82 EXPEDITION INTO 



of liis richest conquests, tlie wretch erected a kraal upon 

 ■VA liich the name of Gihhcldach, sig'nif^'ing- ^^ pick out the old 

 ones/' was humourously bestowed, in commemoration of the 

 base and barbarous deed ! 



Fully impressed with the conviction that his warriors, thus 

 org'anized and disciplined, would prove themselves invincible, 

 Chaka now indidg-ed in projecting- movements upon a gTan- 

 der scale than formerly ; planning* new predatory inroads 

 upon those independent tribes whose wealth in cattle affor- 

 ded the greatest inducements, and looking- forward with a 

 sort of prophetic spirit to a day not far distant when all his 

 ambitious schemes should be achieved, when his expectations 

 should be fully realized, and he should find himself the sole 

 and undisputed "master of the world." Spring* never 

 appeared without its marauding* expeditions ; every succeed- 

 ing- season also brought upon the weak and tributary tribes, 

 visits of violence, desolation, and plunder j each in its turn 

 sooner or later feelino- the monster's scourge for some alleo-ed 

 offence ag'ainst majesty, which alone had existence in his 

 fertile invention. The eve of o-oino- to war was with him 

 alwa3's the period of brutal and inhuman murders, in which 

 he seemed to indulo-e with the savag-e delio-ht of the tio-er 

 over its prey. A muster being* taken prior to his troops 

 moving-, those Avarriors who on any previous occasion had 

 not in his estimation properl}-^ acquitted themselves of their 

 duty, or (which was held to be tantamount) were suspected 

 of being- coAvards, were sing-led out and publicly impaled. 

 Once determined on a sang-uinary display of his power, 

 nothing* could curb his ferocity. His twinkling- e^^e evinced 

 the pleasure that worked within. His iron heart exulted, 

 and his whole frame seemed as thoug-li knit with a joyous 

 impulse, at beholding- the blood of the innocent flowing- at 

 his feet ! Grasping- his Herculean limbs, his muscular hands 

 exhibited by their motion a desire to aid in the execution of 



