Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 17, 2025
"May I not drink also, daughter of Umbezi?" asked Umbelazi, who could scarcely take his eyes off her. "Certainly, sir, if you are a friend of Macumazahn," she replied, handing him the gourd. "I am that, Lady, and more than that, since I am a friend of your husband, Saduko, also, as you will know when I tell you that my name is Umbelazi."
Shortly after dawn I was awakened by a voice calling me, which in a hazy fashion I recognised as that of Umbezi. "Macumazahn," said the voice in a hoarse whisper, "the reeds below us are full of buffalo. Get up. Get up at once." "What for?" I answered. "If the buffalo came into the reeds they will go out of them. We do not want meat." "No, Macumazahn; but I want their hides.
"Inkoosi," he answered in his deep voice, lifting his delicately shaped hand in salutation, a courtesy that pleased me who, after all, was nothing but a white hunter, "Inkoosi, has not her father said that she is his daughter?" "Aye," answered the jolly old Umbezi, "but what her father has not said is that Saduko is her lover, or, rather, would like to be. Wow!
You, you have dared to lift your hand against the blood-royal, and with your foul tongue to heap lies and insults upon the name of the mighty dead." Now, understanding at last, Umbezi began to babble excuses, yes, and to declare that all his tale was false. His fat cheeks fell in, he sank to his knees.
I have a song to sing to the Prince. I have a tale to tell to the conqueror, Cetewayo." I stared. I rubbed my eyes. It could not be yes, it was Umbezi, "Eater-up-of-Elephants," the father of Mameena.
"Perhaps not," I answered; "only then I am sure I should have been dead to-day, as I think that all who have to do with her will be ere long. And now, Umbezi, I wish you a good breakfast." On the following morning, Saduko returned and was told the news by Nandie, whom I had carefully avoided.
"Why should I, who am Saduko's Inkosikazi, and, as you say, daughter of Panda, the King, be jealous of the widow of the wizard, Masapo, and the daughter of the headman, Umbezi, whom it has pleased our husband to take into his house to be the companion of his leisure?" "Why?
"Be silent, idiot," roared Umbezi. Let us follow it." He glared round him, whereon his obsequious people, or one of them, echoed: "Yes, by all means let us follow it, 'Eater-up-of-Elephants. Macumazahn, the clever white man, will show us how, for where is the buffalo that he fears!"
Remember that you let Mameena grow into his heart and behaved badly to him, Umbezi." "I never promised her to him, Macumazahn. I only said that if he brought a hundred cattle, then I might promise." "Well, he has wiped out the Amakoba, the enemies of his House, and there are the hundred cattle whereof he has many more, and now it is too late for you to keep your share of the bargain.
Go send your servants to the kraal and count them." "Oh, with pleasure," Umbezi replied nervously, and he gave some orders to certain men behind him. "I am glad to see that you have become rich in this sudden fashion, Saduko, though how you have done so I cannot understand." "Never mind how I have become rich," answered Saduko. "I am rich; that is enough for the present.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking