child of storm-第23章

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gateway　appeared　the　great；　tall　Umbelazi　leading　by　the　hand　a　woman。　
As　I　saw　in　a　moment；　it　did　not　need　certain　bangles　of　copper；
ornaments　of　ivory　and　of　very　rare　pink　beads；　called　infibinga；　which
only　those　of　the　royal　House　were　permitted　to　wear；　to　proclaim　her　a
person　of　rank；　for　dignity　and　high　blood　were　apparent　in　her　face；
her　carriage；　her　gestures；　and　all　that　had　to　do　with　her。

Nandie　the　Sweet　was　not　a　great　beauty；　as　was　Mameena；　although　her
figure　was　fine；　and　her　stature　like　that　of　all　the　race　of
Senzangakonaconsiderably　above　the　average。　　To　begin　with；　she　was
darker　in　hue；　and　her　lips　were　rather　thick；　as　was　her　nose；　nor　were
her　eyes　large　and　liquid　like　those　of　an　antelope。　　Further；　she
lacked　the　informing　mystery　of　Mameena's　face；　that　at　times　was　broken
and　＇it　up　by　flashes　of　alluring　light　and　quick；　sympathetic
perception；　as　a　heavy　evening　sky；　that　seems　to　join　the　dim　earth　to
the　dimmer　heavens；　is　illuminated　by　pulsings　of　fire；　soft　and
many…hued；　suggesting；　but　not　revealing；　the　strength　and　splendour
that　it　veils。　　Nandie　had　none　of　these　attractions；　which；　after　all；
anywhere　upon　the　earth　belong　only　to　a　few　women　in　each　generation。　
She　was　a　simple；　honest…natured；　kindly；　affectionate　young　woman　of
high　birth；　no　more；　that　is；　as　these　qualities　are　understood　and
expressed　among　her　people。

Umbelazi　led　her　forward　into　the　presence　of　the　King；　to　whom　she
bowed　gracefully　enough。　　Then；　after　casting　a　swift；　sidelong　glance
at　Saduko；　which　I　found　it　difficult　to　interpret；　and　another　of
inquiry　at　me；　she　folded　her　hands　upon　her　breast　and　stood　silent；
with　bent　head；　waiting　to　be　addressed。

The　address　was　brief　enough；　for　Panda　was　still　sleepy。

〃My　daughter；〃　he　said；　with　a　yawn；　〃there　stands　your　husband；〃　and　he
jerked　his　thumb　towards　Saduko。　　〃He　is　a　young　man　and　a　brave；　and
unmarried；　also　one　who　should　grow　great　in　the　shadow　of　our　House；
especially　as　he　is　a　friend　of　your　brother；　Umbelazi。　　I　understand
also　that　you　have　seen　him　and　like　him。　　Unless　you　have　anything　to
say　against　it；　for　as；　not　being　a　common　father；　the　King　receives　no
cattleat　least　in　this　caseI　am　not　prejudiced；　but　will　listen　to
your　words；〃　and　he　chuckled　in　a　drowsy　fashion。　　〃I　propose　that　the
marriage　should　take　place　to…morrow。　　Now；　my　daughter；　have　you
anything　to　say？　　For　if　so；　please　say　it　at　once；　as　I　am　tired。　　The
eternal　wranglings　between　your　brethren；　Cetewayo　and　Umbelazi；　have
worn　me　out。〃

Now　Nandie　looked　about　her　in　her　open；　honest　fashion；　her　gaze
resting　first　on　Saduko；　then　on　Umbelazi；　and　lastly　upon　me。

〃My　Father；〃　she　said　at　length；　in　her　soft；　steady　voice；　〃tell　me；　I
beseech　you；　who　proposes　this　marriage？　　Is　it　the　Chief　Saduko；　is　it
the　Prince　Umbelazi；　or　is　it　the　white　lord　whose　true　name　I　do　not
know；　but　who　is　called　Macumazahn；　Watcher…by…Night？〃

〃I　can't　remember　which　of　them　proposed　it；〃　yawned　Panda。　　〃Who　can
keep　on　talking　about　things　from　night　till　morning？　　At　any　rate；　I
propose　it；　and　I　will　make　your　husband　a　big　man　among　our　people。　
Have　you　anything　to　say　against　it？〃

〃I　have　nothing　to　say；　my　Father。　　I　have　met　Saduko；　and　like　him
wellfor　the　rest；　you　are　the　judge。　　But；〃　she　added　slowly；　〃does
Saduko　like　me？　　When　he　speaks　my　name；　does　he　feel　it　here？〃　and　she
pointed　to　her　throat。

〃I　am　sure　I　do　not　know　what　he　feels　in　his　throat；〃　Panda　replied
testily；　〃but　I　feel　that　mine　is　dry。　　Well；　as　no　one　says　anything；
the　matter　is　settled。　　To…morrow　Saduko　shall　give　the　umqoliso　＇the　Ox
of　the　Girl＇；　that　makes　marriageif　he　has　not　got　one　here　I　will
lend　it　to　him；　and　you　can　take　the　new；　big　hut　that　I　have　built　in
the　outer　kraal　to　dwell　in　for　the　present。　　There　will　be　a　dance；　if
you　wish　it；　if　not；　I　do　not　care；　for　I　have　no　wish　for　ceremony　just
now；　who　am　too　troubled　with　great　matters。　　Now　I　am　going　to　sleep。〃

Then　sinking　from　his　stool　on　to　his　knees；　Panda　crawled　through　the
doorway　of　his　great　hut；　which　was　close　to　him；　and　vanished。

Umbelazi　and　I　departed　also　through　the　gateway　of　the　fence；　leaving
Saduko　and　the　Princess　Nandie　alone　together；　for　there　were　no
attendants　present。　　What　happened　between　them　I　am　sure　I　do　not　know；
but　I　gather　that；　in　one　way　or　another；　Saduko　made　himself
sufficiently　agreeable　to　the　princess　to　persuade　her　to　take　him　to
husband。　　Perhaps；　being　already　enamoured　of　him；　she　was　not　difficult
to　persuade。　　At　any　rate；　on　the　morrow；　without　any　great　feasting　or
fuss；　except　the　customary　dance；　the　umqoliso；　the　〃Ox　of　the　Girl；〃
was　slaughtered；　and　Saduko　became　the　husband　of　a　royal　maiden　of　the
House　of　Senzangakona。

Certainly；　as　I　remember　reflecting；　it　was　a　remarkable　rise　in　life
for　one　who；　but　a　few　months　before；　had　been　without　possessions　or　a
home。

I　may　add　that；　after　our　brief　talk　in　the　King's　kraal；　while　Panda
was　dozing；　I　had　no　further　words　with　Saduko　on　this　matter　of　his
marriage；　for　between　its　proposal　and　the　event　he　avoided　me；　nor　did
I　seek　him　out。　　On　the　day　of　the　marriage　also；　I　trekked　for　Natal；
and　for　a　whole　year　heard　no　more　of　Saduko；　Nandie；　and　Mameena；
although；　to　be　frank；　I　must　admit　I　thought　of　the　last　of　these
persons　more　often；　perhaps；　than　I　should　have　done。

The　truth　is　that　Mameena　was　one　of　those　women　who　sticks　in　a　man's
mind　even　more　closely　than　a　〃Wait…a…bit〃　thorn　does　in　his　coat。



CHAPTER　IX




ALLAN　RETURNS　TO　ZULULAND





A　whole　year　had　gone　by；　in　which　I　did；　or　tried　to　do；　various　things
that　have　no　connection　with　this　story；　when　once　more　I　found　myself
in　Zululandat　Umbezi's　kraal　indeed。　　Hither　I　had　trekked　in
fulfilment　of　a　certain　bargain；　already　alluded　to；　that　was　concerned
with　ivory　and　guns；　which　I　had　made　with　the　old　fellow；　or；　rather；
with　Masapo；　his　son…in…law；　whom　he　represented　in　this　matter。　　Into
the　exact　circumstances　of　that　bargain　I　do　not　enter；　since　at　the
moment　I　cannot　recall　whether　I　ever　obtained　the　necessary　permit　to
import　those　guns　into　Zululand；　although　now　that　I　am　older　I
earnestly　hope　that　I　did　so；　since　it　is　wrong　to　sell　weapons　to
natives　that　may　be　put　to　all　sorts　of　unforeseen　uses。

At　any　rate；　there　I　was；　sitting　alone　with　the　Headman　in　his　hut
discussing　a　dram　of　〃squareface〃　that　I　had　given　to　him；　for　the
〃trade〃　was　finished　to　our　mutual　satisfaction；　and　Scowl；　my　body
servant；　with　the　hunters；　had　just　carried　off　the　ivorya　fine　lot　of
tusksto　my　wagons。

〃Well；　Umbezi；〃　I　said；　〃and　how　has　it　fared　with　you　since　we　parted　a
year　ago？　　Have　you　seen　anything　of　Saduko；　who；　you　may　remember；　left
you　in　some　wrath？〃

〃Thanks　be　to　my　Spirit；　I　have　seen　nothing　of　that　wild　man；
Macumazahn；〃　answered　Umbezi；　shaking　his　fat　old　head　in　a　fashion
which　showed　great　anxiety。　　〃Yet　I　have　heard　of　him；　for　he　sent　me　a
message　the　other　day　to　tell　me　that　he　had　not　forgotten　what　he　owed
me。〃

〃Did　he　mean　the　sticks　with　which　he　promised　to　bray　you　like　a　green
hide？〃　I　inquired　innocently。

〃I　think　so；　MacumazahnI　think　so；　for　certainly　he　owes　me　nothing
else。　　And　the　worst　of　it　is　that；　there　at　Panda's　kraal；　he　has　grown
like　a　pumpkin　on　a　dung　heapgreat；　great！〃

〃And　therefore　is　now　one　who　can　pay　any　debt　that　he　owes；　Umbezi；〃　I
said；　taking　a　pull　at　the　〃squareface〃　and　looking　at　him　over　the　top
of　the　pannikin。

〃Doubtless　he　can；　Macumazahn；　and；　between　you　and　me；　that　is　the　real
reason　why　Ior　rather　Masapowas　so　anxious　to　get　those　guns。　　They
were　not　for　hunting；　as　he　told　you　by　the　messenger；　or　for　war；　but
to　protect　us　against　Saduko；　in　case　he　should　attack。　　Well；　now　I
hope　we　shall　be　able　to　hold　our　own。〃

〃You　and　Masapo　must　teach　your　people　to　use　them　first；　Umbezi。　　But　I
expect　Saduko　has　forgotten　all　about　both　of　you　now　that　he　is　the
husband　of　a　princess　of　the　royal　blood。　　Tell　me；　how　goes　it　with
Mameena？〃

〃Oh；　well；　well；　Macumazahn。　　For　is　she　not　the　head　lady　of　the
Amasomi？　　There　is　nothing　wrong　with　hernothing　at　all；　except　that
as　yet　she　has　no　child；　also　that；〃　and　he　paused。

〃That　what？〃　I　asked。

〃That　she　hates　the　very　sight　of　her　husband；　Masapo；　and　says　that　she
would　rather　be　married　to　a　baboonyes；　to　a　baboonthan　to　him；
which　gives　him　offence；　after　he　has　paid　so　many　cattle　for　her。　　But
what　of　this；　Macumazahn？　　There　is　always　a　grain　missing　upon　the
finest　head　of　corn。　　Nothing　is　_quite_　perfect　in　the　world；
Macumazahn；　and　if　Mameena　does　not　chance　to　love　her　husband〃　and　he
shrugged　his　shoulders　and　drank　some　〃squareface。〃

〃Of　course　it　does　not　matter　in　the　least；　Umbezi；　except　to　Mameena
and　her　husband；　who　no　doubt　will　settle　down　in　time；　now　that　Saduko
is　married　to　a　princess　of　the　Zulu　House。〃

〃I　hope　so；　Macumazahn；　but；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　wish　you　had　brought
more　guns；　for　I　live　amongst　a　terrible　lot　of　people。　　Masapo；　who　is
furious　with　Mameena　because　she　will　have　none　of　him；　and　therefore
with　me；　as　though　I　could　control　Mameena；　Mameena；　who　is　mad　with
Masapo；　and　therefore　with　me；　because　I　gave　her　in　marriage　to　him；
Saduko；　who　foams　at　the　mouth　at　the　name　of　Masapo；　because　he　has
married　Mameena；　whom；　it　is　said；　he　still　loves；　and　therefore　at　me；
because　I　am　her　father　and　did　my　best　to　settle　her　in　the　world。　　Oh；
give　me　some　more　of　that　fire…water；　Macumazahn；　for　it　makes　me　forget
all　these　things；　and　especially　that　my　guardian　spirit　made　me　the
father　of　Mameena；　with　whom　you　would　not　run　away　when　you　might　have
done　so。　　Oh；　Macumazahn；　why　did　you　not　run　away　with　Mameena；　and
turn　her　into　a　quiet　white　woman　who　ties　herself　up　in　sacks；　sings
songs　to　the　'Great…Great'　in　the　sky＇that　is；　hymns　to　the　Power
above　us＇and　never　thinks　of　any　man　who　is　not　her　husband？〃

〃Because　if　I　had　done　so；　Umbezi；　I　should　have　ceased　to　be　a　quiet
white　man。　　Yes；　yes；　my　friend；　I　should　have　been　in　some　such　place
as　yours　to…day；　and　that　is　the　last　thing　that　I　wish。　　And　now；
Umbezi；　you　have　had　quite　enough　'squareface；'　so　I　will　take　the
bottle　away　with　me。　　Good…night。〃


On　the　following　morning　I　trekked　very　early　from　Umbezi's
kraalbefore　he　was　up　indeed；　for　the　〃squareface〃　made　him　sleep
sound。　　My　destination　was　Nodwengu；　Panda's　Great　Place；　where　I　hoped
to　do　some　trading；　but；　as　I　was　in　no　particular　hurry；　my　plan　was　to
go　round　by　Masapo's；　and　see　for　myself　how　it　fared　between　him　and
Mameena。　　Indeed；　I　reached　the　borders　of　the　Amasomi　territory；
whereof　Masapo　was　chief；　by　evening；　and　camped　there。　　But　with　the
night　came　reflection；　and　reflection　told　me　that　I　should　do　well　to
keep　clear　of　Mameena　and　her　domestic　complications；　if　she　had　any。　
So　I　changed　my　mind；　and　next　morning　trekked　on　to　Nodwengu　by　the
only　route　that　my　guides　reported　to　be　practicable；　one　which　took　me
a　long　way　round。

That　day；　owing　to　the　roughness　of　the　road