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the face of the river； but far away on the farther side was a glow
like the glow of a stormy dawn； and in the glow I saw a mighty bed of
reeds that swayed about in the breath of dawn； and out of the reeds
came men and women and children； by hundreds and thousands； and
plunged into the waters of the river and were buffeted about by them。
Now； my father； all the people that I saw in the water were black
people； and all those who were torn out of the reeds were blackthey
wee none of them white like your people； my father； for this vision
was a vision of the Zulu race； who alone are 〃torn out of the reeds。〃
Now； I saw that of those who swam in the river some passed over very
quickly and some stood still； as it were； still in the wateras in
life； my father； some die soon and some live for many years。 And I saw
the countless faces of those in the water； among them were many that I
knew。 There； my father； I saw the face of Chaka； and near him was my
own face； there； too； I saw the face of Dingaan； the prince； his
brother； and the face of the boy Umslopogaas and the face of Nada； my
daughter； and then for the first time I knew that Umslopogaas was not
dead； but only lost。
Now I turned in my vision； and looked at that bank of the river on
which I stood。 Then I saw that behind the bank was a cliff； mighty and
black； and in the cliff were doors of ivory； and through them came
light and the sound of laughter； there were other doors also； black as
though fashioned of coal； and through them came darkness and the
sounds of groans。 I saw also that in front of the doors was set a
seat； and on the seat was the figure of a glorious woman。 She was
tall； and she alone was white； and clad in robes of white； and her
hair was like gold which is molten in the fire； and her face shone
like the midday sun。 Then I saw that those who came up out of the
river stood before the woman； the water yet running from them； and
cried aloud to her。
〃Hail； Inkosazana…y…Zulu！ Hail； Queen of the Heavens！〃
Now the figure of the glorious woman held a rod in either hand； and
the rod in her right hand was white and of ivory； and the rod in her
left hand was black and of ebony。 And as those who came up before her
throne greeted her； so she pointed now with the wand of ivory in her
right hand； and now with the wand of ebony in her left hand。 And with
the wand of ivory she pointed to the gates of ivory； through which
came light and laughter； and with the wand of ebony she pointed to the
gates of coal； through which came blackness and groans。 And as she
pointed； so those who greeted her turned； and went； some through the
gates of light and some through the gates of blackness。
Presently； as I stood； a handful of people came up from the bank of
the river。 I looked on them and knew them。 There was Unandi； the
mother of Chaka； there was Anadi； my wife； and Moosa； my son； and all
my other wives and children； and those who had perished with them。
They stood before the figure of the woman； the Princess of the
Heavens； to whom the Umkulunkulu has given it to watch over the people
of the Zulu； and cried aloud； 〃Hail； Inkosazana…y…Zulu！ Hail！〃
Then she； the Inkosazana； pointed with the rod of ivory to the gates
of ivory； but still they stood before her； not moving。 Now the woman
spoke for the first time； in a low voice that was sad and awful to
hear。
〃Pass in； children of my people； pass in to the judgment。 Why tarry
ye？ Pass in through the gates of light。〃
But still they tarried； and in my vision Unandi spoke： 〃We tarry；
Queen of the Heavenswe tarry to pray for justice on him who murdered
us。 I； who on earth was named Mother of the Heavens； on behalf of all
this company； pray to thee； Queen of the Heavens； for justice on him
who murdered us。〃
〃How is he named？〃 asked the voice that was low and awful。
〃Chaka； king of the Zulus；〃 answered the voice of Unandi。 〃Chaka； my
son。〃
〃Many have come to ask for vengeance on that head；〃 said the voice of
the Queen of the Heavens； 〃and many more shall come。 Fear not； Unandi；
it shall fall。 Fear not； Anadi and ye wives and children of Mopo； it
shall fall； I say。 With the spear that pierced thy breast； Unandi；
shall the breast of Chaka be also pierced； and； ye wives and children
of Mopo； the hand that pierces shall be the hand of Mopo。 As I guide
him so shall he go。 Ay； I will teach him to wreak my vengeance on the
earth！ Pass in； children of my peoplepass in to the judgment； for
the doom of Chaka is written。〃
Thus I dreamed； my father。 Ay； this was the vision that was sent me as
I lay in pain and misery among the bones of my dead in the ashes of my
kraal。 Thus it was given me to see the Inkosazana of the Heavens as
she is in her own place。 Twice more I saw her； as you shall hear； but
that was on the earth and with my waking eyes。 Yes； thrice has it been
given to me in all to look upon that face that I shall now see no more
till I am dead； for no man may look four times on the Inkosazana and
live。 Or am I mad； my father； and did I weave these visions from the
woof of my madness？ I do not know； but it is true that I seemed to see
them。
I woke when the sky was grey with the morning light； it was the pain
of my burnt hand that aroused me from my sleep or from my stupor。 I
rose shaking the ashes from me； and went without the kraal to wash
away their defilement。 Then I returned； and sat outside the gates of
the Emposeni； waiting till the king's women； whom he named his
sisters； should come to draw water according to their custom。 At last
they came； and； sitting with my kaross thrown over my face to hide it；
looked for the passing of Baleka。 Presently I saw her； she was sad…
faced； and walked slowly； her pitcher on her head。 I whispered her
name； and she drew aside behind an aloe bush； and； making pretence
that her foot was pierced with a thorn； she lingered till the other
women had gone by。 Then she came up to me； and we greeted one another；
gazing heavily into each other's eyes。
〃In an ill day did I hearken to you； Baleka；〃 I said； 〃to you and to
the Mother of the Heavens； and save your child alive。 See now what has
sprung from this seed！ Dead are all my house； dead is the Mother of
the Heavensall are deadand I myself have been put to the torment
by fire；〃 and I held out my withered hand towards her。
〃Ay； Mopo； my brother；〃 she answered； 〃but flesh is nearest to flesh；
and I should think little of it were not my son Umslopogaas also dead；
as I have heard but now。〃
〃You speak like a woman； Baleka。 Is it； then； nothing to you that I；
your brother； have lostall I love？〃
〃Fresh seed can yet be raised up to you； my brother； but for me there
is no hope； for the king looks on me no more。 I grieve for you； but I
had this one alone； and flesh is nearest to flesh。 Think you that I
shall escape？ I tell you nay。 I am but spared for a little； then I go
where the others have gone。 Chaka has marked me for the grave； for a
little while I may be left； then I die： he does but play with me as a
leopard plays with a wounded buck。 I care not； I am weary； but I
grieve for the boy； there was no such boy in the land。 Would that I
might die swiftly and go to seek him。〃
〃And if the boy is not dead； Baleka； what then？〃
〃What is that you said？〃 she answered； turning on me with wild eyes。
〃Oh； say it againagain； Mopo！ I would gladly die a hundred deaths to
know that Umslopogaas still lives。〃
〃Nay； Baleka； I know nothing。 But last night I dreamed a dream；〃 and I
told her all my dream； and also of that which had gone before the
dream。
She listened as one listens to the words of a king when he passes
judgement for life or for death。
〃I think that there is wisdom in your dreams； Mopo；〃 she said at
length。 〃You were ever a strange man； to whom the gates of distance
are no bar。 Now it is borne in upon my heart that Umslopogaas still
lives； and now I shall die happy。 Yes； gainsay me not； I shall die； I
know it。 I read it in the king's eyes。 But what is it？ It is nothing；
if only the prince Umslopogaas yet lives。〃
〃Your love is great； woman；〃 I said； 〃and this love of yours has
brought many woes upon us； and it may well happen that in the end it
shall all be for nothing； for there is an evil fate upon us。 Say now；
what shall I do？ Shall I fly； or shall I abide here； taking the chance
of things？〃
〃You must stay here； Mopo。 See； now！ This is in the king's mind。 He
fears because of the death of his mother at his own handyes； even
he； he is afraid lest the people should turn upon him who killed his
own mother。 Therefore he will give it out that he did not kill her；
but that she perished in the fire which was called down upon your
kraals by witchcraft； and； though all men know the lie； yet none shall
dare to gainsay him。 As he said to you； there will be a smelling out；
but a smelling out of a new sort； for he and you shall be the witch…
finders； and at that smelling out he will give to death all those whom
he fears； all those whom he knows hate him for his wickedness and
because with his own hand he slew his mother。 For this cause； then； he
will save you alive； Mopoyes； and make you great in the land； for
if； indeed；