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the Boers agreed to； and went to attack the chief； and in a little
while they came back again； having destroyed the people of Sigomyela；
and driving his cattle before them as well as those which had been
stolen from the king。
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 aloneno； 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 itopposite the entrancestood 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 onlynot with kerries； my fatherwas 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。
We； the councillors； stood astounded； like men who had become stone；
but before we could speak or act the captain of the regiment had also
cried aloud； 〃Bulalani Abatakati！〃 and the signal was caught up from
every side。 Then； my father； came a yell and a rush of thousands of
feet； and through the clouds of dust we saw the soldiers hurl
themselves upon the Amaboona； and above the shouting we heard the
sound of falling sticks。 The Amaboona drew their knives and fought
bravely； but before a man could count a hundred twice it was done； and
they were being dragged； some few dead； but the most yet living；
towards the gates of the kraal and out on to the Hill of Slaughter；
and there； on the Hill of Slaughter； they were massacred； every one of
them。 How？ Ah！ I will not tell youthey were massacred and piled in a
heap； and that was the end of their story； my father。
Now I and the other councillors turned away and walked silently
towards the house of the king。 We found him standing before his great
hut； and； lifting our hands； we saluted him silently； saying no word。
It was Dingaan who spoke； laughing a little as he spoke； like a man
who is uneasy in his mind。
〃Ah； my captains；〃 he said； 〃when the vultures plumed themselves this
morning； and shrieked to the sky for blood； they did not look for such
a feast as I have given them。 And you； my captains； you little guessed
how great a king the Heavens have set to rule over you； nor how deep
is the mind of the king that watches ever over his people's welfare。
Now the land is free from the White Wizards of whose footsteps the
Black One croaked as he gave up his life； or soon shall be； for this
is but a beginning。 Ho！ Messengers！〃 and he turned to some men who
stood behind him； 〃away swiftly to the regiments that are gathered
behind the mountains； away to them； bearing the king's words to the
captains。 This is the king's word： that the impi shall run to the land
of Natal and slay the Boers there； wipi