But Umgona has a powerful neighbour, an old chief
named Maputa, the warden of the Crocodile Drift, who doubtless is known
to the king, and this chief also seeks Nanea in marriage and harries
Umgona, threatening him with many evils if he will not give the girl to
him. But Umgona's heart is white towards me, and towards Maputa it is
black, therefore together we come to crave this boon of the king."
"It is so; he speaks the truth," said Umgona.
"Cease," answered Cetywayo angrily. "Is this a time that my soldiers
should seek wives in marriage, wives to turn their hearts to water? Know
that but yesterday for this crime I commanded that twenty girls who
had dared without my leave to marry men of the Undi regiment, should be
strangled and their bodies laid upon the cross-roads and with them the
bodies of their fathers, that all might know their sin and be warned
thereby. Ay, Umgona, it is well for you and for your daughter that you
sought my word before she was given in marriage to this man. Now this
is my award: I refuse your prayer, Nahoon, and since you, Umgona, are
troubled with one whom you would not take as son-in-law, the old chief
Maputa, I will free you from his importunity.
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