102 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XIII. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



HISTORY OF CHAKA, CONCLUDED. 



Death ever reigned without a rival over the ex- 

 tensive dominions of Chaka, aUke during the in- 

 tervals of peace^ as in time of war; the un- 

 exampled cruelties practised by the despot, and the 

 plausible reasons assigned for their perpetration, 

 being withal the surest means of governing his op- 

 pressed and wondering subjects. The nation were 

 in the universal belief that their monarch dealt in 

 necromancy, and held converse with the spirits of 

 his forefathers; and so ably did he support this 

 character, as to leave no doubt in their superstitious 

 minds, that he possessed the power of reading their 

 inmost thoughts, and of beholding their most secret 

 actions ; thus striking terror into them by his seeming 

 unearthly power, and effectually checking any dis- 

 position to revolt against his inhuman decrees. 



Having completed the re-organization of the 

 army — elected rulers — abolished old laws — and 

 enacted new ones — Chaka finally succeeded in es- 

 tablishing that which may with strict propriety be 

 termed a Zooloocratical form of government. It 

 is one that defies description or detail, and which 

 neither can be comprehended nor digested; that 

 affords protection to no living creature, and places 



