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and； as they came in thousands and tens of thousands； they filled the
night with their cries； till it seemed as though the whole world were
mourning； and loudly。 None might cease their crying； and none dared to
drink so much as a cup of water。 The daylight came； and Chaka rose；
saying； 〃Come； let us go forth； Mopo； and look on those who mourn with
us。〃 So we went out； and after us came men armed with clubs to do the
bidding of the king。
Outside the kraal the people were gathered； and their number was
countless as the leaves upon the trees。 On every side the land was
black with them； as at times the veldt is black with game。 When they
saw the king they ceased from their howling and sang the war…song；
then once again they howled； and Chaka walked among them weeping。 Now；
my father； the sight became dreadful； for； as the sun rose higher the
day grew hot； and utter weariness came upon the people； who were
packed together like herds of cattle； and； though oxen slain in
sacrifice lay around； they might neither eat nor drink。 Some fell to
the ground； and were trampled to death； others took too much snuff to
make them weep； others stained their eyes with saliva； others walked
to and fro； their tongues hanging from their jaws； while groans broke
from their parched throats。
〃Now； Mopo； we shall learn who are the wizards that have brought these
ills upon us；〃 said the king； 〃and who are the true…hearted men。〃
As we spoke we cam upon a man； a chief of renown。 He was named
Zwaumbana； chief of the Amabovus； and with him were his wives and
followers。 This man could weep no more； he gasped with thirst and
heat。 The king looked at him。
〃See； Mopo；〃 he said； 〃see that brute who has no tears for my mother
who is dead！ Oh； the monster without a heart！ Shall such as he live to
look upon the sun； while I and thou must weep； Mopo？ Never！ never！
Take him away； and all those who are with him！ Take them away； the
people without hearts； who do not weep because my mother is dead by
witchcraft！〃
And Chaka walked on weeping； and I followed also weeping； but the
chief Zwaumbana and those with him were all slain by those who do the
bidding of the king； and the slayers also must weep as they slew。
Presently we came upon another man； who； seeing the king； took snuff
secretly to bring tears to his eyes。 But the glance of Chaka was
quick； and he noted it。
〃Look at him； Mopo；〃 he said； 〃look at the wizard who has no tears；
though my mother is dead by witchcraft。 See； he takes snuff to bring
tears to his eyes that are dry with wickedness。 Take him away； the
heartless brute！ Oh； take him away！〃
So this one also was killed； and these were but the first of
thousands； for presently Chaka grew mad with wickedness； with fury；
and with the lust of blood。 He walked to and fro； weeping； going now
and again into his hut to drink beer； and I with him； for he said that
we who sorrowed must have food。 And ever as he walked he would wave
his arm or his assegai； saying； 〃Take them away； the heartless brutes；
who do not weep because my mother is dead；〃 and those who chanced to
stand before his arm were killed； till at length the slayers could
slay no more； and themselves were slain； because their strength had
failed them； and they had no more tears。 And I also； I must slay； lest
if I slew not I should myself be slain。
And now； at length； the people also went mad with their thirst and the
fury of their fear。 They fell upon each other； killing each other；
every man who had a foe sought him out and killed him。 None were
spared； the place was but a shambles； there on that day died full
seven thousand men； and still Chaka walked weeping among them； saying；
〃Take them away； the heartless brutes； take them away！〃 Yet； my
father； there was cunning in his cruelty； for though he destroyed many
for sport alone； also he slew on this day all those whom he hated or
whom he feared。
At length the night came down； the sun sank red that day； all the sky
was like blood； and blood was all the earth beneath。 Then the killing
ceased； because none had now the strength to kill； and the people lay
panting in heaps upon the ground； the living and the dead together。 I
looked at them； and saw that if they were not allowed to eat and
drink； before day dawned again the most of them would be dead； and I
spoke to the king； for I cared little in that hour if I lived or died；
even my hope of vengeance was forgotten in the sickness of my heart。
〃A mourning indeed； O King；〃 I said； 〃a merry mourning for true…
hearted men； but for wizards a mourning such as they do not love。 I
think that thy sorrows are avenged； O King； thy sorrows and mine
also。〃
〃Not so； Mopo；〃 answered the king； 〃this is but the beginning； our
mourning was merry to…day； it shall be merrier to…morrow。〃
〃To…morrow； O King； few will be left to mourn； for the land will be
swept of men。〃
〃Why； Mopo； son of Makedama？ But a few have perished of all the
thousands who are gathered together。 Number the people and they will
not be missed。〃
〃But a few have died beneath the assegai and the kerrie； O King。 Yet
hunger and thirst shall finish the spear's work。 The people have
neither eaten nor drunk for a day and a night； and for a day and a
night they have wailed and moaned。 Look without； Black One； there they
lie in heaps with the dead。 By to…morrow's light they also will be
dead or dying。〃
Now； Chaka thought awhile； and he saw that the work would go too far；
leaving him but a small people over whom to rule。
〃It is hard； Mopo；〃 he said； 〃that thou and I must mourn alone over
our woes while these dogs feast and make merry。 Yet； because of the
gentleness of my heart； I will deal gently with them。 Go out； son of
Makedama； and bid my children eat and drink if they have the heart；
for this mourning is ended。 Scarcely will Unandi； my mother； sleep
well； seeing that so little blood has been shed on her gravesurely
her spirit will haunt my dreams。 Yet； because of the gentleness of my
heart； I declare this mourning ended。 Let my children eat and drink；
if； indeed； they have the heart。〃
〃Happy are the people over whom such a king is set；〃 I said in answer。
Then I went out and told the words of Chaka to the chiefs and
captains； and those of them who had the voice left to them praised the
goodness of the king。 But the most gave over sucking the dew from
their sticks； and rushed to the water like cattle that have wandered
five days in the desert； and drank their fill。 Some of them were
trampled to death in the water。
Afterwards I slept as I might best； it was not well； my father； for I
knew that Chaka was not yet gutted with slaughter。
On the morrow many of the people went back to their homes； having
sought leave from the king； others drew away the dead to the place of
bones； and yet others were sent out in impis to kill such as had not
come to the mourning of the king。 When midday was past； Chaka said
that he would walk； and ordered me and other of his indunas and
servants to walk with him。 We went on in silence； the king leaning on
my shoulder as on a stick。 〃What of thy people； Mopo；〃 he said at
length； 〃what of the Langeni tribe？ Were they at my mourning？ I did
not see them。〃
Then I answered that I did not know； they had been summoned； but the
way was long and the time short for so many to march so far。
〃Dogs should run swiftly when their master calls； Mopo； my servant；〃
said Chaka； and the dreadful light came into his eyes that never shone
in the eyes of any other man。 Then I grew sick at heart； my father
ay； though I loved my people little； and they had driven me away； I
grew sick at heart。 Now we had come to a spot where there is a great
rift of black rock； and the name of that rift is U'Donga…lu…ka…
Tatiyana。 On either side of this donga the ground slopes steeply down
towards its yawning lips； and from its end a man may see the open
country。 Here Chaka sat down at the end of the rift； pondering。
Presently he looked up and saw a vast multitude of men； women； and
children； who wound like a snake across the plain beneath towards the
kraal Gibamaxegu。
〃I think； Mopo；〃 said the king； 〃that by the colour of their shields；
yonder should be the Langeni tribethine own people； Mopo。〃
〃It is my people； O King；〃 I answered。
Then Chaka sent messengers； running swiftly； and bade them summon the
Langeni people to him where he sat。 Other messengers he sent also to
the kraal； whispering in their ears； but what he said I did not know
then。
Now； for a while； Chaka watched the long black snake of men winding
towards him across the plain till the messengers met them and the
snake began to climb the slope of the hill。
〃How many are these people of thine； Mopo？〃 asked the king。
〃I know not； O Elephant；〃 I answered； 〃who have not seen them for many
years。 Perhaps they number three full regiments。〃
〃Nay； more；〃 said the king； 〃what thinkest thou； Mopo； would this
people of thine fill the rift behind us？〃 and he nodded at the gulf of
stone。
Now； my father； I trembled in all my flesh； seeing the purpose of
Chaka； but I could find no words to say； for my tongue clave to the
roof of my mouth。
〃The pe