Near to him stood a girl holding a gourd of beer; there were also present the old chief Inguazonca, brother of Unandi, Mother of the Heavens, and the chief Umxamama, whom Chaka loved.

When we had sat a little while in the kraal, certain men came in bearing cranes' feathers, which the king had sent them to gather a month's journey from the kraal Duguza, and they were admitted before the king.

These men had been away long upon their errand, and Chaka was angry with them.

Now the leader of the men was an old captain of Chaka's, who had fought under him in many battles, but whose service was done, because his right hand had been shorn away by the blow of an axe.
He was a great man and very brave.
Chaka asked the man why he had been so long in finding the feathers, and he answered that the birds had flown from that part of the country whither he was sent, and he must wait there till they returned, that he might snare them.
"Thou shouldst have followed the cranes, yes, if they flew through the sunset, thou disobedient dog!" said the king.

"Let him be taken away, and all those who were with him." Now some of the men prayed a little for mercy, but the captain did but salute the king, calling him "Father," and craving a boon before he died.
"What wouldst thou ?" asked Chaka.
"My father," said the man, "I would ask thee two things.