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many…hued； suggesting； but not revealing； the strength and splendour
that it veils。 Nandie had none of these attractions； which； after all；
anywhere upon the earth belong only to a few women in each generation。
She was a simple； honest…natured； kindly； affectionate young woman of
high birth； no more； that is； as these qualities are understood and
expressed among her people。
Umbelazi led her forward into the presence of the King； to whom she
bowed gracefully enough。 Then； after casting a swift； sidelong glance
at Saduko； which I found it difficult to interpret； and another of
inquiry at me； she folded her hands upon her breast and stood silent；
with bent head； waiting to be addressed。
The address was brief enough； for Panda was still sleepy。
〃My daughter；〃 he said； with a yawn； 〃there stands your husband；〃 and he
jerked his thumb towards Saduko。 〃He is a young man and a brave； and
unmarried； also one who should grow great in the shadow of our House；
especially as he is a friend of your brother； Umbelazi。 I understand
also that you have seen him and like him。 Unless you have anything to
say against it； for as； not being a common father； the King receives no
cattleat least in this caseI am not prejudiced； but will listen to
your words；〃 and he chuckled in a drowsy fashion。 〃I propose that the
marriage should take place to…morrow。 Now； my daughter； have you
anything to say？ For if so； please say it at once； as I am tired。 The
eternal wranglings between your brethren； Cetewayo and Umbelazi； have
worn me out。〃
Now Nandie looked about her in her open； honest fashion； her gaze
resting first on Saduko； then on Umbelazi； and lastly upon me。
〃My Father；〃 she said at length； in her soft； steady voice； 〃tell me； I
beseech you； who proposes this marriage？ Is it the Chief Saduko； is it
the Prince Umbelazi； or is it the white lord whose true name I do not
know； but who is called Macumazahn； Watcher…by…Night？〃
〃I can't remember which of them proposed it；〃 yawned Panda。 〃Who can
keep on talking about things from night till morning？ At any rate； I
propose it； and I will make your husband a big man among our people。
Have you anything to say against it？〃
〃I have nothing to say； my Father。 I have met Saduko； and like him
wellfor the rest； you are the judge。 But；〃 she added slowly； 〃does
Saduko like me？ When he speaks my name； does he feel it here？〃 and she
pointed to her throat。
〃I am sure I do not know what he feels in his throat；〃 Panda replied
testily； 〃but I feel that mine is dry。 Well； as no one says anything；
the matter is settled。 To…morrow Saduko shall give the umqoliso ＇the Ox
of the Girl＇； that makes marriageif he has not got one here I will
lend it to him； and you can take the new； big hut that I have built in
the outer kraal to dwell in for the present。 There will be a dance； if
you wish it； if not； I do not care； for I have no wish for ceremony just
now； who am too troubled with great matters。 Now I am going to sleep。〃
Then sinking from his stool on to his knees； Panda crawled through the
doorway of his great hut； which was close to him； and vanished。
Umbelazi and I departed also through the gateway of the fence； leaving
Saduko and the Princess Nandie alone together； for there were no
attendants present。 What happened between them I am sure I do not know；
but I gather that； in one way or another； Saduko made himself
sufficiently agreeable to the princess to persuade her to take him to
husband。 Perhaps； being already enamoured of him； she was not difficult
to persuade。 At any rate； on the morrow； without any great feasting or
fuss； except the customary dance； the umqoliso； the 〃Ox of the Girl；〃
was slaughtered； and Saduko became the husband of a royal maiden of the
House of Senzangakona。
Certainly； as I remember reflecting； it was a remarkable rise in life
for one who； but a few months before； had been without possessions or a
home。
I may add that； after our brief talk in the King's kraal； while Panda
was dozing； I had no further words with Saduko on this matter of his
marriage； for between its proposal and the event he avoided me； nor did
I seek him out。 On the day of the marriage also； I trekked for Natal；
and for a whole year heard no more of Saduko； Nandie； and Mameena；
although； to be frank； I must admit I thought of the last of these
persons more often； perhaps； than I should have done。
The truth is that Mameena was one of those women who sticks in a man's
mind even more closely than a 〃Wait…a…bit〃 thorn does in his coat。
CHAPTER IX
ALLAN RETURNS TO ZULULAND
A whole year had gone by； in which I did； or tried to do； various things
that have no connection with this story； when once more I found myself
in Zululandat Umbezi's kraal indeed。 Hither I had trekked in
fulfilment of a certain bargain； already alluded to； that was concerned
with ivory and guns； which I had made with the old fellow； or； rather；
with Masapo； his son…in…law； whom he represented in this matter。 Into
the exact circumstances of that bargain I do not enter； since at the
moment I cannot recall whether I ever obtained the necessary permit to
import those guns into Zululand； although now that I am older I
earnestly hope that I did so； since it is wrong to sell weapons to
natives that may be put to all sorts of unforeseen uses。
At any rate； there I was； sitting alone with the Headman in his hut
discussing a dram of 〃squareface〃 that I had given to him； for the
〃trade〃 was finished to our mutual satisfaction； and Scowl； my body
servant； with the hunters； had just carried off the ivorya fine lot of
tusksto my wagons。
〃Well； Umbezi；〃 I said； 〃and how has it fared with you since we parted a
year ago？ Have you seen anything of Saduko； who； you may remember； left
you in some wrath？〃
〃Thanks be to my Spirit； I have seen nothing of that wild man；
Macumazahn；〃 answered Umbezi； shaking his fat old head in a fashion
which showed great anxiety。 〃Yet I have heard of him； for he sent me a
message the other day to tell me that he had not forgotten what he owed
me。〃
〃Did he mean the sticks with which he promised to bray you like a green
hide？〃 I inquired innocently。
〃I think so； MacumazahnI think so； for certainly he owes me nothing
else。 And the worst of it is that； there at Panda's kraal； he has grown
like a pumpkin on a dung heapgreat； great！〃
〃And therefore is now one who can pay any debt that he owes； Umbezi；〃 I
said； taking a pull at the 〃squareface〃 and looking at him over the top
of the pannikin。
〃Doubtless he can； Macumazahn； and； between you and me； that is the real
reason why Ior rather Masapowas so anxious to get those guns。 They
were not for hunting； as he told you by the messenger； or for war； but
to protect us against Saduko； in case he should attack。 Well； now I
hope we shall be able to hold our own。〃
〃You and Masapo must teach your people to use them first； Umbezi。 But I
expect Saduko has forgotten all about both of you now that he is the
husband of a princess of the royal blood。 Tell me； how goes it with
Mameena？〃
〃Oh； well； well； Macumazahn。 For is she not the head lady of the
Amasomi？ There is nothing wrong with hernothing at all； except that
as yet she has no child； also that；〃 and he paused。
〃That what？〃 I asked。
〃That she hates the very sight of her husband； Masapo； and says that she
would rather be married to a baboonyes； to a baboonthan to him；
which gives him offence； after he has paid so many cattle for her。 But
what of this； Macumazahn？ There is always a grain missing upon the
finest head of corn。 Nothing is _quite_ perfect in the world；
Macumazahn； and if Mameena does not chance to love her husband〃 and he
shrugged his shoulders and drank some 〃squareface。〃
〃Of course it does not matter in the least； Umbezi； except to Mameena
and her husband； who no doubt will settle down in time； now that Saduko
is married to a princess of the Zulu House。〃
〃I hope so； Macumazahn； but； to tell the truth； I wish you had brought
more guns； for I live amongst a terrible lot of people。 Masapo； who is
furious with Mameena because she will have none of him； and therefore
with me； as though I could control Mameena； Mameena； who is mad with
Masapo； and therefore with me； because I gave her in marriage to him；
Saduko； who foams at the mouth at the name of Masapo； because he has
married Mameena； whom； it is said； he still loves； and therefore at me；
because I am her father and did my best to settle her in the world。 Oh；
give me some more of that fire…water； Macumazahn； for it makes me forget
all these things； and especially that my guardian spirit made me the
father of Mameena； with whom you would not run away when you might have
done so。 Oh； Macumazahn； why did you not run away with Mameena； and
turn her into a quiet white woman who ties herself up in sacks； sings
songs to the 'Great…Great' in the sky＇that is； hymns to the Power
above us＇and never thinks of any man who is not her husband？〃
〃Because if I had done so； Umbezi； I should have ceased to be a quiet
white man。 Yes； yes； my friend； I should have been in some such place
as you