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Updated: June 9, 2025
Now the messengers cried out the royal salute of Bayete, and, leaping forward like spears from the hand of the thrower, were gone at once. But we, the councillors, the members of the Amapakati, still stood silent. Then Dingaan spoke again, addressing me: "Is thy heart at rest now, Mopo, son of Makedama?
She lifted the little spear, and with it touched Chaka, son of Senzangacona, on the brow, giving him to doom. Then she spoke; but, though Chaka felt the touch, he did not hear the words, that were for my ears alone. "Mopo, son of Makedama," said the low voice, "stay thy hand, the cup of Chaka is not full. When, for the third time, thou seest me riding down the storm, then SMITE, Mopo, my child."
It seemed still and small, yet it came to them faintly like the voice of one speaking from a mountain-top in a time of snow: "Mourn, children of Makedama!" And all the thousands of the people men, women, and children echoed his words in a thunder of sound, crying: "Mourn, children of Makedama!" Again he cried: "Mourn, people of the Langeni, mourn with the whole world!" And the thousands answered:
"Mourn, O tribe of the Langeni, because the Mother of the Heavens is no more. "Mourn, children of Makedama, because the Spirit of Fruitfulness is no more. "Mourn, O ye people, because the Lion of the Zulu is left so desolate. "Let your tears fall as the rain falls, let your cries be as the cries of women who bring forth.
Chaka was sitting in the little courtyard in front of his hut. I went down on my knees before him and gave the royal salute, Bayete, and so I stayed. "Rise, son of Makedama!" he said. "I cannot rise, Lion of the Zulu," I answered, "I cannot rise, having royal blood on my hands, till the king has pardoned me." "Where is it?" he asked. I pointed to the mat in my hand. "Let me look at it."
When all had passed, Chaka spoke again to Makedama, my father, bidding him climb down to the bottom of the donga, and thence lift up his voice in mourning. The old man obeyed the king. Slowly, and with much pain, he clambered to the bottom of the rift and stood there.
"It is hard, Mopo," he said, "that thou and I must mourn alone over our woes while these dogs feast and make merry. Yet, because of the gentleness of my heart, I will deal gently with them. Go out, son of Makedama, and bid my children eat and drink if they have the heart, for this mourning is ended.
"I bring the medicines, men of the king!" I said to the guards. "Pass in," they answered. I passed through the gates and into the hut of Baleka. Unandi was alone in the hut with my sister. "The child is born," said the mother of the king. "Look at him, Mopo, son of Makedama!" I looked. He was a great child with large black eyes like the eyes of Chaka the king; and Unandi, too, looked at me.
"Chaka dreamed this also: that I, Mopo, your dog, who am not worthy to be mentioned with such names, came up and gave the royal salute, even the Bayete." "To whom didst thou give the Bayete, O Mopo, son of Makedama?" asked both of the princes as with one breath, waiting on my words.
"Hasten back to the kraal of Makedama, and say to him, Thus says Chaka, the Lion of the Zulu-ka-Malandela, 'Years ago thy tribe refused me milk. To-day the dog of thy son Mopo howls upon the roof of thy hut. Begone!" Among the Zulus it is a very bad omen for a dog to climb the roof of a hut. The saying conveyed a threat to be appreciated by every Zulu.
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