So unhealthy is this valley, which is the home of large game, that whole kraals full of people who have tried to cultivate the rich land, have died in it of fever, or fled away leaving their crops unreaped.

Now no man dwells there.

After this we climbed a terrible mount to the high land of Mahlabatini, and having eaten, pushed on once more.
At length we sighted the great hill-encircled plain of Ulundi which may be called the cradle of the Zulu race as, politically speaking, it was destined to be its coffin.

On the ridge to the west once stood the Nobamba kraal where dwelt Senzangacona, the father of Chaka the Lion.

Nearer to the White Umfolozi was Panda's dwelling-place, Nodwengu, which once I knew so well, while on the slope of the hills of the north-east stood the town of Ulundi in which Cetewayo dwelt, bathed in the lights of sunset.
Indeed it and all the vast plain were red as though with blood, red as they were destined to be on the coming day of the last battle of the Zulus..