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Also； in a way； I read Saduko's mind and understood that at the moment
he did not wish to discuss the matter of his hideous disappointment。
Whatever else may have been false in this man's nature； one thing rang
true； namely； his love or his infatuation for the girl Mameena。
Throughout his life she was his guiding starabout as evil a star as
could have arisen upon any man's horizon； the fatal star that was to
light him down to doom。 Let me thank Providence； as I do； that I was so
fortunate as to escape its baneful influences； although I admit that
they attracted me not a little。
So； seduced thither by my curiosity； which has so often led me into
trouble； I trekked to Nodwengu； full of many doubts not unmingled with
amusement； for I could not rid my mind of recollections of the utter
terror of the 〃Eater…up…of…Elephants〃 when he was brought face to face
with the dreadful and concentrated rage of the robbed Saduko and the
promise of his vengeance。 Ultimately I arrived at the Great Place
without experiencing any adventure that is worthy of record； and camped
in a spot that was appointed to me by some _induna_ whose name I forget；
but who evidently knew of my approach； for I found him awaiting me at
some distance from the town。 Here I sat for quite a long while； two or
three days； if I remember right； amusing myself with killing or missing
turtle…doves with a shotgun； and similar pastimes； until something
should happen； or I grew tired and started for Natal。
In the end； just as I was about to trek seawards； an old friend； Maputa；
turned up at my wagonsthat same man who had brought me the message
from Panda before we started to attack Bangu。
〃Greeting； Macumazahn；〃 he said。 〃What of the Amakoba？ I see they did
not kill you。〃
〃No；〃 I answered； handing him some snuff； 〃they did not quite kill me；
for here I am。 What is your pleasure with me？〃
〃O Macumazana； only that the King wishes to know whether you have any of
those little balls left in the box which I brought back to you； since；
if so； he thinks he would like to swallow one of them in this hot
weather。〃
I proffered him the whole box； but he would not take it； saying that the
King would like me to give it to him myself。 Now I understood that this
was a summons to an audience； and asked when it would please Panda to
receive me and 〃the…little…black…stones…that…work…wonders。〃 He
answeredat once。
So we started； and within an hour I stood； or rather sat； before Panda。
Like all his family； the King was an enormous man； but； unlike Chaka and
those of his brothers whom I had known； one of a kindly countenance。 I
saluted him by lifting my cap； and took my place upon a wooden stool
that had been provided for me outside the great hut； in the shadow of
which he sat within his isi…gohlo； or private enclosure。
〃Greeting； O Macumazana；〃 he said。 〃I am glad to see you safe and well；
for I understand that you have been engaged upon a perilous adventure
since last we met。〃
〃Yes； King；〃 I answered； 〃but to which adventure do you referthat of
the buffalo； when Saduko helped me； or that of the Amakoba； when I
helped Saduko？〃
〃The latter； Macumazahn； of which I desire to hear all the story。〃
So I told it to him； he and I being alone； for he commanded his
councillors and servants to retire out of hearing。
〃Wow！〃 he said； when I had finished； 〃you are clever as a baboon；
Macumazahn。 That was a fine trick to set a trap for Bangu and his
Amakoba dogs and bait it with his own cattle。 But they tell me that you
refused your share of those cattle。 Now； why was that； Macumazahn？〃
By way of answer I repeated to Panda my reasons； which I have set out
already。
〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； when I had finished。 〃Every one seeks greatness in
his own way； and perhaps yours is better than ours。 Well； the White man
walks one roador some of them doand the Black man another。 They
both end at the same place； and none will know which is the right road
till the journey is done。 Meanwhile； what you lose Saduko and his
people gain。 He is a wise man； Saduko； who knows how to choose his
friends； and his wisdom has brought him victory and gifts。 But to you；
Macumazahn； it has brought nothing but honour； on which； if a man feeds
only； he will grow thin。〃
〃I like to be thin； O Panda；〃 I answered slowly。
〃Yes； yes； I understand；〃 replied the King； who； in common with most
natives； was quick enough to seize a point； 〃and I； too； like people who
keep thin on such food as yours； people； also； whose hands are always
clean。 We Zulus trust you； Macumazahn； as we trust few white men； for
we have known for years that your lips say what your heart thinks； and
that your heart always thinks the thing which is good。 You may be named
Watcher…by…Night； but you love light； not darkness。〃
Now； at these somewhat unusual compliments I bowed； and felt myself
colouring a little as I did so； even through my sunburn； but I made no
answer to them； since to do so would have involved a discussion of the
past and its tragical events； into which I had no wish to enter。 Panda；
too； remained silent for a while。 Then he called to a messenger to
summon the princes； Cetewayo and Umbelazi； and to bid Saduko； the son of
Matiwane； to wait without； in case he should wish to speak with him。
A few minutes later the two princes arrived。 I watched their coming
with interest； for they were the most important men in Zululand； and
already the nation debated fiercely which of them would succeed to the
throne。 I will try to describe them a little。
They were both of much the same ageit is always difficult to arrive at
a Zulu's exact yearsand both fine young men。 Cetewayo； however； had
the stronger countenance。 It was said that he resembled that fierce and
able monster； Chaka the Wild Beast； his uncle； and certainly I perceived
in him a likeness to his other uncle； Dingaan； Umpanda's predecessor；
whom I had known but too well when I was a lad。 He had the same surly
eyes and haughty bearing； also； when he was angry his mouth shut itself
in the same iron fashion。
Of Umbelazi it is difficult for me to speak without enthusiasm。 As
Mameena was the most beautiful woman I ever saw in Zululandalthough it
is true that old war…dog； Umslopogaas； a friend of mine who does not
come into this story； used to tell me that Nada the Lily； whom I have
mentioned； was even lovelierso Umbelazi was by far the most splendid
man。 Indeed； the Zulus named him 〃Umbelazi the Handsome；〃 and no
wonder。 To begin with； he stood at least three inches above the tallest
of them； from a quarter of a mile away I have recognised him by his
great height； even through the dust of a desperate battle； and his
breadth was proportionate to his stature。 Then he was perfectly made；
his great； shapely limbs ending； like Saduko's； in small hands and feet。
His face； too； was well…cut and open； his colour lighter than
Cetewayo's； and his eyes； which always seemed to smile； were large and
dark。
Even before they passed the small gate of the inner fence it was easy
for me to see that this royal pair were not upon the best of terms； for
each of them tried to get through it first； to show his right of
precedence。 The result was somewhat ludicrous； for they jammed in the
gateway。 Here； however； Umbelazi's greater weight told； for； putting
out his strength； he squeezed his brother into the reeds of the fence；
and won through a foot or so in front of him。
〃You grow too fat； my brother；〃 I heard Cetewayo say； and saw him scowl
as he spoke。 〃If I had held an assegai in my hand you would have been
cut。〃
〃I know it； my brother；〃 answered Umbelazi； with a good…humoured laugh；
〃but I knew also that none may appear before the King armed。 Had it
been otherwise； I would rather have followed after you。〃
Now； at this hint of Umbelazi's； that he would not trust his brother
behind his back with a spear； although it seemed to be conveyed in jest；
I saw Panda shift uneasily on his seat； while Cetewayo scowled even more
ominously than before。 However； no further words passed between them；
and； walking up to the King side by side； they saluted him with raised
hands； calling out 〃Baba！〃that is； Father。
〃Greeting； my children；〃 said Panda； adding hastily； for he foresaw a
quarrel as to which of them should take the seat of honour on his right：
〃Sit there in front of me； both of you； and； Macumazahn； do you come
hither；〃 and he pointed to the coveted place。 〃I am a little deaf in my
left ear this morning。〃
So these brothers sat themselves down in front of the King； nor were
they； I think； grieved to find this way out of their rivalry； but first
they shook hands with me； for I knew them both； though not well； and
even in this small matter the old trouble arose； since there was some
difficulty as to which of them should first offer me his hand。
Ultimately； I remember； Cetewayo won this trick。
When these preliminaries were finished； Panda addressed the princes；
saying：
〃My sons； I have sent for you to ask your counsel upon a certain
matternot a large matter； but one that may grow。〃 And he paused to
take snuff； whereon both of them ejacul