Yet, as it chanced, he was wrong for though Macrophaindeed was killed, it was another maid who lay in blood beside her for the people whither I had sent Macropha and Nada were tributary tothe Halakazi tribe, and that chief of the Halakazi who sat in theplace of Galazi the Wolf had quarrelled with them, and fallen on themby night and eaten them up.
Yet I knew for certain that Nada and her mother Macrophawere dead, for he who brought me the news of their death had seentheir bodies locked in each other's arms, killed, as it were, by thesame spear. The thought, indeed, came into my mind, that none but Nada couldbe so fair. Now, my father, there is this to be told: though I did not know itthen, the maid who was named the Lily was no other than my daughterNada. But still he hankered for her in hisheart, and from that hour he hated me because I had crossed his willand robbed him of his desire. Therefore Dingaan yielded to thevoice of his indunas and no impi was sent against the Halakazi to seekthe maid that was named the Lily. Also, though they had changed masters, yet their burden was notlessened, for, as Chaka slew, so Dingaan slew also, and as Chakaoppressed, so did Dingaan oppress. For now that Chakawas dead, people forgot how evilly he had dealt with them, andremembered only that he was a great man, who had made the Zulu peopleout of nothing, as a smith fashions a bright spear from a lump ofiron. Thus then it came about, my father, that I, Mopo, believing mydaughter Nada to be dead, little guessed that it was she who was namedthe Lily in the kraals of the Halakazi, and whom Dingaan the kingdesired for a wife.ĭingaan listened, and his brow grew dark, yet he was not so firmlyseated on the throne that he dared put away our words, for still therewere many in the land who loved the memory of Chaka, and rememberedthat Dingaan had murdered him and Umhlangana also. Therefore,in, he cast about for some way to be rid of me for a while,till he should grow strong enough to kill me. Yet he did not dare to do away with me, for my voicewas loud in the land, and when I spoke the people listened. Also I was in his secrets, and with me he had killed hisbrother Chaka and his brother Umhlangana, and it was I who held himback from the slaying of his brother Panda also and, therefore, hehated me, as is the fashion of smallhearted men with those who havelifted them up.
Now after I had thwarted him in this matter of the sending of an impito pluck the Lily from the gardens of the Halakazi, Dingaan learned tohate me. Mopo," said the king to me one day as I sat before him in councilwith others of the indunas and generals, "mindest thou of the lastwords of the Great Elephant, who is dead?" This he said meaning Chakahis brother, only he did not name him, for now the name of Chaka wasblonipa in the land, as is the custom with the names of dead kingsthat is, my father, it was not lawful that it should pass the lips.
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