Oh! dear child of my body, dear child of my spirit, for we do not beget with the body alone, Noma, as you know better than I do to-day, I greet you," and pressing the skull to his lips, he kissed it, then set it down in front of him between himself and the fire with the face part pointing to the king, and burst into one of his eerie and terrible laughs.
A low moan went up from his audience, and I felt the skin of Goza, who had shrunk against me, break into a profuse sweat.
Then suddenly Zikali's voice changed one more and became hard and businesslike, if I may call it so, similar to that of other professional doctors.
"You have sent for me, O King, as those who went before you have sent when great things were about to happen.

What is the matter on which you would speak to me ?" "You know well, Opener of Roads," answered Cetewayo, rather shakily I thought.

"The matter is one of peace or war.

The English threaten me and my people and make great demands on me; amongst others that the army should be disbanded.

I can set them all out if you will.