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〃O Macumazana〃 （that is my native name； often abbreviated into
Macumazahn； which means 〃One who stands out；〃 or as many interpret it； I
don't know how； 〃Watcher…by…Night〃）〃a gun that goes off sometimes when
you do not expect it is much better than no gun at all； and you are a
chief with a great heart to promise it to me； for when I own the White
Man's weapon I shall be looked up to and feared by everyone between the
two rivers。〃
Now； while he was speaking he handled the gun； that was loaded；
observing which I moved behind him。 Off it went in due course； its
recoil knocking him backwardsfor that gun was a devil to kickand its
bullet cutting the top off the ear of one of his wives。 The lady fled
screaming； leaving a little bit of her ear upon the ground。
〃What does it matter？〃 said Umbezi； as he picked himself up； rubbing his
shoulder with a rueful look。 〃Would that the evil spirit in the gun had
cut off her tongue and not her ear！ It is the Worn…out…Old…Cow's own
fault； she is always peeping into everything like a monkey。 Now she
will have something to chatter about and leave my things alone for
awhile。 I thank my ancestral Spirit it was not Mameena； for then her
looks would have been spoiled。〃
〃Who is Mameena？〃 I asked。 〃Your last wife？〃
〃No； no； Macumazahn； I wish she were； for then I should have the most
beautiful wife in the land。 She is my daughter； though not that of the
Worn…out…Old…Cow； her mother died when she was born； on the night of the
Great Storm。 You should ask Saduko there who Mameena is；〃 he added with
a broad grin； lifting his head from the gun； which he was examining
gingerly； as though he thought it might go off again while unloaded； and
nodding towards someone who stood behind him。
I turned； and for the first time saw Saduko； whom I recognised at once
as a person quite out of the ordinary run of natives。
He was a tall and magnificently formed young man； who； although his
breast was scarred with assegai wounds； showing that he was a warrior；
had not yet attained to the honour of the 〃ring〃 of polished wax laid
over strips of rush bound round with sinew and sewn to the hair； the
〃isicoco〃 which at a certain age or dignity； determined by the king；
Zulus are allowed to assume。 But his face struck me more even than his
grace； strength and stature。 Undoubtedly it was a very fine face； with
little or nothing of the negroid type about it； indeed； he might have
been a rather dark…coloured Arab； to which stock he probably threw back。
The eyes； too； were large and rather melancholy； and in his reserved；
dignified air there was something that showed him to be no common
fellow； but one of breeding and intellect。
〃Siyakubona〃 （that is； 〃we see you；〃 anglice 〃good morrow〃） 〃Saduko；〃 I
said； eyeing him curiously。 〃Tell me； who is Mameena？〃
〃Inkoosi；〃 he answered in his deep voice； lifting his delicately shaped
hand in salutation； a courtesy that pleased me who； after all； was
nothing but a white hunter； 〃Inkoosi； has not her father said that she
is his daughter？〃
〃Aye；〃 answered the jolly old Umbezi； 〃but what her father has not said
is that Saduko is her lover； or； rather； would like to be。 Wow！
Saduko；〃 he went on； shaking his fat finger at him； 〃are you mad； man；
that you think a girl like that is for you？ Give me a hundred cattle；
not one less； and I will begin to think of it。 Why； you have not ten；
and Mameena is my eldest daughter； and must marry a rich man。〃
〃She loves me； O Umbezi；〃 answered Saduko； looking down； 〃and that is
more than cattle。〃
〃For you； perhaps； Saduko； but not for me who am poor and want cows。
Also；〃 he added； glancing at him shrewdly； 〃are you so sure that Mameena
loves you though you be such a fine man？ Now； I should have thought
that whatever her eyes may say； her heart loves no one but herself； and
that in the end she will follow her heart and not her eyes。 Mameena the
beautiful does not seek to be a poor man's wife and do all the hoeing。
But bring me the hundred cattle and we will see； for； speaking truth
from my heart； if you were a big chief there is no one I should like
better as a son…in…law； unless it were Macumazahn here；〃 he said；
digging me in the ribs with his elbow； 〃who would lift up my House on
his white back。〃
Now； at this speech Saduko shifted his feet uneasily； it seemed to me as
though he felt there was truth in Umbezi's estimate of his daughter's
character。 But he only said：
〃Cattle can be acquired。〃
〃Or stolen；〃 suggested Umbezi。
〃Or taken in war；〃 corrected Saduko。 〃When I have a hundred head I will
hold you to your word； O father of Mameena。〃
〃And then what would you live on； fool； if you gave all your beasts to
me？ There； there； cease talking wind。 Before you have a hundred head
of cattle Mameena will have six children who will not call _you_ father。
Ah； don't you like that？ Are you going away？〃
〃Yes； I am going；〃 he answered； with a flash of his quiet eyes； 〃only
then let the man whom they do call father beware of Saduko。〃
〃Beware of how you talk； young man；〃 said Umbezi in a grave voice。
〃Would you travel your father's road？ I hope not； for I like you well；
but such words are apt to be remembered。〃
Saduko walked away as though he did not hear。
〃Who is he？〃 I asked。
〃One of high blood；〃 answered Umbezi shortly。 〃He might be a chief
to…day had not his father been a plotter and a wizard。 Dingaan smelt
him out〃and he made a sideways motion with his hand that among the
Zulus means much。 〃Yes； they were killed； almost every one； the chief；
his wives； his children and his headmenevery one except Chosa his
brother and his son Saduko； whom Zikali the dwarf； the
Smeller…out…of…evil…doers； the Ancient； who was old before Senzangakona
became a father of kings； hid him。 There； that is an evil tale to talk
of；〃 and he shivered。 〃Come； White Man； and doctor that old Cow of
mine； or she will give me no peace for months。〃
So I went to see the Worn…out…Old…Cownot because I had any particular
interest in her； for； to tell the truth； she was a very disagreeable and
antique person； the cast…off wife of some chief whom at an unknown date
in the past the astute Umbezi had married from motives of policybut
because I hoped to hear more of Miss Mameena； in whom I had become
interested。
Entering a large hut； I found the lady so impolitely named 〃the Old Cow〃
in a parlous state。 There she lay upon the floor； an unpleasant object
because of the blood that had escaped from her wound； surrounded by a
crowd of other women and of children。 At regular intervals she
announced that she was dying； and emitted a fearful yell； whereupon all
the audience yelled also； in short； the place was a perfect pandemonium。
Telling Umbezi to get the hut cleared； I said that I would go to fetch
my medicines。 Meanwhile I ordered my servant； Scowl； a humorous…looking
fellow； light yellow in hue； for he had a strong dash of Hottentot in
his composition； to cleanse the wound。 When I returned from the wagon
ten minutes later the screams were more terrible than before； although
the chorus now stood without the hut。 Nor was this altogether
wonderful； for on entering the place I found Scowl trimming up 〃the Old
Cow's〃 ear with a pair of blunt nail…scissors。
〃O Macumazana；〃 said Umbezi in a hoarse whisper； 〃might it not perhaps
be as well to leave her alone？ If she bled to death； at any rate she
would be quieter。〃
〃Are you a man or a hyena？〃 I answered sternly； and set about the job；
Scowl holding the poor woman's head between his knees。
It was over at length； a simple operation in which I exhibitedI
believe that is the medical terma strong solution of caustic applied
with a feather。
〃There； Mother；〃 I said； for now we were alone in the hut； whence Scowl
had fled； badly bitten in the calf； 〃you won't die now。〃
〃No； you vile White Man；〃 she sobbed。 〃I shan't die； but how about my
beauty？〃
〃It will be greater than ever；〃 I answered； 〃no one else will have an
ear with such a curve in it。 But； talking of beauty； where is Mameena？〃
〃I don't know where she is；〃 she replied with fury； 〃but I very well
know where she would be if I had my way。 That peeled willow…wand of a
girl〃here she added certain descriptive epithets I will not
repeat〃has brought this misfortune upon me。 We had a slight quarrel
yesterday； White Man； and； being a witch as she is； she prophesied evil。
Yes； when by accident I scratched her ear； she said that before long
mine should burn； and surely burn it does。〃 （This； no doubt； was true；
for the caustic had begun to bite。）
〃O devil of a White Man；〃 she went on； 〃you have bewitched me； you have
filled my head with fire。〃
Then she seized an earthenware pot and hurled it at me； saying； 〃Take
that for your doctor…fee。 Go； crawl after Mameena like the others and
get her to doctor you。〃
By this time I was half through the bee…hole of the hut； my movements
being hastened by a vessel of hot water which landed on me behind。
〃What is the matter； Macumazahn？〃 asked old Umbezi； who was waiting
outside。
〃Nothing at all； friend；〃 I answered with a sweet smile； 〃except that
your wife