fs were content to
come into the townships in grotesque medley of European clothing--as
required by law--trousers, a waistcoat and shirt-sleeves, or long
overcoats and broad-brimmed hats, that give to any savage an absurd and
undignified appearance, but this one not. He was obliged to wear
clothing on the occasions when his presence was officially required at
the seats of administration, but when he did so he wore a riding suit of
unimpeachable cut, and boots and spurs accordingly, but under no
circumstances had he ever been known to wear a hat. He would not cover
up and conceal his head-ring, as did the others. The fact of his not
"falling into line" rendered him open to distrust, as a man with a
strong hankering after the old state of things, and consequently
dissatisfied with the new, therefore a man who might become dangerous.
And there were not wanting, just then, circumstances under which he
might become very dangerous indeed.

Sapazani's kraal was remote from the seat of magistracy of his district,
for which reason he was required to present himself in person, on some
pretext or other, rather more frequently than was usual. To such
summons he never failed to respond without delay. But also he never
failed so to present himself without a considerable following. This
fact sorely puzzled the authorities. They did not like it; yet to
remonstrate would seem to argue that they were afraid of him, an
attitude absolutely fatal to the prestige of the ruling race. And the
said ruling race needed all its prestige just then, when there were less
than a hundred mounted police in the whole of Zululand, and not much
more than three times that number of Volunteer Rifles, but scattered
throughout the length and breadth of the country pursuing their ordinary
civil avocations.

Sapazani was just old enough to have fought as a mere youth in the Zulu
war of '79, and quite old enough to have fought well, and with some
distinction on the Usutu side during the struggle which culminated in
the exile of his present chief to Saint Helena. Now his relations with
his said present chief--repatriated--were something of a mystery to the
ruling race, and there were those who thought that given the opportunity
he would not be averse to usurping his present chief's position and
authority; for he, too, came of royal stock, in that he was of the
Umtetwa tribe and could claim descent from the House of Dingiswayo. His
relations with Ben Ha