Chap. XII.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 99 



tiger over its prey. A muster being taken prior lo 

 his troops moving, those warriors who on any 

 previous occasion had not in his estimation properly 

 acquitted themselves of their duty, or (which was 

 held to be tantamount) were svspected of being 

 cowards, were singled out and publicly impaled. 

 Once determined on a sanguinary display of his 

 power, nothing could curb his ferocity. His 

 twinkling eye evinced the pleasure that worked 

 within. His iron heart exulted, and his whole 

 frame seemed as though knit with a joyous impulse, 

 at beholding the blood of the innocent flowing at 

 his feet ! Grasping his Herculean limbs, his mus- 

 cular hands exhibited by their motion a desire to 

 aid in the execution of the victims of his barbarity. 

 He seemed, in short, a being in human form en- 

 dowed with more than the physical capabilities of 

 man ; a giant without reason; a monster created 

 with more than ordinary power and disposition for 

 doing mischief, from whose withering glance man 

 recoiled as from the serpent's hiss or the lions 

 growl. 



Chaka constantly exercised a perfect system of 

 espionage which served to keep him minutely ac- 

 quainted with the condition and strength of the 

 tribes, whether independent or tributary, by which 

 he was surrounded ; his scouts being also enjoined 

 to make such observations regarding the country as 

 might enable them to lead his troops to the scene 

 of action with the least chance of discovery or sur- 

 prise. Three months before he meditated an attack 



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