AMAKEYA.
This ballad is founded on the following incident, which happened at the close of one of the Kaffir wars: Macomo, with all his people, was removed to the neighbourhood of Algoa Bay. He used every means to remain on his old location. His appeal was pathetic enough, but we have profited somewhat by our experience of the word of a Kaffir. "Here," said he, stretching his hand over the beautiful territory, "my father, a great chief, dwelt; these pastures were crowded with cattle; here I have lived to grow old; here my children have been born; let me die in peace where I have so long lived." These entreaties, however, could not be listened to for one moment, and as a last trial his daughter, Amakeya, the beauty of Kaffirland, made her way to the tent of Colonel Campbell, 91st Regiment, who, totally unprepared for her appearance, was yet more astonished at the sacrifice she offered if her father's sentence of banishment might be rescinded. She made her strange offer in all the consciousness and pride of beauty; and, with her finely-moulded arms folded before her, she spoke without hesitation, for she was guided by motives worthy a lofty cause. "If her father might remain on his own lands," she said, "she would be the sacrifice and guarantee for his future good faith towards the white man. She would leave her own people and follow Colonel Campbell, his home should be hers; she would forsake all and dwell with him. This was her last word, her final decision, and she would abide by it." Amakeya's motives were not unappreciated by her hearer, but the proposal was of course rejected, with every consideration for her position and the circumstances by which she had been actuated, and she departed with her father on his journey.—Mrs. H. Ward, The Cape and the Kaffirs.
Far in the Kaffir's glorious land,
Beside a burning heap
Of ruins, sits an aged man,
Who bitterly doth weep.
