Part 6 (1/2)
Mr Fairburn was now more at leisure, and Alexander hadafter dinner Mr Fairburn had opened a ive Alexander some information relative to his projected journey He pointed out to hih the Caffre country, and then observed that it was difficult to give any advice as to his proceedings after he had passed this country, governed by Hinza, as every thing would depend upon circu of the country beyond?”
”Not much; we know that it was overrun by the Zoolus, the tribe of which Chaka was the chief; and last year our troops went to the assistance of the Caffres, ere attacked by another tribe from the northward, called the Mantatees These were dispersed by our troops with ihter The Zoolu country, you perceive, is on the east side of the great chain of mountains, and to the northward of Port Natal The Mantatees came from the west side of the mountains, in about the same parallel of latitude It is i on at present, or what may take place before you arrive at your destination, as these northern irruptions are continual”
”You promised me the history of that person, Chaka”
”You shall have it now: he was the king of the Zoolu nation--I hardly knohat to call him He was the Nero and the Napoleon of Africa; a reat warrior and conqueror He co his relatives to obtain the sovereignty As soon as he had succeeded, he ht inimical to him, and who had been friends to his relatives”
”But are the Zoolus Caffres?”
”No; but there are many races to the northhich we consider as Caffre races You rations of the huenerally from the north to the south: so it appears to have been in Africa So the northern tribes, probably a pressure from excessive population, had driven the Zoolus to the southward, and they ca before them all the tribes that fell in their path
Chaka's force consisted of nearly 100,000 warriors, of whom 15,000 were always in attendance to execute his orders In every country which he overran he spared neither age nor sex; it was one indiscrihter”
”What a monster!”
”He ruled by terror, and it is incredible that his orders met with such implicit obedience To make his army invincible, he reuished by the color of their shi+elds, and forbade the-spear, so that they always fought at close quarters He weeded his arained his victories, and putting theiment sent out to battle, if they were defeated, were instantly destroyed on their return; it was, therefore, victory or death with the that of impalement Well he was surnamed 'the bloody,'”
”Yes, indeed”
”His tyranny over his own people was dreadful On one occasion, a child annoyed hi seventy or eighty other children, and could not be distinguished, so he ordered the whole to be put to death He murdered two or three hundred of his wives in one day At the slightest suspicion he would order out his chiefs to execution, and no one knehen his turn ht come His as law: every one trembled and obeyed To enter into a detail of all his cruelties would fill volumes; it will be sufficient to mention the last act of his life His mother died, and he declared that she had perished by witchcraft Hundreds and hundreds were is, he ordered out his arhter over the whole country, which lasted for fourteen days”
”How horrible!”
”He was a demon who reveled in blood; but his own turn caaam, who knew that he was about to be sacrificed; and thus perished the bloody Chaka His brother Dingaam is now on the Zoolu throne, and appears inclined to be quiet There is another great warrior chief named Moselekatsee, who revolted from Chaka, and who is much such another character; but our accounts of these people are vague at present, and require time to corroborate their correctness
You will have to act and decide when you arrive there, and uided by circumstances With the caravan you propose to travel with, I think there will not be er; and if there is, you must retreat
The favor of these despots is easily to be obtained by judicious presents, which of course you will not be unprovided with I have ordered your letters to the authorities to be nature to them When do you propose to, start?”
”We shall be ready in a few days, and have only to find a vessel going to Algoa Bay”
”You will be asked to take charge of several articles which are to be sent to the missionary station which you will pass on your way I presume you have no objection?”
”Certainly not; they deserve every encourageive reat pleasure”
Alexander received many proposals from different parties ished to join the expedition, but they were all civilly declined In a few days a vessel arrived, which was about to go round to the settleetting Begu leave of Mr Fairburn and the governor, Alexander, Major Henderson, and Mr Swinton e of the fourth day found themselves safe at anchor in cooa Bay
CHAPTER VIII
The vessels which lay at anchor in Algoa Bay had just arrived frorants, who, to improve their fortunes, had left their native land to settle in this country Many had landed, but the greater proportion were still on board of the vessels
The debarkation was rapidly going on, and the whole bay was covered with boats landing with people and stores, or returning forfrom the ard, there was no surf on the beach; the sun was bright and warht came on, and the panorama was closed in
Alexander and his companions remained on the deck of their vessel till an undisturbed silence reigned where but an hour or two before all was noise and bustle The stars, so beautiful in the southern climes, shone out in cloudless brilliancy; the waters of the bay were sht have fancied that there was a heaven beneath as well as above them The land presented a dark opaqueas if they were close to the precipitately from the shore All was of one sohts in the houses in the toinkled here and there, announcing that; soht repose from the labors of the day Yet all was silent, except occasionally the barking of a dog, or the voice of the sentry in Fort Frederick, announcing that ”all ell”