King Solomon's Treasure

Chapter 5 Ambopa's Joining (2)
Well, let's get back to business, or you will get tired of my stories before you reach Mount Sulimen.Now that I decided to go, I started to prepare.First of all, I signed an agreement with Sir Henry to ensure that my son's life would be guaranteed in case something happened to me.However, because Sir Henry is a foreigner and his property is on the other side of the ocean, there are some difficulties in terms of legal effect.Fortunately, a lawyer helped and finally solved the problem.The solicitor charged a fee of twenty pounds, which was really a lion's mouth.Knowing that I was a prudent man, Sir Henry gave me a check for five hundred pounds, and told me to buy an ox cart and some strong cattle.The ox cart was twenty-two feet long, light and strong, and the body was made of stinkwood.The car isn't new, I've been to a diamond mine, but I think it's better than new, the wood has dried well.If there's something wrong with the car, or if the wood hasn't seasoned, it'll be obvious on the first run.It was a "half-covered" bullock cart, with only the rear twelve-foot body covered, and inside it was a pull-out bed for two, and a shelf for guns and other small things. thing.The front is open to hold various essentials.I paid £22 for the car, which is pretty cheap.

Then I bought twenty more beautiful Zulu cattle.I had my eye on these cows a year or two ago.Usually sixteen cows are enough for a wagon, but I bought four more just in case there were any accidents.Zulu cattle are small in size and light in stature, only half the size of South African cattle.Usually South African cattle are used for transportation.But the Zulu cattle are more survivable than the South African cattle, and when the load is light, the Zulu cattle can go five miles more in a day, and they are less likely to tire.What's more, Zulu cattle have strong immunity.Cattle will soon be infected with red urine fever when they come to new grasslands.However, the herd of Zulu cattle I have selected has been to various parts of South Africa and is resistant to red urine fever.In addition, there is a pneumonia epidemic in South Africa, and the Zulu cattle have all been vaccinated.Cut a small slit on the tail of each cow and tie a piece of lung of an animal that died of tuberculosis, and then the cow will get sick, but the disease is not serious, it will only make the tail rot, and the cow will never be infected again. Kind of sick.It might seem cruel to have a cow lose its tail, especially in a place where flies are plentiful.But it's better to lose a tail than to lose your life. After all, tails can only be used to sweep dust.Of course, the sight of twenty tailless oxen plodding along in a file does look odd, as though nature had made a little mistake by attaching the bulldog's tail to the bull's rump.

Next, we need to prepare food and medicine. This needs to be carefully considered. It should not make the ox cart too heavy, but also ensure that there is no shortage of necessary items.Fortunately, Goode has some medical knowledge. When he served in the navy, he studied medical surgery, and now he still remembers some of it.Of course he wasn't qualified to practice medicine, but we later found out that he knew more than many people with the title of MD.Plus, he's got a great travel kit, a set of surgical instruments.During his stay in Durban, he cut off a Xhosa man's big toe, which he did beautifully.But the Xhosa stared blankly at Goode, asking him to install a new toe for himself, and a Caucasian toe at that.

Having solved the problem of food and medicine, there are two more important things: weapons and servants.Sir Henry brought many arms from England, and I have some myself, and it is only necessary to make a list and choose from them.Here are the details I wrote down in my notebook:
"Three double-barreled heavy breech-loading eight-shot elephant guns, each weighing about fifteen pounds and holding eleven drams of black powder."

Two of the guns were made by the famous London company, a top gun manufacturer.Where my own gun was made, I don't know.I have shot several elephants with it though.It turned out to be a good gun too, very reliable.

"Three five-hundred-guns, holding six drams of black powder."

It is also an excellent weapon for shooting medium-sized game such as eland or black horse antelope.Also useful for shooting people, especially in open areas, with semi-hollow bullets.

"A No. 12 center-fire musket, double-barreled gunpowder."

It turned out that this gun played the most important role in our hunting.

"Three Winchester repeating rifles (not carbines), spare."

"Three single-shot Cotter revolvers, heavier cartridges."

These are all our weapons and equipment.Readers will find that all weapons are of the same build and caliber so that the cartridges are interchangeable which is very important.I have listed out the list of weapons in detail, so that experienced hunters will understand at a glance that the right gun and ammunition are crucial to the success or failure of an expedition.

Now comes the problem of servants.After much discussion, we decided to take only five people: a driver, a guide, and three servants.

The driver and guide found it without much trouble.They were both Zulus, one named Gossa and the other Tom.But servants are not so easy to find.Because this trip is extraordinary, it can be said that their conduct is related to our life and death, so we must find absolutely credible and brave people.Finally I found two people, a Hottentot named Wittruegl, which means "wind bird," and a small Zulu named Kiva who spoke perfect English.I've known Wittrugger before, he's good at stalking game, and I've dealt with him a few times.He is very strong and tireless.But like his people, he has a weakness, and that is his love of drinking.As long as it is drunk, it is unreliable.There were no liquor stores where we went though, so this little glitch was irrelevant.

However, we couldn't find a suitable third person anyway.So we decided to start first and look for them as we walked. If we were lucky, we might meet them on the road.Just one night before departure, Kieva said someone wanted to meet me.After dinner, I asked him to bring the man.Soon a tall, handsome man walked in, about 30 years old, with a much lighter complexion than a Zulu.He saluted with his round cane, then crouched in a corner of the room without saying a word.I didn't pay attention to him at first.Because if you start talking right away, the Zulu will think you're inferior or acting recklessly.

Although I didn't talk to him, I looked at him secretly.He wore a headband, a black headband polished with gum and grease, and tangled up with his hair.Among the Zulu people, only those who have reached a certain age or have a certain status can wear it.Also, I think he looks familiar.

Finally I spoke: "What's your name?"

"Ambopa," he replied, his voice slow and deep.

"I've seen you."

"Yes, sir, you met me at Ishamwara, the day before the war began."

Now I remember.I was Lord Chelmersford's guide in that unfortunate Zulu War.I was lucky enough to leave the army camp the day before the battle to watch the wagons.While I waited for the coachman to harness the cattle, I chatted with this man, who was a minor officer in the local reserve army at the time, and he said he was concerned that the camp was not safe.I told him not to talk nonsense, and leave these issues to the smarter commanders to consider.But then I found out that he had a point.

"I remember," I said, "what do you want?"

"Well, Makumazahn (the name I use when dealing with the Xhosa means one who gets up in the middle of the night. In plain English, one who is cautious). I heard that you and the Is it true that the white master who came here is going to explore the north?"

"Yes."

"I heard that you will cross the Lukaga River and pass through Manica County for a month. Is this true?"

"Why do you ask where we are going? Does this have anything to do with you?" I couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. The purpose of our trip has always been kept secret.

"Oh, white man, that's right. If you're going that far, I'll go with you."

There was a bit of arrogance in the man's tone, especially when he said "white man" instead of "sir," which caught me a little.

"You seem to have forgotten your identity," I said. "Speak without thinking. Don't do it. What's your name? What village are you from? Tell us, let us know where you are from."

"My name is Ambopa, and I am a Zulu, but not one of them. My home is in the far north. The Zulus moved here 1000 years ago, long before Chaga ruled the Zulu land, and my The tribe stayed. I had no permanent home, I was nomad for many years. As a child I went to the Zulu land from the north and then to Natal to see the white way of life. Then I went to war. I've been working in Natal since. Now I'm tired of being here and want to go back to the North. This is not my home. I'm brave and I don't want money, just food and a place to sleep."

After hearing what he said, and seeing how he spoke, I was a little confused.It was obvious from his demeanor that he was telling the truth, but he was not like the average Zulu.He said that he would go with us willingly without payment, which made me a little suspicious.I could not make up my mind, so I translated what he said to Sir Henry and Colonel Goode, for their opinion.Sir Henry asked me to tell him to stand up, and Umberpa did so, taking off his long military overcoat, so that he could see nothing but a short apron around his waist and a necklace of lion's claws around his neck.He was about six foot three, well-proportioned, well-built, and good-looking, the likes of which I had never seen in the country.His skin didn't look too dark in the light, save for a few old, blackened scars from spear wounds.Mr. Henry came up to him and gazed into his handsome, confident face.

"They're a pretty good match, aren't they?" said Goode. "They're about the same size."

"I like your looks, Mr. Amboppah, and you will be my servant and come with us," said Sir Henry in English.

Apparently Ambopa understood, and he replied in Zulu: "Okay." Then he glanced at the strong and burly white man in front of him, and said again: "We are all men, you and I are the same."

(End of this chapter)