[PILAVH XXL 
SOLDIERS OF KING PANDA’S ARMY. 
The Zulu army is composed of twenty-six regiments, each distinguished by their costume and the colour of their 
shields: they are quartered in the “ ekanda,” or barrack-towns, when not engaged in active service. 
Each regiment is commanded by a captain, or “ Induna-e-nkholua lieutenant, or “ ’Ngenanaand a sub-lieutenant, 
or “ ’Ngenadzana.” As regards the names of these regiments, they all have significations more or less curious; for example, 
that of Omobapankue (the 1st) means panther-catcher. They say that some years ago, a panther having devoured one 
of the king’s young shepherds, a detachment of this regiment was sent to take the animal: the feat was accomplished, 
and the savage beast brought alive before King Chaka, who ordered it to he thrust through with an assagai. The 
4th, Mokokonthlafu, signifies elephant's hide. The 26th is the body-guard of the king; summer and winter they sleep 
around the “ issigothlo,” or harem, of the monarch without a shred of clothing. 
The Plate represents the full dress of two of the young regiments of King Panda’s army. The regiment of 
Indabagoombi, or Indabakaumbi, is one that has only lately been raised, and is a favourite one with his Zulu majesty. 
Their head-quarters are at the great kraal of Indabagoombi, only recently erected : at the period of my visit it was not 
quite completed, several of the dwellings in the “ issigothlo” being unfinished. This kraal is situated in an almost inaccessible 
position amongst the Black Tiger Mountains, not far from the White Umvelozi River, that falls into the Indian Ocean 
at St. Lucia Bay. 
The head-dress of this regiment is very rich, being formed of ostrich-feathers and the long tail plumes of the Stanley 
crane. The lappets over the ears and behind the head are leopard-skin, ornamented with tufts of the scarlet breast 
feathers of the weaver-bird. Tails of cattle stream from the shoulders, arms, and knees, and the broad shields and 
assagais complete this truly savage and imposing costume. 
The soldiers of the Isangu Regiment are also young men : their head-dress consists of a grotesque fillet of white 
ox-hide, with lappets of the same of a red colour; on the back of the head is a shaved ball of eagle or bustard feathers, 
and two bunches of the long tail-plumes of the Kafir-finch, form graceful ornaments as they float in the air. 
The Zulus are excellent travellers on foot: they possess no horses like the Kafirs on the frontier ot the Cape Colony, 
and it is but very seldom that pack-oxen are to be seen amongst them, which are so much used by the 
Koranuas to the westward. When a Zulu starts on a journey, he takes with him his shield and assagais, 
his head with a tuft of hawk or lowry feathers, he sets off with a light and bounding step, and it is 
circumstance for him to accomplish a distance ot sixty miles within twelve hours. 
Becliuanas and 
and decorating 
no uncommon 
