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 courage passed from me to the hearts of the
other indunas and generals, and they echoed my words, for they knew
that, of all follies, to begin a new war with the Swazi people would
be the greatest.
Dingaan listened, and his brow grew dark, yet he was not so firmly
seated on the throne that he dared put away our words, for still there
were many in the land who loved the memory of Chaka, and remembered
that Dingaan had murdered him and Umhlangana also.
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