Chapter Sixteen.
Metilulu Reviews his Troops—I Assist at a Hopo Battue.
As the warfare in which Metilulu’s warriors had been engaged was looked upon as very successful, the chief ordered a review to take place on the ensuing morning, when, as was customary, those who had done brave deeds were to be rewarded, while those who, on the contrary, had proved themselves unworthy of being ranked among soldiers, were to receive due punishment. This was the first review I had seen, strangers seldom being allowed to be present at them, but my long sojourn in the kraal made this rule waved in my case, for I had indeed become almost as one of themselves, therefore I was permitted to be a spectator.
Like in our own affairs of the same kind, all the warriors assembled, each taking his right position in the ranks, but here they did so in perfect silence, while each placing his large shield on the ground upright before him, only permitted the upper part of his dark body to be seen. Thus they remained till it was Metilulu’s pleasure to make his appearance; and—for it seems the etiquette of great people in Caffraria, as well as in more civilised nations, to keep their inferiors waiting—fully an hour elapsed—the glaring sun blazing down all the time upon the poor fellows—before his pudgy majesty waddled upon the field, followed by his chief counsellor, and servants bearing the never-failing beer-jar and snuff, while one held a shield, which on such occasions was converted into a species of umbrella, to be held over the little man’s head to shade him from the sun; and Zenuta told me that woe would betide the bearer of it if he let a single beam of the luminary of the day rest upon the chief’s black skin, such negligence being severely punished—even occasionally by death when the royal personage happened to be in a bad humour.
Metilulu’s chair having been placed in an advantageous position, and his counsellors congregated about him, the august chief was so overcome by fatigue, owing to his unusual exertion, that he had to have recourse both to the beer and snuff to recruit his strength before commencing the review; then, I suppose, feeling stronger, he ordered the cattle taken from the enemy to be marched before him. There was a pretty considerable number, and I watched Metilulu’s eyes twinkle with delight as he beheld them. Suddenly he pointed to one, then to another, and, as the sign was made, with the speed of light, a Kaffir had sprung forward, and, with unerring aim, pierced the animal indicated by the chief to the heart.
Surprised at this summary destruction of the beloved cattle, I asked Tugela, who was standing by me, the reason, and learned that these were to feast Metilulu’s guests, for after a fortunate expedition he always treated the warriors handsomely. As the eyes of the remainder of the cattle rested upon their fallen companions, and their nostrils scented the blood, a panic seemed to seize them, for, lowing wildly, they dashed forward in all directions, and it was as much as their keepers could do to head them in, and get them all safely back to the isibaya.
When this was over, and all made ready, the ceremony of pointing out the “ama-doda,” or men and the “boys” who had proved themselves worthy of their chief’s approval, commenced. This is a trying time for the regiment, but a proud one to those who are conscious they have fought well. Those “boys” who have done their best look eagerly forward to receive the title of ama-doda, and become the bearer of a white shield; while those whose courage has failed them in the hour of battle secretly tremble in their feathers—not having shoes—at the possible, if not inevitable result. Stepping forward, the head warrior presented his report to Metilulu, who, on receiving it, uttered the names of those worthy of praise aloud. As each was pronounced, the assembled Kaffirs repeated it at the top of their voices, while they indicated with outstretched arm the fortunate soldier. The latter, to my eyes, appeared to have gone frantic with joy; for, with leaps only to be seen in Caffraria or in a circus, he sprang from the ranks and commenced executing the most peculiar antics, denoting extreme pleasure, I had ever witnessed. His springs were wondrous. He kicked up his heels, ran, and jumped, all the time flourishing his assagais and shield in such a manner that I should have felt my head in danger had I been in close proximity to him.
By this time three or four others had been specified, and were going through the same feats as the first—doing it with such a power and energy that the oil actually ran from their dark bodies in little streams. After having performed most of their military evolutions, with a bound the happy warriors leaped back into the ranks, and resumed their former rigid attitude.
The scene was so eccentric that it occasioned me much amusement, and had it ended here it would have been well enough; but now, the brave having been rewarded, the cowards had to be punished. These were pointed out without any shouting, and, as each was named, instant execution followed, without a murmur on the victim’s part. One who, I suppose, had either been a very great coward, or the head warrior had a spite against him, was barbarously beaten to death by knob-kerries. The bodies of these, not being considered worthy of the rites of sepulture, were dragged into the bush, and left there to become the meals of hyenas and jackals, who speedily would leave nothing visible but the bones to whiten in the sun.
This over, the paid minstrels of the tribes appeared, who, approaching, sung their great chief’s praises, using every title that had been given him during his life for any prowess, or names he had chosen for himself,—mostly those of animals. After which all the warriors defiled passed Metilulu, who was dressed in his most ceremonious costume of feathers and leopard tails, etc, no doubt to inspire respect and awe, each Kaffir as he went by bowing profoundly and lowering his shield and assagais to the ground.
This completing the review the feast commenced, which I need not recount, so therefore shall pass it over. The successful issue of this raid upon his enemy had so good an effect upon Metilulu, that he proposed a large slaughter of animals should take place, so as to make a grand feast—which meant every Kaffir was to have as much as he could eat, and, if the reader recollects the account I have already given of their capacity in that line, he will see that the quantity of provisions necessary to be provided would be great indeed.
It must not be thought that the generous fit of Metilulu extended so far as to the slaughtering his own cattle for the occasion; on the contrary, he meant the slaying of a good many head of game. To render this easy a large pit or hopo was dug in the neighbourhood of a frequent resort of the animals we required; from this diverged two strongly made fences, expanding one to the left the other to the right, till the farther extremities were nearly a mile apart.
The above method of entrapping animals has, I am aware, been frequently described before, for it is a custom practised in many parts of Africa; but having been an actor in this one myself, I should like here to recount it to my readers.
Most of the kraal joined the hunters, for many were required, and when we drew near the spot, orders were given to disperse ourselves so as to enclose a large space of bush. This being performed, by shouts and flourishes of our assagais we began to beat up the game, and drive the startled animals who sprang forth before us in the direction of the hopo. Few creatures, as I believe, I have remarked previously, will attack a party of men unless urged on by extreme hunger, thus even those of a more ferocious nature than the eland or gemsbok flew before the shrieking Kaffirs, who appeared like so many fiends broken loose, and never shall I forget the scene that ensued; the fleet eland, the gemsbok, the small graceful duiker bok, the gnoos, the zebras, and even here and there an elephant and a buffalo, all in one pell-mell frighted herd, fled on, in hope of safety, but, in fact, only hurrying to their sure destruction. Occasionally they would attempt to break the fences, but armed Kaffirs placed behind them would drive them back. The mouth of the hopo had been concealed by tree-trunks and branches, so that the creatures never perceived the trap laid, till, owing to the velocity of their speed, there was no drawing back, but with a plunge the first ranks disappeared, and the rest bounded upon the top of them. So when I reached the hopo I found it full of miserable, struggling, howling life, awful to see. Legs, bodies, and heads were in an inextricable mass, the pit being so crammed that the remainder of the animals had used it as a path to pass over and escape again to the cover of the bush.
Then into the heaving mass the hunters began to throw assagai after assagai, killing the uppermost, and leaving the under ones to be suffocated by the blood and weight, which speedily must have taken effect. When all had been rendered harmless, one by one the slaughtered beasts were raised by the aid of poles, and with songs of rejoicing—for, having captured nearly forty head of game, the hopo was considered most successful—we returned to the kraal, where preparations for a grand cooking had been made.
After the feasting had abated and much joila had been drunk, I saw one of the best dances I had yet witnessed in Caffraria—that is, more persons than usual joined in it, for as to figure one dance resembled another, each appearing to go through the performance according to his own taste and with the one idea, to show as much energy and agility as he possibly had in him.
The dancing girls had porcupine quills or hard thorns from the mimosa stuck erect in their woolly hair, and about their waists a leather belt covered in every part with beads, which barely answered the purpose of an apron, while their necks, arms, and legs were literally hidden by ornaments, they having apparently attired themselves in anything fine they possibly could procure—it being a sign of wealth; and there, as in other countries, the saying truly may be used, that pride is never pinched, for though the heavy weight of these beads, bones, shells, etc, must much incommode the dancers’ movements, yet not one of them would think of leaving a single ornament out of their toilette.
The dance commencing, the girls first formed themselves into a circle and began, only accompanied by the sound of their own voices, then, after a while, the warriors starting up, clashing their assagais on their shields—for to create as horrible a hubbub as possible seems the Kaffir’s particular delight—joined in the figure, first whirling round in an outer circle, then closing in and mingling together, never at any time ceasing to keep up the accompaniment of their clashing shields and shrill voices.
As usual their antics grew exceedingly violent, and as the evening was remarkably warm, the perspiration, I might say oil, rolled in greasy drops down the dancers’ faces, causing them some inconvenience, though each of the girls was provided with a long narrow piece of wood or bone, something similar to a blunt knife, with which she scraped the grease from her person wherever she felt it uncomfortable. I thought it was well, too, that the dances took place in the open air, and even then I was very glad to use my seaman’s knowledge, to keep to the windward of the performers.
Zenuta had once been one of the best dancers in the tribe, but, whether my words were taking effect in her heart, she now absolutely refused to join, for which I was not sorry, as I took care to tell her afterwards, and received a proud, happy smile from the poor girl’s eyes, for these dances do not conduce to the morality of the people, who seem to work themselves up to a perfectly mad frenzy, when they recognised no bounds to their desires.
I said “Poor Zenuta,” and each day I repeated the phrase with greater pity, for I had begun to pine for dear England and English faces with a true home sickness, and looked forward to every succeeding hour, hoping it might bring some chance to enable me to return, when I should be compelled to tell her that we must part for ever. It is true she had begged me to take her with me, saying she would never vex me, but work for me night and day; but whatever should I, Dick Galbraith, a poor seaman, do with a Kaffir girl in England? I respected the affection she displayed too much to have her treated with indignity as she might be in a strange and civilised land, and I could not have taken her home, so in all ways I saw it was best and kindest to leave her with her tribe, feeling sure among them she would soon get reconciled to the separation, and, no doubt, quickly marry after I left, as I intended to give her all my cows and other effects. The sequel will prove, however, how little I knew the really determined nature Zenuta possessed. That in intellect and sensibility she was far in advance of her people I had speedily become aware; but I never dreamed to what lengths her loving, humble devotion to one, who could only give her a friendly, pitying kindness in return, would carry her.