1961-03-29 — Page 6

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THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1961.

GUIDED MISSILË

BY JAK

The English orphan who

PICTURE, if you can, a royal funeral just 90

years ago. At the tomb the leaders of the nation stand in mourning. But four faces in parti- cular are glum-and with good reason. For now watch what happens as the ceremony comes to its climax.

The royal remains have been laid to rest. The -silence is tense. Then suddenly, in the silence. two of the most distinguished courtiers are seized from behind. They have been expecting it: they do not struggle or murmur. Swiftly they are strangled and their bodies are laid in the tomb.

Then comes the turn of the Iwo youngest And pretilest women of the court who are scented slanding they ready.

but naked except for bracelets and girdles, They, too, have their young necks wrung and are laid in the royal tomb.

But the oh, of course, did not belong to anyone in Queen Victoria's family. Britain would

by.

ROBERT

PITMAN

became a

Zulu king

Some coy domestle montents unfaithful, John hold a followed. Zulu brides do not knit tiny garments. But when John notieel Macebose working a pattern of brass studs into ù wide strip of call-skin (the traditional Zulu materally wear) re realised that a little stranger was on its way.

telal

While Nokitila kheit, John pointed to a tree and deckzred: "This woman has wronged me. ... may she shall be rataed so high that her feet can never bring pollution hérë apalu."

Nokitila *pol.

was hanged on the

soon be at war with the nation Svery surrounding people. And John grew fond of the wedding eldest surviving con, is published

conecrred. But it was not une of the nations of Europe,

RUTHLESS.

The dead' monarch WDS Mpande, King of the Zulus, Sleeping-mats, headrests, food, and beer were also placed in his lot. With the attendance

of the two dead couriers and The embraces of the two women, his comfort after death was assure

1

ceremony

Astonishing, Isn't it. to think of such

being enried out so little time ago when Bernard Shaw was in his teens? Yet even more astonish- ing than the funeral, itself was the identity or One of the

mourners.

Its name was dantoni. At 40 be already had a score of wives and vast tracts of Zululand, Before his death he would have some 50 wives and would him- self be a Zulu king.

the

I was the Bist of many.

Walker's fascinating book, Having once taken the plunge written with the help of Dunn's habit, Every year his they suffered themselves. When

riches as a novel. But the incidents Shaka's mother died, hundreds and so, ne a status sym- are authentic Even were killed as a mourning sier bol, slid his number of wives dialogueally the defect of Like a casting director biography is delion form - quaffed at the tribal dances, brilliantly paints in the Zulu Fathers watched eagerly to see surprised if the sales surprise atmosphere. I should not be which girl would catch his eye.

even the booksellers.

Acc. As a murk of grief, Shaka enforced six months of chastity

on all Zatus,

Those who allowed passion to get the better of grier had to

themselves to resi

being at Shaka's clubbed to death command. Scores decided it was

still worth it.

THE SNIGGERS

Such were The remarkable people among whờm the Dunns found themselves.

Burl John was not daunted. The Zulus, who were not handy with guns, sang Jantont's Skilt wa huster in Their tribal poops. His gifts of slaughtered bulfato were as good as Mar- shall Aid to them. A single buffalo provided a Zulu with almost every necessity of life for months on end.

Soon. like any other Zulu chief, John hnd his own resident praise-maker-a, kind of Zulu P.R.O.--who broke into enthus-

But Jantoni was not a Zuku" by birth. He was a white man. Although he became the tough und ruthless leader of a Zum tribe, and had scores of Zulu wives besicles his own chier wife, he was a Bible-reading fastic chants of praise whenever Englishman from Quaker Jotay appeared.

a

was

pro-

(amily whose real name not Jantoni (as was nounced in the Zuht tongue), but John Dunn.

But there was one respect in which John was still not a true Zulu. When neighbouring chiefs courteously

offered bim

daughter or two as wives, would turn the offer down.

he

"Raise 717

T unto HOLT arm-pit, O chief, one honoured mine is ours. Will you take papa told him. "Everything of

when the cattle are ready to be collected?”

her now? Or shall I send her

So John's settlements began

to spread across Zululand. His wives had their hats and their mats for furniture. He himself hat his own brick house, with champagne and fine wines In the cellar and expensive Lulls in his wardrobes,

ONE MISTAKE

When he drove into Durban his carriage was drawn by four geys and his company was sought after in the best White clubs.

Such anluence did ΠΟΙ

proceed simply hunting skill.

from John's

As a politician he was shrewd; and ruthless. After an initial when he look error,

sides against Mpande's son Cuteway

he quickly saw that this huge-

1 in coming weeks you see a business man reading on your train with 011 envious and

wistful expression in his eye, note the tile of his book may well be Zulu Royal Feather,

-(London Express-Service},

NEW

Б

It

Move over will you I can't get out of first gear' ́

London Eziren Service.

NEW YORK

CW YORK peacock of publishers now is Democrat Phil Graham, the lithe and lanky proprietor of that staid old institution of a news- paper, the Washington Post.

He has just bought the controlling interest of the Republican magazine Newsweek for over HK$48,000,000 and he intends somehow to buy up the entire property in the next month.

he thighed prince was going to be bis

the biggest power in Zululand. Graham, aged 45, is the fast-

He provided Celewayo

John Dunn died in 1895: by some accident of history Tantastic career has been for- Holten. But be left something behind him-110 children, to be girls prrelse.

with est talker i have yet heard in and it may be agony; but I'm As he witches the young rifles. He sat al his council this fast-talking country. He

frisking at the tribal meetings.

He helped him to has the same powers of pitter glad I did it." down and sloy any palter as a master. solo comic. And now one of them. at the dance, he saw glances in his track

direction and hoard snters younger son whom about the tethered ram."

Mpande

His speech is designed to Mpande died John Dumi used

umuse, to tease, and sometimes his behind-the-setnes influence to L

keep outrage. He cannot with the British to see that still. He cannot keep silent, Cetewayu was recognised 23

age of 77, has provided much of the naerial fer a book about Dunn: ZULU ROYAL FEATHER hy Oliver Walker (Hutchinson, 185.).

HIS DECISION

seemed to favour. And when

Then one day John netiecd the almost golfen hue of Zulu girl named Macebose. He consulted his Bible, especially the chapters about Solomon king. After mich thought he sent an ox along to Macebose's father inprove that The story begins In 1847 were serious. when

a not very prosperous

The afther was thrilled. But British rettier in Natal took Catherine, naturally, was nol on his first elephant thrilled at all. Nor were her his son hunt. The 18-year-old boy saw lay-about half-caste brothers.

his intentions THEY REJOICED

this wild and With

restless

brilliance he must play Pled Piper to every man and woman that comes into his ken,

Phil was a lawyer until his the Zulu War. multi-millionaire father-in-law. Then came Cetewayo's case he dropped him Meyer, gave him Although John bud urged Wall Street Baneler Eugene a job on one as the war began, of his pet projects, the Washing- Jehn made 24 fortune from ton Post. Within six months and then trampled to death. The COY MOMENTS supplying the invading British Phil became publisher.

troops with cattle.

his father inpated on a tusk

John's

boy's name was John Dunn,

Soon

afterwards mother died loo. But already

One night

. attacked they something had taken place John as he was sleeping in his which elaped the rest of John's wagon on a journey. He got Hre.

the better of them; had them For, a fee of £10 he took a tied to his wagon-wheels anch six months telp across the veldt Rogged rom. It was not quite to deliver goods for an English the way of dealing with in-laws trader, When he returned, the which would be recommended trader refused him the fec. in modem advice columns, but explaining that John was still It was effective. a minor and therefore could not hold him to

Macebose arrived in ter contract. charming bridal dress two John decided that IL was

anklets and a bankle-sized apron preferable to live as a hunter and

was duly installed la a among the cruel but honour- settlement built specaily for able Zulus than to depend on her. men like that trader.

and

With a Kun, 1 bundle of belongings он # cart, Catherine, a pretty, half-caste girl who had been his mother's servant, he set of north into Zulu country,

Within two or three years including a spell which he spent as Interpreter for Q British Governmen: border agent-John and Catherine were raising, a family in n strip of wooded territory, unattractive to the Zulus themselves, which Mpande, the Zulu king, granted them.

har

Mpaade's Zulus felt em selves to be quite diferent from the other black people of Africanot unreasonably.

Earlier in the century, Shaka, the founder of Mpande's royal house, had forged them into a nallon with Geamanie discipline He made the young men live in regiments. They conquered

CA SOCI

But one thing is sure: we may expect the American nex magazine business to zip zing now that Phil has come in to bat.

The other publishing pdacceks are puffing their feathers with the sale of News. pride over week. For why? Daring Gralium paid at a rate of 24 times the earnings for the news ́magazine, and is prepared to buy up the whole property at this high rate.

The

NEWSLETTER

fast-talker

taken on

who has

the top publishers

FROM JEAN CAMPBELL

------ NEW YORK

shareholder outside the family All this came as a jolly and is Roy Larsen, President of unexpected surprise to other the Board,

who hod magazine-owners

news-magazines One of his

at less than 15

were valued times their earnings.

and his kingdom divided among

When Cetewayo was captured FUN...OR AGONY reckoned that his rivals, John Dunn became the "kinglet" with the biggest dis wife, Katharine, Was a shure and used all his canning reporter until her mandage. She to prevent Cetewayo becoming is a strong

determined and a jøwer again,

woman, with a sharp under- condemned

Such behaviour was not standing of Preas and politics. followers. They refolved in the The Grahares live in

among

John's

four

PLEASED

BE

· favourites

E sure that Ian Fleming's

be

Kennedy also seems to be a fervert admirer of British blo- graphers. His list of favourite reading includes Sir Winston

he

trifle longer, and I suspect that will room be planting publishing roots in this country possibly in search of a new suc cess like Lolita.

Informal

THERE

Churchill's Marlborough, John Buchan's Montrose, David Cecil's Melbourne and Peter dinner-dance Quennell's Byron in Italy."

They're in

evening

THERE will be whoopee in the White House. A for 80 has been planned for very close friends by word-of-mouth Invitation.

demand Government

The Diplomalle Corps and the know nothing about the party because is in no sense official. It is simply a private gathering.

Especially puffed with pride

upcoming "ghoulio" must be those a

canny control-

book, Thunderball, will ling shareholders

Tirac magazine, which is roughly six sent speeding to the White Limes as valuable a properly House by express mail.

For the President has Time magazine is controlled revealed that Fleming is one men in New York now can have been issued by Prince and by the Luces and the only large of his 10 favourite writers.

at true Zulu cunning of their chief, inmbling house in Washington's

For in his mint, it not in his Georgetown with their clothes and choice of wines, school-age children. John Dunn had indeed become a Zulu,

Phil has said.of his now and When Nokitila, favourite unexpected venture in purchas- among his 50 wives, was ing Newsweekt: "It may be fun,

as Newsweek-lo date.

THE two most fought-

over and sought-after

Several Informal invitations

offee: "When

ho

you

come 10 becotr.e

not be sold to be either Princess Radziwill, of London, Casanovas or millionaires. who are staying with the Presl- They are simply two hard- dert and helping to organiso working English intellectuals, the evening, and it promises to Bright and Ught of tongue, they bee gay and glorious affair. have delighted and disturbed A wise English friend of the hostesses of Manhattan with mine said to President Kennedy stories about themselves, our months before selves and each other,

"They are the London critic President please take note ot Alan Pryce Jones and the

our Royal Family, and insist, Uke them, London publisher

on having George

a per- Weidenfeld. Both now attend as scnal life with your goal

friends."

The Kennedya seem to have token this English advice, and here for u

hold a here they are dering ftw months on n Ford Foundation party for their own special grant, but by the looks of things innovation

friends a wonderfully Royalist for the Irish to Introduce into there

чету

many as three parties a hight after cocktails, dinner, and the

theatre,

Alan come

he may stay here forever.

George in visiting New York, demceratie United States, but each year his visits grow a

London Express Service).

TALKING

POINTS

Love hath never known a law beyond its own sweet

-WHITTIER.

will.

Actresses will happen in the best-regulated families. -OLIVER HERFORD,

Sin is not so einful as hypocrisy.

-MME. DE MAINTENON,

– Just

/:\WENTY bogs of Christmas mail which faft Margoto by train for London on December 24 hava boon found in a goods van awaiting repair at Gorton, Manchester.

JOHANNEBBURG bank olark, trying to #quare his 10.

counts after the first day's dealings with Randa, and cente- -South Africa's new decimat currency-suddenly scatter- led notes and colna amhông dustámára shouting: "I cannot báláñøs” Poites were called. They collected the oath and restored ordik.,

LABOURER in court at West Bromwich, Staffordshire, A-for-non-poyment of o £25-motoring fine, suid-- ho could not read or write, did not know the name of the firm ho worked for--but dårned £25 a week.

"THE Young, Men's Friendly Bodiety-ak Dies, Norfolk, is to invite woman to join«þeensão Ik hàs only id niemtiars. Såld otro, twenty-year-old Robert Chenery: "We think if we zilaw women to come along they may attract more man,"

={}ondon Kaprons Service)...

T

**I suppose this sudden urge to marry me couldn't have anything to do with Farmer'd now £14,000,000 subsin 7.