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that is called 〃Pick…out…the…old…men；〃 for it was there that Chaka
murdered all the aged who were unfit for war。
After I； Mopo； had stood before the king； and he had given me new
wives and fat cattle and a kraal to dwell in； the bones of Unandi； the
Great Mother Elephant； Mother of the Heavens； were gathered together
from the ashes of my huts； and because all could not be found； some of
the bones of my wives were collected also to make up the number。 But
Chaka never knew this。 When all were brought together； a great pit was
dug and the bones were set out in order in the pit and buried； but not
alone； for round them were placed twelve maidens of the servants of
Unandi； and these maidens were covered over with the earth； and left
to die in the pit by the bones of Unandi； their mistress。 Moreover；
all those who were present at the burial were made into a regiment and
commanded that they should dwell by the grave for the space of a year。
They were many； my father； but I was not one of them。 Also Chaka gave
orders that no crops should be sown that year； that the milk of the
cows should be spilled upon the ground； and that no woman should give
birth to a child for a full year； and that if any should dare to bear
children； then that they should be slain and their husbands with them。
And for a space of some months these things were done； my father； and
great sorrow came upon the land。
Then for a little while there was quiet； and Chaka went about heavily；
and he wept often； and we who waited on him wept also as we walked；
till at length it came about by use that we could weep without ceasing
for many hours。 No angry woman can weep as we wept in those days； it
was an art； my father； for the teaching of which I received many
cattle； for woe to him who had no tears in those days。 Then it was
also that Chaka sent out the captain and fifty soldiers to search for
Umslopogaas； for； though he said nothing more to me of this matter； he
did not believe all the tale that I had told him of the death of
Umslopogaas in the jaws of a lion and the tale of those who were with
me。 How that company fared at the hands of Umslopogaas and of Galazi
the Wolf； and at the fangs of the people black and grey； I have told
you； my father。 None of them ever came back again。 In after days it
was reported to the king that these soldiers were missing； never
having returned； but he only laughed； saying that the lion which ate
Umslopogaas； son of Mopo； was a fierce one； and had eaten them also。
At last came the night of the new moon； that dreadful night to be
followed by a more dreadful morrow。 I sat in the kraal of Chaka； and
he put his arm about my neck and groaned and wept for his mother； whom
he had murdered； and I groaned also； but I did not weep； because it
was dark； and on the morrow I must weep much in the sight of king and
men。 Therefore； I spared my tears； lest they should fail me in my
need。
All night long the people drew on from every side towards the kraal；
and； as they came in thousands and tens of thousands； they filled the
night with their cries； till it seemed as though the whole world were
mourning； and loudly。 None might cease their crying； and none dared to
drink so much as a cup of water。 The daylight came； and Chaka rose；
saying； 〃Come； let us go forth； Mopo； and look on those who mourn with
us。〃 So we went out； and after us came men armed with clubs to do the
bidding of the king。
Outside the kraal the people were gathered； and their number was
countless as the leaves upon the trees。 On every side the land was
black with them； as at times the veldt is black with game。 When they
saw the king they ceased from their howling and sang the war…song；
then once again they howled； and Chaka walked among them weeping。 Now；
my father； the sight became dreadful； for； as the sun rose higher the
day grew hot； and utter weariness came upon the people； who were
packed together like herds of cattle； and； though oxen slain in
sacrifice lay around； they might neither eat nor drink。 Some fell to
the ground； and were trampled to death； others took too much snuff to
make them weep； others stained their eyes with saliva； others walked
to and fro； their tongues hanging from their jaws； while groans broke
from their parched throats。
〃Now； Mopo； we shall learn who are the wizards that have brought these
ills upon us；〃 said the king； 〃and who are the true…hearted men。〃
As we spoke we cam upon a man； a chief of renown。 He was named
Zwaumbana； chief of the Amabovus； and with him were his wives and
followers。 This man could weep no more； he gasped with thirst and
heat。 The king looked at him。
〃See； Mopo；〃 he said； 〃see that brute who has no tears for my mother
who is dead！ Oh； the monster without a heart！ Shall such as he live to
look upon the sun； while I and thou must weep； Mopo？ Never！ never！
Take him away； and all those who are with him！ Take them away； the
people without hearts； who do not weep because my mother is dead by
witchcraft！〃
And Chaka walked on weeping； and I followed also weeping； but the
chief Zwaumbana and those with him were all slain by those who do the
bidding of the king； and the slayers also must weep as they slew。
Presently we came upon another man； who； seeing the king； took snuff
secretly to bring tears to his eyes。 But the glance of Chaka was
quick； and he noted it。
〃Look at him； Mopo；〃 he said； 〃look at the wizard who has no tears；
though my mother is dead by witchcraft。 See； he takes snuff to bring
tears to his eyes that are dry with wickedness。 Take him away； the
heartless brute！ Oh； take him away！〃
So this one also was killed； and these were but the first of
thousands； for presently Chaka grew mad with wickedness； with fury；
and with the lust of blood。 He walked to and fro； weeping； going now
and again into his hut to drink beer； and I with him； for he said that
we who sorrowed must have food。 And ever as he walked he would wave
his arm or his assegai； saying； 〃Take them away； the heartless brutes；
who do not weep because my mother is dead；〃 and those who chanced to
stand before his arm were killed； till at length the slayers could
slay no more； and themselves were slain； because their strength had
failed them； and they had no more tears。 And I also； I must slay； lest
if I slew not I should myself be slain。
And now； at length； the people also went mad with their thirst and the
fury of their fear。 They fell upon each other； killing each other；
every man who had a foe sought him out and killed him。 None were
spared； the place was but a shambles； there on that day died full
seven thousand men； and still Chaka walked weeping among them； saying；
〃Take them away； the heartless brutes； take them away！〃 Yet； my
father； there was cunning in his cruelty； for though he destroyed many
for sport alone； also he slew on this day all those whom he hated or
whom he feared。
At length the night came down； the sun sank red that day； all the sky
was like blood； and blood was all the earth beneath。 Then the killing
ceased； because none had now the strength to kill； and the people lay
panting in heaps upon the ground； the living and the de