登陆注册
5421800000081

第81章

The face of Dingaan shone when he saw the cattle, and that night he called us, the council of the Amapakati, together, and asked us as to the granting of the country. I spoke the first, and said that it mattered little if he granted it, seeing that the Black One who was dead had already given it to the English, the People of George, and the end of the matter would be that the Amaboona and the People of George would fight for the land. Yet the words of the Black One were coming to pass, for already it seemed we could hear the sound of the running of a white folk who should eat up the kingdom.

Now when I had spoken thus the heart of Dingaan grew heavy and his face dark, for my words stuck in his breast like a barbed spear.

Still, he made no answer, but dismissed the council.

On the morrow the king promised to sign the paper giving the lands they asked for to the Boers, and all was smooth as water when there is no wind. Before the paper was signed the king gave a great dance, for there were many regiments gathered at the kraal, and for three days this dance went on, but on the third day he dismissed the regiments, all except one, an impi of lads, who were commanded to stay. Now all this while I wondered what was in the mind of Dingaan and was afraid for the Amaboona. But he was secret, and told nothing except to the captains of the regiment alone--no, not even to one of his council.

Yet I knew that he planned evil, and was half inclined to warn the Captain Retief, but did not, fearing to make myself foolish. Ah! my father, if I had spoken, how many would have lived who were soon dead!

But what does it matter? In any case most of them would have been dead by now.

On the fourth morning, early, Dingaan sent a messenger to the Boers, bidding them meet him in the cattle kraal, for there he would mark the paper. So they came, stacking their guns at the gate of the kraal, for it was death for any man, white or black, to come armed before the presence of the king. Now, my father, the kraal Umgugundhlovu was built in a great circle, after the fashion of royal kraals. First came the high outer fence, then the thousands of huts that ran three parts round between the great fence and the inner one. Within this inner fence was the large open space, big enough to hold five regiments, and at the top of it--opposite the entrance--stood the cattle kraal itself, that cut off a piece of the open space by another fence bent like a bow. Behind this again were the Emposeni, the place of the king's women, the guard-house, the labyrinth, and the Intunkulu, the house of the king. Dingaan came out on that day and sat on a stool in front of the cattle kraal, and by him stood a man holding a shield over his head to keep the sun from him. Also we of the Amapakati, the council, were there, and ranged round the fence of the space, armed with short sticks only--not with kerries, my father--was that regiment of young men which Dingaan had not sent away, the captain of the regiment being stationed near to the king, on the right.

Presently the Boers came in on foot and walked up to the king in a body, and Dingaan greeted them kindly and shook hands with Retief, their captain. Then Retief drew the paper from a leather pouch, which set out the boundaries of the grant of land, and it was translated to the king by an interpreter. Dingaan said that it was good, and put his mark upon it, and Retief and all the Boers were pleased, and smiled across their faces. Now they would have said farewell, but Dingaan forbade them, saying that they must not go yet: first they must eat and see the soldiers dance a little, and he commanded dishes of boiled flesh which had been made ready and bowls of milk to be brought to them. The Boers said that they had already eaten; still, they drank the milk, passing the bowls from hand to hand.

Now the regiment began to dance, singing the Ingomo, that is the war chant of us Zulus, my father, and the Boers drew back towards the centre of the space to give the soldiers room to dance in. It was at this moment that I heard Dingaan give an order to a messenger to run swiftly to the white Doctor of Prayers, who was staying without the kraal, telling him not to be afraid, and I wondered what this might mean; for why should the Prayer Doctor fear a dance such as he had often seen before? Presently Dingaan rose, and, followed by all, walked through the press to where the Captain Retief stood, and bade him good-bye, shaking him by the hand and bidding him hambla gachle, to go in peace. Then he turned and walked back again towards the gateway which led to his royal house, and I saw that near this entrance stood the captain of the regiments, as one stands by who waits for orders.

Now, of a sudden, my father, Dingaan stopped and cried with a loud voice, "Bulalani Abatakati!" (slay the wizards), and having cried it, he covered his face with the corner of his blanket, and passed behind the fence.

同类推荐
  • 台湾私法人事编

    台湾私法人事编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • PANDORA

    PANDORA

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 调实居士证源录

    调实居士证源录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神功妙济真君礼文

    神功妙济真君礼文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说观佛三昧海经

    佛说观佛三昧海经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 你的怀抱是我生命的终点1

    你的怀抱是我生命的终点1

    催泪率96.5%的中国第一奇书,最朴实的心灵鸡汤。真情树书系。美文集,收录《妈妈我找了你好久》《有一种爱是不能被猜疑的》《一张生命的车票》《知道我多么爱你》《世界上最纯洁的灵魂》等等最为打动人心的人间真情故事,堪称近年来少有的感人之作。每一篇选文都用它朴实无华的文字表达一段感人肺腑的情感。父母的爱、兄弟之情、朋友之义、忠心宠物,在这些充满感情和温情的故事中,感动人心,唤起心灵的触动。
  • 墨少的神秘甜妻

    墨少的神秘甜妻

    整个M国都知道不近人情的墨少把他的小娇妻宠在了心尖尖上“喂,你不是总裁吗。为什么你这么闲?”“陪你”“乖,咱们去上班把好不好?”"夫人,这是在赶为夫走吗?“”额,,呵呵呵怎么会呢,我恨不得和你天天每分每秒都在一起,怎么会赶你走呢?但是,为了千万的员工着想我只能忍痛割爱了“”不需要,公司有秦昀。夫人不用割爱“”说好的高冷禁欲,无心无情的冷血总裁呢?“”禁欲不禁你“”你还我心狠手辣,不近人情的总裁人设.............
  • 超级名师系统

    超级名师系统

    “你作为NBA中最好的球员之一,请问你成功的秘诀是什么?”周正严肃的说:“我很幸运,遇到了世界上最好的教练。”“林小姐,你的专辑打破了销量纪录,请问您是如何做到的呢?”林薇薇嫣然一笑:“因为我有世界上最好的老师。”“欧阳警官,这已经是您第三次侦破悬案了,您究竟是如何发现这些尘封已久的线索呢?”欧阳宇眼含热泪的敬礼:“如果不是我的教官,我现在也不过是个交通辅警罢了,他教会了我太多!”还有还有……当记者们发现这些教练、老师、教官,竟然是同一个人后,他们彻底不淡定了。……叶巡这货到底教了多少学生?!
  • 李自成(第1卷):潼关南原大战

    李自成(第1卷):潼关南原大战

    本书的故事发生在崇祯十一年(公元1638年)。这年十月初,北京又一次戒严。清兵再次入塞,朝廷内部主和派与主战派之间发生尖锐的冲突。崇祯在内忧外患的形势下,其精神世界的种种矛盾和性格特点得到初步展现:一方面宵衣旰食,不沉湎于酒色,事必躬亲,勤于朝政,一心想做“英明之君”、“中兴之主”,把明朝从危机和衰败中挽救出来。另一方面,他又刚愎自用、多疑善变,为六年后北京城破、崇祯自尽、明朝灭亡作了铺垫。
  • 第二杯半价ing

    第二杯半价ing

    正当奶昔想要开口时,那男人身边的另一个带着昂贵眼镜的西装男率先开口,彬彬有礼的道:“我们总裁……
  • 粉彩

    粉彩

    “你好!欢迎光临!”清晰的问候声是从舒缘阁门口那只色彩斑斓仿真南美鹦鹉口中发出的。透过硬木博古架,店主舒朗看到一位年轻女性步入店堂。舒朗在精巧的超薄电脑笔记本上漫无目的地浏览着,并不着急招呼顾客。古玩店顾客与一般商店顾客自然不同,“上赶着不是买卖”,对久在古玩行里淘宝的人来说,店家的过分热情常常让他们警觉,“捡漏儿”的欲望会大大降低。已经在古玩行扑腾了十年的舒朗深谙其中规矩,让他有足够的“让子弹飞一会儿”的耐心。
  • 妇贵

    妇贵

    昨天她还是个在职场拼搏的白领,一转眼她成了安国公府的嫡孙女,探花郎的发妻......
  • 友人邀听歌有感

    友人邀听歌有感

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 娇红记

    娇红记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 20几岁要感谢折磨你的人

    20几岁要感谢折磨你的人

    很多时候,人们只有品尝了成功的滋味,才会想着品尝第二次,第三次,甚至更多。但是我们第一次的成功,总是在满足现状的安乐心态中迟迟不肯到来,如此,我们获得成功的期限越拉越长,等到了三十而立的年岁,可能依旧一事无成。所以,我们需要一种动力,一种推助力,这种力量也许让我们很痛苦,不好受,但只要它出现,我们就会努力地奋斗,振臂高飞,从而攀上成功的枝头。