Travels and Adventures in Eastern Africa, Descriptive of the Zoolus, Their Manners, Customs, Etc. Etc. with a Sketch of Natal, Volume 1E. Churton, 1836 - KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) |
Common terms and phrases
abode accompanied afterwards Algoa Bay animals appeared apprehensive arrived ascer assegai attack bangles began boat boys bullocks Caffres calabash Cape CAPE NATAL cattle coast command companion corn crossed death Delagoa Bay desire enemy engaged escape Europeans evinced exceedingly Farewell Farewell's fatigued fear feet females fire forest Fynn gave girls governor halted Hatton hippopotami HISTORY OF CHAKA Holstead hope Hottentots Ingoma inhuman ivory John Ross journey killed king's kraal leave Lieut Lieutenant King looked majesty massacre messengers miles mission morning Mount Pleasant musket Natal natives night observed obtain occasion Ootoogale palace party perceive Portuguese prepared present proceeded purpose reached regiments remained residence retired river savage savannas schooner sea-cow seemed sent Sischlanslo soon Sotobe spear thing thought tion told Toogooso took Townshend travelling tribe Umgani Umlallas vessel warriors whole wild wish wreck Zoola chief
Popular passages
Page 305 - No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode (There they alike in trembling hope repose), The bosom of his Father and his God.
Page 25 - I AM monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute, From the centre all round to the sea, I am lord of the fowl and the brute. 0 solitude ! where are the charms That sages have seen in thy face ? Better dwell in the midst of alarms, Than reign in this horrible place.
Page 350 - He was a monster — a compound of vice and ferocity — without one virtue to redeem his name from the infamy to which history has consigned it.
Page 39 - Fynn is in stature somewhat tall, with a prepossessing countenance. From necessity his face was disfigured with hair, not having had an opportunity of shaving himself for a considerable time. His head was partly covered with a crownless straw hat ; and a tattered blanket, fastened round his neck by means of stripes of hide, served to cover his body, while his hands performed the office of keeping it round his ' nether man ' ; his shoes he had discarded for some months, whilst every other habiliment...
Page 345 - Chaka always kept up a system of espionnage, by which he knew at all times the condition and strength of every tribe around him, both independent and tributary; and these persons were always directed to make such observations on the passes to and from the country to which they were sent, as might be useful in leading the troops to the scene of action with the surest chance of arriving at their S3 position, without being discovered on the one hand, or surprised on the other.
Page 122 - The king placed himself in the middle of the space within the circle ; and about 1,500 girls stood opposite to the men, three deep, in a straight line, and with great regularity. His majesty then commenced dancing, the warriors followed, and the girls kept time by singing, clapping their hands, and raising their bodies on their toes. The strange attitudes of the men exceeded anything I had seen before. The king was remarkable for his unequalled activity, and the surprising muscular powers he exhibited....
Page 62 - Whilst sitting in our hut, at a late hour, we were aroused by the shrieks of thousands of human voices ; we naturally concluded it was the enemy advancing, being aware they expected them hourly ; the real cause, however, was soon ascertained — which was the death of the king's grandmother, supposed to be between ninety and a hundred years of age. The kraal in which she resided was about a mile distant. Men, women, and children, having cried bitterly for several hours, there ensued a profound silence...
Page 327 - It is remarked by an ancient historian, that in peace children bury their parents, in war parents bury their children :* nor is the difference small. Children lament their parents, sincerely indeed, but 'with that moderate and tranquil sorrow which it is natural for those to feel who are conscious of retaining many tender ties, many animating prospects. Parents mourn for their children...
Page 212 - And, incredible as it may appear, there are now in Caffraria also Englishmen whose daily garb differs little from the beast-hide covering of their neighbours ; whose proper colour can scarcely be identified for the filth that covers them ; and whose domestic circles, like those of the native chieftains themselves, embrace from eight to ten black wives or concubines...