“Ask these white people, O Macumazahn,” said Kambula, “who is their captain, for to the captain I would speak.”
I translated the question, and Marais answered:
“I am.”
“No,” broke in Vrouw Prinsloo, “I am. Tell them, Allan, that these men are all fools and have given the rule to me, a woman.”
So I told them. Evidently this information surprised them a little, for they discussed together. Then Kambula said:
“So be it. We have heard that the people of George are now ruled by a woman, and as you, Macumazahn, are one of that people, doubtless it is the same among your party.”
Here I may add that thenceforward the Zulus always accepted the Vrouw Prinsloo as the Inkosikaas or chieftainess of our little band, and with the single exception of myself, whom they looked upon as her “mouth,” or induna, would only transact business with or give directions to her. The other Boers they ignored completely.
This point of etiquette settled, Kambula bade me repeat what he had already told me, that we were prisoners whom he was instructed by Dingaan to convey to his Great Place, and that if we made no attempt to escape we should not be hurt upon the journey.
I did so, whereon the vrouw asked as I had done, who had informed Dingaan that we were coming.
I repeated to her word for word what the Zulus had told me, that it was Pereira, whose object seems to have been to bring about my death or capture.