CHAPTER NINE.
KING PANDA.
The band of Zulus, with the captives in their midst, were compelled tomove at a slow pace; for the Hottentot drivers of the waggon, uncertainof the reception they might meet with at the end of their journey, wouldnot hasten on the oxen even when the ground was level, and it wasfrequently rough, with steep hills to ascend or descend, so that aquicker pace was impossible. The warriors belonged to a regiment ofunmarried men or boys, as could be seen from their heads wanting thering at the top, which is the mark of those who have been allowed by theking to take to themselves wives. As they marched along they shoutedand sang songs descriptive of the deeds they had performed, or of thosethey intended to do, referring sometimes to their prowess in havingcaptured a party of white men, who had not ventured to strike a blow forfreedom; while they boasted especially of the way they intended toannihilate Umbulazi and his followers. Some gave way to their exuberantspirits by leaping and dancing in a fashion which offered a curiouscontrast to the march of a regiment of life guards. They shrieked, theyquivered their assegais, and clashed their shields together, untilCrawford, who had never before seen an exhibition of the sort, began tofear that they might take it into their heads to kill him and hiscompanions.
"I think we should be prepared for an attack from these savages," hesaid to Denis, gravely. "For my part, I hope that we shall sell ourlives dearly, if they attempt to take them."
"No fear of that for the present," answered Denis; "they are only insomewhat high spirits at the thought of having soon to engage in battle.You see Hendricks rides on as composedly as ever, so does Lionel, whoperfectly understands what they are saying. They don't intend us anyharm. However, I confess that it is possible their mood may change, andit would be as well not to do anything to offend them. Hendricks knowsthem better than most people, and will take care to keep them in goodhumour. I shall be very glad when we are out of their companynotwithstanding."
"So say I," exclaimed Crawford. "I confess that had I known whatsavages they are, I should not have been so eager to come into theircountry."
"As to that, I do not suppose they are worse than other tribes," saidDenis; "they are certainly more intelligent and brave. My chief regretis that we shall have further delay in going in search of my father. Iwish that you were to accompany us instead of stopping with CaptainBroderick, although I daresay Percy will be very glad of your company;and he has some sisters, who won't be ill pleased to have an Englishgentleman to talk to, as they must lead a somewhat monotonous life inthat out-of-the-way spot, with only an occasional visit from a Dutchboer and his frau, or, when the weather is not too hot, a gallop throughthe wilds."
"I am half inclined to ask Hendricks to let me accompany him on hisexpedition into the interior," said Crawford. "I am afraid I should gettired of the sort of life you describe. However, I shall be able tojudge better when I have seen the place."
"Or the young ladies, eh?" observed Denis; "I fancy something willdepend upon that, won't it?"
Crawford made no reply.
This conversation caused the journey to appear shorter than mightotherwise have been the case. Lionel and Percy, who generally kepttogether, amused themselves by talking away in a lively fashion, whileHendricks rode ahead, thinking over his plans for the future, andconsidering how he could best get free from King Panda and his son, thePrince Regent, for such was the rank held by Cetchwayo at that time. Atlength a kraal was seen on the slope of a hill, rising gradually fromthe plain. It was at present the habitation of Panda. The warriorsraised a shout, intended as a compliment to the king, and again beatingtheir shields and shaking their assegais, they made signals to thedrivers to urge on the waggon at a faster speed than heretofore. TheHottentots, observing their threatening gestures, obeyed, and the groundbeing even, the oxen pulled away, incited by the lash of the drivers,which came down with incessant whisks on their flanks.
Hendricks, knowing the customs of the country, put his horse into atrot, Crawford and Denis and the two boys imitating him, and thus thewarriors and their captives appeared to be rushing forward eagerlytowards the palace of the king. The chief who had captured them hurriedon first to announce the success of his expedition. Just before hereached the kraal he was met by a tall stout chief, evidently a personof much consideration, for as he approached he bowed again and again,and then crouched down to the ground, apparently not daring to look upat his face. The tall chief wore, like the others, a cap stuck full ofostrich and crane feathers, with lappets of monkey skins, a kilt of thesame skins round his waist, and a sort of cloak hanging over hisshoulders, fastened in front by numerous white ox-tails. His featureswere handsome for a Kaffir; in height he towered above those surroundinghim; and though still young, he was remarkably stout. He was evidentlyalso a powerful man, and he possessed the supposed attributes of highbirth--wonderfully small hands and feet for a person of his size.
"Who can he be?" asked Crawford.
"A whopping big fellow, at all events," answered Denis; "I'll askHendricks."
"That is no other than Cetchwayo, the real ruler of Zululand," saidHendricks; "he has come here probably on a visit to his father, and heit was who ordered our seizure. I have always been on good terms withhim, and must try and induce him not to detain us. It will not do,however, to approach him on horseback. We must show him some respect,though we need not bow and cringe as that fellow is doing."
When the party had approached to about a hundred yards or so from theprince, a halt was called, when Hendricks, dismounting, summoned Umgolo,and leaving the horses in charge of the other attendants, they proceededtogether towards the prince.
Hendricks saluted him in Kaffir fashion, and having paid the usualcompliments, begged to inquire why he and his party had been summoned.The prince replied that he wished to see him face to face. That no harmwas intended him, but that he required his services for an importantobject. Hendricks asked what that object was, saying at the same time,that he should be always ready to do anything to serve him.
"That is well!" answered Cetchwayo; "but you are equally ready to doanything to serve Umbulazi, to whose camp I find you have paid a visit."
Hendricks replied that he had been compelled to visit the camp for thepurpose of rescuing some of his followers who had been made prisoners,and that he had neither promised his assistance nor expressed hisapprobation of the proceedings of Umbulazi.
"You must show which side you espouse by joining me, and assisting indefeating the traitor who is planning to deprive me of my father'sfavour, and to rule the country in my stead," said Cetchwayo.
In vain Hendricks pleaded that although friendly to Cetchwayo, he wasanxious to proceed on his journey for an important object, and that itwas not becoming in white men to interfere in the quarrels of thenatives, with all of whom they wished to be at peace.
Cetchwayo smiled grimly, remarking, "That whether Hendricks and hisfollowers fought or not, they must accompany him to see the way in whichhe would punish his enemies."
When he pleaded still more earnestly, the prince began to grow angry,and hinted that if his white friend did not accompany him willingly heshould be compelled to use more powerful arguments.
Hendricks, seeing that it would be imprudent to press the point further,had at length to submit, and Cetchwayo then told him that he might campwhere his waggon stood, and that wood, water, and food would be sent tohim.
The oxen were accordingly offspanned, the horses were knee-haltered, andthe other usual preparations made. In a short time a party of boysappeared bringing firewood, which they deposited near the waggon. Theywere followed by the same number of girls, who came along laughing andsinging, bringing some large calabashes of water on their heads.Finding that no meat appeared, Hendricks did up a packet of blankets andother articles, and bidding one of his men accompany him, proceeded tothe chief kraal. Percy and Lionel followed at a short distance, as theysaid to each other, to see the fun. As they got near the kraal, theyobserved a
number of half-naked blacks dragging at what looked like ahuge gun carriage, but which proved to be a hand-waggon, very similar toa big chest on wheels. In it was seated an immensely fat man. As heapproached, the people who were standing outside immediately went downon their hands and knees, shouting out, "Bayete, bayete!" or King of allother kings; "Zulu-lion, Monarch of the world," and similarcomplimentary cries.
"Why, who is that fat old fellow?" asked Percy.
"Who should he be but King Panda, to be sure?" answered Denis. "He istoo fat for his legs to support him, so he has to be dragged about inthat fashion."
The king looked about him in a complaisant manner, and gave some order,when half a dozen of the courtiers darted off as fast as their legscould carry them, eager to obey it. On seeing Hendricks, he desired himto approach. The hunter advanced without considering it necessary tomake a salute in the style the black king's subjects adopted; but takingthe bundle of blankets from his attendant, he offered it, saying that hehad brought a present which he hoped his Majesty would deign to accept.
The king, on seeing the blankets, which were ornamented withgay-coloured borders, expressed his great satisfaction, and withoutreferring to the way in which the hunter and his party had been takenprisoners, inquired the news from Natal, the price of cattle, and talkedabout other similar subjects.
Hendricks, knowing that it would be useless to plead with Panda againstCetchwayo's decision, having answered his questions, simply expressedhis pleasure at seeing the king look so well.
The old fellow grimly smiled, and stroked his stomach as if heconsidered himself still capable of swallowing an unlimited quantity ofbeef and mealy cakes. Yet this mountain of flesh had unlimited powerover the lives of his subjects, which he showed before the day was overby ordering one of his courtiers, who had offended him somehow or other,to be put to death. Some thirty of those standing round darted off withtheir assegais in their hands. Just at that instant the unhappyoffender appeared, coming to ask pardon of the king, and to explain thereason of his apparent negligence. He was met by the executioners ofthe king's pleasure, and before he could open his mouth he was piercedthrough and through by a score of assegais. When his dead body wasdragged up to the waggon, the king simply nodded his approval of theact. The body was then dragged off again to be buried. None of theman's relatives or friends dared to utter a word of complaint. Soonafter Hendricks and his companions had reached the waggon, an ox wasdriven towards them by some of the attendants of the king, who had sentit as a return for the presents he had received. It was at onceslaughtered, and the meat was spitted, and placed before the fire tocook, greatly to the satisfaction of the Kaffir and Hottentot servants,who had begun loudly to complain of being starved. Hendricks had stillsome hopes that Cetchwayo would allow him to continue his journey thenext morning; but the prince sent word that he must remain another day,as he was not prepared to commence his march.
This was a further trial of temper to Hendricks, and by the way he boreit he set a good example to his young followers. Guards were placedround the camp by Cetchwayo's orders, so that no one could leave itwithout permission. It was thus very evident that he intended to adhereto his first intention, of compelling the white men to accompany him onhis expedition against his brother. There was no help for it. Thewhole party turned in to sleep, satisfied, at all events, that they werenot likely to be disturbed by a lion or rhinoceros, or any other wildbeast, making an inroad into the camp.
Next day a messenger from the king made his appearance, and presented aninvitation to the great white hunter to dine with His Majesty, and tobring his young white companions.
Hendricks groaned. "I know what that means," he observed to Crawford."We shall have to drink beer and eat beef until we are ready to die ofrepletion. I would thankfully avoid the honour if we could possibly doso; but if we were to refuse, the king might grow angry, and perhapsconfiscate our goods, if he did not order us all to be put to death."
"Let us go by all means," said Crawford. "It will be great fun, and weshall, at all events, be able to boast that we dined with the king ofZululand."
"We must go, I fear, but I doubt if you or any of us will find it muchfun," answered Hendricks.
He then turned to the messenger, who, of course, had no conception ofthe remarks which had been made, and begged him to inform the great kingthat his white friends would do themselves the immense honour of obeyinghis commands.
At the appointed time Hendricks and his four companions set off, leavingthe waggon under the charge of Umgolo, with directions to keep a strictwatch upon it, lest any of Cetchwayo's brave soldiers should take itinto their heads to appropriate the contents. They then proceededtowards the kraal at the side of the hill. The heat was excessive, thesun beat down with intense force upon their heads, so that they were notinclined to move very fast. Having arrived at the kraal, they wereushered into the outer circle, where, in a hut considerably larger thanthose inhabited by the common people, they found the king seated on apile of mats, he being utterly unable to squat down in the fashion ofhis less obese subjects. Hendricks saluted him in due form, andCrawford and Percy imitated their leader as well as they could. Theythen arranged themselves so as to form part of a circle on one side ofHis Majesty.
Panda looked at Lionel. "That boy knows how to behave," he remarked,observing the proper Kaffir salutation which he made on entering.
"Yes, O King! I have long lived in Zululand, and I know good manners,"answered Lionel, with perfect gravity, while Denis turned away his headto indulge in a quiet laugh, to which he could not openly venture togive way.
Presently several girls appeared, each carrying a bowl holding about agallon of beer, one of which they set down before each of the guests.Others then brought in wooden platters, huge pieces of beef, largemasses of which an attendant cut off with an assegai, and handed to theking, who munched away at them with infinite satisfaction. The guestswere desired to help themselves with their knives which they carried intheir belts. There were, in addition, baskets of mealy cakes, whichPercy declared were more to the purpose than the tough half-roastedbeef. The king every now and then looked round the circle, exclaiming,"Eat! eat!" The guests did their utmost, but were very soon satisfied.
"Pray tell him that I can do no more," said Crawford. "This hot day Ishould prefer some cold lamb and a salad, but this coarse beef beatsme."
Hendricks apologised as best he could.
"Tell them to drink, then," said the king, "if they cannot eat. Thebeer will slip down without any difficulty. Don't you like beer?" askedthe king, when he saw that after taking a few mouthfuls they stopped.
"Pray tell him that we like beer in moderation, but shall never be ableto finish off one of these bowls," exclaimed Crawford.
Hendricks assured the king that his young companions were anxious toplease him; but that Englishmen's insides were not of the samemagnificent capacity as His Majesty's, and that therefore it would beimpossible for them to do as he desired.
A frown gathered on the king's brow. "Drink, I say, drink! They mustdrink," he exclaimed.
"Tell the king that I'll see him at Jericho first," said Denis; anobservation which set Percy off laughing.
"Command yourselves, lads," said Hendricks, turning to them. "This maybecome no laughing matter. Although you cannot drink, and I don't wishyou to do so, you must show the king that you desire to please him."
"Sure I'll do that," said Denis, putting the bowl to his mouth, andpretending to swallow a huge draught, and then placed it on the groundand gasped for breath. "Please tell His Majesty, that unless he wishesto kill me, he'll let me off this time," cried the irrepressible youngIrishman. "Poor Percy and Lionel will burst outright if they have toswallow this stuff."
"That I shall," exclaimed Percy. "I'll not swallow another drop toplease him or all the nigger kings in Africa."
Lionel did not venture to make any remark, but looked as resolute as therest not to turn himself into a beer barrel.
Hendricks began to wish heartily that he had left his companions in thecamp, but had now to get out of the difficulty in the best way he could.He therefore reminded Panda that they were very young, and that Englishmanners were not like Zulu manners, but he hoped the next time theyvisited the country, should the king give them the honour of aninvitation, that they would behave themselves better.
Both Hendricks and Crawford had already swallowed more of the beer thanthey liked. Although its intoxicating qualities were very weak, thelatter declared he felt its effects in his head, and that should he takemuch more, he could not answer for himself.
At last Hendricks thought of an expedient which might possibly provesuccessful in enabling his companions to escape from a furtherinfliction of the king's hospitable intentions. "The Lion of Africa"(such was one of the titles the obese old savage delighted to beaddressed by) "was inquiring about affairs in Natal," he observed. "Notlong ago, there lived in England,--which, as your Majesty is aware of,is a long way off,--a man named Jones. He was a worthy man, and had hebeen born in Zululand, he might have become a great warrior. But Joneswas a man of peace. He had a family of ten children, six boys and fourgirls, very like him in all respects. Jones had a brother, and Jones'sbrother had twelve children, they were equally divided between boys andgirls. As there was every prospect of there being a good many morelittle Jones's born, they agreed that the country might not be largeenough to hold them, and they therefore determined to come out to Natal.Jones's brother came in a ship called the _Swan_, while Jones himselfembarked in one named the _Duck_. They sailed almost at the same time.When the sea was smooth, the little Jones's were tolerably well, butwhen it grew rough, they became very sick, and wished that they had notcome."
Hendricks, while he was speaking, kept his eye on the king, who, beforehe had got thus far, began to nod. He continued, therefore, in a lowvoice, giving the history of the Jones's, which, as it would beuninteresting to most readers, was especially so to the king, who,therefore, before the hunter had got much farther, fell fast asleep.
"Now my lads," said Hendricks, turning to his young companions, "you maytake the opportunity of slipping off. Make a bow to the king as youleave the hut, more to please his attendants than His Majesty, who willcertainly not see it, and I will follow."
His directions were obeyed, and they all breathed more freely when theyfound themselves in the open air. They guessed that the courtiers wouldnot let the king discover that any beer had been left in the bowls, bydrinking it up themselves, and they therefore were not troubled on thataccount.
"It is the first time I ever dined with a king, and it's the last, Ihope, ever to have that honour--at least with a black one," exclaimedDenis, as they strolled back towards the waggon. "I wish we could sendCetchwayo to sleep as easily as Hendricks has done his fat old father,and then we might at once continue our journey."
Cetchwayo, however, was not a man to be sent asleep by any amount ofKaffir beer, whatever might have been the effect of half a dozen ofLondon stout. He visited the camp in the evening, to have a talk, as hesaid, with his friend the great hunter.
He intended, he said, to commence his march at daylight the nextmorning, to attack Umbulazi, and he should depend upon his friends toafford him the assistance of their rifles.
"Do you wish, O Prince, to destroy me and my companions?" exclaimedHendricks. "Know you not that I am subject to the laws of my country?Those laws forbid me to kill my fellow-creatures, except inself-defence, or in such warfare as is sanctioned by my government. IfI were to kill any of Umbulazi's people, who have not attacked me, andwho are at peace with my country, I should make myself liable to thepenalty of death. Remember, O Prince, that although your warriors arebrave and numerous, yet Umbulazi has a strong force, and should thefortune of war turn against you, your women and children would beexposed to great danger. Now if you will place them under my charge, Iwill undertake to defend them, and will fight to the last, rather thanallow them to be killed."
To this proposal Cetchwayo would not consent, but at last he agreed thatHendricks and his men should remain in the reserve, and that in theevent of any of his regiments being defeated, they should afford themprotection, and enable them to rally, so as to renew the attack.
Very unwillingly Hendricks was compelled to consent to this arrangement,for he feared being drawn into the conflict, which he especially desiredto avoid. Next morning, at daybreak, the army began its march. Themain body advanced so slowly, that the waggon was able to keep up withit; but active scouts were sent ahead, to feel every inch of the way,while the rest kept themselves concealed, so that there was nopossibility of their being taken by surprise. For three days theyadvanced, when it was supposed that they were approaching their enemies;but the scouts brought in word that they had retreated to a positionnearer the border. This showed that Umbulazi was not so confident ofvictory as he had appeared to be--possibly he had discovered that hisforces were far outnumbered by those of his brother.
On receiving this information, Cetchwayo ordered his whole army toadvance. Hendricks was in hopes of being allowed to remain behind, butthe prince would not hear of it.
"I will grant you this favour," he answered. "I will leave two of yourpeople, and six of my own, who are sick, to assist in taking care of thewaggon; but you and the rest must accompany me on horseback, and viewthe battle, even if you do not take a part in it. I want to show youhow we Zulus fight, and how we treat our enemies when we gain thevictory."