Last of all spoke the Prime Minister, Umnyamana, who declared fiercely that if the Zulu buffalo hid itself in the swamp like a timid calf when the white bull challenged it on the hills, the spirits of Chaka and all his forefathers would thrust its head into the mud and choke it.
When all had finished Cetewayo spoke, saying-- "That is a bad council which has two voices, for to which of them must the Captain listen when the impis of the foe gather in front of him?
Here I have sat while the moon climbs high and counted, and what do I find?
That one half of you, men of wisdom and renown, say Yes, and that the other half of you, men of wisdom and renown, say No.

Which then is it to be, Yes or No?
Are we to fight the English, or are we to sit still ?" "That is for the king to decide," said a voice.
"See what it is to be a king," went on Cetewayo with passion.
"If I declare for war and we win, shall I be greater than I am?
If victory gives me more land, more subjects, more wives and more cattle, what is the use of these things to me who already have enough of all of them?
And if defeat should take everything from me, even my life perhaps, then what shall I have gained?
I will tell you--the curse of the Zulus upon my name from father to son for ever.

They will say, 'Cetewayo, son of Panda, pulled down a House that once was great.

Because of some small matter he quarrelled with the English who were always the friends of our people, and brought the Zulus to the dust.' Sintwangu, my messenger, who brought heavy words from the Queen's induna which we must answer with other words or with spears, says that the English soldiers in Natal are few, so few that we Zulus can swallow them like bits of meat and still be hungry.

But are these all the soldiers of the English?
I am not sure.