Part 27 (1/2)

After this an

Rising to his feet, Cetewayo addressed Panda

”My father,” he said, ”the land wanders and wanders in darkness, and you alone can give light for its feet I and reat one, namely, as to which of us is to sit in your place when you are 'gone doe call and you do not answer Some of the nation favour one of us and so, and you alone, have the voice of judgment

Still, before you speak, I and those who stand withthis to your mind My mother, Umqumbazi, is your Inkosikazi, your head-wife, and therefore, according to our law, I, her eldest son, should be your heir Moreover, when you fled to the Boers before the fall of hiaan], did not they, the white Ast your sons was your heir, and did you not point me out to the white men? And thereon did not the A to be? But now of late thein your ear, as have others”--and he looked at Saduko and sorown cold towards me, so cold thatafter you and stamp on my name If this is so, my father, tellfinished this speech, which certainly did not lack force and dignity, Cetewayo sat down again, awaiting the answer in sullen silence

But, reeted with a great cheer, for although Cetewayo had the larger following in the land, especially a the distant chiefs, the Zulus individually loved Umbelazi more, perhaps because of his stature, beauty and kindly disposition--physical and e nation

”My father,” he said, ”like my brother, Cetewayo, I await your word

Whatever you may have said to the Amabunu in haste or fear, I do not ad of the Zulu people I say that ood as his, and that it lies with you, and you alone, to declare which of us shall put on the royal kaross in days that my heart praysto divide the land with Cetewayo”

(here both Panda and Cetewayo shook their heads and the audience roared ”Nay”), ”or, if that does not please hi to ht till one of us be slain”

”A safe offer!” sneered Cetewayo, ”for is notthe Zulus? No, I will not set the fortunes of those who cling to ht of a man's muscles Decide, O father; say which of the two of us is to sit at the head of your kraal after you have gone over to the Spirits and are but an ancestor to be worshi+pped”

Now, Panda lookedout fro, Umqumbazi, Cetewayo's mother, whispered into one of his ears, while Umbelazi's ave I do not know, although obviously it was not the same advice, since the poor man rolled his eyes first at one and then at the other, and finally put his hands over his ears that he !” shouted the audience ”Who is to succeed you, Cetewayo or U Panda, I saw that he fell into a kind of agony; his fat sides heaved, and, although the day was cold, sweat ran from his brow

”What would the white men do in such a case?” he said toat the ground and speaking so that few could hearHe would say that others ht settle the matter after he was dead”

”Would that I could say so, too,” muttered Panda; ”but it is not possible”

Then followed a long pause, during which all were silent, for every th Panda rose with difficulty, because of his unwieldy weight, and uttered these fateful words, that were none the less ominous because of the ho bulls quarrel they ht it out”_

Instantly in one tremendous roar volleyed forth the royal salute of ”Bayete”, a signal of the acceptance of the King's word--the word that meant civil war and the death of many thousands

Then Panda turned and, so feebly that I thought he would fall, walked through the gateway behind hiled to be first after hi that it would be an omen of success for her son Finally, however, to the disappoint it side by side

When they had gone the great audience began to break up, the h by co any insult or molestation to their adversaries I think that this peaceable attitude arose, however, froe of private quarrel into that of public war It was felt that their dispute awaited decision, not with sticks outside the Nodwengu kraal, but with spears upon soreat battlefield, for which they went to prepare

Within two days, except for those regiuard his person, scarcely a soldier was to be seen in the neighbourhood of Nodwengu The princes also departed tohi the Mandhlakazi that he co to the kraal of Umbezi, which happened to stand almost in the centre of that part of the nation which adhered to him

Whether he took Mameena with hi lest her welcome at her birthplace should be warmer than she wished, she settled herself at sohbourhood, and there awaited the crisis of her fortune

At any rate, I saw nothing of her, for she was careful to keep out of my way

With Umbelazi and Saduko, however, I did have an interview Before they left Nodwengu they called on ether, apparently on the best of terms, and said in effect that they hoped forwar

I answered that, however well I ht like them personally, a Zulu civil as no affair ofthe supreet out of the way at once

They argued with reat offers and proth, when he saw that my determination could not be shaken, Umbelazi said: