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〃What is it; king's men?〃 I asked boldly。



〃This; son of Makedama;〃 answered their spokesman: 〃give over to us

your wife Macropha and your children Umslopogaas and Nada; that we may

do with them as the king commands。〃



〃Umslopogaas;〃 I answered; 〃has gone where the king's arm cannot

stretch; for he is dead; and for my wife Macropha and my daughter

Nada; they are by now in the caves of the Swazis; and the king must

seek them there with an army if he will find them。 To Macropha he is

welcome; for I hate her; and have divorced her; and as for the girl;

well; there are many girls; and it is no great matter if she lives or

dies; yet I pray him to spare her。〃



Thus I spoke carelessly; for I knew well that my wife and child were

beyond the reach of Chaka。



〃You do well to ask the girl's life;〃 said the soldier; laughing; 〃for

all those born to you are dead; by order of the king。〃



〃Is it indeed so?〃 I answered calmly; though my knees shook and my

tongue clove to my lips。 〃The will of the king be done。 A cut stick

puts out new leaves; I can have more children。〃



〃Ay; Mopo; but first you must get new wives; for yours are dead also;

all five of them。〃



〃Is it indeed so?〃 I answered。 〃The king's will be done。 I wearied of

those brawling women。〃



〃So; Mopo;〃 said the soldier; 〃but to get other wives and have more

children born to you; you must live yourself; for no children are born

to the dead; and I think that Chaka has an assegai which you shall

kiss。〃



〃Is it so?〃 I answered。 〃The king's will be done。 The sun is hot; and

I tire of the road。 He who kisses the assegai sleeps sound。〃



Thus I spoke; my father; and; indeed; in that hour I desired to die。

The world was empty for me。 Macropha and Nada were gone; Umslopogaas

was dead; and my other wives and children were murdered。 I had no

heart to begin to build up a new house; none were left for me to love;

and it seemed well that I should die also。



The soldiers asked those with me if that tale was true which I told of

the death of Umslopogaas and of the going of Macropha and Nada into

Swaziland。 They said; Yes; it was true。 Then the soldiers said that

they would lead me back to the king; and I wondered at this; for I

thought that they would kill me where I stood。 So we went on; and

piece by piece I learned what had happened at the king's kraal。



On the day after I left; it came to the ears of Chaka; by the mouth of

his spies; that my second wifeAnadiwas sick and spoke strange

words in her sickness。 Then; taking three soldiers with him; he went

to my kraal at the death of the day。 He left the three soldiers by the

gates of the kraal; bidding them to suffer none to come in or go out;

but Chaka himself entered the large hut where Anadi lay sick; having

his toy assegai; with the shaft of the royal red wood; in his hand。

Now; as it chanced; in the hut were Unandi; the mother of Chaka; and

Baleka; my sister; the wife of Chaka; for; not knowing that I had

taken away Umslopogaas; the son of Baleka; according to their custom;

these two foolish women had come to kiss and fondle the lad。 But when

they entered the hut they found it full of my other wives and

children。 These they sent away; all except Moosa; the son of Anadi

that boy who was born eight days before Umslopogaas; the son of Chaka。

But they kept Moosa in the hut; and kissed him; giving him imphi'1' to

eat; fearing lest it should seem strange to the women; my wives; if;

Umslopogaas being gone; they refused to take notice of any other

child。



'1' A variety of sugar…cane。ED。



Now as they sat this; presently the doorway was darkened; and; behold!

the king himself crept through it; and saw them fondling the child

Moosa。 When they knew who it was that entered; the women flung

themselves upon the ground before him and praised him。 But he smiled

grimly; and bade them be seated。 Then he spoke to them; saying; 〃You

wonder; Unandi; my mother; and Baleka; my wife; why it is that I am

come here into the hut of Mopo; son of Makedama。 I will tell you: it

is because he is away upon my business; and I hear that his wife Anadi

is sickit is she who lies there; is it not? Therefore; as the first

doctor in the land; I am come to cure her; Unandi; my mother; and

Baleka; my sister。〃



Thus he spoke; eyeing them as he did so; and taking snuff from the

blade of his little assegai; and though his words were gentle they

shook with fear; for when Chaka spoke thus gently he meant death to

many。 But Unandi; Mother of the Heavens; answered; saying that it was

well that the king had come; since his medicine would bring rest and

peace to her who lay sick。



〃Yes;〃 he answered; 〃it is well。 It is pleasant; moreover; my mother

and sister; to see you kissing yonder child。 Surely; were he of your

own blood you could not love him more。〃



Now they trembled again; and prayed in their hearts that Anadi; the

sick woman; who lay asleep; might not wake and utter foolish words in

her wandering。 But the prayer was answered from below and not from

above; for Anadi woke; and; hearing the voice of the king; her sick

mind flew to him whom she believed to be the king's child。



〃Ah!〃 she said; sitting upon the ground and pointing to her own son;

Moosa; who squatted frightened against the wall of the hut。 〃Kiss him;

Mother of the Heavens; kiss him! Whom do they call him; the young cub

who brings ill…fortune to our doors? They call him the son of Mopo and

Macropha!〃 And she laughed wildly; stopped speaking; and sank back

upon the bed of skins。



〃They call him the son of Mopo and Macropha;〃 said the king in a low

voice。 〃Whose son is he; then; woman?〃



〃Oh; ask her not; O king;〃 cried his mother and his wife; casting

themselves upon the ground before him; for they were mad with fear。

〃Ask her not; she has strange fancies such as are not meet for your

ears to hear。 She is bewitched; and has dreams and fancies。〃



〃Peace!〃 he answered。 〃I will listen to this woman's wanderings。

Perhaps some star of truth shines in her darkness; and I would see

light。 Who; then; is he; woman?〃



〃Who is he?〃 she answered。 〃Are you a fool that ask who he is? He is

hush!put your ear closelet me speak low lest the reeds of the hut

speak it to the king。 He isdo you listen? He isthe son of Chaka

and Baleka; the sister of Mopo; the changeling whom Unandi; Mother of

the Heavens; palmed off upon this house to bring a curse on it; and

whom she would lead out before the people when the land is weary of

the wickedness of the king; her son; to take the place of the king。〃



〃It is false; O king!〃 cried the two women。 〃Do not listen to her; it

is false。 The boy is her own son; Moosa; whom she does not know in her

sickness。〃



But Chaka stood up in the hut and laughed terribly。 〃Truly; Nobela

prophesied well;〃 he cried; 〃and I did ill to slay her。 So this is the

trick thou hast played upon me; my mother。 Thou wouldst give a son to

to me who will have no son: thou wouldst give me a son to kill me。

Good! Mother of the Heavens; take thou the doom of the Heavens! Thou

wouldst give me a son to slay me and rule in my place; now; in turn;

I; thy son; will rob me of a mother。 Die; Unandi!die at the hand

thou didst bring forth!〃 And he lifted the little assegai and smote it

through her。



For a moment Unandi; Mother of the Heavens; wife of Senzangacona;

stood uttering no cry。 Then she put up her hand; and drew the assegai

from her side。



〃So shalt thou die also; Chaka the Evil!〃 she cried; and fell down

dead there in the hut。



Thus; then; did Chaka murder his mother Unandi。



Now when Baleka saw what had been done; she turned and fled from the

hut into the Emposeni; and so swiftly that the guards at the gates

could not stop her。 But when she reached her own hut Baleka's strength

failed her; and she fell senseless on the ground。 But the boy Moosa;

my son; being overcome with terror; stayed where he was; and Chaka;

believing him to be his son; murdered him also; and with his own hand。



Then he stalked out of the hut; and leaving the three guards at the

gate; commanded a company of soldiers to surround the kraal and fire

it。 This they did; and as the people rushed out they killed them; and

those who did not run out were burned in the fire。 Thus; then;

perished all my wives; my children; my servants; and those who were

within the gates in their company。 The tree was burned; and the bees

in it; and I alone was left livingI and Macropha and Nada; who were

far away。



Nor was Chaka yet satisfied with blood; for; as has been told; he sent

messengers bidding them kill Macropha; my wife; and Nada; my daughter;

and him who was named by son。 But he commanded the messengers that

they should not slay me; but bring me living before them。



Now when the soldiers did not kill me I took counsel with myself; for

it was my belief that I was saved alive only tha

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