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ceased； because none had now the strength to kill； and the people lay
panting in heaps upon the ground； the living and the dead together。 I
looked at them； and saw that if they were not allowed to eat and
drink； before day dawned again the most of them would be dead； and I
spoke to the king； for I cared little in that hour if I lived or died；
even my hope of vengeance was forgotten in the sickness of my heart。
〃A mourning indeed； O King；〃 I said； 〃a merry mourning for true…
hearted men； but for wizards a mourning such as they do not love。 I
think that thy sorrows are avenged； O King； thy sorrows and mine
also。〃
〃Not so； Mopo；〃 answered the king； 〃this is but the beginning； our
mourning was merry to…day； it shall be merrier to…morrow。〃
〃To…morrow； O King； few will be left to mourn； for the land will be
swept of men。〃
〃Why； Mopo； son of Makedama？ But a few have perished of all the
thousands who are gathered together。 Number the people and they will
not be missed。〃
〃But a few have died beneath the assegai and the kerrie； O King。 Yet
hunger and thirst shall finish the spear's work。 The people have
neither eaten nor drunk for a day and a night； and for a day and a
night they have wailed and moaned。 Look without； Black One； there they
lie in heaps with the dead。 By to…morrow's light they also will be
dead or dying。〃
Now； Chaka thought awhile； and he saw that the work would go too far；
leaving him but a small people over whom to rule。
〃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。 Scarcely will Unandi； my mother； sleep
well； seeing that so little blood has been shed on her gravesurely
her spirit will haunt my dreams。 Yet； because of the gentleness of my
heart； I declare this mourning ended。 Let my children eat and drink；
if； indeed； they have the heart。〃
〃Happy are the people over whom such a king is set；〃 I said in answer。
Then I went out and told the words of Chaka to the chiefs and
captains； and those of them who had the voice left to them praised the
goodness of the king。 But the most gave over sucking the dew from
their sticks； and rushed to the water like cattle that have wandered
five days in the desert； and drank their fill。 Some of them were
trampled to death in the water。
Afterwards I slept as I might best； it was not well； my father； for I
knew that Chaka was not yet gutted with slaughter。
On the morrow many of the people went back to their homes； having
sought leave from the king； others drew away the dead to the place of
bones； and yet others were sent out in impis to kill such as had not
come to the mourning of the king。 When midday was past； Chaka said
that he would walk； and ordered me and other of his indunas and
servants to walk with him。 We went on in silence； the king leaning on
my shoulder as on a stick。 〃What of thy people； Mopo；〃 he said at
length； 〃what of the Langeni tribe？ Were they at my mourning？ I did
not see them。〃
Then I answered that I did not know； they had been summoned； but the
way was long and the time short for so many to march so far。
〃Dogs should run swiftly when their master calls； Mopo； my servant；〃
said Chaka； and the dreadful light came into his eyes that never shone
in the eyes of any other man。 Then I grew sick at heart； my father
ay； though I loved my people little； and they had driven me away； I
grew sick at heart。 Now we had come to a spot where there is a great
rift of black rock； and the name of that rift is U'Donga…lu…ka…
Tatiyana。 On either side of this donga the ground slopes steeply down
towards its yawning lips； and from its end a man may see the open
country。 Here Chaka sat down at the end of the rift； pondering。
Presently he looked up and saw a vast multitude of men； women； and
children； who wound like a snake across the plain beneath towards the
kraal Gibamaxegu。
〃I think； Mopo；〃 said the king； 〃that by the colour of their shields；
yonder should be the Langeni tribethine own people； Mopo。〃
〃It is my people； O King；〃 I answered。
Then Chaka sent messengers； running swiftly； and bade them summon the
Langeni people to him where he sat。 Other messengers he sent also to
the kraal； whispering in their ears； but what he said I did not know
then。
Now； for a while； Chaka watched the long black snake of men winding
towards him across the plain till the messengers met them and the
snake began to climb the slope of the hill。
〃How many are these people of thine； Mopo？〃 asked the king。
〃I know not； O Elephant；〃 I answered； 〃who have not seen them for many
years。 Perhaps they number three full regiments。〃
〃Nay； more；〃 said the king； 〃what thinkest thou； Mopo； would this
people of thine fill the rift behind us？〃 and he nodded at the gulf of
stone。
Now； my father； I trembled in all my flesh； seeing the purpose of
Chaka； but I could find no words to say； for my tongue clave to the
roof of my mouth。
〃The people are many；〃 said Chaka； 〃yet； Mopo； I bet thee fifty head
of cattle that they will not fill the donga。〃
〃The king is pleased to jest；〃 I said。
〃Yea； Mopo； I jest； yet as a jest take thou the bet。〃
〃As the king wills；〃 I murmuredwho could not refuse。 Now the people
of my tribe drew near： at their head was an old man； with white hair
and beard； and； looking at him； I knew him for my father； Makedama。
When he came within earshot of the king； he gave him the royal salute
of Bayete； and fell upon his hands and knees； crawling towards him；
and konzaed to the king； praising him as he came。 All the thousands of
the people also fell on their hands and knees； and praised the king
aloud； and the sound of their praising was like the sound of a great
thunder。
At length Makedama； my father； writhing on his breast like a snake；
lay before the majesty of the king。 Chaka bade him rise； and greeted
him kindly； but all the thousands of the people yet lay upon their
breasts beating the dust with their heads。
〃Rise； Makedama； my child； father of the people of the Langeni；〃 said
Chaka； 〃and tell me why art thou late in coming to my mourning？〃
〃The way was far； O King；〃 answered Makedama； my father； who did not
know me。 〃The way was far and the time short。 Moreover； the women and
the children grew weary and footsore； and they are weary in this
hour。〃
〃Speak not of it； Makedama； my child；〃 said the king。 〃Surely thy
heart mourned and that of thy people； and soon they shall rest from
their weariness。 Say； are they here every one？〃
〃Every one； O Elephant！none are wanting。 My kraals are desolate； the
cattle wander untended on the hills； birds pick at the unguarded
crops。〃
〃It is well； Makedama； thou faithful servant！ Yet thou wouldst mourn
with me an houris it not so？ Now； hearken！ Bid thy people pass to
the right and to the left of me； and stand in all their numbers upon
the slopes of the grass that run down to the lips of the rift。〃
So Makedama； my father； bade the people do the bidding of the