The Mission

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER VII.

  The wind continued fair, and the vessel rapidly approached the Cape.Alexander, who had contracted a great friendship for Mr. Swinton, hadmade known to him the cause of his intended journey into the interior,and the latter volunteered, if his company would not be displeasing, toaccompany Alexander on his tedious and somewhat perilous expedition.

  Alexander gladly accepted the offer, and requested Mr. Swinton would puthimself to no expense, as he had unlimited command of money from hisgrand-uncle, and Mr. Swinton's joining the caravan would make nodifference in his arrangements.

  After it had been agreed that they should travel together, the continuedsubject of discourse and discussion was the nature of the outfit, thenumber of wagons, their equipment, the stores, the number of horses andoxen which should he provided; and they were busy every day adding totheir memoranda as to what it would be advisable to procure for theirjourney.

  Mr. Fairburn often joined in the discussion, and gave his advice, buttold them that, when they arrived at Cape Town, he might be more usefulto them. Alexander, who, as we have before observed, was a keen hunter,and very partial to horses and dogs, promised himself much pleasure inthe chase of the wild animals on their journey, and congratulatedhimself upon being so well provided with guns and rifles, which he hadbrought with him, more with the idea that they might be required forself-defense than for sport.

  At last, "Land, ho!" was cried out by the man who was at the mast-headin the morning watch, and soon afterward, the flat top of Table Mountainwas distinctly visible from the deck. The _Surprise_, running before afresh breeze, soon neared the land, so that the objects on it might beperceived with a glass. At noon they were well in for the bay, andbefore three o'clock the _Surprise_ was brought to an anchor between twoother merchant vessels, which were filling up their home cargoes.

  After a three months' voyage, passengers are rather anxious to get onshore; and therefore before night all were landed, and Alexander foundhimself comfortably domiciled in one of the best houses in Cape Town;for Mr. Fairburn had, during the passage, requested Alexander to take uphis abode with him.

  Tired with the excitement of the day, he was not sorry to go to bedearly, and he did not forget to return his thanks to Him who hadpreserved him through the perils of the voyage.

  The next morning Mr. Fairburn said to Alexander--

  "Mr. Wilmot, I should recommend you for the first ten days to thinknothing about your journey. Amuse yourself with seeing the publicgardens, and other things worthy of inspection; or, if it pleases you,you can make the ascent of Table Mountain with your friend Swinton. Atall events, do just as you please; you will find my people attentive,and ready to obey your orders. You know the hours of meals; consideryourself at home, and as much master here as I am. As you may wellimagine, after so long an absence, I have much to attend to in myofficial capacity, and I think it will be a week or ten days before Ishall be comfortably reseated in my office, and have things going onsmoothly, as they ought to do. You must therefore excuse me if I am notquite so attentive a host at first as I should wish to be. One thingonly I recommend you to do at present, which is, to accompany me thisafternoon to Government-house, that I may introduce you to the governor.It is just as well to get over that mark of respect which is due to him,and then you will be your own master."

  Alexander replied with many thanks. He was graciously received by thegovernor, who promised him every assistance in his power in theprosecution of his journey. Having received an invitation for dinner onthe following day, Alexander bowed and took his leave in company withMr. Fairburn.

  On the following day Alexander was visited by Mr. Swinton. Mr. Swintonwas accompanied by a major in the Bengal Cavalry, whom he introduced asMajor Henderson. He had arrived a few days before from Calcutta, havingobtained leave of absence for the recovery of his health, after a smartjungle-fever, which had nearly proved fatal. The voyage, however, hadcompletely reinstated him, and he appeared full of life and spirits.They walked together to the Company's gardens, in which were a fewlions, and some other Cape animals, and the discourse naturally turnedupon them. Major Henderson described the hunting in India, especiallythe tiger-hunting on elephants, to which he was very partial; andAlexander soon discovered that he was talking to one who waspassionately fond of the sport. After a long conversation they parted,mutually pleased with each other. A day or two afterward, Mr. Swinton,who had been talking about their intended journey with Alexander, saidto him:--

  "You must not be surprised at the off-hand and unceremonious way we havein the colonies. People meeting abroad, even Englishmen occasionally,throw aside much ceremony. I mention this, because Major Hendersonintends to call this afternoon, and propose joining our party into theinterior. I do not know much of him, but I have heard much said in hisfavor, and it is easy to see by his manners and address that he is agentleman. Of course, when he stated his intention, I could do nothingbut refer him to you, which I did. What do you think, Wilmot?"

  "I think very well of Major Henderson, and I consider that, as thejourney must be one of some peril, the more Europeans the better,especially when we can find one who is used to danger from hisprofession, and also to dangerous hunting, which we must also expect. Sofar from not wishing him to join us, I consider him a most valuableacquisition, and am delighted at the idea."

  "Well, I am glad to hear you say so, for I agree with you. He is huntingmad, that is certain, and I hear, a most remarkable shot. I think withyou he will be an acquisition. It appears that it was his intention tohave gone into the interior, even if he went by himself; and he has twoArab horses which he brought with him from India with that view."

  "If you see him before he comes, you may say that you have stated hiswishes to me, and that I am quite delighted at his joining ourparty,--it being perfectly understood that he is at no expense for anything connected with the outfit."

  "I will tell him so," replied Swinton; "and I think the sooner we beginto collect what is necessary the better. We must have Major Henderson inour councils. Depend upon it, he will be very useful and very active;so, for the present, farewell."

  Mr. Swinton and Major Henderson called together that afternoon, and thelatter, as soon as he was admitted into the party, began to talk overthe plans and preparations.

  "My suite is not very large," said he; "I have two horses and two dogs,a Parsee servant, and a Cape baboon. I should like to take the latterwith us as well as my servant. My servant, because he is a good cook;and my monkey, because, if we are hard put to it, she will show us whatwe may eat and what we may not; there is no taster like a monkey.Besides, she is young and full of tricks, and I like something to amuseme."

  "The baboons have another good quality: they give notice of dangersooner than a dog," observed Swinton. "I think, Wilmot, we must admitthe monkey into the party."

  "I shall be most happy," replied Alexander, laughing; "pray give her mycompliments, Major Henderson, and say how happy I shall be."

  "I call her Begum," said Major Henderson; "because she is so like theold Begum princess whom I was once attending, when in India with mytroop, as guard of honor. You must look out for some good horses, Mr.Wilmot; you will want a great many, and if you do not wish them to havesore backs, don't let the Hottentots ride them."

  "We have been discussing the point, Major Henderson, as to whether itwill not be better to go round in a vessel to Algoa Bay, complete ourequipment there, and make that our starting place."

  "If you do, you will save a long journey by land, and find yourself notvery far from what I understand are the best of hunting-grounds, near tothe country of the Vaal River."

  The topics then dwelt upon were what articles they should procure inCape Town, and what they should defer providing themselves with untiltheir arrival at Algoa Bay. They agreed to provide all their stores atCape Town, and as many good horses as they could select; but the wagonsand oxen, and the hiring of Hottentots, they put off until they arrivedat Algoa Bay.

  Mr. Fairb
urn was now more at leisure, and Alexander had more of hissociety. One evening after dinner Mr. Fairburn had opened a map of thecountry, to give Alexander some information relative to his projectedjourney. He pointed out to him the track which appeared most advisablethrough the Caffre country, and then observed that it was difficult togive any advice as to his proceedings after he had passed this country,governed by Hinza, as every thing would depend upon circumstances.

  "Do you know any thing of the country beyond?"

  "Not much; we know that it was overrun by the Zoolus, the tribe of whichChaka was the chief; and last year our troops went to the assistance ofthe Caffres, who were attacked by another tribe from the northward,called the Mantatees. These were dispersed by our troops with immenseslaughter. The Zoolu country, you perceive, is on the east side of thegreat chain of mountains, and to the northward of Port Natal. TheMantatees came from the west side of the mountains, in about the sameparallel of latitude. It is impossible to say what may be going on atpresent, or what may take place before you arrive at your destination,as these northern irruptions are continual."

  "You promised me the history of that person, Chaka."

  "You shall have it now: he was the king of the Zoolu nation--I hardlyknow what to call him. He was the Nero and the Napoleon of Africa; amonster in cruelty and crime, yet a great warrior and conqueror. Hecommenced his career by murdering his relatives to obtain thesovereignty. As soon as he had succeeded, he murdered all those whom hethought inimical to him, and who had been friends to his relatives."

  "But are the Zoolus Caffres?"

  "No; but there are many races to the northward which we consider asCaffre races. You may have observed, in the history of the world, thatthe migrations of the human race are generally from the north to thesouth: so it appears to have been in Africa. Some convulsion among thenorthern tribes, probably a pressure from excessive population, haddriven the Zoolus to the southward, and they came down like aninundation, sweeping before them all the tribes that fell in their path.Chaka's force consisted of nearly 100,000 warriors, of whom 15,000 werealways in attendance to execute his orders. In every country which heoverran he spared neither age nor sex; it was one indiscriminateslaughter."

  "What a monster!"

  "He ruled by terror, and it is incredible that his orders met with suchimplicit obedience. To make his army invincible, he remodeled it,divided it into companies, distinguished by the color of their shields,and forbade them to use any other weapon but a short stabbing-spear, sothat they always fought at close quarters. He weeded his army by pickingout 1000 of his veteran warriors, who had gained his victories, andputting them to death. Any regiment sent out to battle, if they weredefeated, were instantly destroyed on their return; it was, therefore,victory or death with them; and the death was most cruel, being that ofimpalement. Well he was surnamed 'the Bloody,'"

  "Yes, indeed."

  "His tyranny over his own people was dreadful. On one occasion, a childannoyed him; he ordered it to be killed; but the child ran among seventyor eighty other children, and could not be distinguished, so he orderedthe whole to be put to death. He murdered two or three hundred of hiswives in one day. At the slightest suspicion he would order out hischiefs to execution, and no one knew when his turn might come. His willwas law: every one trembled and obeyed. To enter into a detail of allhis cruelties would fill volumes; it will be sufficient to mention thelast act of his life. His mother died, and he declared that she hadperished by witchcraft. Hundreds and hundreds were impaled, and, atlast, tired of these slow proceedings, he ordered out his army to anindiscriminate slaughter over the whole country, which lasted forfourteen days."

  "How horrible!"

  "He was a demon who reveled in blood; but his own turn came at last. Hewas murdered by his brother Dingaam, who knew that he was about to besacrificed; and thus perished the bloody Chaka. His brother Dingaam isnow on the Zoolu throne, and appears inclined to be quiet. There isanother great warrior chief named Moselekatsee, who revolted from Chaka,and who is much such another character; but our accounts of these peopleare vague at present, and require time to corroborate their correctness.You will have to act and decide when you arrive there, and must beguided by circumstances. With the caravan you propose to travel with, Ithink there will not be much danger; and if there is, you must retreat.The favor of these despots is easily to be obtained by judiciouspresents, which of course you will not be unprovided with. I haveordered your letters to the authorities to be made out, and you willhave the governor's signature to them. When do you propose to, start?"

  "We shall be ready in a few days, and have only to find a vessel goingto Algoa Bay."

  "You will be asked to take charge of several articles which are to besent to the missionary station which you will pass on your way. Ipresume you have no objection?"

  "Certainly not; they deserve every encouragement, and any kindness andattention I can show them will give me great pleasure."

  Alexander received many proposals from different parties who wished tojoin the expedition, but they were all civilly declined. In a few days avessel arrived, which was about to go round to the settlement at AlgoaBay. Their stores, horses, and dogs, not forgetting Begum the baboon,were all embarked, and, taking leave of Mr. Fairburn and the governor,Alexander, Major Henderson, and Mr. Swinton embarked, and on the eveningof the fourth day found themselves safe at anchor in company with ten ortwelve vessels which were lying in Algoa Bay.