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great Ingomboco； or witch…hunt； and many were smelt out by the witch…
doctors as working magic against the king。 Now things had come to this
pass in Zululandthat the whole people cowered before the witch…
doctors。 No man might sleep safe； for none knew but that on the morrow
he would be touched by the wand of an Isanusi； as we name a finder of
witches； and led away to his death。 For awhile Chaka said nothing； and
so long as the doctors smelt out those only whom he wished to get rid
ofand they were manyhe was well pleased。 But when they began to
work for their own ends； and to do those to death whom he did not
desire to kill； he grew angry。 Yet the custom of the land was that he
whom the witch…doctor touched must die； he and all his house；
therefore the king was in a cleft stick； for he scarcely dared to save
even those whom he loved。 One night I came to doctor him； for he was
sick in his mind。 On that very day there had been an Ingomboco； and
five of the bravest captains of the army had been smelt out by the
Abangoma； the witch…finders； together with many others。 All had been
destroyed； and men had been sent to kill the wives and children of the
dead。 Now Chaka was very angry at this slaying； and opened his heart
to me。
〃The witch…doctors rule in Zululand； and not I； Mopo； son of
Makedama；〃 he said to me。 〃Where； then； is it to end？ Shall I myself
be smelt out and slain？ These Isanusis are too strong for me； they lie
upon the land like the shadow of night。 Tell me； how may I be free of
them？〃
〃Those who walk the Bridge of Spears； O king； fall off into Nowhere；〃
I answered darkly； 〃even witch…doctors cannot keep a footing on that
bridge。 Has not a witch…doctor a heart that can cease to beat？ Has he
not blood that can be made to flow？〃
Chaka looked at me strangely。 〃Thou art a bold man who darest to speak
thus to me； Mopo；〃 he said。 〃Dost thou not know that it is sacrilege
to touch an Isanusi？〃
〃I speak that which is in the king's mind；〃 I answered。 〃Hearken； O
king！ It is indeed sacrilege to touch a true Isanusi； but what if the
Isanusi be a liar？ What if he smell out falsely； bringing those to
death who are innocent of evil？ Is it then sacrilege to bring him to
that end which he has given to many another？ Say； O king！〃
〃Good words！〃 answered Chaka。 〃Now tell me； son of Makedama； how may
this matter be put to proof？〃
Then I leaned forward； whispering into the ear of the Black One； and
he nodded heavily。
Thus I spoke then； because I； too； saw the evil of the Isanusis； I who
knew their secrets。 Also； I feared for my own life and for the lives
of all those who were dear to me。 For they hated me as one instructed
in their magic； one who had the seeing eye and the hearing ear。
One morning thereafter a new thing came to pass in the royal kraal；
for the king himself ran out； crying aloud to all people to come and
see the evil that had been worked upon him by a wizard。 They came
together and saw this。 On the door…posts of the gateway of the
Intunkulu； the house of the king； were great smears of blood。 The
knees of men strong in the battle trembled when they saw it； women
wailed aloud as they wail over the dead； they wailed because of the
horror of the omen。
〃Who has done this thing？〃 cried Chaka in a terrible voice。 〃Who has
dared to bewitch the king and to strike blood upon his house？〃
There was no answer； and Chaka spoke again。 〃This is no little
matter；〃 he said； 〃to be washed away with the blood of one or two and
be forgotten。 The man who wrought it shall not die alone or travel
with a few to the world of spirits。 All his tribe shall go with him；
down to the baby in his hut and cattle in his kraal！ Let messengers go
out east and west； and north and south； and summon the witch…doctors
from every quarter！ Let them summon the captains from every regiment
and the headmen from every kraal！ On the tenth day from now the circle
of the Ingomboco must be set； and there shall be such a smelling out
of wizards and of witches as has not been known in Zululand！〃
So the messengers went out to do the bidding of the king； taking the
names of those who should be summoned from the lips of the indunas；
and day by day people flocked up to the gates of the royal kraal； and；
creeping on their knees before the majesty of the king； praised him
aloud。 But he vouchsafed an answer to none。 One noble only he caused
to be killed； because he carried in his hand a stick of the royal red
wood； which Chaka himself had given him in bygone years。＇1＇
＇1＇ This beautiful wood is known in Natal as 〃red ivory。〃ED。
On the last night before the forming of the Ingomboco； the witch…
doctors； male and female； entered the kraal。 There were a hundred and
a half of them； and they were made hideous and terrible with the white
bones of men； with bladders of fish and of oxen； with fat of wizards；
and with skins of snakes。 They walked in silence till they came in
front of the Intunkulu； the royal house； then they stopped and sang
this song for the king to hear：
We have come； O king； we have come from the caves and the rocks
and the swamps；
To wash in the blood of the slain；
We have gathered our host from the air as vultures are gathered in
war。
When they scent the blood of the slain。
We come not alone； O king： with each Wise One there passes a
ghost；
Who hisses the name of the doomed。
We come not alone； for we are the sons and Indunas of Death；
And he guides our feet to the doomed。
Red rises the moon o'er the plain； red sinks the sun in the west；
Look； wizards； and bid them farewell！
We count you by hundreds； you who cried for a curse on the king。
Ha！ soon shall we bid YOU farewell！
Then they were silent； and went in silence to the place appointed for
them； there to pass the night in mutterings and magic。 But those who
were gathered together shivered with fear when they heard their words；
for they knew well that many a man would be switched with the gnu's
tail before the sun sank once more。 And I； too； trembled； for my heart
was full of fear。 Ah！ my father； those were evil days to live in when
Chaka ruled； and death met us at every turn！ Then no man might call
his life his own； or that of his wife or child； or anything。 All were
the king's； and what war spared that the witch…doctors took。
The morning dawned heavily； and before it was well light the heralds
were out summoning all to the king's Ingomboco。 Men came by hundreds；
carrying short sticks onlyfor to be seen armed was deathand seated
themselves in the great circle before the gates of the royal house。
Oh！ their looks were sad； and they had little stomach for eating that
morning； they who were food for death。 They seated themselves； then
round them on the outside of the circle gathered knots of warriors；
chosen men； great and fierce； armed with kerries only。 These were the
slayers。
When all was ready； the king came out； followed by his indunas and by
me。 As he appeared； wrapped in the kaross of tiger…skins and towering
a head higher than any man there； all the multitudeand it was many
as the game on the hillscast themselves to earth； and from every lip
sharp and sudden went up the royal salute of Bayete。 But Chaka took no
note； his brow was cloudy as a mountain…top。 He cast one glance at the
people and one at the slayers； and wherever his eye fell men turned
grey with fear。 Then he stalked on； and sat himself upon a stool to
the north of the great ring looking toward the open space。
For awhile there was silence； then from the gates of the women's
quarters came a band of maidens arrayed in their beaded dancing…
dresses； and carrying green branches in their hands。 As they came；
they clapped their hands and sang softly：
We are the heralds of the king's feast。 Ai！ Ai！
Vultures shall eat it。 Ah！ Ah！
It is goodit is good to die for the king！
They ceased； and ranged themselves in a body behind us。 Then Chaka
held up his hand； and there was a patter of running feet。 Presently
from behind the royal huts appeared the great company of the Abangoma；
the witch…doctorsmen to the right and women to the left。 In the left
hand of each was the tail of a vilderbeeste； in the right a bundle of
assegais and a little shield。 They were awful to see； and the bones
about them rattled as they ran； the bladders and the snake…skins
floated in the air behind them； their faces shone with the fat of
anointing； their eyes started like the eyes of fishes； and their lips
twitched hungrily as they glared round the death…ring。 Ha！ ha！ little
did those evil children guess who should be the slayers and who should
be the slain before that sun sank！
On they came； like a grey company of the dead。 On they came in silence
broken only by the patter of their feet and the dry rattling of their
bony necklets； till they stood in long ranks before the Black One。
Awhile they stood thus； then suddenly every one of them thrust forward
the little shield in his hand； and with a single voice they cried；
〃Hail； Father！〃
〃Hail； my children！〃 answered Chaka。
〃What seekest thou； Father？〃 they cri