +cutting and sawing the horns, tender and soft as yet, owing to the age +of the miserable animals. I could not help showing my surprise, and +questioning Tugela upon it. He smiled, perhaps at my bad taste in not +admiring the appearance it produced, and most decidedly laughed at my +commiseration of the pain the poor brutes must suffer, he, like all the +Kaffirs, appearing to think nothing of this. "See," he said, directing +my attention to one group, where a Kaffir was holding the nose of a +calf, while another with a saw was sawing a cross on the top of the +sprouting horns, "now, when they grow there will be four of them at each +side of the head, instead of one." + +The Kaffir belief of the beauty this training gave to the animal was +certainly not mine; and, seizing an opportunity, I strolled off to the +other side of the isibaya. But, it seemed, I had got from the +frying-pan into the fire; for, to my horror, I came upon a group of +natives literally catting strips of hide from the face and neck of the +wretched oxen, so as to hang down before them, bleeding now, but which I +learned would, when dry, become a fringe, enhancing, according to their +idea, the animal's charms. I have no doubt my young readers will find +it difficult to credit this barbarous custom, as in their case, so +perhaps should I, had I not really witnessed it. As a mother takes +pleasure in decking out her baby with gay ribbons and fine laces, so +does the Kaffir cut the horns into eccentric shapes, and strip portions +from the hide and dewlap of the animal, both from very love of the +recipient. + +I must admit, though not a member of that truly excellent Society for +the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, that I grew rather sick at the +sight, and was not sorry to see Tugela coming towards me--evidently, +from the expression of his features, the bearer of some intelligence. + +"Something else to see, perhaps," I thought; "I trust it will be of a +more amusing character than this." + +To my joy it proved so, for he came to announce that the hunters were +ready to start for the chase. This assuredly being more to my taste, I +gladly quitted the isibaya, and, passing from the outer enclosure, found +myself in the midst of a large number of Kaffirs, waiting with +everything prepared. From the animation of their faces, especially the +excited expression of the "boys," it was very evident that with the +strange race I was among, the chase was a particular feature of delight. + +Their dress, if I may be permitted the term, was not in any way +increased; and as I marked the free, easy, graceful manner, in which +they moved, and how impervious their dark, shiny bodies were to the +scorching sun, that was beginning to make even my bronzed countenance +peel, I could not but, in the secret recesses of my heart, envy them. +In respect to my face, however, Tugela speedily gave me relief by +daubing it over with rancid fat. The operation was slightly disgusting +at first to my European ideas, but this rapidly succumbed under the ease +it occasioned me, and I soon found that to the skin, especially of the +white man, this grease is absolutely necessary. + +Three or four elder Kaffirs who, by the respect paid them, and a slight +difference in the adornment of their issikoko, I divined were personages +of importance--no doubt renowned hunters--took the lead; and owing to +the chief's permission, I being permitted to accompany them, we set out. + +It was not to be an elephant hunt, it appeared, after all, that having +been deferred for a day or two, as the chief had expressed his intention +to be present at the killing of that animal himself; therefore a koodoo +hunt had been substituted in its place. I have called it a hunt, but I +might rather use the word "battue," as will be seen, when I proceed with +my recital. + +Together we proceeded through the bush, and more splendid scenery it has +never been my lot to look upon. Mountains rose afar, crowned with +strange foliaged trees, while the land extended before us, undulating +like billows, and covered by the brightest, greenest of vegetation. +These undulations, however, on a nearer approach I found to consist of +vast clefts, or ravines in the earth--called there, kloofs, through some +of which silver streams flowed, while their rough, rugged sides, +composed of masses of rock, trees, and bushes, interlaced together by a +profusion of brilliant and luxuriant parasites, formed the safe home of +numerous beasts of prey which are natives of Africa. We had proceeded +some distance without anything worthy of mention having taken place, +save that I now and then came across relations of my first Kaffir friend +who had served me for a supper--the hyrat--and also a peculiar animal, +at least, in my eyes, called the meerkat, a long-bodied thing with small +ears, a pointed muzzle, long, tail and thin feet armed with claws. I +enquired of Tugela respecting it; for I thought if I ever got back to +dear old England again, that I should like to have as much to tell as +possible. I could learn, however, little of its habits, more than that +its fur was considered valuable owing to its tenacity of life, which +renders it difficult to be captured. + +After we had gone on for some time, we came to a halt, and I perceived +the elder hunters were giving orders, which I saw, through their being +obeyed, was that we should separate, for they divided immediately into +parties. + +The party I was among instantly set off to one of the kloofs which I +have mentioned, where, separating again, the Kaffirs concealed +themselves, with their assagais and knob-kerries ready to hand, behind +the bushes and rocks. The other party, it appeared, had by a long +detour encircled a whole herd of koodoos, elands, and others--all of the +antelope species. + +These animals are remarkably quick of scent--though, by the way, it does +not require much sensitiveness on that head to detect a Kaffir-- +therefore the hunters wisely kept to the windward till they had the herd +between themselves and the kloof; then suddenly they showed them to the +browsing animals, which immediately fled from their pursuers in the +direction of the ravine. As they would at times swerve from the right +path, concealed Kaffirs started up, and with shouts headed them back. +Apparently one path alone was left free to them, and on they sped till, +with terrified yet graceful bounds, the poor creatures rushed into the +kloof, apparently their only hope of safety. + +Then truly an exciting scene commenced; from every rock, from every bush +there seemed, to spring the dusky form of a Kaffir, his shield and +assagais in his left hand, and his right armed with one of the spears, +which he generally sent with unerring aim at the flying antelopes. + +By much persuasion, I fancy, and with a great deal of doubt on the +Kaffir's part, Tugela had procured me a shield and a few assagais; +therefore though, when I had seen the graceful animals being driven on +to their death, I had felt some pity, I must confess it vanished under +the excitement of the occasion, and, from my ambush, I, with as good an +aim as my bad knowledge and want of skill permitted, cast my weapons +also into the terrified herd. + +Many fell in the death agonies; but the others, with the speed of light, +dashed on to the other end of the ravine; hope, life seemed to be there +for them. But not so--again they were doomed to disappointment. +Suddenly an array of black figures starting up, barred their exit with +assagais. Most of them fled wildly back again, while some, with a +reckless bravery produced by fright, broke through the hunters' ranks, +and, gaining the open plain, escaped,--at which my heart felt a +sensation of pleasure; for enough is as good as a feast, all the world +over, and surely there were sufficient of the poor creatures left to +glut the appetite of even a Kaffir. + +It was indeed a most animating scene. The gloomy kloof, with its +tropical vegetation--the dazzlingly blue sky, and intense sun +overhead,--the sides of the ravine presenting, at every available point, +the lithe form of the Kaffir, while beneath dashed the terror-stricken +animals, or rolled here and there in the pangs of death. It was a +magnificent battue I must own. During it I quite forgot my own +uncertain position, and the fact that, in reality, I was as much in the +power of the men about me as were the poor koodoos at my feet. + +Now, after a brief space, the hunt terminated, and all quitted their +places to collect the game and dine. The koodoo is much prized by the +Kaffir, owing to the good flavour and tenderness of its flesh; and soon +one was prepared for our eating. Utensils had been brought with the +party, and, a fire being made, the meat was cast into a pot over it. +Usually the Kaffir lets it boil till it's in rags; but now, before it +was half-done, it was out again, and being eagerly devoured by the +hungry hunters, your humble servant fully doing his part. One thing, +however, much disgusted me. On the death of the koodoo they broke the +leg-bones, and ate the marrow warm, but not with cooking, for that is a +preliminary which they entirely dispense with in enjoying this luxury. + +After we had regaled ourselves to our hearts' content, and I had learned +through Tugela that my conduct during the day had much surprised and +pleased my companions, who predicted I might become a good hunter, we +prepared to return to the kraal. The "boys" loaded themselves with the +game, and we marched home. Home! I use the word now from habit, yet +how sadly it sounded to me then. Truly, though no hostility had been +shown to me by the natives, but, on the contrary, rather a friendliness, +so that I felt I had no need to fear respecting my safety; still the +mind of the Englishman, be he in whatever spot of this sphere he may, +when he speaks of home, will revert to the well-known pleasant +chimney-nook and the well-beloved faces of his dear native land. + +The sun--ah, and what a sun!--was setting as we came in sight of the +kraal, most of the inhabitants of which flocked out to meet us; for our +load promised food in galore for the morrow. + +Abruptly, however, the groups divided, and Metilulu issued forth, +attended by his councillors and joila or beer. Upon his appearance we +came to a halt on the plain till he had seated himself, when, all the +slaughtered animals having been laid before him, the dance began, which +I and my poor companions--how I longed to know what had become of them-- +had witnessed from the bush. While this ceremony took place, some young +boys laid across the game to prevent their being attacked by evil +spirits. After this was over, I became aware that my behaviour during +the hunt had been communicated to the chief, and had met with his +approbation. In Kaffir language he highly complimented me, and I in +English responded in equally flowery terms respecting his nobleness, his +kindness, and hospitality. + +I uttered all my palaver, as we would say on board ship, with little +thought of its after consequences. Indeed I did not know the good the +gods had in store for me, or to what the approbation of the chief would +lead. I soon found out, however; for when, wearied in every limb, we +returned to the kraal, and I took leave of the mighty Eagle Metilulu, +Tugela conducted me to a different and smaller hut than the one I had +slept in on the previous night with the "boys." This he gave me to +understand for the future entirely belonged to me, with, thank Heaven! +no Kaffir to share it. + +Thanking my companion, and begging him to carry my acknowledgments to +his chief for this great favour, I, with more comfort than I had felt on +the previous night, and breathing a far purer atmosphere, placed the +wicker-door over the entrance of the hut; then unrolling my +sleeping-mat, and using my arm as a pillow (not yet being able to manage +the native wooden ones), I, despite the insects, was soon wrapped in a +sound, refreshing sleep. + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +A KAFFIR WEDDING--THE CHIEF METILULU MAKES ME A PRESENT, WHICH I REFUSE. + +The unusual exertions of the previous day had so much fatigued me, that +I did not awaken till my hut was invaded by a Kaffir, bearing a portion +of the game we had killed at the kloof, ready cooked, for my breakfast. +This was an additional proof of the chief's hospitality and friendliness +towards me; and I knew from it that, if I chose to conduct myself +honourably towards them, they would do their best in their way to make +me comfortable. Before I quitted the kraal, however, I was destined to +learn what a little may change a Kaffir's feelings; but at the time of +which I now write I was quite ignorant of the power of witch-doctors, +droughts, rain-makers, etc, so felt most easy in my mind respecting my +position. + +Having rolled up my bed, or mat, as I had seen the "boys" do, I took my +breakfast near to the door; for though no native had slept there, yet +the atmosphere was most close and oppressive. + +It was a beautiful morning, and, as I regaled myself upon the portion of +koodoo allotted to my share, I could not help recalling my own dear, +simple, quiet, little nook of a home in Devonshire, and comparing it to +the strange, wild African scenery and people about me. My appearance +had now grown too familiar to the Kaffirs to be much remarked, so as I +sat they continued their occupations without heeding me. + +The time seemed to be that of milking, for several cows stood within a +short distance, going through that operation. Most took it kindly +enough; but one or two, like our own brindles, which kick over Sukey's +pail, were extremely restive, and no doubt would have given much trouble +but for the method their masters had of quieting them. A stick placed +through the animals' nostrils was held at each end by a man, who, on the +slightest show of temper on the creatures' part, turned it sharply, thus +occasioning considerable pain, to avoid which the cow wisely lets +herself be milked in peace. The milker sits on his haunches, his knees +up to his chin, and the roughly-constructed narrow jar pressed between +them. + +To an European taste the pure warm fluid would have been thought a +refreshing morning draught; but the Kaffir never takes it fresh, +regarding it as indigestible. The new milk is poured into large jars +where, perhaps, some sour milk still remains; there it is left to +ferment, when the thick part separates from the whey, and is highly +prized by the natives under the name of amasi, a species of clotted +cream. + +My meal being finished, I amused myself by watching a party of women, +all similarly attired--that is, with the short skirt, reaching from the +waist barely to the knee, and most with a child slung on their back, +proceeding with various implements of husbandry to the fields; for all +this kind of labour is performed by the females, who yet have to be home +in time to attend to their lord and master's meals; and woe betide them +if they are not ready, though, perhaps, the men have spent all the day +in idleness, smoking, or sleeping. No wonder the feminine portion of +these people grow absolutely haggish and hideous when but a few years +over twenty. + +I was surmising how my day would be passed, when I was rejoiced to see +Tugela approaching. Getting up, I went to meet him, and soon asked what +he could propose for me to do; for he and I had grown to be excellent +friends. + +He informed me that one of the head men was about to take a wife that +day, and, did I please, I might witness the ceremony. As I look with +much reverence upon that holy rite, I had a great curiosity to see how +it was conducted here; though from the specimen I had seen of the +married women, and the arduous life theirs was, I wondered to myself how +any Kaffir gentleman could find a lady to have him; but a girl in +Caffraria regards it as the greatest indignity conceivable to remain +single. + +It appeared, however, in the present case, that the bridegroom who was +to be, had really had some difficulty to obtain the lady's consent, +having been on view for approval, with doubtful success. + +This "view for approval" would rather astonish the young men of my land, +and is vastly different to their pleasant little manoeuvrings to get a +tete-a-tete with the dear one, so as to whisper in her ear their love, +and, perhaps, listen to her charming avowal, given with a rosy blush and +downcast eyes. + +Here in Kaffirland, the bridegroom that would be arrays himself in his +best, with leopard-tail isinene and umucha, or front and back aprons, +necklaces on his neck, bracelets on his arms, a multiplicity of feathers +in his head-ring, and then armed with his shield and assagais, his heart +palpitating, according to his confidence, respecting the success of his +visit, he repairs to his beloved one's home, and, sitting down among her +friends, explains his wishes, and enumerates how many cows and skins he +is willing to give for the lady of his choice. Should his offer suit +the parents, the girl is sent for, who, coming no farther than the door, +stares silently at her suitor. + +With the Kaffir about to be married, it seemed that, "when on view," the +lady, through a third party, as they do not address each other, had been +most arbitrary in her demands. First he had to stand up in that way, +then in this, after which he had to run and leap, to prove his merits; +whereupon the lady left as silently as she had come. Shortly after, +however, the parents brought the news to the delighted swain that he +might send home the cows, as the girl had consented. It was this +marriage which was to take place that day. + +What Tugela had recounted informed me of one thing of which I was not +previously aware, and certainly should not have imagined, from the +servile way women were treated--that is, that in Kaffirland, save on +rare occasions, the girls can select or reject a suitor as they please. + +On walking about the kraal, I soon found that an affair of more than +ordinary importance was going to take place, for all was bustle,-- +accounted for, perhaps, by the fact that at marriage feasts, when, as in +the present instance, the parties are rich, much beer is drunk and beef +is eaten. + +Telling Tugela that, if it were possible, I should like to see the whole +of the ceremony, he conducted me to a rising ground, where, hidden by +some cacti bushes, he informed me that I could easily watch the approach +of the bride; and I had not long ensconced myself behind the shrubs-- +seeking out as shady a spot as I could, for the sun burnt frightfully +through my tattered seaman's dress--when the murmur of voices informed +me of the lady's approach. Soon she appeared, led by two female +friends, and followed by her family and companions, all in the gayest +attire,--their woolly heads being decked with beads and porcupine +spines, or white thorns; while those who were rich enough had arms and +ankles covered with ornaments. The bride had evidently put on every +available ornament that she could obtain; and if the Kaffir girl is no +beauty, assuredly, when she is attired in the bridal costume which +denotes her position as a wife, she is, I may say, hideous. Her hair +had been all shaved off save one tuft at the top, which had been stuck +together, in an erect position, by some red clay or paint, while for the +apron of the virgin had been substituted the skirt of the matron. She +was guarded by all her male relations, also dressed in their best, and +armed with shields and assagais. + +Waiting till the procession had passed, I followed at a short distance +till near the husband's kraal, when the bride sat down on the outside, +while the giving over the cows, which constituted the marriage ceremony, +took place. First an ox, termed ukutu, was given to the bride's mother, +which was intended to be cooked for the wedding feast. After this the +male relatives proceeded with a slow, peculiar step, brandishing their +weapons and uttering a monotonous, droning chant, up to the husband's +hut, he being as yet inside, and demanded of him the "father's ox," +called umquoliswa. Upon, as a matter of form, his declaring that he had +none to give, the father stated his intention of taking the bride home; +to which the other made no reply till called upon to appear, when he did +so with a rush, as if desiring to escape from the kraal, but the egress +from which was instantly barred by the girls without, who, with much +laughter and many jests, kept him in. Whereupon he ordered the +umquoliswa to be brought, and, after it had been formally delivered over +to the father, the bride entered the kraal, and the dances commenced. + +I have already mentioned these dances as being most wild and grotesque. +First the husband and his friends began, while the others remained +seated; then _vice versa_--each casting their weapons and shields about +in the most reckless fashion, yet keeping time to the songs they sang, +during which beer was drunk _ad libitum_ by the lookers on. + +These dances were interspersed by harangues from the elder women and the +father of the bride, giving advice to the girl about to enter upon the +new life, and to the husband to treat her well and be kind; then +followed more dancing, when the last ceremony was performed. + +The bridegroom having seated himself on the ground, the bride, +accompanied by two companions, danced up to him, and began most +unceremoniously to kick the dust into his face, load him with abuse, and +disarrange his head-gear,--all of which, perhaps feeling how soon it +would be his turn to act the master in reality, he received with the +greatest good humour. + +Another ox was now brought forward, and presented by the bridegroom to +the girl. This was solemnly slaughtered; and this last ceremony, Tugela +told me, rendered the marriage complete, as, up to that time, either +party could have cried off had they felt disposed. All the rites, +therefore, being over, the feasting commenced, on the conclusion of +which I learned the husband was permitted to take his wife home. + +Having no desire to be more than a spectator, and being much oppressed +by the heat, I managed to return alone to my hut; for I saw Tugela, who +had come to me, was anxious to join the wedding party. When there, I +threw myself down on my mat, and soon fell fast asleep, and dreamed of +home and the dear ones it contained. + +I was just fancying I was once more among them, with my children about +my knees, and darling. Katie sitting by my side, her loving face either +smiling into mine, or looking up with pretty terror, as I recounted my +adventures and perils, when I awoke. The sun was sinking, and I had +been aroused by a shadow falling over the entrance to the hut. Starting +up, I found it was Tugela, who had come with a message from the chief; +and a most surprising one it was, as my readers may imagine. + +Metilulu had sent his compliments to the Englishman, and desired to say +that, as I now had a hut of my own, I must require some one to cook my +meals and attend to my wants; therefore he was condescending enough to +wish that I should take a wife. + +I regarded Tugela in horror; then concealing the feeling, which it might +be dangerous to display, I, as politely and respectfully as I could, +declined the offer, saying I was extremely conscious of, and grateful +for, the kind intentions of the great chief respecting my comfort, but +that I could cook meals and attend to my wants myself; for, being +already married in my own country, it was against the custom of white +men, as Tugela must know, to marry again. + +"Ah," he responded, "but the English wife is far away; she no good--she +no cook--she no work for you." + +"Yes she does; she cooks and works for my children, awaiting my return," +I answered, with a slight tremor in my voice. + +This reasoning seemed perfectly incomprehensible to Tugela; and I +thought, with some trepidation, that if it were so with him, who had +lived in white settlements, how might the chief Metilulu take my +rejection of his offer. + +"Tugela," I said, "you are aware that it is our custom, our religion, to +marry but one wife; therefore, I pray you, tell your chief how sincerely +I feel his kindness, but how impossible it is for me to obey." + +He promised to do so, but added, as if he thought, perhaps, the +information might make me change my mind, "The Great Eagle knows that +you are poor--that you have no cows to give--so says he will purchase +you a wife himself." + +This additional generosity quite overpowered me. Metilulu must be bent +upon the fulfilment of his desire indeed; nevertheless I could only +reiterate my thanks and refusal. + +So, finding me in this humour, Tugela left to bear my answer to the +chief, while I, extremely anxious as to the consequences, awaited the +result. + +A Kaffir wife! Oh, horror! Even if I had been a bachelor, and no dear +Katie was in the way, the thought would have been quite as revolting in +my idea. I felt that the comforts I thought I might expect during my +compulsory stay in Caffraria were growing beautifully less; indeed, that +at any moment, through such unforeseen causes as the present, the +chief's anger might be drawn upon me, to my ruin. So I inwardly +resolved, did any danger threaten, to try to escape, though I had again +to take to the bush. + +I did not then know half my trouble, and was ignorant that my +unfortunate self had, unknowingly, inspired with the soft passion the +heart of a young Kaffir girl. + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +MY ANXIETY IS CALMED FOR A WHILE--ILLNESS OF THE CHIEF'S WIFE--FINDING +THE WIZARD. + +I need scarcely say that I did not stir from my hut that evening, being +doubtful of doing so till I had ascertained how Metilulu had taken my +refusal of his liberal offer; for liberal it was, as any one who is +acquainted with the jealous love of the Kaffir for his cows would +confess. So endeared, indeed, are these animals to them, that, to take +one and place it in the midst of a strange herd, the owner can yet, +without a moment's hesitation, immediately select his own. Therefore, I +repeat, the chief's offer was generous, and consequently my refusal +would be the greater insult to his royal desire. I waited and waited +till the silver moon rose high; yet Tugela did not return. What was I +to think of it? I could but read trouble, and my mind grew restless +accordingly. As yet I had only witnessed the Kaffirs torture their +cattle; how might they torture their victims? I had read how some of +these wild tribes delighted in such things, and I shivered +involuntarily; but of one thing I was resolved, that I would be true to +Katie; and instinctively clutching an assagai, which had been left me, +no doubt, by accident, I prayed that, if the worst came, it might not be +considered a sin if I took, at one stroke, the life which, perhaps, +these men about me would extract by slow torture. + +So the time slipped away, and I was still engaged in painful thought, +when the stillness of the night was abruptly broken by a sudden turmoil. +Curiosity overcoming all other feeling, I crawled on hands and knees to +the entrance of the hut and looked out. To my surprise, I beheld the +young bride of that day's ceremony in the midst of some three or four, +other women much her elders, who, evidently uttering anything but +complimentary epithets, were pulling and molesting her in a most +extravagant manner, while she stood partly terrified and partly unable +to return the assault upon her. + +As an Englishman, I might have flown to the aid of the distressed; but I +was in a strange country, and certainly at that moment in an equivocal +position; therefore I felt I had much to learn of the customs of the +natives before interfering, especially as I observed several Kaffirs +placidly smoking at the entrance of their huts, and apparently enjoying +the scene. + +By their actions--for I could not understand a word of their language--I +guessed that the four elder females were the wives of the bridegroom, +and they had seized the first opportunity to show their jealousy of the +new addition to the family. + +The rage of the four assailants was increasing momentarily, and I began +to fear the consequences, when there was a cry of terror, a lull, then a +sudden skulking away of the group. A man--the bridegroom--had appeared +in the midst, grasping a stick, with which he liberally belaboured the +bare shoulders of his first wives, who, with affrighted cries, and amid +the laughter of the spectators, hurried off to their hut, while the +bridegroom followed at a more leisurely pace, accompanied by his new +bride. + +The event had made me for a while forget my own trouble; but when all +again had become still, it returned to my mind, and I became more uneasy +than ever at the delay. + +I soon, however, felt convinced that Tugela would not come that night, +for everything was growing quiet in the kraal, betokening rest. The +smokers had crawled into their dwellings, the Southern Cross gleamed +brightly overhead, and the stillness of nature was only broken by the +occasional low of the cattle or the roar of some wild beast in the +adjacent bush. So, stretching myself upon my mat, I tried to sleep by +banishing my own troubles from my mind, and employing my brain by +surmising what fate could have overtaken Jack Thompson and Mr Ferguson, +the missionary. By this means I at last fell into an uneasy slumber, +from which I did not awake till early morning, when my first thoughts +naturally recurred to the chief's proposal the day before, and, as I had +waited on the previous evening, I now as anxiously did so for Tugela's +appearance. I also became aware that I was very hungry, and that no +food had been sent me, which I was attributing to the first signs of +Metilulu's displeasure, when my attention was attracted by a commotion +among the people. Peering stealthily out, I saw that concern was marked +on the faces of every passer-by, as they went rapidly to and fro, +casting suspicious glances at each other. + +It was at this moment that Tugela at last appeared. I started up to +receive him, and also make room for him to enter. On his doing so, my +first question was as to how his chief had received my reply. + +"Fortunately for you," he answered, "the Great Eagle's attention has +been directed to another event--one which will affect all the kraal." + +"That _has_ affected it, I should think," I rejoined. + +"You know what it is?" he questioned. + +"No, not yet." + +"Then the favourite wife of Metilulu has been suddenly taken ill, and +the kraal is all aroused to learn who has made her so. The chief has +sent to the witch-doctor to find out." + +"The witch-doctor! Why?" + +"Because it has been caused by magic." + +"What! do you think illness can come but by the influence of that?" + +Tugela gravely shook his head. + +"Yes; some one has a spite against Anzutu, and has cast the illness upon +her. You need not now fear for yourself," he added, "your rejection of +the bride Metilulu would have given you is forgotten for the time by +this last event." + +When he spoke thus, I was far from conceiving all that this superstition +comprised, though I saw by his manner that it was something exceedingly +serious; consequently, as he assured me that I was safe, I accepted his +invitation to see the ceremony for discovering the wizard. He warned +me, however, not to join the circle, as sometimes witch-doctors did not +like white men. + +Accordingly, having by his help satisfied my hunger, I left the hut with +him, and soon heard that the witch-doctor had declared Anzutu's illness +arose from the hatred of one of the tribe--a wizard,--and that that +person, having possessed himself of some article touched by the +sufferer--a shell, some beads, or tuft of hair,--had buried it, and, by +constantly repeating spells over the place, was occasioning the failing +health of the chief's wife, whose illness would certainly end in death +if the wizard were not detected. + +For the latter purpose, orders had been issued that all the Kaffirs +should assemble together--the chief himself being present--at a given +time, though time seems a strange term, for Caffraria knows little about +it. The natives are aware that they wake in the morning, and, if the +chief wills it, they may be dead before night; for the head man's power +is absolute, and the victim suffers without a murmur. Therefore with +them time and life are very precarious possessions. + +Advantageously placed by Tugela where I could see and not be seen, I +soon beheld the space which had been selected for the trial begin to +fill with Kaffirs, each with a very serious cast of countenance. + +My common-sense told me that it was a farce I was about to witness--a +farce which proved to have a terrible conclusion. I felt that the idea +of these doctors detecting wizards must be an imposture, though the +actors might even deceive themselves; and it seemed strange to me how +the natives could put confidence in the infallibility of these men, +when, by their faces, each dreaded that he would be the one accused, +though knowing himself to be innocent. + +Silently they all met; and my fat friend Metilulu, attended by a guard +of "boys," armed with knob-kerries, advanced and took a seat apart, +smoking profoundly. + +All, squatting down Kaffir fashion, awaited with evidently breathless +suspense for the witch-doctor's coming. At last he appeared, and a more +hideous object I never beheld. He was of a most haggard, cadaverous +aspect, and his lean body attenuated. In one hand he carried a stick-- +his wand,--to the top of which was fastened the tail of some animal. +His garments consisted of the front and back fur aprons. About his neck +was coiled a dead serpent, numerous tails of wild beasts hung over his +breast and shoulders, while feathers of various hues adorned his +issikoko, from which depended several charms; but the most striking +sight was his face, which, like his body, had been daubed over with +white earth; and the effect of this on the dark skin can be hardly +conceived. + +The entrance of this repulsive personage into the circle was received by +a shout of welcome--a compulsory one it must have been, for none could +have cared to have seen him. _I_ did not, even from my place of +concealment, and often thought that his horrible eyes, made startlingly +apparent by the white earth, glared through the bushes and detected me. + +With a slow pace the wizard made his circuit, quickening his speed as he +went till it grew into a wild dance; while all the time he uttered some +native chant, which increased in loudness as his movements did in +rapidity. That any man could have been able to move his limbs with such +swiftness, or leap so high, I never would have believed. It was rather +the wild dance--the wild song of insanity. Song, did I say? The little +melody it had at first possessed speedily vanished, and was replaced by +frantic shrieks and cries as of a maniac; while tears actually streamed +down his face, doing sad havoc with the white earth. First he sprang to +this side, then to that--all cowering as he approached,--while he +snuffed up the air, as if discovering the criminal by that means. I +watched each movement with suspended breath, for I had been told that +his wand would fall upon the victim, or the guilty person, according to +these benighted people's idea. Once he paused, and I saw those near him +shiver perceptibly; then he fled off with a bound in another direction. + +How long the scene lasted I cannot tell; but I know the excitement was +beginning to tell upon me, when, with a sudden swoop, he struck the +shoulder of one of the Kaffirs, then darted away. In an instant, like a +swarm of locusts, the guard of knob-kerries were upon the unfortunate +victim, preventing any attempt to escape; while I was afterwards told +that the witch-doctor, dashing off, entered each hut he came across, +sniffing violently to discover the spot where the charm was buried, and +followed by a wondering awe-inspired crowd. Abruptly halting at one +spot, he cast down an assagai, and ordered the people to dig--an +operation which produced, as it generally did, a tuft of fur and some +beads. This, in the Kaffirs' opinion, proved the truth of the +witch-doctor's accusation; but, in mine, I fully believe that the +articles had been placed there by himself previously. + +All praise, say I, to those self-sacrificing men, the missionaries, who +go among these people to improve them. Surely any one who can turn them +a hair's-breadth from their benighted ignorance is to be applauded. I +am aware that some men, being utterly unsuited to the task, do more harm +than good; but such men as Dr Livingstone--that truly noble +missionary--we ought to honour with all our heart, as we should any man +who will try to make civilisation take the place of such horrible +barbarity as I have to record in the next chapter. + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE FATE OF THE WIZARD--SKIN DRESSING--THE NEW WIFE. + +Leaving the witch-doctor to pursue his way and find the charm, I will +return to the poor, wretched victim. + +The "boys," armed with the knob-kerries, had seized him, trembling but +silent, in their grasp; while a decided expression of relief broke over +the features of the rest. _They_, at any rate, were safe. Yet the +accused must have been a friend of many there; but, strange to say, none +spoke in his favour: on the contrary, all appeared even fearful to come +in contact with him, and drew off to a little distance. + +The so-called wizard was now interrogated, and commanded to produce the +charm with which, by the aid of spells, he had brought the present +illness upon Anzutu. In vain the poor fellow declared his innocence, +protesting his loyalty to his chief and all belonging to him. It made +little difference. The question was reiterated, till he exclaimed, "I +have no charm--it is no use asking--I must die." + +It was at this moment that the witch-doctor returned, performing many +eccentric bounds of triumph, and holding in his hand a little tuft of +fur and a string of beads, which the chief Metilulu instantly declared +to have belonged to his wife. This, as may be conceived, sealed the +fate of the poor fellow whom they had so soon created into a wizard. He +was immediately seized by his tormentors, who, flinging him upon the +ground, began piercing the quivering body in every part with Kaffir +needles. I put Kaffir; for when I say that they more resemble a skewer +than the pretty little articles which look so well in our countrywomen's +fingers, the awful pain they inflict may be imagined. + +I grew sick in watching these brutes, and, but for very fear, could have +shrieked in compassion; though scarcely a groan escaped the victim. An +European, I am sure, must have fainted over and over again under the +torture; but the Kaffir never once lost consciousness; and in this case, +as in many others I witnessed, I was perfectly assured that, whether +from their hardy mode of life and healthy constitution, or from whatever +other cause, these savage people are not so sensitive to pain as are the +inhabitants of civilised countries. + +While some five or six had been probing the miserable man's body till +their hands were tired, others had been kindling a fire, where they were +heating several large stones. When these were thoroughly heated, the +wizard was borne near, fastened firmly down, and--I shiver as I recall +it--the red-hot stones were placed upon the quivering flesh, which +cracked and shrivelled under the weight and heat. + +Sick and dizzy with horror, I could bear it no longer, but fled--fled +till I could get free of the smell and the murmurs of his tormentors--as +to the victim, he bore all stoically,--then flung myself on to the +ground, nearly fainting with disgust. I grew worse still when I +remembered that, should I offend these people, the fate of this man +might be mine. + +My first instinct was to take at once to the bush, and quit the +incarnate fiends; but after reflection told me the absurdity of such an +act. First, it was broad day, and my figure might easily be +distinguished; secondly, the Kaffirs were scattered everywhere about the +kraal, so that at any time I might encounter one, whose suspicions would +speedily be aroused by seeing me so far from the huts; while, lastly, I +was utterly destitute of provisions or weapons. + +Therefore, after a time, I saw the wisest course was for me to return, +and to conform to their customs if necessary--save that of taking unto +myself a wife,--and, by keeping my eyes open, seize the first +opportunity to escape. So, making a considerable detour, to avoid the +spot where the wretched wizard had suffered, and where, to my renewed +horror, I perceived by the movements of the men in the distance the +torture was still going on--indeed it was some hours before nature +finally succumbed, and the man got rest at last in death--I proceeded +towards the kraal, but changed my intention on coming across a group of +Kaffirs engaged on some work. As I was now looked upon in the most +neighbourly manner by them, and also myself desiring to appear friendly, +I drew near, and, by signs, entered into conversation. + +There were three of them squatting upon the ground, with an eland's skin +between them, which they were scraping with all their might. Having sat +down, and with much gravity, suitable to the solemnity of the occasion, +accepted snuff from one of the workers, I made them understand that I +should like to know what they were doing. + +By signs I managed to make out that they were tanning the skin, and +watched the process with much interest. They continued to scrape and +scrape the inside till it was perfectly free from grease, all the +while--if not replying to my dumb-show interrogations, or speaking to me +in the same manner--accompanying the operation with songs, snuff-taking, +and smoking. + +By Tugela's kindness, I had been presented with a pipe--a most precious +gift, it must be known, in Caffraria, where the natives look upon +smoking as the _ne plus ultra_ of life's luxuries. A company of them, +when tobacco's scarce, will even smoke in the following original +manner:--One will draw in from the pipe as much as his mouth will +possibly hold, then pass it on to the next, and so on till all the +company have been served; then they retain the fumes so long that all +the vessels of the head grow surcharged with it, when the smoker drops +intoxicated on to the ground--an insensibility from which he is +recovered by the kindness of his friends, who, by buffets, pinches, and +hair-pullings, will restore him at last to consciousness. However, on +the present occasion each was fortunate enough to possess his own. Mine +was a long reed, with a clumsy bowl, about four times the size of a +large European pipe; for the Kaffir cannot get too much. This capacious +hollow was filled with rough, coarse tobacco, which few Englishmen would +smoke could they get better; but when better cannot be procured, I have +no doubt they would do as I did--take what they could get. + +So we sat smoking, and they, snuffing and singing, till every morsel of +the hide having been well manipulated, they commenced the next process. +Fastening several of their needles together--the sight of them made me +again grow faint,--they began twirling the bundle between their hands, +so that the sharp points tore the skin till it was roughed in every +part; then taking a powder, made from the rotten root of the acacia +tree, they rubbed it into the hide with all their might; and this, which +answered the same purpose as our tan-pit, they continued to do till the +skin was ready for use. + +From these, and numerous other skins, the Kaffir kaross, or cloak, is +made. That article, fastened round the neck, falls down the back, and, +save in winter, is more for show than use. Many skins have to be used +in their construction, especially when the hide is that of a small +animal, such as the meerkat; and, in that case, it is most wonderful to +see the neatness with which they are sewn together. It is truly +surprising, when it is considered that their only implements are the +needles previously mentioned, a stiff fibre for thread, and a stone to +rub smooth the seams. Yet, despite these disadvantages, when completed, +the kaross might be taken for a whole and perfect skin, did not the +arrangement of the shades prove otherwise. + +Having watched all this done, and by that means succeeded in whiling +away the time, I bade farewell to the skin-dressers, and, no little +dejected in spirits, returned to the kraal and to my own hut, where, +finding some dried koodoo flesh and a little amasi left in the gourd +which had been brought me, I stayed my hunger, then sat down on my mat, +feeling sure that Tugela would, after the terrible ceremony of the day +was over, pay me a visit. + +I was not wrong; he soon made his appearance, his face bright and +smiling--an expression I had noted on several Kaffir features as they +passed my hut. This gave me much confidence; for I felt we had become +such good friends that he would not smile did evil threaten me; so, with +a sensation of relief, I bade him welcome, and asked the news. He +replied upon a subject very different to that I was thinking about. + +"The great chief Metilulu," he said, "has ordered the elephant hunt to +take place to-morrow, and I came to tell you." + +"To-morrow!" I exclaimed; "I thought Metilulu intended to be present +himself." + +"He will be so." + +"But the illness of his wife." + +"Why should a woman keep the great chief from his pleasure?" responded +Tugela, in a tone of contempt at the idea; "but Anzutu is better." + +"Better! I am delighted." + +"No sooner had the wizard suffered," said Tugela innocently, "than +Anzutu grew better. Had the charm not been found, she would have died." + +He spoke this so seriously that I dared not express my doubt upon the +point; yet I could not refrain from saying-- + +"But supposing, Tugela, the witch-doctor had selected another as the +wizard." + +"He would not, because the one he discovered was the right man." + +"Possibly; yet each Kaffir, I fancied, looked as if he feared the +selection might fall upon himself." + +"Because they are all aware of the power of the witch-doctor. He knows +more than we do," said Tugela, with evidently a firm belief in his +words. "The one he selected was the right one," he added, "for, see, +has not Anzutu recovered?" + +I saw no arguments of mine would shake Tugela's faith in the terrible +superstition which gave such an awful power to the ignorant men who +possessed it, so dropped the subject, and began to ask him respecting +the hunt of the next morning. He told me that the footprint of a +majestic elephant had been discovered some days back, and the Kaffirs +were all eager to track it. + +"Some days back," I said; "will they be able to discover it again?" + +"Certainly. We Kaffirs have a way so as never to forget the track of an +elephant." + +He had begun to induct me into the method, when he was suddenly +interrupted by a great hubbub without. He instantly started to the +door, and I followed. + +The bridegroom of the previous day stood outside, surrounded by a number +of Kaffirs, to whom he was angrily gesticulating. Not being able to +understand his harangue, I had to wait till I got it second-hand from +Tugela, who told me that the bridegroom's wives had that afternoon gone +out gathering wood in the bush; but when the husband had returned, he +had found all his wives at home save the youngest, whom he had paid so +many cows for the previous day; while his questions respecting her +whereabouts had elicited no satisfactory answers, though he had had +liberal recourse to stick. + +Though these people practice polygamy, giving for a cause, if asked, the +necessity for keeping their huts right, getting their dinners cooked, +and grounds tilled; and though, also, they treat their women not very +much better than the Australian natives who regarded the softer sex but +little above their dogs, yet they are extremely jealous respecting their +wives' fidelity. The chief has a regular harem, which, like in Turkey, +has a special guard to watch who goes out or in. Should a wife be found +unfaithful, the punishment is severe, sometimes death even. + +I believe that, in the present case, the husband fancied his new wife +had fled to another kraal, for he was extremely irate; but he first +decided to go to the bush where the women had been, so he started off +with several others, Tugela and myself among the number, and led by the +boy--I mean a boy now, who had gone out with the women--not to help, be +it understood, for even at an early age the male sex asserts its +superiority. + +Forward we went into the bush, lit up by the red glow of the setting +sun, but not a sign could we discover of the lost wife. For over an +hour we searched and called in vain, and the husband ordered a return, +stating his resolve to visit the neighbouring kraals next morning, and +demand to have his wife restored, as he felt certain she had fled to one +of them. It was at this moment that a peculiar cry from one of the +Kaffir's brought all the rest to the spot. + +There, on the grass, apparently dead, murdered, laid the body of the +young wife. The horror I experienced at the sight was not seemingly +felt by my companions, rage being the only feeling they exhibited, as, +taking up the inanimate body, in which we yet detected signs of life, we +bore it back to the kraal. A large wound was on the skull, while there +were others about the body, such as, with an European, might in all +probability have caused death, but to my surprise Tugela said that he +had no doubt the woman would soon get over it. + +"But who could have tried to murder her?" I asked. + +"The other wives," he replied coolly. + +"The other wives! In Heaven's name, why?" + +"From jealousy. Old wives do not like young ones." + +"And what will they get for doing it?" + +"Stick, a great deal of stick." + +Tugela was right; the wives did get stick considerably; while, a few +days after, I saw the young wife working in the kraal as if nothing had +happened. The tenacity of life in these people, I confessed, was great +indeed. + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +THE ELEPHANT HUNT--MY MIND GROWS EASIER. + +When morning dawned, and I recollected that it was the day for the +elephant hunt, in which Metilulu was to bear a part, I felt by no means +easy in my mind respecting the meeting; but as it has always been my +nature to put the best face on affairs, however gloomy, and to trust in +that Providence which already had dealt so kindly by me, I placed a +small kaross which had been given me over my shoulders, for my red +seaman's shirt was now absolutely in rags, and, taking my breakfast, +awaited news. + +The kraal was full of animation, occasioned, as I afterwards learned, by +the fact that Metilulu had expressed his intention to bivouac out that +night, so as to pay due honour to the elephant when killed. + +Tugela had been telling me, when he had been interrupted by the hubbub +outside, that one way in which they entrapped elephants was by means of +a pit-fall, such as that into which poor Grimes had stumbled; but this +did not succeed long together, for these animals have such reasoning +powers that after one or two of the herd have been thus caught, the rest +become most wary, and always place an old, sagacious one in front, which +carefully feels the ground with his foot before advancing, so that +directly it touches the branches laid over to conceal the pit, he +detects the deception and avoids it. The hunt which was to take place +was to be of a different kind to this. The footprint of a remarkably +fine elephant had been discovered, the tusks belonging to which +evidently would be a prize to the slayer. + +I had already--as perhaps the reader may remember--expressed surprise as +to how a Kaffir, finding these footprints, could find or track the +elephant after some days had intervened. I now ascertained that the +native, on coming across a foot-mark, took off the impression in soft +clay; and so accurately do they manage this, that, among a hundred other +prints, they can still keep to the one belonging to the animal they wish +to kill. + +Tugela having joined me, with the intelligence that the hunters were +about to start, I proceeded to the outside of the kraal, and was no +little pleased to find Metilulu not there. As, however, I had +understood he was to be present, I could not help making a cautious +inquiry respecting his non-attendance, and heard that it was his royal +pleasure to come on afterwards--meaning thereby, as I divined, before +the day was over,--to be in, according to English fox-hunters' +phraseology, at the death and the sumptuous feast of elephant feet. + +Having used my weapons to so good a purpose before, I was again +accommodated with some assagais and a shield; thus, with my trousers +worn down to knee-breeches, my boots long discarded, my browned +stockingless feet, bronzed face, and the fur kaross over my shoulders, I +really began to look very like the Kaffirs about me. + +One of the natural proclivities of mankind, I verily believe, is a +decided love for the chase. Certainly, as I strode along, surrounded by +the lithe, vigorous, armed forms of my companions, with the fresh +morning air blowing on my cheek, the expanse of wondrous scenery +stretching on every side, and my spears grasped in my hand, I felt the +blood begin to beat with renewed energy in my pulses, and the depression +which late events had cast upon me gradually wearing off. + +The model of the elephant's foot that we tracked was soon brought into +requisition. We had scarcely gone half-an-hour's sharp march before we +came across several footprints, in which the one we were after was +apparent. I did not think that these animals came so near the vicinity +of man as the marks proved; but Tugela said that at times a herd of them +would make a swoop in the night upon the kraal itself, and destroy all +the crops growing near. The only way they had of scaring them was to +light large fires, make as much noise as they could, and--think of it +fond English mothers--to beat all the children in the community, so that +the addition of their shrill infantine yells might terrify the ponderous +animals. + +The track having been discovered, the hunters proceeded with much +caution. Slowly we advanced, I finding some difficulty in making my way +through the bush like the natives, with their smooth, well-oiled bodies, +though I managed to keep on, carefully avoiding, however, any parasite +at all resembling the _uncaria procumbens_, or hook plant. + +About an hour after we had lighted upon the first footprints, we reached +an opening or glade within the bush, where through the tall tree-trunks +we perceived about four or five elephants browsing. My lack of +knowledge respecting hunting in Caffraria would speedily have finished +me entirely had not Tugela had the forethought to advise me to take to a +tree, and hurl my assagais from thence; for to an European, with a body +not devoid of clothes, neither well oiled nor accustomed to the +exercise, it would be impossible to penetrate the bush rapidly, as it +would soon become necessary to do to avoid the enraged animal, which, +when struck, always took to the forest in the direction of his +assailants. + +Accepting his advice, I speedily selected a tall tree, which, thanks to +my nautical experience, I climbed with ease, and from its branches +looked down upon the black, shining bodies of the hunters and the +browsing elephants, as yet unconscious of the danger which was so near +at hand. + +Tugela had pointed out to me the beast which was to be the victim--a +fine fellow truly--and I longed for one of our English rifles, when I +could have picked him off in two twos, whereas I soon found the assagai +wounded only to irritation, and finally killed by exhaustion, such as a +man might die from on being pricked to death by large pins. I have no +doubt this is the reason which makes the Kaffirs, in a herd of these +animals, attack one and one only. Looking down, I perceived that the +hunters were approaching the edge of the bush, which yet concealed them, +wriggling through it like snakes, with their assagais ready to hand. As +they neared the open space, I fancied the elephants became aware of our +presence, for the one we had spotted threw up his trunk suddenly, +stamped with its foot, and uttered one of their loud, peculiar, +trumpet-like cries. The next moment some twenty assagais shot with +unerring aim through the air, and penetrated the animal's thick +leather-like hide. + +His cry of fear and rage was terrible to hear. First he seemed +confounded, then, while the rest fled in terror, conscious, no doubt, by +his cries that danger was in their neighbourhood, he rushed blindly +forward into the bush. + +I now recognised the wisdom of Tugela's advice to such an amateur hand +as I; for as the enraged beast dashed on, trampling the underwood +beneath his feet, it was as much as the Kaffirs themselves could do to +avoid being crushed by slipping out of the way. Like monkeys, they +dodged about him, darting their assagais at every opportunity that +presented itself, while I from my vantage-ground hurled one now and then +with all the force I could command. + +I must not forget to mention one very important auxiliary of the +hunters. This was their dogs. These little wretches, now let loose, +snapped and barked about the ponderous creature, irritating him to such +a degree as to render him at times quite regardless of the sharp +stings--for they appeared little more--of the spears. + +I have said that I cast one of my assagais only occasionally. I did so +for this reason: I now had always the thought of escape before my eyes, +so I refrained from parting with all my weapons, thinking they might +prove of greater use hereafter; so I merely acted as spectator, and +looked on till I began to fancy the miserable creature--whose +trumpet-like bellowings were growing fainter and fainter--never would +fall. It truly was a cruel kind of hunting. His massive body was +covered with blood streaming from the many wounds, and he staggered on +his thick legs; but he yet continued to dash at his assailants, maddened +by rage and pain, and strove to turn sharply upon the snapping, barking +dogs. At last, however, when his black hide resembled a lady's +pincushion supplied with many pins, he gave a great reel, a final cry, +and sunk slowly upon his knees, apparently dead. + +A delighted shout issued from the throats of the hunters, as, swarming +forward, they repossessed themselves of their weapons, then proceeded to +place on the animal's tusks the mark of their owner, who, by hunters' +rules, was the one who had inflicted the first wound, after which they +cut off its tail, that being, like the fox's brush in England, +considered a great trophy. + +Seeing no reason why I should remain longer in my private box, as it +were, the drama having come to an end, I made haste to descend; but +whether it was through being incommoded with the spears I carried, or +from some other reason, certain it is that I had not got more than +half-way down, when I fell--fell, as ill luck would have it, right into +the extended branches of a hook plant. Instantly aware of my danger, I +strove to free myself; but quickly found that what Mr Ferguson had said +was true--that the more one tried to clear themselves, the more +entangled they would get. The plant seemed endowed with life, and with +its fingers fastened closer and closer about me at the least move; +therefore I wisely remained motionless, only exerting my voice, which I +did to the top of my lungs. + +For some while no heed was paid to me, all the Kaffirs being too busily +engaged with their prize; but after about a quarter of an hour, as far +as I could judge, Tugela came to ascertain the cause of my shouting. On +perceiving the fix I was in, he burst into a fit of laughter, for the +Kaffir dearly loves fun, or anything verging on a joke. Seeing nothing +I could do better, I joined him, till his face growing rather more +serious, I put the question as to how I was to get free. + +There was but one method. Like the sheep in the fable, which got into a +thorn bush to shelter itself from the storm, to quit it I was compelled +to leave my fleece, or clothes, behind me. This, considering the state +they were in, I found but little difficulty in doing, and when once +extricated, with Tugela's help, I managed to recover my rags by cutting +them from the thorns. On donning them, however, I became aware that I +should very speedily have to adopt the native dress entirely unless I +intended to go without any costume, at all. This was the first time I +had come in close contact with the unfriendly grasp of the hook plant, +but, I am sorry to say, it was not the last. I shall have to recount a +similar event farther on, when I was not so fortunate in getting so +speedily extricated, but really believed that, after all my hair-breadth +escapes, death had seized me indeed. But to return to the hunting +party. + +Metilulu had by this time arrived, and was waiting in the glade for the +next ceremonies to begin. I had now of necessity to make my appearance +before him, and did so with some trepidation, but to my great relief +found that he welcomed me with a smile, and by a sign invited me to sit +down by him. I instantly obeyed, and, as a natural consequence on such +instances, Tugela took his place close at hand. I knew by his +expression that the first remark the chief made was respecting my torn +garments, the reason for which seemed to amuse him as much as it had the +interpreter, for he laughed heartily; in fact, to my satisfaction, he +appeared in the best of tempers; perhaps it arose from the prospect of +the feast he was going to enjoy, and the joila or beer he had drunk, for +a jar of that much beloved liquor stood within reach, and of which he +condescendingly invited me to partake. He then, through Tugela, asked +me what I had thought of the hunt, and how it was conducted in our +country. I replied that we had no such animals in England, or even in +Europe, but when our people settled in or visited Africa, or another +great country called India, they used a rifle which killed the elephants +in a quarter of the time the assagais did. This seemed much to astonish +him, though he had heard of and even seen guns; the Boers had them, he +said, and some travellers who had once stayed at the kraal a few days +had carried such weapons. + +My readers may imagine how my heart leaped at this last news, which +showed that white men did occasionally come there, and were permitted to +leave unmolested. I drew hope for my own deliverance from it, and the +landscape, with its candelabra-looking _euphorbia_ trees and parasitical +monkey-ropes, seemed to put on a far brighter aspect to my eyes than +they had the moment before. + +So elated was I at the intelligence I had just heard, that I determined +to win Metilulu's good opinion as much as I possibly could, for which +purpose I gave Tugela enough to do to interpret the enthusiastic praises +I expressed for everything--omitting the wizard affair, of course--which +I had witnessed in Caffraria; while I also gave the chief long accounts +upon any subject respecting my own land that I thought would amuse him. + +During our conversation the hunters had been engaged with the slain +elephant. Having cut a large hole in its side, they removed the +intestines, which in their opinion is the finest part; then as they were +to camp out, and the feast to be held there, two of the animal's massive +feet were severed, and prepared to be baked with some slices of the +trunk. + +The method of baking is as follows:--A large hole is dug in the ground, +which is filled with wood and dry moss; this is ignited, and kept +supplied till the cavity is filled with bright glowing embers; these are +removed by the Kaffirs with large poles--for the heat is intense,--then +the large elephant's foot is rolled into the burning hole, and +immediately covered with fresh branches, which are lighted--a bonfire is +made, indeed, and when it has burnt itself out the cooking is considered +complete. + +The foot presents when done a most gelatinous appearance, and, as I was +honoured by dining with the chief, I suppose I was regaled with the best +parts. I must own, whether it was hunger acting as an excellent sauce +or not, that I thought it extremely good, and enjoyed the repast. + +The feasting lasted some time; for when a Kaffir gets an opportunity of +eating flesh _ad libitum_, he makes good use of it, and their capacity +of consumption is _immense_, as will be seen when I state that, on +looking round at the conclusion of the meal, I perceived the skeleton of +the elephant alone remaining. Save a few strips hung over the branches +of the trees to dry for the morrow--called "biltongue" in the native +language--every atom of the flesh had been consumed. + +The hunters, and especially Metilulu, having eaten and drank till nature +could receive no more, rolled themselves in their karosses, and, having +first placed a guard to keep up the fires, so as to scare off the wild +beasts, extended themselves on the ground to seek the sleep which +speedily comes to them. + +With a fervent prayer that Metilulu might always keep in the same good +humour that he had been in that day, I thought I could not do better +than follow the excellent example of my companions; and I remember I +fell asleep wondering how it was that the chief had never referred to +the handsome present of a wife which he had wished to make me. + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +UNPLEASANT NEWS--DEATH OF ANZUTU--FUNEREAL RITES. + +The sun had not risen very high before the hunting party was astir and +preparing to return to the kraal. The head of the elephant was left +where it was to decompose, which, under such a sun, it would not take +long doing, when the tusks could easily be removed. It may appear +strange that so valuable a portion of the animal should be left +unguarded in the bush; but there is a great amount of honour between +Kaffir hunters, and each strictly respects the mark of the other. The +Kaffir whose property they had become by right of the first wound-- +though the chief being present I found they were to be presented to +him--was a great hunter, as could be seen by the leopard tails which +formed his aprons and the teeth of wild beasts of which his necklaces +and bracelets were composed; for in Caffraria, if a man wants to dress +in these much-prized ornaments, he cannot purchase them, but must first +slay their natural possessors. So proud is the hunter of these trophies +of his prowess, that he will rarely part with them save to his chief or +the exacting witch-doctor. + +On nearing the kraal I remarked a sudden change in my companions' +manner, which I could not but attribute to the appearance of, or signs +made by, some Kaffirs who stood at the entrance to the huts, evidently +watching for our return, for no sooner did we come in sight than they +advanced towards us. As they approached, I saw that they were divested +of all ornaments, while they wore the oldest aprons and karosses they +possessed. Guessing there must be some cause for this, I awaited the +result with much curiosity. + +The two parties had now advanced near enough to exchange sentences, and +no sooner were the first uttered than a mournfully dolorous cry arose +from the hunters, who frantically began tearing off their ornaments, +even to the Chief Metilulu, who, instantly taking the lead, hurried on +as fast as his obesity would permit. + +Remembering how the Jews of old, on the illness or death of those dear +to them, rent their garments and cast dust upon their heads, I could not +help fancying that this removal of all decorations, accompanied by the +cries of sorrow, must be occasioned by the same cause, and making my way +to Tugela, I put the question as to the reason of the sudden change in +the hunters to him. + +He answered that during our absence Anzutu had been taken much worse, +and was not expected to recover. He told me this in a round-about way, +for the Kaffir avoids the word "death" as an Englishman might the +plague, and it is not considered etiquette to mention it ever in a +chief's presence. Though a Kaffir has no idea of time, and regards his +life as not his own, but his chief's, who may order his execution at, +any moment he please yet they, greatly dread death when it comes +naturally, and would give anything, to conceal those precursors to old +age--grey hairs. + +When I heard that Anzutu would probably die after all, I could not help +thinking that the death of the wretched wizard had not done much good. +Whether Tugela had divined my thoughts I do not know, but when he spoke +again he certainly answered them. + +"Had Metilulu applied to the witch-doctor sooner," he said, "this might +not have been; the wizard had got too much power before he was stopped." + +We had now entered the kraal, where I found both men and women attired +in their oldest aprons, without ornament, and all betraying the deepest +signs of grief. Metilulu, attended only by his chief warriors, had +hurried to his own hut to await further bulletins, which soon came, for +we had not returned an hour before the news spread through the community +that Anzutu was dead. + +Never shall I forget the tremendous noise that then arose. Shriek after +shriek--howl after howl--groan after groan. Had Pandemonium broken +loose it could not have been worse. Work was suspended entirely, and, +stranger still for a Kaffir, eating and drinking also. There they sat +howling. Feeling myself, as a spectator, rather out of place in such a +scene, I retired to my hut, and watched proceedings from the entrance. + +Soon the news that Metilulu's favourite wife had ceased to exist +travelled to other kraals, and, to my consternation--for I was almost +deafened by the noise already--fresh parties kept arriving all day, and, +taking their places, added their voices to the rest; for it appeared +Metilulu was a powerful chief among the tribes. The whole day and night +they still kept coming, and the noise continued, while never did I see +one of the people seek refreshment. Fortunately for myself, I had some +dried eland flesh in my hut, with which I stayed my hunger, and so the +most miserable twenty-four hours I had yet spent in Caffraria. + +In the morning the cries had not ceased; but I went forth, feeling sure +that some ceremony--perhaps the burial--would take place after such an +uproar, as they could scarcely support it longer. I had seen a +wedding--I had seen a Kaffir baby just after birth, and found it to be +almost as white as an European's, the skin darkening rapidly +afterwards,--and now I desired to witness a funeral. + +Proceeding towards Metilulu's huts--that is, his own and those of his +wives--I found him outside, dressed in full warrior costume, as were +those who stood about him. They were engaged in singing a wild native +song; then the chief issued some orders. I had no need to understand +the language to learn what they were, as they were instantly followed by +the execution of several of the tribe, this evidently being a custom. +The poor fellows received their fate without a murmur; for, as before +stated, in Caffraria the chief's word is law, and one which his people +obey even on some occasions with rejoicing. Indeed, as the miserable +beings were now being executed, I perceived by the expression of their +faces that they were uttering praises of the fat despot. + +Since I saw this, I have read that, upon the death of persons of rank, +frequently a general massacre will take place, not only by the chief's +direct orders, but rather as if by it the people wish to show their +sympathy with him. + +When the executions were over, the cries continued, till I beheld many +fall down insensible from exhaustion; and glad enough I was when that +day and night also came to an end, for I hoped it would be the last of +it, as the following morning the remains of Anzutu were to be consigned +to the earth; for it is a singular fact that the custom of burying the +dead is prevalent all over the world, save in India with the Parsees, +where the funeral pyre is raised and the body consumed by fire. + +While speaking upon this subject, I may as well say a few words upon the +ordinary rite of burial; for it must be remembered that I am here +recounting the death and interment of a person of rank, and in that case +the show ceremonies are as different in Caffraria as in our own land, +where the plain hearse and mourning coach tell of a poor person's +demise, and waving feathers, velvet trappings, a long string of +carriages, men with gilt-tipped rods, announce that of a rich man, who, +even in death, cannot surrender the pomp and vanities of this world, but +would, as it were, strive to prove the falsity of the saying, "In death +all are equal." But to return to the Kaffirs. On the death of a chief, +the people mourn and fast, as above described, till the dead man is +buried in the isibaya, where only the head men are permitted to be +interred, and where women are never permitted to enter, dead or alive. +The commoners are buried in a hole outside the kraal. A hole too, is +the proper word to use, for it is small and deep, the body not lying +horizontally, but in a sitting position, with the knees close up to the +chin. By its side are buried the weapons it used in life, the points +being bent to render them useless; while if it be a chief, and rich, +oxen are at times killed at the grave. + +The next morning all turned out to attend the funeral, I, of course, +making one of the number, though I did not mingle with the chief +mourners. + +A very large hole had been made--about seven feet square,--which caused +me to think, if it were for Anzutu, she must have far exceeded her +husband in bulk; but my horror was again excited when I found that, as +Metilulu desired to show every possible honour to his departed wife, he +had issued an order that half-a-dozen young girls were to be buried +_alive_ with her. + +I had often heard of the custom of immolating victims at the grave of a +chief in savage countries, and I had read the adventures of that Marco +Polo of Eastern romance, Sinbad, wherein he had, according to the custom +of the country, been buried with his dead wife; but I had never known +till now that the terrible rite of interring the living with the dead +existed in Caffraria. + +As I have, I believe, previously stated, female beauty in that part of +the world where I then was is anything but prepossessing to European +eyes; yet I felt my flesh creep, and my pulses throb with impotent rage, +as any Englishman's would, at the sight of these young girls being, +without the least resistance, buried alive. The thought was too +horrible, and, starting up, I determined to expostulate with Metilulu, +regardless of the consequences, upon the performance of such a barbarous +rite. + +Hastening on, I came across Tugela, to whom, as I should require his +assistance, I naturally confided my intention. He looked at me first in +surprise; then most earnestly persuaded me, for my own safety, to +refrain from such an absurd proceeding, affirming that, whatever I might +say, Metilulu, in his present state of grief, would not listen, but, on +the contrary, would very likely have me executed too for trying to +insult the memory of his wife. Despite these assertions, I was yet +persisting in my plan, when Tugela put a stop to it entirely by saying +that if I was resolved, so was he not to interpret correctly a sentence +of my request. + +Therefore I had to give up my attempt, consoling myself with the +belief--which was no doubt correct--that my words would have had little +if any effect upon the despotic ruler. Meanwhile the rites went on, the +awful burial took place, a special guard was placed over the spot to +watch there for one year, and the mourners returned to the kraal, where +another ceremony consequent upon a death took place, which again +reminded me of the Jewish laws regarding cleansing and purification. + +The prophets, or doctors, of the kraal, on the people's return, sent +them to bathe in an adjacent stream, and afterwards administered +medicine to each, while those who had actually touched the body had to +undergo this purification twice before they could resume their usual +every-day's labour; for a Kaffir has a great repugnance to touch a +corpse. It is only their love which will make them do so at all, and +cases are frequent, where the affection has not been great, that the +relations of the dying person, not waiting for their demise, have cast +them into a river, to save the necessity of handling the dead body a few +hours later. + +Oxen were now killed and prepared for the funereal feast, during the +preparation of which the company unceasingly bewailed the loss of the +departed; then, having heartily partaken of the meal, all repaired to +their different kraals. + +I was no little pleased to see an end of it, and, when all at last +seemed quiet, I set out for a saunter, hoping to come across Tugela. +This I soon did, and, after a little while, put to him the question +which my curiosity--that feeling which, since the time of Mrs +Bluebeard, has so often led both men and women into danger--urged me to. +This was, why Metilulu had taken my refusal so indifferently, never, +indeed, having noticed it. + +Tugela explained the mystery in a few words, and to this effect-- + +"The wife Metilulu has chosen for you," he said, "is the daughter of a +head man, who died some time ago, leaving this only child. As there +were no relations to take charge of her, Metilulu adopted Zenuta +himself. When she grew old enough he proposed several suitors to her, +but she refused all. Now, however, she has fallen in love with you, and +has asked the chief to let you be her husband." + +"I feel deeply flattered by the lady's preference," I said, "but, as I +have previously said, Tugela, having a wife already, by the laws of my +religion I should commit a great crime by taking another, therefore must +decline her advances. But this does not explain your chief's silence." + +"That arises because Metilulu does not care about her marriage with a +white man, and also that he has had trouble of his own since. No doubt +he has forgotten the affair, but he will not for long." + +"Why not?" + +"Because Zenuta is impetuous. She will remind him." + +"What will he do then?" + +"Why, if he accepts your refusal, she will be enraged. He might offer +you her only to attend upon you--not as a wife in that case." + +"If so, what would you advise me to do?" I asked. + +"Take her," he rejoined; "it may preserve you from Metilulu's anger, for +Zenuta makes a dreadful turmoil among the wives, and worries him." + +The latter news made me have but a poor opinion of the lady's temper; +yet I thought if I were compelled to accept her as my drudge--for the +Kaffir's wife is little more,--I might at least make the girl's life +happier by making her duties light. + +To change the subject, I then told Tugela that, as my European garments +were no longer worthy the name, I should much like to procure some skins +of any kind to make myself others. He said he would see to it, and the +next day got permission to take me out hunting, when I was fortunate +enough to kill an eland, out of the skin of which I managed, after a +fashion, only having an assagai-head for a knife and fibre for thread, +to construct a garment something similar to that often seen in pictures +upon ancient Britons--that is, a narrow skirt reaching from the waist to +the knee, while a broad strip of the same material came over the right +shoulder, and fastened again to the skirt behind. + +Had any one in my native village seen me in that strange costume, with +arms and legs burnt to a dark brown, as was my face and neck, and my +black hair grown till it fell over my shoulders, while my beard and +moustache, all in one, formed a flowing appendage over my breast, they +would never have recognised Richard Galbraith, the once neat, trim, +clean-shaven, but for the framework of short whisker and beard, English +sailor. + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +A TALK ABOUT MARRIAGE--ZENUTA, MY SERVANT--KAFFIRS AND FISH. + +I must now, with the reader's permission, pass over a period of nearly +six months; for to relate minutely my mode of life during that time +would be but an useless recapitulation, interspersed by koodoo and +fan-elephant hunting, which would become monotonous. + +In respect to Metilulu's _protegee_, Zenuta, unpleasantly for me, Tugela +had prophesied correctly. She speedily brought me again to the chief's +remembrance, and this time he spoke to me in _propria persona_, and +desired me to accept her. + +Making my reply as respectful as I possibly could, I immediately +answered, as I had to Tugela, that my religion forbade me taking another +wife, as I had one living already in England, and that were I to do so, +I should, in my own eyes and those of my countrymen, commit a great +crime. The reason of my refusal seemed to create unbounded surprise to +Metilulu, who gave utterance to many Kaffir ejaculations. Then he said +gravely-- + +"If you have but one wife, how can she do all the work? It is +impossible! She must herself object to such an arrangement; she would +want other wives to help her." + +Let me here remark that such is the case in Caffraria, where a wife will +often urge her husband to take more wives, so that her own labour may be +lessened; and this is no wonder, when we consider that the most arduous +and incessant toil falls to the woman's lot, while their lords and +masters idle their time away in sitting and smoking in their hut when +they are not milking their cows or hunting. + +In reply to Metilulu, I informed him that women did not work in my +country as they did in his. There the men performed most of the +out-door labour, while the women attended to the home duties. + +The chief smiled derisively as he rejoined that my England must be a +very strange country. He then was anxious to know who ground the corn +and tilled the fields--whether the men or the women. + +"The men cultivate the ground," I replied, "while the corn is made into +flour by machinery." + +The last word seemed beyond his comprehension, so I tried to explain my +meaning, aiding the description by tracing a windmill with my finger on +the ground; but I fear when I ended that he had but a poor idea of the +mechanism after all. + +"But if the men work, who hunts?" he asked, adding, with a +laugh--"perhaps the women." + +"No," I said, "England had never possessed the wild animals Africa had, +and those which were native to the soil--such as wild cats, wolves, and +foxes--had mostly been exterminated, while the forests had been turned +into waving corn-fields; therefore there were no hunters as those he +referred to." + +Of course I did not mention our fox-hunters, for he would have thought +little of Englishmen's bravery had he heard that some dozen gentlemen, +with the aid of a pack of hounds, pursued one poor little fox. As it +was, my last statement seemed to him to put the climax to European +ignorance and stupidity, for I saw he addressed anything but +complimentary remarks respecting our nation to the warriors about him. +Then, returning to the subject of marriage, which I had hoped he had +forgotten, he continued, with a twinkle in his eyes, as if by the next +question he was going to prove me entirely--whether, as men only had one +wife in my country, some, no doubt, never married at all. + +I stated that was the case, for some by choice remained single all their +lives. + +It was the same in his land sometimes, he laughed, when men were so ugly +that no girl would have them; then they had to remain "boys" all their +lives, without wives or children. + +At this I assured him it did not always rest in looks, as, however plain +he might be, a man could generally find a wife; but he might be a +bachelor from inclination. + +"Then," he demanded quickly, with a gusto at evidently having at last +entrapped me, "how could the single men get their work done if they had +not a wife?" + +I explained at once how in England servants could be hired at a moderate +rate, who would do all the work required. + +This puzzled him immensely, for in his mind the duties of servant and +wife appeared synonymous, and, with all my explanation, he could hardly +recognise the difference. So, after a good deal of palaver, he finally +asked, I fancy owing to a suggestion of Tugela's, whether, as I could +not accept Zenuta for a wife, I would receive her for a servant. + +This I agreed to do, as I had previously determined; for at times I had +found it awkward to prepare my own meals, and did not care to join the +"boys," whose cooking I relished as little as I did the odour of their +well-oiled bodies when enclosed in the stifling atmosphere of their +general hut. So Zenuta--a true type of the Kaffir girl, a perfect form, +and a plain face--agreeing to the arrangement, I became possessed of a +servant, who speedily and with alacrity saw to all my wants. + +Poor thing, she seemed absolutely devoted to me, and would have crushed +corn or rolled tobacco all day long if I had permitted her. This +crushing corn and rolling tobacco are both most arduous processes. The +former is done between two stones--the under large and shelving, so as +to allow the boiled maize or corn ears to be pushed off when finished; +the upper is a much smaller and round stone, which the worker holds in +her hands, and pounds or presses with all her strength. The tobacco +rolling is rolling the leaves of the plant between the hand and thigh or +calf of the leg--a work that soon renders the skin remarkably tender +till it has become hardened by use. + +I say Zenuta would have gladly done all this, had I required it, but, on +the contrary, I strove to render her life as easy as possible, and, very +much to her surprise, I always took care when I had a good meal that she +should have one too; for the custom among her people was generally to +leave the refuse to the hardworking woman. Perhaps it would have been +wiser had I done differently, for all this behaviour but served to +increase her affection, which, at times, I confess, grew rather +troublesome; till, I tried, by the power I had over her, to direct her +thoughts into a different channel, with, I flattered myself, some +success. As well as I could, owing to my imperfect knowledge of the +language, I endeavoured to instruct her and make her comprehend the +forms and pure belief of the Christian religion, and by this means +proved to her that we might always be very dear friends, but that I +could never take her for my wife. Poor Zenuta! She looked very sad at +first, but when I said I would always try to make her happy, and she +might remain with me as she was doing then, as long as she pleased, she +brightened up, and a short while after, breaking a slight pause, +besought me to tell her about my English wife and my own land. + +I did so, and very frequently afterwards our conversation turned upon +these two topics; till one day, as if carried away by my description, +she threw herself at my feet and begged me, if I should ever go back, to +take her with me. + +This question put a sudden idea into my head. Might it not be likely +that, through this girl, I might ascertain how far the white settlements +were off? Therefore, giving an evasive reply to the entreaty, I at once +began to interrogate her upon the subject, but soon found my hopes +chimeras; she knew little more than I had already learned from Tugela +and Metilulu. White traders had passed through the kraal, but beyond +that she knew nothing, save repeating as had the others, that white +people were a long way off. Consequently I had to console myself at the +ill-success my efforts had met with in the best way I could. It will be +seen from this that my stay in Caffraria for the six months had not been +so comfortable as to prevent my trying to return home. On the contrary, +that one thought occupied me constantly, and I certainly should have +endeavoured to have escaped long before, could I have obtained the least +information respecting the direction I ought to take; but, as it was, I +felt I might only brave the dangers of the bush to eventually fall into +worse hands than those I was already in, from whom up to this time I had +received nothing but kindness. + +Therefore, till a more favourable opportunity offered, I wisely resolved +to make myself as comfortable as I could where I was. By attention and +perseverance I had by this time become no longer a drone in the hive, +but an useful member of society. I could throw the assagai so well that +I need never be without a dinner of meat when I desired it; and by the +same means I speedily procured both skins and teeth, which, as I had no +wish to deck myself out in them as did my savage companions, I exchanged +for two or three cows, and they supplied my servant and me with enough +amasi for more than our wants. By doing as little work as I could on +Sundays, I had been able to remember and keep that day holy--a +proceeding which had finally attracted the Kaffirs' notice, and on +explaining to them why I did this, I found that they possessed some +vague idea of a Creator, but that it was deprived of all truth by the +heap of ignorant superstitions which surrounded it. It, however, put +the thought into my head, to try in a small way to act the missionary to +them, and I soon found they would listen attentively enough when I +brought the subject forward before a select few, with the liberty of +argument--a Kaffir's passion--granted to both sides, but that when I +made an attempt to assemble them together to address them, preacher +fashion, I signally failed. Yet the few seeds I did manage to cast upon +the unpromising soil, I prayed by God's grace might take root and bear +fruit hereafter, and at least slightly prepare the ground for those +brave self-sacrificing men, noble specimens of whom now exist, who make +it their work to bring light into darkness. + +I had of course during my long sojourn learned much of the habits of the +Kaffir tribes, and one peculiarity struck me as very surprising. I +found it out in the following manner. + +An expedition, I forget now for what reason, no doubt to collect shells +for ornament, had been made by a party of "boys" to the sea-coast. I +asked permission to accompany them, for I naturally thought it possible +that I might sight a passing ship and perhaps make my presence known. +For this purpose, on arriving at the shore, I took my place on a rock, +and fastening a hook I had made to some thin but strong fibre, I told +the "boys" I would wait there till they returned. Having taken for my +bait a portion of the flesh of a hyrax I had knocked over with my +knob-kerrie as I came along, I threw in my line only to appear occupied, +for I never dreamed of getting a bite; but scarcely had I cast my eyes +over the broad expanse of waters, which to my sorrow was not even broken +by a sea bird's wing, than I felt a tug at my line, and with some +difficulty landed a fish of a tolerable size, but the name of which I +did not know. My first success whetted my appetite for more, and +thinking how pleased the Kaffirs would be at the rare dinner I was +procuring for them, I again threw in my line, and continued to do so, +till, by the time the "boys" returned, I had a pretty considerable heap +of the finny tribe by my side, which, with no little pride, I showed to +my companions, but, what was my astonishment to find that they regarded +them with the greatest disgust, as an Englishman might some loathsome +animal; while I never saw the same feeling more strongly depicted on any +face as on theirs, when I, not to be baulked of my treat, kindled a +fire, and grilling some as well as I could on the glowing embers, +subsequently made a very good meal. + +On enquiring afterwards of Zenuta the reason for this peculiar aversion, +she told me she believed it was owing to some superstition--order, she +called it--originating many years previously from the prophets, for +there were other things they would not eat, unless pressed by _extreme_ +hunger, besides fish, such, for instance, as eggs, ducks, and bustards. + +Having finished my meal, I threw all the remainder of the fish back +again into the sea, as I felt, being their guest, I had no right to take +anything to the kraal which was regarded with such repugnance; and as +they had got all they required, we started off homewards, but had not +got half-way through the bush when we were suddenly set upon by a +buffalo, which is the most terrible foe a Kaffir can encounter, for he +does not wait to be attacked, as is the nature of most animals, but +begins the fray himself, dashing forward at headlong speed through the +bush at its enemy. Fortunately for us, we all managed to climb into +trees out of his reach, though one of the party narrowly escaped being +trampled and rended to death by the furious brute, but the assagais of +the rest happily turned him from his prey, who the next instant was far +above his reach, and joining with us in taking revenge upon his +would-have-been murderer. + +It took some time to kill the brute, whose large beautiful eyes glared +like balls of fire in its huge head under the shaggy mane; but we +succeeded at last, and, descending, soon stripped off the hide, then +leaving the carcase for the hyenas and jackals, as the Kaffirs do not +care for the flesh when they can get anything else, it being very hard, +we continued our road to the kraal, bearing our unexpected trophy with +us. + +Now having just touched upon the landmarks of my history during the six +months, I will take up the thread of the story in the next chapter, and +in a few succeeding ones will show how I at last came across my old +friends, and finally started for the white settlements. + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +A LION HUNT--THE WAR PARTY--WE HUNT THE KOODOO. + +One evening, the news ran round the kraal that Metilulu, perhaps being +in want of a lion skin, had issued his royal orders that a hunt of that +animal should take place on the morrow, at which--hearing it was +conducted differently to that of other beasts--I determined to be +present, rather against Tugela's desire, for he assured me it was +sometimes a most dangerous affair, and seldom took place without one or +two hunters being severely wounded, if not killed. Yet for all this I +resolved to make one of the party, telling Tugela that I did not dream +of joining the hunters, except as a spectator. + +So the next morning I was up betimes, and ready to set out with the +Kaffirs, whom I found carried, beside their usual weapons, an assagai +having a bunch of feathers at the top, the purpose of which I could not +divine, but patiently waited, as I often had had to do previously, for +time to show. I was now, as may be imagined, very familiar with all the +tribe, and, by being able to make myself just understood, could join +them in any affair, though Tugela was not present, as at this hunt. + +After our assembling we soon set off, and proceeded in so straight a +direction that I supposed the lair of a lion had already been +ascertained, which surmise proved correct, for we had not gone a very +great distance before we came in sight of the king of the desert, alone +and majestic, having by his side the bare bones of an eland, the flesh +of which animal had just served to stay his royal hunger. On perceiving +him the Kaffirs, with the greatest caution, separated, and placed +themselves so as entirely to surround the place where he stood, then at +the same time disclosed themselves to his view. It is the nature of +these animals never to attack a body of men unless urged by extreme +hunger, but usually to retreat before them, thinking, like some +two-legged animals, that discretion is the better part of valour. + +It was therefore with the full intention to make a retreat that the +noble beast regarded the human circle, till, by its growing smaller and +smaller, gradually hemming him in, he appeared quickly to guess their +intent, and, with a terrific roar of rage, turned fiercely upon them. +Having excited him up to this point, one of the Kaffirs, advancing +before the rest, shook the plumes on his assagai provokingly in his +face, when, to my terror, he rose suddenly up, and, with the litheness +of a cat, made a wondrous bound at his adversary. I could have declared +the poor fellow was done for; but with an agility equal to the lion's, +or to a monkey's, the hunter struck the spear of his assagai in the +ground and nimbly leaped aside, so that the powerful paw of the beast +fell with a force upon the feathered head of the weapon, which too well +proved what the fate of the man would have been had he stood in its +place. At the same moment a shower of spears assailed him from the +rear, hurled by the enemy behind. Uttering a terrific roar, turning, he +flew savagely at his nearest assailant, who performed the same rapid +feat as the first, while another cloud of weapons shot through the air. + +From the distant bush I watched this strange and most dangerous method +of hunting--dangerous truly, for even as I looked I perceived one of the +men, taken off his guard by an abrupt swerve of the lion, fail in +striking his spear and in his leap aside. The next moment the large paw +had fallen on the hunter's head with so awful a blow that it must +instantly have dislocated the spine, such, they say, being the way these +animals have when seizing their prey. The poor fellow dropped as if +struck by a thunderbolt, while the strong white teeth of the lion +fastened immediately upon his shoulder. The rest of the hunters, +quickly seizing the opportunity, sent assagai after assagai, till, +bleeding from numerous wounds, and giving one final roar, the brute sank +dead by the side of his victim. + +I ran forward instantly, as did the others, to find life extinct both in +man and beast. Save the wound of the cruel teeth in the shoulder, the +body of the Kaffir showed no other disfigurement, but looked as calm as +if in sleep. His death did not seem much to concern his companions. No +doubt they had expected some such event, and perhaps rejoiced that only +one had fallen under the paw of the kingly brute; for a lion hunt +frequently ends far less fortunately. + +Therefore slinging the beast over their shoulders, we returned to the +kraal, where we laid our prize at the chief's feet. + +It was a few days after this that, calling an assembly of his head +warriors, Metilulu informed them that it was his will that on the next +day a war party should depart to attack a distant tribe, from whose +chief he affirmed he had received a most grievous insult. + +The announcement was received with a shout of joy, for war is the +opportunity which the "boys," or "black shields," have of distinguishing +themselves, and thus acquiring the honourable title of "man" and bearer +of a white shield. All shields are conferred by the chief alone, who +bestows them on none but those who by daring deeds have proved +themselves worthy to be one of his soldiers. To the "boys" a black +shield is given till they have distinguished themselves greatly in +battle, when it is changed for a white one. Both are of a long oblong +shape, covered with cow-hide, and only vary in colour. + +Through this war expedition I became a witness of many peculiar +ceremonies attendant thereupon. First, I learned that by some means +Metilulu had procured a portion of a hide-belt belonging to the other +chief, which, having been scraped into a medicine prepared by the +witch-doctor, he had drank, believing by that he would literally swallow +up his enemy from his path. After this the warriors' turn came. All +being assembled, an ox was slaughtered by the witch-doctor, who, having +cut off one of its legs, chopped it in pieces, sprinkled them with a +magic powder, then distributed the morsels to the warriors, who devoured +them with the greatest avidity. That ended, the whole animal was cooked +for them to feast upon. + +This concluded that day's ceremony. On the next the witch-doctor +administered a medicine which acted as an emetic; then, as a +purification, to which I have previously referred, Metilulu, +approaching, sprinkled those appointed to fight with water. + +Strange as it may appear, if these rites were not performed the Kaffir's +heart would fail him in battle, not through want of courage, but merely +through superstition. + +The present expedition was under the command of a n'genana, or captain, +whose costume, like those of the other warriors, was very peculiar. +Each one had seemed to adopt his own idea of a strange head-dress, +formed of tall and short feathers; while long goats' hair hung flowing +down their backs, over their chests, and from the knee-joints more than +half-way down the calf. + +They drove with them several head of cattle, which I naturally +considered to belong to the commissariat department, but learned they +were taken for a far different purpose. On attacking an enemy's kraal, +a Kaffir's first thought is to seize the cattle--his dearly-beloved +cows. These, however, prove rather difficult to manage in a hasty +retreat; but the strangers will speedily follow if headed by oxen who +know the way, for in Caffraria, it seems, these animals are endowed with +the same instinct as dogs possess in our country. Provisions, however, +were sent with them, but to my idea, knowing the capacity of the Kaffir +appetite, scarcely sufficient for half the time they said the expedition +would take. Tugela told me that this was owing to a desire not to +encumber the army more than possible; for which same reason the +soldiers, save feathers and ornaments to show their rank, wore little +clothing,--indeed, even in the Kaffir acceptation of the word, I might +say none--not even taking with them the kaross, but sleeping without the +least covering in the open air. + +I need hardly state that, as cunning, cruelty, and bloodshed are the +leading points of warfare in Caffraria, I did not join this expedition. +No doubt I should have been refused permission had I asked it. So, +having watched the warriors off, I returned to the kraal to pass the +time in the ordinary mode--attending to my cows and corn and tobacco +patches, for so had my wealth increased, as I supposed, correctly as it +proved, that little of much interest would transpire during the war +party's absence. + +It happened, as I passed to my own hut, and casually looked in at +several others--for I had now become on familiar terms with most of the +families--that, at the principal warrior's dwelling, I found the wives +hanging their husband's sleeping-mat, pillow, and apron upon a certain +part of the wall. I should not have noticed this had it occurred merely +once; but as I saw it repeated by many, repaired to Zenuta--a common +practice of mine--to ask if there were any reason in what I had seen. + +"Oh yes!" she replied, "the wives hang them up so when their husbands +are absent. They visit them every morning to see if they cast a shadow, +for while they do she knows her husband is safe; but," she added, with a +sudden lowering of her tone and manner, "if they do not, she feels he is +dead--dead! and mourns him as if his companions had really brought the +news. Oh!" she continued, with a deep sigh, "if you, Gabbrth,"--her +mode of pronunciation--"if you had been a warrior, and had gone with the +others, I should have done the same." + +I could not but be touched by this manifestation of womanly feeling, +and, with a pressure of the hand and a smile, tried to show my +gratitude. + +Several days elapsed before anything was heard of the war party, and +nothing of any consequence took place at the kraal till it was proposed +that a few of us should make a party to hunt the koodoos. This animal +is much admired owing to its splendid spiral horns, while its flesh--a +rarity with South African animals--is both tender and of a good flavour. + +On setting out, the direction we took was that where, between two +shelving plains, covered with bright green vegetation, a sparkling river +flowed; for the koodoo requires water. Here we soon came upon several +of them, which, with much caution, we proceeded to slay. It being a +most wary animal, we, according to the Kaffir method, appearing at some +distance, approached them by large, circles, as if the last thing we saw +were the animals themselves, which proceeding apparently much puzzled +them. This we continued to do, gradually lessening the distance till +within shooting range, when, wheeling round, we hurled our assagais at +the startled herd, who sprang off at full speed, but not before we had +slain several, among which was a pretty little antelope, called an +ourebi. + +Before returning, we stretched ourselves upon the grass to enjoy the +pleasant day and rest a little; but we had not been long in this +position before we suddenly perceived a considerable party of Kaffirs, +in all the native panoply of war, fording the river much higher up than +where we were. Following the example of my companions, I instantly +seized my shield and spears, and, wriggling like a snake through the +grass, reached some bushes, from which concealment we inspected the +strangers earnestly. The head man affirmed it must be a regiment of +some hostile tribe, no doubt coming to attack our kraal, and, upon this +surmise, was just sending off a swift messenger to give the alarm at +home, when one of our party, uttering a cry of joy, declared that the +men before us were our own warriors returning from their expedition. +After a few moments' inspection, this really proved to be the fact, +whereupon we immediately quitted the bushes and advanced quickly towards +them. In doing so, I noted that, while the men rapidly forded the +river, they raised the water in the palms of their hands to their lips, +as if suffering from thirst, and I could not help asking a Kaffir near +me if he thought there was any reason for this haste. + +"No doubt," he said, "they are on a forced march, when the men are not +permitted either to stop or leave ranks; though," he added, pointing to +some dead-looking logs, like tree-trunks, which lay here and there on +the muddy banks of the river, "they would not in any case stop now. +See--crocodiles!" + +I gave almost a leap at the sound. Yes! those _logs_ were indeed +crocodiles, as I speedily was made aware, for, on our drawing near the +river, several slipped into the water with a dull lazy splash. I +remember that at the sight I felt no small amount of satisfaction that I +had not to ford the river; for though they say if you walk straight +forward, splashing the water as you go, these repulsive looking monsters +dare not touch you, I had not the least desire to try the experiment. + +We found the warriors much attenuated, having suffered greatly from want +of food, which their hunger-belts drawn very tightly proved. These +hunger-belts are made of leather, fastened several times round the body, +and are gradually tightened over the stomach to stay the cravings of +hunger. One or two "boys" of the party had suffered so much from lack +of provisions that they had actually flawed their cow-hide shields. + +Such being the state of things, it may be imagined with what alacrity +they fell upon some koodoo flesh we had prepared; in fact I thought they +would never stop. After a while, however, they left off, more from want +of provender than appetite, and continued their march homeward, we +joining company. They said they expected to be well received; for, +beside the vengeance they had taken upon the enemy having been severe, +they had also brought away with them numerous heads of cattle, which +they were well aware would be regarded with extreme satisfaction by +their chief, Metilulu. + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +METILULU REVIEWS HIS TROOPS--I ASSIST AT A HOPO BATTUE. + +As the warfare in which Metilulu's warriors had been engaged was looked +upon as very successful, the chief ordered a review to take place on the +ensuing morning, when, as was customary, those who had done brave deeds +were to be rewarded, while those who, on the contrary, had proved +themselves unworthy of being ranked among soldiers, were to receive due +punishment. This was the first review I had seen, strangers seldom +being allowed to be present at them, but my long sojourn in the kraal +made this rule waved in my case, for I had indeed become almost as one +of themselves, therefore I was permitted to be a spectator. + +Like in our own affairs of the same kind, all the warriors assembled, +each taking his right position in the ranks, but here they did so in +perfect silence, while each placing his large shield on the ground +upright before him, only permitted the upper part of his dark body to be +seen. Thus they remained till it was Metilulu's pleasure to make his +appearance; and--for it seems the etiquette of great people in +Caffraria, as well as in more civilised nations, to keep their inferiors +waiting--fully an hour elapsed--the glaring sun blazing down all the +time upon the poor fellows--before his pudgy majesty waddled upon the +field, followed by his chief counsellor, and servants bearing the +never-failing beer-jar and snuff, while one held a shield, which on such +occasions was converted into a species of umbrella, to be held over the +little man's head to shade him from the sun; and Zenuta told me that woe +would betide the bearer of it if he let a single beam of the luminary of +the day rest upon the chief's black skin, such negligence being severely +punished--even occasionally by death when the royal personage happened +to be in a bad humour. + +Metilulu's chair having been placed in an advantageous position, and his +counsellors congregated about him, the august chief was so overcome by +fatigue, owing to his unusual exertion, that he had to have recourse +both to the beer and snuff to recruit his strength before commencing the +review; then, I suppose, feeling stronger, he ordered the cattle taken +from the enemy to be marched before him. There was a pretty +considerable number, and I watched Metilulu's eyes twinkle with delight +as he beheld them. Suddenly he pointed to one, then to another, and, as +the sign was made, with the speed of light, a Kaffir had sprung forward, +and, with unerring aim, pierced the animal indicated by the chief to the +heart. + +Surprised at this summary destruction of the beloved cattle, I asked +Tugela, who was standing by me, the reason, and learned that these were +to feast Metilulu's guests, for after a fortunate expedition he always +treated the warriors handsomely. As the eyes of the remainder of the +cattle rested upon their fallen companions, and their nostrils scented +the blood, a panic seemed to seize them, for, lowing wildly, they dashed +forward in all directions, and it was as much as their keepers could do +to head them in, and get them all safely back to the isibaya. + +When this was over, and all made ready, the ceremony of pointing out the +"ama-doda," or men and the "boys" who had proved themselves worthy of +their chief's approval, commenced. This is a trying time for the +regiment, but a proud one to those who are conscious they have fought +well. Those "boys" who have done their best look eagerly forward to +receive the title of ama-doda, and become the bearer of a white shield; +while those whose courage has failed them in the hour of battle secretly +tremble in their feathers--not having shoes--at the possible, if not +inevitable result. Stepping forward, the head warrior presented his +report to Metilulu, who, on receiving it, uttered the names of those +worthy of praise aloud. As each was pronounced, the assembled Kaffirs +repeated it at the top of their voices, while they indicated with +outstretched arm the fortunate soldier. The latter, to my eyes, +appeared to have gone frantic with joy; for, with leaps only to be seen +in Caffraria or in a circus, he sprang from the ranks and commenced +executing the most peculiar antics, denoting extreme pleasure, I had +ever witnessed. His springs were wondrous. He kicked up his heels, +ran, and jumped, all the time flourishing his assagais and shield in +such a manner that I should have felt my head in danger had I been in +close proximity to him. + +By this time three or four others had been specified, and were going +through the same feats as the first--doing it with such a power and +energy that the oil actually ran from their dark bodies in little +streams. After having performed most of their military evolutions, with +a bound the happy warriors leaped back into the ranks, and resumed their +former rigid attitude. + +The scene was so eccentric that it occasioned me much amusement, and had +it ended here it would have been well enough; but now, the brave having +been rewarded, the cowards had to be punished. These were pointed out +without any shouting, and, as each was named, instant execution +followed, without a murmur on the victim's part. One who, I suppose, +had either been a very great coward, or the head warrior had a spite +against him, was barbarously beaten to death by knob-kerries. The +bodies of these, not being considered worthy of the rites of sepulture, +were dragged into the bush, and left there to become the meals of hyenas +and jackals, who speedily would leave nothing visible but the bones to +whiten in the sun. + +This over, the paid minstrels of the tribes appeared, who, approaching, +sung their great chief's praises, using every title that had been given +him during his life for any prowess, or names he had chosen for +himself,--mostly those of animals. After which all the warriors defiled +passed Metilulu, who was dressed in his most ceremonious costume of +feathers and leopard tails, etc, no doubt to inspire respect and awe, +each Kaffir as he went by bowing profoundly and lowering his shield and +assagais to the ground. + +This completing the review the feast commenced, which I need not +recount, so therefore shall pass it over. The successful issue of this +raid upon his enemy had so good an effect upon Metilulu, that he +proposed a large slaughter of animals should take place, so as to make a +grand feast--which meant every Kaffir was to have as much as he could +eat, and, if the reader recollects the account I have already given of +their capacity in that line, he will see that the quantity of provisions +necessary to be provided would be great indeed. + +It must not be thought that the generous fit of Metilulu extended so far +as to the slaughtering his own cattle for the occasion; on the contrary, +he meant the slaying of a good many head of game. To render this easy a +large pit or hopo was dug in the neighbourhood of a frequent resort of +the animals we required; from this diverged two strongly made fences, +expanding one to the left the other to the right, till the farther +extremities were nearly a mile apart. + +The above method of entrapping animals has, I am aware, been frequently +described before, for it is a custom practised in many parts of Africa; +but having been an actor in this one myself, I should like here to +recount it to my readers. + +Most of the kraal joined the hunters, for many were required, and when +we drew near the spot, orders were given to disperse ourselves so as to +enclose a large space of bush. This being performed, by shouts and +flourishes of our assagais we began to beat up the game, and drive the +startled animals who sprang forth before us in the direction of the +hopo. Few creatures, as I believe, I have remarked previously, will +attack a party of men unless urged on by extreme hunger, thus even those +of a more ferocious nature than the eland or gemsbok flew before the +shrieking Kaffirs, who appeared like so many fiends broken loose, and +never shall I forget the scene that ensued; the fleet eland, the +gemsbok, the small graceful duiker bok, the gnoos, the zebras, and even +here and there an elephant and a buffalo, all in one pell-mell frighted +herd, fled on, in hope of safety, but, in fact, only hurrying to their +sure destruction. Occasionally they would attempt to break the fences, +but armed Kaffirs placed behind them would drive them back. The mouth +of the hopo had been concealed by tree-trunks and branches, so that the +creatures never perceived the trap laid, till, owing to the velocity of +their speed, there was no drawing back, but with a plunge the first +ranks disappeared, and the rest bounded upon the top of them. So when I +reached the hopo I found it full of miserable, struggling, howling life, +awful to see. Legs, bodies, and heads were in an inextricable mass, the +pit being so crammed that the remainder of the animals had used it as a +path to pass over and escape again to the cover of the bush. + +Then into the heaving mass the hunters began to throw assagai after +assagai, killing the uppermost, and leaving the under ones to be +suffocated by the blood and weight, which speedily must have taken +effect. When all had been rendered harmless, one by one the slaughtered +beasts were raised by the aid of poles, and with songs of rejoicing-- +for, having captured nearly forty head of game, the hopo was considered +most successful--we returned to the kraal, where preparations for a +grand cooking had been made. + +After the feasting had abated and much joila had been drunk, I saw one +of the best dances I had yet witnessed in Caffraria--that is, more +persons than usual joined in it, for as to figure one dance resembled +another, each appearing to go through the performance according to his +own taste and with the one idea, to show as much energy and agility as +he possibly had in him. + +The dancing girls had porcupine quills or hard thorns from the mimosa +stuck erect in their woolly hair, and about their waists a leather belt +covered in every part with beads, which barely answered the purpose of +an apron, while their necks, arms, and legs were literally hidden by +ornaments, they having apparently attired themselves in anything fine +they possibly could procure--it being a sign of wealth; and there, as in +other countries, the saying truly may be used, that pride is never +pinched, for though the heavy weight of these beads, bones, shells, etc, +must much incommode the dancers' movements, yet not one of them would +think of leaving a single ornament out of their toilette. + +The dance commencing, the girls first formed themselves into a circle +and began, only accompanied by the sound of their own voices, then, +after a while, the warriors starting up, clashing their assagais on +their shields--for to create as horrible a hubbub as possible seems the +Kaffir's particular delight--joined in the figure, first whirling round +in an outer circle, then closing in and mingling together, never at any +time ceasing to keep up the accompaniment of their clashing shields and +shrill voices. + +As usual their antics grew exceedingly violent, and as the evening was +remarkably warm, the perspiration, I might say oil, rolled in greasy +drops down the dancers' faces, causing them some inconvenience, though +each of the girls was provided with a long narrow piece of wood or bone, +something similar to a blunt knife, with which she scraped the grease +from her person wherever she felt it uncomfortable. I thought it was +well, too, that the dances took place in the open air, and even then I +was very glad to use my seaman's knowledge, to keep to the windward of +the performers. + +Zenuta had once been one of the best dancers in the tribe, but, whether +my words were taking effect in her heart, she now absolutely refused to +join, for which I was not sorry, as I took care to tell her afterwards, +and received a proud, happy smile from the poor girl's eyes, for these +dances do not conduce to the morality of the people, who seem to work +themselves up to a perfectly mad frenzy, when they recognised no bounds +to their desires. + +I said "Poor Zenuta," and each day I repeated the phrase with greater +pity, for I had begun to pine for dear England and English faces with a +true home sickness, and looked forward to every succeeding hour, hoping +it might bring some chance to enable me to return, when I should be +compelled to tell her that we must part for ever. It is true she had +begged me to take her with me, saying she would never vex me, but work +for me night and day; but whatever should I, Dick Galbraith, a poor +seaman, do with a Kaffir girl in England? I respected the affection she +displayed too much to have her treated with indignity as she might be in +a strange and civilised land, and I could not have taken her home, so in +all ways I saw it was best and kindest to leave her with her tribe, +feeling sure among them she would soon get reconciled to the separation, +and, no doubt, quickly marry after I left, as I intended to give her all +my cows and other effects. The sequel will prove, however, how little I +knew the really determined nature Zenuta possessed. That in intellect +and sensibility she was far in advance of her people I had speedily +become aware; but I never dreamed to what lengths her loving, humble +devotion to one, who could only give her a friendly, pitying kindness in +return, would carry her. + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +HOME THOUGHTS--THE DROUGHT AND THE RAIN-MAKER--I RECEIVE TERRIBLE NEWS. + +It was some time after the above that I sat just outside my hut enjoying +a smoke, or rather I should not say enjoying, for I happened to be +extremely sad at heart. I had now been nearly a year in Caffraria, and +no doubt had long been supposed dead by my wife and friends, for the +news of the wreck could not fail to have reached them by this time, +accompanied no doubt by the sad intelligence that all the crew had +perished. + +I pictured to myself my wife's despair on hearing it; how her pretty +face would be bathed in tears; how she, in her great sorrow, might +earnestly pray for death, till recalled from the wife's grief, by the +mother's duties, she would clasp my children to her bosom, and, +overcoming her heart-broken agony, resolve, if only for my sake, to live +for them. + +My little house, with its small comfortable parlour, all rose up clearly +before me. There on the wall hung the curiosities I had brought from +distant parts to Kate, and which she dusted so carefully every morning, +while here on the mantelpiece stood the old clock, with its wooden case +as black as ebony, supported right and left by a China shepherd and +shepherdess, which were supported in their turn by little China vases +containing spills ready for me, Dick Galbraith, when at home, to light +my pipe as I sat on one side of the pleasant fire-grate, a glass of grog +at my right hand, and Katie busily darning or mending the family linen +opposite, chatting of village gossip--how Dan, the fisherman, had nearly +been capsized in the last squall; or what a great haul he had had, which +had put him into such a good humour that he had actually bought his +missus a new gown; or, when not talking, listening so attentively to my +yarns respecting the places I had visited and the people I had seen. +Strange stories enough I should have to tell her this time! + +A sigh escaped my lips as this reminded me how long it would be before I +should smoke my pipe, if I really ever did again, in that comfortable, +snug little parlour, with the smell of the briny sea in the air, and +Katie by my side, while the children slumbered overhead, rocked to +sleep, as their father had been before them, by the soothing lullaby of +the ocean. + +Such thoughts, as may be imagined, were not very conducive to the +increase of my comfort where I was, and I felt in a very desponding +mood, when, happening suddenly to raise my eyes, I became aware that +Zenuta, carrying a gourd of corn she had been crushing to mix with amasi +for my dinner, was standing motionless some little distance off, and +gazing steadfastly, sadly upon me. + +I somehow felt an unwillingness to meet her glance, so, lowering my +eyes, appeared to be busy refilling my pipe. But what woman in the +world, even including Kaffirland, will be put off if they have anything +to say? Thus a moment after, Zenuta approaching placed her gourd upon +the ground, then sitting down said plaintively, "You are thinking of +your home far away, Galbrth. You are thinking of your wife." + +I could not, nor did I wish to deny it, so I said, "Yes, Zenuta, I am. +It is very sad to be separated from all those whom I have loved, and who +have loved me from childhood. Fancy how you would feel it." + +"_I_ would go anywhere with you. I would leave all," rejoined the girl +earnestly, as she looked into my face. + +"My dear Zenuta," I said, taking her hand, "you must not speak thus for +my sake. You do not know what our land is compared to yours--how +different it is: you would be unhappy there." + +"Have you not told me," she answered quickly, "that it is a better +land--that its people know more; that they are kinder; that they are +what you call civilised?" + +"Yes, truly, they are all this; but, Zenuta, you would be a stranger +among them--strange to their customs, strange to their language." + +"So were you when you came here," she interrupted, "yet we were kind to +you. You have become a hunter--almost one of us." + +I could not deny this, and warmly confessed that I had been most +hospitably treated; "and yet," I had it on my lips to say, "I am not +happy, Zenuta, neither would you be were you in England;" but as I +looked into the poor girl's eager, earnest eyes, I had not the heart to +make the speech, and she continued most touchingly-- + +"Besides, I should not be alone, Galbrth; you would still be kind to me +would you not? And your wife, too, I would like her for your sake." + +I do not mind owning that tears dimmed my eyes as Zenuta spoke, and, +with some emotion, I pressed her hand, saying-- + +"You are a good, affectionate girl, Zenuta, and, believe me, I will ever +be a friend to you." + +They were simple words, and not much, considering the deep love she +bestowed in return; yet they might have been the most affectionate +expressions lover ever uttered to have seen the light of joy which +quickly lit up her eyes and whole face, then, suddenly seizing my hand, +she raised it to her lips and kissed it passionately; after which, +getting up, without another word, she entered the hut with the crushed +corn for my dinner. + +I have forgotten to say that I had once detected Zenuta in administering +a love powder to me, so that she might thus obtain the affection she +felt she could not get otherwise; and it was with some difficulty, +having even to resort to assumed anger, that I prevented her continuing +this unpleasant practice; for I had no desire to swallow some mysterious +compound concocted by a Kaffir witch-doctor. Afterwards I took an early +opportunity to reason with her upon this foolish superstition, I fancy +with some success, for, either through my arguments or fear of my anger, +she never, to the best of my belief, had recourse to the charms again. +I had reason to imagine, however, that she communicated my opinion +respecting these superstitions to the witch-doctor himself, thereby +making me a most dangerous enemy, and the time was drawing near when +this was to be most disagreeably proved. + +Zenuta had scarcely left me than, not feeling disposed to resume my +former reverie, I got up to take a stroll through the kraal. There had +been few hunting parties lately, owing to the necessity of driving the +cattle every day a great distance to obtain water, as for some time past +the neighbourhood of our dwelling had been suffering from drought--a +terrible affair to both natives and cattle. No sooner do the signs show +than the dread of famine immediately seizes the people, and not without +reason, for owing to the pasturage growing scarce, being quickly +scorched up by the fierce rays of the tropical sun, many cows perish; +consequently the milk--the staff of life to the Kaffir--considerably +fails in quantity. Both men and women are in horror, for the rivers +begin to dry, then the wells and springs. + +Such had been the state of things for some time with us, and Metilulu at +last had recourse to the power of the prophets, or rain-makers; for they +fully believe that these men are capable of bringing the rain they so +desire. + +There is little doubt that these rain-makers can read the nature of the +clouds even better than the majority of the people, though all +understand it pretty well, as most tribes do who live in a wild state +and are much in the open air; yet it is certain that these men are very +often at fault, and the rain will not come for all their arts. Of +course they must feel aware of this, and, to prevent losing the good +opinion of their devotees, they will demand almost impossible forms to +be gone through, or things given them, to work their charms, averring +that they could never succeed without. + +I had had this proved to me by experience, as for the last few days the +rain-maker--his lank, skeleton-like figure clothed in an attire +something similar to the witch-doctors--had from the top of a high hill +been beckoning to the clouds, which did not come. Sheep, goats, and +other animals, had been sacrificed, but to no effect; the blue sky +remained quite as clear, save where the sun, like a glowing furnace, +shot his beams, of a white-heat intensity, down upon the parched land. + +Owing to what I have stated above, the whole tribe were extremely +downcast, while the cattle perished daily. Famine seemed inevitable. +There yet was one more chance. The rain-maker had declared the next +morning he would mention what he would require for another sacrifice, +and this time he knew that he should succeed: the clouds would no longer +be able to resist his power, but, on the contrary, would pour their +sweet supply of refreshing life upon the earth, bringing pasturage and +plenty to the tribe. + +What the prophet required proved to be the hearts of three koodoos, cut +from the animals while alive. I felt extremely disgusted and indignant +at this cruel and absurd request, but I was yet to learn that these men +could ask wilder things than this, and get them speedily obeyed by the +miserable, ignorant people over whom they exert such arbitrary power. + +This ceremony, the obtaining the koodoo's hearts, had taken place three +days before my talk with Zenuta, yet no rain had fallen, nor did there +seem the least likelihood of its coming, as far as my nautical knowledge +went. I had made no enquiry that day respecting the rain-maker's +prophecy, nor whether he had made any other requests, as his last had so +signally failed; indeed, I took but little interest in the impostor, +impostor even to himself, but my brain still occupied by those home +thoughts, which I could not banish, I wandered indifferently about the +kraal. Once or twice, however, I could not help fancying that several +of the Kaffirs whom I passed looked upon me in a strange manner, while +others, at my approach, dropping quickly on their knees, crept into +their huts as if to avoid a meeting. + +I was at the time too busy with other things to pay much, if any, +attention to these signs, but having made the circuit of the kraal, came +once more in sight of my own dwelling. As I did so I perceived Tugela +abruptly issue from it, spring in to an erect position, and hurry off. +Not having seen him all day, I hastened after to overtake him, but his +speed being greater than mine, he soon distanced me, so giving the chase +up, I entered my home with a very good appetite for my dinner. + +It being ready, I sat down to it at once, and had somewhat allayed my +hunger when, with a sudden cry, Zenuta cast herself beside me, +apparently in an agony of grief, for looking down I saw tears rolling +down her cheeks. In much concern I raised her from her kneeling +position, and asked the cause of her emotion. For a few moments, +however, sobs checked her utterance, then she let fall several brief, +disconnected sentences, which made me sure that some imminent danger was +threatening me. Earnestly I besought her to speak more clearly, even +having recourse to the infallible reasoning, the love which she had so +often expressed for me. The latter, as usual, had the effect I so +anxiously desired, and sobbing as if her heart would break, she said how +she had just learned from Tugela--what it now seemed the whole kraal had +known some hours before--that the rain-maker, in an interview with +Metilulu, had declared that the drought was entirely caused by the white +man who was among them, whose disbelief in his (the prophet's) power had +also made his charms fail, and never would they succeed, nor rain come, +till the Englishman had been removed--removed, meant death. + +No one but those who had witnessed the barbarous cruelty and ignorance +of these people, combined with their utter regardlessness to the +suffering of others, can imagine the effect this intelligence had upon +me. The first feeling that seized me was the certainty that after all +my escapes my hour had come at last, and I was really never to see old +England again, and the dear ones it contained. Zenuta, seeing my horror +and despair, clung entreatingly to me, and with true woman's tenderness, +which is the same in all lands when their hearts are concerned, tried to +calm and soothe me, by saying Tugela had also told her that Metilulu had +seemed most averse to letting me suffer, and had even informed the +prophet that he would defer his answer respecting the subject, and +perhaps would talk to the white man himself, and see what his opinions +really were upon the point. + +These words gave me the relief which the affectionate girl desired, for +they were to me what a respite is to a condemned man.--It showed me I +had a few hours to reflect and to determine how to act; so, for the +first time pressing my lips to Zenuta's dusky forehead, for I could not +but be deeply moved by the warm affection which she showed me, I bade +her go about her household duties, and leave me awhile, as I wished to +think how best to answer the Chief Metilulu on the morrow. + +With a glow of intense happiness on her face at this token of +friendship, she silently obeyed, while I, throwing myself on the ground, +began to reflect how I could manage to escape from the awful danger +impending over me. + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +I PREPARE TO ESCAPE--I LEAVE THE KRAAL, BUT QUICKLY RETURN--THE ENEMY-- +THE KRAAL IN FLAMES. + +Lying there on my sleeping-mat I contemplated my hazardous position with +feelings better imagined than described. My flesh crept as I recalled +the horrible torture I had seen practiced on the wretched wizard, and +felt how in a few days, if fortune did not favour me, I too might +undergo the same. + +I tried to draw consolation from the fact, that Metilulu--for a great +wonder--had shown much repugnance in accepting the rain-maker's +statement, and had declared he would reserve his decision, respecting +the white man's removal, till the morrow; but I could abstract but +little comfort from this, feeling assured that if the drought continued +the land would be brought into such a terrible state of famine, that, if +not from his own will, Metilulu, to save himself from the fury of the +people, would be compelled to give, me over into the merciless grasp of +the enraged prophet. No; there was only one way left to me. I felt my +life was no longer safe there--if reprieved by Metilulu's friendship +until the next day, it was but deferring my ultimate fate; therefore I +resolved, if possible, to escape that very night, and take to the bush, +being more willing to trust to its perils than those I knew I ran with +the witch-doctors. + +Having come to this resolve, I thought the best way to avoid creating +any suspicions of my intent was to go about as usual; so, rising, I +repaired to my cows to see if they required any care, then went to my +small patch of tobacco land, where, collecting many leaves, and rolling +them fit for use, I wrapped each separate parcel in reeds, according to +the custom of the Kaffirs, who place them in their huts, where they can +be seen by all, for the possession of a large store of tobacco is a +great pride to the natives, as they reckon their superiority over their +fellows by it. + +As may be easily conceived, _I_ did not do it for this purpose, but +prepared them in these small portions so that I could easily carry them +about my person in my intended flight; for I perfectly well knew the +value of the plant in the bush, not only as a comfort to its possessor, +but because it is equivalent to the use of money in England when you +require services rendered, for a Kaffir will do anything to possess some +of the much-prized weed. + +Frequently, while so engaged, I cast anxious glances to windward to note +if there was the least sign of rain clouds appearing, but from north to +south, from east to west all continued to be one clear, blue, unbroken +expanse. Once, noticing a slight mist on the horizon, I wetted the palm +of my hand and held it up in that direction, when I fancied I could +detect the faint touch of a cooler breeze. If so, there might really be +rain before morning, but certainly not earlier; therefore, it made no +change in my resolve to be off that night, if possible. + +Having done all I could to my patch of land, which I mentally hoped +never to see again, I took my packets of tobacco and turned homewards. +The men having little to do, and no heart to do that, were mostly seated +about the kraal, smoking or talking respecting the drought and the +deaths of their cows. As well as I could, without making it +perceptible, I avoided these groups, for the fear displayed on my +approach--some retreating altogether, while all regarded me with a +strange look of covert suspicion--was now fully explained, the truth +being that they each regarded me as the wilful cause of their present +dire suffering. + +I wisely took no heed of their manner, pretending not to perceive it, +though in truth it made me most uncomfortable, for I fancied it likely +these men, urged to frenzy by reflecting on the approaching famine, +might rise up at any moment, surround my hut, demand me of Metilulu, +make me a prisoner, and torture me to their hearts' content--a deed for +which they would afterwards rejoice, and no doubt receive the praises of +the Prophets and Metilulu himself, for, as far as I could judge, even as +I had returned to the kraal, the wind had slightly shifted, and rain +might not be two days off, when its subsequent arrival would of course +be attributed to my death. No pleasant reflection; and I could have +regarded the men about me with the same horror as did the poor +mis-called wizard when the witch-doctor, after his farcical snuffing the +air, suddenly, as if he had smelt him out, dropped upon the wretched +victim; but, conquering any outward sign of uneasiness, I exchanged a +few casual remarks with those I met, taking no note at their not always +being returned. + +On reaching my hut I found Zenuta still there, so, as I wished to be +alone to make some little preparation for the night, I sent her out on +an errand; then, placing the wicker-door before the entrance, that the +interior could not be easily seen, I took two hard stones which I had +brought in with me, and cautiously began rubbing up the heads of the few +assagais I had managed to retain to as sharp a point as I could make +them. + +The work took me some little time, and had the effect of engaging my +thoughts and preventing me dwelling too much upon my perilous position. +I then selected the best skins I possessed, placing them ready to put +on, with my kaross, which I intended to make serve for a sleeping-mat, +as I should, no doubt, have to camp out for many nights in the bush; +afterwards putting the rolls of tobacco in a piece of hide, I stowed it +away with the rest, to be ready to hand when I started. + +I had scarcely ended, and the hour was, as far as I could judge, about +six o'clock European time, when a shadow fell over the doorway, and the +next moment a "boy," slim and handsome in figure, as Kaffirs all are in +youth, crept in on hands and knees. I recognised him as one of those +who attended on Metilulu, and my heart fell, fearing that the chief had +changed his mind, and determined to surrender me to the rain-doctor even +then; for when he had honoured me with any message before, it had +usually come through Tugela. But the messenger's first words allayed my +fears at once on this point. + +After the ordinary every-day salutations, the "boy" stated that Metilulu +had sent to say he desired me not to take my cows out the next day, but +entrust them to another, for he wished me to wait upon him, as he had +something of much importance to communicate. + +I answered directly that the noble Metilulu had ever shown me--a +stranger--so much kindness, that his will was as law to me, even as to +his own people; therefore I should certainly not take my cows out the +next day, but would attend upon him as he desired. "I should like +also," I added, "if the chief would permit me to inform him that, as far +as my knowledge as a sailor went, I hoped and believed we should have +rain before two days were over." + +The messenger seemed much pleased at my reply, feeling, perhaps, that I +was safe in their clutches, and started off to bear it immediately to +Metilulu. + +I had purposely made my answer touch upon the kindness of the chief, +with the hope that the little praise might act in my favour, and I had +also mentioned the coming rain, thinking it possible that it might +excite Metilulu's curiosity, so, if I did not effect my escape, that he +would defer my execution, to see if the "white man's" prophecy was +correct. I knew my reply would be delivered _verbatim_; for these +Kaffir messengers can carry them for miles, but never vary in a +syllable. + +Zenuta returning, I informed her of Metilulu's wish. She displayed much +concern on hearing it, and finally declared that she felt sure he meant +mischief. + +"Do you think so, Zenuta?" I said very indifferently, for I could not +even trust her with the fact that I was about to escape; for I should +have had to add that I must leave her behind, and we never again should +meet. Poor girl! But what _could_ I do? "I do _not_ think so," I +continued; "he has proved himself so hospitable to me up to this time, +that I do not believe he would change. At any rate, he will assuredly +listen to my arguments; and finally, Zenuta, you are aware," I added +solemnly, pointing upward, "that my faith rests in One above, who has +power to save me if He please, had all the chiefs in Caffraria willed my +death." + +She looked doubtfully and with awe at me, then said, with touching +earnestness, "May He, then, save you, Galbrth, if He really can, my +beloved!" + +Despite my apparent indifference, Zenuta's behaviour naturally made me +more certain than ever that to stay till the morrow would be like +signing my own death-warrant; therefore, for all Metilulu's peaceful +message, I determined to be gone that night. + +How long the time appeared before it came. When it did, however, it +could not have been more kind to me, for the moon did not rise till late +and the night was very dark. So, anxiously waiting alone in my hut, I +listened till all grew silent in the kraal, and I felt sure its inmates +were wrapped in sleep. Then I glided out, my kaross tied up, the +tobacco strung round my shoulders, and my shield and assagais in my +hand. Fearing to quit the place by the usual egress, lest the dogs +should create a disturbance and alarm the sleepers, I stealthily skirted +my hut till I reached the fence, where, with a strength made great by +the imminence of my danger, I forced the poles asunder and squeezed +myself through. When I was outside, I gave a long sigh of relief for I +felt free, safe, but not quite safe enough. On the contrary, I was very +anxious to put as great a distance between the kraal and myself as +possible before my absence could be discovered. So quickly I hurried +on, keeping a sharp look-out around and breathing many blessings upon +the darkness; but I had not gone far when the moon, showing the tip of +its broad disc over the hills, east a silver ray of light on the +opposite horizon, warning me of its approach, and I glanced keenly on +each side for some bushes to conceal my figure from view. + +As I did so I came to a most abrupt halt, for among the trees some +distance off, where the moonbeams fell, I could swear I saw the dusky +forms of Kaffirs gliding in and out about the trunks. A moment's +careful inspection proved to me that they did not belong to the tribe I +had just left, but were advancing apparently with the extremest caution. +What could it mean? There was but one answer. Some Chief was +retaliating upon Metilulu the attack he had not many days ago made upon +him. But what was I to do? Make use of the confusion that must ensue +to favour my escape! No; I could not do it; for I recalled the kindness +I had experienced from these people, and thought of the helpless women, +Zenuta above all, and children who lay sleeping, unconscious of the +approaching enemy who, in a brief space, would massacre them with the +most barbaric cruelty. + +My resolve was instantly taken. With the greatest speed I could muster, +I swiftly returned to the kraal, entering by the same way I had left. +Then having flung my kaross and tobacco back into the hut, I ran first +to the "boys'" huts, they being the nearest, afterwards to the men's, +whispering the word of alarm--"The enemy is upon us." + +Quickly the whole kraal was astir, and, hastily arming themselves with +shields and assagais, commenced as quietly as possible driving the +cattle to the bush, for the first thought of the besieger is to seize +the cows, while that of the besieged is to prevent his doing so. + +Through the enemy advancing at the back of the kraal, we were able to +quit it unperceived with the oxen, women, and children, for the latter +also were to take refuge in the bush till the fight was over. We were +but just in time, for scarcely had all been safely placed than, ere we +could get back, with yells like an army of fiends, the place was +surrounded by the enemy, who scaled the fence like a swarm of black +beetles, flourishing their weapons, and proving by their behaviour how +little mercy the sleeping inmates would have obtained had they been +there. + +Speedily, however, they discovered that the kraal was empty, and their +howls of baffled rage was only excelled by those they uttered when a +shower of assagais from our party showed that they were expected and +prepared for. Then for the first time I witnessed a Kaffir method of +warfare. Each man crouched behind his shield, or held it so as to +protect his head, only glancing out when he cast his weapon with +unerring aim at his enemy. + +The moon was now fully up, lighting the entire scene, which was both +picturesque and animated. The air at first seemed darkened by the +flying assagais, and I, forgetful of the danger I had so lately and +perhaps still did run, threw mine with as good a will as any of them. + +Many of our men fell; but I soon perceived that our numbers far exceeded +the enemy, who no doubt had reckoned on a surprise for success. They +began visibly to give way, and shortly after, forming into a compact +body, the shields held in front like a wall, as against them the native +spears are useless, they commenced a slow retreat, for they had speedily +taken to the open field when the fight began. Slowly we followed, +casting our spears as they did as we proceeded, when, suddenly, over the +fence surrounding the huts, several black forms were seen to leap, and +the next moment sharp pointed tongues of flame shot up from numerous +parts into the air. + +They had fired the kraal! + +The yells of rage now came from our party, as frantic for revenge they +made a furious charge on the enemy, who fled with all haste to the bush, +leaving many wounded behind them, who were pitilessly slaughtered by the +infuriated pursuers. But the bush once gained, it became useless to +follow further, therefore the order was given to return and collect the +cattle, which were becoming restive and ungovernable at the sight of the +flames. + +To have saved the kraal, I need not say, would have been impossible, +constructed as it was of wood and thatch, so, having got the oxen safe, +we encamped on the hillside, where--the Kaffirs breathing vows of a +terrible vengeance--we sat to watch it burn out; and a fine sight truly +it was, forming a grand picture, for the spiral masses of flame rushing +with a roar upward, lighted for some distance around the strangely grand +African scenery, while the broad faced moon, with her attendant stars, +shone placidly down from above. + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +METILULU EXPRESSES HIS GRATITUDE--HIS REVENGE--THE LOST FOUND. + +Scarcely had morning dawned, than Metilulu, surrounded by his +counsellors, coming up, warmly thanked me in words full of the sincerest +gratitude for having saved the lives of his tribe, as assuredly, but for +my warning, they would all have been massacred before the men could have +even had time to seize their weapons in defence. The little Chief +seemed indeed so vastly pleased that I thought his praises would never +cease, and I began to be rather tired of listening, when he suddenly put +to me a question, which I had expected he would from the first. This +was, "How it happened that I had been so lucky to see the enemy's +approach at so late an hour?" Of course, I dared not give the right +reason; but, on the contrary, seized the opportunity this occasion +offered to improve my position and consequence in Metilulu's eyes by +saying,-- + +"That I had been much concerned respecting the drought, which threatened +such great suffering to his people and cattle, particularly after +sending the message to him regarding the coming rain. The thought that +he would fancy I only intended to deceive him made it impossible for me +to sleep; therefore, I had walked outside the huts to note what aspect +the moon would possess on rising, feeling sure, if she displayed the +slightest mistiness on her disc, that rain could not be far off. It was +at the time when so engaged that, happening to glance through an opening +in the fence towards the bush, I had become conscious of dark, moving +figures in the distance, and, guessing foul play, had immediately given +the alarm to the kraal." + +Metilulu listened very attentively, as did his counsellors, and, when I +had finished, asked with much anxiety,-- + +"Did you see the moon rise? If so, what was its appearance?" + +"It appeared with a slight halo about it," I rejoined. + +"We shall have rain, then?" he said interrogatively. + +To answer this in the affirmative, I had only to look up to the heavens, +without any aid from my previous knowledge of the halo, and I told him +that I believed rain would fall very shortly, perhaps even before night. + +He smiled with great satisfaction at this, saying, if it proved true, I +should be his rain-maker for the future. Then taking his leave, I saw +him proceed direct to the prophet and address that withered, sour +specimen of humanity. + +I learned afterwards, from Tugela, that Metilulu had accused him of +wishing to destroy the man who had turned out to be the best friend the +tribe had, while he ended by asserting, on the strength of my word +alone, that the rain was coming, and very speedily too, though the white +man yet lived. The rain-maker, perceiving the champion I had in the +Chief, had muttered out something about a mistake; it must have been +some one of their own people, whose evil spirit had caused his spells to +fail till now. I rather admired that "till now," the conceit was so +extremely cool. + +Such a flagrant act of imposture as this in our country would have +speedily ruined all the prestige of a conjuror, much less a prophet; but +there it had not the least effect, and if the rain had not come as I had +predicted, no doubt the prophet would have triumphed enormously, and +again been set to work to smell out another unfortunate victim, if he +had not still persisted--as very likely he might--that the worker of all +this evil was myself. + +As it was, however, plenteous and refreshing rains fell that day; the +rivers again began to flow, and the springs and wells to fill--all of +which had an effect wonderful to behold upon the natives. They danced, +they shouted, they sang, and fairly embraced each other and their dear +cattle, the destruction of their kraal appearing to sink into quite a +minor affair. It was far from doing so with Metilulu, a brave little +fellow, despite his obesity. Before the day was out, he had called his +chief warriors together, to arrange with them how and when to take dire +vengeance upon his enemy. Not one of the tribe was loathe to do this; +therefore, it was determined that, directly they could erect a kraal +sufficiently large to keep the cattle and women in safety, the whole +body of Kaffirs, with Metilulu himself at their head, should, leaving +only enough behind to protect the women and cows, depart for the enemy's +dwellings, upon whom they swore to have a terrible retribution. + +Consequently three days after, when an isibaya had been hurriedly +constructed for the cattle and huts for the females, children, and those +who were to remain as their guards, the war party set out, I among their +number, by permission of the chief, who now seemed ready to grant +anything I desired--a willingness on his Majesty's part which I hoped +soon to put to a great test, by stating my earnest desire to return to +my own people and land. + +We set forth after sun-down, so as to reach the enemy's quarters in the +middle of the night, which we succeeded in doing, for after having +marched for nearly four hours, we came abruptly on the kraal, laying, +bathed in moonlight, all silent and still just at the foot of a slight +incline. + +I think it need not be stated that I had no intention to play any part +in the affair about to take place, for the men I was with were acting no +better than had those who had attacked them, while from experience I +knew they could be quite, as cruel. But aware my presence or absence +could do neither harm nor good, I had really come hoping thereby to gain +still further Metilulu's friendship, so that perhaps he might the more +readily grant my request to be passed on to a white settlement. + +Falling back, therefore, to the rear as the Kaffirs advanced, I +manoeuvred to remain in the shadow of the bush while they went on. In +the kraal before me there was, unfortunately, no wakeful eye to warn the +sleepers of their danger, and the Kaffirs, approaching silently with the +stealthy tread of a cat, had even scaled the fences before a sound was +heard. Then the dogs began to bark and the cows to low, for in +Caffraria cattle can at times be made to serve in place of the watchful +canine animals themselves; but, before their masters could be aroused by +the warning, they were startled into consciousness of their peril by +their huts being pierced by the assagais of the enemy, whose loud yells +of triumph rang awfully through the still air. + +A terrible scene ensued--warriors who had had only time to seize their +weapons issued forth but to be slaughtered, while women and children +mostly shared the same fate. Some of the fragile huts were crushed down +altogether--the inmates under them--into which heaps the enemy +frequently thrust their spears to destroy the miserable beings beneath. + +I waited impatiently for an end to this frightful scene of bloodshed, +and each moment expected to see the cattle drawn out to a place of +safety and the kraal set on fire as ours had been; but there appeared no +signs of this. Owing to the unfairness of the fight, it speedily began +to subside; yet the cattle remained in the isibaya. Had the enemy been +exterminated, or had they yielded? + +I waited yet a little longer, then became certain one or other was the +case, for the fight seemed over, while Metilulu's regiment were already +forming into order. Consequently, thinking it as well now to join them, +I hastened from the bush and entered the kraal. It presented a horrible +sight to one who, like myself, was unused to bloodshed and battlefields, +though no doubt it was not so ghastly as that presented by one of our +civilised engagements; for here were no shattered limbs, no torn gaping +wounds, no headless trunks, and bodies rent in twain by cannon shot. +The assagai, or, occasionally, the knob-kerrie, had alone been used; and +strewn over the ground were the dead forms of the Kaffirs, the spears +which had caused their deaths yet remaining buried deep up the shaft in +the victims, the victors not having had time to collect them. In some +parts, where the fight had been the thickest, they laid in heaps; yet, +with but few exceptions, the positions of all retained a look of +graceful, easy repose. Notwithstanding, to me, it was a sickening sight +to behold so many who, but an hour before, had been full of healthful +life, now lying there extended on the plain--dead. + +On going a little further I perceived Metilulu standing in the isibaya, +inspecting the numbering the cattle by some of his men, while others +were forming the survivors into their proper regiments, to discover +which of the tribe had fallen. Having no wish to join either I strolled +on, wondering in my own mind as to what they intended to do with the +slain, for to leave them where they were under the tropical sun of day +would soon render the spot unbearable and detrimental to the existence +of the survivors. + +Just at this moment I chanced to come across Tugela, bearing a message +from Metilulu to one of his warriors, and, as I was going his way, I +asked him with some curiosity, "How the fight had terminated." + +"All those who had not been slain," he said, "had finally yielded and +consented to submit to Metilulu, accepting him for their chief. +Therefore, as the kraal was ready for immediate occupation, and stood in +a much better situation regarding vegetation and water than his, the +little Chief had issued orders for all the huts to be taken care of, as +he intended at once to make the place his own abode, while the +vanquished were to build themselves a kraal a little distance off." + +"But what will you do with these heaps of slain?" I asked. "If they +remain here long the air will be full of pestilential vapours." + +"Those who like to bury their friends have permission to do so," +rejoined Tugela, "The others will be dragged far into the bush for the +wild beasts to devour, or thrown into the rivers for the crocodiles. We +never bury them as you English do." + +Saying which he hurried on with his message; and, even as he went, I +perceived numerous parties of "boys" removing the fallen men for the +purpose Tugela had stated. Whether they ascertained if all they took +were really dead, particularly when the bodies were those of the enemy, +I cannot tell, but I rather think not. + +On being once more alone I continued my walk, and had the satisfaction +of relieving from under the debris of a fallen hut a poor woman with an +assagai wound in her side, who immediately, with much chattering, +scurried off to the bush, clasping a baby in her arms, and leaving me no +time to tell her that she would be quite safe if she liked to remain at +the kraal. + +It was soon after this that I came to a second demolished dwelling, from +whence I fancied there issued murmuring sounds of life. Thinking I +might be so fortunate as to rescue another unfortunate being, I listened +attentively, and speedily, by the slight upheaving of the rubbish, was +convinced some person was beneath--whereupon I set to work as fast as I +could to clear away the heap so as to make an opening, all the while +assuring those inside that there was no cause for fear, the fight was +over, and peace concluded. I had nearly effected my purpose, when +suddenly a grizzled head was thrust up into the moonlight--the ruined +hut looking something like a hencoop fastened about the neck. After +glancing quickly round, the possessor of the head exclaimed, to my utter +amazement, "Well, jib-booms and top-sails, but this is a queer scene, +this is." + +I reeled back mute with astonishment at the words, which recalled to me +the apparition's attention, and he continued-- + +"Well, you black nigger, how long are you going to stand there? Why +don't you help a fellow out, instead of jabbering your confounded lingo, +which I don't understand a word of, though I've heerd nothin' but it for +nigh a year, and what's more, I _won't_ understand it if I stay another; +for it's the devil's own tongue itself, that it are." + +By this time I had recovered myself, and, dashing forward, tore away the +remains of the ruins; then, as the other started up, I threw myself on +his neck overcome with emotion. + +"Now, I say, you nigger, what are you up to?" he exclaimed. + +"Oh, Thompson. Dear old Jack. My old, old companion," I cried, while +actual tears rolled from my eyes, "don't you know me--me, Dick +Galbraith?" + +"Dick Galbraith! and alive! By the Lord, is it possible; but how--how +_could_ I know you, dear Dick, my boy, with your face like a nigger's, +and rigged out in those queer togs. Oh, lor'! I'm glad of this +indeed," exclaimed the old fellow, laughing and crying at the same time +as he hugged me and I hugged him, while both of us sobbed like very +children for joy at once more looking into the face of a white man--and +a friend. + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +WE GO IN SEARCH OF MR FERGUSON--METILULU'S RECEPTION OF MY FRIENDS-- +THEIR STORY. + +No one but those who have lived nearly twelve months with a savage tribe +can at all imagine the joy I experienced at once more looking upon the +face of a white man and a fellow-countryman. It was some moments even +before I could speak my delight, my voice being stifled by rising sobs, +while Jack was no better than myself. When, however, we at last drew a +few paces off to again look upon each other, I could not help bursting +into a laugh as I beheld my companion and recalled his complimentary +remarks respecting my personal appearance, for he was as eccentrically +attired as myself. + +His skin, already bronzed by many years at sea, had become nearly of a +true Kaffir hue, while his fur clothing very much resembled a herald's +tabard, only it was longer to the knee, not so high at the throat, and +was joined at each side; from this garment emerged his brown muscular +bare legs and arms, while it was surmounted by his weather-beaten face, +topped by grizzled hair, and covered half-way up by a large, unkempt, +iron grey beard. + +"Well, Jack," I exclaimed, my own language sounding strangely in my +ears, "'pon my life I don't see what you had to laugh at in me, for your +toggery is no better." + +"No, my stars, it ain't; but who'd ever have believed to have seen +another Christian dressed out like myself? But it's all compulsion, +Dick--it's all compulsion; and if heaven wills it to be so, as the young +minister says, I oughtn't to have any objection." + +"Ah, that reminds me," I interrupted quickly; "where is Mr Ferguson? I +hope that he, like us, is safe. You can't tell, Jack, how often I have +thought, during the last twelve months, about his words, even to trying +a little bit of his business myself." + +"What; preachifying! You don't mean to say you've turned missionary?" + +"Not quite," I laughed; "but any man with religion in his heart would +try, I am sure, to cast some seeds among these benighted people, hoping +that they might take root. But where is Mr Ferguson--I am so anxious +to see him; you can't tell how anxious? Remember you have always had a +companion to talk to, while I have been alone." + +"True, Jack, true," responded Thompson, again affectionately wringing my +hand. "Come along; I'll lead you to his hut, where I trust to find he's +come safely out of the dangers of this terrible night. Why, how did +those black fiends manage so to surprise us?" + +"About the same way," I said, "that the tribe you are with would have +managed it the other night, if, fortunately through my means, we had not +been prepared for them. But do come along and I'll tell all about this +afterwards, for I want to know if Mr Ferguson is safe; you cannot +imagine how I have grown to like him." + +"Yes, I can, for I feel the same, Dick; that young missionary can do +what he likes with me, else I think I should have long ago given some of +these black fellows such a drubbing that I shouldn't have been permitted +to live many minutes afterwards. I should have sought him out directly +I could have got rid of the ruins of the hut, had it not been for my joy +at seeing you." + +Thompson now moved quickly on, and proceeded to a small hut a little way +off, which he entered, but instantly re-appeared, his face indicating +much alarm--for he had found the place empty. + +"I can't tell where he's gone," he said, "but he's not there. We must +seek him. If none of those bloodthirsty fiends you brought--" + +"_I_ brought, Jack!" + +"Well, who brought you; if they haven't hurt him, none of our tribe +would I am sure, for they respect him too much." + +Anxiously we now searched among the slain for the young minister, whom +it appeared even the Kaffirs had liked, and no one can tell with what +relief we passed from heap to heap and found him not among the dead. We +had proceeded some little way outside the kraal, our quest as yet in +vain, when with a cry Jack hurried forward towards the figure of a man +kneeling by the side of another either dying or dead. + +We had found Mr Ferguson at last, and, like a true soldier of heaven as +he was, at his post; for, on Thompson approaching, he arose, with, as I +perceived, his well-remembered prayer-book in his hand. + +"Ah, Jack," he exclaimed joyfully; "thank heaven you are safe. I was +about to seek you, when--" + +"Never mind me, sir, please now," interrupted Thompson excitedly, "for +I've brought an old friend to see you--one you will rejoice as much to +look upon as he rejoices to look upon you, sir." + +"A friend! Thompson--and here?" + +"Yes, here sir, if you can reckernise in this noble Kaffir warrior, with +his shield and assagais, our old mate in trouble--Dick Galbraith!" + +"Dick Galbraith here! alive?" exclaimed Mr Ferguson. "Now, heaven be +praised indeed, for this is good news. My heart is truly delighted--it +has been much cast down at the thought of what might have been your +fate." + +I seized his extended hand tremulously, but that greeting was too cold, +and he too embraced me as a Frenchman might have embraced his brother. +I need not recapitulate the sundry questions we put to each other, they +surely may easily be imagined; suffice it that we kept on talking till +we were interrupted by the approach of Tugela, who, by Metilulu's +orders, had come to find out where I had got to. + +He looked with great surprise at seeing us three together, clothed very +nearly alike, only the minister's complexion was much fairer, and stared +yet more at hearing us all talking the same language; but I had already +told him about my lost companions, therefore a few words were now +sufficient to explain the present state of affairs, and I frankly asked +him the best way for me to act respecting them and Metilulu? + +He advised me to take my friends to the Chief at once, and tell him +everything; how we had been separated, and how we had again met. He +also assured us that we need have little fear, for, as Metilulu had +proved in my case, he leaned much towards white men when they, on their +part, showed a disposition to be friendly. "But," he added, "let alone +this, he will no doubt treat your two friends hospitably for your sake, +as he feels really deeply grateful for the service you so lately +rendered the tribe. No time would be better than the present to make +the introduction, as Metilulu is in the best of humours owing to his +great success over his enemy, and is regaling in copious draughts of +beer and supplies of snuff." + +I hope I have shown, as I have desired to, that Tugela's stay in the +English settlements, where he had obtained the language, had not only +improved his own ideas, but had also caused him not to be blind to some +of the peculiar manners of his tribe, though he yet preferred living +among them to dwelling with white men. With Tugela one of our party, my +two companions having consented to the introduction, we at once +proceeded to the isibaya where Metilulu still remained. + +He was now seated with some of his warriors in attendance, and, of +course, a jar of the enemy's beer in close proximity to his hand. As I +approached slightly in advance of the others, he bade me come and sit +near him, as he desired to know my opinion upon the style of revenge he +had that night taken upon the hostile tribe. + +Making a low inclination, I replied that I thought it as terrible and as +complete as only such a powerful and skilful Chief as he could have +accomplished; then added that, "even as it had brought desolation on his +enemies, it had brought the greatest happiness to me, his friend, not +only at having seen him victorious, but because it had also enabled me +to find two dear companions who had been wrecked in the same ship that I +had been, and washed on to the same shore, but through circumstances I +would explain to him, had been separated from me just before I had +fallen so fortunately into his hands." + +He listened very attentively, then in the most friendly manner bade us +all three sit down, and inform him at once how we had been divided. +Instantly obeying, I soon ran through my account, when I turned to Mr +Ferguson, who could speak, the language even better than I, and +requested him to relate to the Chief what had been his and Thompson's +fate after I had quitted them with Metilulu's soldiers. + +Clearly and in a manner that proved he had well studied the best method +to address and win the confidence of these people, he recounted their +story to Metilulu, which I will give briefly as follows:-- + +When from the pit they had heard the fray above, Mr Ferguson, guessing +I must be surrounded by the natives, consequently in danger, instantly +endeavoured to get out and hasten to my help; for this purpose he had +made Thompson kneel on hands and knees, then standing upon his +shoulders, had nearly grasped the top of the pit, when Jack, weak from +pain and exertion, sunk down, causing Mr Ferguson to fall heavily to +the ground. A few moments after, recovering himself, he had with much +difficulty succeeded in clambering out; but then he found the place +deserted, for, as it may be remembered, I had been instantly wounded by +a spear and at once marched off to the kraal. He was, however, without +one thought of himself, about to pursue and assist me if possible, when +a moan of pain from poor Thompson reached him, and reminded him how +helpless he was, wounded and insensible at the bottom of the giraffe +trap. Therefore, wisely considering that among so large a body of men, +as by their yells he knew them to be, he could at the present moment be +but of little service to myself, he determined to remain with the one he +could aid; and running to the bush, for he no longer cared about being +seen, he procured some strong monkey-ropes, then returning dropped once +more into the pit. There he fastened them as well as he could round +Thompson, who had now recovered his senses, climbed out again, and, Jack +helping himself as well as he was able with his hands, managed to draw +him out. + +When this was done, having sat down a while for Thompson to recover +himself a little, they commented sadly upon what they thought my +misfortune. Afterwards they started off, if possible to track me; but +this they failed to do, owing to their having taken a wrong direction, +and, morning shortly breaking, were again compelled to hide in the bush. +There they wandered about till nearly the close of day, when they were +startled by perceiving the dark face of a Kaffir carefully inspecting +their movements from among the trees. On finding he was seen, he +disappeared, apparently as frightened of them as they were of him; +whereupon, rejoicing, they had hurried off in a contrary direction, but, +ten minutes after, the Kaffir yells again rang in their ears, and the +next instant they found themselves surrounded by some twenty or thirty +of the natives, armed with assagais. + +Seeing it was useless to resist, Mr Ferguson with difficulty restrained +Jack's fierce British ebullition of defiance and rage, advising him to +follow his example and quietly surrender themselves, as by that means +they might win kindness instead of ill treatment from their assailants. + +"And," added the minister, when he had come to this part, bowing +respectfully to Metilulu, "in that we were not deceived, for the tribe +which you, most noble Chief, have just conquered, treated us most +hospitably, and we have lived in peace among them up to this moment." + +I had noticed that, owing to fatigue, or perhaps joila, Metilulu had +become exceedingly drowsy towards the end of the minister's story. He +roused up, however, at the close, and, catching the words respecting the +tribe's hospitality, said that they also should receive the same from +his hands, as he liked white men much when they did not wish to be his +enemies, but friends, like Galbratha, indicating me; then, growing +silent, Metilulu partly averted his head. Taking this for a form of +dismissal, we rose, made our obeisances, and, having asked his +permission to retire, withdrew to a quiet secluded part of the kraal, +where, wrapping our karosses around us, we laid ourselves down, first to +have a chat, then to sleep. + +I need not recount Mr Ferguson and Thompson's history while in the +Kaffir kraal, for it was much about the same as my own, only the +minister had never ceased to fulfil his duties, working so untiringly, +and with such success, that Jack--gruff and most British in his contempt +of the natives--had often owed his safety to the missionary's influence +with them. Our lives differed also in the fact that Kabela, the chief +of their tribe, had not desired them to take unto themselves wives, +neither had a Kaffir girl done either of them the honour of falling in +love with their white faces. + +Poor Zenuta! + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +STAYING A KAFFIR EXECUTION--I ASK METILULU'S PERMISSION TO LEAVE--THE +BOOMSLANGE--THE CHIEF'S ANSWER. + +As may be easily conceived, the talk of our past lives, and our delight +at once more being in each other's company, carried us far into the +night before we would surrender ourselves to sleep; yet we were up +nearly as early as any in the kraal the next morning, and gladly fell to +upon some biltongue and amasi which had been found in the huts; then, +hearing that Metilulu was inspecting his regiments, we thought it but +politeness to be present. On arriving at the place, however, the review +had nearly finished, the brave had been rewarded, and only the unworthy +remained to be punished. Of the latter it happened that there was but +one, and he had not been guilty of cowardice, but of a crime punishable +by death in Caffraria. + +The criminal was one of the finest specimens of the race I had ever +seen, being tall, exquisitely formed, graceful, and majestic. Silently +he knelt before Metilulu, his head bent submissively, awaiting the +sentence. From a little distance, but within hearing range, we stood to +learn what that would be. It came very speedily: the prisoner had +already pleaded guilty, and the verdict was that he should be cast alive +to the crocodiles, who on the river banks, not far off, gnashed their +terrible jaws, apparently conscious of the prey destined for them. + +Scarcely had the sentence been uttered, and the Kaffir had arisen, +without a murmur, for it to be put into execution, than Mr Ferguson, +suddenly quitting my side, walked, erect and unhesitatingly, up to +Metilulu. Guessing his intent, and fearful of the consequences, I, +beseeching hot-brained Jack to keep back, hurried after him. On drawing +near I found I was correct in my surmise. The young missionary, in +earnest, eloquent terms, was pleading the prisoner's cause, and praying +for a commutation of the sentence. + +Metilulu looked and listened in silent astonishment; but, as I anxiously +marked his features, I fancied they gradually assumed a pleased, +friendly expression, quite the reverse of anger at being interfered +with. As I came up Mr Ferguson was saying-- + +"You, Metilulu the great!--you, the recognised mighty Chief of the +numerous tribes dwelling in this vast and beautiful land of Caffraria-- +has not your victory been complete? Has not but a few hours back +triumph been given you over those who but lately would have made you +captive? Why, then, should one so favoured stain the day of rejoicing +by condemning to a horrible death, for a slight offence, one of those +warriors to whose bravery, to whose devotion, he partly owes that +triumph? Truly you are strong, you are courageous, but one arm alone +could not have crushed the tribe of Kabela. You had need of warriors, +and you found them, brave, willing, and submissive. Surely, then, noble +Metilulu, you will let your hand dispense mercy as well as justice. +This is no time to speak of the power of Heaven and the Rewarder of all +great deeds, for the ground of your heart has as yet been prepared by no +refreshing dews; but all grand souls must recognise the mighty power of +mercy, and surely you will forgive this man in honour of the day of +victory, if for nothing else." + +Mr Ferguson finishing, earnestly, respectfully waited a reply, when, +thinking my turn had come to put in a word for the poor fellow, I +hurried forward, and kneeling, according to Kaffir custom, said-- + +"Noble Metilulu, if my friend's prayers to save this warrior have not +had sufficient weight with you, then let mine be added to his. Let him +be spared; extend your hand in mercy towards him. It is the white men +who beseech your clemency; for their sakes grant it." + +Metilulu was silent a moment; then replied, "You white men are a strange +people, yet I have listened to your words with pleasure; you are +soft-hearted, but you are friends to the Kaffir. Umatula," he added, +turning to the warrior, "I reverse your sentence--you may live. These, +my friends, have interceded for you; thank them, not me, as it is +because of them that I pardon you. Live, and show by future deeds your +sorrow for your past crime." + +His dusky face beaming with delight, Umatula bowed low till his forehead +touched the ground before Metilulu--afterwards to us--then, starting up, +proudly grasped his shield and assagais, exclaiming-- + +That, to show his gratitude for the Chief's gracious pardon, no warrior +in Metilulu's regiments should ever outrival him in warlike deeds, while +he reckoned his life to belong to the noble-hearted white faces. They +had but to ask him for it, and it was theirs to do with it as they +would. + +This over, Metilulu, dismissing the troops, bade us sit down, he +evidently being inclined for a chat. I was no little pleased that it +should be so, for during our long talk the previous night it had been +arranged that I should try to obtain leave for myself and Thompson to +make our way to a white settlement, which Mr Ferguson said he knew was +not very far off, and might be easily attained with a native guide. +Both Jack and I had earnestly besought the minister to accompany us, but +he firmly refused, saying he believed Providence had had a purpose in +casting him on that shore, where he had already found that his words had +not fallen entirely on stony places; therefore he should be but a poor +soldier of heaven, indeed, did he leave so fair and promising a work +uncompleted. + +No moment, it appeared, could have been more opportune than that I had +chosen to speak about my departure, for the Chief was in the most +obliging of humours. When, however, after a long talk respecting Kaffir +affairs, I managed, by Mr Ferguson's aid, to bring the subject round to +our own land and my strong desire to visit it--ending by stating how I +had heard from my friends that a white settlement was not far off--if he +would but grant me a guide and his royal permission to return, his face +grew grave and my heart sunk. + +Neither, however, refusing nor acquiescing, he asked why it was I could +not be happy there. To which I answered, "that all who were dear to me, +all who made life worth living, in my eyes, were in England, and my +heart was pining for them. Indeed, I felt I could not exist, but must +die, if kept longer in uncertainty of their fate." + +I spoke as eloquently as I could, and Mr Ferguson also did what he was +able, but Metilulu seemed in no way ready to grant the request. He said +he liked me, that he had proved this even more than I knew--of course he +referred to the rain-maker's evil prophecy--and he thought I was so +happy that I would never have wished to leave the tribe. + +In return to this really kind speech, I warmly acknowledged the extreme +kindness and hospitality which had been shown me, and confessed that I +had not expected it, adding how great would be my pride when in England, +if he would permit me to return there, to recount to my countrymen his +noble behaviour to a poor shipwrecked sailor. + +This appeared rather to please him, and after a pause he said,-- + +"Then you all wish to leave me?" + +"Not so," broke in Mr Ferguson, "if you will grant me permission, I +would desire yet to remain with your tribe." + +Metilulu, who had, I fancied, already taken a liking to the minister, as +he frequently addressed himself to him, nodded approval; then saying he +could not give his decision at that moment, he gave us permission to +withdraw, appearing no longer desirous to continue a conversation which +had taken so unpleasant a turn. + +I could not help feeling rather flattered by the decided aversion +Metilulu showed to part with me, and yet also I was grieved at causing +him any regret, after the real friendship and generosity I had +experienced at his hands, and tried to show these feelings as plainly as +I could, both in speech and expression, when I arose with Mr Ferguson +and Thompson to take our leave. + +On retiring, instead of returning to the kraal, we went towards the +bush, and there, under the shadow of the trees, sat down to talk of our +own affairs, and what was the likely answer Metilulu would give. Mr +Ferguson said he believed it would be in the affirmative, though he did +not like my going. + +"If it be so," I rejoined, "how would you counsel us to proceed?" + +"Why, to make your way as fast as you can to the white settlement; then +to the coast--to Cape Town if possible, for there it will be more +probable to get a ship back to England." + +"Ah! a ship, bless her," broke in Thompson. "When I feel the deck once +more beneath my feet, and see the well-remembered, tapering spars +running up with their net-work of rigging into the blue sky, then I +shall begin to feel once more like a Christian--a Christian escaped from +purgatory--especially if I can get another suit of togs in place of +these outlandish garments." + +"It was of those I meant to speak," I said. "How can we change them +without a farthing in our pockets?" + +"I believe I can aid you there," rejoined Mr Ferguson. "I think in the +settlement you will pass through, just about where the Bechuana tribes +are located, a kind of missionary station is established--if so, I know +there you can obtain both help and clothes. I will give you a message +in case, for I would also like them to send to me some articles, with +which I may be able to win my way with, and instruct these people, for +even in heavenly matters we must sometimes call in the aid of earth, to +touch the hearts of man." + +We had been chatting thus respecting our proceedings for some little +while, the interchange of thought with civilised humanity being far too +agreeable for either of the three to bring it to a close, when, uttering +a sharp cry, I sprang erect and seized my knob-kerrie. + +"What on earth's the matter?" exclaimed Jack, following my example; +while Mr Ferguson also rose to his feet. + +"See," I exclaimed: "look along the branch of that tree just above our +heads, that olive coloured snake. If there be one thing I have a +downright horror of, it is a snake, so pray let us leave the reptile to +itself, for I am not sure enough with my knob-kerrie to knock it over." + +"Stay," said Mr Ferguson, placing his hand upon my shoulder; "there is +no fear, Dick." + +"No fear!" I ejaculated in surprise. "Why, the natives affirm that +sort of snake is very poisonous!" + +"Then, Dick, they are wrong," he answered quietly. "The posterior teeth +certainly resemble fangs, but they are perfectly harmless, and are +merely used to seize their prey. Yes," he added, after a closer +inspection, "it is the Bucephalus Capensis, or, as these people call it, +the Boomslange. It is generally found upon trees, where it goes in +search of food. Here, draw back awhile and watch; you may perhaps see a +proof of that fascination which has so often been spoken about, +respecting these reptiles' eyes." + +As he spoke our attention was attracted by the piercing cries of several +birds which were flying as if in abject terror about the tree, while the +Boomslange coiled about the branch, its head raised about ten inches, +its mouth open, its throat inflated, fixed its full large eyes upon the +poor little trembling victims. Fascinated ourselves by the sight, we +watched anxiously the result. + +Round and round the poor flutterers went, each time, I perceived, +drawing nearer the cruel mouth, till I shuddered as one, with a sweep, +almost touched the reptile's lips--the next moment, drawn by that +wonderful and inexplicable fascination, it was in its terrible jaws; +and, unable to bear it longer, I let fly my knob-kerrie, striking the +snake from the tree, but I did not hurt him much, for, with the speed of +light, he had wriggled into the bush, carrying its miserable prey in its +mouth. + +The sight made us loth to sit down near the spot again, so we returned +to the kraal, Mr Ferguson telling us on the way, that a few days back, +he, with a party of Kaffirs, had come across a python; but the natives +would not touch it, owing to a superstition they have, that misfortune +would be sure to overtake any one who injured these monstrous reptiles. + +On reaching the huts, we found the Kaffirs busily engaged in restoring +the ruined ones, so we lent them our aid, and thus managed both to win +their favour and while away the time, which, owing to my anxiety +respecting Metilulu's answer, I found hang heavily on my hands. At the +dinner hour, however, we went to the minister's hut, which had still +been left him, where, after refreshing ourselves, we remained talking of +that never-tiring subject, home, and waiting the chief's reply. + +It was quite sunset before the latter arrived, then Tugela brought it. + +Metilulu had sent me permission to leave for the white settlement when I +pleased, and also gave for a guide the warrior whose life he had that +day spared because of our prayers. + +"Did he grant this willingly, Tugela?" I asked. + +"Not at all; he seems much vexed." + +"I am sorry," I said, "for I must go. Well, Tugela, express my sincere +thanks to Metilulu, and say that I have no means now of showing my +gratitude, but, if he will allow me, I should like to send him back by +the guide some presents, if he would honour me by their acceptance." + +Tugela, replying he had no doubt this would much please the chief, +willingly took the message; and no sooner had he gone than, casting +myself on the ground, I actually cried for joy at the thought of the +possibility of once again embracing my dear wife and little ones; while +even Jack's eyes grew dim though, as he said, he had nothing else but +his country and his ship to love and care for; and, he added, "by jingo, +I'll be true to 'em, that I will, or I'm a black nigger of a Kaffir." + +Poor Zenuta; at that moment I did not even give her a single thought. + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +MY LAST INTERVIEW WITH METILULU--FAREWELL TO THE KRAAL--THE HONEY +GUIDE--THE BUSH ON FIRE. + +The next morning we three were early astir; indeed, as may be imagined, +I nor Thompson had not slept much all that night, through thinking of +our speedy return. Even the few preparations we had to make were soon +completed in our hurry, then we sat down to see if Metilulu, to whom I +had communicated my intention of leaving, by his kind permission, that +day, would send any farewell message or adieu. I fancied he would not, +for from what I could gather he apparently had taken my desire to quit +his tribe as a great piece of ingratitude. I was exceedingly sorry that +we should part thus, but how could I help it? How could I make it +otherwise? + +It was while thus waiting that I began to think of Zenuta--poor, +affectionate Zenuta! My heart blamed me bitterly for leaving her +without a word, without again seeing her--as I intended to do--for I +dreaded the parting scene, more as may be supposed for her sake than my +own, for all my affections were centred upon the dear ones at home, +while hers, I knew too well, were fixed with a grasp like that of iron +upon my unworthy self. + +I pictured her eager inquiry of the warriors who were to fetch the +residue of the tribe to their new dwelling as to where I was, and her +surprised despair when they said that I had gone--gone for ever--leaving +but a kind message for her, and endowing her with all my household +goods. How little would she regard the latter? How poignant would be +her grief? How would she bear my cruel desertion? I asked myself. +With rage? with passionate indignation? or with deep hopeless despair +and prostrate heart-broken sorrow? The thought was too painful, even in +the surmise--I felt my lip tremble and my eyes grow misty. Poor girl! +I would have done as much for her as I would for a dear sister; but +neither sister, father, nor mother, could have made me renounce the +chance of once more joining my wife and children. + +It was just as I had ended giving Mr Ferguson numerous messages for +Zenuta, and earnestly entreating him to be as kind as I knew he could be +to her, adding that he would find the first seeds of our pure faith +deeply implanted in her heart, that Tugela appeared outside the hut, +where we instantly joined him. Accompanying him was the warrior whose +life we had saved, and who now bore across his shoulders several +valuable skins, which Tugela informed me were mine, Metilulu having sent +them as presents. The chief apparently had become far more reconciled +to my leaving after the message that I would send him presents from the +white settlements, and even now requested that I would come to his hut +to take farewell. + +Accordingly I at once proceeded thither, and found him in a very amiable +mood. After a little conversation, he hinted at what kind of presents +he should like, especially one of those guns of which I had spoken. I +promised I would not forget, and neither did I, but sent him a pretty +large parcel of English articles, that I knew he would greatly value. +Finding him in so different a humour to what I had expected, I ventured +to mention Zenuta, saying I hoped, though I regarded all my property in +Caffraria as his, that he would yet permit me to bestow it as a dowry on +the poor girl. He immediately consented, no doubt having a dread of +taking her back into his harem, and said that, possessing the cows, she +would assuredly soon find a husband. This settled, I arose and took my +leave, my last words being a reiteration of my promise not to forget the +gun among the other presents I intended to send. + +I then proceeded to say farewell to those among the tribe with whom I +was on friendly terms, and lastly with Tugela, whom I felt much regret +in leaving never to meet again, for he had been a kind friend and a most +intelligent companion. Afterwards, having warmly embraced Mr Ferguson, +and received his final messages to his friends in England, I and +Thompson, accompanied by Umatula, started for the bush, or, as we said, +though so many miles of danger yet laid between us and it--home. Ah, +how sweet the word sounded! + +We got on extremely well that day, for Jack and I were in the best of +spirits, and could look upon most hardships as trifles, while our Kaffir +companion, possessing an amount of intelligence more than usual with his +tribe, kept us amused by recounting numerous hunting and lifting parties +in which he had borne a part. + +It was during our first morning's march that Umatula called our +attention to a bird perched on a bush in front of us, who by his +cherr-cherring cry seemed to be trying to attract our notice. Such +evidently was the case, for no sooner did he find he was seen than he +began hopping further on, stopping and looking back to see if we were +following. + +This immediately we did, for I now recognised it to be a bird I had +often heard about but never seen, called the Honey Guide, from the fact +that he will lead man, of whom he appears to have no fear, to where the +bees have constructed their hive, so that they may gather the sweet +contents, of which the Kaffir is exceedingly fond. Therefore, from bush +to bush we followed, the little creature keeping up its cherring cry +till, finally, it came to a halt upon a tree, in a hollow of which we +descried the comb. + +Umatula speedily extracted the treasure, for the natives are most +skilful in this performance, and we all willingly partook of it, taking +care to leave a plentiful supply for our little friend the Honey Guide, +who, from a neighbouring branch, waited impatiently for his share or +reward. + +When we were once more on our way Umatula told us that not only did the +Kaffir make use of this little bird, but the Honey Ratel also availed +itself of its services. This animal--a species of the weasel tribe-- +would, he said, follow the bird like we had to the treasure, tear it +from the tree with its sharp claws, its thick coat being impervious to +the enraged insects' stings, devour its share, and leave a sufficient +quantity as remuneration to its guide. + +With the help of our assagais and knob-kerries we had killed enough game +to make us a first-rate repast, and as night drew on, when it had been +agreed we should bivouac, we lighted a large fire, both to cook our +provisions and to scare any wild beasts that might be near, for we could +hear their different roars and howls deeper in the bush. It was while +attending to the culinary preparations that Thompson, with a round oath, +suddenly sprang from the fire as if it had burned him--a movement +speedily explained by the sudden apparition of a large snake within the +circle of light. Without taking any notice of Jack or either of us, the +creature moved rapidly along to the fire, being attracted by the warmth. +We watched it curiously, as swiftly it went so close to the embers that +it must have burnt itself severely, yet it only drew back again to +approach till, I am sure, it would have ended by killing itself, as I +have heard many do, had not Umatula destroyed it by striking it on the +head with his knob-kerrie. Whereupon Thompson, seeing that, should any +more snakes come, it would be because of the fire, not him, after a +space proceeded with his cooking, upon which, when completed, we made a +hearty meal; then, Umatula taking the first watch upon himself, we +rolled ourselves each in our own kaross and speedily slept the sleep of +the fatigued, for we had made a great way in our journey that day. + +At an agreed time Umatula awoke me to take his turn of rest, while I +watched--an employment I scarcely felt up to, being so extremely drowsy +that, fearing to fall off in slumber, I got up, and drawing the fire +together supplied it with fresh fuel; then sitting down, I tried to keep +myself awake by imagining the surprise my return would create, and how +all the papers would be full of the history of the two shipwrecked +mariners who had spent over a year among the almost unknown tribes of +Caffraria. + +But all these manoeuvres could not prevent my heavy eyelids from +closing, and I fancy I must have actually dozed off, when I was suddenly +aroused by vague consciousness that the place was growing much lighter. +We had encamped upon a hillside, and on looking up I perceived the sky, +over the tree tops in the direction of the plains, to be of a light +yellow glow. + +My first movement was to arouse my companions, but recollecting how +tired they must be, I determined before doing so to enquire a little +further into the cause, as it might be some celestial phenomenon which +in a moment would disappear, though to me it had the same appearance as +a large fire would have in England. For this purpose I quickly mounted +higher up the hill, and scaling a rocky projection turned and gazed +back. + +Heavens! what a sight met my view--grandly beautiful, but how awful! +Some distance off the whole plain before me was covered by a vast sheet +of fire, which leaped and lapped with its forked tongues as it rushed +onward. The entire distance appeared in flames--as if the end of the +world had come. + +With the speed of consternation I dashed back to my companions, and +shouted in their ears, "Up, up! for heaven's sake; be quick! The bush +is on fire, and the flames are coming in our direction." + +The words acted like magic; both were instantly on their feet, and +following me to my previous post of inspection. + +No sooner had Umatula discovered the direction of the fire, which each +moment was increasing in rapidity, than shouldering the skins, he bade +us follow him; for we laid right in the fierce element's track, and did +it reach us it would be certain death. + +"We must get to yonder rock," he said, pointing to one some distance +off, "on the top of it we may perhaps be safe." + +With as much speed as we could muster we instantly followed the swift +Kaffir, and with hands and legs torn by the strong thorns of the cacti +bushes succeeded in reaching the summit of the rock where, throwing +ourselves down, breathless with our haste, we contemplated the spreading +conflagration. + +If it was grand before, it was terribly so now, for it covered the whole +plain and was rushing up the hillside, the flames curling into the air +like things of life, leaping from bush to bush, springing up in spiral +columns to the skies, and destroying all signs of vegetation in its +path. + +As it reached the hill and bush, roars and howls of terror suddenly +arose from all the affrighted dwellers in its shades. The most fierce +as the weakest fled before this pitiless, unconquerable enemy, which +seemed to leap and laugh rejoicing in the pursuit. Then with an awful +howl the bush disgorged its inmates. Antelopes, tigers, jackals, +hyaenas, elephants, and even here and there a large snake, came rushing +forth in one confused herd--no longer thinking of preying on each other, +though the gembok fled shoulder to shoulder with the lion--all being +possessed with but one idea in that terrible moment, to escape from the +frightful enemy behind them. + +I have never beheld such a sight, and never shall again. No scene I am +sure in all the world could surpass the grandeur of that--fire in the +bush. + +Thank heaven, the rock Umatula had selected was slightly out of the +track of the flames, and to our relief we saw them sweep past, their +heated breath scorching our cheeks, leaving first red embers, then a +vast extent of burnt charred vegetation in their tract. + +"However could this have occurred," I exclaimed to Umatula when all +danger was over, "such an accident is most dangerous." + +"Not at all; this is no accident," he laughed. "The Kaffirs have done +it to improve the grass for the cattle." + +"Done it!" I repeated in surprise. + +"Yes; directly the oxen have eaten a patch of grass to the stubble and +it gets coarse, my countrymen set fire to it when the cows are safe in +the isibaya and the wind does not lay that way but towards the bush." + +"But they ruin the land for miles," said Thompson gruffly. + +"No, they improve it; the charred wood and stubble serve for manure, and +if rain come the land is speedily recovered by a fresh vegetation." + +This was perfectly true. The scorched blackened soil which we now +looked upon from our height of rock would in a brief period send forth +sweet green young shoots, forming an excellent food for cattle. + +Certainly the plan might be very good, but I hoped within myself, while +Thompson expressed the same wish aloud in English, that when the natives +had recourse to this method of strengthening the ground, there might not +be any unfortunate travellers like ourselves in the neighbourhood. Then +with a prayer of thanks for our preservation from both of us, we once +more laid down, now on the top of the rock, and feeling ourselves safe +owing to the exterminating fire from any unpleasant intrusion, were all +three in a short time sleeping soundly. + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +IN WANT OF WATER--THE HONEY GUIDE PLAYS ME A TRICK--HOW I AM SAVED-- +ZENUTA. + +On rising the next morning, and disposing of some biltongue, we again +started on our journey, and got through many hours of the day with but +little incident to recount, save that we were consumed by a terrific +thirst, having, since the previous evening, been unable to procure +water. The rain which had fallen in the neighbourhood of the kraal +appeared never to have reached this spot, for the bed of a small stream +we had passed was perfectly cracked and arid from want of moisture. So, +while a tropical sun was shining down upon our heads, we had to proceed +without being able to procure a drop of water to cool our parched lips, +only finding relief in sucking or chewing different fruits and leaves of +a watery nature, which Umatula pointed out to us. + +Having heard our guide once or twice exclaim, "If I had but a chacma +here," I at last asked him what a chacma was, and why he wanted one at +that particular moment. + +"The chacma," he answered, "is a baboon, one of the most destructive of +the whole species to our crops, for he knows where to find the best as +well as we do." + +"By old Davy Jones himself," ejaculated Thompson in English to me, "but +what good would a blessed ape, with these propensities, serve us here?" + +The question was answered immediately by Umatula, who had stopped on +observing Jack was speaking, and now continued-- + +"Though our enemy in this, we make him a friend sometimes by taming him; +for the chacma is passionately fond of a root called babiana, which is +always full of a watery juice; so, when lacking water in dry weather +like the present, we lead these creatures by a piece of hide, and they +will direct us to these roots, from which, on digging them up, we +extract the fluid." + +After this explanation, Jack, as well as I, desired the presence of the +chacma as much as Umatula did, but the three wishes were no better than +the one--we were quite as destitute of water as ever, and proceeded with +our spirits slightly depressed in consequence. To make matters worse, I +had happened to tread upon a thorn, which had so pierced my foot as to +create a slight lameness, so that I could not walk at the same rate +which I had done on the day previously. + +It was within two or three hours of nighttime--and here that period +succeeds quickly to day--when, by sundry signs and a change in the genus +of the vegetation, Umatula said he felt sure that a stream, perhaps a +river, must be close at hand, and proposed that, as I was so crippled, +he and Jack should, diverging a little from the right track, climb a +small eminence some little distance off and ascertain if his surmises +were correct. + +Willing to save myself from more exertion than was absolutely necessary, +I gladly agreed to the plan, and, casting myself at the foot of a tree, +watched them depart. They had not long disappeared, however, before the +now easily recognised cherr of the Honey Bird attracted my attention. +Looking up, I saw the little feathered biped, perched on a bush close +by, his head on one side as if making a minute inspection of my person. +Fancying a few honey-combs would be a pleasant addition to our late +meal, if we could but find water, I scrambled on to my feet and began to +follow my small guide. The sweet treasure was evidently not far off, +for the bird went slowly, and, after a few yards, stopped by a tangled +fence of parasites. + +Seeing no place for the bees' store, I approached and drew aside the +tangled mass, believing I should find some felled tree or shattered +trunk, which the insects had converted into a hive; but, with a chilling +horror, I stood transfixed to the spot, as my eyes encountered those, +red as blood, of a leopard that was crouching behind. + +How long we remained gazing into each others eyes I do not know--it +seemed an hour, but could only have been a few seconds--when a stealthy +movement of the animal, as it apparently began to contract its muscles +for a spring, recalled me to a sense of my danger, and instinctively I +raised an assagai and flung it at the creature; it pierced him in the +shoulder, and with a roar of pain he rose, but failed in his bound. +Instantly I sprang back, then a cry of horror escaped my lips, for I +felt as if a companion of the fierce beast in front had seized me both +with claws and teeth from behind. The next instant, however, I had +learned the terrible truth. I was once more in the tenacious grasp of +another of those awful species of the acacia tribe--the acacia detinens. +Yes, there I was, held firmly, confident that the least struggle would +but make me a greater prisoner; while the leopard, as if conscious of my +helpless position, was slowly dragging itself through the bushes, never +once, however, taking its red fiery eyes from my face. I tried to raise +my arm with an assagai, but it was useless; the thorns penetrated my +flesh, while I felt I had no power to aim the weapon, or, if I did so, +the blow would be so light that it would only further irritate without +harming the brute in front. I even now shudder at the remembrance of +that awful moment. No savage of the most fiendish nature could have +gloated over his intended victim more than the leopard seemed to. He +drew himself along on his stomach as I have seen a dog do. The wound I +had given him I fancied had made him weak, for apparently he was unable +to spring, and, though dreading each moment that he would do so, I grew +sick and dizzy at the terrible suspense. + +All at once I read in the creature's eyes his intent to put an end to +the affair. His tail began slowly to lash backwards and forwards, +beating the ground fiercely; then I saw the haunches of the lithe body +crouch up, the shoulders draw back. I could bear it no longer. I felt +my brain turning, and, uttering cry after cry, called aloud for help, +addressing both Umatula and Jack, yet feeling despairingly aware that, +even did they hear my cries, they never could arrive in time to aid me. +A prayer rose to my lips. I gave one gigantic, mad struggle as I saw +the leopard rise quickly into the air; then shrieked wildly as its +horrid face, with its eyes aflame--its terrible mouth agape and +glistening with strong white teeth--glared into mine, while its breath, +like a simoom, stirred my very hair. Madly I flung up my arms, then +sunk back insensible. + +When I came to--for of course I did, else this history would never have +been written--I believed I had been killed, and, having passed through +the darkness of the grave, had awakened in the other world; but a few +instants after my eyes recognised the African foliage about me, and I +felt I was lying on the ground, my body painful with pricks and tears, +and my head supported on somebody's knees. + +"Is that you, Jack, old fellow?" I asked faintly. + +"Ah, you speak! you live!" exclaimed a well-remembered voice in the +Kaffir tongue, and Zenuta's face was bent over mine. + +Faint and sore as I was, I started up in my surprise, +ejaculating--"Zenuta! you here? How can it be possible?" + +"Possible! Oh, Galbrth, do you think I could have ever lived without +you? You went--oh, cruel, cruel!--but I followed--pardon me." + +"What! followed, Zenuta? Have you braved the dangers of the bush alone, +and for my sake?" I said, in much astonishment and emotion. + +"Dangers!" she repeated, smiling, "I did not think of them. What were +they to me when I knew by surmounting them I should again see you; and +if I did not," she added seriously, "I thought we might meet again +_there_,"--pointing upward--"as you have so often told me we should." + +The tears started to my eyes at the affection of this poor girl, and, +taking her hand, I said, "Heaven bless you, Zenuta! I shall never be +able to repay you--never, indeed, for it must be to you that I owe my +life." + +"Yes, yes! to me, Galbrth, to me!" she cried, a bright joy radiating her +features, as she clapped her hands with delight; "you owe your life to +me, poor Zenuta! Oh, I am glad--so glad!" + +"But tell me how, dear Zenuta. I really thought my hour had at last +come." + +As she was about to commence her story we were interrupted by the return +of Umatula and Jack, whose surprise at the appearance of Zenuta was +equally as great as mine had been. The Kaffir, I fancied, regarded her +angrily, and I secretly resolved that, if he expressed his disapproval +in words, the affectionate girl should find a powerful protector in me; +but as he remained quiet, and the first vexed expression died out of his +features, I explained to them the danger I had run, and learned from +Umatula that it was no uncommon thing for the honey guide to lead +persons occasionally to the lair of some fierce beast of the forest +instead of to the bees' treasure, which unpleasant propensity makes the +natives very cautious when they follow the bird. + +"But how, Zenuta," I added, turning again to her, "were you able so soon +to follow us and thus become my protector, my preserver?" + +"At the same time that you left the kraal," she said, "it seems that a +party of warriors was sent to bring us, the women, and cattle to their +new home. My people travel faster than white men, and a few hours after +I heard--oh, Galbrth! I heard that you had gone--gone for ever to the +white settlement. I threw myself in agony on the ground; but I could +not weep. My head felt on fire, and at last, starting up, I resolved to +follow you. Creeping, in the confusion, out of the kraal, I fled to the +bush. I did not care if I died there: I only felt I could no longer +live with my people when you were away." + +"And the fire last night, Zenuta?" I asked anxiously. + +"It nearly caught me," she answered, laughing gleefully, "but I ran--I +ran till I could escape it. Then I went on: I could not sleep, for I +could find no trace of the path you had taken. It made me mad. I ran +on and on--I felt no fatigue--I had no fear--when suddenly a cry, a +shout of terror, reached me. It was your voice, Galbrth. I rushed +forward: I saw the leopard just rising into the air. I saw your danger. +The next moment, with a leap, I had flung my arms tightly about the +creature, and we both together fell struggling to the ground, when, +feeling one of your assagais touch my hand, I seized it, and plunged it +again and again into the leopard's body, till I felt his claws relax on +my arms, when I knew he was dead and I was safe." + +"What!" I cried, in much concern, "did the frightful animal harm you, +my noble Zenuta?" + +"A little," she replied, smiling, as she turned to me her arm, on the +back of which I perceived the flesh to be torn and bleeding. + +"My poor, my brave girl!" I exclaimed tremulously. + +"It is nothing--I like it," she laughed softly, "because did I not save +you, my Galbrth?" + +I pressed her hand affectionately in mine, and, before anything else was +said or done, persisted that her shoulder should be attended to. Then, +being consumed with a terrible thirst, I asked Umatula whether he had +prophesied rightly respecting water being near. + +"Yes," he replied with an amused smile, "there is plenty at a little +distance off, as I should have known," he added, "had your accident +occurred before we started, for the plant which held you prisoner always +grows near water." + +"If that be so," I exclaimed, getting up, "for heaven's sake let us go +there, for I am perishing of thirst! Let us get to this stream which +you have discovered." + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +OVERTAKEN BY A STORM--POOR ZENUTA--WE START FOR DEAR OLD ENGLAND--MY +NATIVE VILLAGE. + +Umatula leading the way, and Jack giving me the support of his arm--for +what with my lame foot and the thorns having unmercifully torn my flesh, +I felt weak--we all four proceeded to the stream, that was a little more +than a hundred yards distant, and which proved to be a small tributary +of the river Umooli. Here, slaking our thirst, we bivouacked and +enjoyed as good a dinner as we could procure, of which Zenuta stood in +much need; then we forded the stream, dashing the water and shouting as +we went to scare the crocodiles that congregated in rather large numbers +on the banks. + +When on the other side, while preparing to continue our journey, my +attention was drawn to the sky, where vast masses of dark clouds were +collecting in black mountainous heaps, at the same time that a hot air, +as from a furnace, made the atmosphere oppressive to the lungs. + +Turning, I was about to point out these ominous signs to Umatula, when I +perceived by his awe-struck face that he too had seen there was a storm +of no common character threatening. The Kaffir, it appears, has a great +fear of thunder-storms, and will give the witch-doctors high prices for +charms to preserve them from danger during these periods. Zenuta, like +Umatula, had several, and eagerly she implored me to wear one, which, to +please her, I certainly would have done, had I not felt it against my +religion to do so. Would that these charms had indeed been efficacious. +Anxiously Umatula glanced up and about him; then indicating a hillside +at a very few yards off, warned us to seek shelter there, and as quickly +as possible, for perhaps the storm would be down before we could even +reach it. + +Dashing forward, however, we arrived in safety, and found there a cave +formed by nature. Into this we huddled to escape the floods of rain +which Umatula prophesied would be sure to come. + +Scarcely had we fairly ensconced ourselves than the heavens grew as +black as night; then the dark clouds were rent asunder by a vivid, an +awful flash of lightning. All around seemed ablaze, as if fire had +rained on the earth, while overhead the thunder began to roll--not clap +after clap, but in one continuous roar, like the succession of thousands +of cannon, which shook the ground beneath us as if an earthquake were +taking place. + +Never have I seen anything so stupendously awful--too awful even to be +grand; for all nature was of one pitchy hue, only illumined at brief +intervals by the white blinding lightning. Then down came the rain in +sheets, as if the floodgates of some hundreds of Niagaras had been +suddenly removed, changing the plain we had so lately traversed in a few +seconds into an enormous lake. + +The Kaffir sat, his face hidden as much as possible to avoid the glaring +light. Zenuta crouched in a corner, while Jack and I, save an +occasional exclamation of wonder or awe, also remained silent, feeling +it was no time to talk. + +Thus we remained until the storm seemed abating: the lightning had grown +rarer, while the thunder was less loud, and we were beginning to +congratulate ourselves upon its so speedily passing over, when, as if +for a finale, a more awful flash than any of the previous ones again lit +up the sky. So dazzling was the glare that, with an involuntary cry +from all, we fell prostrate on our faces. The next instant a deafening +uproar arose--no longer in the air, but about our ears. I believed the +hill had been shaken to its base, and was sliding, rolling, crushing +upon top of us, burying us alive. + +The sound lasted many minutes--to us it appeared hours; then suddenly a +perfect stillness fell over everything, and after a while, recovering +our breath and senses, we slowly raised our eyes and looked around. + +The sky was clear, the moon even at intervals shining forth; but how +changed was the landscape it lighted up! The whole country was flooded +with broad sheets of water, dotted near at hand by immense boulders, +which had been rent from the hills around and above us. As I gazed I +thought how easily such a rain, did it continue forty days and nights, +might flood two worlds instead of one. Slowly, grasping his charm, +Umatula now arose, seeing all danger past, and we followed his example. +As I did so, however, I became aware that the tight grasp which Zenuta +had taken of my hand did not relax, neither did she attempt to rise. + +With a vague terror I bent over her, trying to lift her up, and calling +her by name. She did not move--she did not answer. I believed she had +fainted, and eagerly bade Umatula and Jack come to my assistance, as, +turning the poor girl on her side, I rested her head against my +shoulder. Just then the moon shone out between two clouds, and its +beams rested upon Zenuta's face. A cry of horror, of grief, escaped my +lips, for, as I beheld the features plainly, I instantly read the fatal +truth. She appeared but in a sleep; yet the half-closed mouth and eyes, +the peculiar bluish hue of the dark skin, told too well the tale. Poor +Zenuta was dead! Whether she had been struck by the last awful flash, +or it had occurred through terror, her heart had ceased to beat in this +world for ever. + +As this fact darted through my brain I bent over the remains of the +affectionate girl, and, pressing my lips to her cold forehead, wept like +a child, or like a brother for a beloved sister. Here, in the wilds of +uncivilised Caffraria, I had truly found one sincerely pure, loving +heart. How many a man goes through life in our land without the same +blessing! Poor Zenuta! you held, and do still hold, a firm place in my +bosom, from which you never can be removed, and I believe, as, thank +Heaven, _you_ too believed, that we shall meet again hereafter. + +When I rose up I found that neither Jack nor Umatula's eyes were free +from tears; but, as Jack said truly, but most kindly, it was no time for +outward grief: we might and should sorrow in our hearts for the poor +girl, yet it would not help her now, and we must not sit down to +despond, for there were other duties to be performed. I understood his +meaning, and, with their aid, immediately set to work. + +By the moon's light I laid Zenuta in the cave, breathed a few fervent +heartfelt prayers over her; then together we collected the largest +boulders we could carry, and piled them firmly before the opening, +making so impregnable a wall that no animal could possibly remove it to +disturb her final resting-place. + +This finished, with saddened hearts--very sad on my part I know--we +clambered up to the summit of the hill--for the plains were as yet +impassable--and went on our way, neither of the three feeling desirous +to sleep after the melancholy occurrence of that evening. + +Poor Zenuta! Yes, for the last time I must refer to her in this +history. My heart felt pained, crushed at her fate; yet I believed that +she was far happier where she was than she would have been in a strange +land; for I had resolved to take her to England, as I could not have +found it in my heart to have deserted her again. But Heaven had willed +it otherwise, and it was better for both. + +Umatula soon after this informed us that we were very near the white +settlements, and before the close of the ensuing day we arrived there, +no other adventure having happened worth mentioning. I for my part +think we had had our full share. + +Our entrance into the settlement created little attention at first, so +like had Jack and I become to the natives; but when it got to be known +that two of the three strangers were Englishmen, who had spent over a +year with the Kaffir tribes, the interest grew immense, and we were +speedily visited by a curious crowd--curious yet hospitable--for we got +offers of assistance--food and shelter--from over a dozen of the +inhabitants, while all urged us to recount our history. + +As well as we could we obliged them in everything, and, after having +refreshed ourselves, related just the landmarks of our adventures. The +next morning, after enjoying a good night's rest, I proceeded to the +mission house, where I executed Mr Ferguson's commissions, and procured +the aid which he had assured us we should. By the means of this, and +the help of the rich Boers, we were soon able to attire ourselves in +more civilised garments; while I also made numerous purchases, not +forgetting the gun, for presents to Metilulu. + +Having loaded an ox with these, we placed it under the care of Umatula, +to whom, to his unbounded delight, we gave several gifts for his having +been our guide, then saw him start on his way with a party of natives +who were going very nearly in his direction. + +As may be imagined, we lingered no longer than was compulsory at the +settlement, but, after one more day's rest, set out with a fresh guide +to the nearest seaport--Port Natal. + +Here we arrived without incident of any kind, and so opportunely that we +were just in time for a large ship--the Polyphemus--which in a few hours +was about to start for England. We speedily got permission to work our +passage over in her, and so, on a bright morning, when the sky overhead +was of the deepest blue, and the waves danced like things of life in the +golden sunlight under our bows, Jack and I, leaning over the bulwarks, +bade adieu to Caffraria for ever, and sang out, with our hearts in our +voices, "Hey for dear old England once again!" while Jack fairly hugged +the tarry shrouds to his breast, as I would have hugged Katie, and wept +with very joy at once more feeling the bounding ocean beneath him. + +We encountered rather rough, squally weather while rounding the Cape, +but afterwards got some fair sailing, and made a quick and pleasant +voyage home--pleasant, indeed, for the yarns we could spin about the +Kaffirs made us ever welcome companions to all of the crew; and, my +stars, what yarns Jack did pull! He never seemed to tire of talking, +and though the Kaffirs were a curious and strange race, both in their +manners and appearance--what I knew them to be in reality, was nothing +to what Jack made them in fiction. But like the old woman who would not +believe her sailor son's account of flying fish, but took it as a +probable and gospel truth, when he told her that they had fished up from +the bottom of the Red Sea one of the wheels of Pharaoh's chariot, I +daresay they all believed Jack quite as much as they did me, who really +kept to real facts. + +No sooner did we reach London than, bidding good-bye to Thompson, who +anchored somewhere near Liverpool, and making him promise that, if he +should ever come near Devon, he would pay me, his old shipmate in +trouble and good fortune, a visit, I took the earliest train I could get +that was going near my home, for, now I was so close to my destination, +every minute seemed lengthened into an hour's delay. + +On arriving at the station, I had over a mile to walk to the little +fishing village where I had been born, and never did a mile appear so +long to me. I know I began first to run, then to walk very slowly; for +the thought came across me that many things might have happened during +the two years I had been absent. How did I know but that one of my +children--perhaps, oh heaven, Katie--might be dead! That maddening +thought put quicksilver in my heels, and I hastened on till near my +destination, when I again slackened my steps to a more respectable pace. + +The sun was just setting, casting a last red fiery kiss upon the crests +of the waves, breaking gently on the shore, and on the rocks and humble +tiled roofs, as, with a beating heart, I went down the one long +straggling street of the village ending on the beach. It was the hour +of the evening meal, and few of the inmates were about; yet here and +there two or three groups of fishermen were standing talking and +smoking, or mending their nets--they and the whole scene seeming strange +to me after my fifteen months' sojourn among the Kaffirs. + +Most of the men comprising these groups were old acquaintances; yet they +regarded me curiously as a stranger, so disguised was I by my long thick +beard and bronzed face. + +I had thus passed along without attracting much notice until, as I +reached about the centre of the street, a man--a thoroughly +weather-beaten grizzled old fisherman, with a grey eye as keen as an +eagle's--suddenly starting from a group to waylay me, exclaimed with a +shout-- + +"My eyes and marlin-spikes, but its Dick Galbraith or his ghost!" + +The words were like a spark to a barrel of gunpowder--the news flew +through the village--so, warmly grasping the old seaman's hand, I said +hurriedly-- + +"Not his ghost, Parker, but himself: come down this evening, and bring +two or three of the old acquaintances with you, and I'll tell you all +about it; but I'm now anxious to see my wife, and break the news of my +return to her myself." + +"That's right. She's still in the same cottage on the rock side, Dick, +my hearty, and my eyes, won't she just be ready to jump out of her skin +for joy at seeing you." + +With a happy smile and nod, I ran hastily on, for I feared the news +might reach my wife before I could get there. The next moment the +well-known cottage, so often recalled in Caffraria, rose up before me in +reality. Yes, there was its weather-beaten old shingle front, there +were the little loop-hole windows, and there was the small white swing +gate leading into the patch of garden ground. Breathlessly I passed +through the latter and peeped in at the cottage door, which stood ajar. + +At the table, on which the tea things were laid, sat Katie, as pretty, +neat, and tidy as ever, but a shade sadder looking, while by her side +were our children, little specimens of healthy humanity, which it did a +father's heart good to look upon. Controlling my emotion as much as I +could, and assuming a very doleful tone and expression, I said, +disguising my voice-- + +"Please, missus, have you got a ha'penny or crust for a poor shipwrecked +mariner, who's been nigh a year or more among the savidges, and lost all +his kit." + +"Yes, come in, my good man," responded Katie's gentle tones. "No +shipwrecked sailor," she added sadly, "shall ever be turned from my +threshold. Enter and partake of our simple meal." + +Pushing open the door, I went in trembling in every limb. As I +appeared, my youngest, a stout pudgy little fellow of nearly three, +suddenly slipped off his chair, and toddling towards me, his bread and +butter extended, lisped,-- + +"Here, dood man, Dick not hungry; take this." + +I could control my feelings no longer, but throwing my arms out, I +caught the boy to my heart, weeping and laughing at the same time, as I +pressed kiss after kiss upon his chubby face. + +Katie, surprised at this behaviour, looked up, then, as if a veil had +fallen from her eyes, divined the truth. With a cry of joy she rushed +forward, exclaiming hysterically as she flung her arms about me. + +"Oh, Richard, my husband, my beloved! Is it possible! Do I really see +you again?" + +I clasped her to me, and for a while we cried and laughed together, then +I led her to a chair, for she was rather overcome by the sudden +surprise, and hugged and kissed my little ones, who had almost forgotten +their father. + +After another kissing match all round, I drew my chair up to the +familiar chimney corner, and taking some tea, with Katie opposite me, +and my children about my knees, began to recount my adventures to my +wife, who, bless her heart, almost wept her pretty eyes out at poor +Zenuta's sad story. + +Many years have elapsed since that happy evening, and I am now captain +of my own ship, but my native place is as dear to me as ever. As my +riches increased, I had our cottage turned into a large commodious +house, sufficient for my increasing family. And it was here, in a small +gabled room hanging right over the sea, that while gazing out at the +wild expanse of waters during a terrific storm, the thought occurred to +me to write my adventures. So sitting down, pen in hand, I immediately +began this history of my life, thinking it likely that there might be +many who would find amusement in reading the recital of "Richard +Galbraith, Mariner, when wrecked on Caffraria." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +The End. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Richard Galbraith, Mariner, by Emma Watts Phillips + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RICHARD GALBRAITH, MARINER *** + +***** This file should be named 36950.txt or 36950.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/9/5/36950/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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