Who is going to die among the Whites?
Stand firm, O King!
Heed not their mutterings,
They are but finding fault.
(Note.—The meaning probably is that Dinuzulu is the last person that will die among Europeans, as his own people are determined to prevent his being taken.)
II.
Great must be this people,
Who carry loads of goods around,
To barter salempore for cattle here and there.
About It a song, methinks, I'll sing.
It will o'erspread th' entire land.
A long thin frame It has, bending to and fro.
Starting from earth, It makes towards the sky,
Like that huge snake which ate the white men's sheep;
They set a trap for it and caught it,
Pulled at it two, and three, days long;
Cut it through with knives, when lo! a flame
Leapt from out its pool and scorched them.
Clouds of dust straightway broke forth,
And streamed throughout the land,
Which thereupon was set ablaze!
And here at Mbilane, too,
From whence (as every pool, 'twas said, was full thereof)
They thought it must spring forth.
(Note.—Like the foregoing, this song is in the form of an enigma. The word "It" evidently refers to an impi, which, when on the march, very much resembles a snake. The object of the song was, no doubt, to promote a spirit of defiance against Europeans. It is possible the word "snake" in line 8 is used metaphorically. Mbilane refers to a pool near Nodwengu, Mpande's principal kraal on the White Umfolozi. Mpande was Dinuzulu's grandfather. That such a song should have been sung at Usutu is clear evidence of the atmosphere of disloyalty that prevailed there.)
The Zulu version of the above translations appears in Appendix IX.
[88] Principal Under-Secretary to Magistrates, 28th Dec. 1905. Cd. 2905, p. 2.
[89] Cd. 2905, p. 2.
[90] On the occasion of the hut tax being raised from 7s. to 14s., Sir Theophilus Shepstone officially informed the people of the Government's intentions, and discussed with them the necessity for taking the step.
[91] The following is a case that occurred at Durban in September, 1905, though unknown to the Chief Magistrate when convening his meeting of 4th November: "Mditshwa and other Natives held meetings" at which the poll tax and other matters were discussed, and inflammatory and seditious speeches were uttered.... The result of the deliberations was a resolution to write to their Chiefs on the subject. A letter was produced in Court [Native High Court], written by Mditshwa to his Chief.... The following are extracts therefrom. "They refuse to submit to this money on any account, and they say that you should advise one another throughout the whole country. To-day you are given manliness, and it will be proved which man is persevering.... Day after day we find fault with your fathers, and say that they submit to every law. To-day the matter is upon yourselves. We, in Durban, say let the white people do what they will. I have two ideas: an irresistible army or hooligans, it is they who trod on a white man on the day we were gathered together to be told this law," (referring evidently to one of the other already held magisterial meetings). Decisions, Native High Court, Natal, March, 1906—January, 1907, p. 34.