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was dead； and earth and heaven had not come together； so what did it
matter？ Moreover； the two new kings promised to deal gently with the
people； and to lighten the heavy yoke of Chaka； and men in a bad case
are always ready to home for a better。 So it came about that the only
enemies the princes found were each other and Engwade； the son of
Unandi； Chaka's half…brother。 But I； Mopo； who was now the first man
in the land after the kings； ceasing to be a doctor and becoming a
general； went up against Engwade with the regiment of the Bees and the
regiment of the Slayers and smote him in his kraals。 It was a hard
fight； but in the end I destroyed him and all his people： Engwade
killed eight men with his own hand before I slew him。 Then I came back
to the kraal with the few that were left alive of the two regiments。
After that the two kings quarrelled more and more； and I weighed them
both in my balance； for I would know which was the most favourable to
me。 In the end I found that both feared me； but that Umhlangana would
certainly put me to death if he gained the upper hand； whereas this
was not yet in the mind of Dingaan。 So I pressed down the balance of
Umhlangana and raised that of Dingaan； sending the fears of Umhlangana
to sleep till I could cause his hut to be surrounded。 Then Umhlangana
followed upon the road of Chaka his brother； the road of the assegai；
and Dingaan ruled alone for awhile。 Such are the things that befall
princes of this earth； my father。 See； I am but a little man； and my
lot is humble at the last； yet I have brought about the death of three
of them； and of these two died by my hand。
It was fourteen days after the passing away of the Prince Umhlangana
that the great army came back in a sorry plight from the marshes of
the Limpopo； for half of them were left dead of fever and the might of
the foe； and the rest were starving。 It was well for them who yet
lived that Chaka was no more； else they had joined their brethren who
were dead on the way； since never before for many years had a Zulu
impi returned unvictorious and without a single head of cattle。 Thus
it came about that they were glad enough to welcome a king who spared
their lives； and thenceforth； till his fate found him； Dingaan reigned
unquestioned。
Now； Dingaan wa a prince of the blood of Chaka indeed； for； like
Chaka； he was great in presence and cruel at heart； but he had not the
might and the mind of Chaka。 Moreover； he was treacherous and a liar；
and these Chaka was not。 Also； he loved women much； and spent with
them the time that he should have given to matters of the State。 Yet
he reigned awhile in the land。 I must tell this also； that Dingaan
would have killed Panda； his half…brother； so that the house of
Senzangacona； his father； might be swept out clean。 Now Panda was a
man of gentle heart； who did not love war； and therefore it was
thought that he was half…witted； and； because I loved Panda； when the
question of his slaying came on； I and the chief Mapita spoke against
it； and pleaded for him； saying that there was nothing to be feared at
his hands who was a fool。 So in the end Dingaan gave way； saying；
〃Well； you ask me to spare this dog； and I will spare him； but one day
he will bite me。〃
So Panda was made governor of the king's cattle。 Yet in the end the
words of Dingaan came true； for it was the grip of Panda's teeth that
pulled him from the throne； only； if Panda was the dog that bit； I；
Mopo； was the man who set him on the hunt。
CHAPTER XXII
MOPO GOES TO SEEK THE SLAUGHTERER
Now Dingaan； deserting the kraal Duguza； moved back to Zululand； and
built a great kraal by the Mahlabatine； which he named 〃Umgugundhlovu〃
that is； 〃the rumbling of the elephant。〃 Also； he caused all the
fairest girls in the land to be sought out as his wives； and though
many were found yet he craved for more。 And at this time a rumour came
to the ears of the King Dingaan that there lived in Swaziland among
the Halakazi tribe a girl of the most wonderful beauty； who was named
the Lily； and whose skin was whiter than are the skins of our people；
and he desired greatly to have this girl to wife。 So Dingaan sent an
embassy to the chief of the Halakazi； demanding that the girl should
be given to him。 At the end of a month the embassy returned again； and
told the king that they had found nothing but hard words at the kraal
of the Halakazi； and had been driven thence with scorn and blows。
This was the message of the chief of the Halakazi to Dingaan； king of
the Zulus： That the maid who was named the Lily； was； indeed； the
wonder of the earth； and as yet unwed； for she had found no man upon
whom she looked with favour； and she was held in such love by this
people that it was not their wish to force any husband on her。
Moreover； the chief said that he and his people defied Dingaan and the
Zulus； as their fathers had defied Chaka before him； and spat upon his
name； and that no maid of theirs should go to be the wife of a Zulu
dog。
Then the chief of the Halakazi caused the maid who was named the Lily
to be led before the messengers of Dingaan； and they found her
wonderfully fair； for so they said： she was tall as a reed； and her
grace was the grace of a reed that is shaken in the wind。 Moreover；
her hair curled； and hung upon her shoulders； her eyes were large and
brown； and soft as a buck's； her colour was the colour of rich cream；
her smile was like a ripple on the waters； and when she spoke her
voice was low and sweeter than the sound of an instrument of music。
They said also that the girl wished to speak with them； but the chief
forbade it； and caused her to be led thence with all honour。
Now； when Dingaan heard this message he grew mad as a lion in a net；
for he desired this maid above everything； and yet he who had all
things could not win the maid。 This was his command； that a great impi
should be gathered and sent to Swaziland against the Halakazi tribe；
to destroy them and seize the maid。 But when the matter came on to be
discussed with the indunas in the presence of the king； at the
Amapakati or council； I； as chief of the indunas； spoke against it；
saying that the tribe of the Halakazi were great and strong； and that
war with them would mean war with the Swazis also； moreover； they had
their dwelling in caves which were had to win。 Also； I said； that this
was no time to send impis to seek a single girl； for few years had
gone by since the Black One fell； and foes were many； and the soldiers
of the land had waxed few with slaughter； half of them having perished
in the marshes of the Limpopo。 Now； time must be given them to grow up
again； for to…day they were as a little child； or like a man wasted
with hunger。 Maids were many； let the king take them and satisfy his
heart； but let him make no war for this one。
Thus I spoke boldly in the face of the king； as none had dared to
speak before Chaka； and cour