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Updated: May 26, 2025
Denis had heard that a son of King Panda, Umbulazi, had been supplanted by a younger son, Cetchwayo, and that, being destitute of talents and ability, he was not likely to attempt to interfere in the affairs of state, but to remain quietly at his kraal, attending to his herds, and cultivating his mealy grounds.
Lionel and Percy, who generally kept together, amused themselves by talking away in a lively fashion, while Hendricks rode ahead, thinking over his plans for the future, and considering how he could best get free from King Panda and his son, the Prince Regent, for such was the rank held by Cetchwayo at that time. At length a kraal was seen on the slope of a hill, rising gradually from the plain.
"To obtain some fresh air, and to see you review your magnificent army," answered Denis. "And you think that my soldiers are fine fellows?" said the chief, evidently well pleased. "They will be able to drive Cetchwayo and all his followers out of the country, so that none will be left to oppose me." "I have not seen Cetchwayo's army, so that I cannot reply to that remark," answered Denis.
All we now ask is to be set at liberty, and to be allowed to return to our friends who are anxiously waiting us." "Such cannot be allowed," answered Umbulazi. "You will carry information of what you have seen to Cetchwayo, who will then be induced to attack us before we are ready for him." "We promise to give no information which will in any way injure you," said Denis.
"But perhaps the assurance I give, that we are friends to Cetchwayo, and are simply travelling through his country, will satisfy him." "The prince wishes to see the great hunter face to face," answered the chief; "and he and his followers, with his waggon and cattle, will accompany us forthwith. The word has been spoken. The order must be obeyed."
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 camp where his waggon stood, and that wood, water, and food would be sent to him. The oxen were accordingly offspanned, the horses were knee-haltered, and the other usual preparations made.
Not a word was spoken along the whole line; for although the warriors themselves could not have been heard by the main body of the enemy, the scouts might have discovered their advance. Cetchwayo now told Hendricks and his companions to dismount and lead on their horses, keeping a short distance in the rear of the army.
They have become formidable from the way they have been trained by a succession of clever chiefs like Cetchwayo, though I don't suppose that old Panda has ever done much to maintain good discipline in his army. However, as Cetchwayo is well disposed towards the English, he will not give much trouble to the colony."
Cetchwayo, seeing the determined resistance offered, and that numbers of his men were falling, summoned a company of his own regiment, and led them on to the attack. The struggle was fierce, but of short duration. Scarcely a minute elapsed before he was seen to sweep over the spot, trampling on the bodies of the slain, into which his followers were fiercely plunging their weapons.
Again, the word for "lies" or "slander" was altered from amacebo to amakwata, because amacebo contains a syllable of the name of the famous King Cetchwayo. These substitutions are not, however, carried so far by the men as by the women, who omit every sound even remotely resembling one that occurs in a tabooed name.
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