"Great darkness is upon us, darkness and the shadow of death.

"The Lion of the Zulu wanders and wanders in desolation, because the

Mother of the Heavens is no more.

"Who shall bring him comfort? There is comfort in the crying of his

"Mourn, people of the Langeni; let the voice of your mourning beat

against the skies and rend them.

Thus sang the old man, my father Makedama, far down in the deeps of

the cleft. He sang it in a still, small voice, but, line after line,