Shaka Zulu: The Rise of the Zulu EmpireE. A. Ritter's "Shaka Zulu", the great biography of a Zulu king whose achievements rivalled those of his contemporary, Napoleon, in Europe, has established itself as a classic of African history. Shaka was born in 1787, the illegitimate son of a minor chieftain. Branded with this shame, he strove even harder to execute the rigorous duties required of Zulu youths. Excelling in everything he undertook, he soon proved himself a born leader. Gathering about him a nucleus of some 500 untrained tribesmen, he built up an immense army of skilled warriors, conquering and pacifying a territory larger than Europe -- all in the space of twelve years. Although Shaka was capable of cruelties, the author shows that the legends of his atrocities have been grossly exaggerated; paradoxically, Shaka considered many of the white men's punishments inhuman. At the peak of his career, Shaka was assassinated by his jealous brothers, and within fifty years his work was undone. But assassination, usurpation and his own excesses cannot dim the savage greatness of the man and the king, which emanates so strongly from the pages of this book. -- From publisher's description. |
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Page 92
... eyes each one started to sniff like a dog and Nobela commenced to chant : " There are evil - minded people in the land , ' and she paused whilst her four helpers repeated the sentence in unison . ' We can smell their thoughts ...
... eyes each one started to sniff like a dog and Nobela commenced to chant : " There are evil - minded people in the land , ' and she paused whilst her four helpers repeated the sentence in unison . ' We can smell their thoughts ...
Page 187
... eyes became accustomed to the gloom and then at the farther end of the hut , some twenty feet away , she became aware of two dimly glowing eyes staring at her . Ntombazi , the woman , shrieked and for a time forgot she was a queen . The ...
... eyes became accustomed to the gloom and then at the farther end of the hut , some twenty feet away , she became aware of two dimly glowing eyes staring at her . Ntombazi , the woman , shrieked and for a time forgot she was a queen . The ...
Page 219
... eyes looked mutely at Shaka as the executioner approached and crushed his skull with a heavy club . Shaka then strode away majestically towards the Buffalo river ford , followed by his attendants . He did not even deign to cast an eye ...
... eyes looked mutely at Shaka as the executioner approached and crushed his skull with a heavy club . Shaka then strode away majestically towards the Buffalo river ford , followed by his attendants . He did not even deign to cast an eye ...
Contents
ZULULAND AND THE ZULUS IN THE LATE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY I | 1 |
BIRTH AND EXILE II | 11 |
THE YOUNG SOLDIERPAMPATATHE ASSEGAI | 21 |
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arrived assegai attack battle Bayete became beer Belebele blade body boys Bulawayo bull Butelezis cattle cattle-kraal chief clan commander councillors cows death Dingane Dingiswayo diviners Dukuza E-Langeni Elephant enemy eyes face Farewell Fasimba father fear feet fighting force forest formed front Fynn gave girls guards harem head heart hyaena immediately indunas Izi-cwe regiment killed King's knew Kumalos Lieutenant King lines looked maidens Matiwane Mbiya Mbopa Mbuzikazi Mdlaka Mgobozi Mhlangana miles military kraals mother Mqalane Mtetwa Mzilikazi Nandi Natal Ndwandwes Ngomane Ngonyama Nguni Ngwadi Ngwanes night Nkandla Nobela Nomahlanjana Nqoboka Ntombazi Pampata party Port Natal present Qwabes regiment replied river Royal sent Senzangakona Shaka shield shouted side silence slayers soon Soshangane spears stabbing Tembus throw told took tree tribe Tugela Tugela river u-dibi Umfolozi warriors whilst White whole witch-doctors witchcraft women wounded yards Zulu army Zulu language Zululand Zwangendaba Zwide