Nada the Lily
with this tale, which is as are other tales of our people. But that shall be seen, for from these matters, as a tree from a seed, grew the birth of Umslopogaas Bulalio, Umslopogaas the Slaugh
ing the course of years, I grew fat in cattle and in wives; but also it was one of much danger. For when I rose strong and well in the morning, I could never know but that at night I should sleep stiff and red. Many were the doctors whom Chaka slew; doctored they never so well, they were killed at last. For a day would surely come when the king felt ill in his body or
d none went empty away. Never may I forget the first fight I stood in at the side of Chaka. It was just after the king had built his great kraal on the south bank of the Umhlatuze. Then it
t 30,000
rom their bed of spears; they sprang up and shook the dew from hair and shield-yes! they arose! the glad to die! The impi assumed its array regiment by regiment. There was the breast of spears, there were the horns of spears, they were numberless as the stars, and like the stars they shone. The morning breeze came up and fanned them, their plumes bent in the breeze; like a plain of seeding grass they bent, the plumes of the soldiers ripe for the assegai. Up over the shoulder
ower to drive men mad, rose far away to the left, and was th
, You, too, are one of us! We are the Zulu,
ked along like a great buck; death was in his eyes, and like a buck he sniffed the air, scenting the air of
de?" he shouted, and his voice
he regiments. And every spea
uted again. "Shall we then
they answered.
ed a third time, and as he spoke the black shields
Chaka. "There is the fo
one voice, and moved down the slope like a
awoke. A murmur went through his companie
et! Hearken to the thunder of the sh
ey pour back across the stream-half of them; the rest are d
e room for the Umkandhlu GIRLS!" A
with the three that are left. Again comes the roar of the meeting shields. Ah! these are men: they fight, they do not run. Regiment after regiment pours upon them, but still they stand. They fall by hundreds and by thousands, but no man sho
ee! spears are shining among the trees. Now the horns of our host close upon the flanks of the foe
The captains hear, the soldiers
st. "Charge! Chil
ample them down. What matter? They can fight no more. Then we meet Zwide rushing to greet us, as bull meets bull. Ou! my father, I know no more. Everything grows red. That fight! that fight! We swept them away. When it was done there was nothing to be seen, but the hillside was black and red. Few
battles in the
ed them for their service. He said it was natural that "girls" should faint at the sight of blood and turn to seek their kraals. Yet he had bid them come back no more and they had come ba
y other tribe. If ten came against him, still he did not turn his back. "Fight and fall, but fly not," that
ments, and thus, though men died by thousands every month, yet the army grew. Soon there were no other chiefs left. Umsuduka fell, and after him Mancengeza. Umzilikazi was driven north; Matiwane was stamped flat. Then we poured into this land of Natal. When we entered,
en the Zulus were weary of war an