Our young hunter came to me, and told me what was
about to happen, that an 'impi,' or band of spear-
men, had been sent out from the king to destroy his
family. I told him to watch keenly for tidings of
their approach, and apprise his family in time to
escape. I gave him a long, thick serge shirt to
watch in, for he had to sit about on the hills all
night, as it is in the early morning that the Zulus
make their attack upon any devoted village. The
captain of the ' impi ' tells off his men, and each man
stands by the little hole which forms the entrance of
the hut spear in hand. As the inhabitants come
creeping out, down goes the spear into them, as a
seal hunter standing over the seal-holes of the Polar
Sea plunges his spear into the seal as it comes up to
blow. Notice was given in time to the family in
question, and they fled, taking refuge in the sur-
rounding villages, and hiding there.
"This was reported to Cettewayo, and he issued
fresh orders to the effect that any village found
harbouring any member of this family should also
be destroyed. For several days the work of destruc-
tion went on, and as is usual in such cases, those who



138 LADY MISSIONARIES IN FOREIGN LANDS.
