d be worth while to make him quite drunk and
then attempt to escape on the horse, but gave up the idea. To
begin with, his men were at hand and there was not enough brandy
to make them all drunk. Also even if I succeeded in winning away
here in the heart of Zululand, it would not help Anscombe or Heda
and I should probably be cut off and killed before I could get
out of the country. So I abandoned the plan and went to sleep
instead.

Next morning we left Nongoma early in the hope of reaching Ulundi
that evening if the Ivuna and Black Umfolozi Rivers proved
fordable. As it chanced, although they were high, we were able
to cross them, I seated on the horse which two of the Zulus led.
Next we tramped for miles through the terrible Bekameezi Valley,
a hot and desolate place which the Zulus swear is haunted. So
unhealthy is this valley, which is the home of large game, that
whole kraals full of people who have tried to cultivate the rich
land, have died in it of fever, or fled away leaving their crops
unreaped. Now no man dwells there. After this we climbed a
terrible mount to the high land of Mahlabatini, and having eaten,
pushed on once more.

At length we sighted the great hill-encircled plain of Ulundi
which may be called the cradle of the Zulu race as, politically
speaking, it was destined to be its coffin. On the ridge to the
west once stood the Nobamba kraal where dwelt Senzangacona, the
father of Chaka the Lion. Nearer to the White Umfolozi was
Panda's dwelling-place, Nodwengu, which once I knew so well,
while on the slope of the hills of the north-east stood the town
of Ulundi in which Cetewayo dwelt, bathed in the lights of
sunset.

Indeed it and all the vast plain were red as though with blood,
red as they were destined to be on the coming day of the last
battle of the Zulus.

CHAPTER XIII

CETEWAYO

It was dark when at last we reached the Ulundi kraal, for the
growing moon was obscured by clouds. Therefore I could see
nothing and was only aware, by the sound of voices and the
continual challenging, that we were passing through great numbers
of men. At length we were admitted at the eastern gate and I was
taken to a hut where I at once flung myself down to sleep, being
so weary that I could not attempt to eat. Next morning as I was
finishing my breakfast in the little fenced courtyard of this
guest-hut, Goza appeared and said that the king commanded me to
be brought to him