94 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XII. 



On the sudden decease of Essenzinconyarna, one 

 of his youngest sons assuming the crown of the 

 Zooloos, Chaka at once resolved to dethrone him^, 

 and usurp his place at the head of the nation — 

 with this view he formed a project which was 

 speedily put in execution. Umgartie, his fraternal 

 companion in exile, repaired to the residence of the 

 young monarch with a story that Tingiswaa had 

 slain Chaka, in consequence of which he had 

 himself been obliged to fly for life and throw 

 himself at his brother's feet for protection. This 

 important and much wished for information being 

 implicitly believed, Umgartie was presently installed 

 in the office of chief domestic, and being thus 

 constantly about the royal person, had every 

 facility afforded him for the accomplishment of his 

 bloody mission. Sending two of his confidential 

 friends to secrete themselves in the long grass by 

 the river side, while the king was taking his usual 

 morning bath, the latter was speared to death on a 

 preconcerted signal, and Chaka, at the head of the 

 Umlatwas, took possession of the throne. 



The putting to death all the principal persons of 

 his brother's government, including every one that 

 was suspected of being inimical to his own accession, 

 was the first act that signalized his bloody reign. 

 Tingiswaa dying shortly afterwards, the young 

 king went to war with the Umtatwas — the nation 

 that had sO hospitably sheltered and protected him 

 whilst in exile ; and having destroyed the major 

 part of the Iribe, the remnant were fain to become 



