Part 16 (1/2)
At the appointed time Hendricks and his four companions set off, leaving the waggon under the charge of Umgolo, with directions to keep a strict watch upon it, lest any of Cetchwayo's brave soldiers should take it into their heads to appropriate the contents. They then proceeded towards the kraal at the side of the hill. The heat was excessive, the sun beat down with intense force upon their heads, so that they were not inclined to move very fast. Having arrived at the kraal, they were ushered into the outer circle, where, in a hut considerably larger than those inhabited by the common people, they found the king seated on a pile of mats, he being utterly unable to squat down in the fas.h.i.+on of his less obese subjects. Hendricks saluted him in due form, and Crawford and Percy imitated their leader as well as they could. They then arranged themselves so as to form part of a circle on one side of His Majesty.
Panda looked at Lionel. ”That boy knows how to behave,” he remarked, observing the proper Kaffir salutation which he made on entering.
”Yes, O King! I have long lived in Zululand, and I know good manners,”
answered Lionel, with perfect gravity, while Denis turned away his head to indulge in a quiet laugh, to which he could not openly venture to give way.
Presently several girls appeared, each carrying a bowl holding about a gallon of beer, one of which they set down before each of the guests.
Others then brought in wooden platters, huge pieces of beef, large ma.s.ses of which an attendant cut off with an a.s.segai, and handed to the king, who munched away at them with infinite satisfaction. The guests were desired to help themselves with their knives which they carried in their belts. There were, in addition, baskets of mealy cakes, which Percy declared were more to the purpose than the tough half-roasted beef. The king every now and then looked round the circle, exclaiming, ”Eat! eat!” The guests did their utmost, but were very soon satisfied.
”Pray tell him that I can do no more,” said Crawford. ”This hot day I should prefer some cold lamb and a salad, but this coa.r.s.e beef beats me.”
Hendricks apologised as best he could.
”Tell them to drink, then,” said the king, ”if they cannot eat. The beer will slip down without any difficulty. Don't you like beer?” asked the king, when he saw that after taking a few mouthfuls they stopped.
”Pray tell him that we like beer in moderation, but shall never be able to finish off one of these bowls,” exclaimed Crawford.
Hendricks a.s.sured the king that his young companions were anxious to please him; but that Englishmen's insides were not of the same magnificent capacity as His Majesty's, and that therefore it would be impossible for them to do as he desired.
A frown gathered on the king's brow. ”Drink, I say, drink! They must drink,” he exclaimed.
”Tell the king that I'll see him at Jericho first,” said Denis; an observation which set Percy off laughing.
”Command yourselves, lads,” said Hendricks, turning to them. ”This may become no laughing matter. Although you cannot drink, and I don't wish you to do so, you must show the king that you desire to please him.”
”Sure I'll do that,” said Denis, putting the bowl to his mouth, and pretending to swallow a huge draught, and then placed it on the ground and gasped for breath. ”Please tell His Majesty, that unless he wishes to kill me, he'll let me off this time,” cried the irrepressible young Irishman. ”Poor Percy and Lionel will burst outright if they have to swallow this stuff.”
”That I shall,” exclaimed Percy. ”I'll not swallow another drop to please him or all the n.i.g.g.e.r kings in Africa.”
Lionel did not venture to make any remark, but looked as resolute as the rest not to turn himself into a beer barrel.
Hendricks began to wish heartily that he had left his companions in the camp, but had now to get out of the difficulty in the best way he could.
He therefore reminded Panda that they were very young, and that English manners were not like Zulu manners, but he hoped the next time they visited the country, should the king give them the honour of an invitation, that they would behave themselves better.
Both Hendricks and Crawford had already swallowed more of the beer than they liked. Although its intoxicating qualities were very weak, the latter declared he felt its effects in his head, and that should he take much more, he could not answer for himself.
At last Hendricks thought of an expedient which might possibly prove successful in enabling his companions to escape from a further infliction of the king's hospitable intentions. ”The Lion of Africa”
(such was one of the t.i.tles the obese old savage delighted to be addressed by) ”was inquiring about affairs in Natal,” he observed. ”Not long ago, there lived in England,--which, as your Majesty is aware of, is a long way off,--a man named Jones. He was a worthy man, and had he been born in Zululand, he might have become a great warrior. But Jones was a man of peace. He had a family of ten children, six boys and four girls, very like him in all respects. Jones had a brother, and Jones's brother had twelve children, they were equally divided between boys and girls. As there was every prospect of there being a good many more little Jones's born, they agreed that the country might not be large enough to hold them, and they therefore determined to come out to Natal.
Jones's brother came in a s.h.i.+p called the _Swan_, while Jones himself embarked in one named the _Duck_. They sailed almost at the same time.
When the sea was smooth, the little Jones's were tolerably well, but when it grew rough, they became very sick, and wished that they had not come.”
Hendricks, while he was speaking, kept his eye on the king, who, before he had got thus far, began to nod. He continued, therefore, in a low voice, giving the history of the Jones's, which, as it would be uninteresting to most readers, was especially so to the king, who, therefore, before the hunter had got much farther, fell fast asleep.
”Now my lads,” said Hendricks, turning to his young companions, ”you may take the opportunity of slipping off. Make a bow to the king as you leave the hut, more to please his attendants than His Majesty, who will certainly not see it, and I will follow.”
His directions were obeyed, and they all breathed more freely when they found themselves in the open air. They guessed that the courtiers would not let the king discover that any beer had been left in the bowls, by drinking it up themselves, and they therefore were not troubled on that account.