EXECUTION OF MESSENGERS. 347 
his attendant Combizana, and upon being rigidly 
questioned, frankly admitted, that he had also 
been sent with a view of reporting to Dingaan, 
the state of the combined army of emigrants and 
Znhis under Panda. The latter, evidently em- 
bittered against this person, (one of Dingaan' s 
principal counsellors,) charged him with having 
been the chief cause of the murder of Eetief 
and his party ; that he had plotted and advised 
his (Panda's) death ; and in short, brought such 
a series of charges against him, that (contrary 
to every usage of civilized life,) he was taken 
along with the army as a prisoner, until they 
reached the banks of the Buffalo or TJmzim- 
jaatee river, where a court martial was formed, 
which, under the excited feelings of the oc- 
casion, soon passed a sentence of death upon 
the unfortunate prisoners, and it was carried 
into execution within a few hours after ; Tam- 
boosa, not only upbraiding his executioners, 
with the violation of all usage towards mes- 
sengers, even amongst savages, but expressing 
his perfect readiness to die, he implored, (but 
in vain,) mercy on behalf of his young atten- 
dant, who was only a camp follower, and had 
thus been but doing his duty, in following his 
master. 
" This may be said to have been the only blot, 
which seriously reflected upon the conduct of 
