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*/ + position: absolute; + color: #A9A9A9; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: .5em;} + + +/* blockquote (/# #/) */ +.blockquot {margin: 1.5em 5% 1.5em 5%; } +.blockquot p {padding-left: 1em; text-indent: 1em;} + +.blockquotx {margin: .5em 0 1em 0;} +.blockquotx p {padding-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} + +/* general placement and presentation */ +.cat-title { margin: .5em 0 .5em 2em; font-size: 110%; line-height: .9em;} +.cat-title p {padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;} + +.cat-title2 { margin: .5em 0 .5em 2em; font-size: 95%; line-height: .9em;} +.cat-title2 p {padding-left: 4em; text-indent: -4em;} + +.cat-subtitle {font-size: 80%; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: -1em;} +.cat-review {font-size: 70%; padding-left: 6em; text-indent: 1em;} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} + +.right {text-align: right; margin-right: 1em;} +.rt {text-align: right; margin-right: 1em; 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display: block;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75320 ***</div> + + +<div class="transnote"> +<p><strong>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</strong></p> + +<p>Footnote anchors are denoted by <span class="fnanchor">[number]</span>, +and the footnotes have been placed at the end of the book text, in front of the Catalog.</p> + +<p class="customcover">New original cover art included with this eBook is +granted to the public domain.</p> + +<p>Some minor changes to the text are noted at the <a href="#TN">end of the book.</a> +<span class="screenonly">These are indicated by a <ins class="corr">dashed blue</ins> underline.</span></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<h1>HISTORY OF THE ZULU WAR<br> +<span class="fs70">AND ITS ORIGIN.</span></h1> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs240">HISTORY OF THE ZULU WAR</p> + +<p class="p3 pfs150">AND ITS ORIGIN.</p> + +<p class="p6 pfs70">BY</p> +<p class="pfs135">FRANCES E. COLENSO.</p> + +<p class="p4 pfs70">ASSISTED IN THOSE PORTIONS OF THE WORK WHICH TOUCH UPON<br> +MILITARY MATTERS</p> + +<p class="p1 pfs70">BY</p> +<p class="pfs120">LIEUT.-COLONEL EDWARD DURNFORD.</p> + +<p class="p6 pfs120 antiqua">London:</p> +<p class="pfs120">CHAPMAN AND HALL, <span class="smcap">Limited</span>, 193, PICCADILLY.</p> +<p class="pfs100">1880.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>All Rights reserved.</em></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="p6 p6b pfs70"> +CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS,<br> +CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_v"></a>[Pg v]</span></p> + +<h2 class="fs150 nobreak" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2> +<hr class="r10"> + + +<p class="p2 noindent">It is probable that the Bishop of Natal may be held responsible +for the contents of a volume written partly by his +daughter, and having for its subject the Zulu War; more +especially if a general coincidence can be traced between what +are known to be his views and those which are expressed in +this history. My father’s opinions have, naturally, considerable +influence over those held or expressed by his family, and +I do not imagine that much will be found in these pages from +which he will dissent. Nevertheless, it is desirable that my +readers should understand from the first that he is in no +sense responsible for their contents.</p> + +<p>When I left Natal, in September last, the idea of writing +upon the subject of the Zulu War had hardly occurred to me; +it has developed since to an extent quite beyond my original +intentions, and I find that its fulfilment has rather taken my +father by surprise. I had no opportunity of consulting him +upon the subject, nor has he yet seen a word of what I have +written, for on reaching England I found that, to be of any +use at all, the book should appear almost at once.</p> + +<p>I made, indeed, ample use of the pamphlets which the +Bishop of Natal has written on behalf of Langalibalele and +Cetshwayo, which have saved me many hours of weary search. +Consequently, while the Bishop is in no way responsible for +such errors or omissions as may occur in this volume, any<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vi"></a>[vi]</span> +merit or usefulness which my portion of the book may contain +is due chiefly to his labours.</p> + +<p>The general plan of my history was laid out, and the first +few chapters were written, during the voyage from Natal, and +upon reaching England I obtained the assistance of my friend +Lieut.-Colonel Edward Durnford in that portion of the work +which deals with the military conduct of the war. While it +was desirable that a record of military events should be made +by one whose professional knowledge qualified him for the +duty, there was an additional reason which made his help +appropriate. It may easily be understood from his name that +the interest taken by him in his task would be of no ordinary +kind. Colonel Durnford has written the military portions of +the book, but is not responsible for any expressions of opinion +upon matters strictly political.</p> + +<p>I am far from feeling that I am the best person to undertake +such a work as this, which my father himself would look +upon as a serious one, and which he, or even my sister, who +has worked with him throughout, would do so much better +than I; but they were not at hand, and I have thought it +my duty to do what I could, while I could have had no better +aid than that given me by Colonel Durnford.</p> + +<p>However insufficient the result may prove, we shall at least +hope that our work may give some slight assistance to that +cause of justice, truth, and mercy, the maintenance of which +alone can ensure the true honour of the British name.</p> + +<p class="right smcap">Frances Ellen Colenso.</p> +<p class="fs85"><i>January 22nd, 1880.</i></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_vii"></a>[vii]</span></p> + +<h2 class="fs150 nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> +<hr class="r10"> + +<table class="autotable wd80"> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER I.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdr fs60">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">FIRST CAUSES</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER II.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">LANGALIBALELE</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER III.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">TRIAL OF LANGALIBALELE</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE BISHOP’S DEFENCE</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER V.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE PUTINI TRIBE</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">SIR GARNET WOLSELEY: WHAT HE CAME FOR, WHAT HE DID, AND WHAT HE DID NOT DO</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_78">78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER VII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE MATSHANA INQUIRY AND COLONEL COLLEY</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE ANNEXATION OF THE TRANSVAAL</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER IX.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE DISPUTED TERRITORY</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER X.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XI. <span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_viii"></a>[viii]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">SIHAYO, UMBILINI, AND THE MISSIONARIES IN ZULULAND</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE ULTIMATUM, DECLARATION OF WAR, AND COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">ISANDHLWANA</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_273"><ins class="corr" id="tn-viii" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: '23'"> + 273</ins></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIV.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">RORKE’S DRIFT—HELPMAKAAR—COURT OF INQUIRY, ETC.</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_302">302</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XV.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SIKUKUNI</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_325">325</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">NO. 4 COLUMN—INTOMBI—INDHLOBANE—KAMBULA—KING’S MESSENGERS</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_344">344</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE LOWER TUGELA—INYEZANE—ETSHOWE</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_368">368</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XVIII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">NGINGINDHLOVU—RELIEF OF ETSHOWE—BORDER RAIDING</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_380">380</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XIX.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">REINFORCEMENTS—ISANDHLWANA REVISITED</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_394">394</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XX.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">THE PRINCE IMPERIAL</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_418">418</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">ULUNDI</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_433">433</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdcx" colspan="2">CHAPTER XXII.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlx">SIR GARNET WOLSELEY—CAPTURE OF CETSHWAYO</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_453">453</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CONCLUSION</td> +<td class="tdrb"><a href="#Page_475">475</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[Pg 1]</span></p> + +<p class="p3 p1b pfs240" id="THE_ZULU_WAR">THE ZULU WAR.</p> +<hr class="r10"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">FIRST CAUSES.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">England’s collisions with the savage races bordering +upon her colonies have in all probability usually been +brought about by the exigencies of the moment, by +border-troubles, and acts of violence and insolence on +the part of the savages, and from the absolute necessity +of protecting a small and trembling white population +from their assaults.</p> + +<p>No such causes as these have led up to the war +of 1879. For more than twenty years the Zulus and +the colonists of Natal have lived side by side in perfect +peace and quietness. The tranquillity of our border +had been a matter of pride as compared to the disturbed +and uncertain boundaries between Zululand and +the Transvaal. The mere fact of the utterly unprotected +condition of the frontier farmers on <em>our</em> border, and the +entire absence of anything like precaution, evinced by +the common practice of building houses of the most +combustible description, is a proof that the colonists<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span> +felt no real alarm concerning the Zulus until the idea +was suggested to them by those in authority over them.<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +The only interruption to this tranquil condition of the +public mind about the Zulus was in the year 1861, +when a scare took place in the colony, for which, as +it afterwards proved, there were no grounds whatsoever. +A general but unfounded belief was rife that Cetshwayo,<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +king, or rather at that time prince, ruling Zululand, +was about to invade Natal, in order to obtain possession +of his young brother Umkungo, a claimant of the Zulu +crown, and who had escaped over the border at the +time of the great civil war of which we shall presently +treat. This young prince had been placed—by the +Secretary for Native Affairs, Mr. Shepstone—at Bishopstowe,<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +for his education in the Native Boys’ School +there; and it was not until he had been there for years +that the fancy arose, suggested and fostered by the +border farmers and traders in Zululand, that Cetshwayo +intended to take him by force from amongst us, or at +all events to make the attempt.</p> + +<p>Under the influence of this belief the troops then +stationed in Natal were ordered to the frontier, the +colonial volunteers were called out, the defence of the +principal towns became a matter for consideration; while<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span> +outlying farmers, and residents in the country, hastened +to remove their families to places of comparative safety.</p> + +<p>Bishopstowe was supposed to be the special object of +the expected attack; but the Bishop himself, having +occasional opportunities of learning the state of things in +Zululand, through his missionary there, could never be +brought thoroughly to believe in the gravity of the danger. +It is true that, as a matter of precaution, and in deference +to the strongly-expressed opinion of the Lieut.-Governor +of the Colony and of Mr. Shepstone, he sent +away the threatened boy to some of his own people, in a +more remote and safer part of the colony. But he was +extremely reluctant to take the further step, strongly +urged upon him, of removing his family and people to +the adjacent city of Pietermaritzburg, and only consented +to do so under protest. During the night +following his consent, but before the project had been +carried out, he had reason for a few hours to suppose +that he had been mistaken in his own judgment. The +family at Bishopstowe was knocked up at one o’clock in +the morning by a messenger from a passing Dutch +farmer, who, on his way into town with his own family, +had sent word to the Bishop that Cetshwayo’s army had +entered the colony, was already between him and Table +Mountain—that is to say within a distance of nine miles—and +was burning, killing, and destroying all upon the +way to Bishopstowe. There seemed to be no doubt of +the fact; so, hastily collecting their native villagers,<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span> +Colensos left their homes and started for the town, which +they reached, most of them on foot, about daybreak. +The consequence of their being accompanied and +followed by a considerable party of natives (of both +sexes and all ages!) was that the townspeople immediately +supposed that the “Zulus had come;” and +some of them actually left their houses, and took refuge +in the various places of safety—such as the fort, the +principal churches, and so on—previously decided upon +by the authorities in case of necessity. In common +South African terms they “went into laager.”</p> + +<p>As the day passed, and still no further tidings +arrived of the approach of the Zulus or the destruction +of Bishopstowe, the Bishop began to have strong +suspicions that, after all, he had been right in his +original opinion, and that “the killing, burning, and +destroying” had been conjured up by some excited +imagination. This opinion was confirmed, if not completely +established, in the course of the day, by the +reception of a letter from the missionary in Zululand +before mentioned, in which he inquired, on the Zulu +king’s behalf, what fault the latter had committed +towards the English, that they should be preparing to +invade his country. The missionary added that all was +perfectly quiet in Zululand, until the border tribes, +seeing the British troops approaching, fled inland in +alarm, killing their cattle to prevent their falling into +the hands of the invaders, and burying their other +possessions where they could not carry them away. In +point of fact the “scare” had no foundation whatsoever, +and the Zulus were quite as much alarmed by the actual<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span> +approach of the British troops as the Natalians had +been by the imaginary Zulu army. The worst immediate +consequence of the mistake was the want, +almost amounting to famine, produced amongst the +border Zulus by the loss of their cattle. A later and +more serious result has been that general impression, +which has long obtained credence at home in England, +that the colonists of Natal have not only been in fear of +their lives on account of the Zulus for many years, but +have also had good and sufficient reason for their alarm. +But for this fixed, though groundless idea, England +would hardly have been in such a hurry to send out +additional troops for the protection of the colony as she +was in the summer of 1878; to her own great loss and +to the very considerable injury of the colony itself, not +to speak of its unhappy neighbours and heretofore +friends the Zulus.</p> + +<p>It is certainly true that during the year 1878 the +inhabitants of Natal did honestly feel great fear of the +Zulus, and of a possible invasion of the colony by them, +the alarm in many cases amounting to absolute panic. +But this feeling was produced by no warlike menaces +from our neighbours, no sinister appearances on our +borders. The panic—or “scare,” as it would popularly +be called in Natal—was forced upon the people by the +conduct and language of their rulers, by the preparations +made for war, troops being sent for from England “for +defensive purposes” (as was so repeatedly asserted by +both Sir Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford, then Lieut.-General +the Hon. F. A. Thesiger), and by the perpetual +agitation of the local newspaper editors.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span></p> + +<p>It is true indeed that a certain section of the +colonists eagerly desired war. To some the presence of +the troops was a source of actual fortune, to others the +freedom and independence of so large a body of black +people, whom they could neither tax nor force to work +for them, was, and had long been, odious; the revenue +to be derived from a hut-tax levied upon the Zulus, and +the cheap labour to be obtained when their power and +independence should be broken, formed one of the chief +subjects for speculation when the war was first suggested. +To others, again, the prospect of war was simply a source +of pleasurable excitement, a hunt on a large scale, martial +glory to be won, with just spice enough of danger to +give zest to the affair; as had been the case in the war +just concluded in Kaffraria. Naturally this feeling was +commonest amongst the volunteers and their friends. +Some of them looked upon the matter in a light which +would meet with utter condemnation in any civilised +society; but many others, especially the young lads who +filled up the ranks of the volunteer corps, were simply +dazzled by visions of military distinction, excited by the +popular phrases in perpetual use about “fighting for +their country, and doing their duty as soldiers,” to the +extent of losing sight altogether of the question as to +whether or no their country really required any defence +at all.</p> + +<p>Natal cannot honestly claim to be guiltless in +bringing about the war with the Zulus, and will hardly +deny that in 1878 the prospect was a most popular one +amongst her sons. Perhaps Sir Bartle Frere could not +so easily have produced a war out of the materials<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> +which he had at hand but for the assistance given him +by the popular cry in the colony, and the general fear of +the Zulus, which called forth England’s ready sympathy +and assistance. But it must be remembered that the +panic was not a genuine one, nor even one like that of +1861, produced by the folly of the people themselves. +It was distinctly imposed upon them by those in +authority, whose policy was to bring about a collision +with the Zulus, and who then made use of the very fears +which they had themselves aroused for the furtherance +of their own purpose.</p> + +<p>The subjugation of the Zulus and the annexation +of their country, formed part of a policy which has +occupied the minds of certain British statesmen for +many years. The ambition of creating a South African +Empire, to be another jewel in Victoria’s crown, which, +if no rival, should at least be a worthy pendant to the +great Indian Empire, was a dazzling one, and towards +that object all Government action in South Africa has +apparently tended since the year 1873. When the +idea was first conceived those only know who formed +it, but it took practical and visible form in 1873. In +that year by crowning the Zulu king we assumed a +right to interfere in the internal management of the +country, thereby establishing a possible future cause of +offence, which, as the Zulus obstinately refused to put +themselves in the wrong by any sort of interference +with us, was necessary in order to bring about a state +of things which should eventually give us a sufficient +excuse for taking possession of the country altogether.</p> + +<p>The origin of this performance was as follows. In<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span> +the year 1856 a great revolution took place in Zululand, +and a civil war broke out between two claimants to the +heirship of the throne (then filled by Umpande), namely, +the present king, Cetshwayo, and his brother Umbulazi. +Cetshwayo was quite young at the time, and appears +to have been put forward by some ambitious warriors, +who intended to rule in his name, and did not expect +the remarkable power and talent which he afterwards +developed.</p> + +<p>Umbulazi’s party was beaten, he himself being killed +in battle, great carnage ensuing, and many fugitives +escaping into Natal.</p> + +<p>Amidst all the bloodshed and horror which naturally +attends such a warfare as this between savages, there +stands out the singular, perhaps unprecedented, fact that +Cetshwayo, although victorious to the extent of carrying +the nation with him, not only never made any attempt +upon the old king, his father’s, life, but did not even +depose him or seize his throne. The old man lived and—nominally, +at all events—reigned for many years, +though, owing to his age and obesity, which was so +great as to prevent his walking, he seems to have been +willing enough to leave the real authority in the hands +of his son, while retaining the semblance of it himself. +He was treated with all due respect by Cetshwayo and +his followers until he died a natural death in the year +1872, when Cetshwayo ascended the throne which had +long been virtually his own, and was proclaimed king +of Zululand. This was looked upon as a fitting time +for a little display of authority by ourselves, hence the +friendly expedition to Zululand of 1873, when we gave<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> +Cetshwayo to understand that, however it might appear +to him, he held his power from us, and was no true +king till we made him such. It was also rightly +thought to be an opportunity for suggesting to the Zulu +king such reforms in the government of his country as +would naturally commend themselves to English ideas. +We considered, and with some reason, that capital +punishment was an over-frequent occurrence in Zululand, +and that, on the other hand, judicial trials before +sentence should be the universal rule. It was also +desirable, if possible, to decrease the belief in witchcraft, +by which so much power was left in the hands of the +witch-doctors or priests;<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> and finally it was thought +necessary to provide for the safety of the missionaries +resident in the land.<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> How far this was a desirable +step depends entirely on whether the men themselves +were earnest, self-sacrificing, peace-loving teachers of +the gospel of Christ, or mere traders for their own +benefit, under the cloak of a divine mission, ready to +hail a bloody war. “Only the utter destruction of the +Zulus can secure future peace in South Africa ... +we have the approbation of God, our Queen, and our +own conscience.” (See letter from a missionary clergyman +to Sir Bartle Frere,<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> dated December 17th, 1878. +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2316] p. 3.)</span>)</p> + +<p>It was frequently asserted at the time in Natal that +this coronation ceremony (1st September, 1873) was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> +nothing better than a farce, and the way in which it was +carried out seems hardly to have been understood by the +king himself. The Natalians were puzzled as to what could +be the meaning or intention of what seemed to them a +hollow show, and were on the whole rather inclined to +put it down to Mr. Shepstone’s supposed habit of +“petting the natives,” and to “Exeter Hall influences,” +resulting in a ridiculous fuss on their behalf.</p> + +<p>From Mr. Shepstone’s despatch on the subject of the +coronation of Cetshwayo <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 1137]),</span> and from messages +brought from the latter to the Government of Natal +after his father’s death, there appears to have been a +strong desire on the part, not only of the people, but of +the king himself, that his formal succession to the +throne should be unattended by bloodshed and disorder, +such as had ushered in the rule of his predecessors for +several generations. How greatly the character of the +Zulu rule had improved in a comparatively short period +may be judged by a comparison of the fact [p. 5, <em>ibid.</em>] +(mentioned by Mr. Shepstone), that during the reigns of +Chaka and Dingana (grandfather and great-uncle to +Cetshwayo), all the royal wives were put to death either +before the birth of their children, or with their infants +afterwards, with the behaviour of Cetshwayo, both to +his father and to his father’s wives.<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> And Mr. Shepstone +himself speaks of Cetshwayo on the occasion of this visit +in the following manner:—“Cetywayo is a man of +considerable ability, much force of character, and has +a dignified manner; in all my conversations with him,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> +the Secretary for Native Affairs continues, “he was +remarkably frank and straightforward, and he ranks in +every respect far above any native chief I have ever +had to do with.” Throughout the despatch, indeed, +Mr. Shepstone repeatedly speaks of the king’s “frankness” +and “sagacity,” in direct opposition to the charges +of craft and duplicity so recklessly brought against the +latter of late.</p> + +<p>King Umpande died in October, 1872, having +reigned nearly thirty-three years, and on the 26th +February, 1873, messengers from Cetshwayo brought +the news of his father’s death to the Governor of Natal, +requesting at the same time that Mr. Shepstone might +be sent to instal Cetshwayo as his successor,<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> in order +that the Zulu nation should be “more one with the +government of Natal,” and be “covered by the same +mantle.” The message ended with the request which +Cetshwayo never lost an opportunity of making, that +we would protect his country from Boer aggressions.<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> +“We are also commissioned,” say the messengers, “to +urge, <em>what has already been urged so frequently</em>, that the +government of Natal be extended so as to intervene +between the Zulus and the territory of the Transvaal +Republic.”</p> + +<p>The mere fact that this proposition was frequently +and earnestly pressed upon the Natal Government by the +Zulus, is in itself a proof positive that the aggressions +were not on their side. They desired to place what they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span> +looked upon as an impassable barrier between the two +countries, and could therefore have had no wish +themselves to encroach.</p> + +<p>Further messages passed between Cetshwayo and +the Natal Government upon the subject, until it was +finally arranged that the coronation should be performed +by Mr. Shepstone, in Zululand, and, with a party of +volunteers as escort, he crossed the Tugela on the 8th +August, 1873, accompanied by Major Durnford, R.E., +Captain Boyes, 75th Regiment, and several other officers +and gentlemen.</p> + +<p>Mr. Shepstone’s long despatch, already quoted from, +and in which he describes, with true native minuteness, +the most trivial circumstances of the journey, and +subsequent proceedings, gives the impression that he +looked upon his mission as a service of danger to all +concerned. It was, however, carried out without any +break in the friendly relations between the Zulus and +his party, who returned to Pietermaritzburg “without +unpleasant incident” on the 19th September.</p> + +<p>The coronation mission was carried out—how far +<em>successfully</em> entirely depends upon the results expected +or desired by those in command. The king himself, +while looking upon the fact of his recognition as +sovereign of Zululand by the English as important, is +quite keen enough to have detected certain elements of +absurdity in the proceedings by which they invested him +with his dignity. There was perhaps a little good-humoured +scorn in his reception of the somewhat oddly-chosen +presents and marks of honour offered him. +Without losing that respect for and faith in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> +English which has always characterised his dealings +with them, he felt impatiently that they were rather +making a fool of him; especially when they put upon +his shoulders a little scarlet mantle—formerly a lady’s +opera-cloak—the curtailed dimensions of which made +him ridiculous in his own eyes; and upon his head a +pasteboard, cloth, and tinsel crown, whose worthlessness +he was perfectly capable of comprehending. Mr. +Shepstone’s despatch represents him as greatly impressed +by the ceremony, etc.; but the impression on the minds +of many observers was that he put up with much which +both seemed and was trifling and ridiculous, for the +sake of the solid benefits which he hoped he and his +people would derive from a closer connection with the +English.</p> + +<p>The portion of Mr. Shepstone’s despatch, however, +which it is important that we should study with +attention is that which refers to the “coronation promises” +(so called) of Cetshwayo, and treats of the +political subjects discussed between king and kingmaker.</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere repeatedly speaks of the transaction +as “a solemn act by the king, undertaken as the price +of British support and recognition;” of Cetshwayo as +having “openly violated his coronation promises;” of +his “undoubted promises;” while Sir Garnet Wolseley, +in his speech to the assembled chiefs and people of the +Zulu nation, speaks of the coronation promises as though +the want of attention to them had been the chief, if not +the only, cause of the king’s misfortunes; and the same +tone is taken in all late despatches on the subject.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span></p> + +<p>And now let us turn to Mr. Shepstone’s own report, +prepared at the time, and see whether we gather from it +the impression that the conditions of his treaty with +Cetshwayo were thought of, or intended by him, to +stand as solemn and binding promises, of which the +infraction, or delay in carrying out, would render the +king and his people liable to punishment at our hands. +After giving his reasons for objecting to “formal or +written” treaties with savages,<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> Mr. Shepstone himself +remarks, “Ours is an elastic arrangement.” This is a +singularly candid confession, of the truth of which there +can be little doubt. Whether such a term <em>should</em> be +applicable to the treaties made by an English Government +is quite another question, to which we will leave +the English public to find an answer. We have, +however, but to quote from Mr. Shepstone’s own +despatch to prove the convenient “elasticity” of his +propositions, and how greatly they have been magnified +of late in seeking a quarrel against the Zulu king. At +p. 16 of the report, after enumerating the “arrangements +and laws” proposed by him, and heartily approved +by the Zulus, Mr. Shepstone remarks: “Although all +this was fully, and even vehemently, assented to, it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span> +cannot be expected that the amelioration described will +immediately take effect. To have got such principles +admitted and declared to be what a Zulu may plead +when oppressed, was but sowing the seed, which will +still take many years to grow and mature.” And at +p. 17 he says: “I told the king that I well knew the +difficulties of his position, and that he could overcome +them only by moderation and prudence and justice, but +without these they would certainly overcome him.” +And again (p. 18, par. 82) he explains that when he left +Natal he had looked upon the “charge” which he knew +that he would be expected to deliver to Cetshwayo on his +installation, as something in the nature of an ordination +sermon, or bishop’s charge to candidates for confirmation, +likely to influence only in so far as the consciences +of those addressed might respond, etc.; but that, on +entering Zululand, he found that the people thought +so much of this part of the duty he had undertaken that +he felt himself to have “become clothed with the power +of fundamental legislation,” and thought it right to take +advantage of the opportunity for introducing improvements +in the government of the people. “I have +already described my success,” he continues, “and I +attribute it to the sagacity of Cetywayo.”</p> + +<p>But in all this there is no mention of “solemn +promises,” to break which would be an insult to the +majesty of England, and an excuse for war; nor is +there, from beginning to end of the despatch, any token +that Mr. Shepstone looked upon them in that light, or +had any immediate expectation of proving the usefulness +of his “elastic” arrangement.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span></p> + +<p>In describing his interviews and political discussions +with the Zulu king, Mr. Shepstone speaks repeatedly in +high praise of the ability and behaviour of the former. +He says in one place: “Cetywayo received us cordially +as before.... Major Durnford and my son, with the +Natal Native Indunas, sat down with me to an interview +with Cetywayo and the councillors, that lasted for +five hours without intermission. It was of the most +interesting and earnest kind, and was conducted with +great ability and frankness by Cetywayo. Theoretically, +my business was with the councillors who represented +the nation; but, had it not been for the straightforward +manner in which Cetywayo insisted upon their going +direct to the point, it would have been impossible to +have got through the serious subjects we were bound to +decide in the time we did.”</p> + +<p>Of the points discussed in this way the most +important was that which, a little later, led directly +up to the Zulu War—namely, the aggressions of the +Transvaal Boers and the disputed boundary between +them and the Zulus. “The whole of the afternoon,” +says Mr. Shepstone, “was occupied with this subject, +about which he occasionally grew very earnest, and +declared that he and every Zulu would die rather than +submit to them—viz. the Boer encroachments. He +reproached the Government of Natal for not having +taken up the Zulu cause, and for not even having +troubled themselves to examine whether their statements +were true or not, while they treated them as if +without foundation.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span></p> + +<p>In fact, on this, as on every other occasion, the Zulu +king lost no opportunity of protesting against the encroachments +of the Boers, lest his peaceable conduct towards +these latter, maintained in deference to the wishes of the +Natal Government, should be brought up against him +later as a proof of their rights. Whatever may have been +the intentions and opinions of Mr. Shepstone on the +subject of the “coronation promises,” he left Cetshwayo +unfettered in his own opinion, having merely received +certain advice as to the government of his people from +his respected friends the English, to whose wishes he +should certainly give full attention, and whose counsel +he would carry out as far as was, in his opinion, wise or +feasible. As already stated, the principal item of the +English advice related to capital punishment, which we, +with some justice, considered a too frequent occurrence +in Zululand, especially in cases of supposed witchcraft, +this superstition being undoubtedly the bane of the +country.</p> + +<p>But in judging of the king’s acts in this respect, it +should be remembered that, to rule a nation without any +assistance in the form of gaols or fetters, capital punishment +must needs be resorted to rather more frequently +than in our own country, where, indeed, it is not so long +since we hung a man for stealing a sheep, and for other +acts far short of murder. And as to the superstition concerning +witches, it can hardly have led to more cruelty +and injustice in Zululand than in civilised European +countries, where at Trèves 7000 victims were burned +alive for witchcraft; 500 at Geneva in three months;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> +1000 in the province of Como; 400, at <em>once</em>, at Toulouse; +with many other like cases on official record.<a id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> The +practice of smelling out a witch, as it is called, is +one to be put a stop to as soon as possible by +gradual and gentle means, and Cetshwayo himself had +arrived at that conclusion without our assistance, as +shown in his conversation with the native printer +Magema, whose account of a visit paid to the Zulu +king appeared in “Macmillan’s Magazine” for March, +1878.</p> + +<p>But the custom of a people—the law of a land—is +not to be done away with or altered in an hour; nor +could we English reasonably expect such radical changes +in the administration of a country to follow our orders +as immediately and naturally as we should expect a new +ordinance to be received by the natives of Natal living +under our own rule. Neither could we justly consider +the non-fulfilment of our wishes and commands a sufficient +cause for attacking Zululand, although such supposed +non-fulfilment was the first, and for a long time the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> +only <i lang="la">casus belli</i> which could be found against the +Zulu king.</p> + +<p>The first occasion on which the solemnity of these +“coronation promises” was made of importance was in +1875, when Bishop Schreuder undertook to pay Cetshwayo +a visit for the purpose of presenting him with a +printed and bound copy of Mr. Shepstone’s Report upon +the coronation in 1873, and impressing him fully with +the wishes of the English Government. Even then, +judging from Bishop Schreuder’s account of his interview, +neither king nor councillors were thoroughly satisfied +with the result.<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> Cetshwayo, while admiring the +exact report given of what took place during Mr. Shepstone’s +visit, objected that he had reserved his own +royal prerogatives and the right of putting criminals to +death for certain serious crimes, and pointed out that +Mr. Shepstone had neglected to inform the Queen of +this fact.</p> + +<p>Bishop Schreuder, from his own account, appears to +have overruled all objections with a very high hand, and +almost forced the “book,” with his own interpretation +of it, upon the seemingly reluctant king, who, he says, +“evidently felt himself out of his depth.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">LANGALIBALELE.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Meanwhile in Natal mischief was brewing. A certain +chief in the north of the colony was supposed to be in +a very rebellious frame of mind, and it was rumoured +that force of arms would prove necessary in order to +bring him to his senses.</p> + +<p>This chief was one Langalibalele, who, with his +tribe, the Ama-Hlubi, had been driven out of Zululand +by Umpande in the year 1848, and had taken refuge +in Natal. He was located by the English Government +in the country below the Draakensberg Mountains, with +the duty imposed upon him of defending Natal against +the attacks of the predatory hordes of Bushmen who, +in the early days of the colony, made perpetual and +destructive raids over the mountains. From this point +of view it would seem reasonable that the Hlubi tribe +should be permitted the use of firearms, prohibited, +except under certain restrictions, to the natives of Natal; +inattention to which prohibition was the ground upon +which the original suspicions concerning Langalibalele’s +loyalty were based. The law, however, by which this +prohibition and these restrictions were made was one of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> +those enactments which, even when theoretically wise, +are often practically impossible, and to which new +communities are so prone.</p> + +<p>Theoretically no native can possess a gun in Natal +which has not been registered before a magistrate. +Practically, in every kraal, in every part of the colony, +there were, and doubtless still are, many unregistered +guns, bought by natives, or given to them in lieu of +wages by their masters (a common practice at the +Diamond Fields), with very vague comprehension or +total ignorance on the part of the native that any +unlawful act had been committed. This would be more +especially natural when the masters who thus furnished +their men with the forbidden weapon were themselves +in some way connected with the government of the +country (Natal), whose sanction would therefore be +looked upon by the natives as an equivalent to the +permission of Government itself. But in point of fact +the law had always been enforced in such an extremely +lax way, the evasions of it were so easy and numerous, +and so many white men of position and respectability +in the colony were party to the infraction of it, that it +is no wonder that its reality and importance was but +lightly engraved upon the native mind.</p> + +<p>The special accusation, however, brought against +Langalibalele to prove his rebellious tendencies was that +young men of his tribe were in possession of unregistered +guns, which, in addition, had not been brought in to +the magistrate, when demanded, for registration. The +reason for this unwillingness (on the part of the young +men) to comply with the above demands, appeared<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> +afterwards in the fact that other guns which had been +properly produced for registration, had, after considerable +delay, been returned to their owners in an injured +condition, rendering them unfit for use.</p> + +<p>As these guns were the well-earned reward of hard +labour, and greatly valued by their possessors, it is little +to be wondered at that there should be considerable +reluctance on the part of others to risk the same loss. +A little forbearance and consideration on the part of +those in authority might, however, easily have overcome +the difficulty. But in this case, as in others, the +mistake was committed of requiring prompt and +unquestioning obedience, without sufficient care being +taken to protect the rights of those who rendered it. +As usual we would not stop to reason or deal justly with +the savage. Carelessness of the property of the natives, +the overbearing impatience of a magistrate, the want of +tact and good feeling on the part of a commonplace +subordinate—all these led to an indefinitely uneasy +state of things, which soon produced considerable +anxiety in the colonial mind. This feeling prevailed +during Mr. Shepstone’s absence in Zululand, and it was +generally understood that the Secretary for Native +Affairs’ next piece of work after crowning Cetshwayo +would be that of “settling Langalibalele.”</p> + +<p>But beyond the reluctance to produce their guns for +registration, there was nothing in the behaviour of the +Hlubi tribe to give the colonists cause for apprehension. +No lawless acts were committed, no cattle stolen, no +farmhouse fired, and the vague fears which existed +amongst the white inhabitants as to what might happen<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> +were rather the result of the way in which “Government” +shook its head over the matter as a serious one, than +justified by any real cause for alarm. It was in fact +one of those “Government scares” which occasionally +were produced from causes or for reasons not apparent +on the surface.</p> + +<p>On Mr. Shepstone’s return from the coronation of +Cetshwayo, Government native messengers were sent to +Langalibalele, requiring the latter to come down in +person to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, to answer +for the conduct of his tribe concerning their guns. The +message produced a great—and to those who were +ignorant of the cause of it—a most unreasonable panic +in the tribe, in which the chief himself shared +considerably. The Ama-Hlubi appeared exceedingly +suspicious, even of the designs of the Government +messengers, who were made to take off their great-coats, +and were searched for concealed weapons before being +admitted into the presence of Langalibalele. Such +distrust of British good faith was held in itself to be a +crime, the insolence of which could not be overlooked. +Furthermore it was soon evident that the tribe would +not trust their chief, nor he his person, in the hands of +the Government, now that he was in disfavour. Without +actually refusing to obey the orders he had received and +proceed to Pietermaritzburg, Langalibalele sent excuses +and apologies, chiefly turning upon his own ill-health, +which made travelling difficult to him. This answer +was the signal for the military expedition of 1873, +which was entered upon without any further attempts to +bring about a peaceful settlement of the affair, or to find<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> +out the real grounds for the evident fear and distrust of +the Hlubi tribe. In October, 1873, the force, partly of +regulars, partly colonial, a few Basuto horse, with an +entirely unorganised and useless addition of untrained +Natal natives, started from Pietermaritzburg, with all +the pomp and circumstance of war; and much to the +delight of the young colonial blood on the look-out for +martial distinction. The tribe, however, far from having +the least wish to fight, or intention of opposing the British +force, deserted their location as soon as the news reached +them that the army had started, and fled with their +chief over the Draakensberg Mountains. Our force, +commanded by Colonel Milles of the 75th Regiment, +and accompanied by the Lieut.-Governor Sir B. C. C. Pine +and Mr. Shepstone, reached a place called Meshlyn, +situated on the confines of the district to be subdued, +on October 31st; but the “enemy” had vanished, and +were reported to be making the best of their way out of +the colony, without, however, committing ravages of any +description on their way, even to the extent of carrying +off any of their neighbours’ cattle. In fact they were +frightened, and simply ran away. Our object now was +to arrest the tribe in its flight; and a plan was formed +for enclosing it in a network of troops, seizing all the +passes over the mountains, and thus reducing it to +submission.</p> + +<p>Positions were assigned to the different officers in +command, and the scheme looked extremely well on +paper, and to men who were not acquainted with the +district and the exceeding difficulty of travelling through +it. Unfortunately, with the same lamentable failure in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> +the Intelligence Department which has characterised the +more important proceedings of 1879, very little was +known, by those in command, of the country, or of what +was going on in it. Mr. Shepstone himself, whose +supposed knowledge of the people, their land, and all +concerning them was so greatly and naturally relied +upon, proved totally ignorant of the distances which lay +between one point and another, or of the difficulties to +be overcome in reaching them.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this singular ignorance a little +force was sent out on the evening of November 2nd, +under command of Major Durnford, R.E., chief of the +staff, with orders to seize and hold a certain pass +known as the Bushman’s River Pass, over which +Langalibalele was expected to escape; the distance +having been miscalculated by about two-thirds, and +the difficulties of the way immensely underrated.</p> + +<p>Major Durnford was himself a new-comer in the +colony at that time, and had therefore no personal +knowledge of the country; but he was supplied with full, +though, as it soon appeared, unreliable information by +those under whose command he served, and who were +in possession of a plan or diagram of the district which +turned out to be altogether incorrect. He did, indeed, +reach his assigned post, though four-and-twenty hours +after the time by which he expected to be there; while +those sent out to take up other positions never reached +them at all, owing to the same incorrect information +concerning locality.</p> + +<p>Major Durnford was in command of a party composed +of 2 officers, 6 non-commissioned officers, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span> +47 rank and file of the Natal and Karkloof Carbineers, +24 mounted Basutos,<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> and a native interpreter. His +orders were<a id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> to seize and hold the Bushman’s River +Pass, “with a view to preventing the entrance in or out +of the colony of any natives until the expedition is ready +to cross over.” Special orders were also given to him +that he was on no account to fire the first shot.</p> + +<p>There was one excellent reason, not generally taken +into consideration, for this order, in the fact that the +three days given by Government to the tribe in which +to surrender would not be over until midday on the +3rd of November.</p> + +<p>Starting at 8.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> on the 2nd November, Major +Durnford’s force only reached its destination at 6.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> +on the 4th, having traversed a most difficult country, +broken, pathless, and well-nigh inaccessible. On the line +of march many men fell out, utterly unable to keep up; +pack-horses with provisions and spare ammunition were +lost; and Major Durnford had his left shoulder dislocated, +and other severe injuries, by his horse falling with him +over a precipice on the 3rd. He pressed on for some +hours, but became quite exhausted at the foot of the +Giant’s Castle Pass, where he lay some time; he was +then dragged up with the aid of a blanket, reaching the +top of the pass at 2 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> At 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> Major Durnford +was lifted on his horse, and with his force—reduced to +1 officer, 1 non-commissioned officer, 33 troopers, and +the Basutos—pushed on to the Bushman’s River Pass,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span> +and occupied it at 6.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, finding Langalibalele’s men +already in the pass.</p> + +<p>Major Durnford posted his men, and went forward +with the interpreter to parley with the chiefs, and induce +them to return to their allegiance. This was a service +of danger, for the young warriors were very excited. +Seeing that the enemy were getting behind rocks, etc., +commanding the mouth of the pass, he made every +preparation for hostilities, though restricted by the order +not to fire the first shot. Finding that, although the +natives drew back when he bade them, they pressed on +again when his back was turned, and that the volunteers +were wavering, he at last reluctantly directed an orderly +retreat to higher ground, from whence he could still +command the pass. Upon a shot being fired by the +natives, the retreat became a stampede, and a heavy fire +being opened, three of the Carbineers and one Basuto fell. +The horse of the interpreter was killed, and, while Major +Durnford was endeavouring to reach the man and lift +him on his own horse, the interpreter was killed by his +side, and Major Durnford was surrounded and left alone. +Dropping the reins, he drew his revolver, and shot his +immediate assailants, who had seized his horse’s bridle, +and, after running the gauntlet of a numerous enemy +at close quarters, escaped with one serious wound, an +assegai-stab in the left arm, whereby it was permanently +disabled. He received one or two trifling cuts besides, +and his patrol-jacket was pierced in many places. +Getting clear of the enemy, Major Durnford rallied a +few Carbineers and the Basutos, and covered the retreat.</p> + +<p>The head-quarters camp was reached about 1 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span></span> +on the 5th. At 11 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> on that day, Major Durnford +led out a volunteer party—artillery with rockets, 50 +men of the 75th Regiment, 7 Carbineers, and 30 +Basutos—to the rescue of Captain Boyes, 75th Regiment, +who had been sent out with a support on the +3rd, and was believed to be in great danger. Major +Durnford had received such serious injuries that the +doctor endeavoured to dissuade him from further exertion, +but as those sent to his support were in danger +and he knew the country, he determined to go. He was +lifted on his horse, and left amid the cheers of the troops +in camp. Having marched all night—resting only from +3 to 5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>—they met Captain Boyes’ party about midday; +they had lost their way, and thus did not find the +Giant’s Castle Pass.</p> + +<p>After this, Major Durnford, with a considerable +force, occupied Bushman’s River Pass, recovered and +buried the bodies of his comrades, and held the pass. +He afterwards patrolled the disturbed districts. The +Lieut.-Governor, Sir B. C. C. Pine, in a despatch dated +13th November, 1873, accepted the responsibility of the +orders not to fire the first shot, and said of Major +Durnford: “He behaved, by testimony of all present, in +the most gallant manner, using his utmost exertions to +rally his little force, till, left <em>absolutely</em> alone, he was +reluctantly compelled to follow them—wounded.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Milles, commanding the field force, published +the following order:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="right fs85">“<span class="smcap">Camp Meshlyn</span>, 7th November, 1873.</p> + +<p>“The Commandant, with deep regret, announces<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span> +to the field force under his command the loss of +three Carbineers, viz.: Mr. Erskine, Mr. Potterill, and +Mr. Bond, and of one native interpreter, Elijah, who +formed part of the small force sent up with Major +Durnford, R.E., to secure the passes, and who were +killed during the retreat of that party from the passes, +which, although they had gallantly seized, they were +unable to hold, the orders being for ‘the forces not to +fire the first shot,’ and so having to wait till they were +placed at a great disadvantage. The brave conduct of +those killed is testified to by all their comrades, and +there is consolation alone in the thought that they died +nobly fighting for their country. The Commandant +must, however, publicly render his thanks to Major +Durnford for the way in which he commanded the +party, for his courage and coolness, and especially for +the noble way in which, after his return from the +passes, being almost exhausted, he mustered a volunteer +party and marched to the relief of Captain Boyes, who +was considered in great danger.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="padr6">“By command,</span><br> +<span class="padr2 smcap">“A. E. Arengo Cross</span><br> +<span class="fs85">“(For Chief of the Staff).”</span></p> +</div> + +<p>Although the main body of the fighting-men of the +tribe had left Natal, most of the women and children, +the sick and infirm, with a few able-bodied men to watch +over them, had taken refuge in holes and caves, of which +there are a considerable number in that mountainous +part of the colony. The men of the tribe, indeed, were +in disgrace with the Government, and thought it best<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> +to be out of the way when the British force paid their +homes a visit, but it was not for a moment imagined +that the soldiers would make war upon women and +children. The latter, in any case, could not have taken +that tremendous and hurried journey across the great +mountains; and, with what soon proved a very mistaken +confidence on the part of the people, all who could +neither fight nor travel were left in these hiding-places, +from which they expected to emerge in safety as soon +as the troops, finding no one to oppose them, should +have left the district. “The English soldiers will not +touch the children,”<a id="FNanchor_16" href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> was the expression used. So far, +however, was this idea from being realised, that the +remainder of the expedition consisted of a series of +attempts, more or less successful, to hunt the unfortunate +“children” out of their hiding-places and take +them prisoners.</p> + +<p>During these proceedings many acts were committed +under Government sanction which can only be characterised +by the word “atrocities,” and which were as +useless and unnecessary as they were cruel.<a id="FNanchor_17" href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a></p> + +<p>Poor frightened creatures were smoked to death or +killed by rockets in caves which they dared not leave +for fear of a worse fate at the hands of their captors; +women and children were killed, men were tortured, +and prisoners put to death. On one occasion a white<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> +commander of native forces is said to have given the +significant information to his men that he <em>did not wish +to see the faces of any prisoners</em>; and it is reported +that a prisoner was made over to the native force to +be put to death as the latter chose. The colonial +newspapers apologised at the time for some of these +acts, on the score that they were the result of the +youthful enthusiasm of “Young Natal” fleshing his +maiden sword.</p> + +<p>These acts were chiefly committed by the irregular +(white) troops and native levies, and are a signal proof +of how great a crime it is to turn undisciplined or +savage troops, over whom no responsible person has any +real control, loose upon a defenceless people. The excuse +made by those in authority in such cases is always +“We did not intend these things to take place, but +horrors are always attendant on savage warfare.” +But such excuses are of small value when, in campaign +after campaign, it has been proved that the use of +colonial troops under their own officers, and of disorganised +masses of armed “friendly natives,” is invariably +productive of scenes disgraceful to the name of +England, without any attempt being made to introduce +a better system. Certainly if “horrors” beyond the fair +fortune of war <em>are</em> necessarily attendant upon savage +warfare, they should not be those inflicted by British +troops and their allies upon unarmed or solitary men, +women, and children.</p> + +<p>So many women were injured in dislodging them +from the caves that Major Durnford, on his second +return from the mountains, instituted a hospital-tent<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> +where they might be attended to; but such humanity +was by no means the general rule.</p> + +<p>If acts of barbarity were for the most part committed +by the irregular troops, there is one instance to the +contrary which can never be forgotten in connection +with this affair—so flagrant a case that the friends of +the officer in command, when the story first appeared in +the colonial papers, refused to believe in it until it was +authenticated beyond a doubt.</p> + +<p>A body of troops—infantry, irregular cavalry, and +undisciplined natives—upon one occasion during this +expedition were engaged for some hours in trying to +dislodge a solitary native from a cave in which he had +taken refuge. The force had discovered the hiding-place +by the assistance of a little boy, whom they +captured and induced to betray his friends.</p> + +<p>The “rebel” (in this case there was but one) refused +to surrender, and for a long while defended himself +gallantly against the attacks of the whole force. Shots +were fired through the apertures of the cave, rockets (a +new and horrible experience to the poor creature) were +discharged upon him. At last, after holding out for +some hours, the man gave up the struggle, and coming +out from his insufficient shelter, begged for mercy at the +hands of his numerous foe. He had a good many +wounds upon him, but none sufficiently severe to +prevent his walking out amongst his captors, and asking +them to spare his life. After a short consultation +amongst the officers, a decision was arrived at as to the +proper treatment of this man, who had proved himself a +brave soldier and was now a helpless captive.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span></p> + +<p>By order of the officer commanding, a trooper named +Moodie put his pistol to the prisoner’s head and blew +out his brains. A court-martial sat upon this officer in +the course of the following year, and he was acquitted +of all blame. The defence was that the man was so +seriously injured that it was an act of humanity to put +an end to him, and that the officer dared not trust him +in the hands of the natives belonging to the English +force, who were exasperated by the long defence he had +made. But the prisoner was not mortally nor even +dangerously wounded. He was able to walk and to +speak, and had no wound upon him which need +necessarily have caused his death. And as to the +savage temper of the native force, there was no reason +why the prisoner should be left in their charge at all, +as there was a considerable white force present at the +time.<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span></p> + +<p>The result of the expedition against the Hlubi tribe +was so little satisfactory that those in authority felt +themselves obliged to look about for something else to +do before taking the troops back to Pietermaritzburg. +They found what they wanted ready to their hand. +Next to Langalibalele’s location lay that of the well-to-do +and quiet little tribe of Putini. “Government” had +as yet found no fault with these people, and, secure +in their own innocence, they had made no attempt to +get out of the way of the force which had come to +destroy their neighbours, but remained at home, herded +their cattle, and planted their crops as usual. Unfortunately, +however, some marriages had taken place +between members of the two tribes, and when that of +Langalibalele fled, the wives of several of his men took +refuge in their fathers’ kraals in the next location. No +further proof was required of the complicity of Putini +with Langalibalele, or of the rebellious condition of the +smaller tribe. Consequently it was at once, as the +natives term it, “eaten up,” falling an easy prey owing +to its unsuspecting state. The whole tribe—men, +women, and children—were taken prisoners and carried +down to Pietermaritzburg, their cattle and goods were +confiscated, and their homes destroyed. Several of the +Putini men were killed, but there was very little resistance, +as they were wholly taken by surprise. The colony<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span> +was charmed with this success, and the spoils of the +Putini people were generally looked to to pay some of +the expenses of the campaign. Whatever may have been +the gain to the Government, by orders of which the +cattle (the chief wealth of the tribe) were sold, it was +not long shared by the individual colonists who purchased +the animals. The pasture in that part of the +country from which they had come is of a very different +description from any to be found in the environs of +Pietermaritzburg, and, in consequence of the change, the +captured cattle died off rapidly almost as soon as they +changed hands. But this was not all, for they had time, +before they died, to spread amongst the original cattle +of their new owners two terrible scourges, in the shape +of “lung-sickness” and “red-water,” from which the +midland districts had long been free. One practical +result of the expedition of 1873 seems to be that neither +meat, milk, nor butter have ever again been so cheap in +the colony as they were before that date, the two latter +articles being often unobtainable to this day.</p> + +<p>The unhappy prisoners of both tribes were driven +down like beasts to Pietermaritzburg, many of the +weaker dying from want and exposure on the way. +Although summer-time, it happened to be very wet, and +therefore cold; our native force had been allowed to +strip the unfortunates of all their possessions, even to +their blankets and the leather petticoats of the women. +The sufferings of these poor creatures—many of them +with infants a few days old, or born on the march +down—were very great. A scheme was at first laid, by +those in authority, for “giving the women and children<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> +out” as servants for a term of years—that is to say, for +making temporary slaves of them to the white colonists. +This additional enormity was vetoed by the home +Government, but the fact remains that its perpetration +was actually contemplated by those entrusted with the +government of the colony, and especially of the natives, +and was hailed by the colonists as one of the advantages +to accrue to them from the expedition of 1873. Several +children were actually given out in the way referred to +before the order to the contrary arrived from England, +and a considerable time elapsed before they were all +recovered by their relatives.</p> + +<p>The unhappy women and children of the Langalibalele +tribe were mere emaciated skeletons when they +reached the various places where they were to live +under surveillance. They seemed crushed with misery, +utterly ignorant of the cause of their misfortunes, but +silent and uncomplaining. Many of the women had +lost children—few knew whether their male relatives +were yet alive. On being questioned, they knew +nothing of Mr. Shepstone, not even his name, which +was always supposed to command the love and fear of +natives throughout the length and breadth of the land. +They did not know what the tribe had done to get +into such trouble; they only knew that the soldiers had +come, and that they had run away and hidden themselves; +that some of them were dead, and the rest were +ready to die too and have it all over. A considerable +number of these poor creatures were permitted by +Government to remain upon the Bishop’s land, where +most of them gradually regained health and spirits,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span> +but retained always the longing for their own homes +and people and their lost chief which characterises +them still.<a id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">TRIAL OF LANGALIBALELE.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Meanwhile the fugitive chief had at last been captured +by the treachery of a Basuto chief named Molappo, who +enticed him into his hands, and then delivered him up +to Mr. Griffiths, resident magistrate in that part of +British Basutoland. When he and his party were first +captured they had with them a horse laden with all the +coin which the tribe had been able to get together during +the last few days before the expedition started from +Pietermaritzburg, and which they had collected to send +down as a ransom for their chief. Their purpose was +arrested by the news that the soldiers had actually started +to attack them; when, feeling that all was lost, they +fled, carrying the chief and his ransom with them. +What became of the money, whether it became +Molappo’s perquisite, or whether it formed part of the +English spoil, has never been publicly known. But it +can hardly be denied that the readiness of the people to +pay away in ransom for their chief the whole wealth +of the tribe earned by years of labour on the part of +the working members, is in itself a proof that their +tendencies were by no means rebellious.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span></p> + +<p>Langalibalele, with seven of his sons and many +indunas (captains) and headmen, was brought down +to Pietermaritzburg for trial, reaching the town on the +21st December.</p> + +<p>So strong was the unreasoning hatred of the colonists +against him on account of the death of the three +Carbineers which had resulted from the expedition, +that the unhappy man, a helpless captive, was insulted +and pelted by the populace as he was conveyed in irons +to the capital; and again, after sentence had been passed +upon him, upon his way to Durban.</p> + +<p>It was at this stage of affairs that the Bishop of +Natal first came upon the scene, and interfered on +behalf of the oppressed. Until 1873, while earnestly +endeavouring to do his best as teacher and pastor +amongst the natives as well as amongst their white +fellow-colonists, he had not found it to be his duty to +go deeply into political matters concerning them. He +had great confidence at that time in the justice and +humanity of their government as carried on by +Mr. Shepstone, for whom he had a warm personal +regard, based on the apparent uprightness of his +conduct; and he had therefore contented himself with +accepting Mr. Shepstone’s word in all that concerned +them.</p> + +<p>That so many years should have passed without the +Bishop’s having discovered how greatly his views and +those of his friend differed in first principles as to the +government of the people, is due partly to the fact that +the two met but seldom, and then at regular expected +intervals, and partly because no great crisis had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> +previously taken place to prove the principles of either +in that respect. Their regular interviews were upon +Sundays, when the Bishop, going into Pietermaritzburg +for the cathedral service, invariably spent a couple of +hours with his friend. During these comparatively +short meetings doubtless Mr. Shepstone’s real personal +regard for the Bishop caused him temporarily to feel +somewhat as he did, and, where he could not do so, +to refrain from entering upon political discussion. The +sympathy with Mr. Shepstone which existed in the +Bishop’s mind prevented the latter from looking more +closely for himself into matters which he believed to +be in good hands, and which did not naturally fall +within the sphere of his duties; while the comparatively +trivial character of the cases with which +the native department had hitherto dealt, was not such +as to force their details before a mind otherwise and +fully employed.</p> + +<p>The Langalibalele expedition, however, opened the +Bishop’s eyes. While it lasted, although deeply +deploring the loss of life on either side, and feeling +great indignation at the atrocities perpetrated on ours, +he did not doubt that Mr. Shepstone had done all he +could to avert the necessity of bloodshed, and expected to +find him, upon his return to Pietermaritzburg, much +grieved and indignant at the needless amount of suffering +inflicted upon his people, the greater portion of whom +must be entirely innocent, even although the charges +against their chief should be proved.</p> + +<p>The discovery that Mr. Shepstone entirely ratified<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> +what had been done<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> was the first blow to his friend’s +reliance on him. The mockery of justice termed a +trial, granted to Langalibalele, was the next; and the +discovery of how completely he had misconceived Mr. +Shepstone’s policy closed the intimacy of their friendship.</p> + +<p>It soon became apparent that the trial of the chief +was indeed to be a farce—a pretence, meant to satisfy +inquiring minds at home that justice had been done, +but which could have but one result, the condemnation +of the prisoner, already prejudged by a Government +which, having declared him to be a rebel and having +treated him as such, was hardly likely to stultify itself +by allowing him to be proved innocent of the charges +brought against him.</p> + +<p>That there might be no doubt at all upon the +subject, the prisoner was denied the help of counsel, +white or black, in the hearing of his case, even to watch +the proceedings on his behalf, or to cross-examine the +witnesses; consequently the official record of the trial +can only be looked upon as an <i lang="la">ex parte</i> statement of the +case, derived from witnesses selected by the Supreme +Chief,<a id="FNanchor_21" href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> examined by the Crown Prosecutor, and not +cross-examined at all on the prisoner’s behalf, although +the assistance of counsel was recognised by the Crown +Prosecutor himself as being in accordance with Kafir law.<a id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span></p> + +<p>But the formation of the court and its whole proceedings +were palpably absurd, except for the purpose +of securing a conviction; and that this was the case was +generally understood in Natal, Even those colonists +who were most violent against the so-called “rebel,” and +would have had him hanged without mercy, asserting +that he had been “taken red-handed,” saw that the +authorities had put themselves in the wrong by granting +the prisoner a trial against the justice of which so much +could be alleged.</p> + +<p>In point of fact, the Lieut.-Governor had no +power to form a court such as that by which +Langalibalele was tried, consisting of his excellency +himself as Supreme Chief, the Secretary for Native +Affairs, certain administrators of native law, and +certain native chiefs and indunas. Besides which the +Lieut.-Governor was not only debarred by an ordinance +of the colony<a id="FNanchor_23" href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> from sitting as judge in such a court, +from which he would be the sole judge in a court +of appeal, but had already committed himself to a +decision adverse to the prisoner by having issued the +proclamation of November 11th, 1873, declaring that the +chief and his tribe had “set themselves in open revolt +and rebellion against Her Majesty’s Government in this +colony,” and “proclaiming and making known that they +were in rebellion, and were hereby declared to be +outlaws,” and that “the said tribe was broken up, and +from that day forth had ceased to exist,” and by further +seizing and confiscating all the cattle and property of +the said tribe within reach, deposing Langalibalele from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> +his chieftainship, and otherwise treating him and his +tribe as rebels.</p> + +<p>His Excellency, therefore, could not possibly be +looked upon as an unprejudiced judge of the first +instance in the prisoner’s case; nor could the Secretary +for Native Affairs, Mr. Shepstone, by whose advice and +with whose approval the expedition had been undertaken. +As to the minor members of the court, they +could hardly be expected to have an independent +opinion in the matter, especially the “native chiefs and +indunas,” who knew very well that they would be liable +to the accusation of disaffection themselves if they +ventured to show any bearing towards the prisoner, +or to do otherwise than blindly follow the lead of their +white “brother-judges” (!) and masters.</p> + +<p>The native names gave a satisfactory air of justice +to the proceedings of the court in English eyes, but in +point of fact they were but dummy judges after all.</p> + +<p>Not only, however, was the court wrongly constituted, +but its proceedings were irregular and illegal. +It was called, and considered to be, a <em>native</em> court, but +in point of fact it was a nondescript assembly, such +usages of either native or supreme court as could +possibly tell on the prisoner’s side (notably the use of +counsel) being omitted, and only those which would +insure his conviction admitted.</p> + +<p>It was not the practice of the colony for serious +crimes to be tried before a native court. But in this +case they were obliged to run counter to custom for +the reason given in a previous note, that most of the +separate charges against the chief could not be recognised<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span> +as crimes at all in an English court of law. At +the same time the sentence finally given was one quite +beyond the power of the court to pronounce. Clause 4 +of the ordinance limits the power of the Supreme Chief +to “appointing or removing the subordinate chiefs or +other authorities” among the natives, but gives him +no power to sentence to death, or to “banishment or +transportation for life to such place as the Supreme +Chief or Lieut.-Governor may appoint.” When Langalibalele +had been “removed” from his chieftainship, +and himself and the bulk of his tribe “driven +over the mountain out of the colony” by the Government +force, as announced in the bulletin of November +13th, 1873, the cattle within the colony seized, and +many of the tribe killed in resisting the attempt to +seize them, the Supreme Chief, under native law, had +expended his power; while banishment is a punishment +wholly unknown to Kafir law, as is plainly stated in +“Kafir Laws and Customs,” p. 39.</p> + +<p>Again, throughout the trial, the prisoner was assumed +to have pleaded guilty, although in point of fact he +had merely admitted that he had done certain acts, but +desired witnesses to be called whose “evidence would +justify or extenuate what he had done,” a plea which +in any ordinary court would be recorded as a plea of +“Not guilty.”</p> + +<p>The native members of the court, also, were made +to sign a judgment, the contents of which had been +“interpreted” to them, and their signatures “witnessed,” +by which the prisoner is declared to have been +“convicted, on clear evidence, of several acts, for some<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> +of which he would be liable to forfeit his life under +the law of every civilised country in the world.” The +absurdity of this is palpable, since it was impossible +that these men should know anything of the law of +any civilised land; it is plain, therefore, that in pretending +to agree with assertions, of the meaning of +which they were totally ignorant, they were under +some strong influence, such as prejudice against the +prisoner, undue fear of the Supreme Chief, or desire to +please him—one of them being “Head Induna of the +Natal Government,” and another the “Induna to the +Secretary for Native Affairs.”</p> + +<p>To turn to these crimes, “for some of which he +would be liable to forfeit his life under the law of +every civilised country in the world”—to which statement +His Excellency the Supreme Chief, the Secretary +for Native Affairs, and the Administrators of Native +Law have also signed their names—we find that the +charges run as follows:</p> + +<p>1. “Setting at naught the authority of the magistrate +in a manner<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> <em>not indeed sufficiently palpable to +warrant the use of forcible coercion to our</em> (civilised) +laws and customs.” Which charge we may at once +dismiss as absurd.</p> + +<p>2. “Permitting, or <em>probably</em> encouraging, his tribe +to possess fire-arms, and retain them contrary to law.”</p> + +<p>3. “With reference to these fire-arms, defying the +authority of the magistrate, and once insulting the +messenger.”</p> + +<p>4. “Refusing to appear before” the Supreme Chief<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span> +when summoned, “excusing his refusal by evasion and +falsehood,” and “insulting his messenger.”</p> + +<p>5. “Directing his cattle and other effects to be +taken out of the colony under an armed escort.”</p> + +<p>6. Causing the death of Her Majesty’s subjects at +the Bushman’s River Pass.</p> + +<p>It is plain to the most casual observation that none +of the first five accusations, even if fully proved, refer to +crimes punishable by death in any civilised land; and it +is difficult to see how the Chief could reasonably be considered +responsible for the sixth and last, seeing that the +action took place in his absence, against his express +commands, and to his great regret.</p> + +<p>Returning to the five first-named offences, we find +that the statements contained in the second and third +charges are the only proofs alleged of the truth of the +first—to which therefore we need give no further attention—the +magistrate himself stating that “this was the +first time the prisoner ever refused to appear before him +when ordered to do so;” and this was the first time for +more than twenty years that he had been reported for +any fault whatever.</p> + +<p>Proceeding to charge No. 2, we find that the prisoner +entirely denied having encouraged his young men to +possess themselves of guns; nor could he justly be said to +have even “permitted” them to do so merely because he +did not actively exert himself to prevent it. The men +went away from home, worked, were paid for their +services in guns, or purchased them with their earnings, +without consulting him. He had never considered it to +be part of his duty to search the huts of his people for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span> +unregistered guns, but had simply left them to suffer +the consequences of breaking the laws of the colony, if +discovered. It is also to be observed that amongst the +seven sons captured with him only one had a gun at a +time when certainly, if ever, they would have carried +them; which does not look as though he had greatly +encouraged them to possess themselves of firearms.</p> + +<p>But if the second charge, in a very modified form, +might be considered a true one, yet Langalibalele had +done no worse in that respect than most of the other +chiefs in the colony. In proof of this assertion may be +brought “Perrin’s Register” for the years 1871-2-3—the +years during which a large number of natives +received payment for their services at the diamond-fields +in guns. From this register it appears that the +total number of guns registered in eight of the principal +northern tribes of the colony—the two first-named chiefs +being <em>indunas</em> to the very magistrate who complained +of Langalibalele—was as follows:</p> + +<table class="autotable fs90 wd80"> +<tr> +<td class="bt" colspan="5"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th class="tdcbl smcap" rowspan="2" colspan="2">Huts.</th> +<th class="tdcbl bb br smcap" colspan="3">Guns registered in</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th class="tdcbl">1871.</th> +<th class="tdcbl">1872.</th> +<th class="tdcbl br">1873.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="bt" colspan="5"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Ndomba</td> +<td class="tdc">1190</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">—</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Faku</td> +<td class="tdc">2071</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl">2</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">—</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Mganu</td> +<td class="tdc">1277</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">—</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Pakade</td> +<td class="tdc">2222</td> +<td class="tdcbl">1</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Zikali</td> +<td class="tdc">1651</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl">1</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">—</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Nodada</td> +<td class="tdc">3000</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl">1</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">2</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Putini</td> +<td class="tdc">1239</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl">1</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">—</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdlbl">Langalibalele</td> +<td class="tdc">2244</td> +<td class="tdcbl">—</td> +<td class="tdcbl">9</td> +<td class="tdcbl br">4</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="bt" colspan="5"></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p>Furthermore, any fault with respect to the guns +was not an offence under Kafir Law, and could only<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> +have been tried in the Colonial Court under the +ordinary law of the colony.</p> + +<p>The third and fourth charges were those which, when +first reported in Natal, produced considerable alarm +and indignation in the minds of the colonists. A +defiance of the authority, both of magistrate and +Supreme Chief, and insult offered to their messengers, +looked indeed like actual rebellion. The charges, however, +dwindled down to very little when properly +examined. The “defiance” in question consisted only +in an answer made to the magistrate to the effect that +he could not send in as desired five young men—in +possession of unregistered guns—because they had run +away, he knew not whither, being frightened by the +course pursued by the magistrate’s messenger; and that +he could not find eight others, said to have come +into the colony with guns, and to belong to his tribe, +upon such insufficient data, and unless their names +were given to him. The sincerity of which reasoning +was shortly proved by the fact that, as soon as their +names were notified to him, he did send in three of +those very lads, with their guns, and two more belonging +to other members of their party, besides sending +in with their guns those who had worked for Mr. W. +E. Shepstone, and who probably thought that the name +of their master was a sufficient guarantee for their right +to possess firearms.</p> + +<p>The charge of insulting the native messengers from +Government, of which a great deal was made at first, +proved to be of very little consequence when investigated, +but it is one to which special attention should<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> +be given because, indirectly, it is connected with the +Zulu War.</p> + +<p>The facts are as follows: One of the chief witnesses +for the prosecution, Mawiza, a messenger of the Government, +stated in his evidence-in-chief on the second day +of the trial, that on the occasion of his carrying a message +from Government, the prisoner’s people had “taken +all his things from him,” and had “stripped, and +taken him naked” into the Chiefs presence. But on the +fourth day, in answer to a question from His Excellency, +he said “that they had <em>intended</em> to strip him but had +allowed him to retain his trousers and boots,” thereby +contradicting himself flatly. Nevertheless the court +being asked by His Excellency whether it required +further evidence on this point, replied in the negative. +They did not even ask a question, on the subject, of +Mawiza’s two companion messengers, Mnyembe and +Gayede, though both these were examined; Mnyembe’s +evidence-in-chief being cut short <em>before</em> he came to that +part of the story, and Gayede’s taken up just <em>after</em> it.</p> + +<p>The chief was kept in solitary confinement from +the day when he was brought down to Pietermaritzburg, +December 31st, till the day when his sons were sentenced, +February 27th; not being allowed to converse with any +of his sons, or with any members of his tribe, or with +any friend or adviser, white or black. It was therefore +quite out of his power to find witnesses who would +have shown, as Mnyembe and Gayede would have done, +that Mawiza’s statements about the “stripping” were +false; that he still wore his waistcoat, shirt, trousers, +boots, and gaiters, when he was taken to the chief;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> +and that the “stripping” in question only amounted +to this, that he himself put off his two coats, by the +chiefs orders, “as a matter of precaution caused by +fear” and not for the purpose of insulting the messenger, +or defying the Supreme Chief. They would have satisfied +the court also that other acts charged against the +prisoner arose from fear, and dread of the Supreme +Chief, and not from a spirit of defiance.</p> + +<p>This affair of the messenger, explained by fear and +suspicion on the part of Langalibalele, by which, also, +he accounted for his refusal to “appear before” the +Supreme Chief (which is to say that, being desired to +give himself up into the hands of the Government, he +was afraid to do so, and ran away), was the turning-point +of the whole trial. What special reason he had +for that fear and distrust will be inquired into shortly. +Meanwhile the court considered that such expressed +distrust of the good faith of the authorities was an +added offence on the part of the prisoner, who was +formally condemned to death, but his sentence commuted +to banishment for life to Robben Island, the abode of +lunatics and lepers, in which other captive native chiefs +had languished and died before him.<a id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE BISHOP’S DEFENCE.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">The daily accounts of the trial which appeared in the +local papers were read with great interest and attention +by the Bishop, who quickly discerned the injustice of +the proceedings. Mawiza’s manifest contradiction of his +own evidence first attracted his attention, and led to his +hearing from some of his own natives what was not +allowed to appear at the trial, that Mawiza’s story was +entirely false. Seeing how seriously this fact bore upon +the prisoner’s case, he went to Mr. Shepstone and told +him what he had heard.</p> + +<p>The Secretary for Native Affairs was at first very +indignant with the Bishop’s informant, doubting the +truth of his statement, and declaring that the man must +be severely punished if it were proved that he had lied. +The Bishop, confident in the integrity of his native,<a id="FNanchor_26" href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> +assented, saying, however, that the same argument +should apply to Mawiza. The matter was at once +privately investigated by Mr. Shepstone—the Bishop, +Mawiza, Magema, and others being present—with the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> +result that Mr. Shepstone himself was obliged to +acknowledge the untrustworthiness of Mawiza, who was +reproved in the severest terms for his prevarications by +the other native indunas.<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p> + +<p>Singularly enough, however, <em>this discovery made no +difference whatever in the condemnation and sentence of +the prisoner</em>, although the charge thus, to a great extent, +disposed of, was the most serious of those brought +against him.</p> + +<p>But this was not all. Another point struck the +Bishop very forcibly, namely, the perpetual recurrence +of one phrase from various witnesses. “He (Langalibalele) +was afraid, remembering what was done to +Matshana,” and “he was afraid that he should be treated +as Matshana was, when he was summoned to appear +by Government.” Such expressions, used in excuse of +the Chiefs conduct, would, of course, have been inquired +into had the prisoner been allowed counsel, or had any +one watched the case on his behalf. But although the +court judged the excuse of “fear” to be an added fault +on the Chiefs part, and although perpetual allusions +were made by witnesses to a specific cause for this +fear, no question was asked, and no notice taken +by those present of the perpetually recurring phrase. +The Bishop, however, in the interests of justice and +truth, made inquiries amongst his own natives as to the +meaning of these allusions. He knew, of course, in +common with the rest of the inhabitants of Natal, that,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span> +in the year 1858, a native chief named Matshana had +got into some trouble with the Government of Natal. +A commando had gone out against him, and, after a +skirmish with some native troops under Mr. John +Shepstone, in which Mr. Shepstone was wounded, and +some men on the other side killed, he had escaped with +his people into Zululand, where he had lived ever since. +The Bishop had never heard the details of the affair, and +knew of nothing in connection with this incident which +could account for the “fear because of what was done to +Matshana.”</p> + +<p>“Can you tell me anything of the story of Matshana’s +escape from Natal?” was the question put by him at +different times to different natives; and everyone thus +questioned gave substantially the same account, of +what was plainly among them a well-known, and well-remembered +incident in the history of the colony.</p> + +<p>Matshana, they said, was accused of some offence, and +being summoned before the authorities to answer for +it, had refused to appear. Mr. John Shepstone, with a +native force, of whom this very Langalibalele, then a +young chief, with his followers formed a portion, was +sent out to endeavour to reduce him to obedience. +Mr. Shepstone invited him to a friendly interview, in +which they might talk over matters, but to which +Matshana’s men were to bring no weapons. In consequence +of the reluctance of Matshana to fulfil this +condition, the proposed interview fell through several +times before it was finally arranged. Matshana’s people, +even then, however, brought their weapons with them, +but they were induced to leave them at a certain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span> +spot a short distance off. The meeting took place; +Mr. Shepstone being seated in a chair with his people +behind him, Matshana and his men crouched native +fashion upon the ground, suspicious and alert, in a +semicircle before him. Suddenly Mr. Shepstone drew a +gun from beneath the rug at his feet, and fired it (he says, +as a signal), whereupon his men, some of whom had +already ridden between Matshana’s party and their arms, +fell on, and the struggle became general, resulting in +the death of many of Matshana’s people. The chief +himself, who seems to have been on the look-out for a +surprise, escaped unhurt. He was resting upon one knee +only when the first shot was fired, and sprang over the +man crouching behind him. Another man, named Deke, +who was sitting close to him, was wounded in the knee, +but is alive to this day.</p> + +<p>This story, which in varied form, but substantially +as given above, was generally known and believed by the +natives, furnished a very complete explanation of why +Langalibalele ventured to distrust the good faith and +honour of the Government, having himself taken part +in, and been witness of, such a disgraceful transaction; +which, when it came to the knowledge of the Secretary +of State, was emphatically condemned by him. Remembering +this circumstance, it is not wonderful that +Langalibalele should have taken the precaution of +searching the Government messengers for concealed +weapons.</p> + +<p>It seemed strange that Mr. Shepstone, sitting +as judge upon the bench to try a man for his life, +should silently allow so great a justification of his chief<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> +offence to remain concealed. But it seemed stranger +still to suppose him ignorant of any part of an affair +carried out under his authority, and by his own +brother.</p> + +<p>However, the Bishop took the matter privately to him +in the first instance, telling him what he had heard, and +pointing out what an important bearing it had upon the +unfortunate prisoner’s case. He was met by a total +denial on Mr. Shepstone’s part that any such act of +treachery had ever taken place, or that there were any +grounds for the accusation.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, after careful consideration, and on +thoroughly sifting the obtainable evidence, the Bishop +could not avoid coming to the painful conclusion that +the story was substantially true, and was a valid excuse +for Langalibalele’s fear. Finding that further appeal +on behalf of the prisoner to those on the spot was in +vain, he now wrote and printed a pamphlet (giving +the usual native version that the first shot fired was <em>at</em> +Matshana) on the subject for private circulation, and +especially for Lord Carnarvon’s information.<a id="FNanchor_28" href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p> + +<p>One of the first results of the appearance of this +pamphlet was a demand on the part of Mr. J. Shepstone’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> +solicitor for “an immediate, full, and unqualified <ins class="corr" id="tn-56" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'retractation of the'"> +retraction of the</ins> libel falsely and maliciously published in the +pamphlet, with a claim for £1000 damages for the +injury done to Mr. J. Shepstone by the same.”</p> + +<p>Such an action would have had but a small chance +of a decision upon the Bishop’s side at that time in +Natal, so, to defend himself—and not, as generally +supposed, out of enmity to the Shepstones—he appealed +to Lord Carnarvon in the matter, on the grounds that +his action had been taken for the public good, and in +the interests of justice.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the unfortunate chief and his eldest son +Malambule were sent to Robben Island, the former as a +prisoner for life, the latter for five years. They were +secretly conveyed away from Pietermaritzburg to the +port, and every effort made to prevent the Bishop from +seeing them, or interfering on their behalf. Other sons, +two of them mere lads, who had as yet held no more +important position in the tribe than that of herdboys to +their father’s cattle, and many of the headmen and +indunas, were condemned to imprisonment in the gaol +at Pietermaritzburg for terms varying in length from six +months to seven years. The two young sons, lads +named Mazwi and Siyepu, were kept prisoners for the +shortest period named, six months; but it was some little +time after they left the gaol before they were really set +at liberty. The family at Bishopstowe, where their +mothers and many of their other relatives were located, +were naturally anxious to have the two boys also, and, +as soon as their term of imprisonment was up, applied +for the charge of them. Somewhat to their surprise all<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span> +sorts of difficulties were raised on the point—one would +have thought a very simple one—and they were at last +curtly informed that the boys did not wish to go to +Bishopstowe, and would remain where they were, under +surveillance in another district. The Bishop himself was +away at the time, but his eldest daughter, acting for him, +soon discovered through native sources that in point of +fact the boys were extremely anxious to go to Bishopstowe, +but were in too terrified a condition to express +a wish. The question had been put to them in this +form: “So! you have been complaining! you say +you want to leave the place you have been sent to, and +go to Bishopstowe?” Whereupon the frightened lads, +their spirits crushed by all that had befallen them, +naturally answered: “We never complained, nor asked to +go anywhere”—which, was perfectly true. By dint of a +little determination on the part of Miss Colenso, however, +the desired permission was at last obtained, and Mazwi +and Siyepu entered the Bishopstowe school, which had +already been established for the boys of the scattered tribe. +Under the treatment which they there received they +soon began to recover from their distress, and to lose the +terrified expression in the eyes which characterised them +painfully at first. But the health of Mazwi, the elder, +was broken by hardship and confinement, and he died +of consumption a few years after.<a id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p> + +<p>It soon became apparent that there must be something +specially injurious to the prisoners in their life in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span> +gaol beyond the mere fact of confinement. Nearly all +the men of the Hlubi tribe left it labouring under a +dreadful complaint of a complicated form (said to be +some species of elephantiasis), of which a considerable +number died; others, as in Mazwi’s case, falling victims to +consumption. On inquiry it appeared that the fault lay +in the <em>excessive washing</em> to which every part of the building +was habitually subjected—floors and bed-boards being +perpetually scrubbed, and therefore seldom thoroughly +dry. This state of things was naturally a trial to the +constitutions of people accustomed to life in the warm +smoke-laden atmosphere of a native hut. However +beneficial it might be to the natives to instruct them in +habits of cleanliness,<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> this was hardly the way to do it, +and the results were disastrous. The peculiar complaint +resulting from confinement in the city gaol was commonly +known amongst the natives as the “gaol-disease,” +but it had not attracted the same attention while +the victims to it were occasional convicts, as it did +when it attacked a large number of innocent prisoners +of war!</p> + +<p>After the chief had been sent to Robben Island, it +was represented, by those interested in his welfare, +that to leave him there for the rest of his life without +any of his family or people near him—except his son +Malambule, who was to be released in five years’ time—would +be a great and unnecessary addition to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> +hardship of his position; and it was finally decided +that one of his wives and a servant of his own should +be sent to join him in captivity. A few days after this +decision a story was circulated in the colony, causing +some amusement, and a little triumph on the part of the +special opponents of the chief and his cause: it was to +the effect that “out of all Langalibalele’s wives not one +was willing to go to him,” and many were the sarcastic +comments made upon the want of family affection thus +evinced by the natives. On due inquiry it turned out +that the manner in which the question had been put to +them was one highly calculated to produce a negative +answer. Native policemen, who were sent to the kraals +where they were living, to inquire which of them would +be willing to go, accosted them with “Come along! +come along and be killed with your chief!” which +proposition was not unnaturally looked upon with +considerable disfavour. When, however, the matter +was properly explained to them, they all expressed +their willingness to go, although a journey across the +(to them) great unknown element was by no means a +trifling matter in their eyes. The woman selected in +the first instance was one Nokwetuka, then resident at +Bishopstowe, where she was fitted out for her journey, +and provided with suitable clothes.<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> She joined her +husband upon the island as proposed, as also did a lad +of the tribe Fife, who happened to be residing (free) +at the Cape, and obtained permission to attend upon<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> +his chief. It was not until some time after, when +Langalibalele had been removed to an adjoining portion +of the mainland, bleak and barren indeed, but an improvement +upon Robben Island, that two other women +and a little son were added to the party.<a id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a></p> + +<p>For the son, Malambule, however, there was no +possibility of making any such arrangements during the +five years of his captivity, as he was a bachelor; +although when he was captured he had a bride in +prospect, the separation from and probable loss of whom +weighed greatly upon his mind. He could not even +learn whether she was yet alive, as so many women had +been killed, and others had died since from the effects +of the hardships they had undergone; while it was more +than probable, supposing her to be yet living, that she +might be given in marriage to some other more fortunate +individual, either by the authority of her relatives, or,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> +as happened in another case, by that of the Government +of Natal.<a id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> + +<p>Towards the end of his imprisonment, Malambule +grew very restless and morose; and, when he found +himself detained some time after the term of years +had elapsed, he became extremely indignant and +difficult to manage, being in fact in a far more +“rebellious” frame of mind than he ever was before. +On one occasion he showed so much temper that it was +thought necessary to put him under temporary restraint +in the gaol. Apparently he was very wise in giving so +much trouble, for it was shortly found expedient to +let him go, though it remains unexplained why he +should not have been set free immediately upon the +expiration of his sentence. He was sent back to Natal, +but still treated as a prisoner until he reached Pietermaritzburg, +where he was finally set at liberty; putting +in a sudden and unexpected appearance at Bishopstowe, +where he was joyfully welcomed by his own people. He<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span> +did not, however, spend much time amongst them, but +hurried off as soon as possible up-country to find his +bride. It is pleasant to be able to record that he found +her just in time to prevent another marriage being +arranged for her, and that his return was as satisfactory +an event to her as to himself.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE PUTINI TRIBE.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">To assist in paying the expenses of the expedition, +“Government” had “eaten up” the small tribe commonly +known as the “Putini,” but properly called the +“Amangwe” tribe, “Putini” being, in reality, the name +of their late chief, who died shortly before the disturbances, +leaving the sole custody of their infant son +and heir to his young widow, who accordingly held the +position and dignity of chieftainess in the tribe.</p> + +<p>To say that the “eating up” of these people was an +utter mistake is to say no more than can honestly be +said concerning Langalibalele’s tribe, the Ama-Hlubi; but, +in the case of the Putini people, the mistake was a more +flagrant one, and, when all was said and done, there was +no possibility of making out a charge against them at +all. Finally the fact stared the Government (both at +home and in Natal) in the face that a tribe had been +attacked, members of it killed, the people taken prisoners +and stripped of all their possessions, without even the +shadow of a reason for such treatment being forthcoming.</p> + +<p>Major (by this time Lieutenant-Colonel) Durnford +specially took up the cause of this injured and innocent<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span> +people. It was plain enough that the Government at +home would never ratify the action taken against the +Amangwe tribe by the Government in Natal; and that +sooner or later the latter would be forced, in this +instance, to undo their work as far as possible—to restore +the people to their location, and to disgorge at least +part of their plunder:—and it was evident to Colonel +Durnford that the sooner this was done the better for all +parties. The Natal Government would put itself in a +more dignified position by voluntarily and speedily +making full amends for the wrong done, and doing of +its own accord what eventually it would be obliged to do +at the command of the home Government. It was also +of special importance to the people themselves that they +should be allowed to return to their homes in time to +plant their crops for the following year.</p> + +<p>About May, 1874, it had been decided by the +Government that Lieutenant-Colonel Durnford, in his +capacity of Colonial Engineer, should take a working-party +to the Draakensberg Mountains, and blow up, or +otherwise destroy, all the passes by which ingress or +egress could be obtained. The chief object of this demolition +was that of giving confidence to the up-country +districts, the inhabitants of which were in perpetual fear +of inroads from the scattered members of the outlawed +tribe. They had indeed certain grounds for such apprehensions, +as one or two attacks had been made upon +farmhouses since the expedition. Even these demonstrations +were not evidence of organised resistance, but +mere individual acts of vengeance committed by single +men or small parties, in return for brutalities inflicted<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span> +upon the women and children belonging to them. They +were, however, sufficient to keep the country in perpetual +alarm, which it was highly advisable should be +checked.</p> + +<p>The demolition of the passes being decided upon, +Colonel Durnford applied for the services of the male +Putini prisoners, some eighty in number, and induced +the Government to promise the men their liberty, with +that of the rest of the tribe, if, on their return, when the +work should be finished, the Colonel could give them a +good character.</p> + +<p>He left Pietermaritzburg with his party of pioneers +and a company of the 75th Regiment, under Captain +Boyes and Lieutenant Trower, in May, and spent some +months in the complete destruction of the Draakensberg +passes, returning to the capital in September. The +movement at first raised violent though unavailing opposition +amongst the colonists, who persisted in looking +upon the Putini men as bloodthirsty rebels, who might +at any moment break loose upon them and ravage the +country. But when the whole party returned from the +mountains, without a single case of misconduct or desertion +amongst them—although they had had hard work +and undergone great hardships (shared to the full by +Colonel Durnford, who suffered to the end of his life from +the effects of intense cold upon his wounded arm)—the +colonists ceased to look upon them as desperate ruffians, +and soon forgot their fears. Meanwhile the Colonel +found considerable difficulty in obtaining the actual +freedom of the tribe, for which he and his eighty +pioneers had worked so hard and suffered so much.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> +Any less resolute spirit would have been beaten in the +contest, for “Government” was determined not to give +way an inch more than could possibly be helped.</p> + +<p>However, the matter was carried through at last, +and the whole tribe returned to their devastated homes—including +the eighty pioneers, to whom the Colonel +had paid the full wages of free labourers for the time +during which they had worked—in good time to plant +their crops for the coming year. Eventually they also +received some small compensation for the property of +which they had been robbed, though nothing even +approaching to an equivalent for all that had been taken +from them or destroyed by the Government force in +1873.</p> + +<p>The same party of mounted Basutos who were with +Colonel Durnford at the Bushman’s River Pass affair, +accompanied him throughout this second more peaceful +expedition, and remained his devoted followers for the +rest of his life.</p> + +<p>The colony was tranquil again, and gradually the +immediate consequences of the expedition vanished +below the surface of everyday life, except in the minds +of those who had suffered by it. But one important +result was obtained. England was once more convinced +that the time for withdrawing her troops from +the colony and leaving it to protect itself had not yet +arrived. Some such project had been entertained during +the previous year, and its speedy accomplishment was +frequently foretold; but such a proceeding would have +been fatal to the plans of the empire-making politicians. +The impossibility of withdrawing the troops was clearly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span> +established by turning a mole-hill into a mountain—by +proving how critical the condition of the native mind +within the colony was considered to be by those who +should be the best judges—so that it was thought +necessary to turn out the whole available European +force, regular and irregular, upon the slightest sign of +disturbance; and most of all by creating such a panic +in the colonial mind as had not existed since the early +days of Natal.</p> + +<p>It is doubtful how soon the Secretary of State for +the Colonies himself knew the extent to which the +operations of 1873-4 could be made subservient to his +great confederation scheme; or rather, to speak more +correctly, how seriously the latter must be injured by +any attempt to set right the injustice done to the +Hlubi tribe. When the Bishop went to England<a id="FNanchor_34" href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> and +pleaded in person the cause of the injured people, there +can be no doubt that Lord Carnarvon was fully impressed +by the facts then made known to him. None of the +despatches sent home could in the least justify the proceedings +of his subordinates in Natal. Lord Carnarvon’s +own words, expressing his disapproval of the action +taken against the two tribes, and requiring that all +possible restitution should be made to them, show +plainly enough that at the period of the Bishop’s visit +to him, with all the facts of the case before him, his +judgment in the matter coincided with that of the +Bishop himself. The latter returned to Natal, satisfied +that substantial justice would now be done, or at all +events that the suffering already inflicted upon the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> +innocent Hlubi and Amangwe tribes, by the rash and +mistaken action of the Government, would be alleviated +to the utmost extent considered possible without lowering +that Government in the eyes of the people.</p> + +<p>Certain steps, indeed, were immediately taken. +Orders were sent out for the release of the Putini +people, which order Colonel Durnford had already +induced the Natal Government to anticipate; and a +further order was notified that the tribe should be +compensated for the losses sustained by them during the +late expedition. In the case of Langalibalele and his +tribe, although it was not thought advisable to reinstate +them in their old position, every effort was to be made +to mitigate the severity with which they had been +treated. A few extracts from the Earl of Carnarvon’s +despatch on the subject will best show the tone in +which he wrote, and that the Bishop might reasonably +feel satisfied that mercy and consideration would be +shown to the oppressed people.</p> + +<p>The Earl of Carnarvon, after reviewing the whole +proceeding, comments somewhat severely upon the +manner in which the trial had been conducted. On this +point he says: “I feel bound to express my opinion that +there are several points open to grave observation and +regret.” He speaks of the “peculiar and anomalous” +constitution of the court, the equally “peculiar” law by +which the prisoner was tried, and of “the confusion and +unsatisfactory result to which such an anomalous blending +of civilised and savage terms and procedure must +lead.” He remarks that it was in his judgment “a +grave mistake to treat the plea of the prisoner as one of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span> +guilty;” and he says, “still more serious, because it +involved practical consequences of a very grave nature +to the prisoner, was the absence of counsel on his +behalf.” Entering into the various charges brought +against the prisoner, and the evidence produced to +support them, he dismisses the magistrate’s accusation +of “general indications, of which, however, it is +difficult to give special instance, of impatience of +control”; and the Governor and Secretary for Native +Affairs comments on the same as unimportant, with the +words, “I am bound to say that the evidence does not +appear to me fully to support these statements.”<a id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p> + +<p>Reviewing the circumstances and evidence concerning +the unregistered guns, he says: “I am brought to the +conclusion that, though there was probably negligence—it +may be more or less culpable—in complying with the +law, there was no sufficient justification for the charge +in the indictment that Langalibalele did encourage and +conspire with the people under him to procure firearms +and retain them, as he and they well knew contrary to +law, for the purpose and with the intention of, by means +of such firearms, resisting the authority of the Supreme +Chief.” Of the extent to which the chief’s disobedience, +in not appearing when summoned by Government, was +due to a “deliberately-planned scheme of resistance in +concert with others, or the mere effect of an unfounded +panic,” the Earl remarks: “Unfortunately this was not +made clear.” And, finally, referring to the charge of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> +insulting the Government messengers, he says: “I am +obliged, with great regret, to conclude that this very +important portion of the evidence given against the +prisoner at the trial was so far untrustworthy as to leave +it an open question whether the indignities of which the +witness complained may not have amounted to no more +than being obliged to take off his coat, which might be +a precaution dictated by fear, and nothing else.”</p> + +<p>Having thus censured the proceedings of his subordinates +on every point, he says:</p> + +<p>“That the Amahlubi tribe should be removed from +its location may have been a political necessity which, +after all that had occurred, was forced upon you, and I +fear<a id="FNanchor_36" href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> it is out of the question to reinstate them in the +position, whether of land or property, which they +occupied previously. The relations of the colony with +the natives, both within and without its boundaries, +render this impossible. But every care should be taken +to obviate the hardships and to mitigate the severities +which, assuming the offence of the chief and his tribe +to be <em>even greater than I have estimated it, have far +exceeded the limits of justice</em>.<a id="FNanchor_37" href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> Not only should the +terms of the amnesty of the 2nd May last be scrupulously +observed, but as far as possible means should be +provided by which the members of the tribe may be +enabled to re-establish themselves in settled occupations.”<a id="FNanchor_38" href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> +Lord Carnarvon further says: “With respect to +the Putili tribe, I have in their case also expressed my +opinion that no sufficient cause has been shown for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span> +removing them from their location. I can discover no +indication of their conspiracy or combination with +Langalibalele, beyond the vague and wholly uncorroborated +apprehension of some movement on their +part in connection with the supposed tendencies of his +tribe; and therefore I can see no good reason for +any punishment on this ground.”</p> + +<p>The proclamation to the native population enclosed +in this despatch contained the following sentences:</p> + +<p>“Langalibalele we release from imprisonment on the +island in the sea, but he shall not return to Natal. The +Amahlubi may, if they choose, when that is prepared +which is to be prepared, go to him, but he will not be +allowed to go to the Amahlubi.”</p> + +<p>In all that Lord Carnarvon thought fit to say on +this occasion he does not express the slightest approval +of any person concerned, or action taken, except of +the “conduct of Colonel Durnford, whose forbearance +and humanity towards the natives” (he says) “has +attracted my attention.” A despatch of the same date +(3rd December, 1874) recalls Sir Benjamin Pine from +the government of Natal.</p> + +<p>Anything more thoroughly condemnatory could +hardly be imagined, although it may be reasonably +questioned how far justice was done to Sir Benjamin +Pine<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> by the whole weight of mismanagement being<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> +placed upon his shoulders, while his coadjutor and +adviser, Mr. Shepstone, on whose opinion he had +acted throughout, and whose word, by his supposed +knowledge of native ways and character, was law +throughout the affair, was promoted and rewarded.</p> + +<p>After perusing Lord Carnarvon’s remarks and directions, +my readers may imagine that some very good +result would be produced on the fortunes of both tribes, +but in this supposition they would be greatly mistaken. +Nor, unless they had been in the habit of perusing South +African despatches with attention, would it occur to +them how easily the proclamation quoted from, drawn +up by Mr. Shepstone, could be evaded. The proclamation +itself is almost childish in its foolish way of +informing the people that they had behaved very badly, +and deserved all they had got, but would be relieved of +their punishment by the mercy of the Queen, and must +behave very well and gratefully in future. Such exhortations +to people who were perfectly aware that they +had been treated with the utmost injustice were rather +likely to raise secret contempt than respect in the minds +of an intelligent people, who would have far better +understood an honest declaration that “we have +punished you, under the impression that you had +done what we find you did not do, and will therefore +make it up to you as much as possible.”</p> + +<p>The two important sentences of the proclamation +(already quoted at p. 71), however, were capable of +being adapted to an extent of which Lord Carnarvon +probably did not dream. His lordship can hardly have +intended the first sentence by which Langalibalele was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span> +released “from imprisonment on the island in the sea,” +simply to mean that he was to be conveyed to the +nearest (most dreary) mainland, and imprisoned there, +within the limits of a small and barren farm, where every +irritating restriction and annoying regulation were still +imposed five years after. The words “he shall not +return to Natal,” certainly do not imply rigid confinement +to a small extent of land, where friends, white or +black, are not allowed to visit him, or send the most +innocent presents without tedious delay and official +permission. The second sentence is an admirable +specimen of South African art. The people might +go to their chief if they chose, “<em>when that is prepared +which is to be prepared</em>”—but which never has been +yet.</p> + +<p>We give Lord Carnarvon full credit for not having +the slightest notion that this clause would have no +result whatever, as nothing ever would be “prepared.” +Year after year has dragged on—one or two women<a id="FNanchor_40" href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +and a couple of boys being allowed, as a great favour, +to join the old chief during that time. But every +difficulty has always been raised about it, and not the +slightest attempt has been made to enable or permit the +tribe or any part of it to follow.</p> + +<p>When the chief and his son were first removed from +Robben Island to Uitvlugt, a desolate and unfruitful +piece of ground on the adjoining mainland, at a considerable +distance from the nearest dwelling-place of any +description, it was understood that the family would +live in comparative liberty, being merely “under surveillance;”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span> +that is to say, that some suitable person or +persons would be appointed by the Cape Government to +live within reach of them, and to be answerable for +their general good behaviour, for their gratification in +every reasonable wish or request, and for their making +no attempt to escape from the Cape Colony and return to +their homes in Natal.</p> + +<p>Strict justice would have required that the chief and +his people—those that were left of them—should be +restored to their location, as was done in the case of +the other tribe, and that both should be repaid the full +ascertainable value of the property taken from them +or destroyed; but politicians in these our days place +“expediency” so far above justice and truth, that men +who are fighting for the latter out-of-date objects may +well be thankful for the smallest concession to their +side.</p> + +<p>The Bishop accordingly was satisfied that the new +arrangement proposed for the captive chief’s comfort +was as good a one as he could expect from Lord +Carnarvon, although not what he might have done +himself had the power lain with him. But when he +signified his satisfaction in the matter, it was certainly +on the assumption that Langalibalele was to be made to +feel his captivity as little as possible upon the mainland—in +fact that it was to consist <em>merely</em> in his inability +to leave the colony, or, without permission, the land +assigned to him in it. But that such reasonable permission +should be easily obtainable—that as many of his +family and tribe as desired to do so should be allowed +to join him there—that no galling restraints (such as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> +still exist) should be imposed upon him, were certainly +conditions proposed by Lord Carnarvon and accepted by +the Bishop.</p> + +<p>When the Bishop returned to Natal, however, he +left behind him in England one who, closely following +upon his steps, undid much of the work which the other +had done. Mr. Shepstone could have brought no new +light to bear upon the subject—he could have given +Lord Carnarvon no fresh facts which had not appeared +already in the despatches, through which the Natal +Government had been in constant communication with +him. It was not likely that Mr. Shepstone should +possess information hitherto unknown to the rest of the +world, including Lord Carnarvon himself, which should +have the power of entirely altering the latter’s deliberately-formed +judgment upon the subject under +consideration. But had this been so, Lord Carnarvon +would assuredly have communicated the fact to the +Bishop, with whom he had parted in complete +unanimity of opinion, and to whom, and through +whom to the unhappy chief, promises had been made +and hopes held out, destined, apparently, never to be +fulfilled.</p> + +<p>It is needless to conjecture what may have passed +between Lord Carnarvon and the man who reached +England somewhat under a cloud, with certain errors +to answer for to a chief who was well up in facts +beforehand, but who, in 1876, appears as Sir Theophilus +Shepstone, K.C.M.G., with a commission as administrator +of the Transvaal hidden in the depths of his +pocket. The facts speak for themselves. The desire<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span> +of the Secretary of State to achieve confederation in +South Africa (the South African Empire!), the peculiar +capabilities of Mr. Shepstone for dealing with the +native and Dutch races of the country, and the considerable +check which “strict justice” to the injured +tribes would be to the great confederation scheme, are +sufficient grounds for believing that absolution for the +past, and immunity from the consequences of his acts +were purchased by the engagement, on Mr. Shepstone’s +part, to carry out in quiet and successful manner the +first decided step towards the great project of confederation +and empire, namely, the annexation of the +Transvaal. In the light cast by succeeding events, +it is plain that nothing would have been much more +inconvenient in the scheme of South African politics +than any measure which would be a censure upon +Mr. Shepstone, or prevent his promotion to a higher +office in the State.</p> + +<p>That no such alteration in the opinion of the +Secretary of State ever took place may be gathered +from his very decided though courteous replies to the +appeals made to him from the colony, to the addresses +from the Legislative Council and other colonists, containing +protests against Lord Carnarvon’s decisions, and +professing to give additional evidence against the tribes +in question which would completely justify the proceedings +of the colonial Government, and the severities +of their punishment.</p> + +<p>To all that could be thus alleged Lord Carnarvon +replies: “I did not form my opinion until I had +received and considered the fullest explanation which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> +the Government whose acts are questioned desired to +place before me, and in considering the case I had +the advantage of personal communication with an officer +who was specially deputed to represent the Government +of Natal before me, and who, from his knowledge, ability, +and experience, was perhaps better qualified than any +other to discharge the duty which was confided to him. +I fail to find in the present documents the explanations +which are promised in the address to Her Majesty, or +indeed any evidence so specific or conclusive as to affect +the opinion which, after the most anxious consideration, +Her Majesty’s Government formed upon this case.”—(P. +P. [C. 1342-1] p. 45.)</p> + +<p>In another despatch of the same date (July 27, 1875, +[C. 1342-1] p. 46), addressed to the officer administering +the Government, Natal, he concludes: “As there is +apparently no prospect of arriving at an agreement of +opinion on several points, there is, perhaps, no advantage +in continuing the discussion of them.” Nevertheless, +although holding so clear and decided a judgment, Lord +Carnarvon permitted his just and humane directions for +the treatment of the injured tribes to be practically set +aside by those in authority under him.<a id="FNanchor_41" href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">SIR GARNET WOLSELEY.</span></h2> + +<p class="pfs70">WHAT HE CAME FOR, WHAT HE DID, AND WHAT HE DID NOT DO.</p> + + +<p class="p1 noindent">England, however, was beginning to feel that her +South African possessions were in an unsettled condition, +although in point of fact they were quiet enough +until she meddled with them in the blundering well-meaning +fashion in which she has handled them ever +since. It was patent, indeed, that some interference was +required, when innocent tribes were liable to such cruel +injustice as that inflicted upon the Ama-Hlubi and +Amangwe in 1873, and, if her interference was honestly +intended on their behalf, she has at least the credit of +the “well-meaning” attributed to her above. Whatever +her intentions may have been, however, the result has +been a progress from bad to worse, culminating at last +in the late unhappy Zulu War.</p> + +<p>It is believed by many that England possesses but +one man upon whom she can place any reliance in times +of difficulty and danger, and accordingly Natal shortly +received notice that Sir Garnet Wolseley was coming to +“settle her affairs;” and the Natalians, with feelings<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span> +varying from humble and delighted respect to bitter +and suspicious contempt, prepared themselves to be set +straight—or not—according to their different sentiments.</p> + +<p>The great man and his “brilliant staff,” as it was +soon popularly called by the colonists—not without a +touch of humour—arrived in Natal upon the last day of +March, 1875, and on the 1st of April he took the oaths as +Administrator of the Government at Pietermaritzburg.</p> + +<p>He immediately commenced a series of entertainments, +calculated by their unusual number and brilliancy +to dazzle the eyes of young Natalian damsels. These +latter, accustomed as they were to very occasional +and comparatively quiet festivities, and balls at which a +few of the subalterns of the small garrison at Fort +Napier were their most valued partners, found themselves +in a new world of a most fascinating description, +all ablaze with gold and scarlet, V.C.’s, C.B.’s, titles, and +clever authors. And, what was more, all these striking +personages paid them the most gracious attentions—attentions +which varied according to the importance of +the young ladies’ male relatives to the political scheme +afoot. Meanwhile dinner after dinner was given to the +said relatives; Sir Garnet Wolseley entertained the +whole world, great and small, and the different members +of his staff had each his separate duty to perform—his +list of people to be “fascinated” in one way or another. +For a short time, perhaps, the popularity desired was +achieved in consequence of their united and persevering +efforts, although from the very first there were voices +to be heard casting suspicion upon those who were +“drowning the conscience of the colony in sherry and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> +champagne;” and there were others, more far-sighted +still, who grimly pointed out to the gratified and +flattered recipients of this “princely hospitality” the +very reasonable consideration: “You will have to pay +for the sherry and champagne yourselves in the end.”</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly the conviction that the colony would +pay dear for its unwonted gaiety—that it was being +“humbugged” and befooled—soon stole upon the people. +While the daughters enjoyed their balls, their fathers +had to buy their ball-dresses; and while the legislative +councillors and all their families were perpetually and +graciously entertained at Government House, the question +began to arise: “What is the object of it all?”</p> + +<p>All unusual treatment calls forth special scrutiny, +and it is to be doubted whether Sir Garnet’s lavish +hospitality and (almost) universally dropped honey, +with all the painful labours of his brilliant staff combined, +did more than awaken the suspicions which a +course of proceedings involving less effort would have +failed to evoke. Even the most ignorant of Dutch +councillors would be wise enough to know that when +a magnate of the land treated him and his family as +bosom friends and equals of his own, the said magnate +must want to “get something out of him”—even the +most untaught and ingenuous of colonial maidens would +soon rate at their true value the pretty speeches of the +“men of note,” who would have had them believe that, +after frequenting all the gayest and most fashionable +scenes of the great world, they had come to Natal and +found their true ideal upon its distant shores.</p> + +<p>A vast amount of trouble and of energy was thrown<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> +away by all concerned, while the few whose eyes were +open from the first stood by and watched to see what +would come of it. The question remains unanswered +to this day. That the annexation of the Transvaal by +Sir Garnet Wolseley did <em>not</em> come of it, is to that discreet +general’s great credit. And had his decision—that +the work which he was specially sent out to do<a id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> was +one for which the country was not ripe, and would not +be for many years—been accepted and acted upon by +England, the expense of his six months’ progress through +Natal would have been well worth incurring indeed, for +in that case there would have been no Zulu War. But +this, unfortunately for all parties, was not the case.</p> + +<p>The popular answer in Natal to the question, “What +did Sir Garnet Wolseley do for you?” is, “He got us up +an hour earlier in the morning;” an excellent thing truly, +but a costly hour, the history of which is as follows: +For many years the city of Pietermaritzburg, known as +“Sleepy Hollow” to its rivals of another and, in its +own opinion, a busier town, had set all its clocks and +watches, and regulated all its business hours by the +sound of a gun, fired daily from Fort Napier at nine +o’clock <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, the signal for which came from the town +itself. The gun was frequently credited with being +too fast or slow by a few seconds or even minutes, and +on one occasion was known to have been wrong by +half-an-hour; a mistake which was remedied in the most +original fashion, by setting the gun back a minute and +a half daily till it should have returned to the proper<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span> +time; to the utter confusion of all the chronometers +in the neighbourhood. But, right or wrong, the nine-o’clock +gun was the regulator of city time, including +that of all country places within reach of its report. +The natives understood it, and “gun-fire” was their +universal hour of call; the shops were opened at its +sound, and but little business done before it. But +during Sir Garnet Wolseley’s reign in Natal it occurred, +not without reason, to the member of his staff whom +he placed in temporary authority over the postal and +other arrangements of the colony, that nine o’clock was +too late for a struggling community to begin its day, +and he therefore altered the original hour of gun-fire +to that of eight <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> How far the alteration really +changed the habits of the people it is hard to say, or +how many of them may now let the eight-o’clock gun +wake them instead of sending them to work, but the +change remains an actual public proof of the fact that +in 1875 Sir Garnet Wolseley visited Natal.</p> + +<p>A more important measure was the bill which he +carried through the Legislative Assembly for the introduction +of eight nominee members to be chosen by the +Government, thereby throwing the balance of power +into the hands of the executive, unless, indeed, nominee +members should be chosen independent enough to take +their own course. Whether this measure was looked +upon as very important by those who proposed it, or +whether the energy displayed was for the purpose of +convincing the public mind that such really was Sir +Garnet’s great object in Natal, it is not so easy to +decide. But looking back through the events of the last<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span> +few years one is strongly tempted to suspect that the +whole visit to Natal, and all the display made there, +was nothing but a pretence, a blind to hide our designs +upon the Transvaal, for which Sir Garnet wisely considered +that the country was not ripe.</p> + +<p>But if in this instance we are bound to admire +Sir Garnet Wolseley’s good sense, we must, on the other +hand, greatly deprecate his behaviour towards the two +unfortunate tribes whose sorrows have been recorded, +and towards those who took an interest in their welfare +and just treatment—more especially towards the Bishop +of Natal.<a id="FNanchor_43" href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> + +<p>From the very first Sir Garnet’s tone upon native +matters, and towards the Bishop, were entirely opposed +to that used by Lord Carnarvon. Every attempt made +by the Bishop to place matters upon a friendly footing, +which would enable the new Governor to take advantage<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span> +of his thorough acquaintance with the natives, was +checked; nor through the whole of his governorship did +he ever invite the Bishop’s confidence or meet him in +the spirit in which he was himself prepared to act; a +course of proceeding most unfortunately imitated by +some of his successors, especially Sir Bartle Frere, who +only “invited criticism of his policy”—and received it—when +too late to be of any avail except to expose its +fallacies.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to rise from a perusal of the +despatches written by Sir Garnet after his arrival +in Natal, in answer or with reference to matters +in which the Bishop was concerned, without coming to +the conclusion that from the very beginning his mind +was prejudiced against the Bishop’s course, and that he +had no sympathy with him or the people in whom he +was interested. Far from attempting to carry out +Lord Carnarvon’s instructions in the spirit in which they +were undoubtedly given, he set aside some, and gave an +interpretation of his own to others, which considerably +altered their effect; while his two despatches, dated +May 12th and 17th, show plainly enough the bias of his +mind.</p> + +<p>The first is on the subject of the return of +Langalibalele, which the Bishop had recommended, offering +to receive him upon his own land at Bishopstowe, +and to make himself responsible, within reasonable +limits, for the chief’s good behaviour. Sir Garnet +“would deprecate in the strongest terms” such return. +“Langalibalele,” he says, “as I am informed by all +classes here, official and non-official (a very small knot of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> +men of extreme views excepted), is regarded by the +native population at large as a chief who, having defied +the authorities, and in doing so occasioned the murder +of some white men, is now suffering for that conduct.” +While thus avoiding the direct responsibility of sitting +“in judgment upon past events,” by <em>quoting</em> from “all +classes here,” he practically confirms their opinion by +speaking of those who differ from them as “a very small +knot of men of extreme views;” and he further commits +himself to the very unsoldierlike expression of “murder” +as applied to the death of the five men at the Bushman’s +River Pass, by speaking in the same paragraph of +the punishment of the chief as “a serious warning to +all other Kafir chiefs ... to avoid imitating his +example.” Without mentioning the Bishop by name, he +makes repeated allusions to him in a tone calculated to +give an utterly false impression of his action and +character. “To secure these objects” (the future safety of +the colony and the true interests of white and black) “it +is essential that a good feeling should exist between the +two races; and I am bound to say that in my opinion those +who, by the line of conduct they adopt, keep alive the +recollection of past events,”<a id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> etc. etc. “I have no wish +to attribute to those who adopt this policy any interested +motives. I am sure that they are actuated by feelings<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> +of high philanthropy,” (? simple justice and honesty), +“and nothing is farther from my mind than a wish to +cast any slur upon them. Yet I must say that from the +manner in which they refuse to believe all evidence that +does not coincide with their own peculiar views, and +from the fact of their regarding the condition of affairs +in Natal from one standpoint alone, I am forced to +consider them impractical (<em>sic</em>), and not to be relied on +as advisers by those who are responsible for the good +government of all classes.” In the following paragraphs +he speaks of “sensational narratives oftentimes based +upon unsifted evidence,” “highly-coloured accounts,” +and “one-sided, highly-coloured, and, in some instances, +incorrect statements that have been made public in a +sensational manner,” all which could refer to the Bishop +alone. If by regarding the condition of affairs in Natal +from one standpoint alone, Sir Garnet Wolseley means the +standpoint of British honour and justice, and looks upon +those who hold it as “impractical,” there is little more +to say. But Sir Garnet can never have given his +attention to the Bishop’s printed pamphlets, and could +therefore have no right to an opinion as to his reception +or treatment of evidence, or he would not venture to use +the expressions just quoted of one who had never made +an assertion without the most careful and patient sifting +of the grounds for it, whose only object was to establish the +truth, <em>whatever that might be</em>, and who was only too glad +whenever his investigations threw discredit upon a tale of +wrong or oppression. That principles of strict honour +and justice should in these our days be characterised<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span> +as “peculiar views,” is neither to the credit of the +English nation nor of its “only man.”</p> + +<p>In the second despatch mentioned Sir Garnet makes +the following singular remark: “In the meantime I +take the liberty of informing your lordship that the +words ‘the Amahlubi may, if they choose, when that +is prepared which is to be prepared, go to him,’ are +interpreted, by those who have taken an active part in +favour of the tribe, as binding the Government to +convey all members of the Amahlubi tribe who may +wish to join Langalibalele, to whatever place may be +finally selected for his location. I do not conceive that +any such meaning is intended, and should not recommend +that such an interpretation should be recognised. +I think, however, it may fairly be matter for consideration +whether Langalibalele’s wives and children, who +have lost all their property,<a id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> might not be assisted with +passages by sea to join Langalibalele.”<a id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></p> + +<p>It is difficult to imagine what other interpretation +can be placed on the words of the proclamation, or +how, after it had once been delivered, any narrower +measures could be fairly considered, or require further +“instructions.”</p> + +<p>In subsequent letters Sir Garnet scouts altogether +representations made by the Bishop of the destitute +condition of members of the Hlubi tribe, replying to +Lord Carnarvon on the subject by enclosing letters from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span> +various magistrates in different parts of the country +denying that destitution existed; saying that the people +were “in sufficiently good circumstances;” and most of +them suggesting that, should anything like starvation +ensue, the people have only to hire themselves out +as labourers to the white people. The Bishop would +certainly never have made representations unsupported +by facts; but in any case it is a question whether we +had not some further duties towards a large number +of innocent people whom we had stripped of all their +possessions, and whose homes and crops we had +destroyed, than that of allowing them to labour for +us at a low rate of wages; or whether the mere fact +of its being thus possible for all to keep body and +soul together relieved us of the responsibility of having +robbed and stripped them.</p> + +<p>These facts in themselves prove how different from +Lord Carnarvon’s feelings and intentions were those of +his subordinate, and how real Sir Garnet’s antagonism. +It is not therefore surprising that the commands of +the former were not, and have never been, carried out.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE MATSHANA INQUIRY AND COLONEL COLLEY.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">In consequence of the threatened action for libel against +the Bishop of Natal on account of statements made in +his defence of Langalibalele, which Mr. John Shepstone +considered to be “of a most libellous and malicious +nature,” the Bishop had laid the matter before the +Lieut.-Governor, Sir B. Pine, requesting him to +direct an inquiry to be made into the truth of the said +statements. This was refused by His Excellency through +the acting Colonial Secretary in the following terms: +“Your lordship has thought it right to make the most +serious charges against an important and long-tried +officer of this Government—charges, too, relating to a +matter which occurred sixteen years ago.<a id="FNanchor_47" href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> That officer +has, in His Excellency’s opinion, very properly called +upon your lordship to retract those charges. Instead of +doing this, you have appealed to the Lieut.-Governor +to institute an inquiry as to the truth of the charges you<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span> +have made. This the Lieut.-Governor has no hesitation +in declining to do.” Thereby prejudging the +case without inquiry.</p> + +<p>The Bishop’s next action was an appeal to the +Secretary of State for the Colonies, which he requested +the Lieut.-Governor to forward with a copy of the +correspondence which had already taken place on the +subject, in order that His Excellency might be fully +aware of what steps he was taking.</p> + +<p>This appeal contained a short account of the facts +which had led to his making the statements complained +of—the trial of Langalibalele, and the “fear of +treachery” perpetually pleaded by many witnesses in +excuse of the chiefs conduct, but treated with contempt +both by the court below and the council, each including +the Secretary for Native Affairs, and presided over by +His Excellency. The statements made by the Bishop—not +mere “charges” unsupported by evidence, but the +deposition of four eye-witnesses who might be cross-examined +at will—would, if proved to be true, greatly +tend to palliate the offences imputed to the chief, and +should therefore not have been suppressed by the officer +concerned, who had kept silence when a word from his +mouth would have cleared a prisoner on trial for his life +from a very serious part of the charge against him. The +Bishop therefore submitted that the fact of the events +in question having taken place sixteen years before +was no reason why they should not be brought to light +when required for the prisoner’s defence.</p> + +<p>The correspondence which ensued—including a very +curious circumstance relating to a missing despatch,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> +recorded in the despatch-book at Pietermaritzburg, +but apparently never received in Downing Street—will +be found by those interested in the subject in the +Bishop’s pamphlet, “The History of the Matshana +Inquiry.” For our present purpose it is sufficient to remark +that on the 22nd of April, 1875, Lord Carnarvon +directed Sir Garnet Wolseley to institute a careful +inquiry into the matter, and suggested that under all the +circumstances this inquiry might be best conducted by +one or more of the senior officers of Sir Garnet’s staff, +who had accompanied him on special service to Natal. +The correspondence which followed between the parties +concerned, with arrangements for the summoning of +witnesses and for the management of the trial, are +also all to be found in the above-mentioned pamphlet. +The inquiry was to be of a private nature, no reporters +to be admitted, nor counsel on either side permitted.<a id="FNanchor_48" href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> +The Bishop and Mr. Shepstone were each to be allowed +the presence of one friend during the inquiry, who, +however, was not to speak to the witnesses, or to +address the officer holding the inquiry. In addition +the Bishop asked, and received, permission to bring +with him the native interpreter, through whom he was +in the habit of conducting important conversations +with natives, as his own Zulu, although sufficient for +ordinary purposes, was not, in his opinion, equal to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span> +the requirements of the case, while Mr. J. Shepstone +was familiar from childhood with colloquial Kafir.</p> + +<p>In the Bishop’s pamphlet he points out that the +course which Lord Carnarvon had thought proper to +adopt in this case was wholly his own, and proceeds as +follows:—a passage which we will quote entire:—</p> + +<p>“And I apprehend that this inquiry, though of +necessity directed mainly to the question whether +Mr. John Shepstone fired at Matshana or not, is not +chiefly concerned with the character of the act imputed +to him, described by the Secretary for Native Affairs as +of a treacherous murderous nature, but involves the far +more serious question whether that act, if really committed, +was suppressed by Mr. John Shepstone at the +time in his official report, was further suppressed by him +when he appeared last year as Government prosecutor +against a prisoner on trial for his life—who pleaded it +as a very important part of his defence, but found his +plea treated by the court, through Mr. John Shepstone’s +silence, as a mere impudent ‘pretext’—and has been +finally denied by him to the Secretary of State himself, +and is still denied down to the present moment. Such +an act as that ascribed to him, if duly reported at the +time, might, I am well aware, have been justified by +some, or at least excused, on grounds of public policy +under the circumstances; though I, for my part, should +utterly dissent from such a view. In that case, however, +it would have been unfair and unwarrantable to +have reproached Mr. Shepstone at the present time for +an act which had been brought properly under the +cognizance of his superiors. But the present inquiry,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> +as I conceive, has chiefly in view the question whether +the facts really occurred as Mr. John Shepstone reported +at first officially, and has since reaffirmed officially, or +not.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Colley, C.B., was the officer appointed to +conduct the inquiry, the commencement of which was +fixed for August 2nd, 1875.</p> + +<p>The intervening period granted for the purpose was +employed by the Bishop in summoning witnesses from +all parts of the land; from Zululand, from the Free +State, and distant parts of the colony. Matshana +himself was summoned as a witness under an offer +of safe conduct from the Government. He, however, +did not find it convenient, or was afraid, to trust +himself in person; but Cetshwayo sent some of his +men in his place. The Bishop’s object was to summon +as many “indunas,” or messengers, or otherwise prominent +persons in the affair of 1858; men who were +thoroughly trustworthy, and “had a backbone,” and +would not be afraid to speak the truth; his desire being +to get at that truth, whatever it might be. Thirty-one +men responded to his call, of whom, however, only +twenty were examined in court, the Bishop giving way +to Colonel Colley’s wish in the matter, and to save the +court’s time. Four other witnesses summoned by <em>both</em> +the Bishop and Mr. Shepstone were examined, and nine +more on Mr. Shepstone’s behalf, called by him. The +Bishop had considerable difficulty in procuring the +attendance of the witnesses he required. The simple +order of Mr. John Shepstone would suffice, by the mere +lifting up of his finger, to bring down to Pietermaritzburg<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> +at once any natives whom he desired as witnesses, +invested as he was in the native mind with all the +weight and all the terrors of the magisterial office; and +with the additional influence derived from the fact of +his having only recently filled, during his brother’s +absence in England, the office of Secretary for Native +Affairs, with such great—almost despotic—authority +over all the natives in the colony. The Bishop, on the +contrary, had no such influence. He had no power at +all to insist upon the attendance of witnesses. He +could only <em>ask</em> them to come, and if they came at his +request, they would know that they were coming, as it +were, with a rope around their necks; and if they were +proved to have borne false witness, calumniating foully +so high an official, they had every reason to fear that +their punishment would be severe, from which the +Bishop would have had no power—even if, in such a +case, he had the will—to save them.</p> + +<p>When, upon the 2nd August, the inquiry began, +out of the many witnesses called by the Bishop, upon +whom lay the <i lang="la">onus probandi</i>, only three were at hand; +and two of these, as will be seen, were present merely +through the wise forethought of <em>the</em> intelligent Zulu, +William Ngidi. But for this last, the inquiry would +have begun, and—as the Commissioner was pressed +for time, having other important duties on his hands +in consequence of Sir Garnet Wolseley and staff +being about immediately to leave the colony—might +even (as it seemed) have ended, with only a single +witness being heard in support of the Bishop’s story. +No others were seen or even heard of for some<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> +days, and then by accident only. The Secretary +for Native Affairs, it is true, by direction of Sir +Garnet Wolseley, had desired Cetshwayo to send down +Matshana, and the Bishop fully expected that this +intervention of the Government with a promise of +safe conduct for him, would have sufficed to bring him. +But Mr. John Dunn, “Immigration Agent” of the +Government in Zululand, and Cetshwayo’s confidential +adviser, whom the Bishop met in Durban on July 8th, +told him at once that he did not think there was +the least chance of Matshana’s coming, as the Secretary +for Native Affairs’ words in 1873, when he went up to +crown Cetshwayo (who asked very earnestly that +Matshana might be forgiven and allowed to return to +Natal) were so severe—“He had injured the Secretary +for Native Affairs’ own body;” that is, one of his men +had wounded his brother (Mr. John Shepstone) fifteen +years previously, when thirty or forty of Matshana’s +men had been killed—that he would be afraid to come +at a mere summons like this, notwithstanding the +promise of safety, the value of which he would naturally +appreciate by his own experience in former days. Mr. +Dunn promised to do his best to persuade him to go +down, but did not expect to succeed. And, in point of +fact, he never came, alleging the usual “pain in the +leg;” and the discussion in Zululand about his coming +had only the result of delaying for some days the +starting of the other witnesses whom the Bishop had +asked Cetshwayo to send. On August 4th, however, +Zulu messengers arrived, reporting to the Secretary for +Native Affairs the sickness of Matshana, and to the Bishop<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> +the fact that six witnesses from Zululand were on the way, +and they themselves had pushed on ahead to announce +their coming, as they knew they were wanted for +August 2nd. Accordingly five of them arrived on +August 8th, and the sixth, Maboyi, on August 5th, under +somewhat singular circumstances, as will presently appear. +Meanwhile most important witnesses in support of the +Bishop’s story were expected by him from Matshana’s +old location—Kwa’ Jobe (at the place of “Jobe”)—partly +in consequence of a letter written by Magema to +William Ngidi, partly in compliance with the Bishop’s +request sent through Cetshwayo to Matshana himself in +Zululand. William Ngidi replied to Magema, as follows: +“Your letter reached me all right, and just in the very +nick of time, for it came on Saturday, and the day +before Mr. John arrived here (Kwa’ Jobe), and called the +men to come to him on Monday, that they might talk +together about Matshana’s affair. On Sunday my friend +Mlingane came, and we took counsel together; for by +this time it was well known that Mr. John had come to +speak with the people about that matter of Matshana. +So we put our heads together, and I got up very early +on Monday morning and hurried off to Deke, and told +him that he was called by Sobantu (the Bishop) to go +before the Governor. He readily agreed to go, and went +down at once, on the very day when Matshana’s people +came together to Mr. John, so that he never went to +him; but, when I arrived, there had just come already +the messenger to call him to go to Mr. John, and another +came just as he was about to set off for ’Maritzburg. I +told him to call for Mpupama on his way, and take him<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span> +on with him. I see that you have done well and wisely +in sending that letter without delay to me.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly these two men, Deke and Mpupuma, +reached Bishopstowe safely in good time. Also Ntambama, +Langalibalele’s brother, of whom the Bishop had +heard as having been present on the occasion, readily +came at his summons, though he was not asked to give +his evidence, nor did the Bishop know what it would be +before he made his statement in court. But for the +prudent action of William Ngidi, Ntambama would have +been the only witness whose testimony would have sustained +the Bishop’s statements during the first days of +the inquiry; and his evidence, unsupported, might have +been suspected, as that of Langalibalele’s brother, of not +being disinterested, and would have been contradicted +at once (see below) by Ncamane’s.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, July 31st, the inquiry being about to +begin on the Monday, Magema received a doleful letter +from William Ngidi to the effect that the ’Inkos Sobantu +must take care what he was about, for that all the people +were afraid, and would not venture to come forward and +give evidence against a high government official. He +spoke, however, of one man “whom I trust most of all +the people here,” and who had the scar upon his neck of +a wound received upon the day of Matshana’s arrest.</p> + +<p>Discouraging, indeed, as it was to find on the very +eve of the inquiry that all his efforts through William +Ngidi had failed to procure witnesses, except the two +sent down by him at the first, the Bishop was utterly at +a loss to understand how his message to Cetshwayo had, +to all appearance, also entirely failed with respect to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span> +those men of Matshana still living Kwa’ Jobe, as well +as (it seemed) those living in Zululand.</p> + +<p>On August 5th the mystery with respect to the +witnesses Kwa’ Jobe was explained. Deke, Mpupuma, +Ntambama, and Njuba, who had come from Zululand, +had all been examined, as well as Ncamane, who, when +called by the Bishop, had replied that he would only +come if called by the Government; and when summoned +through the Secretary for Native Affairs, at the Bishop’s +request, withdrew or modified important parts of his +printed statement. The Bishop had actually no other +witness to call, and all his efforts to obtain a number of +well-informed and trustworthy eye-witnesses from Zululand, +Kwa’ Jobe, and Basutoland, seemed likely to end +in a complete fiasco. But on the evening of Thursday, +August 5th, a native came to him in the street and said +that his name was Maboyi, son of Tole (Matshana’s +chief induna, who was killed on the occasion in question), +and that he had been sent by Matshana to Mr. Fynn, +the superintendent, and Lutshungu, son of Ngoza, the +present chief, of the remnant of his former tribe living +Kwa’ Jobe, to ask to be allowed to take down to +’Maritzburg as witnesses those men of his who were +present on the day of the attempt to seize Matshana. +Mr. Fynn said that “He did not refuse the men, but +wished to hear a word by a letter coming from the +Secretary for Native Affairs—it was not proper that he +should hear it from a man of Matshana coming from +Zululand,” and sent him off under charge of a policeman +to ’Maritzburg, where he was taken to the Secretary for +Native Affairs, who said to him: “If Matshana himself<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span> +had come, this matter might have been properly settled; +it won’t be without him!” But the Secretary for Native +Affairs said nothing to Maboyi about his going to call +the witnesses Kwa’ Jobe; he only asked by whom he +had been sent, and when informed, he told him to go +home to Zululand, as he had not been summoned and +had nothing to do with this affair. Maboyi had reached +’Maritzburg on Monday, August 2nd, the day on which +the inquiry began. He saw the Secretary for Native +Affairs on Tuesday, and on that day was dismissed as +above. Not a word was said to the Bishop about his +being brought down in this way under arrest, which +fully explained the non-arrival of his witnesses from +the location; since, first, their fear of giving witness +against a government official, and now the arrest of +Maboyi, had spread a kind of panic among them all, +and deterred them from coming to give evidence +against Mr. John Shepstone—himself a resident +magistrate, only lately acting as Secretary for Native +Affairs, and the brother of the Secretary for Native +Affairs himself—merely in answer to the Bishop’s unofficial +summons. Hearing, however, on Thursday from +natives that the case was then going on at Government +House, Maboyi went up to speak with the Bishop, but +arrived when the court had adjourned. He found him +out in town, however, just as he was on the point of +leaving for Bishopstowe, and was, of course, told to wait +and give his evidence. Accordingly, he went to Bishopstowe, +and Magema was charged to bring him in for +examination on Saturday, the next day of the inquiry. +On the way into town for that purpose, Mr. Fynn’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> +policeman most positively refused to let him stay, and +went off ultimately in great wrath, as Maboyi and +Magema insisted that he must give his evidence before +leaving town to return to Zululand.</p> + +<p>On that day, Saturday, August 7th, the Bishop +explained the whole affair to the Commissioner, and, +having obtained a list of names from Maboyi, requested +that a Government messenger might be sent for the +men at once, and the Secretary for Native Affairs was +instructed to summon them. On Monday, August +9th, the Secretary for Native Affairs replied that +he had summoned all these men, except seven, who +were already in town, having been called by Mr. John +Shepstone, and having been, in fact, under his hands—in +charge of his induna Nozitshina—from the very first +day of the inquiry. It seemed as if William Ngidi’s +statement was really to be verified, and that these men +had all succumbed to their fears. On the other hand, +among these seven was Matendeyeka, whom William +Ngidi “trusted most of all;” and there might be +amongst them some who would have the courage to +speak out and to describe the facts connected with the +arrest of Matshana to the best of their ability. At all +events the Bishop resolved to call them, and do his best +to bring the truth out of them; and Magema afterwards +whispered that he had heard from one of Mr. +John’s men, who was present when he spoke with the +people (Kwa’ Jobe), that the men there had said: “It +was of no use to discuss it beforehand; they would say +nothing about what they remembered now; but before +the Governor they would speak the plain truth as they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> +knew it.” Accordingly the Bishop called four of these +men—Matendeyeka, Faku (son of Tole), Magwaza, +Gwazizulu—and they all confirmed the story as told by +his other witnesses. He left the other three to be called +by Mr. John Shepstone, but he never called them. That +these witnesses should have been called by Mr. John +Shepstone, as well as by the Bishop, was satisfactory, +showing that they were witnesses to whom no objection +could be made on the score of character or position in +the tribe, or as having been in any way, directly or +indirectly, influenced by the Bishop.</p> + +<p>But the result was that, as these men were in +the hands of the other side from the time they reached +until they left ’Maritzburg, the Bishop had never even +seen them, or had any communication with them, until +they appeared to give their evidence. He was wholly +ignorant beforehand of what they <em>would</em> say or what +they <em>could</em> say; he knew not whether they would +confirm or contradict the story told by his other +witnesses; and he knew not on what particular points, +if any, they could give special evidence, and was +therefore unable to ask the questions which might +have elicited such evidence.</p> + +<p>By this time (August 8th) the witnesses from Zululand +had arrived, from whom the Bishop learned the +names of other important witnesses living Kwa’ Jobe, +and at his request these also were sent for by Government +messengers. Unfortunately, through Maboyi’s +arrest, some of the Bishop’s witnesses summoned by the +Secretary for Native Affairs arrived too late on the very +day (August 21st) on which the evidence was closed, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span> +others a day or two afterwards—twelve altogether—of +whom only one could be heard, whom the Bishop had +expressly named as a man whose testimony he especially +desired to take. Upon the whole, Sir Garnet +Wolseley, who began by “leaving entirely in the +Bishop’s hands” the difficult and not inexpensive +business of “obtaining his witnesses,” summoned ultimately +twenty-two of them, of whom, however, four only +could be heard by the Commissioner; two (Matshana +and Ngijimi) did not come at all; and three, including +a most important witness, were called too late to be +able to arrive till all was over; while four more out +of the seven who had been called by Mr. John Shepstone +gave their evidence in support of the Bishop, as doubtless +the three others would have done, if Mr. John Shepstone +had called them.</p> + +<p>In the despatch to the Earl of Carnarvon, already +quoted from (note to p. 91), Sir B. Pine remarks: +“I think it further my duty to point out to your lordship +that much of the evidence adduced by the Bishop +in this case has been taken in this way (<i lang="la">ex parte</i>, without +the safety of publicity, and the opportunity of cross-examination); +evidence so taken is peculiarly untrustworthy, +for everyone moderately acquainted with the +native character is aware that when a question is put +to a native, he will intuitively perceive what answer is +required, and answer accordingly.” The above is a +common but insufficiently supported accusation against +the natives, denied by many who are more than +“moderately acquainted” with their character; although +of course it is the natural tendency of a subservient<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> +race in its dealings with its masters, and possible tyrants. +But granting for the nonce its truth, it would, in the +case of the Matshana inquiry, tell heavily on the +Bishop’s side. Sir B. Pine was not present at the +private investigation made by the Bishop, to which he +alludes in the above sentence, and therefore can be no +judge of the “cross-examination,” which the four +original witnesses underwent; and they, if they did +“intuitively perceive” what answer was required, and +“answer accordingly,” must merely have spoken the +truth; a truth which, at that early period of his investigations, +the Bishop was <em>most reluctantly</em> receiving, and +would gladly have had disproved.</p> + +<p>The evidence before the court, however, was given +under circumstances which, if Sir B. Pine’s account of +native witnesses be correct, adds enormously to the +value of the fact that out of these twenty-four witnesses, +summoned from various quarters, many of them without +opportunity of communicating either with the +Bishop or with each other, but one<a id="FNanchor_49" href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> failed when +it came to the point; and he, a feeble old man, just +released from prison (one of the captured tribe), was +manifestly in a state of abject alarm at finding +himself brought up to witness against the Government +whose tender mercies he had so lately experienced, and +contradicted before Colonel Colley the greater part of +the story which he had originally told the Bishop. +This poor creature had been intimidated and threatened +by a certain man named Adam, under whose surveillance +he lived after being released from gaol, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> +who actually turned him and his family out at night +as a punishment for his having obeyed a summons +to Bishopstowe. He was manifestly ready to say anything +which would relieve him from the fear of the +gaol, which he pleaded to Mr. Shepstone a day or +two later; on which occasion he unsaid all he had +previously said, having, as he afterwards confessed, been +warned by Mr. Shepstone’s policeman Ratsha, who +asked him for what purpose he had been summoned +by the Bishop, <em>not to speak a word about</em> “Mr. John’s” +treatment of Matshana. But, with the best intentions, +the man did not succeed in making his story tally +entirely with that of Mr. Shepstone’s other witnesses, +nor with Mr. Shepstone’s own.</p> + +<p>With this one exception the Bishop’s witnesses told +the same story in all essential respects. They were men +arriving from many different and distant parts of the +colony, from Zululand, and from the Free State, who +could not possibly have combined to tell the same story +in all its details, which, if false, would have been torn to +pieces when so many men of different ages and characters +were cross-examined by one so thoroughly acquainted +with all the real facts of the case as Mr. Shepstone—men +who had nothing to expect from the Bishop, but +had everything to dread from the Government if proved +to have brought a false and foul charge against an officer +so highly placed and so powerfully protected; <em>yet not +the least impression was made upon the strength of their +united evidence</em>.</p> + +<p>The case, however, is very different when we turn to +Mr. Shepstone’s witnesses. Of these, nine in number<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> +(besides the four natives called by both the Bishop and +Mr. Shepstone), seven were natives; the other two being +the Secretary for Native Affairs and Mr. John Taylor—a +son of Mr. John Shepstone’s first wife by her former +husband. Mr. Taylor was a lad of nine at the time, but, +having been present with his mother and little sister +on the occasion of the attack upon Matshana, was +summoned as a witness by Mr. Shepstone. His +evidence was chiefly important as helping to prove +that Matshana’s party had not the concealed weapons +which Mr. Shepstone’s chief native witness Nozitshina +said were left by them in immense numbers +upon the ground; as he stated that he and his +sister went over the ground, after the affair was over, +and picked up the assegais, “about eight or nine” in +number.</p> + +<p>But it is important to remark that the very fact of +the presence at this meeting of Mrs. Shepstone with her +two children, goes far to disprove the account given by +Mr. Shepstone in his second “statement,” prepared by +him on the occasion of this trial, but which is greatly at +variance on some vital points with the narrative written +by him on the day after the event, dated March 17th, +1858, for the information of His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor. +It seems almost incredible that Mr. John. +Shepstone should have, as he says in his second statement, +“made up his mind to face almost certain” death, +not only for himself and all his men, but for <em>his wife and +her two young children</em>, on the grounds that it was “too +late to withdraw at this stage” (same report), when at +any time since the “day or two previous” (<em>ibid.</em>), when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> +the information in question<a id="FNanchor_50" href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> reached him; according to +his account he might have put off the meeting, or at all +events have sent his wife and her children to a place of +safety. The Secretary for Native Affairs’ evidence could +of course be of a merely official character, as he was not +present on the occasion. He stated that Mr. John Shepstone’s +letters of February 16th and 24th, 1858, asked +for by the Bishop, on the subject of the approaching +interview with Matshana, could not be found, although +they “must have been recently mislaid,” as he himself +(the Secretary for Native Affairs) had quoted from one of +them in his minute for the Secretary of State in June, +1874. Of Mr. Shepstone’s native witnesses it can only +be said that, amongst the seven called by him only, six +contradicted themselves and each other to so great an +extent as to make their evidence of no value, while the +evidence of the seventh was unimportant, and the four +witnesses called by both Mr. Shepstone and the Bishop +told the same story as did the witnesses of the latter, +most unexpectedly to him.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Colonel Colley’s judgment, although +convicting Mr. John Shepstone of having enticed the +chief Matshana to an interview with the intention of +seizing him, was received and acted upon in Natal as an +acquittal of that officer. So far was this the case, that,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span> +although Lord Carnarvon directed that the Bishop’s +costs should be placed upon the colonial estimates, the +Legislative Council of the colony refused to pay them on +the grounds that they were the costs of the losing +party. In his report Colonel Colley gives his opinions +as follows:</p> + +<p>“That Matyana was enticed to an interview, as +stated by the Bishop, and was induced to come unarmed, +under the belief that it was a friendly meeting, such as +he had already had with Mr. Shepstone, for the purpose +of discussing the accusations against him and the +question of his return to his location.</p> + +<p>“That Matyana, though very suspicious and unwilling, +came there in good faith; and that the accusations +against him—of meditating the assassination of +Mr. Shepstone and his party, of a prearranged plan +and signal for the purpose, and of carrying concealed +arms to the meeting—which are made in Mr. J. +Shepstone’s statements, are entirely without foundation.</p> + +<p>“That Mr. Shepstone at that time held no magisterial +position, but was simply the commander of a small +armed force charged with the execution of a warrant; +and that the manner in which he proposed to effect the +seizure, viz. at a supposed friendly meeting, was known +to and sanctioned by, if not the Government, at least +the immediate representative of the Government and +Mr. Shepstone’s superior, Dr. Kelly, the resident +magistrate of the district.</p> + +<p>“That Mr. Shepstone did not attempt to shoot +Matyana, as described by the Bishop, but fired into the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span> +air after the attempt to seize Matyana had failed, and in +consequence of the attempt made almost simultaneously +by some of Matyana’s men to reach the huts and seize +the arms of Mr. Shepstone’s men.</p> + +<p>“The concealment of the gun,” he continues, “and +the fact that a number of Matyana’s men were killed in +the pursuit, is not disputed by Mr. Shepstone.</p> + +<p>“I confess that I have had the greatest difficulty in +forming my opinion on this latter point, and especially +as to whether Mr. Shepstone fired into the air as he +states. <em>The weight of direct evidence adduced at the +inquiry lay altogether on the other side.</em>”<a id="FNanchor_51" href="#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a></p> + +<p>Colonel Colley then proceeds to give the considerations +by which he has been influenced in coming to a +conclusion directly opposed to the side on which, as he +himself says, lay the weight of direct evidence. These +considerations were threefold. The first is an opinion +of his own, considerably at variance with most people’s +experience, namely, that a story handed down by +oral tradition “crystallises into an accepted form,” +by which he explains away the fact that so many +witnesses told the same story, and one which stood +the test of cross-examination, without any important +variations.</p> + +<p>The second consideration was even more singular, +namely, that allowance must be made on Mr. John +Shepstone’s side for the greater ability with which the +Bishop conducted his case; and the third lay in the +statement that “Mr. J. W. Shepstone is a man of known +courage, and a noted sportsman and shot,” and “was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> +not likely to have missed” Matyana if he had fired at +him; “and, if driven to fire into the crowd in self-defence, +it is more probable that he would have shot +one of the men on the right.” The Bishop’s opponents +from the very first persistently put forward the notion +that he had “brought a charge against Mr. J. W. +Shepstone,” and this was countenanced by the Government +when they threw upon him the serious task of +prosecuting before a Court of Enquiry, whereas in +point of fact the real question at issue was not +whether or no a certain shot was actually fired, but +whether, on a certain occasion, a Government official had +acted in a treacherous manner towards a native chief, +thereby giving reason for the excuse of fear on the part +of Langalibalele, treated as a false pretence by the +court, some members of which were fully aware of the +facts, and the prosecutor himself the official concerned. +And, further, whether the said facts had been concealed +by high Government officers, and denied by them +repeatedly to their superiors in England.</p> + +<p>On the former questions Colonel Colley’s report +leaves no doubt, and Lord Carnarvon’s comments upon +it are of a very decided nature. After signifying his +acceptance of the decision as a “sound and just conclusion,” +and complimenting Colonel Colley on the “able +and conscientious manner in which” he “has acquitted +himself of an arduous and delicate task,” he continues: +“On the other hand, I must, even after the lapse of so +many years, record my disapprobation of the artifices by +which it is admitted Matyana was entrapped into the +meeting with a view to his forcible arrest. Such underhand<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span> +manœuvres are opposed to the morality of a +civilised administration; they lower English rule in the +eyes of the natives; and they even defeat their own +object, as is abundantly illustrated by the present case.”</p> + +<p>Mr. J. W. Shepstone, however, was a subordinate +officer, and if his mode of executing the warrant was +approved by the superior authorities in the colony, the +blame which may attach to the transaction must be +borne by them at least in equal proportion.</p> + +<p>The gist of Colonel Colley’s decision is altogether +condemnatory of Mr. J. Shepstone, some of whose statements, +he says, “are entirely without foundation,” and, +by implication, also of his brother, the Secretary for Native +Affairs; yet virtually, and in the eyes of the world, the +decision was in their favour. To quote from <cite>The Natal +Mercury</cite> of November 2nd, 1875: “It is still understood +that Mr. Shepstone, in the minds of impartial judges, +stands more than exonerated from the Bishop’s charges.” +Mr. John Shepstone was retained in his responsible position, +and received further promotion; and his brother +was immediately appointed to the high office of Administrator +of Government, and sent out with power to +annex the Transvaal if he thought proper.</p> + +<p>We have dwelt at some length upon the inquiry +into the Matshana case; for, since the annexation of the +Transvaal was one of the direct and immediate causes +of the Zulu War, and since it seems improbable that +any other man than Sir Theophilus Shepstone could at +the moment have been found equally able to undertake +the task, it becomes a serious question to what extent an +inquiry which had no practical effect whatsoever upon<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span> +the position of men whose conduct had been stigmatised +by the Secretary of State himself as “underhand +manœuvres, opposed to the morality of a civilised +administration,” may not be considered chargeable with +the disastrous results. And, further, we must protest +against the spirit of the last sentence of Lord +Carnarvon’s despatch on the subject, in which he +expresses his “earnest hope that his (Colonel Colley’s) +report will be received by all parties to this controversy +in the spirit which is to be desired, and be accepted as +a final settlement of a dispute which cannot be prolonged +without serious prejudice to public interests, and +without a renewal of those resentments which, for the +good of the community—English as well as native—had +best be put to rest.”</p> + +<p>A dislocated joint must be replaced, or the limb +cannot otherwise be pressed down into shape and “put +to rest;” a thorn must be extracted, not skinned over +and left in the flesh; and as, with the dislocation unreduced +or the thorn unextracted, the human frame +can never recover its healthful condition, so it is with +the state with an unrighted wrong, an unexposed +injustice.</p> + +<p>The act of treason towards Matshana, hidden for +many years, looked upon by its perpetrators as a matter +past and gone, has tainted all our native policy since—unknown +to most English people in Natal or at home—and +has finally borne bitter fruit in the present unhappy +condition of native affairs.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE ANNEXATION OF THE TRANSVAAL.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">On the 5th of October, 1876, Sir Theophilus Shepstone, +K.C.M.G., was appointed “to be a Special Commissioner +to inquire respecting certain disturbances which +have taken place in the territories adjoining the +colony of Natal, and empowering him, in certain +events, to exercise the power and jurisdiction of +Her Majesty over such territories, or some of them.” +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 1776] p. 1.)</span></p> + +<p>The commission stated: “Whereas grievous disturbances +have broken out in the territories adjacent +to our colonies in South Africa, with war between the +white inhabitants and the native races, to the great +peril of the peace and safety of our said colonies ... +and, if the emergency should seem to you to be such as +to render it necessary, in order to secure the peace and +safety of our said colonies and of our subjects elsewhere, +that the said territories, or any portion or portions of +the same, should provisionally, and pending the announcement +of our pleasure, be administered in our +name and on our behalf; then, and in such case only, +we do further authorise you, the said Sir Theophilus<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span> +Shepstone, by proclamation under your hand, to declare +that, from and after a day to be therein named, so much +of any such territories as aforesaid, as to you after due +consideration, shall seem fit, shall be annexed to and +form part of our dominions.... Provided, first, that +no such proclamation shall be issued by you with respect +to any district, territory, or state unless you shall be +satisfied that the inhabitants thereof, or a sufficient +number of them, or the Legislature thereof, desire to +become our subjects, nor if any conditions unduly +limiting our power and authority therein are sought to +be imposed.”</p> + +<p>Such was the tenor of the commission which, unknown +to the world at large, Sir Theophilus Shepstone brought +with him when he returned to Natal in November, 1876. +The sudden annexation which followed was a stroke +which took all by surprise except the few already in the +secret; many declaring to the last that such an action +on the part of the English Government was impossible—because, +they thought, unjust. It is true that the +Republic had for long been going from bad to worse in +the management of its own affairs; its Government had +no longer the power to enforce laws or to collect taxes; +and the country was generally believed to be fast +approaching a condition of absolute anarchy. Nevertheless +it was thought by some that, except by the +request of those concerned, we had no right to intrude +our authority for the better control of Transvaal affairs +so long as their bad management did not affect us.</p> + +<p>On one point, however, we undoubtedly had a right +to interfere, as the stronger, the juster, and more merciful<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_114"></a>[114]</span> +nation—namely, the attitude of the Transvaal Boers +towards, and their treatment of, the native tribes who +were their neighbours, or who came under their control. +On behalf of the latter unfortunates (Transvaal subjects), +we did not even profess to interfere; but one of the chief +causes alleged by us for our taking possession of the +country was a long and desultory war which was taking +place between the Boers and Sikukuni, the chief of the +Bapedi tribe living upon their northern borders, and in +the course of which the Boers were behaving towards the +unhappy natives with a treachery, and, when they fell +into their power, with a brutality unsurpassed by any +historical records. The sickening accounts of cruelties +inflicted upon helpless men, women, and children by the +Boers, which are to be found on official record in the +pages of the Blue-book (C. 1776), should be ample +justification in the eyes of a civilised world for English +interference, and forcible protection of the sufferers; and +it is rather with the manner in which the annexation +was carried out, and the policy which followed it, than +with the intervention of English power in itself, that an +objection can be raised.</p> + +<p>The war between the Boers and the Bapedi arose +out of similar encroachments on the part of the former, +which led, as we shall presently show, to their border +disputes with the Zulus. Boer farmers had gradually +deprived of their land the native possessors of the soil by +a simple process peculiarly their own. They first rented +land from the chiefs for grazing purposes, then built +upon it, still paying a tax or tribute to the chief; finally, +having well established themselves, they professed to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span> +have purchased the land for the sum already paid as +rent, announced themselves the owners of it, and were +shortly themselves levying taxes on the very men whom +they had dispossessed. In this manner Sikukuni was +declared by the Boers to have ceded to them the whole +of his territory—that is to say, hundreds of square miles, +for the paltry price of a hundred head of cattle.</p> + +<p>An officer of the English Government, indeed (His +Excellency’s Commissioner at Lydenburg, Captain Clarke, +R.A.), was of opinion [C. 2316, p. 29] that, “had only +the Boer element in the Lydenburg district been consulted, +it is doubtful if there would have been war with +Sikukuni,” as the Boers, he said, might have continued +to pay taxes to the native chiefs. And the officer in +question appears to censure the people who were +“willing to submit to such humiliating conditions, and +ambitious of the position of prime adviser to a native +chief.” It is difficult to understand why there should +be anything humiliating in paying rent for land, whether +to white or black owners, and the position of prime +adviser to a powerful native chief might be made a very +honourable and useful one in the hands of a wise and +Christian man.</p> + +<p>Captain Clarke continues thus: “It was the foreign +element under the late President which forced matters +to a crisis. Since the annexation the farmers have, with +few exceptions, ceased to pay tribute to the Chiefs; their +relations with the natives are otherwise unchanged. +Culture and contact with civilisation will doubtless have +the effect of re-establishing the self-respect of these +people, and teaching them the obligation and benefits<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> +imposed and conferred on them by their new position.” +That is to say, apparently, teaching them that it is +beneath their dignity to pay taxes to native landowners, +but an “obligation imposed” upon them to rob +the latter altogether of their land, the future possession +of which is one of the “benefits conferred on them by +their new position” (<em>i.e.</em> as subjects of the British Crown).</p> + +<p>“The Bapedi branch of the Basuto family,” says +Captain Clarke, in the same despatch, “essentially +agricultural and peaceful in its habits and tastes, +even now irrigate the land, and would, if possible, +cultivate in excess of their food requirements. The +friendly natives assure me that their great wish +is to live peacefully on their lands, and provide themselves +with ploughs, waggons, etc. The experience of the +Berlin missionaries confirms this view. Relieved of +their present anomalous position, into which they +have been forced by the ambition of their rulers,<a id="FNanchor_52" href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> +and distrust of the Boers, encouraged to follow their +natural bent, the Basutos would become a peaceful +agricultural people, capable of a certain civilisation.” +How well founded was this “distrust of the Boers,” +may be gathered from the accounts given in the Blue-book +already mentioned.</p> + +<p>The objects of the Boers in their attacks upon their +native neighbours appear to have been twofold—the +acquisition of territory, and that of children to be brought +up as slaves.</p> + +<p><cite>The Cape Argus</cite> of December 12th, 1876, remarks:<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span> +“Through the whole course of this Republic’s existence, +it has acted in contravention of the Sand River Treaty;<a id="FNanchor_53" href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> +and slavery has occurred not only here and there in +isolated cases, but as an unbroken practice has been one +of the peculiar institutions of the country, mixed up with +all its social and political life. It has been at the root +of most of its wars.... The Boers have not only +fallen upon unsuspecting kraals simply for the purpose +of obtaining the women and children and cattle, but +they have carried on a traffic through natives, who have +kidnapped the children of their weaker neighbours, and +sold them to the white man. Again, the Boers have +sold and exchanged their victims amongst themselves. +Waggon-loads of slaves have been conveyed from one end +of the country to the other for sale, and that with the +cognizance and for the direct advantage of the highest<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span> +officials of the land. The writer has himself seen in a +town situated in the south of the Republic the children +who had been brought down from a remote northern +district.... The circumstances connected with some of +these kidnapping excursions are appalling, and the +barbarities practised by cruel masters upon some of +these defenceless creatures during the course of their +servitude are scarcely less horrible than those reported +from Turkey, although they are spread over a course of +years instead of being compressed within a few weeks.” +This passage is taken from a letter to <cite>The Argus</cite> +(enclosed in a despatch from Sir Henry Barkly to the +Earl of Carnarvon, December 13th, 1876), which, with +other accompanying letters from the same source, gives +an account of Boer atrocities too horrible for repetition. +[C. 1776]. A single instance may be mentioned +which, however shocking, is less appalling than others, +but perhaps shows more plainly than anything else +could do what the natives knew the life of a slave in the +Transvaal would be. The information is given by a +Boer. “In 1864,” he says, “the Swazies accompanied +the Boers against Males.<a id="FNanchor_54" href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> The Boers did nothing but +stand by and witness the fearful massacre. The men +and women were also murdered. One poor woman sat +clutching her baby of eight days old. The Swazies +stabbed her through the body; and when she found that +she could not live, she wrung her baby’s neck with her +own hands, to save it from future misery. On the +return of that commando the children who became too<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span> +weary to continue the journey were killed on the road. +The survivors were sold as slaves to the farmers.”</p> + +<p>Out of this state of things eventually proceeded the +war between the Boers and Sikukuni, the result of +which was a very ambiguous one indeed; for although +Sikukuni was driven out of the low-lying districts of +the country, he took refuge in his stronghold, which +affords such an impregnable position in a thickly-populated +range of mountains as hitherto to have defied +all attempts, whether made by Boers or by English, to +reduce it.<a id="FNanchor_55" href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p> + +<p>Another important reason alleged at the time for +taking possession of the Transvaal was that the border +troubles between it and Zululand were becoming more +serious every day; that, sooner or later, unless we +interposed our authority, a war would break out between +the Boers and the Zulus, into which we should inevitably +be drawn. The Zulus, having continually entreated our +protection, while at our desire they refrained from +defending themselves by force of arms, were naturally +rejoiced at an action on our part which looked like an +answer to their oft-repeated prayer, and eagerly expected +the reward of their long and patient waiting.</p> + +<p>But, however strongly we may feel that it was the +duty of the more powerful nation to put a stop to the +doings of the Transvaal Boers, even at considerable +expense to ourselves, the manner in which we have +acted, and the consequences which followed, have been +such as to cause many sensible people to feel that we<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span> +should have done better to withdraw our prohibition +from Cetshwayo, and allow him and the Boers “to fight +it out between them.”<a id="FNanchor_56" href="#Footnote_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p> + +<p>We might have honestly and openly interfered and +insisted upon putting a stop to the atrocities of the +Boers, annexing their country if necessary to that end, +but then we ourselves should have done justice to the +natives on whose behalf we professed to interfere, instead<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> +of taking over with the country and carrying on those +very quarrels and aggressions which we alleged as a +sufficient reason for the annexation.</p> + +<p>When Sir Theophilus Shepstone went up to Pretoria +it was, ostensibly, merely to advise the President and +Volksraad of the Transvaal Republic as to the best +means of extricating themselves and the country from +the difficulties into which they were plunged, and with +the expressed intention of endeavouring to produce a +peaceful settlement with Sikukuni, which should protect +him and his people for the future from the tyranny of +the Boers. Up to the last the notion that there was +any intention of forcibly annexing the country was +indignantly repudiated by the members of the expedition, +although their chief meanwhile was in possession +of his commission as Administrator of the British +Government in the Transvaal. There were some who +suspected that there was more in the movement than +was confessed to by those concerned. It was argued +that, were Sir Theophilus Shepstone’s visit of a purely +friendly nature, no armed force would have been sent to +escort him, as he was going, not into a savage country, +but into one which, at all events, professed to have a +civilised government and an educated class. The +unsettled state of feeling amongst the Boers was +pleaded in answer to this argument, but was commonly +met by the suggestion that if, under the circumstances, +the armed force of mounted police which accompanied +the important visitor might be looked upon as a +justifiable precaution, yet the possible danger to +strangers from the violence of a few lawless men in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span> +a country in which the government was not strong +enough to keep them in check, was not great enough +to account for the fact that a regiment of British +infantry was hastily moved up to Newcastle, from +whence they could speedily be summoned into the +Transvaal. The presence of a Zulu army upon the +other border, where it lay quiet and inoffensive for +weeks during Sir Theophilus Shepstone’s proceedings +in the Transvaal, was naturally looked upon as a +suspicious circumstance. There can be little doubt +that—whether or no Cetshwayo obeyed a hint from +his old friend the Secretary for Native Affairs, and +sent his army to support him, and to overawe the +Boers by a warlike demonstration—the Zulus were +present in a spirit, however inimical to the Boers, +entirely friendly to the English. The mere fact that +the army lay there so long in harmless repose, and +dispersed promptly and quietly <em>immediately</em> upon +receiving orders to do so from Sir Theophilus Shepstone, +proves that, at all events, they and their king +thought that they were carrying out his wishes. The +feeling expressed at the time by a British officer,<a id="FNanchor_57" href="#Footnote_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> in +speaking of this Zulu army, and recommending that +it should be dispersed, that “it were better the little +band of Englishmen (including, of course, himself) +should fall by the hand of the Boers than that aught +should be done by the former to bring about a war of +races,” can hardly have been shared by Sir Theophilus +Shepstone himself, or the message to the Zulu king<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> +to withdraw his army would have been despatched +some weeks earlier.</p> + +<p>In face of these facts it strikes one as strange +that the temporary presence of this Zulu army on the +Transvaal borders, manifestly in our support (whether +by request or not), and which retired without giving the +least offence, or even committing such acts of theft or +violence as might be expected as necessary evils in the +neighbourhood of a large European garrison, should +have been regarded, later, as a sign of Cetshwayo’s +inimical feeling towards <em>the English</em>.<a id="FNanchor_58" href="#Footnote_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. Pretorius, member of the Dutch executive +council, and other influential Transvaalers, assert that +Sir T. Shepstone threatened to let loose the Zulus upon +them, in order to reduce them to submission; but the +accusation is denied on behalf of the Administrator of +the Transvaal. And Mr. Fynney (in the report of his +mission to Cetshwayo from Sir T. Shepstone, upon the +annexation of the Transvaal, dated July 4, 1877) gives +the king’s words to him, as follows: “I am pleased that +Somtseu (Sir Theophilus Shepstone) has sent you to let +me know that the land of the Transvaal Boers has now +become part of the lands of the Queen of England. I +began to wonder why he did not tell me something of +what he was doing. I received one message from him, +sent by Unkabano, from Newcastle, and I heard the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> +Boers were not treating him properly, and that they +intended to put him into a corner. If they had done +so, I should not have wanted for anything more. Had +one shot been fired, I should have said, ‘What more do +I wait for? they have touched my father.’”</p> + +<p>But all doubt upon the subject of Sir T. Shepstone’s +intention was quickly and suddenly set at rest—the +silken glove of friendly counsel and disinterested advice +was thrown aside, and the mailed hand beneath it +seized the reins of government from the slackened +fingers of the President of the Transvaal. On the +22nd January, 1877, Sir Theophilus Shepstone entered +Pretoria, the capital of the country, where he was +received with all kindness and attention by the president, +Mr. Burgers, and other important men, to whom +he spoke of his mission in general terms, as one the +object of which was “to confer with the Government +and people of the Transvaal, with the object of initiating +a new state of things which would guarantee +security for the future.”<a id="FNanchor_59" href="#Footnote_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></p> + +<p>On April 9th, 1879, Sir T. Shepstone informed +President Burgers that “the extension over the Transvaal +of Her Majesty’s authority and rule” was imminent.</p> + +<p>The following protest was officially read and handed +in to Sir T. Shepstone on the 11th April:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p>“Whereas I, Thomas François Burgers, State President +of the South <ins class="corr" id="tn-124" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'African Rupublic'"> +African Republic</ins>, have received a +despatch, dated the 9th instant, from Her British +Majesty’s Special Commissioner, Sir Theophilus Shepstone, +informing me that his Excellency has resolved,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span> +in the name of Her Majesty’s Government, to bring +the South African Republic, by annexation, under the +authority of the British Crown:</p> + +<p>“And whereas I have not the power to draw the +sword with good success for the defence of the independence +of the State against a superior power like that +of England, and in consideration of the welfare of the +whole of South Africa, moreover, feel totally disinclined +to involve its white inhabitants in a disastrous war, +without having employed beforehand all means to secure +the rights of the people in a peaceable way:</p> + +<p>“So, I, in the name and by the authority of the +Government and the people of the South African +Republic, do hereby solemnly protest against the +intended annexation.</p> + +<p>“Given under my hand and under the Seal of the +State at the Government Office at Pretoria, on this +the 11th day of April, in the year 1877.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="padr4">(Signed) “<span class="smcap">Thomas Burgers</span>,</span><br> +“State President.”</p> +</div> + +<p>A strong protest was handed in on the same date +by the Executive Council, in which it was stated “the +people, by memorials or otherwise, have, by a large +majority, plainly stated that they are averse to it” +(annexation).</p> + +<p>On April 17th, 1877, Sir T. Shepstone writes to +Lord Carnarvon: “On Thursday last, the 12th instant, +I found myself in a position to issue the proclamations +necessary for annexing<a id="FNanchor_60" href="#Footnote_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> the South African Republic,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> +commonly known as the Transvaal, to Her Majesty’s +dominions, and for assuming the administration thereof.” +P. P. [C. 1776] pp. 152-56.</p> + +<p>His intentions had been so carefully concealed, the +proclamation took the people so completely by surprise; +that it was received in what might be called a dead +silence, which silence was taken to be of that nature +which “gives consent.”</p> + +<p>It has been amply shown since that the real feeling +of the country was exceedingly averse to English interference +with its liberties, and that the congratulatory +addresses presented, and demonstrations made in favour +of what had been done, were but expressions of feeling +from the foreign element in the Transvaal, and got up +by a few people personally interested on the side of +English authority. But at the time they were made to +appear as genuine expressions of Boer opinions favourable +to the annexation, which was looked upon as a +master-stroke of policy and a singular success.</p> + +<p>It was some time before the Transvaalers recovered +from the stunning effects of the blow by which they had +been deprived of their liberties, and meanwhile the new +Government made rapid advances, and vigorous attempts +at winning popularity amongst the people. Sir T. Shepstone +hastened to fill up every office under him with his +own men, although there were great flourishes of trumpets +concerning preserving the rights of the people to the +greatest extent possible, and keeping the original men +in office wherever practicable. The first stroke by +which popularity was aimed at was that of remitting +the war taxes levied upon the white population (though<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> +unpaid) to meet the expenses of the war with Sikukuni. +It became apparent at this point what an empty sham +was our proposed protection of Sikukuni, and how little +the oppression under which he and his people suffered +had really called forth our interference. Sir T. Shepstone, +while remitting, as stated, the tax upon the +Boers, insisted upon the payment in full of the fine +in cattle levied by them upon Sikukuni’s people. So +sternly did he carry out the very oppressions which he +came to put an end to, that a portion of the cattle paid +towards the fine (two thousand head, a large number, in +the reduced and impoverished state of the people) were +sent back, by his orders, on the grounds that they were +too small and in poor condition, with the accompanying +message that better ones must be sent in their place. +A commission (composed of Captain Clarke, R.A., and +Mr. Osborne) was sent, before the annexation, by +Sir T. Shepstone, to inquire into a treaty pressed +by the Boers upon Sikukuni, and rejected by him, as +it contained a condition by which he was to pay +taxes, and thereby come under the Transvaal Government.<a id="FNanchor_61" href="#Footnote_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> +To these gentlemen “Sikukuni stated that the +English were great and he was little [C. 1776, p. 147], +that he wanted them to save him from the Boers, who +hunted him to and fro, and shot his people down like +wild game. He had lost two thousand men” (this +included those who submitted to the Boers) “by the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span> +war, ten brothers, and four sons.... He could not +trust the Boers as they were always deceiving him.” +After saying that “he wished to be like Moshesh” (a +British subject), and be “happy and at peace,” he +“asked whether he ought to pay the two thousand head +of cattle, seeing that the war was not of his making.”</p> + +<p>“To this we replied,” say the Commissioners, “that +it was the custom of us English, when we made an +engagement, to fulfil it, cost what it might; that our +word was our word.”</p> + +<p>Small wonder if the oppressed and persecuted people +and their chief at last resented such treatment, or that +some of them should have shown that resentment in a +manner decided enough to call for military proceedings +on the part of the new Government of the Transvaal. +In point of fact, however, it was not Sikukuni, but his +sister—a chieftainess herself—whose people, by a quarrel +with and raid upon natives living under our protection, +brought on the second or English “Sikukuni war.”</p> + +<p>Turning to the other chief pretext for the annexation +of the Transvaal, the disturbed condition of the Zulu +border, we find precisely the same policy carried out. +When it was first announced that the English had taken +possession of the country of their enemies, the Zulus, +figuratively speaking, threw up their caps, and rejoiced +greatly. They thought that now at last, after years of +patient waiting, and painful repression of angry feelings +at the desire of the Natal Government, they were to +receive their reward in a just acknowledgment of the +claims which Sir T. Shepstone had so long supported, +and which he was now in a position to confirm.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span></p> + +<p>But the quiet submission of the Boers would not +have lasted, even upon the surface, had their new +Governor shown the slightest sign of leaning to the Zulu +side on the bitter boundary question; and as Sir T. +Shepstone fancied that the power of his word was great +enough with the Zulus to make them submit, however +unwillingly, there was small chance of their receiving a +rood of land at his hands. He had lost sight of, or +never comprehended the fact, that that power was built +upon the strong belief which existed in the minds of the +Zulu king and people with regard to the justice and +honesty of the English Government. This feeling is +amply illustrated by the messages from the Zulu king, +quoted in our chapter upon the Disputed Territory, and +elsewhere in this volume, and need therefore only be +alluded to here.</p> + +<p>But this belief, so far as Sir T. Shepstone is concerned, +was destroyed when the Zulus found that, far +from acting according to his often-repeated words, their +quondam friend had turned against them, and espoused +the cause of their enemies, whom, at his desire, they had +refrained these many years from attacking, when they +could have done so without coming into collision with +the English.</p> + +<p>The Zulus, indeed, still believed in the English, and +in the Natal Government; but they considered that Sir +T. Shepstone, in undertaking the government of the +Boers, had become a Boer himself, or, as Cetshwayo +himself said, his old friend and father’s back, which had +carried him so long, had become too rough for him—if +he could carry him no longer he would get down, and go<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span> +to a man his equal in Pietermaritzburg (meaning Sir +Henry Bulwer, Lieut.-Governor of Natal), who would be +willing and able to take him up.</p> + +<p>It is a curious fact, and one worthy of note, that Sir +T. Shepstone, who for so many years had held and +expressed an opinion favourable to the Zulus on this +most important boundary question, should yet have +studied it so little that, when he had been for six months +Administrator of the Transvaal, with all evidence, written +or oral, official or otherwise, at his command, he could +say, speaking of a conversation which he held with some +Dutch farmers at Utrecht—Parl. p. (2079, p. 51-4): “I +then learned for the first time, what has since been proved +by evidence the most incontrovertible, overwhelming, and +clear, that this boundary line<a id="FNanchor_62" href="#Footnote_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> had been formally and +mutually agreed upon, and had been formally ratified by +the giving and receiving of tokens of thanks, and that +the beacons had been built up in the presence of the +President and members of the Executive Council of the +Republic, in presence of Commissioners from both Panda +and Cetshwayo, and that the spot on which every beacon +was to stand was indicated by the Zulu Commissioners +themselves placing the first stones on it.</p> + +<p>“I shall shortly transmit to your Lordship” (the +Secretary of State for the Colonies) “the further evidence +on the subject that has been furnished to me.” This +“further evidence,” if forwarded, does not appear in +the Blue-books. It is plain that the Border Commissioners +of 1878 found both the “evidence the most +incontrovertible, overwhelming, and clear,” and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> +“further evidence” promised, utterly worthless for the +purpose of proving the case of the Boers; but, even +had it been otherwise, Sir T. Shepstone’s confession of +ignorance up to so late a date on this most vital +question is singularly self-condemnatory.</p> + +<p>“When I approached the question,”<a id="FNanchor_63" href="#Footnote_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> he says, “I +did so supposing that the rights of the Transvaal to +land on the Zulu border had very slender foundation. +I believed, from the representations which had been +systematically made by the Zulus to the Natal Government +on the subject, of which I was fully aware from +the position I held in Natal, that the beacons along +the boundary line had been erected by the Republican +Government, in opposition to the wishes, and in spite +of the protests, of the Zulu authorities.<a id="FNanchor_64" href="#Footnote_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p> + +<p>“I, therefore, made no claims or demand whatever +for land. I invited Cetshwayo to give me his views +regarding a boundary, when I informed him from +Pretoria that I should visit Utrecht on the tour I +then contemplated making. When I met the Zulu +prime minister and the indunas on the 18th October last” +(six weeks before he discovered, in conversation with +some Boers, the “evidence incontrovertible, overwhelming, +and clear”), “on the Blood River, I was fully prepared, +if it should be insisted on by the Zulus, as I +then thought it might justly be, to give up a tract +of country which had from thirteen to sixteen years +been occupied by Transvaal farmers, and to whose<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span> +farms title-deeds had been issued by the late Government; +and I contemplated making compensation to +those farmers in some way or another for their loss. +I intended, however, first to offer to purchase at a fair +price from the Zulu king all his claims to land which +had for so many years been occupied and built upon +by the subjects of the Transvaal, to whom the Government +of the country was distinctly liable.”<a id="FNanchor_65" href="#Footnote_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a></p> + +<p>Sir T. Shepstone, when he met the Zulu indunas at +the Blood River, was prepared to abandon the line of +1861 (claimed by the Boers), for that of the Blood River +and the Old Hunting Road (“if it should be insisted on +by the Zulus,” as he “then thought it might justly +be”), which, in point of fact, would have satisfied neither +party; but he does not say by what right he proposed to +stop short of the old line of 1856-7—viz. the Blood +River—and insist upon the “Old Hunting Road.” If +the half-concession were just, so was the whole—or +neither.</p> + +<p>To these half-measures, however, the Zulus would +not submit, and the conference failed of its object.</p> + +<p>“Fortunately, therefore, for the interests of the +Transvaal,” says Sir T. Shepstone, “I was prevented +by the conduct of the Zulus themselves from surrendering +to them at that meeting what my information +on the subject then had led me to think was after all due +to them, and this I was prepared to do at any sacrifice to +the Transvaal, seeing, as it then appeared to me, that +justice to the Zulus demanded it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span></p> + +<p>In spite, however, of the concession to the Boers, +made in Sir T. Shepstone’s altered opinion on the border +question, they were by no means reconciled to the loss +of their independence, although Captain Clarke says +(C. 2316, p. 28), in speaking of the Boers in Lydenburg +district, “they, in the majority of cases, would forget +fancied wrongs if they thought they had security for +their lives and property, education for their children, +and good roads for the transport of their produce.”<a id="FNanchor_66" href="#Footnote_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a></p> + +<p>The following “agreement signed by a large number +of farmers at the meeting held at Wonderfontein,” and +translated from a Dutch newspaper, the <cite lang="nl">Zuid Afrikaan</cite>, +published at Capetown on the 15th February (C. 2316, +p. 1), gives a different impression of the state of feeling +amongst the Boers:</p> + +<p>“In the presence of Almighty God, the Searcher of +all hearts, and prayerfully waiting on His gracious help +and pity, we, burghers of the South African Republic, +have solemnly agreed, and we do hereby agree, to make a +holy covenant for us, and for our children, which we +confirm with a solemn oath.</p> + +<p>“Fully forty years ago our fathers fled from the Cape +Colony in order to become a free and independent people. +Those forty years were forty years of pain and suffering.</p> + +<p>“We established Natal, the Orange Free State, and +the South African Republic, and three times the English +Government has trampled our liberty and dragged to +the ground our flag, which our fathers had baptised with +their blood and tears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span></p> + +<p>“As by a thief in the night has our Republic been +stolen from us. We may nor can endure this. It is +God’s will, and is required of us by the unity of our +fathers, and by love to our children, that we should +hand over intact to our children the legacy of the +fathers. For that purpose it is that we here come +together and give each other the right hand as men and +brethren, solemnly promising to remain faithful to our +country and our people, and with our eye fixed on God, +to co-operate until death for the restoration of the +freedom of our Republic.</p> + +<p>“So help us Almighty God.”</p> + +<p>These pious words, side by side with the horrible +accounts of the use made by the Boers of their liberty +while they had it, strike one as incredibly profane; yet +they are hardly more so than part of the speech made +by Sir T. Shepstone to the burghers of the Transvaal +on the occasion of the annexation.</p> + +<p>“Do you know,” he asks them, “what has recently +happened in Turkey? Because no civilised government +was carried on there, the Great Powers interfered and +said, ‘Thus far and no farther.’ And if this is done to +an Empire, will a little Republic be excused when it +misbehaves? Complain to other powers and seek justice +there? Yes, thank God! justice is still to be found +even for the most insignificant, but it is precisely this +justice which will convict us. If we want justice we +must be in a position to ask it with unsullied hands.”<a id="FNanchor_67" href="#Footnote_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span></p> + +<p>Our first quotation was from the words of ignorant +Boers, our second from those of a man South African +born and bred, South African in character and education. +But perhaps both are surpassed by words lately +written by an English statesman of rank. Let us turn +to a “minute” of Sir Bartle Frere’s, forwarded on +November 16th, 1878 (2222, p. 45), and see what he +says in defence of Boer conquests and encroachments. +“The Boers had force of their own, and every right of +conquest; but they <em>had also what they seriously believed +to be a higher title, in the old commands they found in +parts of their Bible to exterminate the Gentiles, and take +their land in possession</em>.[68] We may freely admit that they +misinterpreted the text, and were utterly mistaken in its +application. But <em>they had at least a sincere belief in +the Divine authority for what they did, and therefore a +far higher title than the Zulus could claim for all they +acquired</em>.”<a id="FNanchor_68" href="#Footnote_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2222] p. 45).</span></p> + +<p>If the worship of the Boers for their sanguinary +deity is to be pleaded in their behalf, where shall we +pause in finding excuses for any action committed by +insane humanity in the name of their many gods? But +the passage hardly needs our comments, and we leave it +to the consideration of the Christian world.</p> + +<p>A paragraph from <cite>The Daily News</cite> of this day, +November 8th, 1879, will suitably close our chapter on +the Transvaal. It is headed “Serious Disturbance in the +Transvaal,” and gives a picture of the disposition of the +Boers, and of the control we have obtained over them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="right fs85">“<span class="smcap">Pretoria</span>, October 13th.</p> + +<p>“A somewhat serious disturbance has occurred at +Middleberg. A case came in due course before the local +court, relating to a matter which took place last July. +A Boer, by name Jacobs, had tied up one of his Kaffir +servants by his wrists to a beam, so that his feet could +not touch the ground. The man was too ill after it to +move for some days. The case against the Boer came +on on October 8th. A large number of Boers attended +<em>from sympathy with the defendant</em>,<a id="FNanchor_69" href="#Footnote_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> and anxious to <em>resist +any interference between themselves and their Kaffirs</em>. +The Landrost took the opportunity to read out Sir +Garnet’s proclamation, declaring the permanency of the +annexation of the Transvaal. The attitude of the Boers +appeared to be so threatening that after a time the +Landrost <em>thought it better to adjourn the hearing for a +couple of hours</em>.</p> + +<p>“On the court’s reassembling, he was informed that +five-and-twenty Boers had visited two of the stores in +the town, and had seized gunpowder there, gunpowder +being a forbidden article of sale. The following day a +much larger attendance of Boers made their appearance +at the court. Seventy of them held a meeting, at +which they bound themselves to protect those who +had seized the gunpowder, and their attitude was so +threatening that the Landrost, on the application of +the public prosecutor, <em>adjourned the case sine die</em>. +A fresh case of powder seizing was reported on the +same day. Colonel Lanyon has already gone to the +scene of disturbance, which will be dealt with purely,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> +<em>at all events at present</em>, as a civil case of violence +exercised against the owners of the stores. At the same +time a troop of dragoons will be there about the day +after to-morrow, and a company of infantry in a few +days more, while a considerable number of the 90th +Regiment will in a short time be, in regular course, +passing that way. The spark will therefore no doubt +be stamped out quickly where it has been lighted. +The only danger is in the tendency to explosion which +it perhaps indicates in other directions.”</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE DISPUTED TERRITORY.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">We must now look back and gather up the threads—hitherto +interwoven with accounts of other matters—connected +with what has been rightly called the +“burning question” of the disputed territory, which +led eventually to the Zulu War.</p> + +<p>The disputes between the Boers and Zulus concerning +the boundary line of their respective countries had +existed for many years, its origin and growth being +entirely attributable to the well-known and usually +successful process by which the Dutch Boers, as we +have already said, have gradually possessed themselves of +the land belonging to their unlettered neighbours. This +process is described by Mr. Osborn, formerly resident +magistrate of Newcastle, now Colonial Secretary of the +Transvaal Government, September 22nd, 1876 (1748, +p. 196).</p> + +<p>“I would point out here that this war (with +Sikukuni) arose solely out of dispute about land. The +Boers—as they have done in other cases, and are still +doing—encroached by degrees upon native territory; +commencing by obtaining permission to graze stock<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span> +upon portions of it at certain seasons of the year, +followed by individual graziers obtaining from native +headmen a sort of license to squat upon certain defined +portions, ostensibly in order to keep other Boer squatters +away from the same land. These licenses, temporarily +extended, as friendly or neighbourly acts, by unauthorised, +headmen, after a few seasons of occupation by the +Boer, are construed by him as title, and his permanent +occupation ensues. Damage for trespass is levied by +him upon the very men from whom he obtained right +to squat, to which the natives submit out of fear of +the matter reaching the ears of the paramount Chief, +who would in all probability severely punish them for +opening the door of encroachment to the Boer. After +awhile, however, the matter comes to a crisis, in consequence +of the incessant disputes between the Boers +and the natives; one or other of the disputants lays the +case before the paramount Chief, who, upon hearing both +parties, is literally frightened with violence and threats by +the Boer into granting him the land. Upon this, the usual +plan followed by the Boer is at once to collect a few +neighbouring Boers, including an Acting Field Cornet, +or even an Acting Provisional Field Cornet, appointed +by the Field Cornet or Provisional Cornet, the latter to +represent the Government, although without instructions +authorising him to act in the matter. A few cattle are +collected among themselves, which the party takes to +the Chief, and his signature is obtained to a written +instrument, alienating to the Republican Boers a large +slice of, or all, his territory. The contents of this +document are, so far as I can make out, never clearly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span> +or intelligibly explained to the Chief, who signs it and +accepts of the cattle, under the impression that it is +all in settlement of hire for the grazing licenses granted +by his headmen.”</p> + +<p>“This, I have no hesitation in saying, is the usual +method by which the Boers obtain what they call +cessions of territories to them by native Chiefs. In +Sikukuni’s case, they say that his father, Sikwata, +ceded to them the whole of his territory (hundreds of +square miles) for one hundred head of cattle.”</p> + +<p>Also Sir H. Barkly, late Governor of the Cape, +writes as follows, October 2nd, 1876 (1748, p. 140):</p> + +<p>“The following graphic description of this process +(of Boer encroachment) is extracted from a letter in the +Transvaal <cite>Advocate</cite> of a few weeks ago: ‘Frontiers +are laid down, the claim to which is very doubtful. +These frontiers are not occupied, but farms are inspected +(“guessed at” would be nearer the mark), title-deeds for +the same are issued, and, when the unlucky purchaser +wishes to take possession, he finds his farm (if he can +find it) occupied by tribes of Kafirs, over whom the +Government has never attempted to exercise any jurisdiction.’ +‘Their Chief,’ it adds, ‘is rather bewildered +at first to find out that he has for years been a subject +of the Transvaal.’ ‘The Chief in question is one +Lechune, living on the north-west of the Republic. But +the account is equally applicable to the case of Sikukuni, +or Umswazi, or half-a-dozen others, the entire circuit of +the Republic, from the Barolongs and Batlapins on the +west, to the Zulus on the east, being bordered by a +<em>series of encroachments disputed by the natives</em>.’”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span></p> + +<p>A memorandum from Captain Clarke, R.A., Special +Commissioner at Lydenburg, dated April 23rd, 1879 +(C. 2367, p. 152), also gives an account of the way in +which the Boers took possession of the Transvaal itself, +highly illustrative of their usual practice, and of which +the greater part may be quoted here, with a key to the +real meaning of phrases which require some study to +interpret.</p> + +<p>“On the entrance of the Fou Trekkers into the +Transvaal, they were compelled against their hereditary +instincts to combine for self-defence against a common +foe.” (That is to say, that, having forced themselves +into a strange country, they necessarily combined to +oust those they found there.) “External pressure was +removed by success, and the diffusive instinct asserted +itself”—which being translated into ordinary English +simply signifies that, having conquered certain native +tribes, they settled themselves upon their lands, and +returned to their natural disunited condition. “Isolated +families, whose ambition was to be out of sight of their +neighbours’ smoke, pushed forward into Kafir-land” (as +yet unconquered).</p> + +<p>“Boundaries were laid down either arbitrarily or by +unsatisfactorily recorded treaty with savage neighbours. +The natives, forced back, acquired the powers of coalition +lost by the Boers, and in their turn brought pressure to +bear on their invaders and whilom conquerors; farm +after farm had to be abandoned, and many of the Boers +who remained acknowledged by paying tribute that +they retained their lands by the permission of neighbouring +chiefs. The full importance of this retrograde<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> +movement was not at once felt, as a natural safety-valve +was found.”</p> + +<p>“A considerable portion of the east of the Transvaal +is called the High Veldt, and consists of tableland at a +considerable elevation, overlying coal-measures; this +district appears bleak and inhospitable, overrun by large +herds of game and watered by a series of apparently stagnant +ponds which take the place of watercourses.... +From various sources, within the last six years, it has +been discovered that the High Veldt is most valuable +for the grazing of sheep, horses, and cattle; and farms +which possess the advantage of water are worth from +£1,000 to £1,200, where formerly they could have been +bought for as many pence.”</p> + +<p>“This discovery has opened a door of escape for +many of the <em>native-pressed borderers</em>. <em>The pressure</em> on +those that remain increases, and on the north-east and +west of the Transvaal is a fringe of farmers who live by +the sufferance or in fear of the interlacing natives.”</p> + +<p>The phrases which I have italicised seem to indicate +that the writer has lost sight of the fact that, if the +border farmers are “native-pressed,” it is because they +have intruded themselves amongst the natives, from +which position a just and wise government would seek +to withdraw them, instead of endeavouring to establish +and maintain them in it by force. This latter course, +however, is the one which Captain Clarke recommends. +The remainder of his memorandum is a series of suggestions +for this purpose, one of which runs as follows: +“To take away the immediate strain on the border +farmer, and the risk of collision which the present state<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span> +of affairs involves, I would suggest the establishment of +Government Agents, who should reside <em>on or beyond +the border now occupied by the farmers</em>.<a id="FNanchor_70" href="#Footnote_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> ... Each +Residency should be a fortress, built of stones and +prepared for defence against any native force.”</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere’s version of Captain Clarke’s account, +given to the Secretary of State in a despatch enclosing +the above, runs as follows: “Most of the native chiefs +now there have gradually crept in, under pressure from +the northward, and finding no representatives of the +Transvaal Government able to exercise authority on the +spot, have gradually set up some sort of government for +themselves, before which many of the Boers have retired, +leaving only those who were willing to pay a sort of +tribute for protection, or to avoid being robbed of their +cattle.”</p> + +<p>With whatever oblique vision Sir Bartle Frere may +have perused the enclosure from which he gathers his +facts, no unbiassed mind can fail to detect the singular +discrepancy between the account given by Captain +Clarke and that drawn from it by the High Commissioner +in his enclosing letter.</p> + +<p>He makes no mention of the <em>driving out</em> of the +natives which preceded their <em>creeping in</em>, and which +figures so largely in Captain Clarke’s memorandum, of +which he professes to give a sketch. And he introduces, +entirely on his own account, the accusation against the +natives implied in the phrase “or to avoid being robbed +of their cattle,” of which not a single word appears in +the memorandum itself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span></p> + +<p>Properly speaking, there were two disputed boundary +lines up to 1879, the one being that between Zululand +and the Transvaal, to the south of the Pongolo River; +the other that between the Zulus and the Swazis, to the +north of, and parallel to, that stream.<a id="FNanchor_71" href="#Footnote_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> The Swazis are +the hereditary enemies of the Zulus, and there has always +been a bitter feeling between the two races, nevertheless +the acquisitiveness of the Transvaal Boers was at the +bottom of both disputes. They profess to have obtained, +by cession from the Swazi king in 1855, a strip of land +to the north-east of the Pongolo River and down to the +Lebomba Mountains, in order that they might form a +barrier between them and the Zulus; but the Swazis +deny having ever made such cession.</p> + +<p>In addition to the doubt thrown upon the transaction +by this denial, and the well-known Boer encroachments +already described, it remains considerably open to +question whether the Swazis had the power to dispose +of the land, which is claimed by the Zulus as their own. +The commission which sat upon the southern border +question was not permitted to enter upon that to the +north of the Pongolo, which therefore remains uncertain. +The one fact generally known, however, is undoubtedly +favourable to the Zulu claim. The territory in question +was occupied until 1848 by two Zulu chiefs, Putini of +the Ama-Ngwe, and Langalibalele of the Ama-Hlubi +tribe, under the rule of the Zulu king Umpande. These +chiefs, having fallen into disgrace with the king, were +attacked by him, and fled into Natal. They were +ultimately settled in their late locations under the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> +Draakensberg, leaving their former places in Zululand, +north and south of the Pongolo, the inNgcaka +(Mountain), and inNgcuba (River) vacant.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer remarks on this point—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. 2220, +pp. 400-2):</span></p> + +<p>“Sir T. Shepstone says indeed, that there is no +dispute between the Transvaal and the Ama-Swazi; but, +as he adds that, should questions arise between them, +they may be settled on their own merits, it is not +impossible that questions may arise; and I am certainly +informed that the Ama-Swazi used formerly to deny +that they had ever ceded land to the <em>extent</em> claimed +by the Republic.” But that the western portion, at +all events, of the land in dispute was at that time +under Zulu rule, is apparent from an account given by +members of the house of Masobuza, principal wife of +Langalibalele, and sister to the Swazi king, who was +sheltered at Bishopstowe after the destruction of the +Hlubi tribe, and died there in 1877.</p> + +<p>“In Chaka’s time, Mate, father of Madhlangampisi, +who had lived from of old on his land north of the +Pongolo, as an <em>independent</em> chief, not under Swazi rule, +gave, without fighting, his allegiance to Chaka; and +from that time to this the district in question has been +under Zulu rule, the Swazi king having never at any +time exercised any authority over it.” The same statement +applies to several other tribes living north, and +on either side of the Pongolo, amongst them those of +Langalibalele and Putini.</p> + +<p>“Madhlangampisi’s land was transferred by the +Boer Government as late as January 17th, 1877, to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span> +executors of the late Mr. M’Corkindale, and now goes +by the name of ‘Londina,’ in which is the hamlet of +‘Derby.’... We are perfectly aware that the southern +portion of the block is held by command of the Zulu +chief, and the executor’s surveyors have been obstructed +in prosecuting the survey.”—<cite>Natal Mercury</cite>, July 23rd, +1878.</p> + +<p>In 1856 a number of Boers claimed <em>Natal</em> territory +<em>west</em> of the Buffalo, as far as the Biggarsberg range, now +the south-west boundary of the Newcastle County, and +some of them were in occupation of it; and, a commission +being sent to trace the northern border of the colony +along the line of the Buffalo, these latter opposed and +protested against the mission of the Commissioners; but +their opposition spent itself in threats, and ended in the +withdrawal from Natal of the leaders of the party.</p> + +<p>Other Boers had settled <em>east</em> of the Buffalo, in the +location vacated by the tribe of Langalibalele, as to +whom the aforesaid Commissioners write:</p> + +<p>“During our stay among the farmers it was brought +to our notice by them that they had obtained from +Panda the cession of the tract of country beyond the +Buffalo (inNcome), towards the north-west; they had +subscribed among themselves one hundred head of +cattle for this land, which had been accepted by +Panda.”</p> + +<p>And Sir T. Shepstone says:</p> + +<p>“Panda never denied this grant (N.B.—in respect of +what lay <em>west</em> of the Draakensberg), but repudiated +the idea that he had sold the land. His account +was that, when the farmers were defeated by Her<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> +Majesty’s troops in Natal, some of them asked him for +land to live upon outside the jurisdiction of the British +Government, and that he gave them this tract ‘only to +live in, as part of Zululand under Zulu law’” <span class="nowrap">(P. p. 1961, +p. 28).</span> “The cattle they say they paid for it, Panda +looked upon as a thank-offering, made in accordance +with Zulu custom” (1961, pp. 1-5).</p> + +<p>In reply to messages sent by the Zulu king to the +Natal Government, complaining of the encroachments of +the Boers on the <em>north</em>, as well as the west of Zululand, +and begging the friendly intervention and arbitration +of the English, the advice of the Natal authorities +was always to “sit still,” and use no force, for England +would see justice done in the end.<a id="FNanchor_72" href="#Footnote_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a></p> + +<p>From all this it would appear that the claim of +Cetshwayo to land north of the Pongolo was not an +“aggressive act,” without any real foundation in right, +and merely a defiant challenge intended to provoke war; +but was a just claim, according to the tests applied +by Sir Bartle Frere—<span class="nowrap">(P. p. 2222, p. 29)—viz.</span> “actual +occupation and exercise of sovereign rights.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span></p> + +<p>The subject is fully gone into, and further evidence +produced, in the Bishop of Natal’s pamphlet, “Extracts +from the Blue-Books;” but the main facts are as here +stated.</p> + +<p>On turning to the subject of the better known +border dispute, between the Zulus and the Transvaal +Boers on the east, we are confronted at once by the fact +that the decision of the Commissioners, chosen by Sir H. +Bulwer to investigate the matter, was decidedly favourable +to the Zulu claim; which, after careful consideration +of all the evidence on either side, they found to be a +just and good one. This decision should, in itself, have +been sufficient to relieve the Zulu king from the accusation +of making insolent demands for territory with +aggressive and warlike intentions. But as, up to July, +1878, the above charge was the sole one brought against +him, and on account of which troops were sent for and +preparations made for war; and as, also, Sir Bartle Frere +has thought fit to cast a doubt upon the judgment of +the Commissioners by the various expressions of dissatisfaction +which appear in his correspondence with the +Bishop of Natal; it will be necessary for us to enter +fully into the matter, in order to understand the extent +to which the question bore fruit in the Zulu War.</p> + +<p>In 1861 Cetshwayo demanded from the Transvaal +Government the persons of four fugitives, who had +escaped at the time of the Civil War of 1856, and had +taken refuge amongst the Boers. One of these fugitives +was a younger son of Umpande, by name Umtonga, +who took refuge at first in Natal; from whence, however, +he carried on political intrigues in Zululand, with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span> +the assistance of his mother, which resulted in the death +of the latter and in a message from Cetshwayo to the +Natal Government, complaining of Umtonga’s conduct, +and requesting that he should be placed in his hands. +This was refused, but the Government undertook to +place the young man under the supervision of an old +and trusted colonial chief, Zatshuke, living in the centre +of the colony. Umtonga professed to accept and to be +grateful for this arrangement; but, upon the first step +being taken to carry it out, he fired twice at the policeman +who was sent to conduct him to Zatshuke, but +missed him, and then escaped to the Transvaal +territory.</p> + +<p>From thence he, with another brother, and two +indunas (captains) were given up to Cetshwayo by the +Boers, who required, in return for their surrender, the +cession of land <em>east</em> of the Blood River, and a pledge +that the young princes should not be killed. Cetshwayo +is said by the Boers to have agreed to both conditions, +and he certainly acted up to the latter, three of the four +being still alive, and the fourth having died a natural +death.<a id="FNanchor_73" href="#Footnote_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> It is this alleged bargain with Cetshwayo (in +1861) on which the Boers found their claim to the +main portion of the disputed territory—a “bargain in +itself base and immoral; the selling of the persons of +men for a grant of land, and which no Christian government, +like that of England, could recognise for a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span> +moment as valid and binding,” even if it were ever +made. <em>But it is persistently denied by the Zulus</em> that +such a bargain was ever consented to by them or <em>by +their prince</em>. On this point Cetshwayo himself says: +“I have never given or sold any land to the Boers of +the Transvaal. They wished me to do so when I was +as yet an umtwana (child, prince). They tried to get +me to sign a paper, but I threw the pen down, and +never would do so, telling them that it was out of my +power to either grant or sell land, as it belonged to the +king, my father, and the nation. I know the Boers say +I signed a paper, and that my brothers Hamu and +Ziwedu did also. I never did, and if they say I held +the pen or made a mark, giving or selling land, it is a +lie!” The Prince Dabulamanzi, and chiefs sitting round, +bore out the king in this statement. (From Report of +Mr. Fynney on July 4th, 1877—P. p. 1961, p. 45.)</p> + +<p>And so says Sir T. Shepstone (1961, p. 5): “Panda, +who is still living, repudiated the bargain, and Cetshwayo +denied it. The Emigrant Farmers, however, insisted on +its validity, and proceeded to occupy. The Zulus have +never ceased to threaten and protest. And the Government +of Natal, to whom these protests and threats have +been continually made, has frequently, during a course +of fifteen years, found it very difficult to impress the +Zulus with the hope and belief that an amicable solution +of the difficulty would some day be found, provided that +they refrained from reprisals or the use of force.”</p> + +<p>The first message from the Zulus on the subject of +the disputed territory was received on September 5th, +1861, in the very year in which (according to the Boers)<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span> +the cession in question was made (1961, p. 7). The +Bishop of Natal, in his “Extracts” already mentioned, +records eighteen messages on the same subject, commencing +with the above and concluding with one +brought on April 20th, 1876 (1748, p. 49), showing that +for a period of fifteen years the Zulu king (whether +represented by Umpande or by Cetshwayo) had never +ceased to entreat “the friendly intervention and arbitration +of this Government between them and the Boer +Government” (1961, p. 9). These eighteen messages +acknowledge the virtual supremacy of the English, and +the confidence which the Zulus feel in English justice +and honour, and they request their protection, or, failing +that, their permission to protect themselves by force of +arms; they suggest that a Commission sent from Natal +should settle the boundary, and that a Resident or +Agent of the British Government should be stationed on +the border between them and the Boers, to see that +justice was done on both sides. They report the various +aggressions and encroachments by which the Zulus were +suffering at the hands of their neighbours, but to which +they submitted because the question was in the hands +of the Government of Natal; and they repeatedly beg +that the English will themselves take possession of the +disputed country, or some part of it, rather than allow +the unsettled state of things to continue. “They (the +Zulus) beg that the Governor will take a strip of country, +the length and breadth of which is to be agreed upon +between the Zulus and the Commissioners (for whom +they are asking) sent from Natal, the strip to abut on +the Colony of Natal, and to run to the northward and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> +eastward in such a manner, in a line parallel to the sea-coast, +as to interpose in all its length between the Boers +and the Zulus, and to be governed by the Colony of +Natal, and form a portion of it if thought desirable.</p> + +<p>“The Zulu people earnestly pray that this arrangement +may be carried out immediately, because they have +been neighbours of Natal for so many years, separated +only by a stream of water, and no question has arisen +between them and the Government of Natal; they know +that where the boundary is fixed by agreement with the +English there it will remain.</p> + +<p>“Panda, Cetshwayo, and all the heads of the Zulu +people assembled, directed us to urge in the most earnest +manner upon the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal the +prayer we have stated.”</p> + +<p>This is the concluding portion of the fourth message, +received on June 5th, 1869 (1961, p. 9). The fifth, +reporting fresh Boer aggressions, was received on +December 6th, 1869.</p> + +<p>In the course of the same year Lieutenant-Governor +Keate addressed the President of the South African +Republic on the subject, and suggested arbitration, +which suggestion was accepted by the President, provided +that the expenses should be paid by the losing +party; and during the following two years repeated +messages were sent by Mr. Keate reminding the President +that being “already in possession of what the +Zulu authorities put forward as justifying their claims,” +he only awaits the like information from the other side +before “visiting the locality and hearing the respective +parties.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. p. 1961, p. 24).</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span></p> + +<p>On August 16th, 1871, the Government Secretary +of the South African Republic replies that he has “been +instructed to forward to the Lieutenant-Governor of +Natal the necessary documents bearing on the Zulu +question, together with a statement of the case, and +hopes to do so by next post; but that, as the session, +of the Volksraad had been postponed from May to +September, it would be extremely difficult to settle +the matter in 1871,” he therefore proposed January, +1872, as a convenient time for the purpose.</p> + +<p>Nearly eight weeks later (October 9th) Lieutenant-Governor +Keate informs the President that the documents +promised, upon the Zulu border question, have +not yet reached him; but sees nothing, at present, +likely to prevent his “proceeding, in January next, to +the Zulu border for the purpose of settling the matter +at issue.”</p> + +<p>But the promised papers appear never to have been +sent. The arbitration never took place. Lieutenant-Governor +Keate was relieved from the government of +Natal in 1872; and the next stage of the question is +marked by the issue on May 25th, 1875, of a proclamation +by Acting-President Joubert, annexing to the +dominion of the South African Republic the territory, +the right to which was to have been decided by this +arbitration.</p> + +<p>In this proclamation no reference is made to the +(alleged) Treaty of 1861 (see p. 176), by which +“what is now and was then disputed territory had +been ceded to the South African Republic,” though it +certainly annexes to the Republic all the country included<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span> +in the Treaty, and seems to annex more. But +no ground of claim is set forth or alluded to upon +which the right to annex is founded, “with reservation +of all further claims and rights of the said Republic,” +nor any reason assigned for the act, except to “prevent +disagreement” between the Boers and the Zulus. And +Sir T. Shepstone goes on to say (1961, p. 5):</p> + +<p>“The officers of the South African Republic proceeded +to exercise in this annexed territory the ordinary +functions of government, and among these, the levying +taxes on natives. The Zulus, who had been persistent +in repudiating the cession, and who have continued to +occupy the territory as theirs, resisted the demand by +Cetshwayo’s directions, and a collision appeared imminent, +when the difficulty was avoided by the officers +withdrawing the order they had issued.”</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, in spite of the repeated disappointments +with which they met, the Zulus continued to +send complaints and entreaties to the Government of +Natal; which messages, although they never varied in +their respectful and friendly tone towards the English, +show plainly how deeply they felt the neglect with +which they were treated. The English “promises” are +spoken of again and again, and the thirteenth message +contains a sentence worth recording, in its simple +dignity. “Cetshwayo desired us,” say the messengers, +“to urge upon the Governor of Natal to interfere, to +save the destruction of perhaps both countries—Zululand +and the Transvaal. He requests us to state that +he cannot and will not submit to be turned out of +his own houses. It may be that he will be vanquished;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> +but, as he is not the aggressor, death will not be so +hard to meet” (1748, p. 14).</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer’s answers to these messages contain +passages which sufficiently prove that up to this +time the Government of Natal had no complaints to +make against the Zulu king. “This is the first opportunity +the Lieutenant-Governor has had,” he says, “of +communicating with Cetshwayo since his (Sir H. +Bulwer’s) arrival in the Colony. He therefore takes the +opportunity of sending him a friendly greeting, and of +expressing the pleasure with which he had heard of the +satisfactory relations that have existed between this +Colony and the Zulus,” November 25th, 1875 (1748, +p. 15).</p> + +<p>“This Government trusts that Cetshwayo will +maintain that moderation and forbearance which he +has hitherto shown, and which the Government has +great pleasure in bringing to the notice of the councillors +of the great Queen, and that nothing will be done which +will hinder the peaceful solution of the Disputed Territory +question,” July 25th, 1876 (1748, p. 97).</p> + +<p>Meanwhile repeated acts of violence and brutality on +the part of the Boers are reported, and in the Blue-books +before us the Zulu complaints are confirmed from various +official sources, by Mr. Fynn, Resident Magistrate of +the Umsinga Division (1748, p. 10), by Sir Henry +Bulwer (1748, pp. 8, 11, 12, 25), by Sir T. Shepstone +himself (1748, pp. 10, 24, 29, 52, 56), by Mr. Osborn +(1748, p. 82), and by Sir Henry Barkly (1748, p. 25). +No attempt at settlement, however, had been made in +answer to these appeals up to the time of the annexation<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span> +of the Transvaal, in 1877, by Sir T. Shepstone; +after which so great a change took place in the tone +of the latter upon the subject of the disputed +territory.</p> + +<p>Upon this question we may quote again from +Mr. Fynney’s report of the king’s answer to him upon +the announcement of the annexation of the Transvaal. +“I hear what you have said about past disputes with +the Boers, and about the settlement of them,” said the +king; “the land question is one of them, and a great +one. I was in hopes, when I heard it was you who +visited me, that you had brought me some final word +about the land, as Somtseu had sent from Newcastle by +Umgabana to say that his son would come with the +word respecting the land so long in dispute, and I felt +sure it had come to-day, for you are his son. Now +the Transvaal is English ground, I want Somtseu to +send the Boers away from the lower parts of the +Transvaal, that near my country. The Boers are a +nation of liars; they are a bad people, bad altogether; +I do not want them near my people; they lie, and claim +what is not theirs, and ill-use my people. Where is +Thomas (Mr. Burgers)?”</p> + +<p>“I informed him,” says Mr. Fynney, “that Mr. +Burgers had left the Transvaal.”</p> + +<p>“Then let them pack up and follow Thomas,” said +he, “let them go. The Queen does not want such +people as those about her land. What can the Queen +make of them or do with them? Their evil ways +puzzled both Thomas and Rudolph (Landdrost of +Utrecht); they will not be quiet. They have laid<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span> +claim to my land, and even down to <i lang="zu">N’Zabankulu</i> (you +saw the line), burned it with fire, and my people have no +rest.”</p> + +<p>“Umnyamana (Prime Minister) here remarked,” +continues Mr. Fynney, “we want to know what is going +to be done about this land; it has stood over as an open +question for so many years. Somtseu took all the +papers to England with him to show the great men +there, and we have not heard since.” To which Mr. +Fynney, of course, had no reply to make.</p> + +<p>Within a fortnight of the annexation the Boers on +the Zulu border presented Sir T. Shepstone with an +address, stating that during the last ten or twelve years +(<em>i.e.</em> from 1861, when this encroachment was begun by +the Boers) they had “suffered greatly in consequence of +the hostile behaviour of the Zulu nation, but more so for +the last two years” (<em>i.e.</em> from 1875, when the Boer +Government proclaimed the disputed territory to belong +to the Transvaal, and proceeded to levy taxes upon its +Zulu inhabitants), so that, they said, their lives and +goods were in danger (1814, p. 14).</p> + +<p>Accordingly Sir T. Shepstone writes to Lord +Carnarvon as follows: “I shall be forced to take some +action with regard to the Disputed Territory, of which +your lordship has heard so much, but I shall be careful +to avoid any direct issue.”<a id="FNanchor_74" href="#Footnote_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p> + +<p>“It is of the utmost importance,” he continues,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> +“that all questions involving disturbance outside of this +territory should be, if possible, postponed until the +Government of the Transvaal is consolidated, and the +numerous tribes within its boundaries have begun to +feel and recognise the hand of the new administration.”</p> + +<p>These remarks already show the change in sentiment, +on Sir T. Shepstone’s part, which was more markedly +displayed at the Blood River meeting between him and +the Zulu indunas. The conference proved an utter +failure, as also did several other attempts on Sir T. +Shepstone’s part to persuade the Zulus to relinquish to +him, on behalf of the Transvaal, the claims upon which +they had so long insisted.</p> + +<p>On December 5th, 1877, two indunas came from +Cetshwayo to the Bishop of Natal with a request that he +would put the Zulu claim in writing, to be sent to Sir H. +Bulwer and the Queen. The same indunas, a few days +later, with Umfunzi and ’Nkisimane—messengers from +Cetshwayo—appointed, before a notary public, Dr. +Walter Smith and Mr. F. E. Colenso to be “diplomatic +agents” for Cetshwayo, “who should communicate on +his behalf in the English language, and, when needful, +in writing,” and especially to “treat with the British +Government on the boundary question” (2000, p. 58);<a id="FNanchor_75" href="#Footnote_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> +which appointment, however, Sir H. Bulwer and Sir T.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span> +Shepstone refused to recognise; and the former, having +proposed the Border Commission before receiving notice +of this appointment—though the Commissioners had not +yet started from ’Maritzburg—did not feel it advisable, +as “no such appointment had been made by the Zulu +king,”<a id="FNanchor_76" href="#Footnote_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> to communicate to Messrs. Smith and Colenso +Lord Carnarvon’s despatch (January 21st, 1878), which +said:</p> + +<p>“I request that you will inform Mr. Smith and Mr. +Colenso that the desire of Her Majesty’s Government in +this matter is that the boundary question shall be fully +and fairly discussed, and a just arrangement arrived at, +and that you will refer them to Sir T. Shepstone, to +whom has been committed the duty of negotiating on +the subject.”<a id="FNanchor_77" href="#Footnote_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile, however, Sir T. Shepstone’s “negotiations” +had proved unsuccessful, and Sir Henry Bulwer +writes to Sir Bartle Frere (2000, p. 68): “It seems but +too clear, from all that has now happened, that the +prospect of a settlement of the question by direct +negotiations between the Government of the Transvaal +and the Zulu king is at an end. The feeling against the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> +Boers on the part of the Zulu king and people is too +bitter, and they are now scarcely less angry against the +new Government of the Transvaal than they were +against the old Government.” He then suggests arbitration +as a way by which the Zulu king “can escape the +alternative of war, by which he can obtain justice, and +by which, at the same time, he can avoid direct negotiations +with the Government of a people whom he dislikes +and distrusts.”</p> + +<p>The diplomatic agents were never recognised by the +colonial authorities, or allowed to exercise their functions; +but a visit which Mr. Colenso paid to the Zulu +king in connection with the appointment is worth +recording for the sake of the glimpse it gives of +Cetshwayo’s habits and daily life, as told by a disinterested +eye-witness.</p> + +<p>The king, it appears, whom so many have delighted +to represent as a corpulent unwieldy savage, to whom +movement must be a painful exertion, was in the habit +of taking a daily constitutional of about six miles out +and back. Mr. Colenso observed that this was his +regular habit, and during his stay at the royal kraal he +daily saw Cetshwayo start, and could trace his course +over the hills by the great white shield carried before +him as the emblem of kingship.</p> + +<p>On his return the king regularly underwent a process +of ablution at the hands of his attendants, who poured +vessels of water over him, and rubbed the royal person +down with a species of soft stone. This performance +over, Cetshwayo ascended his throne or chair of state, +upon which he remained, hearing causes, and trying cases<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span> +amongst his people, until the shades of evening fell, +before which time he did not break his fast.</p> + +<p>This description, of the accuracy of which there can +be no question, gives a picture of a simple, moderate, +and useful kingly existence, very different from the idea +commonly received of a savage monarch, wallowing in +sloth and coarse luxury, and using the power which he +holds over his fellow-creatures only for the gratification +of every evil or selfish human passion. Cetshwayo ruled +his people well according to his lights: let us hope +that, now we have wrested his kingdom from him, our +government may prove a <em>more</em> beneficent one.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Sir Henry Bulwer’s message proposing arbitration +was sent to Cetshwayo on December 8th, 1877 (2000, +p. 67).</p> + +<p>In this message he makes it plain to the king that +“the Governments of Natal and the Transvaal are now +brothers, and what touches one touches the other.” +“Therefore,” he continues, “the Lieut.-Governor of +Natal sends these words to Cetshwayo that he may +know what is in his mind, and that Cetshwayo may do +nothing that will interrupt the peaceful and friendly +relations that have existed for so many years between +the English and the Zulus.” He then proposes that he +should write to “the Ministers of the great Queen in +England, and also to the Queen’s High Commissioner +who resides at Capetown, in order that they may send +fit and proper persons, who will come to the country +with fresh minds, and who will hear all that the Zulus +have to say on the question, and all that the Transvaal +Government has to say, and examine and consider all +the rights of the question, and then give their decision +in such manner that all concerned may receive and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span> +abide by that decision, and the question be finally set +at rest.</p> + +<p>“Meanwhile,” he says, “no action should be taken +to interfere with the existing state of things or to +disturb the peace. But the disputed territory should be +considered and treated as <em>neutral</em> between the two +countries for the time being.”</p> + +<p>Before this communication reached him, Cetshwayo +had already sent messengers to the Bishop of Natal, +asking advice how to act in his present difficulties. +And they had carried back “a word,” which would +reach the king about November 19th, to the effect that +he must on no account think of fighting the Transvaal +Government, and that he had better send down some +great indunas to propose arbitration to Sir Henry +Bulwer, in whose hands he might leave himself with +perfect confidence, that the right and just thing would +be done by him. The Bishop knew nothing of Sir +Henry’s intentions when he sent this reply; and, in +point of fact, the two had separately come to the same +conclusion as to what would be the wisest course to +follow.</p> + +<p>Cetshwayo therefore was prepared to receive Sir +Henry’s proposition, which he did, not only with +respect, but with delight and relief (2000, p. 138). +His answer to the message contained the following +passages: “Cetshwayo hears what the Governor of Natal +says ... and thanks him for these words, for they +are all good words that have been sent to Cetshwayo by +the Governor of Natal; they show that the Natal Government +still wishes Cetshwayo to drink water and live.”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> +He suggests, however, that before sending for people +from across the sea to settle the boundary, he should +be glad if the Governor would send his own representatives +to hear both sides of the dispute, and if they +cannot come to a decision, “a letter can be sent beyond +the sea” for others to come. The message continues: +“Cetshwayo thanks the Governor for the words which +say the ground in dispute should not be occupied while +the matter is talked over.”</p> + +<p>“Cetshwayo says he hears it said that he intends to +make war upon the Transvaal. He wishes the Natal +Government to watch well and see when he will do such +a thing. For, if he attended to the wish of the English +Government in Natal when it said he must not make +war on the Transvaal <em>Boers</em>, why should he wish to do +so upon those who are now of the same Great House as +Natal, to whose voice he has listened?”</p> + +<p>“Cetshwayo is informed that he is to be attacked by +the Transvaal people. If so, and if he is not taken by +surprise, he will, as soon as he hears of the approach of +such a force, send men who will report it to the Natal +Government before he takes any action.”</p> + +<p>“Cetshwayo says he cannot trust the Transvaal +Boers any longer; they have killed his people, they +have robbed them of their cattle on the slightest grounds. +He had hoped Somtseu would have settled all these +matters. But he has not done so; he wishes to cast +Cetshwayo off; he is no more a father, but a firebrand. +If he is tired of carrying Cetshwayo now, as he did +while he was with the Natal Government, then why +does he not put him down, and allow the Natal<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span> +Government to look after him, as it has always +done?”</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer expressed his satisfaction at this +reply, speaking of it as a far more satisfactory one than +they had been led to expect (2000, p. 138), and he +writes of it to Sir T. Shepstone thus: “You will see by +the king’s reply that he has met my representations in +a very proper spirit.... I have no reason to think +that what the king says is said otherwise than in good +faith; and, if this be so, there seems to me to be no +reason why this dispute should not be settled in a +peaceable manner” (2097, p. 26), and he says to +Cetshwayo himself, “The Lieutenant-Governor has +heard the words of Cetshwayo. He is glad that the +words which he lately sent to Cetshwayo were welcome. +They were words sent in a friendly spirit, and Cetshwayo +received them in a friendly spirit. This is as it should +be,” and he agrees to the king’s proposal concerning +commissioners from Natal, provided that the Transvaal +Government agree also.</p> + +<p>The following is the account given by the Government +messengers, who carried Sir H. Bulwer’s message +to Cetshwayo of the manner in which it was received by +the king and his indunas (2079, p. 25):</p> + +<p>“While we spoke to Cetshwayo, we saw that what +we were saying lifted a great weight from his heart, that +they were words which he was glad to hear; and what +he said to us as we finished showed us we were right in +this belief....</p> + +<p>“We could see, when we arrived at the great kraal, +that the indunas, and even the king, were not easy in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span> +their hearts, and from all we could see and gather, the +chief men under the king did not wish for war. After +the message was delivered, all of them appeared like +men who had been carrying a very heavy burden, and +who had only then been told that they could put it down +and rest.”</p> + +<p>It is best known to himself how, in the face of +these words, and with nothing to support his statement, +Sir Bartle Frere could venture to assert in his fourth letter +to the Bishop, “The offers to arbitrate originated with +the Natal Government, and were by no means willingly +accepted by Cetshwayo;” Cetshwayo having, in point +of fact, earnestly asked for arbitration again and again, +as we have already shown, and rejoicing greatly when +at last it was offered him. Mr. J. Shepstone’s observation +also (2144, p. 184), that “To this suggestion +Cetshwayo replied ‘that he had no objection,’” hardly +gives a fair view of the state of the case.</p> + +<p>But, before this satisfactory agreement had been +arrived at, Sir T. Shepstone had managed still further +to exasperate the feelings of the Zulus against the +new Government of the Transvaal, while the fact that +Natal and the Transvaal were one, and that to touch +one was to touch the other, and to touch England also, +had not been brought home to the king’s mind until +he received Sir H. Bulwer’s message.</p> + +<p>Before the receipt of that message, Cetshwayo had +every reason to believe that the negotiations concerning +the disputed territory were broken off. Sir T. +Shepstone’s tone on the subject had altered; he had +parted with the king’s indunas at the Blood River<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_168"></a>[168]</span> +in anger, and the messenger whom he had promised +to send to the king himself had never appeared. +Meanwhile, the Boers had gone into laager, by direction, +they say, of Sir T. Shepstone himself, and with +the full expectation that he was about to make war +upon the Zulus. No offer of arbitration had yet been +made. Cetshwayo had been played with and baffled +by the English Government for sixteen years, and to +all appearance nothing whatever was done, or would +be done, to settle in a friendly manner this troubled +question, unless he took steps himself to <em>assert</em> his +rights, and he seems to have taken the mildest possible +way of so doing under the circumstances. According +to the official reports at the time, he sent a large force +of armed men to build a military kraal near Luneburg, +north of the Pongolo, in land which was also disputed +with the Transvaal Government, but formed no part +of the (so called) disputed territory to the south of +that river, or as Lord Carnarvon said to a deputation +of South African merchants (<cite>Guardian</cite>, January 9th, +1878): “He (the Zulu king) had proceeded to construct, +in opposition to Sir T. Shepstone’s warnings, a +fortified kraal in a disputed territory abutting upon +English soil.”</p> + +<p>But this was a very exaggerated way of describing +a comparative trifling circumstance. The erection of a +kraal—not, as so frequently asserted, a military one, +but merely an ordinary Zulu kraal for the residence of +a headman, to keep order among the 15,000 Zulus who +lived in that district—had long been contemplated, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_169"></a>[169]</span> +had once, during Umpanda’s lifetime, been attempted, +though the Boers had driven away the Zulu officer +sent for the purpose, and destroyed the work he had +commenced.</p> + +<p>Cetshwayo himself explains his reason for sending so +large a force for the purpose, on the grounds that he +wished the kraal to be built in one day, and his men not +to be obliged to remain over a night, while, as Colonel +Durnford, R.E., says (2144, p. 237), “the fact that the +men at work are armed is of no significance, because +every Zulu is an armed man, and never moves without +his weapon.”</p> + +<p>Sir T. Shepstone, however, was greatly alarmed +when he first heard of the building of this kraal, and +writes concerning it—November 16th, 1877 (1961, +p. 224): “I feel, therefore (because of the irritating +effect of it upon the Transvaal), that the building of this +kraal must be prevented at all hazards.” The “hazards” +do not appear to have proved very serious, as a simple +representation on the part of Captain Clarke, R.A., and +Mr. Rudolph, sent to the spot by Sir T. Shepstone, +resulted in the Zulu force retiring, <em>having made only a +small cattle kraal and chopped and collected some poles</em>, +which they left on the ground, to be used for the +building of the huts hereafter, but which were very +soon carried off and used as firewood by the Luneburg +farmers.</p> + +<p>But this did not satisfy Sir T. Shepstone, who sent +messengers to Cetshwayo, complaining of what had been +done, and of “finding,” as he says, “a Zulu force in the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_170"></a>[170]</span> +rear of where he was staying;”<a id="FNanchor_78" href="#Footnote_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> and saying that, in +consequence, and in order to restore confidence amongst +those Boers living on the Blood River border, he (Sir T. +Shepstone) had decided to send a military force down to +the waggon-drift on the Blood River, to encamp there on +our side of the river. Cetshwayo replies that he did not +send to have the kraal built that trouble might arise, +but because his people were already living on the ground +in dispute. He admits that of course the administrator +could do as he pleased about sending an armed force to +encamp on his own borders; but he urges him to think +better of it, saying that the Zulus would be frightened +and run away, and, if he in his turn should send an +armed force to encamp just opposite Sir T. Shepstone’s +encampment, to put confidence into <em>his</em> people’s hearts, +he asks, somewhat quaintly, “would it be possible for +the two forces to be looking at one another for two days +without a row?”</p> + +<p>Many expressions are scattered through the Blue-books +at this period concerning “Zulu aggressions;” +and Sir T. Shepstone makes frequent, though vague +and unproven, accusations concerning Cetshwayo’s +“mischievous humour,” and the terror of the Boer +frontier farmers.</p> + +<p>But, so far as these remarks allude to the border +squabbles inseparable from the state of affairs, the score +is so heavily against the Boers that the counter-charges +are hardly worth considering. The only acts chargeable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_171"></a>[171]</span> +upon the king himself are, first, the building of this kraal, +which really amounted to no more than a practical +assertion of the Zulu claim to land north of the +Pongolo; and, secondly, the execution of a (supposed) +Zulu criminal there, which was an exercise of Cetshwayo’s +authority over his own people living in the +district.</p> + +<p>For the acts of violence committed by the robber +chief Umbilini, the Zulu king could not justly be +considered responsible; but of this matter, and of the +raid committed by the sons of Sihayo, we will treat in a +later chapter.</p> + +<p>Sir T. Shepstone himself allows that Cetshwayo’s +frame of mind was a better one after the reception of +Sir Henry Bulwer’s message offering arbitration (2079, +pp. 51-54); and says that his (Sir T. Shepstone’s) messengers +“describe Cetshwayo as being in a very +different temper to that which he had on former occasions +exhibited;” to use their own expression, “it was +Cetshwayo, but it was Cetshwayo born again.”... +“They gleaned from the Zulus ... that a message +from the Governor of Natal had been delivered, and they +concluded that the change which they had noticed as so +marked in the king’s tone must have been produced by +that message.”</p> + +<p>The fact that Cetshwayo joyfully and thankfully +accepted Sir Henry Bulwer’s promise—not to give him +the land he claimed, but to have the matter investigated +and justice done—is sufficiently established; but from +the Boers the proposal met with a very different +reception.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_172"></a>[172]</span></p> + +<p>Sir T. Shepstone acknowledged the receipt of Sir +H. Bulwer’s despatch of December 11th, “transmitting +copy of a message” which he “had thought fit to send +to the Zulu king,” and then summoned a few leading +men in the district, and laid the proposition before them. +He reports that after some pretty speeches about the +“Christian, humane, and admirable proposal,” which +they should have “no excuse for hesitating to accept, +if Cetshwayo were a civilised king and the Zulu Government +a civilised government,” etc. etc., they proceeded +to state their objections. They had, they said, no +misgiving regarding the justice of the claim of the +State; and they believed that the more it was investigated, +the more impartial the minds of the investigators, +the clearer and more rightful would that claim prove +itself to be. Nevertheless, they professed to fear the +delay that must necessarily be caused by such an +investigation<a id="FNanchor_79" href="#Footnote_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> (the dispute having already lasted fifteen +years!) and to doubt Cetshwayo’s abiding by any +promise he might make to observe a temporary +boundary line.</p> + +<p>To place the two parties to the dispute on equal +terms, they said, the land in question should be +evacuated by both, or occupied by both under the +control of Sir Henry Bulwer, who, they proposed, +as an indispensable condition of the proposed arbitration, +should take possession of the land in dispute +or of some part of it. And Sir T. Shepstone remarks:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_173"></a>[173]</span></p> + +<p>“My view is that the considerations above set forth +are both weighty and serious.</p> + +<p>“I do not anticipate that, under the circumstances, +Cetshwayo would venture to make or to authorise any +overt attack. I do fear, however, the consequences +of the lawless condition into which the population all +along the border is rapidly falling. Cetshwayo, I +fear, rather encourages than attempts to repress this +tendency; and, although he will not go to war, he +may allow that to go on which he knows will produce +war.”</p> + +<p>The condition of the border seems, as we have +already shown, to have been “lawless” for many years, +though the fault lay rather, with the Boers—whose +many acts of violence are recorded in the Blue-books—than +with the Zulus, and Sir T. Shepstone has apparently +overlooked the fact that he himself had just +summarily put a stop to an attempt, on Cetshwayo’s +part to “repress” any lawless “tendency” amongst his +own people (of which the Administrator complains) by +placing a headman, or responsible person, amongst them +to keep order.</p> + +<p>Under the above-mentioned conditions Sir T. Shepstone +accepts Sir Henry Bulwer’s proposal, and informs +him that, under the circumstances, he shall not carry +out his expressed intention of placing a military post +in the neighbourhood of the Blood River.</p> + +<p>And again he writes—January 17th, 1878 (2079, +p. 58):</p> + +<p>“It was, however, necessary to point out to Sir H. +Bulwer the difficulties and dangers, as well as the loss<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_174"></a>[174]</span> +of property, which the white people (Boers?) feel that +they will be subjected to by the acceptance of His +Excellency’s proposal, unless he can devise some means +by which their safety and interests can be protected +during the pending of the investigation, <em>which under +existing circumstances it is Cetshwayo’s interest to +prolong indefinitely</em>.”</p> + +<p>The words which I have italicised show that Sir T. +Shepstone took for granted beforehand that the decision +of the Commissioners would be unfavourable to the +Zulus.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer, however, did not see his way to +falling in with the conditions of the Boers, and replies +as follows (2079, p. 128):</p> + +<p>“I do not see that I am in a position, or that, as the +Lieutenant-Governor of this colony, I should have the +power to take actual possession of the country in dispute. +And if to take over the country, and hold possession of +it, is considered by your Government an indispensable +condition for the acceptance of the mediating course +I have proposed, I feel that my proposal falls short of +the requirements of the case.”</p> + +<p>On January 29th, Sir T. Shepstone writes to Sir Henry +again, saying that “It was felt that, in consequence of +the step which you have thought it right to take in your +communication to the Zulu king of the 8th December +last, the Government of the Transvaal is placed at a +disadvantage, and that the longer action on your part is +delayed, the greater that disadvantage grows. It follows, +therefore, that any action in the direction of your +proposition is better than no action at all; and I was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_175"></a>[175]</span> +urged to beg your Excellency to take some step in the +matter without delay.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly Sir Henry at once sends a message to +Cetshwayo, suggesting the observance of a “neutral +belt,” pending the settlement of the boundary question +(2079, p. 132), and mentioning the two lines, from point +to point, which he proposed for the purpose.</p> + +<p>The same suggestion was made, of course, to Sir T. +Shepstone, who replies as follows: “You have rightly +assumed the concurrence of this Government, and I +trust that Cetshwayo will see in your message the +necessity that is laid upon him to prove that he was +sincere in asking you to undertake the inquiry.”</p> + +<p>This ready acquiescence is fully accounted for by the +fact, shortly apparent, that <em>both</em> the lines mentioned by +Sir Henry, between which neutrality should be observed, +were within what was claimed by the Zulus as their own +country, and Sir T. Shepstone says: “At present the +belt of country indicated is occupied solely by Zulus. +The whole of it has been apportioned in farms to +Transvaal subjects, but has not been occupied by them.”</p> + +<p>Small wonder that the Zulu king, in reply to this +proposal, “informs the Governor of Natal that the two +roads mentioned in His Excellency’s message are both +in Zululand, and therefore the king cannot see how the +ground between the roads can belong to both parties.”</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Sir Henry Bulwer hardly seems to fall +in with Sir T. Shepstone’s suggestion, that Cetshwayo’s +consent on this point should be looked upon as a test of +his sincerity: “Either,” he says (2100, p. 73), “he has +misunderstood the real nature of the proposal, or he is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_176"></a>[176]</span> +disinclined to accept anything which may in his opinion +be taken to signify a withdrawal of one iota of his +claim.” And, in point of fact, though no “neutral +ground” was marked off, the Commission went on just +as well without it; all the apprehensions of disturbance +and disorder having been falsified by the event.</p> + +<p>Sir T. Shepstone repeatedly speaks of the border +Boers having been forced by Zulu acts and threats of +aggression to abandon their farms and go into laager, +etc. etc.; but, on investigation, it is apparent that this +abandonment of farms, and trekking into laager, took +place in consequence of an intimation from the Landrost +of Utrecht, under instructions from Sir T. Shepstone +himself; as appears from the following passages of an +address from seventy-nine Boers, protesting against +arbitration as “an absurdity and an impossibility,” +which was presented to Sir T. Shepstone on February +2nd, 1878 (2079, p. 140):</p> + +<p>“The undersigned burghers, etc. ... take the +liberty to bring to your Excellency’s notice that they, +in consequence of intimation from the Landrost of +Utrecht, dated 14th December last, on your Excellency’s +instructions, partly trekked into laager, and partly +deserted their farms, in the firm expectation that now +a beginning of a war would soon be made.... That +they have heard with anxiety and understand that +arbitration is spoken of, which would have to determine +our property and possessions; which we fear will decide +in favour of a crowned robber, murderer, and breaker of +his word, who knows as well as we that he is claiming +a thing which does not belong to him ... for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_177"></a>[177]</span> +which reason we are sure that such arbitration is an +absurdity and an impossibility. We therefore hereby +protest against all proposed or to be undertaken arbitration; +and we will, with all legal means at our disposal, +etc., resist a decision, etc., over our property which we +know would be unlawful and unjust.”</p> + +<p>They give as a reason for presenting the address +from which these phrases are taken, “<em>because it is +impossible for us to remain any longer in laager without +any object</em>,” which hardly looks as though they thought +themselves in daily danger from the Zulus, unless the +“beginning of a war” should “soon be made” by Sir T. +Shepstone. They request His Excellency “to commence +without any further delay defending” their “rights and +property and lives;” and should His Excellency “not +be inclined or be without power” to do so, they further +signify their intention of requesting him to assist them +with ammunition, and not to hinder them seeking +assistance, of fellow-countrymen and friends, to maintain +their “rights,” and to check their “rapacious enemies +and to punish them.”</p> + +<p>And they conclude: “We, the undersigned, bind +ourselves on peril of our honour to assist in subduing +the Zulu nation, and making it harmless.”</p> + +<p>Sir T. Shepstone encloses this in a sympathising +despatch, but Sir Henry Bulwer remarks upon it and +upon a subsequent memorial<a id="FNanchor_80" href="#Footnote_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> of the same description—February +23rd (2100, p. 67):</p> + +<p>“Of course, if the object of the memorialists is war, +if what they desire is a war with the Zulu nation, it is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_178"></a>[178]</span> +not to be wondered at that they should find fault with +any steps that have been taken to prevent the necessity +for war. Nor, if they desire war, is it to be expected +that they should be favourable to arbitration, though +I find it difficult to reconcile the expression of the +apprehensions of the memorialists that arbitration would +decide against them, with the unanimous expression of +opinion, previously given to your Excellency by some of +the leading men of the district, that the proposal made +by me was a Christian, humane, and admirable one; +that they had no misgivings regarding the justice of the +claim of the State, and that they believed the more it +was investigated ... the clearer and more rightful +would that claim prove itself to be. Your Excellency +observes that the deep feeling of distrust shown by the +memorialists is scarcely to be wondered at, when it is +remembered that they are compelled to occupy with +their families fortified camps, while their farms in the +neighbourhood are being occupied by Zulus, their crops +reaped, and their cultivated lands tilled by Zulus, and +the timber of their houses used as Zulu firewood.</p> + +<p>“I do not quite understand what farms and +cultivated lands are referred to; because in a previous +despatch—your despatch, No. 7, of February 5th—your +Excellency, in referring to the disputed territory, +states, so I understand, that it ‘<em>is at present occupied +solely by Zulus</em>,’ and that, although the whole of it +has been apportioned in farms to Transvaal subjects, <em>it +has not been occupied by them</em>.’”</p> + +<p>The matter was referred to the High Commissioner, +Sir Bartle Frere, and the appointment of a commission<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_179"></a>[179]</span> +was approved by him. He plainly took it for granted +that, as Sir T. Shepstone had said, the Transvaal claim +was based on “evidence the most incontrovertible, +overwhelming, and clear,” and looked to the commission +for the double advantage of enabling Sir T. Shepstone +“to clear up or put on record, in a form calculated to +satisfy Her Majesty’s Government, an answer to all +doubts as to the facts and equity of the question,” and +of gaining time for preparing a military force to silence +and subjugate the Zulus should they object (as he +expected) to such an award. That nothing short of +military coercion of the Zulus would settle the matter, +was evidently Sir Bartle Frere’s fixed idea; in fact that +was the foregone conclusion with him from beginning to +end.</p> + +<p>On February 12th, Sir Henry Bulwer sent a message +to Cetshwayo (2079, p. 140), to this effect:</p> + +<p>“The Lieut.-Governor now sends to let Cetshwayo +know that he has selected, for the purpose of holding +this inquiry, the Queen’s Attorney-General in Natal +(Hon. M. H. Gallway, Esq.), the Secretary for Native +Affairs (Hon. J. W. Shepstone, Esq.), and Colonel +Durnford, an officer in the Queen’s army.</p> + +<p>“These gentlemen will proceed by-and-by to the +place known as Rorke’s Drift, which is on the Buffalo +River, and in Natal territory, and they will there open +the inquiry on Thursday, March 7th.</p> + +<p>“The Lieut.-Governor proposes, as the most convenient +course to be taken, that the Zulu king should +appoint two or three indunas to represent the Zulu king +and the Zulu case at the inquiry, and that these should<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_180"></a>[180]</span> +be at Rorke’s Drift on March 7th, and meet the Natal +Commissioners there. The same thing also the Governor +proposes shall be done by the Transvaal Government.” +And the king’s reply to the messengers was expressive: +“I am very glad to hear what you say—I shall now be +able to sleep.”</p> + +<p>On March 7th the Commission met at Rorke’s +Drift, and sat for about five weeks, taking evidence day +by day in presence of the representatives deputed, three +by the Transvaal Government, and three by the Zulus.</p> + +<p>Of the three gentlemen who formed the Commission, +one was Sir T. Shepstone’s brother, already mentioned in +this history, whose natural bias would therefore certainly +not be upon the Zulu side of the question; another was +a Government official and an acute lawyer; and the +third, Colonel Durnford, to the writer’s personal knowledge, +entered upon the subject with an entirely +unbiassed mind, and with but one intention or desire, +that of discovering the actual truth, whatever it might +be. The only thing by which his expectations—rather +than his opinions—were in the least influenced beforehand, +was the natural supposition, shared by all, that +Sir T. Shepstone, who had the reputation of being in his +public capacity one of the most cautious of men, must +have some strong grounds for his very positive statement +of the Transvaal claim.</p> + +<p>There was, plainly, some slight confusion in the +minds of the three Transvaal delegates, as to their +position relative to the Commissioners, with whom +they apparently expected to be on equal terms, and +in a different position altogether from the Zulu delegates<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_181"></a>[181]</span> +on the other side. This, however, was a manifest +mistake. It was particularly desirable that the Zulus +should be made to feel that it was no case of white +against black; but a matter in which impartial judges +treated either side with equal fairness, and without +respect of persons. One of the Commissioners was the +brother of their chief opponent, one of the Transvaal +delegates his son; it would naturally have seemed to +the Zulus that the six white men (five out of whom +were either Englishmen, or claimed to be such) were +combining together to outwit them, had they seen +them, evidently on terms of friendship, seated together +at the inquiry or talking amongst themselves in their +own language.</p> + +<p>The Commissioners, however, were careful to avoid +this mistake. Finding, on their arrival at Rorke’s +Drift, that the spot intended for their encampment +was already occupied by the Transvaal delegates, who +had arrived before them, they caused their own tents +to be pitched at some little distance, in order to keep +the two apart. The same system was carried out +during the sitting of the Court, at which the Commissioners +occupied a central position at a table by +themselves, the Transvaal delegates being placed at a +smaller table on one hand, mats being spread for the +Zulu delegates, in a like position, on the other.<a id="FNanchor_81" href="#Footnote_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_182"></a>[182]</span></p> + +<p>Care was also necessary to prevent any possible +altercations arising between the Boer and Zulu attendants +of either party of delegates, who, in fact, +formed the one real element of danger in the affair. +On one occasion, during the sitting of the Commission, +Colonel Durnford observed a Boer poking at a Zulu +with his stick, in a manner calculated to bring to +the surface some of the feelings of intense irritation +common to both sides, and only kept under control +by the presence of the Commissioners. The Colonel +at once put a stop to this, and placing a sentry between +the two parties, with orders to insist on either keeping +to its own side of the ground, no further disturbance +took place. Popular rumour, of course, greatly exaggerated +the danger of the situation, catching as usual at +the opportunity for fresh accusations against the Zulu +king, who, it was once reported from Durban, had +sent an impi to Rorke’s Drift, and had massacred the +Commissioners and all upon the spot. Fortunately the +same day that brought this report to Pietermaritzburg, +brought also letters direct from the Commissioners themselves, +of a later date than the supposed massacre, and +in which the Zulus were spoken of as “perfectly quiet.”</p> + +<p>That the impartial conduct of the Commissioners +had the desired effect is manifest from Cetshwayo’s +words, spoken after the conclusion of the inquiry, but +before its result had been made known to him. His +messengers, after thanking Sir Henry Bulwer in the +name of their king and people for appointing the commission, +said that “Cetshwayo and the Zulu people are +perfectly satisfied with the way in which the inquiry<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_183"></a>[183]</span> +was conducted throughout, the way in which everything +went on from day to day in proper order, and without +the least misunderstanding; but that each party understood +the subject that was being talked about.</p> + +<p>“Cetshwayo says,” they continued, “he now sees +that he is a child of this Government, that the desire +of this Government is to do him justice....</p> + +<p>“Cetshwayo and the Zulu people are awaiting with +beating hearts what the Lieut.-Governor will decide +about the land that the Boers have given the Zulus so +much trouble about; for the Zulus wish very much now +to reoccupy the land they never parted with, as it is +now the proper season (of the year) for doing so.”</p> + +<p>Such was Cetshwayo’s frame of mind (even before +he knew that the decision was in his favour) at a +time when he was popularly represented as being in +an aggressive, turbulent condition, preparing to try his +strength against us, and only waiting his opportunity +to let loose upon Natal the “war-cloud” which he was +supposed to keep “hovering on our borders.”</p> + +<p>The boundary question resolved itself into this:</p> + +<p>1. To whom did the land in dispute belong in the +first instance?</p> + +<p>2. Was it ever ceded or sold by the original +possessors?</p> + +<p>1. In answer to the first question, the Commissioners +took the treaty made in 1843, between the English and +the Zulus, as a standpoint fixing a period when the +territory in dispute belonged entirely to one or other. +There was then no question but that the Zulu country +extended over the whole of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_184"></a>[184]</span></p> + +<p>2. The Zulus deny ever having relinquished any +part of their country to the Boers, who on the other +hand assert that formal cessions had been made to them +of considerable districts. With the latter rested the +obligation of proving their assertions, which were simply +denied by the Zulus, who accordingly, as they said +themselves, “had no witnesses to call,” having received +no authority from the king to do more than point out +the boundary claimed<a id="FNanchor_82" href="#Footnote_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> (2242, p. 80).</p> + +<p>The Boer delegates brought various documents, from +which they professed to prove the truth of their assertions, +but which were decided by the Commissioners to +be wholly worthless, from the glaring discrepancies and +palpable falsehoods which they contained. One of these +documents, dated March 16th, 1861, “purporting to +give an account of a meeting between Sir T. Shepstone, +Panda, and Cetshwayo,” they decided to be plainly a +fabrication, as Sir T. Shepstone did not arrive at +Nodwengu,<a id="FNanchor_83" href="#Footnote_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> from Natal, to meet Panda and Cetshwayo, +until May 9th, 1861.</p> + +<p>Other records of cessions of land professed to be signed +by the king, but were witnessed by neither Boer nor +Zulu, or else by Boers alone. A definition of boundaries +was in one case ratified by one Zulu only, a man of no +rank or importance; and in other documents alterations +were made, and dates inserted, clearly at another +time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_185"></a>[185]</span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile it was apparent, from authentic Boer +official papers, that the Zulus were threatened by the +Boer Government that, if they dared to complain again +to the British Government, the South African Republic +“would deal severely with them, and that they would +also endanger their lives;” while such expressions used +by the Volksraad of the South African Republic as the +following, when they resolve “to direct the Government +to continue in the course it had adopted with reference +to the policy on the eastern frontier, with such caution +as the Volksraad expects from the Government with confidence; +and in this matter to give it the right to take +such steps as will more fully benefit the interests of the +population than <em>the strict words of the law of the country +lay down</em>” (2220, p. 337), convicts them of dishonesty +out of their own mouths.</p> + +<p>Finally the Commissioners report that in their +judgment, east of the Buffalo, “there has been no cession +of land at all by the Zulu kings, past or present, or by +the nation.”</p> + +<p>They consider, however, that—as the Utrecht district +has long been inhabited by Boers, who have laid out the +site for a town, and built upon it, and as the Zulu +nation had virtually acquiesced in the Boer authority +over it by treating with them for the rendition of +fugitives who had taken refuge there—the Transvaal +should be allowed to retain that portion of the land in +dispute, compensation being given to the Zulus inhabiting +that district if they surrendered the lands occupied by +them and returned to Zululand, or permission being +given them to become British subjects and to continue +to occupy the land.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_186"></a>[186]</span></p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere’s version of this is as follows:</p> + +<p>“The Commissioners propose to divide the area +in dispute between the Blood River and the Pongolo, +giving to neither party the whole of its claim.” He +then quotes the recommendation of the Commissioners, +that compensation should be given to Zulus leaving the +Utrecht district, and wants to know what is to be done +for the farmers who “in good faith, and relying on the +right and power of the Transvaal Government to protect +them, had settled for many years past on the tract +which the Commission proposes to assign to the Zulus.” +He wishes to know how they are to be placed on an +equality with the Zulus from the Utrecht district. +To this Sir Henry Bulwer ably replies by pointing out +that compensation to the said farmers lies with their +own Government, by whose sanction or permission they +had occupied land over which that Government had no +power by right. In fact, far from “dividing the area in +dispute,” and giving half to either party on equal terms, +the reservation of the Utrecht district was rather an +unavoidable concession to the Boers who had long had +actual possession of it—which, with due compensation, +the Zulus would have been ready enough to make, while +receiving back so much of their own land—than an +acknowledgment that they could make good their +original claim to it. The Commissioners indeed say +distinctly “<em>there has been no cession of land at all by +the Zulu king, past or present, or by the nation</em>.”</p> + +<p>But indeed, after the decision in favour of the Zulus +was given, Sir Bartle Frere entirely changed the complacent +tone in which he had spoken of the Commission beforehand.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_187"></a>[187]</span> +To all appearance his careful schemes for subjugating +the Zulu nation were thrown away—the war and +the South African Empire were on the point of eluding +his grasp. He had sent to England for reinforcements—in +direct opposition to the home policy, which for some +years had been gradually teaching the colonies to depend +upon themselves for protection, and therefore to refrain +from rushing headlong into needless and dangerous wars, +which might be avoided by a little exercise of tact and +forbearance. He and his friend General Thesiger had +laid out their campaign and had sent men-of-war to +investigate the landing capabilities of the Zulu coast, +and he had recommended Sir Henry Bulwer to inform +the Zulu king—when the latter expressed his disquietude +on the subject of these men-of-war—that the ships he +saw were “for the most part English merchant vessels, +but that the war-vessels of the English Government are +quite sufficient to protect his (Cetshwayo’s) coast from +any descent by any other power” (October 6th, 1878, +2220, p. 307).</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer was too honest to carry out this +recommendation, even had he not had the sense to know +that Cetshwayo was accustomed to the passing of +merchantmen, and was not to be thus taken in (supposing +him to be likely to fear attacks from “foreign +foes”). But the fact remains that, an English official of +Sir Bartle Frere’s rank has put on record, in an official +despatch under his own hand, a deliberate proposal that +the Zulu king should be tranquillised, and his well-founded +suspicions allayed by—a “figure of speech,” +shall we say?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_188"></a>[188]</span></p> + +<p>Every possible objection was made by Sir Bartle +Frere to the decision of the Commissioners, and it was +with the utmost difficulty that he was at last persuaded +to ratify it, after a considerable period employed in preparing +for a campaign, the idea of which he appears +never for a minute to have relinquished. Sir T. Shepstone +protested against the decision, which, however, +Sir Henry Bulwer upheld; while Sir Bartle Frere +finally decides that “Sir H. Bulwer and I, approaching +the question by somewhat different roads, agree in the +conclusion that we must accept the Commissioners’ +verdict.” Their report was made on June 20th, 1878, +but it was not until November 16th that Sir H. Bulwer +sent to Cetshwayo to say that “the Lieut.-Governor +is now in a position to inform Cetshwayo that His +Excellency the High Commissioner has pronounced his +award, etc.,” and to fix twenty days from the date of +the departure of the messengers carrying this message +from Pietermaritzburg, as a convenient time for a +meeting on the borders of the two countries at the +Lower Tugela Drift, at which the decision should be +delivered to the king’s indunas by officers of the +Government appointed for the purpose.</p> + +<p>But before this conclusion was arrived at another +attempt had been made to bring accusations against +Cetshwayo, who said himself at the time (June 27th, +1878): “The name of Cetshwayo is always used +amongst the Boers as being the first to wish to quarrel.” +Alarming accounts reached the Natal Government of a +fresh military kraal having been built by the king, and +notices to quit being served by him upon Boers within<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_189"></a>[189]</span> +the disputed territory, in spite of his engagement to +await the decision of the Commissioners. The farmers +complained of being obliged to fly, “leaving homes, +homesteads, and improvements to be destroyed by a +savage, unbridled, revengeful nation.”<a id="FNanchor_84" href="#Footnote_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> Sir T. Shepstone +re-echoed their complaint (2220, p. 27), and Sir +Bartle Frere comments severely upon the alleged Zulu +aggressions.</p> + +<p>The matter, however, when sifted, sinks into insignificance. +Some squabbles had taken place between +individual Boers and Zulus, such as were only natural +in the unsettled state of things; and Cetshwayo’s explanation +of the so-called “notices to quit” placed +them in a very different light.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer writes to Sir Bartle Frere as +follows on this point (July 16th): “The Zulu king says +that all the message he sent was a request that the +Boers should be warned not to return to the disputed +country, as he was informed they were doing since the +meeting of the Commission. We know that some of the +Boers did return to the disputed territory after the +Commission broke up;<a id="FNanchor_85" href="#Footnote_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> and this, no doubt, was looked<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_190"></a>[190]</span> +upon by the Zulus as an attempt on the part of the +Boers to anticipate the result of the inquiry, and led to +the giving those notices.... The fault has been, no +doubt, on both sides.”</p> + +<p>The military kraal, also, turned out to be no more +of the nature ascribed to it than was its predecessor: +“An ordinary private Zulu kraal”—see report of Mr. +Kudolph (2144, p. 186)—“built simply to have a kraal +in that locality, where many of Cetshwayo’s people are +residing without a head or kraal representing the king +... the king having given instructions that neither +the white nor the native subjects of the Transvaal were +in any way to be molested or disturbed by the Zulus;” +and having sent a small force to do the work, because +the large one he had sent on a previous occasion had +frightened the white people.</p> + +<p>Colonel Pearson, commanding the troops in Natal +and the Transvaal, writes, June 8th, 1878 (2144, p. 236):</p> + +<p>“The Landrost of Utrecht I know to be somewhat +of an alarmist, and the border farmers have all along +been in a great fright, and much given to false reports. +I allude more particularly to the Boers. I enclose +Lieut.-Colonel Durnford’s views of the kraal question. +He is an officer who knows South Africa intimately, and +his opinion I consider always sound and intelligent.”</p> + +<p>And the following is the statement of Lieut.-Colonel +Durnford, R.E., June 8th, 1878 (2144, p. 237):</p> + +<p>“I know the district referred to, in which are many +Zulu kraals, and believe that, if such a military kraal is +in course of erection on the farm of one Kohrs, believed +to be a field-cornet in the Wakkerstroom district,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_191"></a>[191]</span> +residing about fifteen miles from the mission station of +the Rev. Mr. Meyer, it is being constructed that order +may be kept amongst the Zulus here residing—who owe +allegiance to the Zulu king alone—and in the interests +of peace.... I further believe that, if the German or +other residents at or near Luneburg have been ordered +to leave, it is not by orders of the King of Zululand, +who is far too wise a man to make a false move at +present, when the boundary between himself and the +Transvaal is under consideration.”</p> + +<p>The excitement concerning the “notices to quit,” +and the second “military kraal,” appears to have been +as unnecessary as any other imaginary Zulu scare; and +there are no proofs to be extracted from the official +papers at this period of the slightest signs of aggressive +temper on the part of the Zulu king.</p> + +<p>On the contrary; if we turn to the “Message from +Cetywayo, King of the Zulus, to His Excellency the +Lieut.-Governor of Natal,” dated November 10th, 1878, +we find the concluding paragraph runs: “Cetywayo +hereby swears, in presence of Oham, Mnyamana, +Tshingwayo, and all his other chiefs, that he has no +intention or wish to quarrel with the English.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2308] p. 16).</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_192"></a>[192]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">SIHAYO, UMBILINI, AND THE MISSIONARIES IN ZULULAND.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Much has been said of late years concerning the duty +imposed by our superior civilisation upon us English, +in our dealings with the South African races, of checking +amongst the latter such cruel and savage practices +as are abhorrent to Christian ideas and practices. We +will proceed to show how this duty has been performed +by the Government of Natal.</p> + +<p>One of the commonest accusations brought against +the Zulus, and perhaps the most effectual in rousing +English indignation and disgust, is that of buying and +selling women as wives, and the cruel treatment of +young girls who refuse to be thus purchased.</p> + +<p>Without entering into the subject upon its merits, +or inquiring how many French and English girls yearly +are, to all intents and purposes, sold in marriage, and +what amount of moral pressure is brought to bear upon +the reluctant or rebellious amongst them; or whether +they suffer more or less under the infliction than their +wild sisters in Zululand do under physical correction;—we +may observe that the terrors of the Zulu system have<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_193"></a>[193]</span> +been very much exaggerated. That cruel and tyrannical +things have occasionally been done under it no one will +deny, still less that every effort should have been made +by us to introduce a better one. Amongst the Zulus, +both in their own country and in Natal, marriages are +commonly arranged by the parents, and the young +people are expected to submit, as they would be in +civilised France. But the instance which came most +directly under the present writer’s own observation, is +one rather tending to prove that the custom is one +which, although occasionally bearing hardly upon +individuals, has been too long the practice of the +people, and to which they have always been brought +up, to be looked upon by them as a crying evil, calling +for armed intervention on the part of England. In the +early days of missionary work at Bishopstowe (between +1860-70), five girls took refuge at the station within a +few days of each other, in order to avoid marriages +arranged for them by their parents, and objected to by +them. They dreaded pretty forcible coercion, although +of course, in Natal, they could not actually be put to +death. They were, of course, received and protected at +Bishopstowe, clothed, and put to school, and there they +might have remained in safety for any length of time, +or until they could return home on their own terms. +But the restraint of the civilised habits imposed on +them, however gently, and the obligation of learning to +read, sew, and sweep, etc., was too much for these wild +young damsels, accustomed at home to a free and idle +life.<a id="FNanchor_86" href="#Footnote_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> Within a few weeks they all elected to return<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_194"></a>[194]</span> +home and marry the very men on whose account they +had fled; and the conclusion finally arrived at concerning +them was, that their escapade was rather for the +sake of attaching a little additional importance to the +surrender of their freedom, than from any real objection +to the marriages proposed for them.</p> + +<p>Now let us see what means had been taken by the +English to institute a better state of things and greater +liberty for the women. In Natal itself, of course, any +serious act of violence committed to induce a girl to +marry would be punished by law, and girls in fear of +such violence could usually appeal for protection to the +magistrates or missionaries. Let us suppose that a girl, +making such an appeal, receives protection, and is +married to the man of her own choice by English law +and with Christian rites. What is the consequence to +her? She has no rights as a wife, in fact she is not +lawfully a wife at all, nor have her children any legal +claims upon their father; the law of the colony protects +the rights of native women married by native custom, +which it virtually encourages by giving no protection at +all to those who contract marriages by the English, or +civilised system.<a id="FNanchor_87" href="#Footnote_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a></p> + +<p>So much for our dealings with the Zulus of Natal; +and even less can be said for us concerning those over +the border.</p> + +<p>Until quite lately the practice existed in the colony<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_195"></a>[195]</span> +of surrendering to Zulu demands refugee <em>women</em>, as well +as cattle, as “property,” under an order from the Natal +Government, which was in force at the time of Sir H. +Bulwer’s arrival, but was at some time after rescinded.<a id="FNanchor_88" href="#Footnote_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a></p> + +<p>It was well known that, by the laws of Zululand, the +offence of a woman’s escaping from her husband with +another man was punishable by death, therefore unhappy +creatures thus situated were delivered up by the Natal +Government to certain death, and this practice had been +continued through a course of many years.</p> + +<p>The law being altered in this respect, and cattle +only returned, Sir H. Bulwer writes, on February 3rd, +1877: “Some few weeks ago I had occasion to send a +message to Cetywayo on account of the forcible removal +from Natal territory of a Zulu girl, who had lately taken +refuge in it from the Zulu country. A party of Zulus +had crossed the Tugela River in pursuit, and taken the +girl by force back to Zululand. I therefore sent to +inform Cetywayo of this lawless act on the part of some +of his subjects” (1776, pp. 86, 87); and Cetshwayo replies +with thanks, saying that he knew nothing previously of +what had happened, and that “should anything of the +same kind take place to-morrow he (the Governor of +Natal) must still open my ears with what is done by my +people.”</p> + +<p>This is apparently all. There is no attempt to make +a serious national matter of it; no demand for the +surrender of the offenders, nor for the payment of a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_196"></a>[196]</span> +fine. Nor is there even a warning that any future +occurrence of the same description will be viewed in +a more severe light. Sir Henry “informs” Cetshwayo of +what has taken place, and Cetshwayo politely acknowledges +the information, and that the action taken by his +people deserves censure. “I do not send and take by +force,” he says; “why should my people do so? It is +not right.”</p> + +<p>Eighteen months later, on July 28th, 1878, a similar +case was reported. A wife of the chief Sihayo had left +him and escaped into Natal. She was followed by a +party of Zulus, under Mehlokazulu, the chief son of +Sihayo, and his brother, seized at the kraal where she +had taken refuge, and carried back to Zululand, where +she was put to death, in accordance with Zulu law.</p> + +<p>The Zulus who seized her did no harm to Natal +people or property; in fact their only fault towards +England was that of following and seizing her on Natal +soil, an act which for many years, and until quite +lately, they would have been permitted to do, and +assisted in doing, by the border Government officials. +A week later the same young men, with two other +brothers and an uncle, captured in like manner another +refugee wife of Sihayo, in the company of the young +man with whom she had fled. This woman was also +carried back, and is supposed to have been put to death +likewise; the young man with her, although guilty in +Zulu eyes of a most heinous crime, punishable with +death, was safe from them on English soil—they did not +touch him. But by our own practice for years past, +of surrendering <em>female</em> refugees as <em>property</em>, we<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_197"></a>[197]</span> +had taught the Zulus that we regarded women as +cattle.</p> + +<p>While fully acknowledging the savagery of the +young men’s actions, and the necessity of putting a stop +to such for the future, it must be conceded that, having +so long countenanced the like, we should have given +fair notice that, for the future, it would be an act of +aggression on us for a refugee of either sex to be +followed into our territory, before proceeding to +stronger measures.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer, indeed, though taking a decided +view of the young men’s offence, plainly understood +that it was an individual fault, and not a political +action for the performance of which the king was +responsible. “There is no reason whatsoever as yet to +believe that these acts have been committed with the +consent or knowledge of the king,”<a id="FNanchor_89" href="#Footnote_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> he says (2220, +p. 125), and his message to Cetshwayo merely <em>requests</em> +that he will send in the ringleaders of the party to be +tried by the law of the colony.</p> + +<p>On a previous occasion the king had, of his own +accord, sent a Zulu named Jolwana to the Natal +Government to be punished by it for the murder of a +white man in the Zulu country. Jolwana was returned +upon his hands with the message that he could not be +tried in Natal as he was a Zulu subject. Under these +circumstances it was not unnatural that Cetshwayo<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_198"></a>[198]</span> +should have taken the opportunity, apparently offered +him by the use of the word <em>request</em>, of substituting some +other method of apology for the offence committed than +that of delivering up the young men, who, as he afterwards +said, he was afraid would be “sjambokked” +(flogged).</p> + +<p>Cetshwayo’s first answer is merely one acknowledging +the message, and regretting the truth of the +accusation brought by it. He allows that the young +men deserve punishment, and he engages to send +indunas of his own to the Natal Government on the +subject; but he deprecates the matter being looked +upon in a more serious light than as the “act of rash +boys,” who in their zeal for their father’s house (? honour) +did not think what they were doing.</p> + +<p>About this date, August, 1878, when all sorts of wild +reports were flying about, in and out of official documents, +relative to Cetshwayo’s supposed warlike preparations, +he had ordered that <em>none of his people should +carry arms on pain of death</em>.</p> + +<p>This was in consequence of a circumstance which +had occurred some months before (January, 1878), +when during the Umkosi, or feast of first-fruits, a great +Zulu gathering which annually takes place at the king’s +kraal, two of the regiments fell out and finally came to +blows, resulting in the death of some men on either side. +Sir B. Frere says, in his correspondence with the Bishop +(p. 4), that <em>many hundred men were killed</em> on this occasion; +but Mr. F. Colenso, who happened to be there a +few days after the fight, heard from a white man, who +had helped to remove the dead, that about fifty were<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_199"></a>[199]</span> +killed. In consequence of this, “an order had gone +forth, forbidding native Zulus, when travelling, to carry +arms, nothing but switches being allowed. A fire took +place, which burned the grass over Panda’s grave,<a id="FNanchor_90" href="#Footnote_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> and +the doctors declared that the spirits of Dingane and +Chaka had stated that they view with surprise and +disgust the conduct of the Zulus at the present day in +fighting when called before their king; that this was +the reason Panda’s grave was burned; and such things +would continue until they learned to be peaceful among +themselves, and wait until they are attacked by other +natives before spilling blood.”</p> + +<p>Cetshwayo’s next message, September 9th (2260, p. 32), +after he had inquired into the matter of Sihayo’s sons, +acknowledges again that they had done wrong, but +observes that he was glad to find that they had hurt no +one belonging to the English. What they had done was +done without his knowledge. The <em>request</em> of the Natal +Government concerning the surrender of the offenders, +he said, should be laid before the great men of the Zulu +people, to be decided upon by them; <em>he could not do it +alone</em>.</p> + +<p>He finally, with full and courteous apologies in the +same tone, begs that the Natal Government will accept, +instead of the persons of the young men, a fine of fifty +pounds, which he sent down by his messengers, but +which was promptly refused. Sir Henry Bulwer appears +to have been inclined to allow of the substitution of a +larger fine for the surrender of the culprits (2222,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_200"></a>[200]</span> +p. 173); but Sir B. Frere insists on severer measures, +saying: “I think it quite necessary that the delivery +up to justice of the offenders in this case should have +been <em>demanded</em>,<a id="FNanchor_91" href="#Footnote_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> and should now be peremptorily +insisted on, together with a fine for the delay in +complying with the reiterated <em>demand</em>.”</p> + +<p>John Dunn, who is supposed to have advised the king +to send money as an atonement, affirms that the invasion +had been mutual, fugitives from justice having +been fetched out of Zululand by Natal officers; and he +(Dunn) asks whether outraged husbands, even amongst +civilised people, are prone to pay much respect to the +rights of nations when upon the track of their unfaithful +spouses. Plainly, neither he nor the king looked upon +the matter in so serious a light as Sir Bartle Frere chose +to do when he said, September 30th, 1878 (2220, p. 280), +“and, unless apologised and atoned for by compliance +with the Lieut.-Governor’s demands (?) that the leader +of the murderous gangs shall be given up to justice, it +will be necessary to send to the Zulu king <em>an ultimatum, +which must put an end to pacific relations with our +neighbours</em>.”<a id="FNanchor_92" href="#Footnote_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></p> + +<p>Sir M. Hicks-Beach, in reply to Sir B. Frere’s last-quoted +despatch, writes, November 21st: “The abduction +and murder of the Zulu woman who had taken refuge<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_201"></a>[201]</span> +in Natal is undoubtedly a serious matter, and no sufficient +reparation for it has yet been made. But I observe +that Cetshwayo has expressed his regret for this occurrence; +and although the compensation offered by him +was inadequate, there would seem to have been nothing +in his conduct with regard to it which would preclude +the hope of a satisfactory arrangement.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2220], +p. 320).</span></p> + +<p>But the whole of Sir Bartle Frere’s statements at +this period concerning Cetshwayo are one-sided, +exaggerated, or entirely imaginary accusations, which +come in the first instance with force from a man of +his importance, but for which not the slightest grounds +can be traced in any reliable or official source. He +brings grave charges against the king, which are absolutely +contradicted by the official reports from which +he draws his information; he places before the public +as actual fact what, on investigation, is plainly nothing +more than his own opinion of what Cetshwayo thinks, +wishes, or intends, and what his thoughts, wishes, and +intentions may be at a future period. Every circumstance +is twisted into a proof of his inimical intentions +towards Natal, the worst motives are taken for granted +in all he does. When the king’s messages were sent +through the ordinary native messengers between him +and the Government of Natal, they are termed mere +“verbal” messages (as what else should they be?), not +“satisfactory or binding;” when they were sent through +Mr. John Dunn they were called “unofficial,” although +Mr. Dunn had been repeatedly recognised, and by Sir B. +Frere himself, as an official means of communication<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_202"></a>[202]</span> +with Cetshwayo on matters of grave importance; and, +when Mr. Dunn writes, on his own account, his opinion +that the “boys” will not be given up, Sir B. Frere +calls his letter “a similar informal message (<em>i.e.</em> from +the king), couched in insolent and defiant terms.” In +nothing that passed between the king and the Government +of Natal during this whole period is there one +single word, on Cetshwayo’s part, which could possibly +be thus described. There are, indeed, many apologies +and entreaties to the Government to be satisfied with +some other atonement for the fault committed than +the surrender of the culprits, and there is a great deal +from various sources, official and otherwise, about cattle +collected, even beyond the demands of the Government, +as a propitiation; but of Sir B. Frere’s “semi-sarcastic, +insolent, and defiant” messages not one word.</p> + +<p>It would take many pages to point out how utterly +misleading is every word spoken by the High Commissioner +on this subject, but to those who are curious +in the matter, and in proof of the truth of our present +statements, we can only recommend the South African +Blue-books of 1878-79. We cannot, however, better +illustrate our meaning than by a quotation from Lord +Blachford (<cite>Daily News</cite>, March 26th, 1872): “What +did Sir B. Frere say to all this? He was really ashamed +to answer that he did not know. He had studied the +series of despatches in which Sir B. Frere defended his +conduct, and he willingly acknowledged the exuberance +of literary skill which they exhibited. But when he +tried to grapple with them he felt like a man who was +defending himself with a stick against a cloud of locusts.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_203"></a>[203]</span> +He might knock down one, and knock down another, +but ‘the cry is still they come.’ His only consolation +was, that they did not appear to have convinced Her +Majesty’s Government, whose replies were from beginning +to end a series of cautions, qualifications, and protests.”</p> + +<p>On turning to the subject of the robber chief, +Umbilini, and his raids, we are at once confronted by +the fact that he was not a Zulu at all, but a Swazi, and +a claimant to the Swazi throne. His claim had not +been approved by the majority of the Swazi nation, and +his brother Umbandeni, the present king, was appointed +instead. Umbilini, however, was not a man to quietly +sink into an inferior position, and having taken possession, +with his followers, of some rocky caves in the +borderland, forming an almost impregnable fortress, he +lived for many years, much in the fashion of the border +freebooters of whose doings we read in Scottish history, +making raids upon his neighbours on all sides, and +carrying off cattle, women, and children. His expeditions +were most frequently directed towards the party +against him in his own country, but neither his Boer +nor Zulu neighbours escaped entirely. On first leaving +Swaziland he went to offer homage to the Zulu king, +and was given land to settle upon in Zululand. No +doubt Cetshwayo looked upon a warrior of Umbilini’s +known prowess as rather an important vassal, especially +in the event of a war between him and his ancient +enemies the Swazis, in which case Umbilini’s adherence +would probably divide the enemy amongst themselves. +But he appears to have been in perpetual trouble on +account of his turbulent vassal, and to have given him<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_204"></a>[204]</span> +up altogether at one time. After a raid committed by +him upon the Dutch, the latter applied to Cetshwayo to +have him delivered up to them. “I could not do this,” +says Cetshwayo; “I should have got a bad name if I +had done so, and people would have said it was not good +to <i lang="zu">konza</i> (pay homage) to Cetshwayo. I therefore +refused, but paid one hundred head of cattle for the +offence he had committed;”<a id="FNanchor_93" href="#Footnote_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> and Cetshwayo’s own +account to Mr. Fynney is as follows (1961):</p> + +<p>“Umbilini came to me for refuge from his own +people, the Ama-Swazis, and I afforded him shelter; what +would the world have said had I denied it to him? +But, while allowing him to settle in the land as my +subject, I have always been particularly careful to warn +my people not to afford him any assistance or become +mixed up in any quarrel between him and the Boers; +and although I do not deny that he is my subject, still +I will not endorse his misdeeds. When Mr. Rudolph +complained to me of the trouble Umbilini was giving, +I told Mr. Rudolph to kill him—I should not shield +him; this the Boers tried to do, but, as usual, made a +mess of it.”</p> + +<p>In fact, on a repetition of Umbilini’s offence against +the Boers, Cetshwayo refused to be longer responsible +for his acts, and gave the Dutch permission to kill him. +They fought him, and were beaten by him with his +small band of only nineteen men. On a subsequent +occasion, after a raid committed by Umbilini upon the +Swazis, Cetshwayo was so incensed that he sent out a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_205"></a>[205]</span> +party to take and kill him; but he got notice beforehand, +and escaped.</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere chooses to consider the king responsible +for all Umbilini’s doings, and even Sir H. Bulwer +says: “The king disowned Umbilini’s acts.... +But there is nothing to show that he has in any way +punished him, and, on the contrary, it is quite certain +(of which ‘certainty,’ however, no proofs are forthcoming) +that even if Umbilini did not act with the +express orders of Cetshwayo, he did so with the knowledge +that what he was doing would be agreeable to the +king” (2260, p. 46).</p> + +<p>This accusation was made in January, 1879, and +refers to raids of the previous year, by which time, as the +Swazis were our allies and the Boers our subjects, +Umbilini’s raids in all directions except those on the +Zulu side had become offences to us for which Cetshwayo +was held responsible. In point of fact, it was no such +simple matter to “punish” Umbilini, whose natural +fortress could be held by a couple of men against anything +short of the cannon which Cetshwayo did not +possess. Nor was it singular that, at a time when the +king had already strong suspicions that his country +was about to be attacked, he should not have wasted +his strength in subduing one who, in the event of war, +would be most useful to himself.</p> + +<p>That, when the evil day came and his country was +invaded, Cetshwayo should have made common cause +with all who would or could assist him is a mere matter of +course, and it was but natural that so bold and skilful a +leader as Umbilini has proved himself to be should then<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_206"></a>[206]</span> +have been promoted and favoured by the unfortunate +king.</p> + +<p>We need scarcely say more upon this point, beyond +calling our readers’ attention to the fact that the expressions +“<em>Zulu raids</em>,” “<em>indiscriminate massacres</em>,” “<em>violation +by the Zulus of Transvaal territory</em>,” “<em>horrible +cruelties</em>” (2308, p. 62, and elsewhere), so freely +scattered through the despatches written to prove the +criminality of the Zulu king, <em>all, without exception</em>, +apply to acts committed either by Umbilini and his +(chiefly) <em>Swazi</em> followers, or by Manyonyoba, a small +but independent native chief, living north of the +Pongolo.<a id="FNanchor_94" href="#Footnote_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p>The “case of Messrs. Smith and Deighton” is the +only charge against the Zulu king, in connection with +Natal, which we have now to consider, and it is one in +which, as we shall see, a great deal was made of a very +small matter.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith, a surveyor in the Colonial Engineer’s +department, was on duty inspecting the road down to +the Tugela, near Fort Buckingham. The Zulu mind +being in a very excited state at the time—owing to +the obvious preparation for war, of which they heard +reports from Natal, troops stationed at Greytown, and +war-ships seen close to the Zulu shore, as though looking +for a landing-place—Mr. Smith was specially instructed +to proceed upon his errand alone, and with great discretion.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_207"></a>[207]</span> +By way of carrying out these directions he took +with him only a trader—Deighton by name—and their +discretion was shown by “taking no notice” when, +having arrived at the drift into Zululand, they were +questioned by Zulus, who were on guard there in consequence +of rumours that our troops were about to +cross.<a id="FNanchor_95" href="#Footnote_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. Wheelwright (a Government official), to whom +the matter was reported a week after it occurred, not by +Mr. Smith, the principal person concerned, but by Mr. +Deighton, says: “The fact that the two white men took +no notice of ‘lots of Zulus shouting out’ from their own +bank, ‘What do you want there?’ but ‘walked quietly +along,’<a id="FNanchor_96" href="#Footnote_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> as if they had not heard, or as if they were deaf, +very naturally confirmed the suspicion that they were +about no good.”</p> + +<p>The consequence was, that when the white men +reached an islet in the middle of the river (or rather one +which is generally in the middle of the stream when it +is full—it was low at the time), they were seized by the +Zulus, and detained by them for about an hour and a +half, whilst all sorts of questions were asked: “What +are you doing there?” “What had the soldiers come +to Greytown for?” “What did the white men want +coming down there? There were two down not long<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_208"></a>[208]</span> +ago, then other two only a few days since, and now +there is other two; you must come for some reason.”</p> + +<p>However, after a time, they were allowed to depart, +an attempt made to take their horses from them being +prevented by the induna of the Zulus.</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere does not seem to have thought very +much of the matter at first, for Sir M. Hicks-Beach, when +acknowledging his despatch reporting it, says (2220, +p. 320): “I concur with you in attributing no special importance +to the seizure and temporary arrest of the surveyors, +which was partly due to their own indiscretion, +and was evidently in no way sanctioned by the Zulu +authorities.”</p> + +<p>But a little later—although with no fresh facts before +him—Sir B. Frere takes a very different tone (2222, +p. 176).</p> + +<p>“I cannot at all agree with the lenient view taken +by the Lieut.-Governor of this case. Had it stood +quite alone, a prompt apology and punishment of the +offenders might have been sufficient. As the case stands, +it was only one of many instances of insult and threatening, +such as cannot possibly be passed over without +severe notice being taken of them. What occurred,” he +says, “whether done by the king’s order, or only by his +border-guards, and subsequently only tacitly approved by +his not punishing the offenders, seems to me a most +serious insult and outrage, and should be severely +noticed.”</p> + +<p>There is no sign that it was ever brought to the king’s +knowledge, and when Sir B. Frere speaks of its being +“only one of many instances of insult and threatening,”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_209"></a>[209]</span> +he is drawing largely on his imagination, as there is <em>no +other recorded at all</em>, unless he means to refer to the +“notices to quit” in the disputed territory of which we +have already treated.</p> + +<p>We must now consider the points connected with +the internal management of the Zulu country, which +have generally been looked upon as a partial excuse for +our invasion. Foremost amongst these is the infraction +of the so-called “coronation promises,” of which we have +spoken in a previous chapter. Frequent rumours were +current in Natal that the king, in defiance of the said +promises, was in the habit of shedding the blood of his +people upon the smallest provocation, and without any +form of trial. Such stories of his inhuman atrocities +were circulated in the colony that many kind-hearted +and gentle people were ready to think that war would +be a lesser evil. Yet, whenever one of these stories was +examined into or traced to its source, it turned out +either to be purely imaginary, or to have for its foundation +some small act of more or less arbitrary authority, +the justice of which we might possibly question, but to +which no one would apply the words “barbarities,” +“savage murders,” etc.</p> + +<p>An instance of the manner in which the Zulu king +has obtained his character of “a treacherous and bloodthirsty +sovereign,”<a id="FNanchor_97" href="#Footnote_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> came under the notice of the +present writer about December of last year (1878). +Happening to be on a visit to some friends in Pietermaritzburg, +and hearing them mention Cetshwayo’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_210"></a>[210]</span> +cruelties, I observed that I did not much credit them, +as I had never yet met anyone who knew of them from +any trustworthy source. I was met with the assurance +that their “kitchen-Kafir,” Tom, from whom they had +received their accounts, was a personal witness, having +himself escaped from a massacre, and they vouched for +the truthfulness of the man’s character. I asked and +obtained permission to question the man in his own +language, being myself anxious to find any real evidence +on the subject, especially as, at that time—with +military preparations going on on every side—it was +apparent to all that “we” intended war, and one +would have been glad to discover that there was any +justification for it on our side. The same evening I +took an opportunity of interrogating “Tom,” saying, +“So I hear that you know all about this wicked Zulu +king. Tell me all about it.” Whereupon the man +launched out into a long account of the slaughter of +his people, from which not even infants were spared, +and from which he was one of the few who had escaped. +He had plainly been accustomed to tell the tale (doubtless +a true one), and there were touches in it concerning +the killing of the children which showed that he had +been in the habit of recounting it to tender-hearted +and horror-struck English mothers. When he had +finished his tale I asked him when all the horrors +which he had described had taken place. “Oh!” he +replied, “it was at the time of the fight between +Cetshwayo and Umbulazi (1856); that was when I left +Zululand.”</p> + +<p>“And you have never been there since?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_211"></a>[211]</span></p> + +<p>“No; I should be afraid to go, for Cetshwayo kills +always.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know that?” I inquired, for he +had started upon a fresh account of horrors relating to +the time at which he was speaking.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I know it is true,” was the ready and +confident reply, “because the white people here in +’Maritzburg tell me so out of the papers.”</p> + +<p>In point of fact the man, on whose word to my own +knowledge rested the belief of a considerable circle of +the citizens, could only give personal evidence concerning +what happened at the time of the great civil war, when +Zululand was in such confusion that it would not be +easy to distribute responsibility, and when Cetshwayo +himself was a young man in the hands of his warriors. +All he could tell of a later date he had himself learnt +from “white people” in the town, who, again, had +gathered their information from the newspapers; and +Bishop Schreuder, long resident in Zululand, says: “I +had not with my own eyes seen any corpse, and personally +only knew of them said to have been killed.... +I myself had my information principally from the same +sources as people in Natal, and often from Natal +newspapers.”</p> + +<p>The king’s own reply to these accusations may be +taken entire from Mr. Fynney’s report on July 4th, +1877 (1961), with the portions of the message delivered +by the latter to which it refers:</p> + +<p>“You have repeatedly acknowledged the house of +England to be a great and powerful house, and have +expressed yourself as relying entirely upon the good-will<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_212"></a>[212]</span> +and power of that house for your own strength and +the strength of the country over which you are king; +in fact you have always looked towards the English +Government.</p> + +<p>“Which way is your face turned to-day? Do you +look, and still desire to look, in the same direction? +Do you rely on the good-will and support of the British +Government as much as you formerly did?</p> + +<p>“The Government of Natal has repeatedly heard +that you have not regarded the agreements you entered +into with that Government, through its representative, +Sir Theophilus Shepstone, on the occasion of your +coronation. These agreements you entered into with +the sun shining around you, but since that time you +have practised great cruelties upon your people, putting +great numbers of them to death. What do you +say?”</p> + +<p>In reply to the above, Cetshwayo said: “I have +not changed; I still look upon the English as my +friends, as they have not yet done or said anything to +make me feel otherwise. They have not in any way +turned my heart, therefore I feel that we have still hold +of each other’s hands. But you must know that from +the first the Zulu nation grew up alone, separate and +distinct from all others, and has never been subject to +any other nation; Tyaka (Chaka) was the first to find +out the English and make friends with them; he saved +the lives of seven Englishmen from shipwreck at the +mouth of the Umfolosi, he took care of them, and from +that day even until now the English and Zulu nations +have held each other’s hands. The English nation is<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_213"></a>[213]</span> +a just one, and we are together” (we are at one with +each other). “I admit that people have been killed. +There are three classes of wrong-doers that I kill—(1) the +abatakati—witches, poisoners, etc.; (2) those who take +the women of the great house, those belonging to the +royal household; and (3) those who kill, hide, or make +away with the king’s cattle. I mentioned these three +classes of wrong-doers to Somtseu (Sir T. Shepstone), +when he came to place me as king over the Zulu nation, +as those who had always been killed. I told him that +it was our law, and that three classes of wrong-doers +I would kill, and he replied: ‘Well, I cannot put aside +a standing law of the land.’ I always give a wrong-doer +three chances, and kill him if he passes the last. +Evil-doers would go over my head if I did not punish +them, and that is our mode of punishing.... I do +not see that I have in any way departed from, or broken +in anything, the compact I made with the Natal +Government through Somtseu.”</p> + +<p>The next subject to be considered is that of the +treatment of the missionaries and their converts in +Zululand.</p> + +<p>Sir T. Shepstone, in his account of what passed at +the installation of Cetshwayo, writes as follows (C. 1137, +p. 19): “The fourth point was the position of Christian +missionaries and their converts. Cetywayo evidently +regretted that they had ever been admitted at all, and +had made up his mind to reduce their numbers by some +means or other.... He said they had committed no +actual wrong, but they did no good, and that the +tendency of their teaching was mischievous; he added<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_214"></a>[214]</span> +that he did not wish to harm them, that they might +take all their property with them and go in peace.</p> + +<p>“I suggested that they could not take their houses +away. He replied that the materials of which they +were built—stone, earth, and wood—were all Zulu +property, but they might take them also if they wished. +He thought that four, however, were entitled to greater +consideration; these were Bishop Schreuder and Mr. +Oftebro, of the Norwegian Mission, because of their long +residence—more than twenty years—and their services +in other ways than as missionaries; and Bishop Wilkinson +and Mr. Robertson, because they had brought an introduction +from the Governor of Natal; but that the +teaching even of these was mischievous, and could not +be received by the Zulus without injury.... The +advantages of education, the value to a man of being +able to read and write, and the extreme inconvenience +of ignorance were discussed. Cetywayo heartily concurred +in all that was said on these subjects, and said it +was education made the English so great; and that, if +he thought he could remember what he might learn, he +would be taught himself; and he expressed regret that +the missionaries did not confine themselves to that kind +of teaching.</p> + +<p>“The result of our conversations on the subject of +the missionaries was an understanding that those who +were already in the country should not be interfered +with, and that, if any of them committed an offence for +which the offender might be considered deserving of +expulsion, the case should be submitted to the Government +of Natal, and its assent be received before the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_215"></a>[215]</span> +sentence should be carried out. It is necessary to +explain that the Zulus have no idea of inflicting any +punishment upon a missionary except that of expulsion +from the country. <em>I did not consider it wise to attempt +to make any arrangements in favour of native converts.</em>”<a id="FNanchor_98" href="#Footnote_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> + +<p>What was meant by the teaching of the missionaries +being <em>mischievous</em> is fully explained by the remarks +of the prime ministers Mnyamana and Vumandaba, +reported by Mr. Fynney in 1877 (1961, p. 47) as follows:</p> + +<p>“We will not allow the Zulus to become so-called +Christians. It is not the king says so, but every man in +Zululand. If a Zulu does anything wrong, he at once +goes to a mission station, and says he wants to become +a Christian; if he wants to run away with a girl, he +becomes a Christian; if he wishes to be exempt from +serving the king, he puts on clothes, and is a Christian; +if a man is an umtagati (evil-doer), he becomes a +Christian. All these people are the subjects of the king; +and who will keep a cow for another to milk it?... +The missionaries desire to set up another power in the +land, and, as Zululand has only one king, that cannot be +allowed.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Fynney continues: “Before I left Zululand +(before July, 1877) most of the missionaries had decided +upon leaving; some had already left, not from +any fear of personal danger, but because in some cases +they have been deserted by the natives on their stations; +in others the native converts were uneasy, and wished to +leave; and from the attitude of both the king and chiefs, +they could plainly see that all chances of making fresh<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_216"></a>[216]</span> +converts, or even retaining those around them, were for +the present at an end.... I find there were all sorts +of wild (?) rumours going about from station to station—one +that the British Government intended to annex +Zululand at once. I am afraid that this and the like +rumours have done harm. Several of the missionaries +have been frequently to the king of late, and, as he told +me, have worried him to such an extent that he does +not want to see them any more.”<a id="FNanchor_99" href="#Footnote_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></p> + +<p>In August of the same year Lord Carnarvon requests +Sir Henry Bulwer to make a special point of causing +“the missionaries to understand distinctly that Her +Majesty’s Government cannot undertake to compel the +king to permit the maintenance of the mission stations +in Zululand,” and to recommend them, if they cannot +carry on their work without armed support, to leave it +for the present.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer writes (2000, p. 33):</p> + +<p>“The action taken by some of the missionaries in +leaving that country has apparently proved not only +unnecessary, but ill-advised for their own interests. The +king was not sorry that they should go, but he was +angry with them for going.”<a id="FNanchor_100" href="#Footnote_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> and on January 26th, 1878, +a message arrived from Cetshwayo, concerning those that +remained, to this effect (2100, p. 61):</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_217"></a>[217]</span></p> + +<p>“Cetshwayo states that he wishes His Excellency to +know that he is not pleased with the missionaries in the +Zulu country, as he finds out that they are the cause of +much harm, and are always spreading false reports about +the Zulu country, and (he) would wish His Excellency +to advise them to remove, as they do no good.”</p> + +<p>Shortly after the Rev. Mr. Oftebro and Dr. Oftebro, +Norwegian missionaries from Zululand, were granted an +interview by the Lieut.-Governor of Natal for the +purpose of laying their case before His Excellency. +The king, they said, had informed them that he was +now quite persuaded that they had communicated to the +governors of Natal and the Transvaal, and to the +editors of the public papers in Natal, all important +matters that occurred in the Zulu country—that the +accounts they sent were not even truthful—and that he +had believed these missionaries were “men,” but that +he now found them to be his enemies.</p> + +<p>They believed that amongst the “white men,” from +whom he had obtained his information, were Mr. John +Mullins, a trader, and Mr. F. E. Colenso, a son of the +Bishop of Natal, who had been at the king’s kraal for +some six days and who, they said, “<em>had translated, for +the king’s information, accounts of doings in the Zulu +country</em>, from several newspapers of the colony.” This +last, as it happens, was pure fiction. Sir Henry Bulwer, +indeed, believed it at the time, and wrote upon it as +follows (2100, p. 89):</p> + +<p>“I notice in Messrs. Smith and Colenso’s letter to +the Earl of Carnarvon, a statement to the effect that +the disposition and dealings of Cetshwayo had been<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_218"></a>[218]</span> +sedulously misrepresented by the missionaries and by +the Press. And this statement tends, I am afraid, to +confirm the belief that Mr. F. E. Colenso, when he +lately visited the Zulu country, ... made certain +representations regarding the missionaries in Zululand, +which were greatly calculated to prejudice the king’s +mind against them, or against some of them.”</p> + +<p>But Mr. Colenso, on seeing for the first time the +above statements in the Blue-book, wrote to Sir M. +Hicks-Beach as follows (2220, p. 318):</p> + +<p>“The suspicions expressed by the missionaries as to +my proceedings are entirely without foundation in fact. +So far from attempting to prejudice the king’s mind +against them, I confined myself, in the little I did say +to Cetshwayo on the subject, to supporting their cause +with him. The king had received, through some of his +various channels of information, an account of the +numerous contributions made by missionaries and others +living under his protection in Zululand, to the colonial +newspapers, and in particular, of an exaggerated and +sensational report, written by the Zululand correspondent +of <cite>The Natal Mercury</cite>, of the catastrophe +which occurred at the annual Feast of Firstfruits some +ten days before my last conversation with the king, +which report he attributed to the Rev. Mr. Robertson, +from the fact that his waggon-driver was the only +white man present on the occasion, except Dr. Oftebro, +Mr. Mullins, and Mr. Dunn. Cetshwayo expressed +himself as indignant at the conduct of Mr. Robertson, +who, he said, had never, during his long residence in +Zululand, received anything but good treatment at the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_219"></a>[219]</span> +hands of his (Cetshwayo’s) father and himself, and, he +added, ‘I have borne with him too long.’ To this I +replied that, if he had any distinct ground of complaint +against Mr. Robertson, he (the king) should get it set +down in writing, and send it to His Excellency the +Lieut.-Governor of Natal; and I wished him to +understand that any different course would be productive +of no good effect. I then told Cetshwayo, +omitting further reference to Mr. Robertson, that in +my opinion the presence of the missionaries as a body +in his country was a great advantage to him, and that +they merited his protection. He disclaimed having +ever treated them with anything but great consideration.”</p> + +<p>The particular statement of the two missionaries +Oftebro, concerning the translation of newspapers, also +Mr. Colenso specially and distinctly contradicts, saying +that he had no newspapers with him nor extracts of +newspapers, nor were any such read to Cetshwayo in +his presence.</p> + +<p>Sir H. Bulwer states, at the request of the Messrs. +Oftebro (2100, p. 61), that no member of the Norwegian +mission had supplied this Government with information +as above. But it does not follow that no such communications +had been made to Sir B. Frere and Lord +Carnarvon. Missionaries had written anonymously to +the colonial papers, and the account in <cite>The Natal Mercury</cite> +of the fight at the Umkosi was attributed by Cetshwayo, +not without reason, to the Rev. E. Robertson. The +tone of this letter, and its <em>accuracy</em>, may be gathered +from the following extract, referring to the land which,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_220"></a>[220]</span> +in the opinion of the Commissioners, “was by right +belonging to the Zulus.”</p> + +<p>“Never was a more preposterous demand made +upon any Government than that which Cetshwayo is +now making upon the English Government of the +Transvaal.... For be it remembered that, until +very lately, the Zulus have never occupied any portion +of it, (!) and even now very partially. It is most +earnestly to be hoped that Sir T. Shepstone, while +doing all in his power to keep the peace, <em>will be equally +firm in resisting the unjust pretensions of the Zulus</em>.”<a id="FNanchor_101" href="#Footnote_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> + +<p>How far the Zulu king was justified in his opinion +that the missionaries were not his friends may be +gathered from the above, and from the replies to Sir +B. Frere’s appeal to the “missionaries of all denominations” +for their opinions on native politics, as published +in the Blue-books (2316), of which the following +examples may be given:</p> + +<p>From letter of the Rev. P. D. Hepburn, December 17th, +1878: “All in these parts are quiet, and are likely to remain +quiet, if His Excellency overthrows the Zulu chief, and +disarms the remaining Zulus. The Zulus are very warlike; +will attack in front, flank, and rear. They are, and +have been, the terror of the neighbouring tribes since +the days of Chaka.<a id="FNanchor_102" href="#Footnote_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> Only the utter destruction of +the Zulus can secure future peace in South Africa. May +His Excellency not allow himself to be deceived by the +Zulu chief Cetywayo.”</p> + +<p>“On full inquiry it will be found that our late war,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_221"></a>[221]</span> +(Kaffraria) here was to a great extent attributable to +Zulu influence.<a id="FNanchor_103" href="#Footnote_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> If our forces suffer defeat at Natal, +all native tribes in South Africa will rise against us. I +am a man of peace; I hate war; but if war, let there be +no dawdling and sentimental nonsense.</p> + +<p>“True and faithful to God, our Queen, and the +interests of the empire, we have the approbation of God, +our Queen, and our own conscience. I would have +much liked had there been a regiment of British cavalry +at Natal. Sword in hand, the British are irresistible +over all natives. The battle at the Gwanga in 1846, +under Sir Henry Darrell, lasted only about fifteen +minutes; about four hundred Kafirs were cut down....</p> + +<p>“God, our God, put it into the minds of our rulers +that all tribes in south-east and east Africa must submit +to British power, and that it is the interest of all Africans +to do so. Heathenism must perish; God wills it so.”<a id="FNanchor_104" href="#Footnote_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a></p> + +<p>These remarks are from a missionary in Kaffraria, but +the tone of these in Zululand is the same, or even worse. +Compare the following statement made to the Natal +Government by two native converts from the Etshowe +mission station—Mr. Oftebro’s (1883, p. 2): “We +know that as many a hundred (Zulus) in one day see the +sun rise, but don’t see it go down.... The people, great +and small, are tired of the rule of Cetshwayo, by which +he is finishing his people. The Zulu army is not what it +was, there are only six full regiments. Cetshwayo had by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_222"></a>[222]</span> +his rule made himself so disliked, that they knew of no +one, and especially of the headmen, who would raise a +hand to save him from ruin, no matter from what cause.”</p> + +<p>Mr. John Shepstone adds, April 27th, 1877 (p. 4): +“The above was confirmed only yesterday by reliable +authority, who added that a power such as the English, +stepping in now, would be most welcome to the Zulus +generally, through the unpopularity of the king, by his +cruel and reckless treatment of his subjects.” And Mr. +Fynney, in the report already quoted from, says:</p> + +<p>“The king appeared to have a very exaggerated idea +both of his power, the number of his warriors, and +their ability as such.... While speaking of the king +as having exaggerated ideas as to the number of his +fighting-men, I would not wish to be understood as +underrating the power of the Zulu nation.... I am +of opinion that King Cetywayo could bring six +thousand men into the field at a short notice, great +numbers armed with guns; but the question is, would +they fight?... I am of opinion that it would greatly +depend against whom they were called to fight.... +While the Zulu nation, to a man, would have willingly +turned out to fight either the Boers or the Ama-Swazi, +the case would be very different, I believe, in the event +of a misunderstanding arising between the British +Government and the Zulu nation.... I further +believe, from what I heard, that a quarrel with the +British Government would be the signal for a general +split up amongst the Zulus, and the king would find +himself deserted by the majority of those upon whom +he would at present appear to rely.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_223"></a>[223]</span></p> + +<p>While Sir T. Shepstone says, November 30th, 1878 +(2222, p. 175): “I will, however, add my belief that the +Zulu power is likely to fall to pieces when touched.”</p> + +<p>Such were the opinions given by men supposed to +be intimately acquainted with Zulu character and +feeling, one of them being <em>the</em> great authority on all +native matters; and on such statements did Sir Bartle +Frere rely when he laid his scheme for the Zulu War. +How absolutely ignorant, how foolishly mistaken, were +these “blind leaders of the blind” has been amply +proved by the events of 1879.</p> + +<p>We need not enter very fully into the accusations +brought by the missionaries against the Zulu king of +indiscriminate slaughter of native converts for their +religion’s sake. They were thoroughly believed in Natal +at the time; but, upon investigation, they dwindled +down to three separate cases of the execution of men +(one in each case) who happened to be converts, but of +whom two were put to death for causes which had +nothing whatsoever to do with their faith (one of them +being indeed a relapsed convert); and the third, an old +man, Maqamsela, whose name certainly deserves to be +handed down to fame in the list of martyrs for religion’s +sake, was killed without the sanction or even knowledge +of the king, by the order of his prime minister Gaozi.<a id="FNanchor_105" href="#Footnote_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_224"></a>[224]</span> +That the latter received no punishment, although the +king disapproved of this action, is not a fact of any importance. +It is not always convenient to punish prime +ministers and high commissioners, or powerful indunas.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_225"></a>[225]</span></p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere of course takes the strongest possible +view of the matter against the king, and speaks of his +having killed Zulu converts (2220, p. 270), “at first rarely, +as if with reluctance, and a desire to conceal what he had +ordered, and to shift the responsibility to other shoulders, +latterly more frequently, openly, and as an avowed part +of a general policy for re-establishing the system of +Chaka and Dingane.” This little phrase is of a slightly +imaginative nature, resting on no (produced) evidence. +It is, in fact, a “statement.”<a id="FNanchor_106" href="#Footnote_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer’s reply—November 18th, 1878 +(2222, p. 171)—which forms an able refutation of various +statements of Sir B. Frere, contains the following sentence: +“I took some pains to find out how the case really stood, +and ascertained that the number of natives, either converts +or living on mission stations, who had been killed, was +<em>three</em>. I have never heard since that time of any other +mission natives being killed.... I was, therefore, +surprised, on reading your Excellency’s despatch, to +see what Messrs. Oftebro and Staven had said. I have +since made particular inquiries on that point, but have +failed to obtain any information showing that more than +<em>three</em> mission natives have been killed. Among others +to whom I have spoken is the Rev. Mr. Robertson, of +Zululand, who was in ’Maritzburg a few weeks ago. He +told me that he had not heard of any other than the +<em>three</em> cases.”</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere replies, December 6th, 1878 (2222,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_226"></a>[226]</span> +p. 175):<a id="FNanchor_107" href="#Footnote_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> “I have since made further inquiry (he does +not say what), and have <em>no doubt</em> that though His +Excellency <em>may possibly</em> be right as to the number +regarding which there is <em>judicial evidence</em> (Sir H. +Bulwer plainly decides that there was <em>no evidence at +all</em>); the missionaries had <em>every reason to believe</em> that +the number slain <em>on account of their inclination to +Christianity</em> was considerably greater than three. One +gentleman, who had better means of obtaining the truth +than anyone else, told me <em>he had no doubt</em> the number +of converts killed was considerable.”</p> + +<p>This gentleman, Sir Bartle Frere assures us, “knows +the Zulus probably better than <em>any living European</em>; +he is himself an old resident in Zululand, and a man +<em>above all suspicion of exaggeration or misrepresentation</em>(!). +He gave me this information, under stipulation +that his name should not be mentioned, otherwise +it would, I am sure, at once be accepted as a guarantee +for the accuracy of his statements.”</p> + +<p>With such phrases, “I have no doubt,” “every +reason to believe,” “I feel sure,” etc. etc., has Sir Bartle +Frere continually maligned the character of the Zulu +king, called since the war by Mr. John Dunn, “the +most injured man in South Africa.”</p> + +<p>One is rather puzzled who the man may be to whom +Sir Bartle Frere gives so high a character, his opinion +of which he evidently expects will quite satisfy his +readers. We should much like to have the gentleman’s +name. The number of gentlemen “long resident in +Zululand” are not so many as to leave a wide field for<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_227"></a>[227]</span> +conjecture. Besides the missionaries, the only names that +occur to us to which the phrase can apply are those of +Mr. John Shepstone, Mr. John Dunn, and Mr. Robertson.</p> + +<p>The only point in the indictment against Cetshwayo +which we have now to consider, is that of the killing of +girls under the Zulu marriage law, and the reply to +Sir Henry Bulwer’s remonstrance on the point, which +Sir Bartle Frere speaks of in his final memorandum as +expressed “in terms of unprecedented insolence and +defiance;” while <cite>The Times of Natal</cite> (generally recognised +as the Government organ) went still further, and has +twice charged the Zulu king with sending <em>repeatedly</em>, +insolent messages to the Natal Government. As to the +<em>repetition</em> of the offence, it need only be said that there +is no foundation in the Blue-books for the assertion. +And as to this particular offence it is enough to say that +no notice had been taken of it to Cetshwayo himself, till +two years afterwards it was unearthed, and charged +upon him, as above, by the High Commissioner, notwithstanding +that, whatever it may have been, it had been +subsequently condoned by friendly messages from this +Government.</p> + +<p>The marriage law of Zululand is thus described by +Sir T. Shepstone (1137, p. 21): “The Zulu country is but +sparsely inhabited when compared with Natal, and the +increase of its population is checked more by its peculiar +marriage regulations than by the exodus of refugees to +surrounding governments. Both boys and girls are +formed into regiments, and are not allowed to marry +without special leave from the king, or until the +regiments to which they belong are fortunate enough to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_228"></a>[228]</span> +receive his dispensation. Caprice or state reasons +occasionally delay this permission, and it sometimes +happens that years pass before it is given. Contravention +of these regulations is visited by the severest +penalties.”<a id="FNanchor_108" href="#Footnote_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a></p> + +<p>The history of the case which we are now considering +may be given in the following extracts:</p> + +<p>On September 22nd, 1876, Mr. Osborn, resident +magistrate of Newcastle, writes: “The Zulu king lately +granted permission to two regiments of middle-aged men +to marry. These were, however, rejected by the girls, on +the ground that the men were too old; upon which the +king ordered that those girls who refused to marry the +soldiers were to be put to death. Several girls were +killed in consequence, some fled into the colony, others +into the Transvaal Republic, and on October 9th, +Government messengers report (1748, p. 198):</p> + +<p>“We heard that the king was causing some of the +Zulus to be killed on account of disobeying his orders<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_229"></a>[229]</span> +respecting the marriage of girls, and we saw large +numbers of cattle which had been taken as fines. +Otherwise the land was quiet.”</p> + +<p>As far as the most careful investigations could discover, +the number killed was not more than four or five, +while the two Zulus already quoted said that, although +they had <em>heard</em> of the matter, they did not <em>know</em> of a +single instance; and as these young men themselves +belonged to one of the regiments, it can hardly be supposed +that any great slaughter could have taken place +unknown to them.</p> + +<p>At the time, however, report as usual greatly +exaggerated the circumstances, and Sir Henry Bulwer +speaks (1748, p. 198) of “<em>numbers of girls and young +men</em>,” and “<em>large numbers of girls and others connected +with them</em>,” as having been killed.</p> + +<p>He sent a message to Cetshwayo on the subject, +which in itself was a temperate and very proper one for +an English governor to send, in the hope of checking +such cruelty in future, and was not unnaturally somewhat +surprised at receiving an answer from the usually +courteous and respectful king, which showed plainly +enough that he was highly irritated and resented the +interference with his management of his people. Sir +Henry had reminded him of what had passed at his +coronation, and Cetshwayo replies that if Somtseu (Sir +T. Shepstone) had told the white people that he (the +king) had promised never to kill, Somtseu had deceived +them. “I have yet to kill,” he says. He objects to +being dictated to about his laws, and says that while +wishing to be friends with the English, he does not<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_230"></a>[230]</span> +intend to govern his people by laws sent to him by +them. He remarks, in a somewhat threatening way, +that in future he shall act on his own account, and that +if the English interfere with him, he will go away and +become a wanderer, but not without first showing what +he can do if he chooses. Finally he points out that he +and the Governor of Natal are in like positions,<a id="FNanchor_109" href="#Footnote_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> one +being governor of Natal, the other of Zululand.</p> + +<p>It is plain that this reply, as reported by the Government +messengers, produced a strong effect on Sir H. +Bulwer’s mind, and considerably affected his feeling +towards the king, though, as already stated, he never +brought it, at the time or afterwards, to the notice of +Cetshwayo, and has since exchanged friendly messages +with him. And no doubt the reply was petulant and +wanting in due respect, though a dash of arrogance was +added to it by the interpreter’s use of the expression +“we are equal,” instead of “we are in like positions”—each +towards our own people. But that the formidable +words “I have yet to kill,” “I shall now act on my +own account,” meant nothing more than the mere irritation +of the moment is plain from the fact that he never +made the slightest attempt to carry them out, though +recent events have taught us what he might have done +had he chosen to “act on his own account.”</p> + +<p>The <em>tone</em> of the reply would probably have been very +different had it been brought by Cetshwayo’s own +messengers. By an unfortunate mistake on the part of +the Natal Government, one of the messengers sent was a +<em>Zulu refugee</em> of the party of Umbulazi and Umkungo,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_231"></a>[231]</span> +between whom and the king there was deadly hostility, +which had lately been intensified by the insulting +manner in which Umkungo’s people had received +Cetshwayo’s messengers, sent in a friendly spirit to +inform them of King Umpande’s death. The very +presence of this man, bringing a reproof from the +Government of Natal, would naturally be resented by +the Zulu king, who had already declined communications +from the Transvaal sent through refugee subjects of his +own (Sir Henry Bulwer—1748, p. 10); and was now +obliged to receive with courtesy, and listen to words of +remonstrance from, one of these very refugees who had +fled to Natal, and, under Zulu law, was liable to be put +to death as a traitor, when he made his appearance in +Zululand. The king’s words, exhibiting the irritation of +the moment, whatever they may have been, would lose +nothing of their fierceness and bitterness by being +conveyed through such a medium.</p> + +<p>We do not wish to defend such practices as those of +forcing girls into distasteful marriages, or putting them +to death for disobedience in that respect. But we +must remember that, after all, the king, in ordering +these executions, was enforcing, not a new law laid +down by himself, but “an old custom” (1748, p. 198). +From his point of view the exercise of such severity +was as necessary to maintaining his authority as the +decimation of a regiment for mutiny might appear +to a commander, or the slaughter of hundreds of +Langalibalele’s people, hiding in caves or running +away, which we have already described, appeared to +Sir B. Pine and Sir T. Shepstone in 1873-74.</p> + +<p>The king himself gave an illustration of his difficulties<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_232"></a>[232]</span> +in a message sent to Sir H. Bulwer early in +1878 (2079, p. 96). He reported to His Excellency +that two of his regiments had had a fight, and many +of his men had been killed, at which he was much +annoyed. He reports this to show His Excellency that, +although he warned them that he would severely +punish any regiment that caused any disturbance at +the Umkosi, he cannot rule them without sometimes +killing them, especially as they know they can run +to Natal.</p> + +<p>We have now considered in turn every accusation +brought against the Zulu king up to the end of 1878, +when Sir Bartle Frere delivered his ultimatum, which +he had said beforehand would put an end to our +peaceful relations with our neighbours. We venture +to assert that, with the exception of the last, every one +of these accusations is distinctly refuted on evidence +gathered from official sources. Of that last, we would +observe, that, although it cannot be entirely denied, +the fault has been greatly exaggerated; while that +part of it which referred to the sole instance of a hasty +reply to the Natal Government, has been condoned by +two years’ friendly relations since the offence, before +it was raked up by Sir Bartle Frere as an additional +pretext for the war. And, at all events, had Cetshwayo’s +severity to his people been a hundred times greater than +it ever was, he could not in a lifetime have produced the +misery which this one year’s campaign has wrought.</p> + +<p>Yet these accusations were the sole pretexts for the +war, except that fear of the proximity of a nation strong +enough and warlike enough to injure us, <em>if it wished to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_233"></a>[233]</span> +do so</em>, which Sir Bartle Frere declared made it impossible +for peaceful subjects of Her Majesty to feel security for +life or property within fifty miles of the border, and +made the existence of a peaceful English community in +the neighbourhood impossible.<a id="FNanchor_110" href="#Footnote_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> He speaks in the same +despatch (2269, pp. 1, 2) of the king as “an irresponsible, +bloodthirsty, and treacherous despot,” which +terms, and others like them, do duty again and again +for solid facts, but of the justice of which he gives no +proof whatever. We cannot do better than give, in +conclusion, and as a comment upon the above fear, a +quotation from Lord Blachford’s speech in the House of +Lords, March 26th, 1879, which runs:</p> + +<p>“Some people assumed that the growth of the Zulu +power in the neighbourhood of a British colony constituted +such a danger that, in a common phrase, it had to +be got rid of, and that, when a thing had to be done, it +was idle and inconvenient to examine too closely into +the pretexts which were set up. And this was summed +up in a phrase which is used more than once by the +High Commissioner, and had obtained currency in what +he might call the light literature of politics. We might +be told to obey our ‘instincts of self-preservation.’ No +doubt the instinct of self-preservation was one of the +most necessary of our instincts. But it was one of those +which we had in common with the lowest brute—one of +those which we are most frequently called on to keep<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_234"></a>[234]</span> +in order. It was in obedience to the ‘instinct of self-preservation’ +that a coward ran away in battle, that a +burglar murdered a policeman, or, what was more to our +present purpose, that a nervous woman jumped out of a +carriage lest she should be upset; or that one man in a +fright fired at another who, he thought, meant to do him +an injury, though he had not yet shown any sign of an +intention of doing so. The soldiers who went down in +the <i>Birkenhead</i>—what should we have thought of them +if, instead of standing in their ranks to be drowned, they +had pushed the women and children into the hold and +saved themselves? A reasonable determination to do +that which our safety requires, so far as it is consistent +with our duty to others, is the duty and interest of +every man. To evade an appeal to the claims of reason +and justice, by a clamorous allegation of our animal +instinct, is to abdicate our privileges as men, and to +revert to brutality.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_235"></a>[235]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE ULTIMATUM, DECLARATION OF WAR, AND +COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">On December 11th the boundary award was delivered +to the Zulus by four gentlemen selected for the purpose, +who, by previous arrangement, met the king’s envoys +at the Lower Tugela Drift. The award itself, as we +already know, was in favour of the Zulus; nevertheless +it is impossible to read the terms in which it was given +without feeling that it was reluctantly done. It is fenced +in with warnings to the Zulus against transgressing the +limits assigned to them, without a word assuring them +that <em>their</em> rights also shall in future be respected; and, +while touching on <em>Zulu</em> aggressions on <em>Boers</em> in +the late disputed territory, it says nothing of those +committed <em>by</em> Boers.</p> + +<p>But perhaps the most remarkable phrase in the +whole award is that in which Sir Bartle Frere gives the +Zulus to understand that <em>they</em> will have to pay the compensation +due to the ejected Transvaal farmers, while +he entirely ignores all that can be said on the other<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_236"></a>[236]</span> +side of injuries to property and person inflicted on +Zulus in the disputed territory (of which the Blue-books +contain ample proof), not to speak of the rights and +advantages so long withheld from them, and now +decided to be their due.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer plainly took a very different view +on this point when he summed up the judgment of the +Commissioners (2220, p. 388), and added as follows: +“I would venture to suggest that it is a fair matter +for consideration if those Transvaal subjects, who have +been induced ... under the sanction, expressed or +tacit, of the Government of the Republic, to settle and +remain in that portion of the country, have not a +claim for compensation from their Government for the +individual losses they may sustain.”</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere, starting with phrases which might +be supposed to agree with the above, gradually and +ingeniously shifts his ground through propositions for +compensation to be paid to farmers “<em>required</em> or <em>obliged</em> +to leave” (omitting the detail of <em>who is to pay</em>), and +then for compensation to be paid to farmers <em>wishing</em> to +remove, until he finally arrives, by a process peculiarly +his own, at a measure intended to “secure private rights +of property,” which eventually blossomed out into a +scheme for maintaining, in spite of the award, the Boer +farmers on the land claimed by them, which we shall +presently relate in full. Although nothing appeared in +the award itself on this point, the whole tone of it was +calculated to take the edge off the pleasure which the +justice done them at last would naturally give the Zulus, +and it was promptly followed up by an “ultimatum”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_237"></a>[237]</span> +from the High Commissioner calculated to absorb their +whole attention.</p> + +<p>This “ultimatum” contained the following thirteen +demands, and was delivered on the same day with the +award, an hour later:</p> + +<div class="blockquot fs90"> + +<p>1. Surrender of Sihayo’s three sons and brother to be tried by the +Natal courts.</p> + +<p>2. Payment of a fine of five hundred head of cattle for the +outrages committed by the above, and for Ketshwayo’s delay in +complying with the request (N.B., not <em>demand</em>) of the Natal Government +for the surrender of the offenders.</p> + +<p>3. Payment of a hundred head of cattle for the offence committed +against Messrs. Smith and Deighton (N.B., twenty days were allowed +for compliance with the above demands, <em>i.e.</em> until December 31st, +inclusive).</p> + +<p>4. Surrender of the Swazi chief Umbilini, and others to be named +hereafter, to be tried by the Transvaal courts (N.B., no time was +fixed for compliance with this demand).</p> + +<p>5. Observance of the coronation “promises.”</p> + +<p>6. That the Zulu army be disbanded, and the men allowed to +go home.</p> + +<p>7. That the Zulu military system be discontinued, and other +military regulations adopted, to be decided upon after consultation +with the Great Council and British Representatives.</p> + +<p>8. That every man, when he comes to man’s estate, shall be free +to marry.</p> + +<p>9. All missionaries and their converts, who until 1877 lived in +Zululand, shall be allowed to return and reoccupy their stations.</p> + +<p>10. All such missionaries shall be allowed to teach, and any Zulu, +if he chooses, shall be free to listen to their teaching.<a id="FNanchor_111" href="#Footnote_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a></p> + +<p>11. A British Agent shall be allowed to reside in Zululand, who +will see that the above provisions are carried out.</p> + +<p>12. All disputes in which a missionary or European (<em>e.g.</em> trader or<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_238"></a>[238]</span> +traveller) is concerned, shall be heard by the king in public, and in +presence of the Resident.</p> + +<p>13. No sentence of expulsion from Zululand shall be carried out +until it has been approved by the Resident.</p> + +<p>N.B.—Ten days more were allowed for compliance with the above +demands (4-13).</p> +</div> + +<p><cite>The Natal Colonist</cite>, August 21st, 1879, condenses +the opinions of Sir B. Pine upon the ultimatum—from +his article in “The Contemporary Review,” June, 1879—thus:</p> + +<p>“He thinks the depriving Messrs. Smith and +Deighton of their handkerchiefs and pipes hardly a +matter deserving of a place in such a document; that +the Sihayo and Umbilini affairs were more serious, but +that ‘full reparation ... might have been obtained by +friendly negotiations.’ He does not attach to the +promises alleged to have been made by Cetshwayo ‘the +force of a treaty which we were bound to see executed.’ +And while approving of a British Resident being placed +in the Zulu country, he frankly recalls the fact that +‘Cetshwayo has himself, on more than one occasion, +requested such an arrangement.’ ‘At the same time,’ +he adds, ‘I think that the powers proposed to be invested +in this officer are more than are necessary or expedient, +and I would especially refer to those relating to the +protection of missionaries. Christianity ought not to be +enforced at the point of the sword.’ In reference to +Cetshwayo’s alleged coronation promises, we may note +in passing that Sir B. Pine is careful to point out that +one chief reason for his sanctioning that expedition was +‘out of deference to Mr. Shepstone’s judgment;’ and +that it was expressly stipulated by the High Commissioner +that no British troops should accompany<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_239"></a>[239]</span> +Mr. Shepstone, ‘so that Her Majesty’s Government +might not be compromised in the matter.’ With such +a stipulation it is amazing that anyone should still +contend that Cetshwayo entered into engagements so +solemn as to call for invasion of his country to punish +the breach of them.”</p> + +<p>And the Special Correspondent of <cite>The Cape Argus</cite> +writes: “As regards the alleged coronation engagements, +Dunn affirms that no undertaking was made by, or even +asked from, Cetshwayo. In the act of coronation, Mr. (now +Sir T.) Shepstone gave to the king a piece of paternal +counsel, and the conditions were in reality nothing more +than recommendations urged upon his acceptance by the +Special Commissioner.</p> + +<p>“Lord Kimberley, who was Secretary of State for the +Colonies at the time of Sir T. Shepstone’s installation +of Cetshwayo, spoke upon this subject in the House of +Lords;” which <cite>The Daily News</cite>, March 26th, 1879, +reports as follows:</p> + +<p>“With respect to the so-called coronation promises, +nothing had more astonished him in these papers than +to learn that these promises were supposed to constitute +an engagement between us and the Zulu nation. He +happened to have had some concern in that matter; and +if he had supposed that Sir T. Shepstone, in asking +for these promises from Cetshwayo, had rendered us +responsible to the Zulu nation to see that they were +enforced, he would not have lost a mail in disavowing +any such responsibility. He was supported in the view +which he took by the late Colonial Secretary (Lord +Carnarvon). The fact was that these were friendly +assurances, given in response to friendly advice, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_240"></a>[240]</span> +constituted no engagement. But Sir B. Frere put these +‘coronation promises’ in the foreground.” Sir M. +Hicks-Beach, also, says (2144, p. 1): “It is obvious +that the position of Sir T. Shepstone in this matter +was that of a friendly counsellor, giving advice to the +king as to the good government of the country.”</p> + +<p>The demands which we have recorded were delivered +to the Zulu envoys, who were not allowed to discuss or +comment upon them, on the ground that the Commission +had no authority for that purpose. The envoys, indeed, +appeared seriously concerned by their import. They +denied that the coronation stipulations had ever been +disregarded, and said that they could not understand +why the Zulu army should be disbanded; the army was +a national custom with them as with the English. +They also asked for an extension of time, and considered +that on such important matters no specified time should +have been fixed; the reply to which request was that +the time was considered ample.</p> + +<p>Sir B. Frere, in his covering despatch to the +Secretary of State, remarks that the “enclosed extracts +from demi-official letters,” from the Hon. Mr. Brownlee +and the Hon. Mr. Littleton, “give an outline of the +proceedings, and show that the messages were <em>carefully +delivered</em>, <em>well explained</em>, and <em>thoroughly understood</em>, +copies of the English text with Zulu translations being +given to the Zulu envoys.” On turning to “the enclosed +extracts,” however, we do not find in them a single +word of the sort from either gentleman, while the +extract from Mr. Littleton’s letter consists of not a +dozen lines describing the spot where the meeting took<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_241"></a>[241]</span> +place, and in which the writer’s opinions are limited to +these: “they (the Zulus) seemed to take the award +very quietly,” but “were evidently disturbed” by the +ultimatum, and “Mr. Shepstone seemed to me to +manage very well.” The young gentleman could not +well say any more, as he did not know a word of +Zulu; but one is puzzled to know how Sir B. Frere +draws his deductions from either extract. How far the +opinions of the other honourable gentleman are to be +depended upon, may be gathered from the following assertion +made by him some months after the Boundary Commissioners +had deliberately decided that the Boers had no +claim whatever to the disputed territory, but that it would +be expedient to allow them to retain the Utrecht district.</p> + +<p>“The falsehood of the Zulu king with regard to the +Utrecht land question,” says Mr. Brownlee, “is quite +on a par with his other actions. After misleading the +Natal Government upon the merits of the case, it is +now discovered on the clearest and most incontrovertible +proof<a id="FNanchor_112" href="#Footnote_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> that a formal cession was made of this disputed +land to the Transvaal Republic.”</p> + +<p>The special correspondent of <cite>The Cape Argus</cite>, +however, writes about this time as follows: “Dunn +states that Cetshwayo does not, even now, know fully +the contents of the ultimatum, and still less of the subsequent +memorandum.<a id="FNanchor_113" href="#Footnote_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> The document was read over once,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_242"></a>[242]</span> +and its length was such (2222, pp. 203-9)—six pages +of the Blue-book—that the messengers could not possibly +fix the whole of it in their memory.” True, a copy +was given to Dunn himself; but, for sufficient reasons of +his own, he did not make known the contents of the +document in person, but sent word to the king by his +own messengers, between whom and the indunas there +was a considerable discrepancy. According to Dunn, +Cetshwayo was in a great fury upon hearing the word of +the High Commissioner (? as to the maintenance of Boer +“private rights” over his land). He reproached his +adviser with having thwarted his purpose to exact satisfaction +at the hands of the Dutch, and doubly blamed +him for having represented the English as just in their +intercourse and friendly in their intentions. Until this +time he had thought, as Dunn himself had, that the +congregation of troops upon his borders represented +nothing but an idle scare. But he saw at length that +the English had thrown the bullock’s skin over his +head, while they had been devouring the tid-bits of the +carcass.</p> + +<p>The three causes alleged in the ultimatum for war—the +raid of Sihayo’s sons, the assault on Messrs. Smith +and Deighton, and the proceedings of Umbilini—occurred +long after Sir B. Frere had been preparing for +war, in the full expectation that the Border Commission +would decide against the Zulu claims, and that Cetshwayo +would not acquiesce peacefully in such a decision. It would +seem, indeed, from his remarks on the subject (Correspondence, +Letters <span class="allsmcap">II.</span> and <span class="allsmcap">IV.</span>), that he would have even +set aside the decision of the Commissioners, if he had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_243"></a>[243]</span> +found it possible to do so. Although he failed in doing +this, he sought to attain practically the same end by +means of a remarkable “memorandum,” prepared and +signed by himself—not submitted to Sir Henry Bulwer, +but “<em>prematurely</em>” published in the Natal newspapers.</p> + +<p>The memorandum in question was on the appointment +of a Resident in Zululand, and, as Sir Bartle Frere +himself says, “it was intended to explain for Cetshwayo’s +benefit what was the nature of the cession to him of the +ceded territory,” and it contained the following clause: +“It is intended that in that district (the late disputed +territory) individual rights of property, which were +obtained under the Transvaal Government, shall be +respected and maintained, so that any Transvaal farmers, +who obtained rights from the Government of the +Republic, and who may now elect to remain on the +territory, may possess under British guarantee the same +rights they would have possessed had they been +grantees holding from the Zulu king under the guarantee +of the great Zulu council.”</p> + +<p>The <em>whole</em> of the disputed territory had been apportioned +in farms to Transvaal subjects, and without +doubt every one of these farms would immediately be +claimed, since their value would be immensely raised by +the fact that in future they would be held “under +British guarantee.” Therefore, to thus maintain the +farmers upon them without regard to the wishes of the +Zulu king and nation was simply to take away piecemeal +with one hand what had just been given as a whole +with the other.</p> + +<p>This “memorandum” was hailed with triumph by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_244"></a>[244]</span> +some of the colonial papers, and the news that, after all, +the Zulus were to get no solid satisfaction from the +award, soon circulated amongst all classes, not excluding +the Zulus themselves.</p> + +<p>It was upon this subject that the “Correspondence” +between Sir Bartle Frere and the Bishop of Natal, already +referred to, commenced. In December, 1878, the High +Commissioner was good enough to invite the Bishop, +both by message and personally, to “criticise” his policy +towards the Zulus. The invitation, indeed, came far +too late for any arguments or information, which the +Bishop might be able to afford, to be of the very slightest +use. However, the High Commissioner desired criticism, +and received it in a series of letters, which—except the +last two, withheld for some reason best known to +himself—were published, with Sir B. Frere’s replies, in +the Blue-books.</p> + +<p>The Bishop pointed out that, under the interpretation +of this memorandum, “the award gives back the land in +name only to the Zulus, whereas in reality Ketshwayo will +have no control over it; he will not be able to exercise +authority over his own people living on it, without +coming into collision immediately with their Boer +masters, who would fiercely resent any intrusion on his +part on their farms; he will not be able to send any of +his people to live on it, or any of his cattle to graze on +it, or even to assign places in it to such of his people +as may elect to move from the Boer to the Zulu side of +the new boundary.”<a id="FNanchor_114" href="#Footnote_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> To which Sir Bartle replies, that +he had “a strong impression<a id="FNanchor_115" href="#Footnote_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> that, if Cetshwayo were<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_245"></a>[245]</span> +simply told the disputed land was assigned to him, he +would at once conclude that it was his in full Zulu +sovereignty;” which he assumed to be impossible with +regard to any land which had once been under the British +flag, while to eject a settler who had bought the land +from the Transvaal Government, in the belief that it +could maintain him upon it, he regarded as an “unjust +and immoral act.” In point of fact, the land in question +could only have been looked upon as “under the British +flag,” in trust for the rightful possessors, and the farmers +had settled upon it in the full knowledge that the title to +it was in dispute; while, even had it been otherwise as to +the latter point, the only just claim that could be raised +would be against the Boer Government, or its representative, +and certainly not against the right of the Zulu +people to be restored to actual occupation of the land.</p> + +<p>But that from the first, and long before he left +Capetown for Natal, the High Commissioner was preparing +for war with the Zulus, is evident from his +despatch and telegram of January 26th, 1878 (quoted +from at page 179), in the former of which he speaks of +the delay caused by the border inquiry being no disadvantage, +as, besides other reasons, it “will increase +our means of defending whatever we may find to be our +unquestionable rights;” and in the latter he says again: +“I hope the delay caused will not be great, and whatever +there is will have compensating advantages, for I +have some hopes of being able to strengthen your +hands.”</p> + +<p>These phrases, indeed, might merely refer to Sir +Bartle Frere’s desire to be “ready to defend ourselves<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_246"></a>[246]</span> +against further aggressions;” but certain statements made +by Commodore Sullivan show that he had already in +view the invasion of Zululand.</p> + +<p>Extracts from these statements run as follows:</p> + +<p>“I am informed by the Governor (Sir B. Frere) that +there is every chance of hostility in the debateable land +between the Transvaal, Zululand, and Natal.”—December +16th, 1877 (2000, p. 45).</p> + +<p>“His Excellency (Sir B. Frere) pointed out to me +that, as it appeared almost certain that serious complications +must shortly arise with the Zulu tribe of +Kafirs on the borders of Natal and the Transvaal, which +will necessitate active operations, he considered it better +that the <i>Active</i> should remain here, in order to render +such assistance by sea and land as may be practicable.”—April +12th, 1878 (2144, p. 32).</p> + +<p>“The object of my visit here was ... to make +myself acquainted with such points on the (Zulu) coast +as might be available for co-operating with Her +Majesty’s land forces by landing troops or stores.<a id="FNanchor_116" href="#Footnote_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a></p> + +<p>“It had been my intention (abandoned by Sir H. +Bulwer’s desire) to have examined the north of the +Tugela River both by land and sea, also a reported +landing-place situated almost thirty miles eastward of +the Tugela by sea.”</p> + +<p>The High Commissioner was plainly determined not +to allow the Zulus the slightest <em>law</em>, which, indeed, was +wise in the interests of war, as there was considerable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_247"></a>[247]</span> +fear that, in spite of all grievances and vexations, +Cetshwayo, knowing full well, as he certainly did, that +collision with the English must eventually result in his +destruction, might prefer half a loaf to no bread, and +submit to our exactions with what grace he could. And +so probably he would; for, from all accounts, every +effort was made by the king to collect the fines of cattle, +to propitiate the Government.</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere, accordingly, was very particular in +requesting Sir Henry Bulwer to give Cetshwayo notice +(C. 2222, p. 222) that “<em>rigid punctuality with regard +to time will be insisted on, and, unless observed, such +steps as may appear necessary will be immediately +taken to ensure compliance</em>,” which Sir H. Bulwer notifies +to the Zulu king upon the same day, December +16th (C. 2308, p. 31).</p> + +<p>Two days later Mr. John Dunn wrote to say that he +had received a message from the king (2222, p. 227), +requesting him “to write and say that he agrees to the +demands of giving up Sihayo’s sons and brother, and +the fines of cattle; but begs that, should the number of +days (twenty) have expired before the arrival of the +cattle, His Excellency will take no immediate action, as, +owing to the many heavy rains<a id="FNanchor_117" href="#Footnote_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> we have had since the +meeting of His Excellency’s Commissioners and his +indunas, they have not been able to reach him yet; and +Sihayo’s sons being at their kraals, which are some way +from him, it will take some days to send for them.”</p> + +<p>“On the other demands he will give his answer on +consulting his indunas.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_248"></a>[248]</span></p> + +<p>Yet Sir Bartle Frere declares <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] p. 136)</span> +that Cetshwayo “was resolved on war rather than on +compliance with any demand of ours.”</p> + +<p>Bishop Schreuder’s opinion, reported through Mr. +Fannin on December 22nd (2308, p. 31), was that all +the demands would be agreed to except that of the disbandment +of the army and the abolition of the military +system. “The king and nation will consider it a +humiliation, and a descent from their proud position as +independent Zulus to the lower and degrading position +of Natal Kafirs, to agree to this demand. I asked,” +says Mr. Fannin, “if the announcement that the restriction +on marriage would be removed would not reconcile +the young men to the change. He (Bishop Schreuder) +thinks not; they will stand by their king, and fight for +the old institutions of their country.”</p> + +<p>The king’s request for some indulgence as to time +was peremptorily refused, and was looked upon as +“a pitiful evasion,” on the grounds that he had already +had four months to consider the question of Sihayo’s +sons. In point of fact, however, the first “demand” +had only been made a week before, and, until then, the +word “request” having been used, the king was at +liberty to offer atonement for the offence other than the +surrender of the offenders, as Sir Henry Bulwer himself +suggested (2222, p. 173), by paying a fine of five +thousand head of cattle from the Zulu nation.</p> + +<p>Sir B. Frere’s answer to Cetshwayo through Mr. +Dunn (2222, p. 227) was, “That the word of Government +as already given, cannot now be altered.</p> + +<p>“Unless the prisoners and cattle are given up<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_249"></a>[249]</span> +within the term specified, Her Majesty’s troops will +advance. But in consideration of the disposition +expressed in Mr. Dunn’s letter to comply with the +demands of Government, the troops will be halted at +convenient posts within the Zulu border, and will there +await the expiration of the term of thirty days without, +in the meantime, taking any hostile action unless it is +provoked by the Zulus.”</p> + +<p>And John Dunn adds on his own account (2308, +p. 34), that the king evidently does not attach sufficient +importance to the time stipulated. The cattle, he +said, “are still being collected, and it will be impossible +now for them to be up in time.” John Dunn in the +same letter put in a petition on behalf of his own +cattle and people, saying that the latter would be +willing to join in with any force should they be +required.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, from accounts given by Mr. Fannin +(2308, pp. 35 and 37), by Mr. Robson (2242, pp. 11, 12) +(2308, p. 35), by Mr. Fynney (2308, p. 36), and from +other sources, it is plain that Cetshwayo was doing +his utmost to collect the required cattle in time, though +hampered in doing so by the extreme difficulty of +complying in a hurry with the other demands implying +such radical changes in the administration of the +country, and exceedingly distressed at the turn affairs +were taking. Every report shows plainly enough that, +far from desiring war, and looking out for an opportunity +to try their strength with the English, the Zulu king +and people, or the major part of it, were thrown into +utmost consternation by the menacing appearance of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_250"></a>[250]</span> +their hitherto friendly neighbours. But all explanations +were disregarded, all requests for time treated as +impudent pretexts, preparations on our part for an +invasion of Zululand were hurried on, while every sign +of agitation (the natural consequences of our own +attitude) on the other side of the border was construed +into an intention on the part of the Zulu king +to attack Natal, and urged as an added reason for +our beginning hostilities. There were, at that time, +no grounds whatsoever for this supposition. It is plain +enough that, when it became apparent that war would +be forced upon him by us, the Zulu king contemplated +nothing but self-defence, and that, during these preliminaries +to the unhappy campaign of 1879, there were +numerous occasions on which, by the exercise of a little +patience, justice, and moderation, any ruler less bent on +conquering Zululand than was Sir Bartle Frere could +have brought matters to a peaceful issue, without the +loss of honour, men, and money which England has +since sustained.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford (then Lieut.-General the Hon. F. +Thesiger) arrived in Natal in August, 1878, and at +once began his preparations for the expected campaign. +One of the measures upon which great stress was laid +was that of forming a native contingent to act with the +British troops. The original scheme for the organisation +of this contingent in case of necessity had been prepared +and carefully worked out by Colonel Durnford, R.E., and +was based on his thorough knowledge of the natives. +During the eight years of his life in South Africa he +had had ample opportunity of learning, by experience,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_251"></a>[251]</span> +how utterly and mischievously useless was the plan, +hitherto invariably followed, of employing disorganised, +untrained bodies of natives as troops under their own +leaders, without any proper discipline or control. The +bravest men in the world would be apt to fail under +such circumstances; while mere bands of untaught +savages, unaccustomed to fighting and half-armed, had +repeatedly proved themselves in former campaigns +excellent for running away, but otherwise useless +except as messengers, servants, and camp-followers. +Added to which there was no possibility of preventing +such “troops” as these committing every sort of lawless +violence upon the wounded or captured enemy.</p> + +<p>Colonel Durnford’s scheme was intended to meet +both difficulties, and, when laid before the General on +his arrival in Natal, met with his unqualified approval. +So much was he struck with it that he was at first +disposed to entrust the organisation and chief command +of the entire contingent to one who, by the ability and +completeness with which he had worked out the scheme, +proved himself the fittest person to carry it out, and +take command of the whole force. But the General +changed his mind, and decided to divide the native +contingent amongst the various columns, the details of +its distribution being as follows:</p> + +<p>The 1st Regiment Natal Native Contingent of three +battalions (Commandant Montgomery, Major Bengough, +and Captain Cherry), and five troops mounted natives +formed No. 2 Column, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel +Durnford.</p> + +<p>The 2nd Regiment Natal Native Contingent (two<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_252"></a>[252]</span> +battalions, under Major Graves) was attached to No. 1 +Column, commanded by Colonel Pearson.</p> + +<p>The 3rd Regiment Natal Native Contingent (two +battalions, under Commandant Lonsdale) was attached +to No. 3 Column, commanded by Colonel Glyn, and +about two hundred Natal Native Contingent were +attached to No. 4 Column, commanded by Colonel +Wood.</p> + +<p>Each battalion of Native Contingent was to consist of +5 staff and 90 officers and non-commissioned officers +(white), and 110 officers and non-commissioned officers +and 900 privates (natives); the native non-commissioned +officer being armed with a gun, and being a section-leader +of 9 men armed with assegai and shield.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford speaks in various despatches +(C. 2234) of this Native Contingent in the following +terms:</p> + +<p>“The Lieut.-Governor, I am happy to say, has +acceded to the request I made some little time ago +for the services of six thousand Natal natives. I hope +to be in a position to equip and officer them very +shortly” (p. 25).</p> + +<p>“At the time of my arrival in the colony, three +months ago, these natives possessed no military +organisation, nor had any arms provided for them by +Government.”</p> + +<p>“The Natal Government have within the last +fourteen days allowed me to raise and organise seven +thousand natives for service within or without the +border” (p. 26).</p> + +<p>“The arrival of these officers (special service officers<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_253"></a>[253]</span> +from England) has also enabled me to place Imperial +officers in command of some of the battalions of native +levies.”...</p> + +<p>“The Natal Contingent consists of three regiments, +two of two battalions and one of three” (p. 39).</p> + +<p>“There are in addition five troops of mounted +natives and three companies of pioneers.”...</p> + +<p>“The pioneers have been raised, officered, and +equipped under the orders of the Natal Government, +and are now placed at my disposal. The remainder +of the Contingent have been raised at the cost and under +the orders of the Imperial authorities” (p. 40).</p> + +<p>In none of his despatches is there mention of any +special officer in connection with this native force, +but the following officers were responsible for the +organisation of the various regiments: No. 1 Regiment +and mounted contingent, Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, R.E.; +No. 2 Regiment, Major Graves; No. 3 Regiment, Commandant +Lonsdale. Great difficulties appear to have +been thrown in the way of the proper equipment, etc. +of the native levies; but by untiring effort and personal +determination, better arrangements for pay, clothing, and +discipline were made for (at all events, a portion of) +the levy than had been known amongst South African +troops. The indiscriminate appointment of officers +caused considerable trouble, illustrative of which we +may mention an anecdote. Men were repeatedly sent +to Lieut.-Colonel Durnford with orders from the military +secretary that they were to receive commissions, some +of these unfitted by disposition and education for the +duties required of them. A friend has lately furnished<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_254"></a>[254]</span> +an instance very much to the point. “A young +fellow came one day to Colonel Durnford from Colonel +Crealock, who said he had served in the old colony, +and boasted that <em>he</em> knew how to make Kafirs fight. +‘How is that?’ was the inquiry made. ‘Oh!’ replied +the youth, ‘just to get behind them with a sjambok +(<em>i.e.</em> whip)—that’s the way to do it!’ ‘All right,’ +replied the Colonel quietly; ‘I have just one piece of +advice to give you though—<em>make your will</em> before you +start! If you’re not stabbed by your own men, you will +deserve it.’”</p> + +<p>How successful was the training of the men of the +2nd Column may be judged by the behaviour of +the “Natal Native Horse,” a body of mounted men +(Basuto, Edendale, and Zikali natives) who fought at +Isandhlwana; and did right good service throughout +the campaign.<a id="FNanchor_118" href="#Footnote_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> He also raised, equipped, and trained +the three companies of Native Pioneers, organising two +field-parks, and providing complete bridge equipment +for crossing the Tugela; besides preparing, mainly from +his own personal observations (having been at Ulundi +in 1873, and in Zululand on many occasions), the map +of Zululand in universal use during the campaign, and +mentioned in despatches as “Durnford’s map.”</p> + +<p>In reply to Sir Bartle Frere’s inquiries as to proposed +movements of troops up to Natal, Sir H. Bulwer writes, +July 18th, 1878, that in his opinion “it is desirable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_255"></a>[255]</span> +under the present circumstances, and pending the final +decision in the matter of the boundary dispute, to avoid +as much as possible any military demonstration, as liable +to be misunderstood and to be interpreted as showing +our intention to settle the question by force. The +delay, too, that has occurred since the sitting of the +Commission might be attributed by the Zulu king to +our desire to make preparations, and it might be +thought that we were playing false.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2220] +p. 395).</span></p> + +<p>And here we may appropriately refer to the opinion +expressed by the Home Government at a later date.</p> + +<p>Sir M. Hicks-Beach writes to Sir B. Frere, 21st +November, 1878: “I trust that ... Cetywayo may +have been informed that a decision regarding the +disputed boundary would speedily be communicated +to him. His complaint that the Lieut.-Governor of +Natal ‘is hiding from him the answer that has come +from across the sea, about the land boundary question, +and is only making an excuse for taking time, so as to +surprise him,’ is not altogether an unnatural one for a +native chief situated in his circumstances, who is necessarily +ignorant of much that has passed on this subject, +and of many of the causes to which the delay is attributable. +But it is a misunderstanding which it should +be the earnest endeavour of the Government to remove, +and I am confident that there is no need to impress +upon you the importance of losing no time in dealing +with this question or the beneficial effect which its +satisfactory settlement may be expected to have upon +the strained relations which you describe as now existing<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_256"></a>[256]</span> +between the colony of Natal and the Zulu nation.”—(P. +P. [C. 2220] p. 322).</p> + +<p>We must now briefly run through the principal +points in despatches bearing on the question of +increasing the military strength in Natal.</p> + +<p>Sir B. Frere, writing from Cape Town on September +10th, says: “I have consulted General Thesiger on the +subject. He is very unwilling to ask for reinforcements +on the Natal border without the full concurrence of the +Government of that colony, and I understand that His +Excellency Sir H. Bulwer is specially anxious that +nothing should be done in Natal which could possibly +justify to the Zulu chief the belief that we were preparing +for active hostilities against him. I confess that, +as at present informed, I very imperfectly comprehend +the grounds on which the objections of His Excellency +the Lieut.-Governor, as I understand them, to +strengthening the Natal frontier are based.<a id="FNanchor_119" href="#Footnote_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> They will +doubtless be more fully explained when I have the +advantage of personal communication with him. In +the meantime I feel quite certain that the preservation +or speedy restoration of peace will be rendered much +more certain if General Thesiger had two more battalions +of Her Majesty’s Army within his reach.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2220] pp. 282, 283).</span></p> + +<p>On September 14th, referring to the above despatch, +Sir B. Frere says he has “since received a telegraphic +communication from General Thesiger, in which he +expresses his views in regard to his military requirements +in the event of hostilities breaking out with the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_257"></a>[257]</span> +Zulus.” The General asks for six more special duty +officers, and fifteen captains or subalterns for transport +duties. “General Thesiger considers that an addition +of two regiments would be essential, and that the +presence of a cavalry regiment would be of enormous +advantage” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 254).</p> + +<p>From Durban, Sir B. Frere telegraphs on September +23rd to Sir M. Hicks-Beach: “I find that the urgency +of supporting General Thesiger’s request is much greater +even than I supposed. I trust there will be no delay +in complying with his request to its fullest extent” +(<i>ibid.</i> p. 255).</p> + +<p>There had been serious and disturbing reports of +a Zulu force being assembled on the Tugela River, for +the ostensible purpose of hunting, with reference to +which Sir H. Bulwer writes to Sir M. Hicks-Beach, +14th September, “on the subject of the gathering of +a Zulu force within a short distance of our border +across the Tugela. You will learn from these papers +that the gathering has broken up, and the Zulus +returned home” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 270).</p> + +<p>Sir M. Hicks-Beach, on October 17th, replies to +Sir B. Frere’s despatches of 14th and 23rd September, +that “arrangements will be made for the early despatch +of some additional officers for special duty. Her +Majesty’s Government are, however, not prepared to +comply with the request for a reinforcement of troops. +All the information that has hitherto reached them with +respect to the position of affairs in Zululand appears +to them to justify a confident hope that, by the exercise +of prudence, and by meeting the Zulus in a spirit of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_258"></a>[258]</span> +forbearance and reasonable compromise, it will be +possible to avert the very serious evil of a war with +Cetywayo; and they cannot but think that the forces +now at your disposal in South Africa, together with the +additional officers about to be sent, should suffice to +meet any other emergency that may arise, without a +further increase to the Imperial troops” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 273).</p> + +<p>On September 30th, Sir B. Frere writes from Pietermaritzburg: +“I regret that I find the position of affairs +in this colony far more critical even than I expected;” +and, after a very exaggerated description of the state of +affairs, he says: “An attempt of native tribes to combine +to resist the white man and drive him back has +been long foreseen. There can be no doubt that this +design is now in process of attempted execution” (<i>ibid.</i> +pp. 278-82).</p> + +<p>Of the truth of this startling assertion, let Sir H. +Bulwer’s despatches, as well as after-events, speak.</p> + +<p>Enclosed in this despatch of Sir B. Frere is General +Thesiger’s memorandum on the military requirements, +and his sketch for a defensive scheme for Natal, for +which he requires “6000 natives, 600 mounted men, +6 guns, and 3 battalions of British infantry;” but he +remarks: “I cannot, however, conceal from myself that +security from invasion depends almost entirely upon the +forbearance of Cetywayo;” and says, “for defensive +purposes alone, therefore, Natal and Transvaal colonies +require 3 battalions of infantry in addition to what +they have already got” (<i>ibid.</i> pp. 285, 286).</p> + +<p>In reply, Sir M. Hicks-Beach writes, 21st November: +“The several circumstances which you have reported as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_259"></a>[259]</span> +tending to cause an open rupture do not appear, in +themselves, to present any difficulties which are not +capable of a peaceful solution.... On a full review, +therefore, of all the circumstances reported by you, and +influenced by the strong representations made by Lord +Chelmsford as to the insufficiency of his present force +to ensure the safety of the European residents in Natal +and the Transvaal, Her Majesty’s Government have felt +themselves justified in directing that further reinforcements +of troops, as well as the additional officers recently +placed under orders for special service, should be sent +out to Natal, and the necessary steps will at once be +taken for this purpose. But in conveying to you the +decision at which, in compliance with your urgent +representations, Her Majesty’s Government have arrived, +it is my duty to impress upon you that in supplying +these reinforcements it is the desire of Her Majesty’s +Government not to furnish means for a campaign of +invasion and conquest, but to afford such protection as +may be necessary at this juncture to the lives and +property of the colonists. Though the present aspect of +affairs is menacing in a high degree, I can by no means +arrive at the conclusion that war with the Zulus should +be unavoidable, and I am confident that you, in concert +with Sir H. Bulwer, will use every effort to overcome +the existing difficulties by judgment and forbearance, +and to avoid an evil so much to be deprecated as a Zulu +war” (<i>ibid.</i> pp. 320, 321).</p> + +<p>On November 11th, the Lieut.-General says that he +has just been permitted by the Natal Government to +raise and organise 7000 natives, and ventures “to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_260"></a>[260]</span> +express an opinion that the demand for two extra +battalions cannot be considered unreasonable even for +purely defensive purposes;” but he goes on to say: “a +defensive plan, however, cannot be considered as satisfactory +unless there is the possibility of taking the +offensive at the right moment. This I am doing my +best to prepare for; and, so soon as my native contingent +is mobilised, I shall be ready, so far as my limited +means will allow, to enter Zululand, should such a +measure become necessary.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2222] p. 19).</span></p> + +<p>On December 18th, Sir M. Hicks-Beach says: “I +take this occasion, however, of reminding you that it is +the desire of Her Majesty’s Government, in sending +these reinforcements, to assist the local Government as +far as possible in providing for the protection of the +settlers in the present emergency, and not to furnish the +means for any aggressive operations not directly connected +with the defence of Her Majesty’s possessions and +subjects” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 21).</p> + +<p>On December 2nd, Sir B. Frere forwards copies of +memoranda by Sir T. Shepstone and Mr. Brownlee, in +which the former proposes measures which “involve the +extinction of the Zulu power as it now is, and the +attempt to adopt them must, if decided upon, be made +with the knowledge that the Zulu chief will oppose +them, whatever course the headmen and common people +may adopt” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 134).</p> + +<p>Mr. Brownlee says plainly: “The time has arrived +for decisive action; we will never again have so favourable +an opportunity as the present; if it is lost, sooner or +later we will be taken at a disadvantage” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 138).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_261"></a>[261]</span></p> + +<p>On December 10th, Sir B. Frere writes to Sir M. +Hicks-Beach: “The chance of avoiding war under such +circumstances by any exercise of prudence, or by meeting +the Zulus in a spirit of forbearance or reasonable +compromise, may depend upon ourselves or upon the +Zulus, or upon the nature of the issues pending between +us.... Can we then rest on an armed truce?... +After the most anxious consideration, I can arrive at no +other conclusion than that it is impossible to evade the +necessity for now settling this Zulu question thoroughly +and finally ... there is clearly no possibility of now +evading bringing matters to an issue with the Zulus” +(<i>ibid.</i> pp. 183-85).</p> + +<p>On the 23rd January, 1879, Sir M. Hicks-Beach +acknowledges the receipt of Sir B. Frere’s despatches +containing “the demands with which Cetywayo has been +called upon to comply, together with your own descriptions +of the situation with which you have to deal, as well +as other very important memoranda by Sir H. Bulwer, +Sir T. Shepstone, and Mr. Brownlee,” and says, “I may +observe that the communications which had previously +been received from you had not entirely prepared them” +(Her Majesty’s Government) “for the course which you +have deemed it necessary to take. The representations +made by Lord Chelmsford and yourself last autumn as to +the urgent need of strengthening Her Majesty’s forces +in South Africa were based upon the imminent danger of +an invasion of Natal by the Zulus, and the inadequate +means at that time at your disposal for meeting it. In +order to afford protection to the lives and property of the +colonists, the reinforcements asked for were supplied,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_262"></a>[262]</span> +and, in informing you of the decision of Her Majesty’s +Government, I took the opportunity of impressing upon +you the importance of using every effort to avoid war. +But the terms which you have dictated to the Zulu +king, however necessary to relieve the colony in future +from an impending and increasing danger, are evidently +such as he may not improbably refuse, even at the risk +of war; and I regret that the necessity for immediate +action should have appeared to you so imperative as to +preclude you from incurring the delay which would have +been involved in consulting Her Majesty’s Government +upon a subject of so much importance as the terms which +Cetywayo should be required to accept before those +terms were actually presented to the Zulu king” (<i>ibid.</i> +pp. 187, 188).</p> + +<p>The preliminary arrangements for the campaign were +the formation of four columns, with sufficient transport, +etc. to enter Zululand at different points, and concentrate +on Ulundi.</p> + +<p>No. 1 Column, Colonel Pearson, to assemble on the +Lower Tugela, garrison Fort Pearson, and cross and +encamp on the Zulu side, under the protection of the +guns of the fort.</p> + +<p>This Column at first was composed of 2 guns Royal +Artillery, 1 company Royal Engineers, 2nd Battalion +“The Buffs,” 99th Regiment, Naval Brigade (2 guns +and 1 Gatling), 1 squadron Mounted Infantry, about 200 +Natal Volunteers, 2nd Regiment Natal Native Contingent +(2 battalions), and 1 company Natal Native Pioneers.</p> + +<p>No. 2 Column, Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, R.E., to +cover the Tugela, and co-operate with Colonel Pearson,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_263"></a>[263]</span> +was almost entirely composed of natives. Its strength, +a rocket battery, 1st Regiment (3 battalions) Natal Native +Contingent, 315 “Natal Native Horse,” and 1 company +Natal Native Pioneers.</p> + +<p>No. 3 Column, Colonel Glyn, C.B., to cross at Rorke’s +Drift, when the time granted the Zulu king had expired. +“On the advance being ordered,” it would “require +two days for this column to reach a good military +position;” and it was to keep up communications “with +the columns on the left and right.” Strength of column, +6 guns Royal Artillery, 1 squadron Mounted Infantry, +1-24th Regiment, 2-24th Regiment, about 200 Natal +Volunteers, 150 Mounted Police, and 3rd Regiment (2nd +Battalion) Natal Native Contingent, also one company +Natal Native Pioneers. A company of Royal Engineers +was ordered to join this column.</p> + +<p>No. 4 Column, Colonel Wood, V.C., C.B., to advance +to the Blood River. Strength, 6 guns Royal Artillery, +1-13th Regiment, 90th Regiment, Frontier Light Horse, +some 200 Native Contingent; and a small Dutch force +was expected to join this column.</p> + +<p>A 5th Column (which had been operating against +Sekukuni) was under the command of Colonel Rowlands, +V.C., C.B., composed of the 80th Regiment, three guns, +and mounted irregulars.</p> + +<p>The strength of the columns is given as:</p> + +<table class="autotable fs85"> +<tr> +<td class="tdc"></td> +<td class="tdc"></td> +<th class="tdc fs80">Imperial<br>and<br>Colonial Troops.</th> +<th class="tdc fs80">Native<br>Contingent.</th> +<th class="tdc fs80">Conductors<br>and<br>Drivers.</th> +<th class="tdc" colspan="2">Waggons and Carts.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">No. 1</td> +<td class="tdc">Column</td> +<td class="tdc">1872</td> +<td class="tdc">2256</td> +<td class="tdc">238</td> +<td class="tdc">266</td> +<td class="tdc">(144 hired)</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 2</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc"> 5</td> +<td class="tdc">3488</td> +<td class="tdc"> 84</td> +<td class="tdc"> 30</td> +<td class="tdc"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 3</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">1747</td> +<td class="tdc">2566</td> +<td class="tdc">293</td> +<td class="tdc">233</td> +<td class="tdc">( 82 ” )</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 4</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">1843</td> +<td class="tdc"> 387</td> +<td class="tdc">162</td> +<td class="tdc">102</td> +<td class="tdc">( 21 ” )</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 5</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">1202</td> +<td class="tdc"> 338</td> +<td class="tdc"> 25</td> +<td class="tdc"> 62</td> +<td class="tdc">( 50 ” )</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_264"></a>[264]</span></p> + +<p class="noindent">Forming a grand total of</p> + +<table class="autotable fs85"> +<tr> +<th class="tdc fs80">Imperial and<br>Colonial Troops.</th> +<th class="tdc fs80">Native<br>Contingent.</th> +<th class="tdc fs80">Conductors, etc.</th> +<th class="tdc fs80">Waggons, etc.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc">6669</td> +<td class="tdc">9035</td> +<td class="tdc">802</td> +<td class="tdc">693</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdc"></td> +<td class="tdc"></td> +<td class="tdc"></td> +<td class="tdc">(of which 297 were hired)</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="noindent">with about 1200 horses belonging to cavalry, etc., and +691 horses, 361 mules, and 5231 oxen. In addition, +there were the conductors, drivers, etc., and 4572 oxen +of the hired waggons.</p> + +<p>The columns to operate on the following bases and +lines:</p> + +<table class="autotable fs85"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">No. 1.</td> +<td class="tdl">Durban—Lower Tugela.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 2.</td> +<td class="tdl">Pietermaritzburg, Greytown—Middle Drift (Tugela).</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 3.</td> +<td class="tdl">Ladysmith—Rorke’s Drift (Buffalo River).</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 4.</td> +<td class="tdl">Newcastle—Utrecht—Blood River.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"> ” 5.</td> +<td class="tdl">Middleburg—Derby—Pongolo River.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="noindent">Ulundi being the objective point of the force.</p> + +<p>In place of any urgent necessity for commencing the +war, putting political questions on one side, there were +strong military reasons for postponing it.</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere, in his despatch of 30th June, 1879 +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] p. 137),</span> seeks to prove that the time of +moving across the border was “well chosen,” and +accorded with information received, yet the fact remains +that advice <em>was</em> given that the most favourable time for +military operations in Zululand was between the periods +of summer rains and winter grass-fires—<em>i.e.</em> the months +of March, April, and May. In spite of Sir Bartle +Frere’s pleas, we must hold that no competent “military +critic” would recommend invading an enemy’s country +during the rainy season, when rivers are in flood, plains +in many cases marshes, and roads almost impassable;<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_265"></a>[265]</span> +especially if the invading forces were required to move +with a ponderous waggon-train.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford himself proves the case: he writes +(January 12th) on the day after crossing the border: +“The country is in a terrible state from the rain, and I +do not know how we shall manage to get our waggons +across the valley near Sirayo’s kraals.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2242] +p. 43).</span></p> + +<p>And again on January 14th, from the head-quarter +camp, Zululand, near Rorke’s Drift, he writes: “Between +this camp and Greytown alone, a distance of some +seventy miles, three rivers are now impassable, and +waggons have to cross by ferries, a laborious operation +requiring more skilled labour than we at present +have available.</p> + +<p>“The road at various points requires the most +constant supervision, and in some parts the heavy rain +frequently dislodges huge boulders from the hill-sides +overhanging the roadway, and in many places watercourses +become torrents after an hour’s rain.</p> + +<p>“Beyond this camp towards the Izipezi Hill (my +first objective point) the road will require great labour +to make it passable; but strong working-parties have +already been at work. The transport difficulties are +augmented by the great mortality in oxen; this is +inevitable, but it will probably decrease in a few weeks’ +time” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 47).</p> + +<p>It is believed that the first project of operations was +to advance in three lines on Ulundi—from the Lower +Tugela, Rorke’s Drift, and Blood River—the columns to +move forward by short marches, entrenching strongly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_266"></a>[266]</span> +at each halting-place, doing no injury to the Zulu +people, and thus inducing them to submit quietly. +This wise and consistent idea was unfortunately never +even attempted.</p> + +<p>On the 8th January, 1879, Lord Chelmsford writes: +“All the reports which reach me tend to show that the +Zulus intend, if possible, to make raids into Natal<a id="FNanchor_120" href="#Footnote_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> when +the several columns move forward.... The strength +of the three columns, Nos. 1, 3, and 4, is only just +sufficient to enable them to advance.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2242] +p. 26).</span></p> + +<p>The directions for the various columns were, briefly—No. +1. To cross the Tugela at Fort Pearson and +encamp on the Zulu side; when ordered to advance, to +move on Etshowe, and there, or in its neighbourhood, +to form a depôt, well entrenched.</p> + +<p>No. 2. To form a portion of No. 1 Column, but act +separately, reporting to Colonel Pearson; to remain on +the Middle Tugela frontier till an advance is ordered, +and Colonel Pearson has reached Etshowe.</p> + +<p>The defence of the frontier was to rest with the +Colonial Government; but on the 8th January the +General altered the instructions for No. 2 Column, and +directed two-thirds of it to move up to the Sand Spruit +Valley for the protection of the Umsinga border, and to +operate in conjunction with No. 3 Column. The third +battalion to remain at Middle Drift.</p> + +<p>No. 3 Column to cross at Rorke’s Drift when the +thirty days expired; to move forward and form an<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_267"></a>[267]</span> +advanced depôt, strongly entrenched, as found advisable +from the nature of the country, etc. To assist in clearing +the border south-east of Rorke’s Drift, and to keep +up communication with the columns on left and right.</p> + +<p>No. 4 Column to advance to the Blood River. +“The civil authorities on the border will take every care +to warn the Zulus that our first advance need not be +deemed hostile, but that no collection of armed natives +in the vicinity of our forces can be permitted; no act on +our part to unnecessarily bring on hostilities should be +permitted.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2222] p. 223).</span></p> + +<p>In the event of a further advance, the advanced +depôt of this column to be near the intersection of the +roads from Utrecht to Ulundi, and Rorke’s Drift to +Swaziland; but “to delay its advance toward the +Umvolosi River until the border is cleared, and to +move in a southerly direction towards Colonel Glyn’s +column to assist it against Sirayo.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2242] +pp. 27, 28).</span></p> + +<p>On January 11th, the General met Colonel Wood, +and arranged with him that he should “occupy himself +with the tribes in his front and left flank,” till the +General was “ready to advance to Izipezi Hill” (<i>ibid.</i> +p. 42).</p> + +<p>By this unfortunate change of plan, the left of No. 3 +Column was exposed, of which the Zulus took fatal +advantage.</p> + +<p>We must now return to Sir Bartle Frere, who, +considering that he had “exhausted all peaceable means +for obtaining redress for the past, and security for the +future,” “by a notification dated the 4th of January,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_268"></a>[268]</span> +1879, placed in the hands of Lieut.-General Lord +Chelmsford, K.C.B., commanding Her Majesty’s forces +in South Africa, the further enforcement of all demands;” +and remarks, “it only remains for us to await the issue +with perfect confidence in the justice of our cause. +The contest has not been provoked by the British +Government. That Government has done its best to +avoid war by every means consistent with honour.” +An absolute truth as regards the Home Government. +“<em>That</em>” Government, as Sir B. Frere cleverly remarks, +“<em>had</em> done its best to avoid war,” and did not see the +necessity, or, at all events, the immediate necessity, +of that war into which its servant, contrary to its +instructions, plunged it.</p> + +<p>The period allowed to Cetshwayo having expired, +on the 11th January, 1879, the following notification +was published in both English and Zulu:</p> + +<div class="blockquot fs85"> + +<p class="center">NOTIFICATION.</p> + +<p class="right"><i>January 11th, 1879.</i></p> + +<p>The British forces are crossing into Zululand to exact from +Cetywayo reparation for violations of British territory committed by +the sons of Sirayo and others; and to enforce compliance with the +promises, made by Cetywayo at his coronation, for the better government +of his people.</p> + +<p>The British Government has no quarrel with the Zulu people. +All Zulus who come in unarmed, or who lay down their arms, will +be provided for till the troubles of their country are over; and will +then, if they please, be allowed to return to their own land; but all +who do not so submit will be dealt with as enemies.</p> + +<p>When the war is finished, the British Government will make +the best arrangements in its power for the future good government of +the Zulus in their own country, in peace and quietness, and will not +permit the killing and oppression they have suffered from Cetywayo +to continue.</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="padr4">H. B. E. FRERE,</span><br> +<i>High Commissioner</i>.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_269"></a>[269]</span></p> + +<p>(This is followed by a translation in the Zulu +language.)</p> + +<p>“This,” Sir B. Frere says, is “a message to the Zulu +population which the General will make as widely known +as possible.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2242] p. 24).</span></p> + +<p>On December 29th, Mr. Fynney, Border Agent, writes +at the request of the Lieut.-General Commanding to +the Lieut.-Governor of Natal that the General “has +taken the opportunity offered by the return of Sintwangu +and Umpepa to send the following message to the Zulu +king:</p> + +<p>“‘That, in the event of the cattle demanded as a +fine, together with Sirayo’s sons and brother, not being +delivered before the expiration of the time allowed, Her +Majesty’s troops will occupy Zulu territory without delay.</p> + +<p>“‘2. That no forward movement into Zululand will +be made till the expiration of the thirty days; but +at the end of that time, if all the demands are not +complied with, the troops will advance.</p> + +<p>“‘3. That such advance will not be directed against +the Zulu nation, but against the king, who has broken +the promises he made at his coronation. So that in the +event of hostilities, all Zulu subjects willing to lay down +their arms, and wishing to take refuge in British +territory, will be fed and protected till such time as +peace is restored, when they will be at liberty to return +to their homes; but that all who remain in Zululand +will be considered as enemies.</p> + +<p>“‘5. That these are His Excellency’s instructions, +which he intends to carry out to the best of his ability.’” +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2308] p. 39).</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_270"></a>[270]</span></p> + +<p>On the 11th January, Lord Chelmsford, with No. 3 +Column, crossed the Buffalo River at Rorke’s Drift, the +infantry crossing on a barrel-raft, a punt, and a small +boat; the cavalry and natives by a ford lower down the +river. The force encamped in the Zulu country where +it crossed.</p> + +<p>The General, with the cavalry, rode to the left to +meet Colonel Wood—commanding No. 4 Column, which +was at Bemba’s Kop—about thirty-five miles off. They +met about halfway. Colonel Wood, on his return, commenced +operations against the Zulus by seizing some +2000 cattle belonging to Inkomi and Sihayo, the Zulus +only making “a show of resistance.” In addition to +this, Colonel Wood reports, on the 13th January, that he +had also captured 2000 or 3000 head of cattle from the +Sondolosi tribe, and on the same day an attack was +made on a petty chief, Mbuna, whose men refused to +disarm, and seven Zulus were killed.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2242] +p. 45).</span></p> + +<p>Colonel Wood crossed the Blood River on the 6th +January, and here we must leave No. 4 Column for the +present.</p> + +<p>No. 1 Column had some difficulty in effecting the +passage of the Tugela, the river being in flood. The +fortunes of this column will be followed in a future +chapter.</p> + +<p>Colonel Durnford, No. 2 Column, reported to the +General (on his return to camp on the 11th) that the +country in his front was quite quiet. He then returned +to his command with further instructions as to its disposition, +when “he and the mounted men and rocket<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_271"></a>[271]</span> +battery were to join me with No. 3 Column,” writes the +General on January 14th.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2242] p. 47).</span></p> + +<p>On the 11th, the General writes: “Both Colonel +Wood and Major Russell took a good number of Sirayo’s +cattle this morning, which we found quietly grazing +along our line of advance.” And again: “Several +hundred head of cattle, etc. were taken by Nos. 3 and 4 +Columns on the 11th. This I considered desirable on +political grounds, as they all belonged to Usirayo, as +well as from military necessities” (<i>ibid.</i> pp. 43-46). It +is rather difficult to reconcile this commencement of +operations with the words “The British Government has +no quarrel with the Zulu people;” or with the General’s +message to the Zulu king (through Mr. Fynney, Border +Agent, and the Zulu messengers Sintwangu and Umpepa, +December 29th, 1878) ... “if all the demands are +not complied with the troops will advance. That such +advance will not be directed against the Zulu nation, but +against the King....”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2308] p. 39).</span></p> + +<p>On the 12th January, No. 3 Column first came +into contact with the Zulus. The General made a +reconnaissance in the Bashi Valley and towards Izipezi +Hill. Sihayo’s people were seen driving the cattle to the +shelter of the hills, “as, however,” the General says, “it +is well known that we had made a distinct demand for +the punishment of the sons of this chief, and that his +clan was one of the bravest and most warlike of the Zulu +nation, I considered it very desirable to punish them at +once by capturing their cattle.”</p> + +<p>The Ingqutu Mountain was occupied by infantry, when +“a fire was opened upon them by the Zulus, who were<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_272"></a>[272]</span> +occupying very strong positions in the caves and rocks +above.” An officer present states that the actual first shot +was from the side of the British, but this is not of great +importance, as it is impossible to imagine the Zulus +could have been expected to look calmly on, whilst their +cattle were being captured. After about half-an-hour’s +fight the cattle and horses were taken. The mounted +force was likewise engaged higher up the mountain. +Our loss, 2 Native Contingent killed and 12 wounded. +The loss inflicted on the enemy, 30 killed, 4 wounded, +and 10 prisoners; the cattle, etc. taken, 13 horses, +413 cattle, 332 goats, and 235 sheep.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2242] +pp. 47, 48).</span></p> + +<p>These first steps in Zululand have been given in considerable +detail, as they afford much food for reflection +on the contrast between “words” and “deeds.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_273"></a>[273]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">ISANDHLWANA.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Having crossed into Zululand, the “difficulties ... in +the way of those who are endeavouring to move forward +into an enemy’s country, over tracts which have +never been traversed, except by a very few traders’ +waggons,”<a id="FNanchor_121" href="#Footnote_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> began to declare themselves; and Lord +Chelmsford remarks, January 16th: “No. 3 Column at +Rorke’s Drift cannot possibly move forward even eight +miles until two swamps, into which our waggons sank +up to the body, have been made passable. This work will +occupy us for at least four days, and we shall find +similar obstacles in front of us in every march we are +anxious to make.”</p> + +<p>We find Lord Chelmsford, on January 27th, stating: +“The country is far more difficult than I had been led +to expect, and the labour of advancing with a long +train of waggons is enormous. It took seven days +hard work, by one half of No. 3 Column, to make the +ten miles of road between Rorke’s Drift and Insalwana +Hill practicable, and even then had it rained hard I<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_274"></a>[274]</span> +feel sure that the convoy could not have gone on. +The line of communication is very much exposed, and +would require a party of mounted men always patrolling, +and fixed intrenched posts of infantry at intervals of +about ten miles.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P.—C. 2252).</span></p> + +<p>Under these circumstances we can only wonder that +the advance with cumbersome trains of waggons was +undertaken, and the apparent want of knowledge of +the invaded country is almost equally surprising. All +previous experience goes to prove that a general moving +in an enemy’s country <em>with</em> his “impedimenta” should +form a defensible camp at every halt; and this Lord +Chelmsford apparently recognised when he promulgated +the “Regulations for Field Forces in South Africa;” +but we shall find how fatally he neglected the most +ordinary precautions.</p> + +<p>A hint for the advance might well have been taken +from Sir Garnet Wolseley’s campaign in Ashantee, and +the various columns moved on Ulundi—about eighty +miles—in the lightest possible order, and without a +ponderous waggon-train. Rapid movement was the +more imperatively necessary, the enemy being in force, +and able to make most rapid concentrations. Guns +(7-pounders) could have been moved over very difficult +ground with comparative ease, and even carried along +piecemeal if necessary.</p> + +<p>The strangeness of the situation is shown plainly in +Lord Chelmsford’s despatch of the 16th January, written +at Rorke’s Drift—on the very borders of Zululand—at +the very outset of the war. Having spoken of “difficulties” +(as already quoted), he says: “Accepting the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_275"></a>[275]</span> +situation, therefore, it remains for me to determine what +modification of the plan of campaign at first laid down +will be necessary.” His idea still is to drive, “as far as +possible, all the Zulus forward towards the north-east +part of their country,” and “with Nos. 1, 2, and 3 +Columns, to thoroughly clear or subjugate the country +... by means of expeditions made by those columns +from certain fixed positions,” and this, he hopes, will +“have the effect of removing any dangerously large +body from the Natal borders.” Colonel Wood, with +No. 4 Column, to act independently. “By these movements,” +he continues, “I hope to be able to clear that +portion of Zululand which is situated south of the +Umhlatoosi River;” and remarks that Cetshwayo will be +obliged “to keep his army mobilised, and it is certain +that his troops will have difficulty in finding sufficient +food. If kept inactive, they will become dangerous to +himself; if ordered to attack us, they will be playing +our game.”</p> + +<p>How these plans answered, one week sufficed to show.</p> + +<p>The first step in advance from Rorke’s Drift was to +push forward four companies of the 2-24th Regiment, a +battalion of Natal Native Contingent, and a detachment of +Natal Native Pioneers into the Bashi Valley on the 14th +January, for the purpose of repairing the road. This +detachment remained encamped there until the 20th, +five miles from the remainder of the column at Rorke’s +Drift, and with no attempt at “laager” or other defence, +Lord Chelmsford did not see the need of precaution, +and his instructions to the officer in command were, +“Use the bayonet” if a night attack took place.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_276"></a>[276]</span></p> + +<p>On the 17th the General made a reconnaissance as +far as Isandhlwana; and on January 20th No. 3 Column +moved from Rorke’s Drift and Bashi Valley, to the spot +selected for the camp to the east of Isandhlwana Hill. +The post at Rorke’s Drift (where the Buffalo was crossed)—of +vital importance to the safety of the column—was +left with a garrison of one company of 1-24th +Regiment, but without any attempt whatever at +entrenchment: nor were any defensive precautions +taken at Helpmakaar, the store depôt in Natal, twelve +miles from Rorke’s Drift. The march to Isandhlwana +was accomplished “without much difficulty,” but “half +a battalion 2-24th was obliged to halt short of this +camp owing to the oxen being fatigued.” They +bivouacked for the night in the open.</p> + +<p>The position of the camp is thus described: “At the +spot where our road crossed ... we had a small kopje +on the right, and then about fifty yards to our left rises +abruptly the Isandhlwana Mountain ... entirely unapproachable +from the three sides nearest us, but on the +farther, viz. that to the north, it slopes more gradually +down, and it is there connected with the large range of +hills on our left with another broad neck of land. We +just crossed over the bend, then turned sharp to the +left, and placed our camp facing the valley, with the +eastern precipitous side of the mountain behind us, +leaving about a mile of open country between our left +flank and the hills on our left, the right of the camp +extending across the neck of land we had just come +over, and resting on the base of the small kopje +described beforehand.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_277"></a>[277]</span></p> + +<p>The camp was formed in the following order from +left to right: 2-3rd Natal Native Contingent, 1-3rd +Natal Native Contingent, 2-24th Regiment, Royal +Artillery, mounted troops, and 1-24th Regiment. +“The waggons were all placed between the camp +and the hill at the back, and behind them, immediately +against its base, the head-quarters’ tents were +pitched with their waggons beside them.”... “Not a +single step was taken in any way to defend our new +position in case of a night or day attack from the +enemy.”<a id="FNanchor_122" href="#Footnote_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a></p> + +<p>On the same day (20th) the General reconnoitred +on the “waggon-track, which skirts Inhlazatye Mountain, +as far as a place called Matyana’s Stronghold,” at a +distance of about twelve miles, but saw nothing of the +enemy. “Not having time to properly examine the +country round this peculiar stronghold,” the General +ordered that next day two separate parties should move +out from the camp at an early hour; one of mounted +men under Major Dartnell to reconnoitre on the road +he had taken, whilst two battalions of Native Contingent +under Commandant Lonsdale worked round the Malakata +Mountain: the orders being that these officers were to +effect a communication on the Inhlazatye range, and +then return to camp.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2252] pp. 74, 75).</span></p> + +<p>At about ten o’clock the Zulus were found in force +by the mounted men; the contingent being on a range +of hills distant about five miles. The enemy appeared +anxious to fight, but Major Dartnell did not think it +prudent to engage without supports. The Zulus occupied<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_278"></a>[278]</span> +a large kloof, and whenever the mounted men approached +they came out in large numbers. A small +body were sent up close, under Mr. Mansel, to try and +make the Zulus show their force, when they advanced +throwing out the “horns,” and tried to surround the +party, following them down into the open, where Major +Dartnell and the remainder of the mounted troops were. +The whole then retired and joined the contingent, about +three miles from the kloof.</p> + +<p>In the evening, says Major Clery, “a message arrived +from Major Dartnell that the enemy was in considerable +force in his neighbourhood, and that he and Commandant +Lonsdale would bivouac out the night,” which they were +permitted to do.<a id="FNanchor_123" href="#Footnote_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a></p> + +<p>The wisdom of this may be doubted, as the Native +Contingent seemed particularly liable to alarm; twice +they “were seized with panic, rushing about everywhere, +the night being very dark. They knocked us +down,” writes an officer, “and stampeded our horses, +causing the greatest confusion. If the Zulus had come +on we should all have been cut to pieces.”</p> + +<p>“That night Major Dartnell sent off messengers to +Lord Chelmsford that he had marked the Zulus down in +a kloof, and asked for two companies of infantry to be +sent out as a support, and that he would attack the +Zulus in the morning.”</p> + +<p>Major Clery says:<a id="FNanchor_124" href="#Footnote_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> “About 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> on the 22nd, a +messenger brought me a note from Major Dartnell to +say that the enemy was in greater numbers than when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_279"></a>[279]</span> +he last reported, and that he did not think it prudent to +attack unless reinforced by two or three companies of +the 24th Regiment. The General ordered the 2nd +Battalion 24th Regiment, the Mounted Infantry, and +four guns, to be under arms at once to march.” The +Natal Native Pioneers, about 50 strong, accompanied +the force, which “marched out from the camp as soon +as there was light enough to see the road.” Lieut.-Colonel +Pulleine, 1-24th Regiment, was instructed to +take “command of the camp during the absence of +Colonel Glyn”—the force left with him consisting +of 5 companies 1-24th and 1 company 2-24th Regiment; +2 guns Royal Artillery; about 20 Mounted Infantry +and Volunteers; 30 Natal Carbineers, 31 Mounted +Police, and 4 companies Natal Native Contingent. +An order was also despatched to Colonel Durnford +(at Rorke’s Drift) to move up to Isandhlwana. Lieut.-Colonel +Pulleine’s instructions for the defence of the +camp were, briefly, to draw in his “line of defence” +and “infantry outposts,” but to keep his cavalry vedettes +“still far advanced.”<a id="FNanchor_125" href="#Footnote_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a> We may here note that the only +country searched was that direct to the front and right +front—the direction of the waggon-track—although it is +stated “the Lieut.-General had himself noticed mounted +men in one direction (our left front) on the 21st, and in +this direction he had <em>intended</em> to make a reconnaissance.” +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] p. 99).</span></p> + +<p>After the departure of the advance column nothing +unusual occurred in camp until between seven and eight +o’clock, when it was reported from the advanced picquet +(on the Ingqutu range of hills, about 1500 yards to the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_280"></a>[280]</span> +north) that a body of the enemy could be seen approaching +from the north-east: and various small bodies were +afterwards seen. Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine got his men +under arms, and sent a written message off to head-quarters +that a Zulu force had appeared on the hills +on his left front. This was received “between 9.30 +and 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>”</p> + +<p>Colonel Durnford received the General’s order when +on an expedition into Natal to obtain waggons, but at +once returned to Rorke’s Drift, and marched for +Isandhlwana. Lieutenant Chard, R.E., who had ridden to +camp for orders, “met Colonel Durnford about a quarter +of a mile from the camp at the head of his mounted men” +about 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and told him the troops were in column +outside the camp, and Zulus showing “on the crest of +the distant hills,” “several parties” working round so +far to the left that he “was afraid they might be going +to make a dash at the Drift.” He took orders to Major +Russell to hurry up with the rocket battery, to detach a +company of Sikali men to protect the baggage, and for +all to “look out to the left.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Durnford reached the camp, and received +all the information Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine could afford, +finding the situation to be:—Lonsdale’s natives on outpost +duty on the hills to the left, the guns in position +on the left of the camp, and the infantry under arms. +The oxen were driven into camp and—Mr. Brickhill +says—tied to the yokes, but not inspanned. Constant +reports were coming in from the hills to the left—“The +enemy are in force behind the hills.” “The +enemy are in three columns.” “One column is moving<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_281"></a>[281]</span> +to the left rear, and one towards the General.” “The +enemy are retiring in every direction.” The enemy’s +force was given at 400 to 600.</p> + +<p>On hearing these reports, Colonel Durnford sent one +troop Natal Native Horse to reinforce his baggage +guard; two troops to the hills to the left (under +Captains G. Shepstone and Barton)—one to move along +the crest of the range, one to search the valley beyond—and +determined himself to go out to the front “and +prevent the one column joining the ‘impi,’ which was +supposed at that time to be engaged with the troops +under the General;” he asked Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine +for two companies of the 24th, to which Colonel +Pulleine replied, “that two companies could ill be +spared, but that if Colonel Durnford ordered them, of +course they should go.” On consideration, Colonel +Durnford decided only to take his own men,<a id="FNanchor_126" href="#Footnote_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> and +moved out with his remaining two troops Natal Native +Horse, followed by Major Russell’s rocket battery, with +its escort of a company of Native Contingent, under +Captain Nourse.</p> + +<p>A company 1-24th, under Lieutenant Cavaye, was +sent out as a picquet to the hills about 1200 yards north +of the camp, and the remainder of the troops dismissed +to their private parades, where the men were to lie +down in readiness to turn out if required. At this<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_282"></a>[282]</span> +time there was no expectation of an attack during the +day, and no idea had been formed regarding the +probable strength of the enemy.<a id="FNanchor_127" href="#Footnote_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a></p> + +<p>The two troops sent on the hills to the left “to +ascertain the enemy’s movements,” had proceeded +“about five miles from the camp,” when “the Zulu +army came forward, advancing straight on towards the +camp.” Captain Shepstone ordered a retreat on the +camp, and himself rode in with the warning that the +“whole Zulu army was advancing to attack it.”<a id="FNanchor_128" href="#Footnote_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> +Captain Shepstone met Captain Gardner on reaching +the camp, and both officers then went to Colonel +Pulleine, but, says Captain Gardner, the enemy were +“already on the hill on our left in large numbers.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Durnford, having despatched his two troops +to the left, had moved out to the front at a canter, followed +at a foot’s pace by the rocket battery, etc. About +five miles out, a trooper rode down from the hills on the +left, and reported an immense “impi” behind the hills, +and almost immediately the Zulus appeared in force +in front and on the left, in skirmishing order, ten or +twelve deep, with supports close behind. They opened +fire at about 800 yards, and advanced very rapidly. +Colonel Durnford retired a little way—to a donga—and +extended his men, then fell back, keeping up a steady +fire, for about two miles,<a id="FNanchor_129" href="#Footnote_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> when he came upon the +remains of the rocket battery, which (it appeared) had +turned to the left on hearing firing on the hills, been<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_283"></a>[283]</span> +cut off, and broken up. Fighting was still going on +here, but the Zulus were speedily driven back.</p> + +<p>Colonel Durnford retired slowly on the camp, disputing +every yard of ground, until he reached a donga +about 800 yards in front of the right of the camp; there, +prolonging the line of the camp troops, and the right +being reinforced by between thirty and forty mounted +men, under Captain Bradstreet, a stand was made.</p> + +<p>“This gully,” Mr. Brickhill, interpreter to No. 3 +Column, says, “the mounted force held most tenaciously, +every shot appearing to take effect,” and with the havoc +caused by the guns, “a thousand Zulu dead must have +laid between the conical hill and the gully. They lay +just like peppercorns upon the plain.”</p> + +<p>The two troops of native horse sent to reconnoitre +the Ingqutu Hills, retired fighting before the enemy in +good order “to a crest in the neck which joins +Sandhlwana to Ingqutu. Leaving their horses well +sheltered here, they held this crest splendidly, keeping +up a steady galling fire.”<a id="FNanchor_130" href="#Footnote_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> They were eventually compelled +to retire, with the loss of Captain G. Shepstone.<a id="FNanchor_131" href="#Footnote_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a></p> + +<p>We must now consider what had taken place at the +camp. All was quiet till about twelve o’clock, when +firing was heard on the hill where the company on +picquet was stationed; the troops were immediately +turned out and formed on the left front of the camp. +About this time Captain Gardner, 14th Hussars, arrived +with an order from the General, addressed to Lieut.-Colonel<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_284"></a>[284]</span> +Pulleine, “to send on the camp equipage and +supplies of the troops camping out, and to remain himself +at his present camp and entrench it.”<a id="FNanchor_132" href="#Footnote_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> Captain +G. Shepstone reached the camp with his warning about +the same time. Colonel Pulleine decided it was +impossible to carry out the General’s order, as the +enemy were already in great force on the hills to the +left. Captain Gardner sent off a message to head-quarters, +saying that “our left was attacked by about +ten thousand of the enemy. A message was also sent +by Colonel Pulleine.”</p> + +<p>One company (Captain Mostyn’s) was moved up to +support the picquet; the enemy distant about 800 yards, +moving “towards our left.” Orders to retire were +received almost immediately, and the whole retired +to the foot of the slope, the enemy rushing forward to +the crest of the hill as our men disappeared. Captain +Younghusband’s company was at this time in echelon +on the left.<a id="FNanchor_133" href="#Footnote_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a></p> + +<p>The guns came into action about 400 yards on +the left front of the camp, “where they were able +to throw shells into a large mass of the enemy that +remained almost stationary about 3400 yards off.”<a id="FNanchor_134" href="#Footnote_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a></p> + +<p>The three advanced companies of the 24th retired +on the main body, when the situation was this: The two +guns and the whole of the 24th in line, about 300 +yards from the left front of the camp; the natives +took post on the right of the 24th; then came +Durnford’s Basutos; and the extreme right was formed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_285"></a>[285]</span> +by about forty mounted Europeans<a id="FNanchor_135" href="#Footnote_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a>—the force holding +the only position that afforded any shelter, viz. broken +ground and a “donga” in front of the camp; the +infantry “in good position among the stones and +boulders to the left and left centre of the camp, and +who stood their ground most gallantly.”<a id="FNanchor_136" href="#Footnote_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> The enemy +approached to within about 400 yards, the two guns +firing case. The heavy fire from the line told so +upon the Zulus that they wavered and lay down; +they are said to have covered the valley in detached +groups to the depth of about three-quarters of a mile.<a id="FNanchor_137" href="#Footnote_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a></p> + +<p>The enemy now began to work round the rear +(which they could do with impunity owing to the +formation of the ground), and Captain Essex says: “I +rode up to Lieut.-Colonel Durnford, who was near the +right, and pointed this out to him. He requested me +to take men to that part of the field, and endeavour to +hold the enemy in check;” but at this moment, he says, +“those of the Native Contingent who had remained in +action, rushed past us in the utmost disorder, thus laying +open the right and rear of the 24th, the enemy dashing +forward in the most rapid manner.” The ammunition +of the mounted troops failing (supplies had been repeatedly +sent for, but none came), Colonel Durnford +retired them towards the right of the camp (where the +waggons and ammunition of the Native Horse were), +and himself galloped off to the 24th, having previously +told Captain Gardner that the position was too extended, +and he desired to concentrate the force. Colonel +Durnford’s intention undoubtedly was to withdraw all<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_286"></a>[286]</span> +the troops to the rising ground on the right of the camp, +to which point he had retired his Native Horse.</p> + +<p>The Zulus rushed on the left in overwhelming +numbers, completely surrounding the 24th. The guns +limbered up, and made for the Rorke’s Drift Road, but +found it blocked by the enemy; they therefore “followed +a crowd of natives and camp-followers, who were running +down a ravine; the Zulus were all among them, stabbing +men as they ran.” Down this ravine the fugitives +hastened, the enemy round and among them, the assegai +doing its deadly work.</p> + +<p>Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine was said by Lieutenant Coghill +to have been killed,<a id="FNanchor_138" href="#Footnote_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> and during the flight Major Stuart +Smith, R.A. (who had been wounded), Surgeon-Major +Shepherd, and many a man, mounted and on foot, were +killed. The Buffalo was gained at a point about five +miles below Rorke’s Drift, and numbers of the fugitives +were either shot, or carried away by the stream and +drowned. Lieutenants Melville and Coghill rode from +the camp, on its being carried by the Zulus, the former +with the Queen’s colours of his regiment. These he bore +into the river, but lost his horse, and was left struggling +in the swift current; Lieutenant Coghill, who had safely +crossed, rode in to his assistance, when his horse was +shot. These brave young officers succeeded in gaining +the Natal shore, but were soon overtaken by the enemy, +and died fighting to the last. The Natal Native Horse +escaped with little loss; they assisted many in the +retreat, which they covered as well as they could, +especially under Captain Barton on the banks of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_287"></a>[287]</span> +Buffalo. Captain Essex puts the time of the retreat from +the camp at “about 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>”</p> + +<p>After this period no one living escaped from +Isandhlwana, and it was supposed that the troops had +broken, and, falling into confusion, that all had perished +after a brief struggle.</p> + +<p>Nothing was known of the after-events of that fatal +day for months, till, on the 21st May, the scene of the +disaster was revisited, and the truth of the gallant stand +made was established. This will be treated of in +another chapter.</p> + +<p>We must now turn to the movements of the column +under Colonel Glyn, with the General; and it will be +most convenient to take the occurrences of the day as +described by Lord Chelmsford and his military secretary +(Lieut.-Colonel Crealock).</p> + +<p>Leaving camp at daybreak,<a id="FNanchor_139" href="#Footnote_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> the General “reached +Major Dartnell about 6.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and at once ordered +him to send out his mounted men to gain intelligence +of the enemy, whose whereabouts did not appear to be +very certain.” <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2252] p. 75.)</span> The enemy +shortly after showed in considerable strength at some +distance, but retired without firing as the troops +advanced. Lieut.-Colonel Crealock says: “Between +9.30 and 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> we were off-saddled some twelve miles +from camp. During the three previous hours we had +been advancing with Colonel Glyn’s column against a +Zulu force that fell back from hill to hill as we advanced,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_288"></a>[288]</span> +giving up, without a shot, most commanding positions.” +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] p. 99.)</span> It was at this time (“about +9 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>,” the General says) that the message was received +from Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine, that a Zulu force had +appeared on the hills on his left front. The General says +he at once sent his aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Milne, R.N., +to the top of a high hill, from which the camp could be +seen. He had “a very powerful telescope, but could +detect nothing unusual.”<a id="FNanchor_140" href="#Footnote_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> Lieut.-Colonel Crealock says +that all the news he gave “was that the cattle had +been driven into camp,” and he acknowledges “our +own attention was chiefly bent on the enemy’s force +retiring from the hills in our front, and a party being +pursued by Lieut.-Colonel Russell three miles off.”</p> + +<p>The kloof where the enemy had been was found +deserted, but a large body of Zulus were seen beyond it, +and a portion of the mounted force sent after them, Major +Dartnell and the rest of his men moving off to the right<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_289"></a>[289]</span> +in the direction of another body of Zulus. These turned +out to be Matshana’s people, with the chief himself +present: they were engaged, their retreat cut off, and +then driven back on the Native Contingent. Of this +party Matshana and one or two of his people alone +escaped.</p> + +<p>“Having no cause, therefore, to feel any anxiety +about the safety of the camp,” the General ordered the +mounted infantry to sweep round “to the main waggon-track, +whilst a portion of the infantry went over the hilltop +to the same point, and the guns, with an escort, +retraced their steps,” with instructions to join Colonel +Glyn near the Mangane Valley, where the General +proceeded with Colonel Glyn to fix upon a site for a +new camp. Captain Gardner, 14th Hussars, was sent +back to camp “with the order to Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine +to send on the camp equipage and supplies of the troops +camping out, and to remain at his present camp, and +entrench it.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] p. 101).</span></p> + +<p>The 1st Battalion Native Contingent was ordered to +march back to camp across country, and examine +dongas, etc. <i lang="fr">en route</i>.</p> + +<p>“Not a sign of the enemy was now seen near us,” +says Colonel Crealock. “Not a suspicion had crossed +my mind that the camp was in any danger, neither did +anything occur to make me think of such a thing until +about 1.15,” when it was fancied firing was heard (the +natives were certain of it). “We were then moving back +to choose a camp for the night about twelve miles from +Isandula.” About 1.45 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, a native reported “heavy +firing had been going on round the camp. We galloped<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_290"></a>[290]</span> +up to a high spot, whence we could see the camp, perhaps +10 or 11 miles distant. None of us could detect anything +amiss; all looked quiet. This must have been +2 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> The General, however, probably thought it +would be well to ascertain what had happened himself, +but not thinking anything was wrong, ordered Colonel +Glyn to bivouac for the night where we stood; and +taking with him some 40 mounted volunteers, proceeded +to ride into camp. Lieut.-Colonel Cecil Russell, 12th +Lancers, now joined us, and informed me that an officer +of the Natal Native Contingent had come to him (about +12 noon, I think) when he was off-saddled, and asked +where the General was, as he had instructions to tell +him that heavy firing had been going on close to the +camp.... This officer, however, did not come to us.</p> + +<p>“This information from Colonel Russell was immediately +followed by a message from Commandant Brown, +commanding the 1st Battalion Natal Native Contingent, +which had been ordered back to camp at 9.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>—(the +battalion was halted a mile from us, and probably +eight miles from camp)—to the effect that large bodies +of Zulus were between him and the camp, and that his +men could not advance without support. The General +ordered an immediate advance of the battalion, the +mounted volunteers and mounted infantry supporting it.</p> + +<p>“I am not aware what messages had been sent from<a id="FNanchor_141" href="#Footnote_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_291"></a>[291]</span> +the camp and received by Colonel Glyn or his staff; but +I know that neither the General nor myself had up to +this time received any information but that I have +mentioned.</p> + +<p>“At 3.15 the General appeared to think that he +would be able to brush through any parties of Zulus +that might be in his road to the camp without any +force further than that referred to, viz. 1st Battalion +Native Contingent and some eighty mounted white +men.</p> + +<p>“At 4 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>,<a id="FNanchor_142" href="#Footnote_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> however, the native battalion again +halted,” when within about six miles of the camp, “and +shortly after—the General says—Commandant Lonsdale +rode up to report that he had ridden into camp and found +it in possession of the Zulus.” The General at once sent +word to Colonel Glyn to bring back all the troops, and +advanced about two miles, sending Lieut.-Colonel +Russell forward to reconnoitre;—he fully confirmed +Commandant Lonsdale’s report. Colonel Glyn rejoined +the General about 6 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, when the troops were formed +in “fighting order,” and advanced across the plain; “but +could not reach the neighbourhood of our camp until +after dark.”</p> + +<p>It may properly be here remarked that from the +outskirts of the force firing had been seen at the camp +as late as nearly four o’clock; and about six, large bodies +of the enemy were seen retiring from the camp, through +openings in the Ingqutu range.</p> + +<p>When a move was first made by the General in the +direction of the camp, an officer who was in advance<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_292"></a>[292]</span> +narrates what he saw when he came to a rising ground +from which the camp was first seen:</p> + +<p>“There certainly were some tents standing then, but +seemed very few, and away to the left front of the camp +there was some smoke, though not much, and it was +high up, just as if there had been musketry fire and the +smoke had floated away; but there was certainly no +musketry fire going on then. A few seconds afterwards +a sergeant ... said: ‘There go the guns, sir.’ I +could see the smoke, but we could hear nothing. In a +few seconds we distinctly saw the guns fired again, one +after the other, sharp. This was done several times—a +pause, and then a flash—flash! The sun was shining +on the camp at the time, and then the camp looked +dark, just as if a shadow was passing over it. The guns +did not fire after that, and in a few minutes all the tents +had disappeared. The sergeant said, ‘It’s all over now, +sir.’ I said, ‘Yes, and I hope it is the right way.’ We +could see there was fighting going on, but of course did +not know which way it had gone. The men all thought +the Zulus had retired, but I felt doubtful in my own +mind, but had no idea really of the catastrophe that had +taken place.... This must have been about 3 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>”</p> + +<p>“Within two miles of camp,” Lieutenant Milne +says, “four men were seen slowly advancing in front +of us; a few mounted men were sent out; the men +in front previously seen then took cover behind some +rocks, but were fired upon by our men; one fell, the +remainder ran out in the open, throwing up their hands +to show they were unarmed. On being taken prisoners,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_293"></a>[293]</span> +they were found to be Native Contingent, escaped from +the massacre.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] p. 185).</span></p> + +<p>On nearing the camp it was nearly dark, but it was +observed that waggons were drawn up across the neck; +the guns were therefore brought into action and shelled +them. Then, no sound being heard, Major Black, with +a wing of his regiment, moved forward to occupy the +small hill close to Isandhlwana. No enemy was seen, +and the camp was found tenanted by those who were +taking their last long sleep.</p> + +<p>A halt was made for the night amidst the <i lang="fr">débris</i> of +(the proper right of) the camp, on the “neck;” the +infantry covering the west, and the mounted troops and +guns the east side. During the night there were one or +two false alarms, and the whole force, at early dawn, +moved off towards Rorke’s Drift, as the General was +anxious about the safety of that important post; also +the troops had no spare ammunition,<a id="FNanchor_143" href="#Footnote_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> but little food, +and “it was certain that daylight would reveal a sight +which could not but have a demoralising effect upon the +whole force.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2252] p. 76).</span></p> + +<p>In Lord Chelmsford’s despatch of 27th January, he +gives a narrative of the attack on the camp, but remarks +“the absolute accuracy of which, however, I cannot +vouch for” (pp. 76, 77). On comparing his “narrative” +with the <em>facts</em>, it will be found to be <em>absolutely inaccurate</em>. +But Lord Chelmsford makes some remarks +which cannot be passed, over in silence. He says: +“Had the force in question but taken up a defensive<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_294"></a>[294]</span> +position in the camp itself, and utilised there the +materials for a hasty entrenchment;” but he does not +point out how the “force in question” was to know of +the near approach of the Zulu army, he himself having +neglected to search the country where that army lay. +He had prepared no “defensive position;” but he had +selected a fatal spot for his camp, which, covering a +front of about half a mile, was utterly indefensible as it +stood; and he had “pooh-poohed” the suggestion of +taking defensive precautions when made by Colonel +Glyn; and, further, it does not appear that there was +<em>any time whatever</em> for the “force in question” to do +anything but fight. Lord Chelmsford then says: “It +appears that the oxen were yoked to the waggons three +hours before the attack took place, so that there was +ample time to construct that waggon-laager which the +Dutch in former days understood so well.” This +remark comes with peculiar ill-grace from Lord +Chelmsford, who not only had not taken any precautions, +but had not permitted any laager or other +defence to be made; and whose reply to a suggestion +of a laager at Isandhlwana was, “It would take a week +to make.” Also it must not be forgotten that the attack +on Isandhlwana was <em>without warning</em>.</p> + +<p>He next says: “Had, however, the tents been struck, +and the British troops placed with their backs to the +precipitous Isalwana Hill, I feel sure that they could +have made a successful resistance.” Here again he would +blame the dead to cover the faults of the living! But +even had the troops been thus placed (as some eventually +appear to have been), how long could they keep at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_295"></a>[295]</span> +bay, when ammunition failed,<a id="FNanchor_144" href="#Footnote_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> an enemy armed with +weapons they could use with fatal effect out of reach of +the bayonet?</p> + +<p>And lastly, Lord Chelmsford speaks of rumours +“that the troops were deceived by a simulated retreat,” +and thus “drawn away from the line of defence.” The +<em>facts</em> prove the exact contrary. The only person deceived +by a “simulated retreat” was Lord Chelmsford +himself, whose troops <em>during three hours</em> had advanced +“against a Zulu force that fell back from hill to hill ... +giving up without a shot most commanding positions.” +And where was <em>their</em> “<em>line of defence</em>?” We do not +find one word of Lord Chelmsford’s own want of the +most ordinary precautions—his want of “intelligence,” +and neglect to obtain it—of his seeing the enemy’s +mounted scouts on the left front, and intending (but not +making) a reconnaissance in that direction—his fixed +belief that the enemy <em>could</em> only be in force in his front—the +transparent way in which he was drawn off farther +from the camp—the absence of any attention to the signs +that something <em>was</em> wrong at the camp—the prevention +of assistance reaching <ins class="corr" id="tn-295" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'the beleagured camp'"> +the beleaguered camp</ins> when one of +his officers <em>had</em> recognised the emergency, etc.; to which +must be added that we do not find one word of regret +for the untimely fate of the gallant men who fell doing +<em>their</em> duty. In justice to Colonel Glyn, commanding +No. 3 Column, it must be remarked that the General +himself gave the orders for the various movements, etc. +And in justice to Lord Chelmsford also, we note it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_296"></a>[296]</span> +is asserted that the shock he experienced told severely +upon him at the time; and he may not have very +carefully studied the despatch, which was the work of +his military secretary.</p> + +<p>Before finally leaving the events of the 22nd +January, we must fully notice an important episode that +occurred, and which had a serious bearing on the disaster +we have to lament.</p> + +<p>We have seen that “the guns with an escort” were +ordered to retrace their steps ... to join Colonel Glyn +at the rendezvous near the Mangane Valley. We will +now follow their movements.</p> + +<p>When Lord Chelmsford discovered that the enemy +he had come in search of had disappeared, 4 guns Royal +Artillery, 2 companies 2-24th Regiment (Captains Church +and Harvey), and about 50 Natal Native Pioneers, the +whole under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Harness, +R.A., were ordered to march to a rendezvous in advance +by a different route to that taken by the remainder of the +column; this was necessary, as the guns could not go +over the ground taken by the latter. To carry out the +order, they had to retrace for over two miles the route +by which they had come in the morning, and then bear +to the left. This was done (a short halt having first been +made, to let men and horses have a rest), and about +twelve o’clock they reached some rising ground, when +they again halted, not being certain of the direction of +the rendezvous, to await Major Black, 2-24th, Assistant +Quartermaster-General, who had gone on to find it. +Almost immediately after this halt the firing of cannon +was heard, and looking towards the camp, about eight<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_297"></a>[297]</span> +miles off, they saw shells bursting against the hills to +the left of it. Soon afterwards a body of about 1000 +natives suddenly appeared in the plain below, between +them and the camp; the Native Pioneers thought they +were Zulus. Captain Church told Colonel Harness if he +would let him have a horse he would go and find out. +Colonel Harness at once gave him one, and sent a +mounted sergeant with him. As they galloped towards +the natives, a European officer rode out, and when they +met said: “The troops behind me are Commandant +Browne’s contingent, and I am sent to give you this +message: ‘<em>Come in every man, for God’s sake! The camp +is surrounded, and will be taken unless helped at once.</em>’” +Captain Church rode back as fast as he could, and found +Colonel Harness in conversation with Major Gosset (aide-de-camp) +and Major Black, both of whom had come up +during his absence. Colonel Harness promptly said: +“We will march back;” but Major Gosset ridiculed the +idea, and advised him to carry out his orders. Colonel +Harness then asked Major Black and Captain Church +their opinions. They both agreed with him without +hesitation. Colonel Harness gave the order to return, +and started without a moment’s delay; Major Gosset +riding off in the direction of the General. About 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> +Lieut.-Colonel Harness was on his way to the camp, +and had got over about two miles of ground when he +was overtaken by Major Gosset with orders from the +General to march back to the rendezvous. The order +was obeyed.</p> + +<p>Now the startling reflection comes home that to this +most important fact, bearing on the events of the day<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_298"></a>[298]</span> +(for even if too late to save life, Colonel Harness would +have saved the camp), there is not a hint even in the +despatches of Lord Chelmsford, or the official statement +of his military secretary.<a id="FNanchor_145" href="#Footnote_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> The latter goes so far as to +say, in paragraph 17 of his statement <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] +p. 100):</span> “I am not aware what messages had been sent +from the camp and received by Colonel Glyn or his staff; +but I know that neither the General nor myself had up +to this time received any information but that I have +mentioned.” This statement refers to a time <em>after</em> the +General had arrived at a spot about a mile from where +Commandant Browne’s battalion of natives were halted, +<em>after</em> he had received the message, “Come in, every man, +for God’s sake,” etc., and <em>after</em> he had met Colonel Harness +on his return march to the rendezvous; and not only that, +but apparently <em>after</em> the receipt of a most important +message from Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine, described as follows +by the special correspondent of <cite>The Times</cite> of Natal +(Captain Norris-Newman): “We did halt there, and +found the staff there as well, looking on through the field-glasses +at some large bodies of Kafirs [Zulus], who were +in close proximity to our camp about ten miles off. The +Mounted Police were ordered to halt and off-saddle; +but Captain [T.] Shepstone and his volunteers had orders +to proceed back to camp to see what was up. I joined +them, and we had not gone far on the road when a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_299"></a>[299]</span> +mounted messenger came up with a note from Colonel +Pulleine to the General, saying that the camp was +attacked by large numbers of Kafirs, and asked him to +return with all the help at his command. With this +we halted, and awaited the up-coming of the General, +who came along at once, and proceeded up the valley +to reconnoitre. About three miles had been got over, +during which we passed the four guns under Colonel +Harness, and some of the 24th ... on their way to +encamp at the new ground. A mounted man was then +seen approaching, and was recognised as Commandant +Lonsdale. He brought the dreadful news that, having +chased a Zulu on horseback, he got separated from his +men, and had ridden quietly back to camp; but on +arrival there, within about three hundred yards of it +(at about 2 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>), he found large bodies of the enemy +surrounding it and fighting with our men. He had +just time to discover his mistake, turn, and fly for his +life, when several bullets were fired at him, and many +Zulus started in chase.”—<cite>Natal Colonist</cite>, January 30th, +1879.</p> + +<p>The above message is undoubtedly that mentioned +by Captain Gardner as having been despatched from the +camp at or soon after twelve o’clock. <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] +p. 81.)</span> And there still remains the fact that, not only +as regards Colonel Harness, does there appear to be an +unaccountable omission in the “statement”<a id="FNanchor_146" href="#Footnote_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> alluded to, +but also we find mention of only <em>one</em> message from the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_300"></a>[300]</span> +camp; whereas other messages are <em>known</em> to have been +received, and to have been in the possession of the +Assistant Military Secretary.</p> + +<p>Here also we must allude to Sir Bartle Frere’s +despatches of January 27th, and February 3rd and 12th. +In the first he says: “In disregard of Lord Chelmsford’s +instructions, the troops left to protect the camp were +taken away from the defensive position they were in at +the camp, with the shelter which the waggons, parked, +would have afforded....” We know that the troops +did the best they could, left as they were by their +general in an open camp—we know they had no +“defensive position”—and we know that the waggons +were <em>not</em> “parked,” but drawn up in rear of their own +camps.</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle says, February 3rd: “It is only justice +to the General to note that his orders were clearly not +obeyed on that terrible day at Isandhlwana camp.”</p> + +<p>And on February 12th, he says: “It is impossible +to shut one’s eyes to the fact that it was, in all human +probability, mainly due to disregard of the General’s +orders that so great a disaster occurred” (a little +qualifying his sweeping assertion of February 3rd).</p> + +<p>But yet again Sir Bartle returns to the charge, and +says, June 30th: “It is difficult to over-estimate the +effect of such a disaster as that at Isandhlwana on both +armies, but it was clearly due to breach of the General’s +order, and to disregard of well-known maxims of military +science.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] p. 138).</span></p> + +<p>On what grounds Sir Bartle Frere bases those +assertions we know not—no known orders were disobeyed—and,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_301"></a>[301]</span> +in spite of the special pleading in these +despatches, we must come to the conclusion that Sir +Bartle Frere’s remarks were penned in utter ignorance of +facts, and that the accusations concerning “disregard of +well-known maxims of military science” should have +been applied, <em>not</em> to the soldiers who fell at Isandhlwana, +but to those who placed them in that fatal position.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_302"></a>[302]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">RORKE’S DRIFT—HELPMAKAAR—COURT OF INQUIRY, ETC.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">The garrison of the Rorke’s Drift post consisted of +B Company 2-24th Regiment (Lieutenant Bromhead), +and (with officers and casuals) was of a total strength of +139. It was encamped on the Natal side of the Buffalo, +where there was a mission station, one building of which +was used as a hospital and one as a commissariat store. +The crossing of the river was effected by what are called +“ponts”—boats used as a kind of “flying bridge”—and +there were drifts, or fords, in the vicinity. Major +Spalding, Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General, and +Lieutenant Chard, R.E., were stationed here. The +former rode off to Helpmakaar at 2 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, 22nd January, +“to bring up Captain Rainforth’s company, 1st Battalion +24th Regiment, to protect the pont,” leaving Lieutenant +Chard in command of the post.</p> + +<p>About 3.15 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, Lieutenant Chard was at the ponts, +when two men came riding from Zululand at a gallop, +and shouted to be taken across the river. They were +Lieutenant Adendorff, Natal Native Contingent, and a +carbineer, who brought tidings of the disaster at +Isandhlwana and the advance of the Zulus towards<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_303"></a>[303]</span> +Rorke’s Drift. Lieutenant Adendorff remained to assist +in the defence of the post, and the carbineer rode on to +take the news to Helpmakaar.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Chard at once gave orders to secure the +stores at the ponts, and rode up to the commissariat +store, when he found a note had been received from the +3rd Column, saying the enemy were advancing, and +directing them to strengthen and hold the post at all +cost. Lieutenant Bromhead was actively at work preparing +for defence, ably assisted by Mr. Dalton, of the +Commissariat Department, loopholing the buildings and +connecting them by walls of mealie-bags and two waggons +that were there. Lieutenant Chard then rode down to +the pont, and brought up the guard and stores.</p> + +<p>An officer, with about a hundred of “Durnford’s +Horse,” now arrived, and asked for orders. He was instructed +to throw out men to watch the drifts and ponts, +to check the enemy’s advance, and fall back on the post +when forced to retire. These men had, however, been +in the saddle since daylight, and had gone through a +heavy engagement: they were quite exhausted (besides +being dispirited by the loss of their beloved leader), and, +after remaining a short time, retired to Helpmakaar. A +detachment of Natal Native Contingent also left the +post.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Chard now commenced an inner work—“a +retrenchment of biscuit-boxes.” This was two boxes +high when, about 4.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, 500 or 600 of the enemy +came in sight, and advanced at a run against the south +wall. They were met with a well-sustained fire, but, in +spite of their loss, approached to within about fifty yards.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_304"></a>[304]</span> +Here they were checked by the cross-fire from the +attacked front and the store-house. Some got under +cover and kept up a heavy fire, but the greater number, +without stopping, moved to the left, round the hospital, +and made a rush at the wall of mealie-bags. After a +short but desperate struggle the enemy were driven back +with heavy loss into the bush around the post. The +main body of the enemy coming up, lined the ledge of +rock, caves, etc., overlooking the work, at a distance of +about 400 yards to the south, and from whence a constant +fire was kept up, and they also occupied in great force +the garden, hollow road, and bush.</p> + +<p>The bush not having been cleared away enabled the +enemy to advance under cover close to the wall, and a +series of desperate assaults were made, extending from +the hospital along the wall as far as the bush reached; +each assault was brilliantly met and repulsed with the +bayonet, Corporal Scheiss, Natal Native Contingent, +distinguishing himself greatly. The fire from the rocks +took the work completely in reverse, and was so heavy +that about 6 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, the garrison was obliged to retire +behind the entrenchment of biscuit-boxes.</p> + +<p>During this period the enemy had been storming the +hospital, and at last succeeded in setting fire to the +roof. The garrison defended it most gallantly, bringing +out all the sick that could be moved; Privates Williams, +Hook, R. Jones, and W. Jones, 2-24th Regiment, being +the last men to leave, and holding the doorway with +the bayonet when their ammunition was expended. The +want of communication and the burning of the house +rendered it impossible to save all the sick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_305"></a>[305]</span></p> + +<p>It was now found necessary to make another +entrenchment, which was done with two heaps of +mealie-bags, Assistant-Commissary Dunne working hard +at this, though much exposed. As darkness came on +the little garrison was completely surrounded, but gallantly +repulsed several serious assaults; it was, however, +eventually forced to retire to the inner entrenchment, +which it held throughout the night. The attack continued +vigorously till midnight, the men firing on the +assailants with the greatest coolness, aided by the light +afforded by the burning hospital. A desultory fire was +kept up by the enemy throughout the night, but this +ceased about 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> on the 23rd, and at daybreak the +enemy was out of sight. Lieutenant Chard at once set +about patrolling round the post, collecting the Zulu +arms, and strengthening the defences.</p> + +<p>About 7 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, a large body of the enemy appeared +on the hills to the south-west, and Lieutenant Chard +sent off a note to Helpmakaar asking for assistance. +About 8 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, No. 3 Column appeared in sight, the +enemy falling back on its approach. Thus ended a most +gallant defence, reflecting the utmost credit on all +concerned.</p> + +<p>The loss of the garrison was 15 non-commissioned +officers and men killed, and 12 wounded (of whom +two died almost immediately). The attacking force +was estimated at 3000 men, of whom upwards of 350 +were killed.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford, with the remains of No. 3 Column, +had moved off from Isandhlwana, as we have already +described, at daybreak that morning. It had been<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_306"></a>[306]</span> +thought necessary to insist upon absolute inaction +through the night; no attempt was allowed at identifying +the dead, or even at making sure that no life +remained in the camp; and men lay down to rest, +ignorant whether a careless hand might not fall on the +lifeless form of a dead comrade or, mayhap, a brother. +The remainder of the Natal Carbineers, as they afterwards +discovered, bivouacked that night on the right of +the camp, upon the very “neck” of land where so +gallant a stand was made; their captain recognising +the body of Lieutenant Scott, and therefore being able +afterwards to identify the spot. That life might exist +without its being known to the returning column is +proved by the fact that a native groom lay for dead, +although unwounded, in the camp throughout the night. +The man had feigned death when the camp was taken, +and did not dare to move on the return of the General’s +party, lest he should be taken by them for a Zulu, and +should share the fate of the few actual Zulus found +intoxicated beneath the waggons, and bayoneted by our +soldiers. He crept out in the morning, and followed +the retreating column to Rorke’s Drift at a distance, +meeting on the way with narrow escapes of losing his +life from both friend and foe.</p> + +<p>On coming within sight of Rorke’s Drift, heavy +smoke was seen rising from it, and Zulus retiring; this +caused the liveliest apprehensions for the safety of the +post. However, to the intense relief of all, on nearing +the Buffalo River the waving of hats was seen from a +hastily-erected entrenchment, and the safety of the +little garrison was known.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_307"></a>[307]</span></p> + +<p>Lieut.-Colonel Russell was sent with a mounted +escort to Helpmakaar, to see if the road was open and +all safe there; but some officers of Major Bengough’s +battalion Natal Native Contingent rode in and reported +the road open, Helpmakaar laagered, and no attack +made on it. Some men of the Buffalo Border Guard +also rode in from Fort Pine and reported all well there.</p> + +<p>The General and staff hurried down to Pietermaritzburg +<em>viâ</em> Helpmakaar, while the garrison at Rorke’s +Drift was left in utter confusion,<a id="FNanchor_147" href="#Footnote_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> as testified by many +of those present at the time. No one appeared responsible +for anything that might happen, and the result +was one disgraceful to our English name, and to all +concerned. A few Zulu prisoners had been taken by +our troops—some the day before, others previous to the +disaster at Isandhlwana, and these prisoners were put +to death in cold blood at Rorke’s Drift. It was intended +to set them free, and they were told to run for +their lives, but they were shot down and killed, within +sight and sound of the whole force. An eye-witness—an +officer—described the affair to the present writer, +saying that the men whom <em>he</em> saw killed numbered +“not more than seven, nor less than five.” He said +that he was standing with others in the camp, and +hearing shots close behind him, he turned, and saw the +prisoners in question in the act of falling beneath the +shots and stabs of a party of our men.<a id="FNanchor_148" href="#Footnote_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> The latter, +indeed, were men belonging to the Native Contingent,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_308"></a>[308]</span> +but they were supposed to be under white control, and +should not have been able to obtain possession of the +prisoners under any circumstances. Scenes like these +were not likely to impress the savages with whom we +were dealing with our merciful and Christian qualities, +nor to improve the chances of European prisoners who +might fall into their hands during the campaign.</p> + +<p>As soon as order was a little restored, the cover round +the post of Rorke’s Drift was cleared away, barricades +built, the thatched roof taken off the house, and the +four guns placed in position within the enclosure.</p> + +<p>The General and staff reached Pietermaritzburg early +on January 26th. There, as everywhere else, panic +reigned, and gloom spread over all. From the city +especially many a son and brother had gone out to +fall upon that fatal day, and grief was mingled there +with terror for what might come next. It was long +before any accurate information could be gained as to +what had happened, and who had fallen; and, owing +to the hurried retreat of No. 3 Column from Isandhlwana +before daybreak on the 23rd, the great burden of +uncertainty was laid upon many heavy hearts both +upon the spot and at home in England.</p> + +<p>At first all who had had friends at the camp hoped +they might be amongst the saved, since it was known +that some had escaped by “The Fugitives’ Drift,” a spot +some five miles from Rorke’s Drift, where those flying +from Isandhlwana crossed the river; and day by day +the lists of killed and missing appeared with the names +gradually removed from the latter to the former. Well +had an hour’s daylight been spent that morning to spare<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_309"></a>[309]</span> +the uncertainty that hung over many an English and +South African home for days and weeks, and even +months.</p> + +<p>No time was now lost in making such preparations +for defence as the principal towns afforded. An invasion +of the colony by the victorious Zulu army was hourly +expected, and with some reason, since retaliation for +our invasion might naturally be feared. Sir Bartle +Frere himself remarks, on February 12th (C. 2269): +“It has become painfully evident that the Zulu king +has an army at his command which could almost any +day unexpectedly invade Natal; and owing to the great +extent of frontier, and utter helplessness of the undisciplined +hordes of Natal natives to offer effectual +resistance, the Zulus might march at will through the +country, devastating and murdering, without a chance +of being checked, as long as they abstained from +attacking the entrenched posts of Her Majesty’s troops, +which are from 50 to 100 miles apart. The capital and +all the principal towns are at this moment in ‘laager,’ +prepared for attack, which even if successfully resisted, +would leave two-thirds of them in ashes, and the +country around utterly desolated.”<a id="FNanchor_149" href="#Footnote_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a></p> + +<p>Whatever reasonable fears of retaliation were entertained<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_310"></a>[310]</span> +by the people of Natal, they soon rose to panic-height +in consequence of the great alarm displayed by +the chief authorities, both military and civil. By their +orders, the central part of ’Maritzburg, including the +Court House, was barricaded with loopholed boarding, +as a refuge for the citizens in case of attack, wells were +dug inside the Court House, and notice given that the +usual guns, announcing the arrival of the English mails, +would be discontinued for the present, but that three +guns would be fired as a signal for the citizens to go +into the laager within three hours, while four guns +would signify that the danger was urgent, and they +must fly into it at once, taking stores of food, which +they were to have ready beforehand, beside what the +borough council had provided, and they must then +comply with an elaborate series of rules, which was +published in the Government <cite>Gazette</cite>. So great, indeed, +was the scare that some of the citizens of ’Maritzburg +did actually take refuge one night in the laager, +and others hurriedly left the colony, while many natives, +living near the city, slept out, with their wives and +children, some nights in the open field. On that night, +when terror was at its height, it is said that the bedding +of the Governors and their staff, together with the official +records of Government House, was removed to the +neighbouring gaol, a strong stone building, just under +the guns of Fort Napier, which was chosen as a place of +refuge for their Excellencies. It is also said that Lord +Chelmsford’s horse was kept saddled and bridled all +night; and a stretcher was placed, by express order, +outside the window of a lady in delicate health, without +her knowledge, so as to be ready in case of emergency—as<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_311"></a>[311]</span> +if a Zulu impi could drop suddenly, at a moment’s +notice, into the middle of the city, the frontier, at the +nearest point, being sixty miles off.</p> + +<p>Whether or no the High Commissioner was really in +such a state of alarm as he appeared to be, the existence +of such a scare in Natal would, no doubt, help to support +his policy in the eyes of those at home, as an actual +inroad of Zulus at that time would have still more +effectually justified the charges he had made against +Cetshwayo, and the strong measures he had taken in +invading Zululand, for the good of the Zulus themselves +and the safety of the colony. After the disaster at +Isandhlwana, Sir B. Frere of course reiterates his +charges against the king of intending to invade the +colony (C. 2269). But these charges are sufficiently +answered by the mere fact that although, as Sir B. Frere +himself points out, Natal lay at his mercy for some +months after the disaster, he made no attack whatever +either upon Swazis, Boers, or English. After Isandhlwana, +if ever, such invasion was to be dreaded, yet not +only was none attempted, but even the Zulus who, in +the flush of victory crossed into Natal at Rorke’s Drift +on the 22nd, were called back by their officers with the +words, “Against the orders of your king!”</p> + +<p>In startling contrast to the panic which reigned after +the 22nd January was the ignorance and carelessness +shown by the authorities beforehand. At the very time +of the disaster to No. 3 Column there was a train of +fifteen waggons, with sixty-five boxes of ammunition +each, moving unguarded up to Helpmakaar, upon a road +eight miles from and parallel to the Zulu border!</p> + +<p>With the exception of Rorke’s Drift, no military<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_312"></a>[312]</span> +station was at this time more open to attack than +Helpmakaar, distant from it about twelve miles. The +fugitives from Isandhlwana, Captains Essex and Gardner, +Lieutenants Cochrane, Curling, and Smith-Dorrien, with +about thirty others, reached this place between 5 and +6 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, and at once set about forming a waggon-laager +round the stores. The garrison of two companies of the +1-24th Regiment had marched towards Rorke’s Drift +during the day; but Major Spalding says: “On reaching +the summit of a hill from which the mission-house is +visible it was observed to be in flames; this confirmed +the statement of the fugitives that the post had been +captured. This being the case, it was determined to +save, if possible, Helpmakaar and its depôt of stores” ... +and the column reached Helpmakaar by 9 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] p. 88.)</span> Captain Gardner, soon after +reaching Helpmakaar, left for Utrecht, it having occurred +to him to carry the news of the disaster himself to +Colonel Wood. Our loss at Isandhlwana is given as +689 officers and men Imperial troops, and 133 officers +and men of Colonial Volunteers, Mounted Police, and +Natal Native Contingents—Europeans <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] +pp. 93-98);</span> but the actual loss was slightly in excess of +those numbers.</p> + +<p>The Zulu army appears to have consisted of the +following regiments: ’Kandampemvu (or Umcityu), +’Ngobamakosi, Uve, Nokenke, Umbonambi, Udhloko, +Nodwengu, and Undi (which comprises the Tulwana, +’Ndhlondhlo, and Indhluyengwe), whose full nominal +strength reaches a total of 30,900 men; but the actual +numbers are estimated at from 20,000 to 25,000.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_313"></a>[313]</span></p> + +<p>The Zulus acknowledge to having suffered heavily, +and their loss is estimated at 3000.</p> + +<p>Cetshwayo’s youngest brother, Nugwende, who surrendered +on 27th April, said he was present at Isandhlwana. +That the front and left flank attack was beaten, +and fell back with great loss until the fire of the white +troops slackened; the right flank entering the camp, the +attack was renewed, the English being unable to prevent +their onset from want of ammunition. The Zulu army, +he says, numbered 20,000 of the king’s best troops.</p> + +<p>A court of inquiry, composed of Colonel Hassard, +C.B., R.E., Lieut.-Colonel Law, R.A., and Lieut.-Colonel +Harness, R.A., assembled at Helpmakaar on +the 27th January, when the following officers gave +evidence: Major Clery; Colonel Glyn, C.B.; Captain +Gardner, 14th Hussars; Captain Essex, 75th Regiment; +Lieutenant Cochrane, 32nd Regiment; Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien, +95th Regiment; Captain Nourse, Natal Native +Contingent; and Lieutenant Curling, R.A.</p> + +<p>The evidence taken consisted of statements made by +the above officers, not one of whom appears to have been +questioned. The (so-called) inquiry seems to have been +strictly limited to the occurrences at the camp, as we +find Major Clery’s evidence finish abruptly, “I saw the +column out of camp and accompanied it.” Colonel Glyn +merely corroborated Major Clery’s statement; and the +other officers gave their respective versions of the +occurrences at the camp; Captain Essex giving a +very clear and detailed account of the movements of +the 24th Regiment.</p> + +<p>The proceedings were forwarded on the 29th, with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_314"></a>[314]</span> +these remarks: “The court has examined and recorded +the statements of the chief witnesses.</p> + +<p>“The copy of proceedings forwarded was made by a +confidential clerk of the Royal Engineers.</p> + +<p>“The court has refrained from giving an opinion, as +instructions on this point were not given to it.”</p> + +<p>The proceedings were forwarded from Durban to the +Secretary of State for War on February 8th by Lord +Chelmsford, who said: “The court has very properly +abstained from giving an opinion, and I myself refrain +also from making any observations, or from drawing any +conclusions from the evidence therein recorded.”</p> + +<p>He regrets that more evidence has not been taken, +and has directed his military secretary “to append a +statement of the facts which came under his cognizance +on the day in question.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] p. 80).</span></p> + +<p>On this officer’s “statement” some remarks have +been made in the previous chapter; and we must now +quote one or two passages from the public prints, which +appeared when Colonel Harness’s share in the proceedings +of the 22nd January first came to light.</p> + +<p><cite>The Daily News</cite> of April 8th, referring to this episode +and the court of inquiry, says: “Lord Chelmsford seems +to have been as unfortunate in the selection of his staff-officers +as he was in everything else.”</p> + +<p>Lieut.-Colonel Crealock’s “statement” is stigmatised +as “palpably written to establish a preconceived +theory;” and <cite>The Daily News</cite> says most justly that +“Colonel Harness should not have sat as member of the +court of inquiry. How it could have been supposed +that an officer who had taken so prominent a part in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_315"></a>[315]</span> +the doings of the 22nd January was a fit and suitable +member of a court assembled even to take evidence +merely, is more than we can understand. Besides, the +very fact of his being a member, we are told, precluded +Colonel Harness from giving his own valuable evidence.”</p> + +<p><cite>The Natal Witness</cite> of May 29th, 1879, makes some +reflections on the same subject, which are very pertinent. +We need not repeat its criticisms on the court of +inquiry, etc. but it says: “It is notorious that certain +members of Lord Chelmsford’s staff—there is no need +to mention any name or names—came down to ’Maritzburg +after the disaster, prepared to make Colonel +Durnford bear the whole responsibility, and that it +was upon their representations that the High Commissioner’s +telegram about ‘poor Durnford’s misfortune’ +was sent.”</p> + +<p>How a court of inquiry, assembled without the +power, apparently, of asking a single question, was to +throw much light on the causes of the disaster, does not +appear. Its scope was limited to the doings at the +camp; and under any circumstances it could not well +criticise the faults of the General. The proceedings of +this court of inquiry can therefore only be considered +as eminently unsatisfactory.</p> + +<p>We might here leave this painful subject, were it not +for the undisguised attempts that have been made to +throw the blame on the dead.</p> + +<p>In considering the question of blame, we must first +put before us the circumstances in which the camp +defenders found themselves when they were required +“to defend the camp.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_316"></a>[316]</span></p> + +<p>Now the orders given to Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine are +stated by Major Clery, senior staff-officer of No. 3 +Column, thus:—</p> + +<p>“Before leaving the camp I sent written instructions +to Colonel Pulleine, 24th Regiment, to the following +effect: ‘You will be in command of the camp during +the absence of Colonel Glyn; draw in (I speak from +memory) your camp, or your line of defence’—I am not +certain which—‘while the force is out; also draw in the +line of your infantry outposts accordingly, but keep +your cavalry vedettes still far advanced.’ I told him to +have a waggon ready loaded with ammunition ready to +follow the force going out at a moment’s notice, if +required. I went to Colonel Pulleine’s tent just before +leaving camp to ascertain that he had got these instructions, +and again repeated them verbally to him.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2260] p. 81).</span></p> + +<p>As regards the force left to defend the camp, there +were no instructions to form a defensive post; the +General did not think it necessary, though to him was +the almost prescient remark made: “We should be all +right if we only had a laager.” He saw no danger; he +was about to move his camp on, and a laager would be +useless work, so he put the suggestion on one side with +the remark: “It would take a week to make.” Thus +Lieut.-Colonel Pulleine was left, and he had no reason +to anticipate danger, till, almost without a moment’s +warning, he found the camp threatened by an overwhelming +force; he then, after trying in vain to check +the enemy’s right, endeavoured to hold the donga and +broken ground close in front of the camp, where his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_317"></a>[317]</span> +men found some cover; the camp itself being absolutely +indefensible.<a id="FNanchor_150" href="#Footnote_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> Colonel Durnford, as we have seen, +reached the camp about 10.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, before which time +Major Chard says: “The troops were in column ... out +of camp,” and he saw Zulus “on the crest of the +distant hills,” and several parties moving to the left +towards Rorke’s Drift. Colonel Durnford takes out his +mounted men to (as he thinks) assist his General, and to +see what the enemy is about.[B]</p> + +<p>Again, some assert that the action was brought about +by Colonel Durnford’s Native Horse in the Ingqutu Hills. +Even had it been so, yet this officer’s duty distinctly +was to feel and reconnoitre the enemy.<a id="FNanchor_151" href="#Footnote_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a> When the Zulu +army moved forward to the attack, he, with his handful +of men, fell slowly back, gaining all the time possible for +the camp defenders.</p> + +<p>Taking the whole of the circumstances of the day, +we may conclude that, had the enemy remained hidden +on the 22nd, we should probably have lost the entire +column instead of part; but the account given by an +English Officer with one of the troops that first saw the +enemy, and other accounts from Zulus, seem to make it +clear that the Zulus were moving on the camp when +they came in contact with the horsemen. That they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_318"></a>[318]</span> +had no intention of remaining hidden is shown by their +unconcealed movements on the hills throughout the +morning.<a id="FNanchor_152" href="#Footnote_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a></p> + +<p>Now, whether these defenders did or did not take +the best measures “to defend the camp” when it was +attacked, the primary causes of the disaster were +undoubtedly these:</p> + +<p>1. The fatal position selected for the camp, and the +total absence of any defensive precautions.</p> + +<p>2. The absence of systematic scouting, whereby an +army of upwards of 20,000 Zulus was enabled to approach +Isandhlwana on the 21st, and remained unobserved till the +22nd, although their mounted scouts were actually seen +by the General and staff on the 21st, watching <em>them</em>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_319"></a>[319]</span></p> + +<p>3. The subdivision of the force, and the absence of +proper communications by signalling or otherwise.</p> + +<p>4. The neglect of warnings given by the events of +the day, and messages from the camp; also the withdrawal +of a force actually on the march to the relief of +the camp.</p> + +<p>For these principal causes of the disaster, none of +those who fell were responsible.</p> + +<p>That Lord Chelmsford was shaken by the tragic +events of January is evident from his letter to the Secretary +of State for War, dated “Durban, Natal, February 9th, +1879,” and which ran as follows: “I consider it my +duty to lay before you my opinion that it is very +desirable, in view of future contingencies, that an officer +of the rank of major-general shall be sent out to South +Africa without delay. In June last I mentioned privately +to His Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief +that the strain of prolonged anxiety and +exertion, physical and mental, was even then telling on +me. What I felt then, I feel still more now. His +Excellency Sir Bartle Frere concurs in this representation, +and pointed out to me that the officer selected should be +fitted to succeed him in his position of High Commissioner. +In making this representation, I need not assure you +that it will be my earnest desire to carry on my duties +for Her Majesty’s service up to the fullest extent of my +powers.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] p. 79).</span></p> + +<p>The exact meaning of this letter has never been made +clear. No doubt Lord Chelmsford was feeling “the strain +of prolonged anxiety and exertion, physical and mental,” +but His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief said<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_320"></a>[320]</span> +that he had no previous knowledge of it. Students of +Greek history will note the striking parallelism of this +case with that of Nicias, who, when commanding before +Syracuse in the year 414 <span class="allsmcap">B.C.</span>, applied to be superseded. +“Such was the esteem which the Athenians felt for this +union of good qualities, purely personal and negative, +with eminent station, that they presumed the higher +aptitudes of command,” and “the general vote was one +not simply imputing no blame, but even pronouncing +continued and unabated confidence.”—Grote’s “History +of Greece.”</p> + +<p>But of all the strange and incomprehensible circumstances +connected with that sad time, the one which +struck Natal as the strangest was the utter desertion of +the battle-field and the long neglect of the dead who +lay there. On the 4th February Major Black, 2-24th +Regiment, with a small party, found the bodies of +Lieutenants Melville and Coghill about 300 yards from +the river on the Natal side, near the Fugitives’ Drift, +and they were buried on the spot, the colours which +they had striven to save being found in the river, +and returned next day to the Regiment at Helpmakaar.</p> + +<p>The fatal field of Isandhlwana was not again seen till +the 14th March, when Major Black, 2-24th, with a +small mounted party, paid a flying visit to the spot, +a few shots only being fired at them from a distance. +No attempt was made to bury the dead, and until the +21st of May that ghastly field remained as it was left +on the 23rd of January, although there does not appear +to have been any period since the disaster when a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_321"></a>[321]</span> +moderate force might not with perfect safety have done +all that was necessary.</p> + +<p>On the morning after the return of Colonel Glyn’s +Column to Rorke’s Drift, “Commandant Lonsdale +mustered the Contingent and called out the indunas, +and told them in the hearing of all that he wanted to +find out the men who were courageous and would stand +by their officers and die with them if necessary, and +that those who were willing to do this were to come +forward. At this time the mounted infantry and +volunteers were moving off to Helpmakaar. The +general reply of the Contingent was that they were +willing to go over to fight along with the white people, +their shield against Cetywayo; but that now that they +saw their shield going away they would not go over by +themselves, and that no one could say he was not +afraid.”<a id="FNanchor_153" href="#Footnote_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a></p> + +<p>“They were then dismissed, but in the afternoon +they were all disarmed (of their guns), and their belts +and puggaries and blankets taken from them by +their officers. Each company had a flag, which they +asked to take home with them; some were allowed to +do so, but others were not. They were then all told +to go home, and to keep together till they reached the +Umsinga, and then to divide each for his own home.”</p> + +<p>On January 24th, Colonel Glyn wrote to Lord +Chelmsford: “The whole of the Native Contingent walked +off this morning. Their rifles were taken from them; +all the hospital-bearers then went, and now the Native +Pioneers are going. I am now left without any natives.”<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_322"></a>[322]</span> +The General immediately forwarded Colonel Glyn’s +letter to Sir Henry Bulwer, with the remark: “Unless +these men are at once ordered back to their regiments, +or punished for refusing to go, the most serious +consequences will ensue” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 3).</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer very properly abstained from +taking any strong measures as to punishing the men +until he had inquired into the causes which led to their +desertion. Eventually, indeed, he discovered that most +of them had not deserted at all, but had been disbanded +by their leader, Commandant Lonsdale. But meanwhile +there was a great deal to be said, and on January 29th +Sir Henry writes, pointing out that “the great disaster +which happened to our force at Isandhlwana Camp on +the 22nd inst., the circumstances under which these men +passed the night of the 22nd, and the retirement of the +remainder of the column on Rorke’s Drift and back into +Natal, were all calculated to have their effect on the +natives who belonged to this column;” and proceeds: +“I am told, too, that whilst the European force at +Rorke’s Drift on the night of the 23rd were entrenched, +the Native Contingent was not entrenched; and further +I am told that, on an alarm being given that night, the +European officers and non-commissioned officers who +were with the Native Contingent left their men and took +refuge within the entrenchments. On the following +morning, the 24th, the General and his staff left the +camp; and this circumstance, those acquainted with +the native character tell me, may very probably have +had a further depressing effect upon the natives.”—(P. +P. [C. 2318] p. 4).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_323"></a>[323]</span></p> + +<p>On February 7th, Sir Henry Bulwer writes again +that he has received answers from the magistrates whom +he had directed to make inquiries into the causes of the +dispersion of the men. These reports speak of the +cheerful spirit and loyal tone of the chiefs, and of very +many of the men having reported themselves to their +magistrates on their return from the front. The accounts +given by the different magistrates are unanimous as to +the causes of the dispersion. Some of the men declared +that officers of the Contingent told them to return home +and await further orders, as provisions were short; +others, to use their own words, said: “We saw that +the Government was driven out of Zululand, and the +wind blew us back also.” They thought also that the +Commander-in-Chiefs hasty departure from Rorke’s +Drift was a flight from the enemy. Another reason +for their retreat, and to them a very strong one, was the +necessity of going home and performing the rights of +purifying after shedding blood.<a id="FNanchor_154" href="#Footnote_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> It was also stated +that some of them were led by their officers in their +retreat. Others saw their officers killed, were left +without control, and fled. Their friends were now +laughing at them, and they were eager to return to +the front under proper guidance.</p> + +<p>These, indeed, were ample explanations for the fact +of the dispersion of the 3rd Regiment Natal Native +Contingent, but they were followed by many and serious +complaints, made by the men and reported by the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_324"></a>[324]</span> +magistrates, of the manner in which the former had +been treated since the campaign began. These complaints +comprised insufficiency of food, floggings for +disobedience to orders which they had either never +heard, or had not understood, and bad officers.<a id="FNanchor_155" href="#Footnote_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> These +were the most important items, the rest referring to +their preference for their own methods of fighting, to +which, as we have already shown, there were the +strongest objections.</p> + +<p>These reports referred solely to the contingent +attached to Colonel Glyn’s column, with the exception +of one, which was concerning the remnant of the Zikali +men, escaped from Isandhlwana.</p> + +<p>It was finally decided that the men of the contingents +belonging to No. 1 Column might “be allowed +to leave in batches, but they must be made to understand +that they are required for the defence of Natal.” +<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2260] p. 22.)</span> The contingent forming No. 2 +Column remained steadily serving throughout the war. +Major Bengough’s battalion had a narrow escape of +sharing in the disaster of Isandhlwana, and the men +were somewhat shaken and disheartened at seeing the +contingent of No. 3 Column dispersing; but this ill-effect +soon passed away.</p> + +<p>Colonel Pearson’s remarks on the company of Native +Pioneers belonging to his column are concise and valuable. +He says: “The men worked cheerfully. They +had eyes like hawks, and they did all their scouting to +perfection. It convinced me that the Natal Zulus, under +proper management, would make excellent troops.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_325"></a>[325]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SIKUKUNI.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">We have already, in a previous chapter, explained +the circumstances which led to the war between +the Transvaal Boers and Sikukuni, independent chief +of a mixed race of natives commonly called the +<em>Makatisi</em>, more properly the <em>Bapedi</em>, tribe. The immediate +cause of the war was a border dispute between +some of the gradually encroaching Boer farmers and +the natives whom they had displaced, which ended in +the latter taking possession of some cattle belonging to +the former.</p> + +<p>This affair took place during a temporary absence +of Mr. Burgers (then President of the Republic), who, +on his return, demanded the cattle at the hands of +Sikukuni, and the restraint of his people within the +limits assigned to them by their Boer neighbours. +Sikukuni expressed his willingness to make the required +restitution, but took the opportunity of reminding the +President that he laid claim to a considerable piece of +territory already occupied by Boers, to whom he denied +having ever willingly relinquished it. This reply was +the signal for a declaration of war against Sikukuni on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_326"></a>[326]</span> +the part of the President and Volksraad, and a large +“commando,” or volunteer force, was called out to +attack him early in July, 1876.</p> + +<p>This force, consisting of some 3000 Boers and over +4000 of their Swazi allies, made its way through the +country, ravaging and destroying as it went, until it +reached the famous stronghold known as “Sikukuni’s +Town,” upon which it made an unsuccessful night attack, +on August 2nd.</p> + +<p>A single reverse was sufficient to dishearten the +gallant Boers, who immediately discovered various +reasons which made their return to their homes +absolutely necessary. The commando dispersed, leaving +a force of volunteers composed of stray Englishmen, +Germans, and half-bred natives to occupy a couple of +posts (Fort Burgers and Fort Weber), which they built +for the purpose. From these posts they carried on a +system of raiding expeditions upon Sikukuni’s people, +which effectually prevented the cultivation of their land, +and finally produced a scarcity of food amongst them. +This state of things was too harassing to last, and +Sikukuni sued for peace, which was granted him early +in 1877, conditionally upon his paying a heavy fine in +cattle.</p> + +<p>A month later, and before the fine had been paid, +Sir T. Shepstone had annexed the Transvaal, and, as we +have already described, took over, with the country, its +quarrels and demands. He tried to enforce the fine +imposed by the late Boer Government upon Sikukuni, +while remitting the war-tax levied upon the whites. +After having been subjected to so long a course of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_327"></a>[327]</span> +marauding on the part of the Dutch, it is not impossible +that the chief really had some difficulty in procuring, at +a moment’s notice, the 2000 head of cattle demanded by +Sir T. Shepstone.<a id="FNanchor_156" href="#Footnote_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> At all events, the fine was not paid +so promptly as the administrator expected; and the +whole country being in an unsettled condition, perpetual +disturbances still took place between Sikukuni’s people +and the border farmers, and also between the former and +petty chiefs who had placed themselves under British +protection.</p> + +<p>The most restless of the independent native rulers +seems to have been a woman, Legolwana, a sister of +Sikukuni’s, who had her own clan, and whose head-quarters +was a mountain stronghold, called Masellaroon. +In February, 1878, her people had a quarrel (nor was it +for the first time) with a neighbouring native chief under +our rule, from whom they took some cattle. Whether +or no there were two sides to the question, the despoiled +chief was our subject, and it so happened that Legolwana’s +people were met in the act of driving off the cattle by a +patrol of Transvaal volunteers, who promptly interfered. +This occurrence led to a general outbreak of hostilities. +Legolwana’s men attacked the two forts simultaneously, +and the officers in command, Captain Clarke and +Lieutenant Eckersley, with their men, escaped from them, +and retired to Lydenburg. From thence Captain Clarke +sent embassies to the Swazi king and another independent +chief, asking for assistance against Sikukuni.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_328"></a>[328]</span> +His invitations, however, were politely declined, the +chiefs in question not caring to interfere, although +wishing to remain upon friendly terms with the English.</p> + +<p>Having obtained reinforcements from the gold-fields +and Pretoria, Captain Clarke marched back to Fort +Weber, and re-occupied it with a force consisting of +40 mounted volunteers under Captains Van Deventer +and Ferreira, 150 Natal Zulus under Lieutenants Lloyd +and Dacomb, and 300 Bechuanas under Mr. Tainton.</p> + +<p>Captain Clarke’s first intentions were to attack +Legolwana and reduce her to submission. Captain +Lacon Hervey, 71st Regiment, gives the following +description of her stronghold in his account of “The +Secocœni War”:</p> + +<p>“The town, or kraal, of Legolani consisted of a +number of straw and wattle-and-daub huts, beehive-shaped, +situated at the base and on the terraces of a +mountain of rocks and huge boulders 700 feet high, +covered over with thick clumps of bush. The huts +at the base of the mountain were surrounded by an +impenetrable hedge of prickly pear; a single entrance, +barricaded with timber, led through an avenue of prickly +pear and cactus into the group of huts surrounded by +palisading, wattle screens, and stone walls. Each group +of huts was commanded by the rocks above; from behind +these a direct, flanking, and enfilade fire could be poured +on the attacking party, which, on account of the intricacy +of the ground, would be compelled to advance in single +file along the tortuous goat-paths leading up to the +mountain. In addition to the cover afforded by the +caves and fissures in the rocks, schanzes, or low stone<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_329"></a>[329]</span> +walls, were built up wherever favourable positions +with safe means of retreat presented themselves. The +paths leading from one rock entrenchment, or terrace, +to the one above it, were so concealed by rock and bush +as to be difficult to find. Finally, the Kafirs’ most +valued treasure, the cattle, was placed on the summit +of the mountain, on a level plot of ground, surrounded +by a stone wall.”</p> + +<p>This stronghold was attacked by Captain Clarke’s +orders on the 5th April, and, “after about two hours’ +sharp work, the north of the hill was carried.”<a id="FNanchor_157" href="#Footnote_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> The +fighting force, not being sufficient to complete its work, +was ordered to withdraw, after having swept all the +cattle from that side of the hill (277 head of cattle and +211 sheep and goats). A considerable number of +Legolwana’s people are supposed to have fallen in this +assault, the loss on our side being 10 killed and 12 +wounded, amongst the latter Captain Van Deventer +slightly, and Lieutenant Lloyd severely. These two +officers are reported as having led the attack with great +gallantry.</p> + +<p>The partial success gained by the storming of Masellaroon +(with the loss of life on our side—considerable +under the circumstances) was not such as to encourage +Captain Clarke in the tactics with which he had commenced +his operations. He therefore abandoned all idea +of seizing the native strongholds, and “established a +cordon of forts, about twelve miles from each other ... +with a view of harassing the Kafirs by preventing them +from cultivating the Indian corn.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_330"></a>[330]</span></p> + +<p>“Legolwana had sued for peace, but Captain Clarke +would not listen to anything except unconditional +surrender, with the guarantee that all life should be +spared.”<a id="FNanchor_158" href="#Footnote_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a></p> + +<p>Thus, with the usual notion that “no terms can be +made with savages,” which has again and again produced +such disastrous consequences for them and for us, a system +of petty warfare was kept up, tedious, unnecessary, and +by which no good could be done nor honour gained. To +the volunteers, many of whom, says Captain Harvey, +were “gentlemen by birth and education,” there may +have been some amusement in what that officer speaks +of as “actions of daring individual enterprise,” and which +he describes as follows: “Volunteers went out and lay +ambuscades at night, to surprise and cut off Kafirs proceeding +from kraal to kraal, or to cultivate their fields, +and ‘cattle-lifting’ expeditions were planned and boldly +carried out;” but the life must have become monotonous +in the extreme before July, when the native auxiliaries +became so discontented with it that some of them were +allowed to return to their homes, while a troop of +mounted infantry was summoned from Pretoria to keep +order amongst those who remained.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that Colonel Rowlands, V.C., +came upon the scene. This excellent officer, of whose +services in 1878-79 so little mention has been made, was +sent out on “special service,” and was for a short time +attached to the staff of Lord Chelmsford (then General +Thesiger) during the Kaffrarian war. He was subsequently +sent by the High Commissioner to Pretoria,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_331"></a>[331]</span> +which he reached on May 6th. He employed the two +following months in an inspection of the northern and +eastern frontiers of the Transvaal,<a id="FNanchor_159" href="#Footnote_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> and by dint of considerable +personal exertion was enabled to supply +valuable information to head-quarters. Towards the end +of July, Colonel Rowlands was appointed Commandant +of the Transvaal. At this time the regular forces in the +Transvaal consisted only of the 13th Light Infantry, a +few engineers, and departmental staff—quite inadequate +for the work required of them; but the Commander-in-Chief, +in signifying his approval of the manner in which +Colonel Rowlands proposed to distribute the troops +already under his command, informed him that he was +about to reinforce the Transvaal with the 80th Regiment +and Frontier Light Horse, with a view to active +operations against Sikukuni.</p> + +<p>The promised reinforcements arrived by degrees from +Natal, and meanwhile there were Pretoria, Middleburg, +Lydenburg, and Standerton, where considerable stores of +ammunition, etc. were collected, to be garrisoned, as +well as the cordon of forts, already mentioned, along +the Leolu Mountains, which left no large proportion of +the troops—about 800 of the 13th, and under 300 +volunteers and Zulu police—for service in the field.</p> + +<p>However, by the 29th August Colonel Rowlands +found himself in a position to leave Pretoria for the +confines of the Transvaal, and reached Fort Weber on +the 13th September. From thence to Fort Burgers was +a long and tedious march through a difficult and trackless +country. The column was forced to make its own<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_332"></a>[332]</span> +road as it went, and had several skirmishes with +Sikukuni’s people <i lang="fr">en route</i>. Reinforced by the Frontier +Light Horse under Major Buller, and a party under +Major Russell from Pretoria, Colonel Rowlands at last +reached Fort Burgers, and, after a few days’ halt for +repairs, patrolling, and scouting the country, recommenced +his march towards “Sikukuni’s Town,” distant +about twenty-five miles.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd October he advanced with 338 mounted +men (Mounted Infantry, Frontier Light Horse, and +Transvaal Volunteers), 130 infantry, and 2 7-pounder +mountain guns; his intention being to establish himself +before Sikukuni’s town, thoroughly reconnoitre it, and, +should he find that there was a chance of success, and +that the position could be afterwards held, to attack it +when he had brought up reinforcements.</p> + +<p>The position was one of extreme difficulty, greatly +increased by the singular drought which was experienced +at the time, both in the Transvaal and Natal.</p> + +<p>From Fort Burgers to Sikukuni’s Town, the approach +lay chiefly through a defile commanded by “kopjes” +(piles of rock and boulders, often some hundred feet in +height), of which the enemy did not fail to take advantage. +The weather was intensely hot, the thermometer +standing daily at over 100 in the shade, and the unusual +drought had dried up the springs and small watercourses +to an extent previously unknown.</p> + +<p>The camp was fired into on the night before the force +sighted Sikukuni’s Town, but from a considerable distance, +causing no damage beyond one horse wounded, and a +general stampede of the slaughter cattle; a determined<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_333"></a>[333]</span> +advance of the piquets, reinforced by their supports, +quickly driving back the enemy, who did not advance +again.</p> + +<p>The stronghold was sighted upon the following day, +but it soon became apparent to Colonel Rowlands that, +while to attempt its capture with the small force at his +disposal would be a mere reckless sacrifice of the troops +under his command, it was equally impossible to carry +out his original intention of establishing himself before +it, under the existing circumstances of absolute want of +water and forage. Deeply disappointing as was this +discovery, Colonel Rowlands was convinced that his only +course under the circumstances was to retire, and, his +opinion being confirmed by the senior officers present, +he reluctantly commenced his return march on the 6th +October.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by the retreat of the force, the enemy, +now in large numbers, followed and harassed it, almost +until it reached the bivouac, eight miles from Fort Burgers. +Thirteen thousand rounds of ammunition were expended +in keeping off the foe during the march, and both man +and beast suffered severely from want of water and the +intense heat of the sun. The force reached Fort Burgers +the following day, with the loss of 1 man wounded; +5 horses were killed, 10 died of horse sickness, and +4 horses and 1 mule were wounded. Here they +remained for several weeks, in hopes that the summer +rains, which it was natural to expect should fall at this +time of year, would enable them to make a second +advance upon Sikukuni’s Town. Meanwhile mounted +patrols, under Major Buller, Major Russell, Captain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_334"></a>[334]</span> +Clarke, and Lieutenant Eckersley (in command of Swazi +levies), swept the country in every direction, harrying +the natives and capturing their cattle, but without +meeting with any armed opposition. Horse sickness now +set in—that South African scourge, from which the force +had hitherto suffered but slightly, and in single cases, +but which at this time became an epidemic, deaths +occurring daily, sometimes but a few hours after the +animal was attacked by the disease. This unfortunate +circumstance added greatly to the difficulties of the +situation.</p> + +<p>After the retreat of the force from before Sikukuni’s +Town, the enemy made several determined attacks upon +the forts in the Mamalubi Valley, especially upon Fort +Faugh-a-Ballagh; and although these attacks were in +every case successfully resisted, they necessitated the +strengthening of the garrisons of the forts along this +line.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford (then General Thesiger) had previously +given notice to Colonel Rowlands that a column +from the Transvaal, under the command of the latter, +would be required to co-operate with the Ama-Swazi in +the invasion of Zululand. The 13th Regiment, Frontier +Light Horse, and Lieutenant Nicholson’s guns, were all +to be available for that purpose as soon as the Sikukuni +affair (which was then lightly considered) should be +settled. By this arrangement, the 80th Regiment and +volunteers alone were reserved for the defence of the +Transvaal. As the season was now far advanced, +Colonel Rowlands was obliged to make the best arrangements +he could for the defence of the border with the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_335"></a>[335]</span> +force—an absurdly small one, considering the disturbed +state of the country—which would be left after the +withdrawal of those intended by the General for the +Zulu invasion. His chief adviser, Captain Clarke, was +of opinion that a precipitate retirement from the valleys +of the Steelport and Speckboom rivers would be unadvisable. +These valleys contained large numbers of Kafir +gardens, and, by holding them a little later, the natives +would be prevented from sowing their crops for another +season, and starvation would ensue. With this object +in view, Fort Burgers was garrisoned with 100 of +the 13th Regiment, and some 50 mounted volunteers, +while Colonel Rowlands himself retired to Speckboom +Drift, about thirteen miles from Fort Burgers, where he +constructed another fort in such a position as to cover +the junction of four important roadways. Having completed +this work, he determined to attack some native +strongholds in the Steelport Valley, into which he +marched, with 3 guns, 140 mounted men, 340 infantry, +and 250 natives, on the 26th October. Moving before +daybreak the following morning, he commenced the +attack, at 7 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, upon a large kraal, built upon a +mountain spur. Here there was some sharp work, +difficult positions seized, and the valley finally cleared. +Several kraals were burnt, about 12,000 lb. of grain +destroyed, and 100 head of cattle taken. Sixteen of +the enemy were “accounted for,” the loss on the side of +the attacking party being 1 killed and 10 wounded. At +10 o’clock the same morning the Commandant returned +to his camp on the Steelport, and, a few days later, +to the new fort at Speckboom Drift. Despatches from<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_336"></a>[336]</span> +head-quarters awaited him here, instructing him to +withdraw altogether, and as speedily as possible, from +the enemy’s country.</p> + +<p>Arrangements were immediately made for the evacuation +of Fort Burgers, which was the advanced post on +the direct road to Sikukuni’s Town, the withdrawal of +troops and stores being masked by a strong patrol under +Captain Carrington, composed of mounted volunteers and +native foot levies, who were sent, <em>viâ</em> Fort Burgers and +Origstaadt Valley, to the Oliphant River. The head-quarters +of the 13th Regiment (340), Russell’s Mounted +Infantry (63), and Lieutenant Nicholson’s two mountain +guns, left camp for Lydenburg—the whole under the +command of Lieut.-Colonel Gilbert, 13th Light Infantry—immediately; +and in a few days’ time Fort Burgers +was emptied and demolished. Captain Carrington’s patrol +having returned, after capturing 345 head of cattle, and +meeting no enemy except a small guard and the cattle-herds, +Colonel Rowlands marched from Speckboom about +the 7th November, leaving at that fort a sufficient force +to guard the ammunition and stores which remained +there. About thirteen miles from Lydenburg he halted +and constructed a small fort, to cover the principal road +leading to that town, and which he purposed to garrison +with a detachment of volunteers.</p> + +<p>Considerable difficulty was now experienced by +Colonel Rowlands in arranging the small force to be left +at his disposal, so as to efficiently protect the great +length of frontier, extending from Fort Mamalubi (under +the west side of the Leolu range, and about twenty-five +miles from Oliphant’s River) to Kruger’s Post on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_337"></a>[337]</span> +east, besides garrisoning Pretoria, Middleburg, and +Lydenburg, in which were large quantities of supplies +and war <i lang="fr">matériel</i>. His plans were laid with due consideration +for the nature of the country and the enemy, +and after careful consultation with those officers who +were supposed to be most fully acquainted with both. +Nevertheless they did not meet with full approval from +head-quarters, from whence Colonel Rowlands finally +received orders to remain where he was, and be responsible +for the arrangements he had made, instead of proceeding +at the head of No. 5 Column to the eastern border for +the invasion of Zululand, as originally intended. Shortly +afterwards Lieut.-Colonel Gilbert was directed to proceed +with the 13th Light Infantry and Lieutenant Nicholson’s +guns to Derby, Lieut.-Colonel Buller having preceded +him to that place, which was now removed from under +Colonel Rowlands’s command and placed under that of +Colonel Wood.</p> + +<p>The attention of the former officer was now turned +to the disposition of the force that remained to him, and +to the raising of new corps of volunteers and strengthening +those already formed, which he deemed necessary +for the security of the Transvaal. To this work he set +himself with great energy and considerable success, +stifling thereby the disappointment which it was but +natural that he should feel at being excluded from the +Zulu campaign. Towards the close of the month, however, +he received a letter from the General, asking him +to spare two companies of the 80th Regiment to take the +place of the force under Colonel Gilbert, which had been +moved to Luneburg, and which shortly after joined<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_338"></a>[338]</span> +Colonel Wood’s column. Somewhat to his surprise, he +was reminded that Derby was <em>in his command</em>, and was +told that the General commanding would be glad if he +would proceed there in person to <em>reassure the Swazis</em>. +That same day the two companies of the 80th, under +Major Creagh, were put in orders to march as directed, +and Colonel Rowlands followed a week later, leaving the +forces defending the northern border under the able +command of Major Carrington, who, however, took such +instructions from Captain Clarke as he considered +necessary to give as Commissioner of that district under +His Excellency the Administrator of the Transvaal.</p> + +<p>At Derby there was, not unnaturally, some slight +confusion owing to this double appointment of officers +in command; but having overcome this difficulty, Colonel +Rowlands set himself seriously to consider the situation, +which was by no means a promising one. A force +composed of two companies of Europeans and 250 +natives, collected from the neighbouring country, was +clearly useless for any aggressive purposes, while the +Swazis, though ready and willing to co-operate with an +English force large enough to support them, were +evidently far from satisfied with the number collected +at Derby. That town, or hamlet rather, consisting of +but two houses in point of fact, is situated from twenty +to five-and-twenty miles from the Zulu border of a part +of Zululand peopled by some of the most warlike tribes +of that nation, and so small a garrison as the above did +but invite attack and disaster. Upon these considerations +Colonel Rowlands determined to reinforce himself +from Pretoria and Lydenburg. He sent instructions<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_339"></a>[339]</span> +to Major Tyler, 80th Regiment, to send him three +companies of the 80th, two Armstrong guns, and a +troop of Weatherley’s Border Horse, but directing him +to consult the colonial authorities as to whether the +troops could be safely spared, before complying with the +order.</p> + +<p>At this time, about the middle of January, the +Zulus throughout this northern and thickly-populated +part of the country were perfectly quiet and even +friendly. There was still a possibility that the difficulty +between their king and the English might be settled +without bloodshed, and the people were evidently +anxious to avoid giving cause of offence. Colonel +Rowlands, who employed his time while waiting for his +reinforcements (which would take some weeks to arrive) +in reconnoitring the country, found the roads open +and the inhabitants inoffensive. At this period he also +attempted to organise a frontier force of farmers—Englishmen, +Boers, and Germans—whom he summoned +to a meeting for consideration of the question. From +fifty to sixty attended, and, after hearing his address, +their spokesman responded to the effect that they were +willing to take service for the defensive object proposed, +but that it was to be clearly understood that by uniting +themselves to a common protective cause (course?), they +did not thereby acknowledge allegiance to the British +crown. But a committee, subsequently formed to consider +details connected with the proposed force, fell out +amongst themselves, and the scheme was abandoned.</p> + +<p>On the 26th January, Colonel Rowlands received +from Sir T. Shepstone the news of the disaster at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_340"></a>[340]</span> +Isandhlwana; and from this time nothing but contradictory +orders and impossible commands seem to have +reached him at his distant post. He heard of the troops +he had intended for special purposes being ordered elsewhere; +he was directed by Lord Chelmsford to take +orders from his junior, Colonel Wood; he received +different instructions, entirely opposed to each other, +concerning the calling out of the Swazi allies; nevertheless, +in spite of the confusion which reigned at that +unhappy epoch, he kept his head, and went steadily on +with the plans he had formed. By the second week in +February he had, with some difficulty, collected a force +of something under a thousand Europeans and natives, +and was prepared to operate. It seemed, however, +impossible to get any distinct orders or definite instructions +from those in command, either military or civil; and +representations having been made to him by the border +Boers that a Zulu impi was about to attack them from +the Tolaka Mountains, he marched out with a portion of +his force in that direction, leaving Major Tucker (80th) +in command of the rest. While halted at the Assegai +River upon this expedition, he received a despatch from +Colonel Wood, requesting him to march his force from +Derby to Luneburg to his support. Sending a note to +Major Tucker, directing him to start for Luneburg next +morning, he continued his march, attacked and took +the Tolaka Mountain, and then proceeded towards +Luneburg with his own force. He was now about +eighteen miles from where his head-quarters camp under +Major Tucker would be, with a broken and hilly country +to pass through, over which he had great difficulty in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_341"></a>[341]</span> +conveying his wounded (fortunately but few), and the +captured women and children. These captives were, on +this account, offered their freedom, but refused to accept +it, which, perhaps, was not unnatural, seeing that their +homes and crops were destroyed, and they had no longer +any means of livelihood.</p> + +<p>The force passed through the Intombi Valley, laying +the country waste for miles on either side of the road as +it went, and met on its way messengers from Colonel +Wood, requesting the immediate presence of the mounted +corps. But upon the 23rd February, Colonel Rowlands +received a memorandum to the effect that the Lieut.-General, +by desire of the High Commissioner, wished +him to proceed at once back to Pretoria, to prepare +some defence against the Boers, who had assumed a +threatening attitude. Upon the receipt of this order +he quitted the Luneburg district, and arrived on the +6th of March at the capital of the Transvaal. Here +there were but 200 infantry and some few mounted +volunteers; but by Colonel Rowlands’s exertions the +number was soon swelled to 600 or 700, by the addition +of city corps and other volunteers.</p> + +<p>A considerable number of Boers who had never +willingly accepted the annexation of their country by +the English, had taken the opportunity, offered by the +general confusion which reigned after the disaster of the +22nd January, of endeavouring to regain the independence +of their state. Mass meetings were held to +discuss the subject, and finally a large body of armed +men formed a camp at no great distance from Pretoria. +The situation appeared a very serious one; and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_342"></a>[342]</span> +High Commissioner himself travelled to Pretoria to +endeavour by his honeyed words to calm an agitation +which might prove so singularly inconvenient should +the angry feelings of the indignant Boers find vent in +blows. On the 12th of April, just two years from the +day of the annexation, Sir B. Frere met a deputation of +the Transvaal farmers at Erasmus Spruit, about six miles +from Pretoria, and held a long discussion with them +upon the subject of their rights and wrongs. They +repeatedly and plainly asserted that Sir T. Shepstone +had coerced the people into submission by threatening +them with the Zulus, and declared unanimously that +nothing would satisfy them but the recovery of their +liberties. Sir Bartle Frere gave them to understand +in return that this was the only thing for which they +might not hope. He assured them that he looked upon +the <i lang="nl">voortrekkers</i> as an honour to their race, and that +he felt proud to belong to the same stock. The Queen, +he told them, felt for them “as for her own children;”<a id="FNanchor_160" href="#Footnote_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> +and he hoped to tell her that she had “no better subjects +in her empire,” than amongst them. The committee, however, +retired in complete dissatisfaction, and addressed a +petition to Her Majesty, in which they remark, “unwilling +subjects but faithful neighbours we will be;” and more +than hint that they are prepared to “draw the sword” +to prove how much they are in earnest. The excitement, +however, calmed down for the time being, and Sir Bartle +Frere departed.</p> + +<p>During his stay in Pretoria, he desired Colonel Rowlands +to make preparations to resume hostilities against<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_343"></a>[343]</span> +Sikukuni, and accordingly, by the end of May, that +officer had increased the number of his mounted volunteers +by 450. He then made a vain attempt to induce +Lord Chelmsford to spare him another regiment of +regular troops; but finding that this was decidedly refused, +and that no operations were likely to take place in the +Transvaal for some time, he accepted the General’s offer +of a brigade in the lower column.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley at Port Durnford, +he applied to that general for the command in case +operations should be resumed in the Transvaal. To this +he had a strong claim, both on account of his experience +and of his laborious services there; but the request was +refused.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_344"></a>[344]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">NO. 4 COLUMN—INTOMBI—INDHLOBANE—KAMBULA—KING’S +MESSENGERS.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">On January 6th, No. 4 Column, under Colonel Wood, +V.C., C.B.—strength previously detailed—crossed the +Blood River (the Zulu boundary according to the award +of the Commission) and advanced to Bemba’s Kop.</p> + +<p>On the 11th, Colonel Wood met the General halfway +to Rorke’s Drift, and received instructions “to +occupy himself with the tribes on his front and left +flank, notably Seketwayo,” until No. 3 Column was +ready to advance to Isipezi Hill, when he was to proceed +to Ingwe, both columns to establish advanced depôts, +bring up supplies, and then move forward. Colonel +Wood induced the Zulu chief Bemba to give up his +arms and come in, which he did on the 10th, bringing +with him about eighty of his people and 1000 head of +cattle, sheep, and goats; they were sent to Utrecht.</p> + +<p>On the 11th, Colonel Wood, who had advanced with +a portion of the force from Bemba’s Kop towards Rorke’s +Drift to meet the General on his return march, seized +about 2000 head of cattle, the owners of which were<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_345"></a>[345]</span> +quietly tending them as usual (these were supposed to +be Sihayo’s), and next day attacked a petty chief, who +was said to have “given considerable trouble to the +Transvaal farmers”, with the result of seven Zulus +killed and upwards of 500 head of cattle captured.</p> + +<p>Some 2000 to 3000 head of cattle were also taken +from the Sondolosi tribe,<a id="FNanchor_161" href="#Footnote_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> a slight resistance being +offered by the Zulus, of whom one was killed. Colonel +Wood <em>thus</em> endeavoured to induce Seketwayo’s people +to be pacified, and was “therefore most anxious to +refrain from taking any steps which might discourage +these men from coming in!”</p> + +<p>The General, on entering Zululand, finding the +difficulties greater than he had anticipated, instructed +Colonel Wood “to act altogether independently, about +the head waters of the White Umveloosi River” +(16th January, 1879), and when Seketwayo had either +surrendered or been defeated, to “take up a position +covering Utrecht and the adjacent Transvaal border, +wherever he considers his force can be most usefully +employed,” and not to “attempt to advance towards +the Inhlazatye Mountain until an advance by the other +three columns across the Umhlatoozi River has become +possible.” <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2252] p. 63.)</span> Colonel Wood, from +Bemba’s Kop, communicated with Uhamo—a brother of +Cetshwayo—who had asked for a way to be pointed out +by which he might escape.</p> + +<p>No. 4 Column now moved towards Intemgeni River, +and encamped there on 18th January, Colonel Wood +reporting “many of the natives are giving themselves<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_346"></a>[346]</span> +up to me; I have captured about 4000 head of cattle.” On +the previous day a party of Wood’s “irregulars” attacked +some Zulus, killing 9, wounding about 20, and taking +5 prisoners and 100 sheep; with a loss to themselves +of 2 wounded (<i>ibid.</i> p. 66). On the 19th and 20th +there were skirmishes with some of Tinta’s people, of +whom about 12 were killed. A prisoner was brought in +by the Native Contingent on the 19th, whom they +gravely asked permission to kill in the evening, “thinking +they had done their whole duty in obeying orders +and bringing the man in.”</p> + +<p>The column encamped at Tinta’s kraal, on the left +bank of the Umvolosi River, and a stone fort was commenced. +A reconnaissance across the Umvolosi to +Zinguni Mountain met the Zulus in force, and was +compelled to retire with a loss of two wounded, the +enemy not being checked until the river was recrossed. +January 22nd, the Zinguni Mountain was patrolled by a +strong force, the enemy retiring hastily, and leaving +about 600 head of cattle. In the distance a large force, +estimated at 4000, was seen, and it apparently ascended +the Indhlobane Mountain. The column had a smart +engagement with the enemy on the 24th, and drove +them off with a loss of about fifty killed; but on receiving +intelligence of the disaster to No. 3 Column, retired +to Fort Tinta.</p> + +<p>At Luneburg a laager was formed by the Dutch +farmers, under Commandant Schermbrucker, and Colonel +Wood moved his force to Kambula Hill, to cover Utrecht +and the neighbouring border, and there firmly entrenched +himself. The situation chosen was a commanding and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_347"></a>[347]</span> +central position between the Umvolosi and Pevana +rivers on the Jagt-pad (Hunter’s path), covering the +country northward to Luneburg, eastward to the Amaqulusi, +southward to the Umvolosi, and westward to +Balte’s Spruit and Utrecht.</p> + +<p>The Zulus abandoned the open, and remained in the +mountains and broken country, where rocks and caves +afforded them secure positions.</p> + +<p>On February 1st, Lieut.-Colonel Buller, with 140 +irregular cavalry, made a dash at the Amaqulisini (or +Amaqulusi) kraal, thirty miles distant. This was a +military stronghold, deemed by the Boers to be impregnable. +It was situated in a basin at a distance of +nearly two miles from the summit of the rugged heights +by which it was surrounded, and almost hidden from +view, although about 300 yards in diameter and containing +at least 250 huts.</p> + +<p>Leaving thirty men as a covering party, Colonel +Buller moved with the remainder down the almost +precipitous slopes, the horsemen frequently obliged to +dismount and lead their horses. However, the kraal +was not occupied in force, and, after a few shots, the +inmates fled. Six Zulus were killed, 270 head of cattle +taken, and the kraal burnt, the force returning from this +daring exploit without casualty, after a hard day’s +work of twenty hours.</p> + +<p>A small fort was finished and armed on February 3rd, +and, on the 10th, Lieut.-Colonel Buller, with 400 irregular +cavalry, reconnoitred the Indhlobane Mountain, +and, after a slight skirmish, captured 490 head of cattle.</p> + +<p>A new fort was commenced at Kambula, about two<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_348"></a>[348]</span> +miles higher up the spur, and the camp moved to this +spot on the 13th, the fort being garrisoned by two +companies of infantry and two guns.</p> + +<p>It was reported that Manyonyoba (an independent +native chief) had been killing and plundering in the +Intombi Valley, so Colonel Buller was sent with a force +to the spot. The Swazi chief Umbilini was also +reported by Commandant <ins class="corr" id="tn-348" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'Schumbrucker'"> +Schermbrucker</ins> to have raided, +in combination with Manyonyoba, and done much mischief +to life and property; however, a force sent from +Luneburg had a successful skirmish with them.</p> + +<p>The king’s brother, Uhamo, came in to Captain +McLeod from the Swazi border with 300 of his people +and 1000 cattle, and reached Derby on February 4th, +his following increased to about 600, and was moved +down to Luneburg, where he arrived on March 7th.</p> + +<p>A sad disaster occurred on the Intombi River to a +detachment of the 80th Regiment on the 12th March. +Captain Moriarty, with 104 men of the 80th, was +escorting a convoy from Derby to Luneburg. On +reaching the Intombi Drift (about four miles from +Luneburg) the river was found to be rising, and by +the time the advanced guard (thirty-five men, under +Lieutenant Harward) had crossed, it was impossible +to take the waggons over. They were therefore +laagered on the river-bank in the shape of a triangle; +and there they remained next day. About 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> on +the 12th a shot was fired, and the troops turned out, +remaining under arms for half an hour, when, all being +quiet, they returned to their tents (it transpired afterwards +that the outlying sentries had been surprised and +killed by the enemy). Suddenly the fog lifted, and a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_349"></a>[349]</span> +large body of Zulus without any warning rushed on and +took the laager, driving the troops into the river. The +party under Lieutenant Harward, which was encamped +on the opposite bank, opened a brisk fire, but were soon +broken, and obliged to fly towards Luneburg; Lieutenant +Harward, galloping in, gave the alarm. Only forty-four +men of this detachment survived.</p> + +<p>Major Tucker sallied out from Luneburg, when the +enemy slowly retreated. The waggons were saved, and +the bodies of Captain Moriarty and his unfortunate +men buried.</p> + +<p>The comparatively quiet time at Kambula was passed +thus: Colonel Wood was up with the first in the early +morning, and often out with the patrols who daily scouted +the country round for miles; his force securely entrenched; +himself a very strict but kind commander, who had the +full confidence and good-will of his troops. Sports were +got up for the amusement and occupation of the men. A +band played in the evening, and the singing and laughter +in camp showed that all were in excellent spirits. The +daily business was cutting wood from the mountain-side +some three miles distant, escorts, patrols, and piquet-duty. +One of the night piquets (eight men) posted at +some distance from camp was termed “the forlorn hope;” +its special duty was to give early warning of an enemy’s +approach. But the most unpleasant feature in this camp-life +was the absence of comfort at night. The troops +necessarily “turned in” dressed, armed, and ready for +instant work, with the <em>personal</em> discomfort illustrated by +this soldier’s joke—that it was “Cetshwayo outside and +Catch-away-o! inside.”</p> + +<p>Lieut.-Colonel Buller, having returned to Kambula,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_350"></a>[350]</span> +patrolled Uhamo’s district, and in the direction of the +Indhlobane range; and on the 16th brought into camp +958 of Uhamo’s people.</p> + +<p>On March 28th, a reconnaissance by the whole +cavalry force was made towards Indhlobane. The Zulus +were in possession of the mountain, which was ascended +in skirmishing order as rapidly as possible, the enemy +keeping up a heavy fire from caves and from behind +huge rocks. The summit was reached with the loss of +one officer—Lieutenant Williams—and serious fighting +was kept up for some time in the endeavour to dislodge +the Zulus from their secure positions. Captain the Hon. +R. Campbell was killed, also Lieutenant von Sticenstron, +and Colonel Wood himself had a very narrow escape.</p> + +<p>Whilst engaged in this struggle a Zulu army was +moving up to seize the approaches to the mountain, and +cut off the force from the camp. Immediately on this +being observed a retreat was made in rapid but good +order, until a very steep and stony krantz was reached, +where the men could only move in single file; here the +enemy got in amongst the troopers, causing utter confusion. +The officers did their best to steady their men, +but it became a case of <i lang="fr">sauve qui peut</i>.</p> + +<p>Captain Barton’s troop was sent down the mountain +to recover the body of Lieutenant Williams, and returned, +having been joined by Mr. Uys. On the flats they +came up with Colonel Weatherley’s troop, and found +the enemy in front and on the right and left. Retreating +a short distance they were surrounded, so, opening +out, they charged through the enemy and over the neck, +which was lined with Zulus. But few were enabled to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_351"></a>[351]</span> +win their way through this perilous pass, and of those +who did many were overtaken and killed on the plain. +Of Captain Barton’s troop but eight men returned to +camp that night.</p> + +<p>The broken force fought its way to the camp, +followed by the enemy for several miles. Many a +man’s life was saved by a comrade halting and taking +him up on his own horse, a personal instance of which +Captain D’Arcy gives. His horse had been killed under +him in the descent of the mountain, and he ran for +his life for some 300 yards, when a man named +Francis caught a horse for him, which, however, he +shortly relinquished to a wounded comrade, running on +himself on foot. Colonel Buller picked him up when +nearly exhausted, but when he recovered his breath he +dismounted; he was a second time in difficulties, and +assisted by Lieutenant Blaine, and again, a third time, +by Major Tremlett, R.A. Indeed, most of the men got +into camp with comrades mounted behind them. The +loss was 12 officers and 84 non-commissioned officers +and men killed, and also Colonel Wood’s staff-officer, +Captain the Hon. R. Campbell; Captain Barton, Coldstream +Guards; and Mr. Lloyd, Political Assistant. +Colonel Wood’s horse was shot under him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Piet Uys, the leader of the Burgher force, was +likewise amongst those killed in action this day.</p> + +<p>Small patrols were sent out next morning to endeavour +to find any men who might have escaped.</p> + +<p>Warning of an intended attack on Kambula was +brought in by a native—one of Uhamo’s men—and, +about 11 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, dense masses of the enemy were seen in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_352"></a>[352]</span> +the distance, when all the force was assembled and +the cattle driven into their laager. At 1.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> the +action commenced by mounted troops, under Colonels +Buller and Russell, engaging the enemy on the north of +the camp. They were speedily forced to return into the +laager, followed by the Zulus until they were within +300 yards, when a heavy fire from the 90th Regiment +checked their advance, and they opened out round the +camp.</p> + +<p>At 2.15 the right front and rear of the camp were +attacked by heavy masses of the enemy, who, apparently +well supplied with Martini-Henry rifles, occupied a hill +commanding the laager, enfilading it so that the company +of the 13th posted at the right rear of the enclosure had +to be withdrawn. The front of the cattle-laager was, +however, stoutly held by a company of the 13th; but +the Zulus coming boldly on, Major Hackett, with two +companies of the 90th, was directed to clear the slope. +They sallied out into the open, driving the Zulus back +in a gallant manner under a heavy fire, until ordered to +retire by Colonel Wood.</p> + +<p>While bringing his men in, Major Hackett was +dangerously wounded.</p> + +<p>The two guns in the redoubt were admirably worked +by Lieutenant Nicholson, R.A., until he was mortally +wounded; when Major Vaughan, R.A., replaced him.</p> + +<p>Major Tremlett, R.A., with four guns, remained in the +open during the engagement.</p> + +<p>The attack began to slacken about 5.30 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, +enabling Colonel Wood to assume the offensive; the +Zulus were driven from the cattle kraal into which they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_353"></a>[353]</span> +penetrated, and from the immediate vicinity of the +camp, the infantry doing great execution among the +retreating masses.</p> + +<p>The pursuit was taken up by the mounted men +under Colonel Buller, and continued for seven miles, +“killing great numbers, the enemy being too exhausted +to fire in their own defence” (<em>vide</em> Colonel Wood’s +despatch of March 30th). All agreed in admiring the +pluck of the Zulus, who, “under tremendous fire, never +wavered, but came straight at us.”</p> + +<p>The loss of No. 4 Column was 2 officers killed, +5 wounded, and 80 men killed and wounded. The +strength of the enemy was thought to be about 20,000, +of whom 1000 are supposed to have been killed. Colonel +Wood’s operations at Indhlobane were for the purpose of +“making demonstrations against the enemy,” as directed +by the General, who had reason to believe at that time, +that he should find the whole Zulu army between his +force and Etshowe. <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2367] p. 35.)</span> One +trooper, a Frenchman named Grandier, had a very +remarkable escape from Indhlobane, of which the following +is his account: On coming down the mountain we +were met by a large Zulu force, and fell back across the +neck assailed on all sides. I was about the last, having +put a comrade on my horse whilst I ran alongside, when +a Kafir caught me by the legs, and I was made prisoner. +I was taken to Umbilini’s kraal and questioned; after +which, I passed the night tied to a tree. Next day I +was taken into the middle of a large “impi,” where I +was threatened with death, but the leader said he would +send me to Cetywayo. Next day I started for Ulundi,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_354"></a>[354]</span> +in charge of four men, who were riding, but I had all my +clothes taken from me, and had to walk, carrying their +food. On the evening of the fourth day we reached +Ulundi, and I was kept tied in the open till about noon +next day, when Cetywayo sent for me, and questioned +me about what the English wanted, where Shepstone +was, etc. A Dutchman acted as interpreter, and I saw +a Portuguese, and an English-speaking Zulu, who could +read.<a id="FNanchor_162" href="#Footnote_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> Cetywayo had a personal guard of about one +hundred men, but I did not see any large numbers of +men at his kraal, but there were two small cannons there. +During my stay I was fed on mealies, and frequently +beaten. At last messengers arrived reporting the death +of Umbilini, and Cetywayo said he would send me to +his Kafirs to kill. On 13th April I started in charge +of two Kafirs, one armed with a gun and both with +assegais. About midday we were lying down, the Kafirs +being sleepy, when I seized an assegai and killed the +man with the gun, the other running away. I walked +all night guided by the stars; next day I saw an impi +driving cattle towards Ulundi, so had to lie still. +After this I saw no Kafirs, and walked on at night. +On the morning of the 16th I met some of our own +people and was brought into camp. Trooper Grandier, +when brought in, was dressed in an old corduroy +coat, cut with assegai stabs, and a pair of regimental +trousers cut off at the knee; these he had picked +up on the Veldt. He had strips of cloth round his +feet.</p> + +<p>The independent chief Umbilini, who was such a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_355"></a>[355]</span> +thorn in the side of the Transvaal, was killed early in +April. Small parties had raided into the Pongolo Valley +from Indhlobane, opposite Luneburg, until they were +said to number some hundreds, when they came upon +two companies of the 2-24th on the march; these at +once laagered, and the enemy moved on; Umbilini, +Assegai’s son, and four horsemen, going back with +twenty horses. They were pursued by Captain Prior, +80th Regiment, with seven mounted men (80th), and +another European, when Assegai’s son was killed, and +Umbilini mortally wounded.</p> + +<p>The raiders were attacked by some parties of natives, +but went off to the Assegai River with several beasts and +sheep.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2374] p. 51).</span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile, many attempts were made by the Zulu +king to arrest the tide of invasion, and to bring about a +more peaceable solution of the difficulties between him +and the English Government.</p> + +<p>When Lord Chelmsford first crossed into Zululand, +messengers were sent by the king to the column on the +Lower Tugela asking for an explanation of the invasion, +suggesting that hostilities should be suspended, that the +British troops should re-cross the Tugela, and that +talking should commence.<a id="FNanchor_163" href="#Footnote_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> These men did not return +to the king, but remained at the Lower Tugela, Sir +Bartle Frere says by their own desire, since they dared +not return with an unsatisfactory answer.</p> + +<p>And Bishop Schreuder narrates on March 3rd that—“Two +Zulus arrived here yesterday with a message from +the king.... The king says: ‘Look here, I have taken +care of the deserted mission stations, and not allowed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_356"></a>[356]</span> +them to be destroyed, thinking that the missionaries in +time would return to them, such as Mr. Robertson’s at +Kwamagwaza, and Oftibro’s at Ekhowe, but we now see +what use the missionaries make of the station-houses; +Robertson has come with an impi (army) to the Ekhowe +mission station, and there has made a fort of it, the houses +being turned to advantage for our enemies. Seeing this, +my people have of their own accord destroyed the other +mission stations; and although I have not ordered this +destruction, still I cannot complain of it, seeing that the +houses on the stations will serve as a shelter for our +present invading enemy. I am in a fix what to do with +your station Entumeni, for it is reported ... that the +column at Miltongambill is to ... march to Entumeni, +turn the station into a fort, like Robertson has had the +Ekhowe turned into a fort. In that case I will, much +against my wish, be obliged to destroy the house at +Entumeni, as a matter of self-protection, the last thing +I ever thought of doing, as I have no grudge against +you or your station.’ This is the substance of the king’s +message to me with respect to my station, Entumeni; +it, therefore, now will entirely depend on the decision of +the General Lord Chelmsford, whether the Entumeni +station-houses are to be destroyed or <em>not</em>.” Bishop +Schreuder says: “The messengers also report that the +king has sent, through a certain Ikolwa Klass (not +known to me), that copy of Sir T. Shepstone’s report +which I, on behalf of the Natal Government, handed +over to him from Her Majesty Queen Victoria, August, +1875.</p> + +<p>“Already Umavumendaba had requested the king to +send that book with the deputation that met at Tugela,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_357"></a>[357]</span> +11th December, 1878, in order that there might be +proved from that book wherein the king had sinned, +since the English had put forth such warlike demonstrations; +but Umavumendaba’s request was not then +acceded to. The king now sends this book that from +the contents of it may be proved wherein he has broken +the compact made at his installation, 1st September, +1875” [1873].—(P.P. [C. 2318] pp. 35-37).</p> + +<p>Bishop Schreuder requested Mr. Fannin, the border +agent, “to receive the message from the messenger’s +own lips, and communicate it to His Excellency.” He +reported that Cetshwayo wished to explain to the +Government that he had never desired war. He had +not, he said, refused the terms proposed at the Lower +Tugela; he had collected 1000 head of cattle to pay +the demand made on him, and would even have delivered +up Sihayo’s sons to the General, but “any Zulu that +showed himself was immediately fired upon.” The +attack upon Sandhlwana, he protested, was not made by +his orders, and his induna was in disgrace for having +made it. As regards Inyezane, the king contended +that Colonel Pearson provoked the attack made on him +by burning kraals, and committing other acts of hostility. +He asked that both sides should put aside their arms, +and resume negotiations with a view to a permanent +settlement of all questions between himself and the +Government. He would, he said, have sent in a +message some time since, but was afraid, because the +last time, when he sent eight messengers to the Lower +Tugela, they were detained, whom he now begged might +be sent back to him (<i>ibid.</i> pp. 40, 41).</p> + +<p>Mr. Fannin, on the 22nd March, reports the arrival<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_358"></a>[358]</span> +of the messengers with the book, and says: “Cetywayo +sends by the messengers the book containing the laws +promulgated at the time of his coronation, and presented +to him by Her Majesty the Queen.</p> + +<p>“It will be remembered that this book was handed +to the Zulu king by Bishop Schreuder at the request of +the Natal Government some time after the coronation +took place. The king now returns it, and asks him to +cast his eye over its contents, and say in what way he +has transgressed its provisions” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 47).</p> + +<p>On March 28th Mr. Fannin reports that “three +messengers have arrived with a message from Cetywayo. +Their names are Johannes (a native of Entumeni), +’Nkisimana, and Umfunzi. On approaching the ferry +they were fired on by the Native Contingent.... The +message is very short; it is simply to say, Cetywayo sees +no reason for the war which is being waged against him, +and he asks the Government to appoint a place at +which a conference could be held with a view to the +conclusion of peace.” They further brought a message +from Dabulamanzi, that “a few days ago he sent a +white flag with two messengers to Ekhowe, to ask for a +suspension of hostilities, until the result of this mission +was known, but the men have not returned. He asks +that the men may be released.” Mr. Fannin says: +“Four other Entumeni men have arrived with these +messengers,” and he suggests, “that the Entumeni men +should not be allowed to return to Zululand” (<i>ibid.</i> +pp. 44, 45).</p> + +<p>“Owing,” says Sir B. Frere, on June 17th, “to some +misunderstanding between the various civil and military<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_359"></a>[359]</span> +authorities, these messengers also were detained for +several weeks, and have only lately been sent back.”</p> + +<p>“I do not for a moment suppose,” he continues, +“that either the civil or military authorities were aware +of this, or could have prevented it by bringing their +detention to notice at an earlier period, but it shows the +difficulties of intercourse on such subjects with the +Zulus, where such things could occur without the +slightest ground for suspicion of bad faith on the part of +either the civil or military authorities.”<a id="FNanchor_164" href="#Footnote_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a></p> + +<p>It is not easy to discover what unusual and mysterious +difficulties the civil and military authorities can +have found in communicating with the Zulu messengers +(men who had been employed for many years in carrying +the “words” of Government and the Zulu king to +each other), and it is still more inexplicable to whose +notice the said authorities could have brought their +detention. The whole matter is about as comprehensible +as the statement which appeared at the time in the +Natal papers, that when these same messengers—a +small party—approached our camp, bearing a white +flag, “<em>we fired upon it</em> (<em>i.e.</em> the flag) <em>to test its +sincerity</em>.”</p> + +<p>The detention of these messengers as prisoners at +Kranz Kop came to the knowledge of the Bishop of +Natal about the middle of April, and he at once brought +the fact to the notice of the civil and military authorities.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_360"></a>[360]</span> +On the 20th April he saw Lord Chelmsford in Pietermaritzburg, +and spoke to him on the subject. The +General informed him that he had already ordered them +to go back to Cetshwayo, and to say that he must send +indunas to meet him (Lord Chelmsford) at General +Wood’s camp, to which he was then bound. Nevertheless +the General’s message, which would take but two +days on the road, had not reached Kranz Kop on the +29th, nor were the men actually released until the 9th +of May. When finally set at liberty they carried with +them a message calculated to discourage any further +attempts on the Zulu king’s part at bringing about a +peaceful issue to the war, being merely that if “Cetywayo +sends any more messengers he must send them to +the Upper Column (Dundee).”</p> + +<p>Nevertheless on the 12th of June the same two old +men appeared again, brought down, bearing a white +flag, to ’Maritzburg by policemen from Mr. Fynn, +resident magistrate at the Umsinga. Apparently they +had been afraid to cross at Kranz Kop, where the +“sincerity” of their white flag had been “tested” +before, and were sent, not to the military authorities, +but to the civil magistrate, who sent them down to Sir +Henry Bulwer. He would have nothing to say to them, +and transferred them to General Clifford, who examined +them on the 13th, and sent them off on the following +day to Lord Chelmsford. They had already walked one +hundred and fifty miles from Ulundi to ’Maritzburg with +their message of peace, and had then still further to go +in order to reach the General, before they could get any +kind of answer. Meanwhile the campaign was prosecuted +without a pause.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_361"></a>[361]</span></p> + +<p>General Clifford’s account of this is as follows:</p> + +<p>“I began by informing them that I was only going +to ask them such questions as would enable me to judge +whether I should be justified in sending them on to my +Chief, Lord Chelmsford, now in Zululand carrying on the +war. The headman, Umfundi, then made the following +statement: ‘We are Umfundi and Umkismana, Zulu +messengers from Cetywayo. I am sent here by Cetywayo +to ask for time to arrange a meeting of Chiefs with a +view to arranging peace. We did not go to the head +white Chief, because Fynn at Rorke’s Drift, whom I +knew, told me the Great White Chief was in Zululand, +and we had better see Shepstone and the second White +Chief, who were at Pietermaritzburg, so we came on +here advised by Fynn. I have been here about twice a +year for the last six years as King’s messenger, but not +as Chief. I am nothing but a messenger, and I have no +authority from the King to treat for peace, or to do anything +besides delivering my message, asking if time will +be given to assemble a meeting of Chiefs. I know +Mr. Shepstone, Mr. Gallway, and Bishop Colenso, and +I have seen Bishop Colenso in this town, and also at his +place in the country, but I do not wish to see him now, +and I have not asked to see him.’ (This, according to +their custom, merely implied that they had no message +for him.) ‘I want to see the Great Chief, as the King +ordered me to do. I only came here to deliver my +message and because Fynn told me. This is the +seventeenth day since I left the King’s kraal. Am an +old man and cannot go so fast as I could when I was +young, and heavy rain detained me three days. The +King told me to hurry on and return quickly. It<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_362"></a>[362]</span> +will take us seven days to get from here to Ibabamango +Mountain if we go by Rorke’s Drift. We only know +of two other messengers sent by the King; one is +Sintwango, the name of the other we do not know. +They have been sent to the lower column because +Cetywayo thinks there are two Chiefs of equal power, +one with the upper column and the other with the +lower column. They are sent like us to ask for time to +get out by the door. The King does not know the name +of your big Chief, and we do not either. We are the +same messengers the King sent to Fort Buckingham +with the same message we have now. Only then +our orders were not to go to your Chief as now, +but to go to Fort Buckingham and wait for the answer +there. We delivered our message to the military Chief +there, and he sent the message on. The Chief was at +Etshowe fighting, and the answer did not come for two +months; when it came it was that the great Chief was +surprised we were still there. He thought we had +gone back to the King long ago. The officer at Fort +Buckingham advised us to go to the great white Chief, +but we said: “No, those are not the King’s orders; +our orders are to come here, and now we will return +and tell the King;” and it was half of the third month +when we got back to him. We told him what had +taken place. He consulted his great Chiefs, and then +sent us with the orders we now have to go and see the +great white Chief, and that is now what we are trying +to do. I have no power given me but to ask for time. +The King sends his messengers first, because it is the +custom of the country to do so, and not to send a great<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_363"></a>[363]</span> +Chief till arrangements have been made where the Chiefs +are to assemble to talk about peace. We have no +power to talk about terms of peace. None but +messengers have yet been sent. The messengers sent +to the lower column went before the fighting began; +they were detained and did not return to the King’s +kraal till we did.’ I said I was satisfied they ought to +be sent on at once to Lord Chelmsford.</p> + +<p>“I would give a letter, written by me to Lord +Chelmsford, to Umfunzi, to be given by him with his +own hand to Lord Chelmsford, and outside the letter +I would say that no one but Lord Chelmsford was to +open it. This appeared to please them much. I said I +would write to the commanding officers along the road +they were going to look after them, and to the officer +at Rorke’s Drift to see them safe to Ibabamango.’ +‘Would a white man be safe going with them?’ +‘Yes,’ they said, ‘quite,’ and they wished one could +be sent with them; but still more, the King would be +pleased if a white man was sent to him. I said I would +not send a white man alone into Zululand with them, +because my Chief did not approve, still less could I send +one to the King, because I was only under the big +Chief. Anything they wished to say about peace or +anything else they must say to the big Chief when they +saw him.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2374] p. 111).</span></p> + +<p>At no time during the war, indeed, did we encourage +the Zulu king in his persistent efforts to get peace; but +more of this hereafter. Here we will only add one +further instance, namely, that of two messengers sent +to Colonel Pearson at Etshowe, who, although brought<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_364"></a>[364]</span> +blindfold into the camp, were kept as prisoners in irons +until the garrison was relieved. The pretext for this detention +was that they were <em>supposed</em> to be spies; but officers +present were satisfied that there were no grounds for the +supposition, or for the treatment which they received.</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere of course inclines to the opinion +that <em>all</em> Cetshwayo’s messengers were spies, his entreaties +for peace but treacherous pretexts to cover his evil +intentions. Some of the men sent were old accredited +messengers to the Government, whose names are frequently +mentioned in earlier Blue-books, yet Sir Bartle +Frere says of them: “In no case could they give any +satisfactory proof that they really came from the king.”<a id="FNanchor_165" href="#Footnote_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a></p> + +<p>But the High Commissioner’s habit of finding evil +motives for every act of the Zulu king, made the case +of the latter hopeless from the first.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the despatches received from Sir Michael +Hicks-Beach contained comments amounting to censure +upon the High Commissioner’s proceedings in forcing +on a war with the Zulus. He is plainly told that he +should have waited to consult Her Majesty’s Government +upon the terms that Cetshwayo should be called +upon to accept, and that “they have been unable to +find in the documents you have placed before them that +evidence of urgent necessity for immediate action which +alone could justify you in taking, without their full +knowledge and sanction, a course almost certain to +result in a war, which, as I had previously impressed +upon you, every effort should have been used to avoid.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_365"></a>[365]</span></p> + +<p>“The communication which had passed between +us,” continues the Secretary of State, “as to the objects +for which the reinforcements were requested and sent, +and as to the nature of the questions in dispute with +the Zulu king, were such as to render it especially +needful that Her Majesty’s Government should understand +and approve any important step, not already +suggested to them, before you were committed to it; +and if that step was likely to increase the probability +of war, an opportunity should certainly have been +afforded to them of considering as well the time as the +manner of coming to issue—should it be necessary to +come to issue—with the Zulu king. And though the +further correspondence necessary for this purpose might +have involved the loss of a favourable season for the +operations of the British troops, and might have +afforded to Cetywayo the means of further arming and +provisioning his forces, the circumstances rendered it +imperative that, even at the risk of this disadvantage, +full explanations should be exchanged.”</p> + +<p>The despatch from which the above is quoted was +written on the 19th March, and another, dated the +following day, expresses the writer’s “general approval +of the principles on which the boundary award was +based,” as intimated in a previous despatch, but gives a +very qualified assent to Sir B. Frere’s emendations by +which he seeks to secure the “private rights” of settlers +on the wrongfully appropriated land, and remarks that +he is disposed to think that the recognition of these said +private rights of European settlers in the district declared +to be Zulu territory should have been restricted as far +as possible to those cases in which <i lang="la">bonâ fide</i> purchasers<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_366"></a>[366]</span> +had improved their farms by building, planting, or otherwise, +which restriction would have limited them to a very +small number indeed. Sir M. Hicks-Beach also reminds +Sir B. Frere that Her Majesty’s Government had distinctly +said beforehand that “they could not undertake +the obligation of protecting” the missionaries in Zululand. +His comments upon the terms of the ultimatum, he says, +are intended for Sir B. Frere’s guidance when the time +for once more proposing terms should arrive, and he concludes: +“It is my wish that, as far as possible, you should +avoid taking any decided step, or committing yourself to +any positive conclusion respecting any of them until you +have received instructions from Her Majesty’s Government.”—(P. +P. [C. 2260] pp. 108-111).</p> + +<p>Again, upon April 10th, after receiving Sir Bartle +Frere’s explanations, Sir M. Hicks-Beach writes as +follows:</p> + +<p>“Since I addressed to you my despatches of the 19th +and 20th March, I have received your two despatches +of February 12th and March 1st, further explaining the +considerations which induced you to decide that the +demands made upon Ketshwayo must be communicated +to him without delay. The definite expression of the +views and policy of Her Majesty’s Government contained +in my despatches already referred to, which +will have reached you before you receive this, makes +it unnecessary that I should enter into any examination +of the arguments or opinions expressed in your present +despatches. It is sufficient to say that Her Majesty’s +Government do not find in the reasons now put forward +by you any grounds to modify the tenor of the instructions +already addressed to you on the subject of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_367"></a>[367]</span> +affairs in South Africa, and it is their desire that you +should regulate your future action according to these +instructions.</p> + +<p>“But there is one point alluded to in your despatch +of March 1st which I feel it necessary at once to +notice, in order to prevent any misunderstanding. +You refer, in the thirty-second paragraph of that +despatch, to ‘much that will remain to be done on the +northern Swazi border and in Sekukuni’s country,’ and +to the probability that ‘the Transvaal, the Diamond +Fields, Basutoland, and other parts now threatened +with disturbance, will not settle down without at least +an exhibition of force.’ I entertain much hope that +in each of these cases, including that of Sekukuni, the +troubles now existing or anticipated may disappear, +either independently of or as a consequence of that +complete settlement of the Zulu difficulty which I join +with you in trusting to see speedily effected. But, if +this expectation should unfortunately not be fulfilled, +you will be careful to bear in mind that Her Majesty’s +Government are not prepared to sanction any further +extension, without their specific authority, of our +responsibilities in South Africa; that their desire is +that the military operations now proceeding should be +directed to the termination, at the earliest moment +consistent with the safety of our colonies and the +honour of our arms, of the Zulu question; and that any +wider or larger action of the kind apparently suggested +in your despatch, should be submitted to them for +consideration and approval, before any steps are taken +to carry it into effect.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2316] p. 36).</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_368"></a>[368]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE LOWER TUGELA—INYEZANE—ETSHOWE.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">The first step taken towards preparing for the campaign +and advance of a column on Ulundi by the coast road +was the landing of a “Naval Brigade” from H.M.S. +<i>Active</i>, in November, 1878, under the command of +Commander Campbell, R.N. The “Actives” at once +marched up to Lower Tugela Drift, and commenced +preparations for the crossing of the river. A “pont” +was established, and boats collected preparatory to the +passage of the troops. Fifty men from the <i>Tenedos</i>, +under Lieutenant Kingscote, R.N., joined the Naval +Brigade on January 7th, 1879, but remained at Fort +Pearson and took charge of the pont, etc., when the +“Actives” moved up with No. 1 Column.</p> + +<p>The passage of the Tugela was a difficult and rather +hazardous undertaking, the river being nearly 300 yards +wide, with a strong current flowing. The preparations, +including taking across a wire hawser for the working of +the pont, were conducted in a very business-like and +satisfactory manner by Commander Campbell and the +Naval Brigade.</p> + +<p>The Navy had received early notice of impending<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_369"></a>[369]</span> +hostilities, and, as early as April, 1878, Sir Bartle Frere +had requested Commodore Sullivan, C.B. (the naval +chief), to remain in Natal, “in order to render such +assistance by sea and land as may be practicable,” “as it +appeared almost certain that serious complications must +shortly arise with the Zulu tribe ... which will +necessitate active operations.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. 2144, p. 32).</span></p> + +<p>The coast was explored by the Commodore as far as +St. Lucia Bay, and every possible assistance willingly +rendered by him and the force under his command +before and throughout the campaign. Valuable assistance +was also given by Captain Baynton, commodore +of the Union Steamship Company’s fleet. The force +detailed for Colonel Pearson’s command—styled No. 1 +Column—concentrated on Fort Pearson, on the Lower +Tugela; its detail has been previously given.</p> + +<p>It was directed that this column should cross the +river and encamp on the Zulu bank, under the guns of +the fort, there to await further orders; but, from the +flooded state of the river and other causes, the passage +was not effected till the 12th January, when the +principal part of the force crossed and encamped in +Zululand.</p> + +<p>The 2nd (Captain Wynne’s) Company Royal Engineers +arrived at Fort Pearson on the 12th, and crossed on the +13th. It immediately set about the construction of Fort +Tenedos on the left bank, about 600 yards from the river, +to cover the crossing, protect stores, etc.</p> + +<p>The Naval Brigade were constantly at work, day and +night, working the boats and pontoon across the river, +with the exception of the night of the 14th, when a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_370"></a>[370]</span> +heavy flood swept away the wharves. Twice the pontoon +was upset, and one of the <i>Active’s</i> men was drowned.</p> + +<p>Reconnaissances were made in the Zulu country, and +a few prisoners taken, but there were no signs of any large +body of the enemy. One of John Dunn’s men reported +on the 17th that “the whole of his neighbourhood” was +“now deserted and the cattle driven into the interior.”</p> + +<p>Everything being carefully prepared, the advance +was made on the 18th, a strong advanced guard and the +Natal Native Pioneers<a id="FNanchor_166" href="#Footnote_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> preceding the column. Every +precaution was taken to prevent a surprise, extra vigilance +being necessary on account of the long waggon-train +carrying tents, rations for fifteen days, and a large +quantity of food and ammunition destined for an advanced +depôt to be formed at or near Etshowe.</p> + +<p>We may here say a few words on the extreme difficulties +of South African transport—difficulties so serious +and full of danger that they should have been eliminated +from the plan of the campaign.</p> + +<p>The waggons used were, as a rule, the ordinary South +African ox-waggons, clumsy and heavy to move, each +drawn by a team of fourteen to eighteen oxen. The Zulu +oxen are much superior to the up-country oxen, as they +stand more work, and will swim rivers; they even swam +the Tugela, whilst the remainder had to be ferried over.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_371"></a>[371]</span></p> + +<p>The pace of the ox-waggon is about a mile and a half +an hour, and drifts and hills cause frequent delays. Take +for instance the train of No. 1 Column: it accomplished +the march to Etshowe, a distance of thirty-seven miles, +in between five and six days—from daylight on the +18th to 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> 23rd—having only been detained by +the enemy at Inyezane for about two hours: the train +was necessarily some six miles in length, an element of +the utmost danger had the swift-footed Zulus been a little +more enterprising. Two or three thousand Zulus might +easily have prevented Colonel Pearson reaching Etshowe +<em>with</em> his train, in spite of all the precautions he might +and did take. The commanding officers of the various +columns had no option in the matter of waggon-train, +and as far as they were concerned the transport under +their control worked well.</p> + +<p>The difficulty of moving with a long train of waggons +during the summer, or rainy season, can scarcely be +exaggerated. Double spanning over drifts and soft +places, making bad places good with brushwood, oxen +getting tired owing to the length of time they were yoked, +rather than from the distance travelled, all gave endless +trouble and anxiety, and entirely upset all calculations as +to distances to be traversed. The transport duties of +No. 1 Column were admirably carried out by Captain Pelly +Clarke and Assistant-Commissary Kevill Davis.<a id="FNanchor_167" href="#Footnote_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a></p> + +<p>The force advanced from the Tugela in two columns—the +first crossed the Inyoni and encamped—weather +very wet and trying. The second column started on the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_372"></a>[372]</span> +following day (19th) and joined its leader at Umsundusi. +At this camp the troops remained during the 20th. +The reconnoitring parties had reported the Amatikulu +impassable, and Colonel Pearson pushed forward engineers +(native pioneers), with a strong working-party and guard, +to render the drift practicable, which, after a day’s +hard work, was done. On the 21st the column again +advanced, and, crossing the Amatikulu, encamped in +the evening at Kwasamabela, four miles from Inyezane; +during the day a reconnoitring party burnt a military +kraal near Ngingindhlovu. Up to this time only a few +of the enemy’s scouts had been seen, and nothing had +occurred beyond an occasional nocturnal alarm.</p> + +<p>On the 22nd the column marched at 5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, crossed +the Inyezane River, and halted for breakfast, and to +outspan the oxen for a couple of hours, in a fairly open +spot, though the country round was a good deal covered +with bush. The halt here was unavoidable, as there +was no water for some distance beyond, but the country +had been previously carefully scouted by the mounted +troops under Major Barrow.</p> + +<p>At eight o’clock piquets were being placed, and the +waggons parked, when a company of the Native Contingent—who +were scouting in front, under the direction +of Captain Hart, staff-officer attached to the regiment—discovered +the enemy advancing rapidly over the ridges, +and making for the adjacent clumps of bush. The Zulus +now opened a heavy fire upon this company, and almost +immediately inflicted a loss upon it of 1 officer, 4 non-commissioned +officers, and 3 men killed.</p> + +<p>The Naval Brigade (with rockets), under Captain<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_373"></a>[373]</span> +Campbell, the guns of the Royal Artillery, two companies +of “The Buffs,” and the Native Pioneers were at +once posted on a knoll close by the road, from whence +the whole of the Zulu advance was commanded. From +this knoll the bush near was well searched with shell, +rockets, and musketry.</p> + +<p>The waggons continuing to close up and park, two +companies of “The Buffs,” who moved up with them, were +ordered to clear the enemy out of the bush, guided by +Captain Macgregor, Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General. +This they did in excellent style, driving the +Zulus into the open, which again exposed them to a +heavy fire from the knoll.</p> + +<p>The engineers and mounted troops were now +enabled to move up from the drift, and, supported by a +half company of “Buffs” and a half company of the +99th, sent on by Lieut.-Colonel Welman (99th) from the +rear of the column, cleared the Zulus out of the bush +on the right flank, where they were seriously threatening +the convoy. The Gatling gun also moved up from the +rear, and came into action on the knoll. The enemy +now endeavoured to outflank the left, and got possession +of a kraal about 400 yards from the knoll, which assisted +their turning movement. This kraal was carried by +Captain Campbell with his Naval Brigade, supported by +a party of officers and non-commissioned officers of the +Native Contingent under Captain Hart, who were posted +on high ground on the left of the road. Lieut.-Colonel +Parnell with a company of “Buffs,” and Captain +Campbell with the Naval Brigade, now attacked some +heights beyond the kraal, upon which a considerable<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_374"></a>[374]</span> +body of the enemy was still posted. This action was +completely successful, and the Zulus fled in all directions. +About half-past nine the last shot was fired, and the +column was re-formed, and resumed its march at noon.</p> + +<p>The loss sustained in this action was 2 privates (“The +Buffs”) killed, 2 officers, 4 non-commissioned officers, +and 4 natives killed, and 1 officer and 15 men wounded. +Colonels Pearson and Parnell had their horses shot under +them.</p> + +<p>The enemy’s force was estimated at 4000—the +Umxapu, Udhlambedhlu, and Ingulubi Regiments, and +some 650 men of the district—and their loss upwards of +300 killed. The wounded appear to have been either +carried away or hidden.</p> + +<p>Four miles beyond the scene of this engagement the +column bivouacked for the night; and, moving off at +5 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span> next day, reached Etshowe at 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>; the rear +guard not getting in till the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Etshowe was a mission station, abandoned some +months before, but now selected for an entrenched post, +in preference to more open and commanding ground to +the north, in consequence of the necessity of utilising the +buildings for the storage of supplies. The station consisted +of a dwelling-house, school, and workshop, with store-rooms—three +buildings of sun-dried brick, thatched; +there was also a small church, made of the same +materials, but with a corrugated iron roof; and a stream +of good water ran close by the station. Here the column +encamped, and preparations for clearing the ground and +establishing a fortified post for a garrison of 400 men +were made.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_375"></a>[375]</span></p> + +<p>Two companies of “Buffs,” two companies Native +Contingent, and some mounted men, were sent back to +reinforce Lieut.-Colonel Ely, 99th Regiment, who, with +three companies of his regiment, was on the march to +Etshowe with a convoy of sixty waggons.</p> + +<p>On the 25th, Major Coates was sent down to the Tugela +with a strong escort and forty-eight empty waggons, for +a further supply of stores; and next day a “runner” +arrived with news that a disaster had occurred +on the 22nd. On the 28th a telegram was received +from Lord Chelmsford, hinting at disaster—that he +had been compelled to retire to the frontier—that +former instructions were cancelled, and Colonel Pearson +was to hold Etshowe or withdraw to the Tugela, also +that he must be prepared to bear the brunt of an +attack from the whole Zulu army.</p> + +<p>Colonel Pearson at once assembled his staff and +commanding officers, when it was finally decided to hold +the post, sending back to the Tugela the mounted +troops and Native Contingent. These marched, unencumbered +with baggage, and reached the Tugela in ten +hours—a contrast with the upward march! The various +buildings were loopholed, and the church prepared for +use as a hospital, all tents struck, and the entrenchments +supplemented by an inner line of waggons. In +the evening Colonel Ely’s convoy arrived safely.</p> + +<p>The mounted men were sent back from Etshowe, +because a large proportion of the horse forage consisted +of mealies, which it was thought might be required +for the use of the garrison, as eventually was the +case.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_376"></a>[376]</span></p> + +<p>To replace the mounted men, a small vedette corps +was formed under Lieutenant Rowden, 99th Regiment, +and Captain Sherrington, of the Native Contingent, and +did excellent service.</p> + +<p>These vedettes were constantly under fire. One was +killed at his post. Another was attacked by some dozen +Zulus, who crept upon him through the long grass; he +lost two fingers of his right hand, had a bullet through +each leg and one in his right arm; his horse was +assegaied; yet he managed to get back to the fort, +retaining his rifle.</p> + +<p>The vedettes being much annoyed in the early +morning by the fire of some Zulus from a high hill, +Captain Sherrington and six of the men went out one +night and lay in wait for them, behind some rocks near +the top of the hill, wounding three and putting an end +to the annoyance.</p> + +<p>Colonel Pearson felt it to be necessary to reduce the +bread and grocery rations of the troops, but was enabled +to increase the meat ration by a quarter of a pound, as +a large number of cattle had been brought up with +Colonel Ely’s convoy. The waggons of the troops sent +back to the Tugela were officially searched, and a +quantity of food, medicines, and medical comforts thus +added to the stock, the two latter subsequently proving +of the utmost value. All articles of luxury were +eventually sold by auction, and fetched almost fabulous +prices: matches were sold for 4s. a box, bottles of +pickles 15s. each, and tobacco 30s. a pound!</p> + +<p>The water supply was excellent, both in quality and +quantity; and in the lower part of the stream bathing-places<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_377"></a>[377]</span> +for both officers and men were constructed; and +all sanitary arrangements most carefully attended to.</p> + +<p>A waggon-laager was formed for the cattle, and every +effort made to provide for the security of the fort, as +we may now call it—deepening ditches, strengthening +parapets, erecting stockades—all most energetically +carried on under the direction of Captain Wynne, R.E.</p> + +<p>So things went on, till, on February 9th, Zulus were +observed to be collecting; but nothing occurred beyond +an occasional alarm.</p> + +<p>On the 11th two “runners” arrived from the Lower +Tugela with a despatch<a id="FNanchor_168" href="#Footnote_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> from the General, almost +requiring Colonel Pearson to retire with half his force +to the Tugela, leaving the remainder to garrison the +fort. This, after a council of war, was decided not to be +practicable, the country being occupied by the Zulus in +force. A flying column, however, was organised, in case +it became necessary to carry out what the General +seemed to desire.</p> + +<p>Having questioned the messengers, and ascertained +that they were willing to return on the following +Saturday, Colonel Pearson sent a despatch, asking for +further instructions, and saying he would be prepared +to start on Sunday night at twelve o’clock if necessary.</p> + +<p>This message was twice repeated on different days, +but no reply received.</p> + +<p>Alterations and improvements in the defences, to +enable the fort to be held by a smaller garrison, went +steadily on in spite of bad weather; ranges from 600 to +700 yards were marked round the fort, and <i lang="fr">trous-de-loups</i><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_378"></a>[378]</span> +and wire entanglements formed on the north, +south, and east faces.</p> + +<p>On March 1st an expedition was led out by Colonel +Pearson to attack a military kraal (Dabulamanzi’s) six +miles distant; this was done and the kraal burnt, a +smart skirmish being kept up with the Zulus during the +homeward march.</p> + +<p>On the 2nd it was noticed that heliograph signals +were being flashed from the Lower Tugela, but no +message was made out.</p> + +<p>Next day further signalling, though vague, was taken +to mean that a convoy was to be expected on the 13th +instant with 1000 men, and that on its approach Colonel +Pearson was to sally out and meet it. A heliograph was +improvised by Captain Macgregor, Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General, +by means of a small looking-glass, +and efforts made to flash back signals, but bad +weather ensued, preventing further communication till +the 10th.</p> + +<p>A new road to Inyezane, shortening the distance by +about three miles, and avoiding much of the bush, was +commenced, and reported fit for use on the 13th, though +the work had been hindered by very bad weather, and by +the working-parties being constantly under fire. Fortunately +no one was hit, except Lieutenant Lewis, of +“The Buffs.”</p> + +<p>On March 23rd two Zulus came up with a white +flag, and were brought in to the fort each with a mealie-bag +over his head; they are said to have come with a +message from the king to the effect that if our force +would return to Natal he would order the officers commanding<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_379"></a>[379]</span> +his large armies not to touch it. These men +were detained as prisoners in irons, and interviewed by +Lord Chelmsford on his arrival at Etshowe; but of +their subsequent disposal nothing appears known.</p> + +<p>At first the health of the troops was extremely good, +but before the end of February the percentage of sick had +largely increased, there being 9 officers and upwards of 100 +men on the sick-list when it was relieved. The principal +disorders were diarrhœa, dysentery, and fevers, aggravated +by the want of proper medicines and medical +comforts, which had been soon exhausted. The church +was used as the hospital, and both officers and men +lived under the waggons, over which the waggon-sails +were spread, propped up with tent-poles; thus the troops +actually lived at their alarm-posts.</p> + +<p>The relief took place none too soon, there being then +but six days’ further supply of reduced rations available +for the garrison.</p> + +<p>“From first to last, the men showed an excellent +spirit, the highest discipline was maintained, and the +reduction of the food was never grumbled at or regarded +in any other light than a necessity and a privation to be +borne, and which they were determined to bear cheerfully.”—(P. +P. [C. 2367] p. 39).</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_380"></a>[380]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">NGINGINDHLOVU—RELIEF OF ETSHOWE—BORDER RAIDING.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Lord Chelmsford, having moved down to Durban, +reports (February 8th) that No. 1 Column is secure at +Etshowe; that he is about to forward troops to the +Lower Tugela; and that Durban, Stanger, Pietermaritzburg, +and Greytown are prepared for defence, “with +garrisons which should prevent panic among those +living around;” the frontier quiet, and the road from +Greytown quite open.</p> + +<p>The first reinforcement for Natal was brought by +H.M.S. <i>Shah</i>, which chanced to be at St. Helena (on +her voyage home from the Pacific), when the news of the +disaster in Zululand arrived. Captain Bradshaw, R.N., +immediately decided to proceed to Natal with his ship; +the Governor, after consultation with the officer commanding +the troops, Colonel Philips, R.E., arranging to +send in her all the available force that could be spared +from the island. Accordingly she sailed on February +12th, with 3 officers and 52 men of the Royal Artillery, +and 2 officers and 109 men of the 88th Regiment.</p> + +<p>H.M.S. <i>Boadicea</i> also arrived on the station,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_381"></a>[381]</span> +bringing Commodore Richards, who relieved Rear-Admiral +Sullivan, C.B.</p> + +<p>Communications had been established with Etshowe +by means of flashing signals, which were conducted by +Lieutenant Haynes, R.E., who, after some failure and +discouragement at first, persevered until complete +success was attained.</p> + +<p>Previous to this there had been no communications +with Colonel Pearson for a considerable time, but on +March 11th a cypher message from him (dated 9th) +said that the flashing signals had been understood, and +that as officers and men were generally sickly, it would +be desirable to relieve the whole of the garrison, and +that any relieving force should bring a convoy and be +prepared to fight.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2316] p. 81).</span></p> + +<p>On March 16th the signals from Etshowe were first +made out, and one of the messages received was: “Short +rations until 3rd April. Breadstuffs until 4th April. +Plenty of trek oxen. Captain Williams, ‘The Buffs,’ +died at Ekowe on 13th March” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 83).</p> + +<p>Reinforcements arriving from England, Lord Chelmsford +determined to effect the relief of Etshowe, and +assembled a strong force on the Lower Tugela for that +purpose. The column to be in two divisions: the first, +under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Law, R.A., composed +of the Naval Brigade of <i>Shah</i> and <i>Tenedos</i>, +57th Regiment, 2 companies “Buffs,” 5 companies +99th Regiment, mounted infantry, volunteers, and +natives, and 5th Battalion Natal Native Contingent; +artillery—2 9-pounders, 2 24-pounder rocket-tubes, and +1 Gatling gun; also 150 of John Dunn’s people as scouts.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_382"></a>[382]</span> +The second division—Lieut.-Colonel Pemberton, 60th +Rifles, commanding—Naval Brigade of H.M.S. <i>Boadicea</i>, +Royal Marines of <i>Shah</i> and <i>Boadicea</i>, 60th Rifles, +91st Highlanders, and 4th Battalion Natal Native Contingent; +artillery, 2 24-pounder rocket-tubes and 1 +Gatling gun; making a total fighting strength of 3390 +white troops and 2280 natives. The Lieut.-General +decided to take command of the column himself, and +directed that it should advance by the coast road, so as +to avoid the bush country; to advance without tents, +and with only a blanket and waterproof-sheet for each +man. The convoy, taking one month’s provisions for +the garrison and ten days’ supplies for the column, consisted +of about 100 waggons and 44 carts.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2318] pp. 74, 75).</span></p> + +<p>The assembling of this column and preparation for +an advance occupied some weeks, and on the 23rd March +Lord Chelmsford assumed the personal command, the +force being assembled on the left bank of the Tugela and +organised in two brigades, as already detailed, by the +28th. Next day, at 6 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, the column marched from +the Tugela and encamped at Inyone, reaching next day +the Amatakulu River. <em>Now</em>, profiting by bitter experience, +every precaution was taken, and an entrenched +waggon-laager formed before nightfall at each halting-place.</p> + +<p>The crossing of the Amatakulu River took nine +hours, and the column encamped a mile and a half beyond +it. Nothing had been seen of the enemy until the 31st, +when the scouts noticed small bodies of Zulus near the +Amatakulu bush. Captain Barrow, with a mounted<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_383"></a>[383]</span> +force, reconnoitred towards the Engoya Forest, and +burnt the kraal of one of the king’s brothers.</p> + +<p>On April 1st, the column marched to Ngingindhlovu, +and about a mile from the Inyezane River a laager was +formed in a favourable position. From this point to +Etshowe, the track, after crossing swampy ground, winds +through a bushy and difficult country for about fifteen +miles, the country covered with high grass, and thus +affording easy cover.</p> + +<p>Etshowe could be plainly seen from the laager, and +flash signalling was at once established.</p> + +<p>As this laager was destined to be the scene of an +important engagement, we will describe the disposition +of the troops: Front face (north), 60th Rifles; right +flank, 57th Regiment; left flank, 99th Regiment and +“Buffs;” rear face, 91st Regiment; the angles manned +by blue-jackets and marines, and armed with the guns, +Gatlings, and rocket-tubes. The night passed without +alarm, and the troops stood to arms at 4 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, the +mounted men being sent out scouting as usual at earliest +dawn. From scouts and piquets came reports, at +5.45 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, that the enemy was advancing, and at six the +attack commenced on the north front. The Zulus +advanced with great rapidity and courage, taking +advantage of every bit of cover; they even pushed +forward to within twenty or thirty yards of the +entrenchments, but were checked by the steady fire of +the 60th and the Gatling gun. Lieut.-Colonel Northey, +3-60th Rifles, received a dangerous wound, but cheered +on his men to the end of the engagement.</p> + +<p>The attack, checked here, rolled round to the left<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_384"></a>[384]</span> +face; and, whilst this was being developed, a fresh force +came up against the rear, probably anticipating that all +the faces of the laager could not be defended at the +same time. Here they obstinately held their ground, +finding cover in the long grass and undulations.</p> + +<p>The mounted troops were now sent out, the mounted +infantry and volunteers to clear the front face, and +Captain Barrow to attack the enemy’s right flank. On +their appearance the Zulus commenced to retreat. It +was now 7.30 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>; and the Natal Native Contingent, +clearing the ditch of the rear face, dashed out in pursuit, +which, led by Captain Barrow’s horsemen, was carried +on for several miles.</p> + +<p>The loss of the enemy in this engagement is +estimated at 1000: 671 bodies were actually counted. +The attacking force is said to have numbered about +11,000 men.</p> + +<p>Colonel Pearson, who had watched the fight through +a glass, telegraphed his congratulations to the General.</p> + +<p>The loss of the column was 2 officers and 9 men +killed (including Lieut.-Colonel Northey, 60th Rifles), 5 +officers and 57 men wounded.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd April, leaving a garrison in the laager, +Lord Chelmsford pushed on to Etshowe with a convoy +of fifty-eight carts with stores. The advance was +unopposed, but the difficulties of the country were such +that it was nearly midnight before the rear guard had +traversed the fifteen miles and entered Etshowe.</p> + +<p>The garrison had suffered severely from sickness +during the preceding month, losing by disease 4 officers +and 20 non-commissioned officers and men; and when<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_385"></a>[385]</span> +relieved there were sick in hospital, 8 officers and 44 +non-commissioned officers and men, and attending +hospital, 1 officer and 78 non-commissioned officers and +men—out of a total force of 53 officers, 1289 non-commissioned +officers and men, and 121 natives.</p> + +<p>The constant wet weather and close quarters in the +fort, with little or no shelter, the want of medicines, and +insufficient food, might well have caused even heavier loss.</p> + +<p>The General determined to evacuate Etshowe, as he +found it so difficult of approach: future operations +being planned to be carried on by the coast road. On +the 4th Colonel Pearson evacuated the fort he had so +tenaciously held, taking with him his waggons and all his +stores that were of any use; unserviceable tools and +metal-work were buried, but the fort was not destroyed.</p> + +<p>Colonel Pearson’s march to the Tugela was performed +without any interruption from the enemy.</p> + +<p>On the 4th a kraal of Dabulamanzi’s on the +Entumeni Hill was destroyed by a patrol from Etshowe, +and on the 5th the relieving column left, and bivouacked +near the Infuchini mission station. Early next morning +an unfortunate alarm occurred, causing the death of three +men. A sentry fired at what he thought was a body +of the enemy, and the piquet on the opposite side of +the entrenchment retired into shelter, together with +native scouts who were out in front. Although it was +a bright moonlight night, and no mistakes should have +been made, fire was opened from the entrenchment, and +five of the 60th were wounded and nine natives +bayoneted as they attempted to gain the shelter of the +laager.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_386"></a>[386]</span></p> + +<p>On reaching Ngingindhlovu a new laager was formed, +about a mile from the old one; this was garrisoned on +the 7th, the column moving on to the Tugela.</p> + +<p>The small mounted force under Captain Barrow, +19th Hussars, rendered excellent service, both during +the engagement at Ngingindhlovu, and by the manner +in which the scouting duties were carried out.</p> + +<p>A party of Mr. John Dunn’s people (natives), 150 +in number, were also of the greatest utility in scouting +and outpost duties. Mr. Dunn himself accompanied the +General; his knowledge of the country and sound +advice being of much use (<i>ibid.</i> p. 122).</p> + +<p>John Dunn was an Englishman, resident in Zululand, +where he had lived for many years and adopted many +Zulu customs. He amassed a considerable property, +and had an extensive following. He invariably received +the greatest kindness and consideration from the Zulu +king, and was frequently employed by him in various +communications with the English Government. When +the danger of war between English and Zulus appeared +imminent, John Dunn appealed to the English for +protection for himself, his property, and people, who +were ready, he said, to fight on the English side. At +the same time Cetshwayo sent him a message to the +effect that he saw the English were going to attack him, +and therefore Dunn had better leave his country, with +his people and cattle, and go to a place of safety. This +John Dunn did, crossing the Tugela about the 3rd of +January, and settling near Fort Pearson.</p> + +<p>At the time the General determined to move to the +relief of Etshowe he “sent secret instructions to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_387"></a>[387]</span> +the different commanders along the border, from the +Lower Tugela up to Kambula Hill, requesting them +to make strong demonstrations all along the line, and, +if possible, to raid into Zululand in order to make a +diversion in favour of the relieving column,” thinking +he “might possibly have to meet the full strength of +the Zulu army.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2318] p. 56).</span></p> + +<p>On the 2nd of April a small force of Native Contingent +crossed the Tugela and burnt two large kraals, +no resistance being made. On the next day a force +crossed again and burnt an unoccupied kraal, exchanging +a few shots with Zulus, of whom a +considerable number were seen at a distance. On the +following day the natives refused to cross, and the +Border Agent, Mr. Fannin, remarks: “I think it is +fortunate it was not attempted, as the Zulus had +assembled a considerable body of men to resist.”—(P. +P. [C. 2367] p. 104).</p> + +<p>The reserve native force had co-operated in these +movements by being assembled and placed in position +along the Tugela, but the colonial commander declined +to proceed over the border, or send any of his force into +Zululand, without the sanction of the Lieut.-Governor.</p> + +<p>The Government of Natal had placed at Lord +Chelmsford’s disposal a number of natives (over 8000) +for service in the Zulu country. Some of these were +intended for fighting purposes, and formed what we +have already described as the Natal Native Contingent. +The rest were supplied for transport, pioneer, and +hospital-corps services, and all were expected to cross +the border.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_388"></a>[388]</span></p> + +<p>But besides these men, native levies were called out, +when the war began, for service <em>in the colony</em>—that is to +say, for the defence of the border under colonial district +commanders. These levies were to be used solely as a +border-guard, and were not intended to cross into Zululand +at all. Sir Henry Bulwer, in permitting them to +be raised, had been careful to protect as far as possible +the interests of both the white and the native population +of Natal, and had made very proper stipulations as to +the services for which he placed these levies at the +disposal of the General. The latter, indeed, expressed +it as his opinion that every available fighting native in +the colony should be called out; but Sir Henry, with a +greater comprehension of consequences, demurred to this +rash proposal, and a personal interview between the two +resulted in the above-mentioned arrangement.</p> + +<p>Consequently the Lieut.-Governor was not a little +surprised to learn on the 8th April that the native levies +had been ordered, in conjunction with the other troops, +to make raids across the border into Zululand. To this +he objected, writing to the High Commissioner on April +9th in the following terms: “I venture to suggest for +your Excellency’s consideration the question of the +policy of raids of this kind. The burning of empty +kraals will neither inflict much damage upon the Zulus, +nor be attended with much advantage to us; whilst acts +of this nature are, so it seems to me, not only calculated +to invite retaliation, but to alienate from us the whole +of the Zulu nation, men, women, and children, including +those who are well disposed to us. We started on +this war on the ground that it was a war against the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_389"></a>[389]</span> +king and the Zulu Government, and not against the +nation....”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2367] p. 103).</span></p> + +<p>A correspondence ensued between the Lieut.-Governor +and the Lieut.-General, in which the two differed in a +very decided manner. Lord Chelmsford complained that +the action taken by the Lieut.-Governor, “in refusing to +allow the orders issued by” him to the native forces to +be carried out, appeared to him “fraught with such +dangerous consequences” that he considered it necessary +to refer the question to the Home Government. <span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2318] p. 56.)</span> He implied that this interference had +(in conjunction with the state of the Tugela River) +prevented a general raid being made, which might have +proved an important diversion in favour of the column +relieving Etshowe, and he declared, in behalf of the +raiding system, that “it would be madness to refrain +from inflicting as much damage as possible upon our +enemy” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 56).</p> + +<p>It was a well-known fact that the fighting-men of +the Zulu nation were with their army, and that the only +occupants of the kraals to be raided were the women, +children, and the infirm and other non-combatants; +therefore the General’s following remark, “I am satisfied +that the more the Zulu nation at large feels the strain +brought upon them by the war, the more anxious will +they be to see it brought to an end,” was of a highly +Christian, wise, and soldierly nature, hardly to be +matched by anything attributed to the Zulu monarch +himself.</p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer’s replies were temperate but decided. +He pointed out that the statement contained in<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_390"></a>[390]</span> +Lord Chelmsford’s despatch to the Secretary of State for +War, implying that the Governor’s interference had (or +might have) seriously interfered with the relief of +Etshowe, was erroneous; Etshowe having been relieved +on the 3rd of April, five days before Sir Henry even +heard of the order for the Natal natives to make raids. +To the General himself he observes that his interference +had been limited to approval of the action of the district +commander, who declined to employ his force in a +manner contrary to the express stipulations under which +they were raised, and concludes: “The views of this +Government are very strongly against the employment, +under the present circumstances, of the native levies or +native population along the border in making raids into +the Zulu country, as being, in the opinion of the Government, +calculated to invite retaliation, and also as being +demoralising to the natives engaged in raiding” (<i>ibid.</i> +p. 55).</p> + +<p>The Lieut.-Governor’s views were that these native +levies “were called out expressly and solely for service +in the colony, and for the defence of the colony, and +were placed under the colonial district commanders for +that purpose only,” and that no authority had been +given to employ these native levies “on any service in +the Zulu country” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 54).</p> + +<p>And it seems that raids along the border had been +ordered <em>after</em> the relief of Etshowe was effected.</p> + +<p>Sir H. Bulwer writes, 16th April, that he had received, +on the 7th, a copy of a military telegram written +after the relief of Etshowe, showing that the General +had “ordered raids to be made across the border<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_391"></a>[391]</span> +wherever feasible,” and, on the following day, a copy of +a memorandum, written from Etshowe by Colonel +Crealock, the Assistant Military Secretary, and addressed +to the officer commanding at the Lower Tugela, and, +among other things, it contained the following instruction: +“Send word up to the frontier to raid across the +river wherever the river permits.” And the same evening +he heard of the native levies having been required +to cross (<i>ibid.</i> p. 53).</p> + +<p>The question of the employment of the native levies +in making raids across the border was referred by the +Lieut.-Governor to the Executive Council of Natal, +which, on the 23rd April, expressed itself as “strongly +opposed to the employment, in making raids into the +Zulu country, of the native levies, who ... have +been called out for the <em>defence</em> of the colony only.” +But, in view of the Lieut.-General’s strongly-expressed +opinions, the Council felt there was no alternative but +that the General “should have the power of so employing +the native levies on the border. At the same time, +the Council desires ... to record emphatically its +objections to the course proposed, and to such employment +of the levies.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2367] p. 132).</span></p> + +<p>This decision of the Executive Council was communicated +to the General on April 25th by the Lieut.-Governor, +with the remark: “Your Excellency will +therefore have the power to employ the native levies +across the border in the way named by you, should you +think it imperatively necessary for military reasons. +Your Excellency will not fail to perceive, however, that +such employment of the native levies is against the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_392"></a>[392]</span> +decided opinion of this colony as to its inexpediency” +(<i>ibid.</i> p. 133).</p> + +<p>On the 20th May raids were again made into +Zululand from three different points, under Major +Twentyman’s command. One party crossed at the +Elibomvu Drift, and burnt fifteen kraals and large +quantities of grain; another burnt three kraals and +captured a large herd of cattle; and the third burnt +two kraals, and then, seeing the Zulus assembling in +force, beat a hurried retreat across the Tugela.—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2374] p. 91).</span></p> + +<p>Sir Henry Bulwer, on the 24th May, writes to the +High Commissioner: “Major-General the Hon. H. H. +Clifford, commanding the base of operations ... was +wholly unaware that any such raid was being organised +by Major Twentyman, who, I believe, acted under +general instructions received from head-quarters.... The +views of the Government of Natal on the subject +of these raids, your Excellency is already acquainted +with. The material advantage to be gained by the work +of destruction or of plunder of Zulu property can be at +the best but trifling and insignificant, and on every +other account I fear our action will prove positively +injurious to us, to our interests, and to our cause. We +are absolutely provoking retaliation. Already, I am +informed, since the raid reported in these papers took +place, some native huts on the Natal side of the Tugela +have been burned by Zulus; and to what extent this +work of revenge and retaliation may be carried, with +what losses of property, and even of life, inflicted on +our border natives, it is impossible to say.... What<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_393"></a>[393]</span> +result we have gained to justify even the risk of such +retaliation against us, and of such a sacrifice to our own +native population, I know not” (<i>ibid.</i> pp. 89, 90).</p> + +<p>The fears of the Lieutenant-Governor were in some +measure realised on the 25th June, when he writes: “A +raid was made by two bodies of Zulus, numbering, it is +estimated, about 1000, into the Tugela Valley, below +the Krans Kop in this colony. The Zulus destroyed +several kraals, and carried off a number of cattle. I +regret to say also that several of our Natal natives, +including women, were killed, and some women and +children carried off.”</p> + +<p>“There can be little doubt that this raid has been +made in retaliation for the one that was made into the +Zulu country opposite the Krans Kop by a force under +Major Twentyman, of Her Majesty’s 4th Regiment, on +the 20th May, and which was reported to you in my +despatch of the 31st of that month.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] +p. 150).</span></p> + +<p>Thus the opinions expressed in Sir H. Bulwer’s +despatch of 24th May were to some extent justified, with +the probability of a blood-feud being set up between the +two border populations, and widening the breach between +ourselves and the Zulu people; and with it the increased +difficulty of obtaining a satisfactory settlement for the +future.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_394"></a>[394]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">REINFORCEMENTS—ISANDHLWANA REVISITED.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">During the latter part of March and April reinforcements +kept steadily pouring into Natal, and with them +four general officers—Major-General the Hon. H. H. +Clifford, V.C., C.B., who was stationed at Pietermaritzburg, +to command at the base of operations; Major-General +Crealock, C.B., to command No. 1 Division, +concentrating on the Lower Tugela; Major-General +Newdigate, to command No. 2 Division, head-quarters +Dundee; and Major-General Marshall, to command the +Cavalry Brigade attached to No. 2 Division; Brigadier-General +Wood, V.C., C.B., retaining his previous command—to +be styled the Flying Column.</p> + +<p>By the middle of March the available force consisted +of an effective strength of non-commissioned officers and +men—Imperial troops, 7520; volunteer cavalry, etc., +1367; Europeans, attached to native contingents, 495; +making a total of 9382 Europeans, with 5769 natives.—(P. +P. [C. 2316] p. 85).</p> + +<p>No operations of any consequence took place beyond +concentrating troops and forwarding supplies. On +the 20th April, Lord Chelmsford reported that Major-General<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_395"></a>[395]</span> +Crealock had taken up his command and, if +transport arrangements permitted, would shortly commence +operations. Major-General Newdigate was on +his way to his command.</p> + +<p>The reinforcements alone considerably exceeded the +strength of the force with which the war was so rashly +undertaken. They consisted of the 1st Dragoon Guards, +17th Lancers; 21st, 57th, 58th, 60th, 88th (one company), +91st, 94th Foot; two batteries Royal Artillery, +and detachments from St. Helena and Mauritius; one +company and half C troop Royal Engineers; drafts for +various regiments; detachments of Army Service and +Army Hospital Corps; etc. etc.;—a total (including the +staff embarked in February from England) of 387 +officers and 8901 men.</p> + +<p>But even after the arrival of this enormous accession +of strength, further reinforcements of three battalions +were demanded “for reserve and garrison purposes.”—(P. +P. [C. 2367] p. 162).</p> + +<p>At the end of April the effective force was:</p> + +<table class="autotable fs90 wd80"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="3">First Division, Major-General Crealock:</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">Imperial and irregular troops</td> +<td class="tdr">6508</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">Native Contingent (151 mounted)</td> +<td class="tdr">2707</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="3">Second Division, Major-General Newdigate:</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">Imperial and irregular troops</td> +<td class="tdr">6867</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">Natives (243 mounted)</td> +<td class="tdr">3371</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="3">Flying Column, Brigadier-General Wood:</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">Imperial and irregular troops</td> +<td class="tdr">2285</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">Natives (75 mounted)</td> +<td class="tdr">807</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="3">Making a total strength of 22,545 men available for the conquest of Zululand.</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<p>On the 14th May, Lord Chelmsford reported: “The +troops are in position, and are only waiting for sufficient<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_396"></a>[396]</span> +supplies and transport to advance.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2374] +p. 97).</span></p> + +<p>The transport difficulties naturally increased with +the increasing force. The colony did not eagerly press +forward to the rescue, and although transport for +service in the colony could be obtained, that for trans-frontier +work was not procurable in any quantity on any +terms.</p> + +<p>The colonial view somewhat appeared to be, “No +government has power, either legally or morally, to +force any man to perform acts detrimental to his own +interest.” No doubt the colony felt itself more secure +whilst the troops remained within its borders, and +naturally was not anxious to assist in their departure; +and it may have thought the war “was an Imperial +concern, brought about by an Imperial functionary;” +and therefore the Empire should be left “to worry out +the affair for itself;” as remarked by a colonial paper at +the time.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, it must be acknowledged that +the necessities of the troops, during this campaign, taxed +the resources of the colonists to the utmost. If some +profited in a mercantile point of view, and were unpatriotic +enough to try to make every penny they could +out of the army intended for their protection, there were +others who acted in a very different spirit. The sacrifice +and loss of both life and property through the Zulu war +has been as great, in proportion, to Natal as to the mother +country; and if the former was weak and wicked—or +perhaps only <em>thoughtless</em>—enough to wish for war, she +has now received a lesson which will prevent her ever<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_397"></a>[397]</span> +making so great a mistake again. While upon the one +side we hear stories of transport riders and others who +lost no opportunity of fleecing at every turn both +Government and military in their necessity, on the other +hand we have equally well-authenticated accounts of +strict honesty, and even generosity, on the part of other +Natalians. One story is told of a transport rider who +had earned the sum of £1500, which was to be paid by +instalments of £500 each: after he had received two of +these the officer who paid him was removed, and his +successor, unaware of previous payments, handed over +to the transport rider’s messenger the whole £1500. +The honest fellow at once returned the £1000 overpaid.</p> + +<p>It is also a well-known fact that many of the +principal tradesmen permitted their shopmen to join +the volunteer corps to which they belonged, still continuing +to pay them their respective salaries during their +absence.</p> + +<p>The colony was not revelling in a shower of gold, +as some at home imagine: a few individuals, doubtless, +thought to “make hay while the sun shines,” but +to the population at large the war was certainly not +advantageous. For some months fresh provisions were +almost at famine prices, or even unattainable by +private persons.</p> + +<p>Many farmers were with the army, either as volunteers +or with the transport train; others again had sold their +waggons and oxen, and thus had no means of bringing +in their produce. The market supply was consequently +very small, and generally at once bought up for the +garrisons.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_398"></a>[398]</span></p> + +<p>Transport difficulties, we have said, increased with +the increasing force. The 9000 Imperial troops sent as +reinforcements had to be fed, and their food conveyed +to where they were stationed. Three or four +thousand horses and mules also had to be fed in a +country from which grass was disappearing, and in +which supplies of forage were small. The larger part of +the troops and horses were sent up-country—some two +hundred miles from the coast—where winter grass-fires +might be expected, and nature’s stores were certain soon +to be exhausted; and thus arose the terrible strain in +the transport resources of the country.</p> + +<p>But much more was required than was necessary. +In place of the ponderous train accompanying each +column—a fruitful source of difficulty and danger on the +march by day, if a protection when halted at night—the +advance should have been made from entrenched +depôts in the lightest possible order. A rapid advance +on the king’s kraal in compact formation, and, <ins class="corr" id="tn-398" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'where-ever the enemy'"> +wherever the enemy</ins> might stand, a decisive battle fought—the +result of which, with the most ordinary care, could +not be doubtful—and the war would be virtually over. +There need have been no weary inactivity, with its +following of disease and death, and the saving to the +country would have been enormous.</p> + +<p>Supplies were pushed forward from the Lower +Tugela to the Inyezane, where a fort was constructed +(Fort Chelmsford); and from the base up to Conference +Hill—the supplies required by Lord Chelmsford before +an advance could be made being two months’ with the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_399"></a>[399]</span> +forces advancing, and one month’s at the advanced +depôts.<a id="FNanchor_169" href="#Footnote_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a></p> + +<p>But little further was done through this period of +indecision and vacillation, in which plans were made +only to be changed, and orders given one day to be +countermanded the next. Sickness laid its heavy hand +on many a man—exposure and inaction in the first place, +then want of proper care and nursing, gradually swelling +the death-roll. Before the war, and throughout its course, +a body of ladies of Natal were most anxious to place themselves +under the orders of the medical staff as nurses for +the sick and wounded; but their offers, though repeatedly +pressed upon the authorities, were declined.</p> + +<p>It was at this period that the following message was +telegraphed by Lord Chelmsford to the High Commissioner:</p> + +<p>“May 16th, 1879.—General Crealock telegraphs: +Messengers from king are at his advanced post. King +sues for peace. John Dunn sent to see them. Message +as follows: ‘White man has made me king, and I am +their son. Do they kill the man in the afternoon whom +they have made king in the morning? What have I +done? I want peace; I ask for peace.’ King asks for +a black man or white man to return with his messengers +to say message delivered rightly. Undwana, one of the +messengers, states that he has sent to Dabulamunzi to +order him to go to the king. Message had been delivered +to him by Undwana, and he ought to have +reached king yesterday. All principal chiefs have been<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_400"></a>[400]</span> +sent for to the king. He says army is dispersed. Chiefs +have been urging peace on king. General C. has only +informed Clifford and Lieutenant-Governor of the above. +I have telegraphed back to Crealock: ‘Tell messengers +I informed king’s messenger at Etshowe that any message +must be sent to me at Colonel Wood’s camp. I am ready +to receive any messenger under flag of truce. Tell them +something more than words will be required. Supply +them with flag of truce; relax no preparations or precautions.’” +End of quotation. “I shall be glad to +receive your Excellency’s early instructions. I consider +the king should not be allowed to remain on the throne, +and that the terms of peace should be signed at Ulundi +in presence of British force. I shall not make any +change in my arrangements in the meantime.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2374] pp. 100, 101).</span></p> + +<p>To Major-General Marshall belongs the credit of performing +the long-neglected duty of revisiting the fatal +battle-field of Isandhlwana, and burying as many as +possible of those that fell there. With General Newdigate’s +permission, the Cavalry Brigade under General +Marshall made a reconnaissance of the Bashi Valley +and Isandhlwana, having moved down to Rorke’s Drift +for that purpose.</p> + +<p>The left column of the brigade proceeded up the +Bashi Valley, and moving round the Ingqutu range, +joined the right column at Isandhlwana.</p> + +<p>The reconnaissance was proposed to include burying +the dead, bringing away the waggons, etc.; but an +order was received prohibiting touching the 24th, who +were to be interred by their own comrades.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_401"></a>[401]</span></p> + +<p>The battle-field was a fearful sight—though softened +much by the kindly hand of nature. There plainly lay +revealed the widely-spread camp (or rather line of +camps), the hopeless position in which it was placed; +the absolute impossibility, circumstanced as it was, of +any result but the sad one we have already chronicled. +And there, too, were the evidences of a gallant resistance, +and a stand made by men “faithful unto death.”</p> + +<p>It was well said: “The field of Isandhlwana is beginning +to give up its secrets; the mists of fiction are being +dispersed by the dry light of fact. It has not been +through mere idle curiosity that there has been a desire +to know what passed during the final moments of that +fatal struggle. There were difficulties to be explained, +reputations to be cleared, allegations to be contradicted. +There was the desire to know how those who were lost +had died. To be sure that they died with their faces to +the foe; to be satisfied that their death was not attended +with any excess of cruelty or suffering. And there can +be little doubt that it is the very anxiety to be assured +of all this that stands responsible for the numerous +fictions—as we must now hold them to be—which have +been circulated with regard to what passed on that +memorable day.”—<cite>Natal Witness</cite>, 29th May, 1879.</p> + +<p>A short description of the spot, taken from that +written by Mr. Archibald Forbes, may be of interest: +At the top of the ascent beyond the Bashi we saw, +on our left front, rising above the surrounding country, +the steep, isolated, and almost inaccessible hill, or +rather crag, of Isandhlwana; the contour of its rugged +crest strangely resembling a side view of a couchant<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_402"></a>[402]</span> +lion. On the lower neck of the high ground on its +right were clearly visible up against the sky-line the +abandoned waggons of the destroyed column. Now we +crossed the rocky bed of the little stream and were +cantering up the slope leading to the crest on which +were the waggons, and already tokens of the combat +and bootless flight were apparent. The line of retreat +towards Fugitives’ Drift, along which, through a gap in +the Zulu environment, our unfortunate comrades who +thus far survived tried to escape, lay athwart a rocky +slope to our right front, with a precipitous ravine at its +base. In this ravine dead men lay thick. All the way +up the slope could be traced the fitful line of flight. +Most of the dead here were 24th men; single bodies +and groups where they seemed to have gathered to +make a hopeless gallant stand and die. On the edge of +a gully was a gun-limber jammed, its horses hanging in +their harness down the steep face of the ravine; a little +farther on a broken ambulance-waggon, with its team of +mules dead in their harness, and around were the bodies +of the poor fellows who had been dragged from the +intercepted vehicle. Following the trail of bodies +through long grass and scattered stores, the crest was +reached. Here the dead lay thick, many in the uniform +of the Natal Mounted Police. On the bare ground on +the crest itself, among the waggons, the dead were less +thick; but on the slope beyond, on which from the crest +we looked down, the scene was the saddest and more +full of weird desolation than any I had yet gazed upon. +There was none of the horror of a recent battle-field; +nothing of all that makes the scene of yesterday’s battle<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_403"></a>[403]</span> +so rampantly ghastly shocked the senses. A strange +dead calm reigned in this solitude; grain had grown +luxuriantly round the waggons, sprouting from the seed +that dropped from the loads, falling on soil fertilised by +the life-blood of gallant men. So long in most places +had grown the grass that it mercifully shrouded the +dead, whom four long months to-morrow we have left +unburied. In a patch of long grass, near the right +flank of the camp, lay Colonel Durnford’s body, a +central figure of a knot of brave men who had fought +it out around their chief to the bitter end. A stalwart +Zulu, covered by his shield, lay at the Colonel’s feet. +Around him lay fourteen Natal Carbineers and their officer, +Lieutenant Scott, with a few Mounted Police<a id="FNanchor_170" href="#Footnote_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> (twenty). +Clearly they had rallied round Colonel Durnford in a +last despairing attempt to cover the flank of the camp, +and had stood fast from choice, when they might have +essayed to fly for their horses, who were close by their +side at the piquet-line. With this group were about +thirty gallant fellows of the 24th. In other places the +24th men were found as if fallen in rallying square, and +there were bodies scattered all along the front of the +camp.</p> + +<p>The fallen were roughly buried, except those of the +men of the 24th Regiment. These were ordered to be<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_404"></a>[404]</span> +left untouched. General Marshall had nourished a +natural and seemly wish to give interment to all the +dead who so long had lain at Isandhlwana, but it +appeared that the 24th desired to perform the ceremony +themselves in presence of both battalions. One has much +sympathy with the regiment, but General Marshall +offered to convey a burial-party with tools from Rorke’s +Drift in waggons, and it seemed scarcely right to postpone +longer than absolutely necessary what respect for +our honoured dead required. Thus, the Zulus, who have +carefully buried their own dead, will return to find we +visited the place, not to bury our dead, but to remove a +batch of waggons!</p> + +<p>In the desolate camp were many sad relics, and the +ground was strewn with them and the spoil of the +plundered waggons. Scarcely any arms were found, and +no ammunition—a few stray rusted bayonets and +assegais only were to be seen.</p> + +<p>Teams of horses were hitched on to the soundest of +the waggons, till forty fit to travel were collected on the +crest, and sent under escort to Rorke’s Drift, and meantime +scouting-parties had fired the kraals around, but +found no Zulus.</p> + +<p>“I shall offer few comments on the Isandhlwana +position. Had the world been searched for a position +offering the easiest facilities for being surprised, none +could have been well found to surpass it. The position +seems to offer a premium on disaster, and asks to be +attacked. In the rear laagered waggons would have +discounted its defects; but the camp was more defenceless +than an English village. Systematic scouting could<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_405"></a>[405]</span> +alone have justified such a position, and this too clearly +cannot have been carried out.”—<cite>Daily News</cite>, 20th June, +1879.</p> + +<p>On the 20th, 23rd, and 26th June the burial of the +remainder of those who fell at Isandhlwana was completed +by a force under the command of Lieut.-Colonel +Black, 24th Regiment. He carefully noted the signs of +the fight, and reported that the bodies of the slain lay +thickest in the 1-24th camp, in which 130 dead lay (in +two distinct spots), with their officers, Captain Wardell, +Lieutenant Dyer, and a captain and a subaltern not recognisable; +close to the place where the bodies of Colonel +Durnford, Lieutenant Scott, and other Carbineers, and men +of the Natal Mounted Police were found. This is described +as being a “centre of resistance,” as the bodies of men +of all arms were found converging as it were to the spot. +About sixty bodies, with those of Captain Younghusband +and two other officers, lay in a group under the southern +precipice of Isandhlwana, as if they had held the crags +and fought till ammunition failed. The proofs of hand-to-hand +fighting were frequent. The fugitives’ track, +too, told its tale: “Here and there around a waggon, +here and there around a tree, a group had formed and +stood at bay; shoulder to shoulder they fired their last +cartridge, and shoulder to shoulder they plied the steel; +side by side their bones are lying and tell the tale.”</p> + +<p>Eight hundred yards from the road the guns had +come upon ground no wheels could pass, and from here +the bodies were more and more apart till, about two +miles from camp, the last one lies and marks the limit +reached by white men on foot.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_406"></a>[406]</span></p> + +<p>The fatal trail again began near the river’s bank, +where Major Smith, R.A., and others rest, a river’s +breadth from Natal; across the river it runs until the +graves of Melville and Coghill nearly mark its end.</p> + +<p><cite>The Standard and Mail</cite> of September 16th says: +“It is a noticeable fact that Cetywayo declares that his +men were completely disheartened by Isandula, and that +as a matter of fact he was never able to get them +thoroughly together again after that event. He says +that a large part of the forces engaged on that occasion +were actually retreating when another part made the +fatal rush.... Of course these statements are of interest +as showing what Cetywayo said, but they must +be accepted with reservation, as he has throughout taken +up the theory that he and his men had no intention of +inflicting so much injury upon us as they did.”</p> + +<p>Bishop Schreuder, on the 3rd March, says: “The +Zulus’ version of the Isan’lwana story tells us some +most remarkable things with respect to the battle and +the effect of it on the Zulus. The Zulus, after +having ransacked the camp, bolted off with the booty as +fast as they could when the English army was seen +returning to the camp, even at a great distance. The +detachment of the Zulu army seen by Glyn’s column +on its way, the 23rd January, back to Rorke’s Drift, +was a part of the Undi corps and Utako (Udhloko) +retreating from the unsuccessful attack on the Commissariat +stores at Rorke’s Drift. Among the horsemen +was Udabulamanzi, who says that they were so tired, +and glad that Glyn’s column did not attack them, for if +attacked they would have bolted every one. Comparatively<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_407"></a>[407]</span> +few and inferior oxen were brought to the king, +as the izinduna appropriated to themselves the best and +most of the captured oxen; Udabulamanzi, for instance, +took home twenty good oxen. The Zulus say that the +affair at Isan’lwana commenced with a victory and +ended with a flight, for, as it is the case after a defeat, +the whole army did not return to the king, but the +soldiers dispersed, making the best of their way with +what booty they had got to their respective homes, and +to this day they have not reassembled to the king, +who is very much displeased with his two generals, +Umnkingwayo (Tsingwayo) and Umavumengwane +(Mavumengwana), and other izinduna.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. +2318] p. 37).</span></p> + +<p>Some of the Zulu and native accounts of Isandhlwana +are worth noticing. One says the engagement “lasted +till late in the afternoon.” <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2374] p. 24.)</span> +Another speaks of the fighting when the 24th retired +on the tents, and of their ammunition failing. Another +(Nugwende, a brother of Cetshwayo) says that the main, +or front and the left flank attack of the Zulu army +were beaten and fell back with great loss until the fire +of the white troops slackened. The right flank entering +the camp, the main body was ordered to renew the +attack, which the English were unable to prevent from +want of ammunition.</p> + +<p>The following “Statement of a Zulu Deserter regarding +the Isan’lwana Battle” was taken by Mr. Drummond, +head-quarter staff:</p> + +<div class="blockquot fs85"> + +<p>The Zulu army, consisting of the Ulundi corps, about 3000 +strong; the Nokenke Regiment, 2000 strong; the Ngobamakosi<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_408"></a>[408]</span> +Regiment, including the Uve, about 5000 strong; the Umcityu, +about 4000 strong; the Nodwengu, 2000 strong; the Umbonambi, +3000 strong; and the Udhloko, about 1000 strong, or a total of +about 20,000 men in all, left the military kraal of Nodwengu on the +afternoon of the 17th of January. It was first addressed by the +King, who said:</p> + +<p>“I am sending you out against the whites, who have invaded +Zululand and driven away our cattle. You are to go against the +column at Rorke’s Drift, and drive it back into Natal; and, if the +state of the river will allow, follow it up through Natal, right up +to the Draakensburg. You will attack by daylight, as there are +enough of you to ‘eat it up,’ and you will march slowly, so as not to +tire yourselves.”</p> + +<p>We accordingly left Nodwengu late in the afternoon, and marched +in column to the west bank of the White Umfolosi, about six miles +distant, where we bivouacked for the night. Next day we marched +to the Isipezi military kraal, about nine miles off, where we slept; +and on the 19th we ascended to the tableland near the Isihlungu +hills, a march of about equal duration with that of the day previous. +On this day the army, which had hitherto been marching in single +column, divided into two, marching parallel to and within sight of +each other, that on the left consisting of the Nokenke, Umcityu, and +Nodwengu Regiments, under the command of Tyingwayo, the other +commanded by Mavumingwana. There were a few mounted men +belonging to the chief Usirayo, who were made use of as scouts. On +the 20th we moved across the open country and slept by the Isipezi +hill. We saw a body of mounted white men on this day to our left +(a strong reconnaissance was made on the 20th, to the west of the +Isipezi hill, which was probably the force here indicated). On the +21st, keeping away to the eastward, we occupied a valley running +north and south under the spurs of the Ngutu hill, which concealed +the Isandlana hill, distant from us about four miles, and nearly due +west of our encampment. We had been well fed during our whole +march, our scouts driving in cattle and goats, and on that evening we +lit our camp-fires as usual. Our scouts also reported to us that they +had seen the vedettes of the English force at sunset on some hills +west-south-west of us (Lord Chelmsford with some of his staff rode up +in this direction, and about this time, and saw some of the mounted +enemy). Our order of encampment on the 21st of January was +as follows: On the extreme right were the Nodwengu, Nokenke, +and Umcityu; the centre was formed by the Ngobamakosi and +Mbonambi; and the left, of the Undi Corps and the Udhloko<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_409"></a>[409]</span> +Regiment. On the morning of the 22nd of January there was no +intention whatever of making any attack, on account of a superstition +regarding the state of the moon, and we were sitting resting, when +firing was heard on our right (the narrator was in the Nokenke +Regiment), which we at first imagined was the Ngobamakosi engaged, +and we armed and ran forward in the direction of the sound. We +were, however, soon told it was the white troops fighting with +Matyana’s people some ten miles away to our left front, and returned +to our original position. Just after we had sat down again, a small +herd of cattle came past our line from our right, being driven down +by some of our scouts, and just when they were opposite to the +Umcityu Regiment, a body of mounted men, on the hill to the west, +were seen galloping, evidently trying to cut them off. When several +hundred yards off, they perceived the Umcityu, and, dismounting, +fired one volley at them and then retired. The Umcityu at once +jumped up and charged, an example which was taken up by the +Nokenke and Nodwengu on their right, and the Ngobamakosi and +Mbonambi on the left, while the Undi Corps and the Udhloko formed +a circle (as is customary in Zulu warfare when a force is about to be +engaged) and remained where they were. With the latter were the +two commanding officers, Mavumingwana and Tyingwayo, and several +of the king’s brothers, who with these two corps bore away to the +north-west, after a short pause, and keeping on the northern side of +the Isandlana, performed a turning movement on the right without +any opposition from the whites, who, from the nature of the ground, +could not see them. Thus the original Zulu left became their extreme +right, while their right became their centre, and the centre the left. +The two regiments which formed the latter, the Ngobamakosi and +Mbonambi, made a turning along the front of the camp towards the +English right, but became engaged long before they could accomplish +it; and the Uve Regiment, a battalion of the Ngobamakosi, was +repulsed and had to retire until reinforced by the other battalion, +while the Mbonambi suffered very severely from the artillery fire. +Meanwhile, the centre, consisting of the Umcityu on the left centre, +and the Nokenke and Nodwengu higher up on the right, under the hill, +were making a direct attack on the left of the camp. The Umcityu +suffered very severely, both from artillery and musketry fire; the +Nokenke from musketry fire alone; while the Nodwengu lost least. +When we at last carried the camp, our regiments became mixed up; +a portion pursued the fugitives down to the Buffalo River, and the +remainder plundered the camp; while the Undi and Udhloko Regiments +made the best of their way to Rorke’s Drift to plunder the post<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_410"></a>[410]</span> +there—in which they failed, and lost very heavily, after fighting all +the afternoon and night. We stripped the dead of all their clothes. +To my knowledge no one was made prisoner, and I saw no dead body +carried away or mutilated. If the doctors carried away any dead +bodies for the purpose of afterwards doctoring the army, it was done +without my knowing of it; nor did I see any prisoner taken and +afterwards killed. I was, however, one of the men who followed the +refugees down to the Buffalo River, and only returned to the English +camp late in the afternoon. (This portion of the prisoner’s statement +was made very reluctantly.) The portion of the army which had +remained to plunder the camp did so thoroughly, carrying off the +maize, breadstuffs (<em>sic</em>), and stores of all kinds, and drinking such +spirits as were in camp. Many were drunk, and all laden with their +booty; and towards sunset the whole force moved back to the encampment +of the previous night, hastened by having seen another +English force approaching from the south. Next morning the greater +part of the men dispersed to their homes with their plunder, a few +accompanying the principal officers to the king, and they have not +reassembled since.—<cite>The Times</cite>, March 22nd, 1879.</p> +</div> + +<p>Another account, taken by the interpreter of one of +the column commanding officers (a version of which has +appeared in the columns of <cite>The Army and Navy Gazette</cite>, +of 11th October 1879, and is described as a “full and +accurate account”), is selected as being corroborated in +all main points by survivors of the British force, and +by the battle-field itself. It is the story of Uguku, a +Zulu belonging to the Kandampenvu (or Umcityu) +Regiment, who says: “We arrived at Ingqutu eight +regiments strong (20,000 to 25,000 men) and slept in +the valley of a small stream which runs into the +Nondweni river to the eastward of Sandhlwana. The +regiments were Kandampenvu (or Umcityu), Ngobamakosi, +Uve, Nokenke, Umbonambi, Udhloko, Nodwengu +(name of military kraal of the Inkulutyane +Regiment), and Undi (which comprises the Tulwana, +Ndhlondhlo, and Indhluyengwe): The army was under<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_411"></a>[411]</span> +the joint command of Mavumengwana, Tsingwayo, and +Sihayo. It was intended that Matshana ka Mondisa +was to be in chief command, but he having been a +Natal Kafir, the other three were jealous of him, and +did not like him to be put over them; they therefore +devised a plan of getting him out of the way on the +day of the battle. They accomplished this plan by +getting him to go forward with Undwandwe to the +Upindo to reconnoitre, and promised to follow. As soon +as he had gone they took another road, viz. north of +Babanango, while Matshana and Undwandwe went +south of it, being accompanied by six mavigo (companies). +It was our intention to have rested for a day +in the valley where we arrived the night before the +battle, but having on the morning of the battle heard +firing of the English advance guard who had engaged +Matshana’s men, and it being reported that the Ngobamakosi +were engaged, we went up from the valley to +the top of Ingqutu, which was between us and the +camp; we then found that the Ngobamakosi were not +engaged, but were quietly encamped lower down the +valley. We saw a body of horse coming up the hill +towards us from the Sandhlwana side. We opened fire +on them, and then the whole of our army rose and came +up the hill. The enemy returned our fire, but retired +down the hill, leaving one dead man (a black) and a horse +on the field. The Uve and Ngobamakosi then became engaged +on our left with the enemy’s skirmishers, and soon +afterwards we were all engaged with the skirmishers of +the enemy. We were not checked by them” (<em>i.e.</em> stopped), +“but continued our march on the camp until the artillery<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_412"></a>[412]</span> +opened upon us. The first shell took effect in the ranks +of my regiment, just above the kraal of Baza. The +Nokenke then ran out in the shape of a horn towards the +kraal of Nyenzani on the road between Isandhlwana and +Rorke’s Drift (the continuation of the road, to the eastward +of the camp). The engagement now became very +hot between the Mangwane (mounted natives) and us, the +Mangwane being supported by the infantry, who were +some distance in their rear. We were now falling very +fast. The Mangwane had put their horses in a donga, +and were firing away at us on foot. We shouted +‘Izulu!’ (‘The heavens!’)<a id="FNanchor_171" href="#Footnote_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> and made for the donga, +driving out the Mangwane towards the camp. The +infantry then opened fire on us, and their fire was so +hot, that those of us who were not in the donga retired +back over the hill. It was then that the Nokenke and +Nodwengu regiments ran out towards Nyenzani’s kraal. +We then shouted ‘Izulu!’ again, and got up out of the +dongas. The soldiers opened fire on us again, and we +laid down. We then got up again, and the whole of my +regiment charged the infantry, who formed into two +separate parties—one party standing four deep with their +backs towards Sandhlwana, the other standing about +fifty yards from the camp in like formation. We were +checked by the fire of the soldiers standing near Sandhlwana, +but charged on towards those standing in front of +the camp, in spite of a very heavy fire on our right flank +from those by Sandhlwana. As we got nearer we saw +the soldiers were beginning to fall from the effects of +our fire. On our left we were supported by the Umbonambi,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_413"></a>[413]</span> +half the Undi, Ngobamakosi, and Uve. Behind +us were the other half of the Undi and Udhloko, who +never came into action at Sandhlwana, but formed the +reserve (which passed on and attacked Rorke’s Drift). +As we rushed on the soldiers retired on the camp, fighting +all the way, and as they got into the camp we were +intermingled with them. It was a disputed point as to +which of the following regiments was the first in the +English camp, viz.: Undi, Kandampenvu, Ngobamakosi, +and Umbonambi; but it was eventually decided that the +Umbonambi was the first, followed by Undi.</p> + +<p>“One party of soldiers came out from among the tents +and formed up a little above the ammunition-waggons. +They held their ground there until their ammunition failed +them, when they were nearly all assegaied. Those that +were not killed at this place formed again in a solid +square in the neck of Sandhlwana. They were completely +surrounded on all sides, and stood back to back, +and surrounding some men who were in the centre. +Their ammunition was now done, except that they had +some revolvers which they fired at us at close quarters. +We were quite unable to break their square until we had +killed a great many of them, by throwing our assegais +at short distances. We eventually overcame them in +this way.”<a id="FNanchor_172" href="#Footnote_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_414"></a>[414]</span></p> + +<p>When all we have narrated was known in Natal, the +question was asked in the public prints: “Who, in the +light of these recently-discovered facts, were the real +heroes of that day? Surely the two officers who commanded +in that narrow pass at the rear of the camp.... +Surely, too, no smaller heroism was that of the fourteen +carbineers ... who, mere boys as they were, gave their +lives away in order to afford their comrades-in-arms a +chance of retreat.... Any one of these men might have +had a chance for his life, had he chosen to follow the +example set by so many. They remained, however, and +they died, and only after four months of doubt, contradiction, +and despatch-writing, is it made known to the +world who they were who have most deserved the +coveted decoration ‘For Valour.’”</p> + +<p>“‘The dead shall live, the living die!’ Never was +this well-known line of Dryden’s more strikingly illustrated +than by the events of the past fortnight,” writes +<cite>The Natal Witness</cite> of June 7th, 1879. “‘The dead shall +live,’ the mists of doubt, overclouding many a reputation,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_415"></a>[415]</span> +have been cleared up by a visit to the now sacred +field of Isandhlwana.</p> + +<p>“‘The living die:’ the hopes of a large party in an +European nation have been extinguished by the assegais +of a mere handful of savages.” (Alluding to the death of +the Prince Imperial of France.) “The two events stand +side by side in startling contrast, and suggest thoughts +which even the wisest might with advantage ponder. +Turn, for instance, to the story of the field of +Isandhlwana, as now told in plain though interrupted +and awful characters by the remains found resting +near the ‘neck.’ Could it have been guessed that, +while human recollection and human intelligence failed +so utterly to convey to the world a history of the events +of that too memorable day, Nature herself would have +taken the matter in hand, and told us such a story as no +one who hears it will ever forget? Four months, all but +a day, had elapsed since the defenders of the field stood +facing the Zulu myriads—four months of rain and sun, +of the hovering of slow-sailing birds of prey, and of +the predatory visits, as it might well be deemed, of +unregarding enemies. Four months! and during all +that time, while the world was ringing from one end to +the other with the news of a terrible disaster, while +reinforcements were crowding on to our shores, and +special correspondents were flooding the telegraph-wires +with the last new thing, all through those four months +the dead slept quietly on, waiting almost consciously, as +one might think, for the revelation which was to +establish their fame, and, where necessary, relieve their +unjustly sullied reputation. For four months was there<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_416"></a>[416]</span> +a sleep of honour slept upon that bitter field—a sleep +unbroken by any of the noise of the war that rolled both to +southward and to northward. The defeat of Indlobane +had been suffered; the victory of Kambula had been +gained; the defenders of Rorke’s Drift had been rewarded, +at least with a nation’s praise; the imprisoned +column had been released from Etshowe; all the roads +in Natal had rung to the tread of men and the rolling of +waggon-wheels, as the force which was to “wipe out” +the disaster of Isandhlwana moved up to the front. Yet +still the honoured dead slept in silence. Only the grasses +that waved round them in the autumn breeze murmured +to them of their coming resurrection; only the stars that +looked down on them, when the night wind even had +ceased, and the hills loomed black and silent in the +morning hours, bade them be patient and wait. There +were many and varied fates entwined in that quiet +group: there was the trained officer, there was the +private soldier, there was the man who had come to find +employment in a colonial service, there were the lads +from the colony itself; all these were there, waiting till +the moment should come when their heroism should be +recognised, when the vague slanders of interest or of +cowardice should be dispelled, and the wreath of undying +fame hung round each name in the historic +temple. And the moment, long waited for—long +promised, as it might almost seem, by the beneficent +hand of Nature herself, who held firmly to some unmistakable +tokens of recognition—the moment at last +arrived. There could be no mistake about it. Those +lying here were those who had often been called by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_417"></a>[417]</span> +name by those who found them. If one means of recognition +was absent, another took its place. If the +features were past identification, there was the letter +from a sister, the ornament so well known to companions, +the marks of rank, the insignia of office. +Ghastly tokens, it will be said, making up the foreground +of a ghastly scene. Yes, ghastly tokens, but +glorious tokens also—tokens enabling many a family to +name those that died with a regret no longer mingled +with doubt or with pain; tokens that will long be +cherished, and which will be shown to children as preserving +the memory of lives that are to be imitated. A +black cloud has, by these revelations, been lifted from +the rocks of Isandhlwana, and many whom we deemed +dead are living again—living as examples, never to be +defaced, of the honour which tradition has so fondly +attached to a British soldier’s name.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_418"></a>[418]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">THE PRINCE IMPERIAL.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Early in April the South African community was +greatly impressed and interested by the arrival of the +young Prince Imperial, who came out to Natal to take +his share in the fortunes of war, and to see something +of active service against the Zulus. The colonists were +not a little gratified by the fact of this young hope of +an illustrious house having come to fight for and with +them against their dreaded foes; yet amongst them all +there was hardly one, great or small, gentle or simple, +whose second thought was not one of sincere regret that +he, who, besides being of such importance in the future +of Europe, was also his widowed mother’s only son and +sole comfort, should be allowed to risk his life in a +savage warfare. Many a thought of kindly sympathy +was directed from Natal towards that royal mother for +whom English men and women have always had so +sincere a feeling, whether in prosperity or adversity; +and many a warm-hearted woman’s eyes filled with +tears at the sight of the gallant youth, and at the very +thought of what his loss would be to her who remained +to pray for him at home, the home which she had found<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_419"></a>[419]</span> +amongst our countrymen in England. On every side +anxious hopes were expressed that the Prince would be +carefully guarded from danger, and not allowed needlessly +to throw away his precious young life; all these +hopes and anxieties were redoubled when he arrived, +and, by his winning ways and gallant bearing, won the +hearts of all who came in contact with him. Had Natal +been asked, he would have been sent straight home +again instead of across the borders, and yet it would +have been hard to resist and thwart the eager wish to +be of use, to work, and to see service which characterised +him throughout his short campaign, and which, combined +with gentleness and humanity as it was, proved +him to be a true soldier to the heart’s core.</p> + +<p>Since he had come to Natal he could not, of course, +be kept away from the front, and the day he left +’Maritzburg good wishes from all classes attended him +along the road. It was thought, indeed, that in all human +probability he was safe, except in the event of some +such battle as would make the chances equal for all, +from general to drummer-boy. “At all events,” it was +said, “Lord Chelmsford will keep him by his side.” +Others, again, opined that the General would find it no +easy task to restrain the eager young spirit that scorned +to be treated with more care than others of his age. +But this doubt was answered by one who knew the +Prince, and who said that he was too good a soldier ever +to disobey an order. Throw himself in the way of +difficulty and danger he might wherever possible, but +any distinct <em>order</em> would be promptly and fully obeyed.</p> + +<p>For some little time the Prince acted as extra aide-de-camp<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_420"></a>[420]</span> +to Lord Chelmsford, and accompanied him in that +capacity to Colonel Wood’s camp at Kambula, and back +to Utrecht. Colonel Harrison, R.E., was also of the +party, and during the journey very friendly relations +were established between him and the Prince, which +lasted to the end, and were drawn closer by the former’s +careful attendance during an indisposition which befell +the latter.</p> + +<p>Whilst at Kambula the General reconnoitred the +Indhlobane Mountain on May 4th, and on return to +camp was joined by the Prince Imperial, when, to show +him the defence of a laager, the alarm was sounded. In +three minutes every man was at his allotted post, and +an inspection of the camp, with its double tier of rifles +ready for work, was made by the General and staff. +Next day the camp was broken up, and the column +moved to about a mile from the White Umvolosi, near +the Zinguin range—Lord Chelmsford and staff, with +the Prince, proceeding to Utrecht.</p> + +<p>On May 8th, the General, having appointed Colonel +Harrison, R.E., Assistant-Quartermaster-General of the +army, and Lieutenant Carey, 98th Regiment, Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General, +requested the former +“to give some work to the Prince Imperial, as he was +anxious for it, and did not find enough to do in the +duties of an extra aide-de-camp.” This request was a +verbal one, and the words used may not be letter for +letter, but of the purport there is no doubt; and such a +request from the Commander-in-Chief was, of course, +an order which was immediately carried out. The +Prince was directed to collect and record information<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_421"></a>[421]</span> +respecting the distribution of troops, location of depôts, +and the like, and he worked hard at this for some +days. Lord Chelmsford shortly afterwards left for +Newcastle, but before his departure Colonel Harrison +suggested that it would be advisable, during his lordship’s +absence, to make a reconnaissance into Zululand, +on the borders of which they had been hovering so long, +so as to determine the exact line of route which the +columns ought to take in the impending invasion.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford accepted the suggestion, asking +Colonel Harrison to take the Prince with him on the +expedition, and appointing an intelligent officer to +accompany them. The reconnoitring party started with +a strong escort, and reached Conference Hill on May +13th. Here they were joined by Colonel Buller and 200 +horsemen, and were engaged on their reconnaissance till +May 17th, bivouacking at night with horses saddled +and bridled, and marching at dawn, scouring the +country, and sweeping Zulu scouts before them. The +Prince was delighted with the life, the simple fare of +the officers—his comrades—cooked by themselves at +their camp-fire, the strange country, the sight of the +enemy, the exhilarating gallops over the grass up hill +and down dale after fleet Zulu spies, the bivouac under +the star-lit heavens. All this pleased him immensely; +as he told Colonel Harrison: “Made him feel that he +was really doing soldiers’ work such as he had never +done before.” Always anxious to be of use, he made +most careful and copious notes and observations on all +they saw or did.</p> + +<p>On the 17th the party returned to Conference Hill,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_422"></a>[422]</span> +Colonel Harrison and Colonel Buller having arranged +for a combined and further reconnaissance of the +country from that place and Brigadier-General Wood’s +camp; but as the special duty to which the Prince and +the intelligence officer had been assigned was over, +Colonel Harrison would not allow them to accompany +him farther, but directed them to return to Utrecht. +They obeyed; but, on the 18th, after Colonel Harrison +had started on his expedition and was already in Zululand, +he was surprised by the appearance of the Prince +Imperial, who had galloped all the way from Balte +Spruit by himself to overtake him, bringing with him +the permission, for which he had sent a messenger to +Lord Chelmsford, to go on the new reconnaissance. The +party now consisted of Colonel Harrison, the Prince, +Lieutenant Carey, one officer and five men Bettington’s +Horse, and one officer and twenty men Natal Native +Horse (Basutu). The escort would have been stronger, +but that the junction with Colonel Buller from Wood’s +camp was looked for to add to it. The first day was +occupied in searching the country as before, and in +looking out for Buller; and the party bivouacked at +night with vedettes and sentries posted all round, as +Zulus had been seen on the hills, although they did not +molest the reconnoitring party.</p> + +<p>On the following day (the 19th), whilst exploring a +deep rough valley, the party was suddenly confronted +by a number of Zulus, who came down the hill at one +side of the donga, and spread out in the usual way in +two wings or horns, in order to overlap or outflank it, +firing as they advanced. The officer in command of the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_423"></a>[423]</span> +advance at once put spurs to his horse and rode straight +up the hill at the weak centre of the Zulu detachment, +followed by the rest of the party. They pushed right +through the centre of the Zulus, and the horns at once +broke away, and escaped among the rocks with some loss. +Smaller bodies of Zulus were met with subsequently, but +did not attempt to try conclusions with the horsemen, +who were obliged to keep on the move the greater part +of the night, as the enemy was all around them.</p> + +<p>Next morning they reached Conference Hill, without +meeting Colonel Buller; Colonel Harrison and the Prince +proceeding to Utrecht to report to Lord Chelmsford.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford now informed Colonel Harrison +that “He was to consider the Prince Imperial as attached +to the Quartermaster-General’s staff for duty, but it was +not put in orders, in consequence of the Prince not +being in the army.” The Prince lived, as before, with +the General’s personal staff, and Colonel Harrison, therefore, +only saw him when he came for work or orders, +which was very frequently.</p> + +<p>On May 25th—the head-quarters having been +established at Landman’s Drift—the Prince, having called +for work as usual, was directed to prepare a plan of a +divisional camp. That evening Colonel Harrison was +spoken to by Lord Chelmsford, because the Prince +Imperial had gone outside the lines without an escort, +but replied “That the work he had given the Prince to +do referred to the camp inside the outpost lines.” The +General then told Colonel Harrison “To take care that +the Prince was not to go out without an escort when +working for him, and in the matter of escort to treat<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_424"></a>[424]</span> +him, not as a royal person, but the same as any other +officer, taking all due precautions.”</p> + +<p>Colonel Harrison then said that “He would see the +Prince, and tell him he was never to leave the camp +without a suitable escort, and that he was to apply to +him for one when it was wanted;” and Lord Chelmsford +replied that “That would do.”</p> + +<p>The same day Colonel Harrison saw the Prince, and +told him this, and to make the matter quite sure, he +then and there gave him the instructions in writing.</p> + +<p>He next directed him to make a map of the country, +from the reconnaissance sketches of Lieutenant Carey +and others. This work the Prince executed very well, +and so eager was he for employment, so desirous to be +always up and doing, that he went, not once or twice, +but often every day to Colonel Harrison’s tent asking +for more.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of May, head-quarters were at Kopje +Allein, and on that and the two following days reconnaissances +were pushed far into the enemy’s country, +but no enemy was seen. Small parties, even single +officers, rode about unmolested all over the district +round, and went beyond the spot where so sad a scene +was shortly afterwards enacted.</p> + +<p>On the 31st of May the Prince went to Colonel +Harrison’s tent with a report which he had written, and, +as usual, asked for some more work. He was told that +the army was to march next day, and that he might go +out and report on the roads and camps for the day +following; with which instructions the Prince was +greatly pleased. Next day the 2nd Division (with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_425"></a>[425]</span> +which were Lord Chelmsford and the head-quarters’ +staff) were ordered to march towards Ulundi; Wood’s +column being in advance some miles, on the other side +of the Blood River, on a road which would take it out +eventually on the line of march of the head-quarters’ +column. Lieutenant Carey, whilst conversing on duty +matters with Colonel Harrison, expressed a wish to go +out with the Prince, as he desired to verify a sketch he +had made on the previous day; and, although Colonel +Harrison had intended to ask one of the General’s +personal staff to accompany the Prince, he said, when +Lieutenant Carey volunteered to go: “All right; you +can look after the Prince!” At the same time he +told Lieutenant Carey to let the Prince do the work +for which he was going out, namely, a detailed report +on the road and the selection of a site for the camp. +Lieutenant Carey was known to Colonel Harrison as a +cautious and experienced officer, who had been frequently +out on patrol duties with Colonel Buller and others, who +was acquainted with the nature of the work he had to +do, the precautions to be taken, and the actual ground +to be gone over; and there was every reason to believe +that he thoroughly understood his position, and would +make, as he had done before, the proper arrangements +for an escort.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 1st, Colonel Harrison, hearing +that no escort had arrived at the hour fixed for the +departure of the reconnoitring party, went over to +General Marshall’s tent, and obtained from him the +order for the number of men he thought sufficient—“six +Europeans and six Basutos;” and, having informed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_426"></a>[426]</span> +Lieutenant Carey of this, he rode off to attend to his +own duties—superintending the march of the army, +inspecting the fords, and moving on in advance (in +company with Major Grenfell) to select the site for +watering-places and the next camp. On a ridge in front +of the column Colonel Harrison and his companion +presently found the Prince and Lieutenant Carey halted +with the European troopers only, and heard from them +that they were waiting for the Basutos, who had not +joined them in camp; but some were now in sight on +the hillside flanking the line of march, and moving in a +direction which would bring them upon it a little in +advance of the spot where the party was waiting.</p> + +<p>As Lieutenant Carey had been already over the +country, he was asked by Colonel Harrison to point out +the place where the water supply for the next camp was, +and the whole party rode slowly along a donga towards +the supposed stream or ponds. Colonel Harrison did +not think the water sufficient for their purpose, and rode +back to the high ground, where he was rejoined by Major +Grenfell, who told him that the Prince’s party had just +discovered a better supply a little farther on. There +was a ridge in front of them which they considered +marked the end of the day’s march, and the officers +dispersed to attend to their own duties, not imagining +for an instant that the reconnoitring party would go on +without the Basutos, who, from their wonderful power +of sight and hearing, and quickness at detecting the +approach of danger, were always regarded as essential to +an escort.</p> + +<p>Unhappily, however, such was the case. The party<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_427"></a>[427]</span> +rode on until they came to a deserted kraal, situated +some 200 yards from the river, and consisting of +five huts, one with the usual small cattle enclosure. +Between the kraal and the river stretched a luxuriant +growth of tambookie grass, five or six feet in height, +with mealies and Kafir corn interspersed. This dense +covert, however, did not completely surround the kraal, +for in front there was an open space, apparently used by +the Zulus, judging from the ashes and broken earthenware +strewn about, as a common cooking-ground.</p> + +<p>Here the party halted, and the Prince, having first +sent a native guide to make sure that the huts were all +uninhabited, gave the order that the horses should be +off-saddled and turned out to graze. Some of them lit a +fire and made coffee, while the Prince and Lieutenant +Carey, after the latter had taken a look round with his +glass, proceeded to make sketches of the surrounding +country. It is said that the Prince’s talent with pen +and pencil, combined with his remarkable proficiency in +military surveying—that great gift of recognising at +once the strategic capabilities of any spot which distinguished +the First Napoleon—made his contributions +to our knowledge of the country to be traversed of great +value; and he never lost an opportunity of making +himself of use in this and every other way.</p> + +<p>It was about 3 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span> when the party halted at this +deserted kraal, the Prince deciding that they should +leave again in an hour’s time. That the Zulus had been +upon the spot not long before was apparent from signs +of freshly-chewed <em>imfi</em> (native sugar-cane) upon the +ground, while a few dogs lingering about might have<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_428"></a>[428]</span> +suggested that their masters were not far off. Before +the hour was over, however, the native guide came in +to report that he had seen a Zulu coming over the +hill, and it was now thought prudent to retire, the +Prince giving directions to collect and up-saddle the +horses, followed by the order to “Mount.”</p> + +<p>Some of the men were already in the saddle, others +in the act of mounting, when a sudden volley fired upon +them from amongst the tall stalks of the mealies (Indian +corn) which grew on every side, betrayed the presence +of a numerous armed foe, who had returned unseen to +those who were in temporary occupation of their kraals. +The distance was not twenty yards, and the long grass +swayed to the sudden rush of the Zulus, as with a +tremendous shout, they charged towards the Prince and +his companions. The horses all swerved at the suddenness +of the tumult, and one broke away, its rider being +shot before he could recover it and mount. The young +Prince was riding a fine gray charger, a gray of sixteen +hands, always difficult to mount, and on this occasion, +frightened by the firing, it became restive and could not +be controlled. Lieutenant Carey, apparently, had at +this moment been carried by his horse in a direction +which brought one of the huts between him and the +Prince, of whose difficulties he was therefore unaware. +From the moment of the attack no man seems to have +known much of what the rest were doing; to gallop +away was the only chance for life, and all hurried off, +the Prince in vain endeavouring to mount his restive +steed unaided. He was passed by Trooper Letocq: +“<i lang="fr">Dépêchez vous, s’il vous plait, Monsieur!</i>” he cried,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_429"></a>[429]</span> +as he dashed past, himself only lying across his saddle, +but the Prince made no answer; he was already doing +his utmost, and in another minute he was alone. He +was seen endeavouring to mount his rearing charger, as +it followed the retreat, while he ran beside it, the enemy +close at hand. He made one desperate attempt to leap +into the saddle by the help of the holster-flap; <em>that</em> gave +way, and then he fell. The charger dashed riderless +past some of the mounted men, who, looking back, saw +the Prince running after them on foot, with the Zulus but +a few paces behind him. Alas! not a man turned back, +they galloped wildly on, and carried back to camp the +news that the gallant young Prince, for or with whom each +of them should have died that day, lay slain upon the +hillside where he had made his last brave stand alone. +Two troopers fell besides—one was struck down by a +bullet as he rode away; the other was the man who had +lost his horse, Trooper Rogers, and who was last seen +in the act of levelling his carbine at the enemy. The +native guide was killed as well, after a hard fight with +the foe, witnessed to by the blood-stained and broken +weapons found by his side next day. The fugitives rode +on for some distance, when they met General Wood and +Colonel Buller, to whom they made their report. From +the brow of an adjacent hill these officers, looking +through their glasses, could see the Zulus leading away +the horses they had taken—the trophies of their successful +attack.</p> + +<p>That evening Colonel Harrison was in his tent, +engaged in writing orders for the next day’s march, +when Lord Chelmsford came in to tell him “The Prince<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_430"></a>[430]</span> +is killed!” and Lieutenant Carey soon after confirmed +the dreadful, well-nigh incredible news. He said +they were off-saddled at a kraal, when they were surrounded +and fired into, and that the Prince must have +been killed, for no one had seen him afterwards.</p> + +<p>Colonel Harrison asked the General to let him take a +few men to the kraal, and see if, by any chance, the +Prince were only wounded, or were hidden near at hand, +but his request was not granted, and the testimony of +the survivors extinguished all hope.</p> + +<p>Next day General Marshall, with a cavalry patrol, +went out to search for the Prince, being assisted by +scouts of the Flying Column. The bodies of the +troopers were soon found, and shortly afterwards that +of His Imperial Highness was found by Captain +Cochrane, lying in a donga about 200 yards from the +kraal where the party had halted. The body was +stripped with the exception of a gold chain with +medallions attached, which was still round his neck. +Sword, revolver, helmet, and clothes were gone; but in +the grass were found the Prince’s spurs and one sock.</p> + +<p>The body had eighteen assegai wounds, all in front, +and the marks on the ground and on the spurs indicated +a desperate resistance.</p> + +<p>The two white troopers were laid together beside a +cairn of stones, which was erected to mark the exact +spot where the Prince was found, and later in the day +they were buried there, the chaplain on duty with the +column performing the funeral service.</p> + +<p>But for the Prince himself a true soldiers’ bier was +formed of lances lashed together and horse blankets,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_431"></a>[431]</span> +and, borne thus, the body of the noble lad was carried +up the hill towards the camp which he had left the +previous day so full of energy and life.</p> + +<p>The melancholy news was telegraphed throughout +the colony, causing universal grief and consternation. +Every heart was wrung with sympathy for <em>the mother</em>; +and even those to whose homes and hearts the war had +already brought desolation, felt their own grief hushed +for awhile in the presence of a bereavement which +seemed to surpass all others in bitterness and depth.</p> + +<p>What citizen of ’Maritzburg will ever forget the +melancholy Sunday afternoon, cold and storm-laden, +when, at the first distant sound of the sad approaching +funeral music, all left their homes and lined the streets +through which the violet-adorned coffin passed on its +way to its temporary resting-place.</p> + +<p>In Durban, too, the solemn scene was repeated; the +whole colony being deeply moved at the sad and untimely +death of the gallant Prince. H.M.S. <i>Boadicea</i>, +flag-ship of Commodore Richards, had the honour of +conveying the body to Simon’s Bay, when it was transferred +to H.M.S. <i>Orontes</i> with every possible mark of +respect for conveyance to England.</p> + +<p>A court of inquiry was at once assembled by Lord +Chelmsford, and reported that Lieutenant Carey had +not understood the position in which he stood towards +the Prince, and, as a consequence, failed to estimate +aright the responsibility which fell to his lot; also that +he was much to blame for having proceeded on the +duty in question with a portion only of the escort; +and that the selection of the kraal where the halt was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_432"></a>[432]</span> +made, surrounded as it was by cover for the enemy, and +adjacent to difficult ground, showed a lamentable want +of military prudence. And, finally, the court deeply +regretted that no effort was made after the attack to +rally the escort and to show a front to the enemy, +whereby the possibility of aiding those who had failed +to make good their retreat might have been ascertained.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Carey was then tried by court-martial +and found guilty. The home authorities decided, however, +that the conviction and sentence could not be +maintained, and consequently ordered this officer to be +released from arrest and to return to his duty.</p> + +<p>In justice to Lieutenant Carey it must be said that +the Prince appears to have been actually in command +of the party; Lieutenant Carey accompanied it, by +permission, for the purpose of completing some of his +own work, taking advantage of the protection of the +escort to enable him to do so; he received no order +about the command of the escort, or other instructions +beyond the words, “You can look after the Prince,” +which were evidently interpreted as <em>advise him</em>, but +could scarcely warrant controlling his movements.</p> + +<p>The Prince’s written instructions from Colonel +Harrison were lost with him.</p> + +<p>On dangerous duties pertaining to the Quartermaster-General’s +Department in an enemy’s country +the Prince Imperial should <em>never</em> have been employed; +as long as he remained with the British forces he should +have been retained on the personal staff of the General +commanding.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_433"></a>[433]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">ULUNDI.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Before entering on the history of the advance of the +main column on Ulundi, we will glance at the doings of +No. 1 Division, which was to operate against Ulundi +from the eastward.</p> + +<p>During May entrenched posts had been established—Fort +Crealock, on the left bank of the Amatikulu River +and close to John Dunn’s Road, about fourteen miles from +Fort Pearson, on the Tugela; Fort Chelmsford, on the +right bank of the Inyezane, also on John Dunn’s Road, +and eight miles from Fort Crealock; and, in June, Fort +Napoleon, on the left bank of the Umlalazi River, between +Fort Chelmsford and Port Durnford, where a landing-place +was established—a brief account of which may be +interesting. The spot is described as a straight sandy +coast near the mouth of the Umlalazi River, always +having a boiling surf rolling in on the beach. The landing +operations were carried out by means of large decked +surf-boats of about forty tons burden each.</p> + +<p>The mode of working them was as follows: One end +of a long hawser was made fast to an anchor dropped +some distance outside the surf, and the other end taken<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_434"></a>[434]</span> +on shore by a small line, hauled taut, and secured to +shore moorings.</p> + +<p>By means of this “warp” the surf-boat travels to +and from the beach. Having picked up the warp by +the buoy-rope, it is placed in grooves in the bow and +stern of the boat, and there retained by pins. The roll +of the surf takes the boat in, large rope-stoppers being +used to check her should she be going too fast.</p> + +<p>In this way some 3000 tons of stores were landed, +at a very great saving of expense over land transport. +The landing operations were at all times difficult, sometimes +impossible; they were conducted by Commander +Caffin, R.N., and to him and the Naval Brigade there +stationed is due the entire credit of the excellent work +done.</p> + +<p>Forwarding supplies and bridging the Tugela was +the work of the 1st Division through May and well into +June; everything military, except convoy duty, appeared +at a standstill. There was a great deal of sickness +amongst the troops, but General Crealock did much in +providing proper hospital accommodation and improving +sanitary arrangements.</p> + +<p>Fort Pearson was converted into an extensive +hospital, where there were as many as 400 patients +at times, and whose garrison, after the advance of +the division, was composed of the convalescents. At +this hospital some wily patients managed to appropriate +£5000 of the public moneys; but this fortunately was +all recovered, except about £33.</p> + +<p>Telegraphic communication was established by the +Royal Engineers between Fort Chelmsford and the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_435"></a>[435]</span> +Lower Tugela; and Colonel Walker, C.B., Scots Guards, +was appointed to the command of this portion of the +base, and stationed at Fort Pearson.</p> + +<p>On the 18th June the long-expected move was made +by No. 1 Division, and General Crealock, with the +advanced portion of the force, left Fort Pearson and the +Lower Tugela. Moving by Fort Chelmsford, he reached +the Umlalazi River on the 22nd. The river was bridged +by the train under Captain Blood, R.E., and a work +commenced on the left bank called “Fort Napoleon.”</p> + +<p>The General was engaged reconnoitring on the 23rd +and following days, capturing a few cattle, one of which +appeared to resent its capture, charging the General, and +severely injuring his horse. On the 28th the force +encamped near Port Durnford.</p> + +<p>But little interest attaches to this division, which had +great opportunities before it. An earlier advance and a +little dash would have given the laurels of the second +campaign to the 1st Division, which at the beginning of +May consisted of upwards of 9000 men—6500 being +Europeans—a sufficient force to have accomplished the +destruction of Ulundi with ease; but it was not to be.</p> + +<p>Many absurd stories are told as to causes of delays, +one being the want of so many rations of <em>pepper</em>; and +the whole ending in the well-known telegram, “Where +is Crealock?”</p> + +<p>We may here devote a few remarks to the Naval +Brigade, which rendered such good service throughout +the campaign; and, had opportunity offered, would have +largely added to the laurels it won.</p> + +<p>After the relief of Etshowe, the Naval Brigade was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_436"></a>[436]</span> +divided between Lower Tugela and Fort Chelmsford, +Commander Brackenbury in command at the latter post, +Captain Campbell in chief command. The main force +advanced with General Crealock—545 officers and men +of <i>Active</i>, <i>Boadicea</i>, and <i>Shah</i>, with 3 9-pounder guns, +6 rocket-troughs, and 5 Gatling guns. At Port Durnford +they remained disembarking stores till July 21st, +when, after being reviewed by Sir Garnet Wolseley, +the <i>Active’s</i> and <i>Shah’s</i> men embarked, leaving the +<i>Boadicea’s</i> to continue temporarily the duties of the +landing station.</p> + +<p>Captain Bradshaw of the <i>Shah</i>, and Captain Adeane +of the <i>Tenedos</i>, rendered good service at Durban and +Simon’s Bay respectively.</p> + +<p>The Royal Marines of the squadron served with the +Naval Brigade. Lieutenant Dowding, R.M.L.I., was at first +the senior officer, and advanced with Colonel Pearson’s +column to Etshowe, remaining there until its relief. +Captain Phillips, R.M.L.I., and Captain Burrowes, R.M.A., +were landed from H.M.S. <i>Shah</i>, the former senior +officer, and in command of the Marines at the battle of +Ngingindhlovu.</p> + +<p>We must now return to the 2nd Division and Flying +Column, which at last began to move in the right direction. +Zululand had been carefully reconnoitred to the +Babanango Mountain by Colonel Buller, and the advance +of the 2nd Division, with the head-quarters, in this +direction was covered by the Flying Column, which was +always within striking distance.</p> + +<p>The troops now were carefully protected at night by +laagers; the ordinary form being a rectangle in three<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_437"></a>[437]</span> +compartments, with a shelter trench two yards outside +the waggons, so that there might be a second line of +fire from the top of the waggons, without risk to the +defenders of the shelter trench.</p> + +<p>The Flying Column bore the brunt of work in the +advances, scouting the country in every direction, the +most reliable “eyes and ears” of the force the “Natal +Native Horse,” then commanded by Captain Cochrane. +These men (Edendale men and Basutu) in small numbers +crowned the summit of every hill right and left of the +route, and miles in front they were pushed to feel the +way. On the 4th June the scouts reported a considerable +number of the enemy, these, after the exchange of a +few shots, Colonel Buller tried to draw towards the camp, +but in vain, and the patrol, not being strong enough to +risk an engagement, returned to camp. There three +messengers from Cetshwayo were being received by Lord +Chelmsford.</p> + +<p>They were sent back on June 6th with the following +message: “He must at once give proof of being earnest +in desiring peace, proof to be—1st. Two 7-pounder +guns, and the oxen now with him taken from us to be +sent in with the ambassadors. 2nd. A promise from +Ketchwayo that all the arms taken during war, etc., when +collected shall be given up. 3rd. One regiment to come +to my camp and lay down its arms as a sign of +submission. Pending Cetywayo’s answer, there will +be no military operations on our part; when he +has complied with them, I will order cessation of hostilities +pending discussion of final terms of peace.”—(P. +P. [C. 2374] p. 107).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_438"></a>[438]</span></p> + +<p>On the previous day (5th June), Colonel Buller took +a force of about 300 men to reconnoitre the proposed +route. The Zulus seen the day before came out from +their kraals, and formed as if for an attack. The ground +in their rear was broken and covered with thorny bush, +the kraals large, apparently belonging to a chief; and +beside one of them were four waggons, evidently taken +from Isandhlwana. Colonel Buller determined to burn +the kraals, but as he approached the enemy broke and +retired into the cover, opening a heavy fire. A portion +of the force engaged the Zulus from the edge of the bush +whilst the remainder set fire to the kraals, which was +accomplished with the loss of two men wounded.</p> + +<p>Major-General Marshall came up with a portion of +the Cavalry Brigade, and, with a view to ensuring the +safety of Colonel Buller’s retreat, advanced three troops +of the 17th Lancers under Colonel Drury-Lowe to hold +the enemy in check.</p> + +<p>The enemy was found to be very strongly posted in +the thorns, and the ground being impracticable for +cavalry, the Lancers were ordered to retire. Their +Adjutant, Lieutenant Frith, was in this fruitless skirmish +shot through the heart.</p> + +<p>During this affair an incident occurred (told by an +officer present at the time), showing the individual +bravery of the Zulus: A single warrior, chased by several +Lancers, found himself run down and escape impossible. +He turned and faced his enemies; spreading his arms +abroad he presented his bare breast unflinchingly to the +steel, and fell, face to the foe, as a brave soldier should.</p> + +<p>On the 6th a post called Fort Newdigate was established,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_439"></a>[439]</span> +and on this evening the warmth of the double +line of fire from the laager of the 2nd Division was +unpleasantly experienced by the 5th Company Royal +Engineers. This company had marched up that afternoon +in advance of the Flying Column (which was going +down-country for supplies), and had camped close to one +of the unfinished redoubts outside the laager; an alarm +was given in the laager, and a heavy fire opened therefrom. +The Engineers coolly lay down flat on the ground, +and waited till the excitement was over. It was due +entirely to their own steadiness that the <ins class="corr" id="tn-439" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'casualities were'"> +casualties were</ins> not greater; as it was, one sergeant was wounded and +two horses killed.</p> + +<p>On the 7th, the division advanced, clearing the +country of Zulus and burning their kraals, and encamped +at the Upoko River; remaining there till the arrival of +Brigadier-General Wood’s Column with a large convoy of +supplies for which it had been sent. The time was +usefully employed in reconnoitring, examining the road +in advance, making drifts practicable, etc.</p> + +<p>A line of telegraph was laid by the half Telegraph +Troop (C) Royal Engineers, from Quagga’s kraal (on the +road between Newcastle and Ladysmith), where it joined +the colonial line to Doornberg <em>viâ</em> Dundee and Landtmann’s +Drift, thus placing head-quarters in communication +with Pietermaritzburg, etc.; flag-signalling being +employed to communicate with Doornberg.</p> + +<p>On the 16th June the correspondent of <cite>The Times</cite> +wrote: “We are wandering towards Ulundi much as +the Children of Israel wandered towards Canaan, without +plans, or even definite notions for the future. It<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_440"></a>[440]</span> +would seem not impossible to form some plan of campaign—something, +at any rate, more definite than the +hand-to-mouth manner in which we are now proceeding. +Deep science and tactical skill are not necessary to +contend with savages; a simple method and plain +common-sense suffice, if backed by energy, decision, and +determination.”</p> + +<p>The intelligence now telegraphed that Sir Garnet +Wolseley was on his way to Natal to unravel the various +tangled skeins of civil and military policy, doubtless +acted as the “spur in the head” which expedited Lord +Chelmsford’s movements.</p> + +<p>On the 17th, Brigadier-General Wood arrived with +the supplies, and next day the force advanced to the +Upoko River, where the road from Rorke’s Drift to +Ulundi crosses it. Here there was a halt for a day, and +a depôt formed, called Fort Marshall. Colonel Collingwood +was left in charge of the two posts, Forts +Newdigate and Marshall; and the whole line of communication +in the enemy’s country, and such of the +garrison as were left in frontier-posts for the purpose of +patrolling, were placed under the command of Major-General +Marshall.</p> + +<p>Fort Marshall was about twenty-five miles from +Rorke’s Drift, and sixteen from Fort Newdigate; from +this post to Koppie Allein (on the Blood River) the +distance was twenty-one miles.</p> + +<p>Having struck down into this road, which runs into +Zululand in an easterly direction, a glance at the map +will show how needless was the waste of time and money +spent in concentrating stores at Conference Hill—so<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_441"></a>[441]</span> +far removed from the line of communications with +Pietermaritzburg.</p> + +<p>The combined column reached the Umhlatusi River +on the 21st, having traversed difficult and mountainous +ground, where in many places the train was obliged to +pass by single waggons.</p> + +<p>The Zulus took no advantage of the many opportunities +for attack that presented themselves, and the +march to Ulundi was practically unopposed. At this +halting-place Fort Evelyn was built; and on the 24th +the march was resumed.</p> + +<p>Cetshwayo’s messengers, ’Mfunzi and ’Nkisimane, +came up from Pietermaritzburg on the 24th, and next +morning were sent to the king with Lord Chelmsford’s +reply to his message.</p> + +<p>A very awkward drift on the Uvulu River was +passed by the column, after crossing which a day’s halt +was made, when a cavalry patrol was sent out to destroy +some military kraals. Two more indunas came in to +ask for peace, and were sent back to Ulundi in the +evening. On the 27th the force arrived at Entonjaneni, +where the arrangements for the final advance on Ulundi +were made, tents and all unnecessary baggage left +behind, and a strong post formed with the aid of +waggons. Four hundred waggons, 6000 oxen, and 800 +mules were left entrenched here; the remaining 200 +waggons, with ten days’ provisions, accompanying the +advancing force. This evening two more messengers came +in from the king with elephant tusks, some hundred +head of oxen, and two trunks, the property of Lord +Chelmsford. The messengers were sent back next day.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_442"></a>[442]</span></p> + +<p><cite>The Natal Colonist</cite> of June 28th says: “Again +we hear that Ketshwayo has sent to Government, asking +why Lord Chelmsford continues to advance. He (the +king) hopes the General will not persist in advancing, as +in that case he will be forced to fight, and what he +wants is peace. This, we believe, makes the eleventh +message he has sent in to the same effect. The General +affects to doubt his <i lang="la">bonâ fides</i>. How is this to be +established? Can his lordship think of no better +guarantee than one which the most vigorous supporters +of the war cannot term anything but childish?” This +latter question is explained in another issue of the same +paper, in which the editor remarks: “It is argued that +the Zulus or the Zulu king cannot be sincere in desiring +peace, because when the chance offers our troops are +fired upon. If people would but consider for a moment, +that until there is a truce or armistice agreed on we are +living in a state of war; that our troops are in the Zulu +country, making war upon its inhabitants, missing no +opportunity of inflicting damage and injury upon them, +burning their kraals, destroying their grain, ravaging +their gardens, and firing on the natives themselves at +every chance, what right, they would ask themselves, +have we to expect that the Zulus should refrain from +retaliation, however desirous they may be of seeing +peace restored, and an end put to all the devastation +and horror of prolonged warfare? <em>We</em> do not profess +to be otherwise than desirous of peace—peace with +honour and security for the future—and yet are we not +invading their country, and almost vaunting that we +shall dictate its terms only when our invading columns<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_443"></a>[443]</span> +have met at Ulundi, and planted the English flag +there?”</p> + +<p>On the 30th the descent into the valley of the White +Umvolosi was commenced, through a country covered +with scattered bush and aloes. Two indunas were +escorted in during the day, one bearing a letter from +Cetshwayo to Lord Chelmsford,<a id="FNanchor_173" href="#Footnote_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a> and the other the +sword of the Prince Imperial, which the king sent in +immediately on learning the value attached to it.<a id="FNanchor_174" href="#Footnote_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a></p> + +<p>Sir Garnet Wolseley—having been ordered out to +Natal as Governor of Natal and the Transvaal, and Her +Majesty’s High Commissioner for the eastern portion of +South Africa—landed at Durban on the 28th June. +On the 30th Lord Chelmsford sent him the following +message: “Five miles from Entonganini; ten miles +from Umvolosi River. King’s messengers have just left +with message from me. I must advance to position on +left bank of river. This I do to-morrow, but will +stop hostilities, pending negotiations, if communicated +demands are complied with by 3rd July, noon. There +are indunas come with cattle and guns. I have consented +to receive 1000 captured rifles instead of a +regiment laying down its arms. As my supplies will +only permit of my remaining here until the 10th July, it<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_444"></a>[444]</span> +is desirable I should be informed by you of the conditions +of peace to be demanded. White man with +king states he has 20,000 men. King anxious to fight; +Princes not so. Where is Crealock’s column? Signal.”</p> + +<p>On the 1st July the Flying Column and General +Newdigate’s division reached, without opposition, the +southern bank of the White Umvolosi, within five or +six miles of the royal kraals of Ulundi. Defensible +laagers were at once formed, and the position made +secure before night. Large bodies of Zulus were seen +in motion at Ulundi. Next day the 2nd Division closed +up their laager to that of the Flying Column, and a +stone redoubt was erected on knoll in rear; so that a +small garrison might hold the post, leaving the main +force unencumbered to operate as desired. The Zulu +army was not seen, and no messengers arrived from the +king; but a large herd of white (royal) cattle was +observed being driven from the king’s kraal towards the +camp, and shortly afterwards driven back again.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd, as the Zulus were firing on watering-parties +at the river, and no message had come in, a +reconnaissance on the farther side was ordered. At +noon, the cattle, sent in with the last messengers from +the king, were driven back across the river, and about +the same time Colonel Buller crossed lower down with +the mounted men of the Flying Column to reconnoitre +towards Ulundi. Detaching parties to cover his flank, +he advanced rapidly to within about 200 yards of the +Ulundi river, and about three-quarters of a mile from +Ulundi, when he came upon about 5000 Zulus concealed +in the river-bed, who at once opened fire, while<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_445"></a>[445]</span> +large bodies of the enemy, moving down on each flank, +endeavoured to cut off his retreat.</p> + +<p>Colonel Buller, having effected the purpose for which +he had gone forward—feeling the enemy and reconnoitring +the ground—retired with a loss of three men +killed and four wounded. Many officers distinguished +themselves in endeavouring to save the men who were +lost, as well as in bringing in dismounted men: Commandant +D’Arcy, Lieut.-Colonel Buller, Captain Prior, +Lord William Beresford, Lieutenant Hayward, and also +Sergeant Kerr are mentioned.</p> + +<p>On the 4th, at 6.45 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, the force crossed the river, +leaving the camp garrisoned by the 1-24th Regiment, a +company of Engineers, and casualties (about 900 Europeans, +250 natives, with one Gatling gun).</p> + +<p>Lieut.-Colonel Buller, with the light cavalry of the +Flying Column, crossed in advance, and occupied the +high ground in front without opposition; the main body +following, marched up the broken ground out of the +valley, and formed a hollow square, the ammunition-carts, +etc., in the centre, and the guns in position ready +to come into action without delay. The Flying Column +formed the front half, and the 2nd Division the rear half +of the square; front, flanks, and rear covered by the +cavalry. In this formation the troops advanced to the +spot selected by Colonel Buller, which was about 700 +yards beyond the Nodwengo kraal, and about the same +distance from a stream that crossed the road halfway to +Ulundi; high ground, commanding the adjacent country, +and with little cover beyond long grass, near it.</p> + +<p>The guns were posted in the angles and in the centre<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_446"></a>[446]</span> +of each face of the square, and each face had a company +of infantry in reserve.</p> + +<p>Large numbers of Zulus were now seen coming from +the hills on the left and left front, and other masses on +the right, partly concealed by the mist from the river, +passed the Nodwengo kraal to surround the square.</p> + +<p>The cavalry on the right and left became engaged at +8.45 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and, slowly retiring as the enemy advanced, +passed into the square, which immediately opened fire.</p> + +<p>The Zulu advance was made with great determination, +but their movements appeared to be without order. +Some individuals managed to reach within thirty or +forty yards of the rear face, where there was some cover, +but the main advance on all sides was checked at some +distance by the heavy artillery fire and steady volleys of +the infantry. These were so effective that within half +an hour the enemy wavered and gave way, when the +cavalry dashed out to complete their discomfiture. +Passing out by the rear face of the square, Colonel Drury-Lowe +(who had been already wounded) led the 17th +Lancers in the direction of the Nodwengo kraal, dispersing +the enemy and killing those that could not reach +the shelter of the kraal or the bush below; then wheeling +to the right, he charged through the enemy, who were +endeavouring to reach the mountains beyond.</p> + +<p>In this manner the whole of the level ground was +cleared. Lieut.-Colonel Buller’s command also took up +the pursuit, doing much execution until the enemy +mounted the slopes of the hills and were beyond their +reach. But even then a place of safety was not gained, +for some guns were moved out from the square, and got<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_447"></a>[447]</span> +the range of the enemy retreating over the hills. The +brunt of this day’s work fell on the cavalry. Even in +the pursuit the greater part of the Zulus turned and +fought for their lives. Overtaken by a Lancer, a Zulu +would stop just before the fatal thrust was delivered, +and, dodging like lightning, evade the lance, sometimes +seizing it and holding on till the Lancer was relieved by +a comrade.</p> + +<p>The Irregular Horse, Mounted Infantry, and Native +Horse (Captain T. Shepstone’s Basutu and the Natal +Native Horse under Captain Cochrane), thoroughly +searched the ground, disposing of the enemy who had +taken refuge in dongas, bush, and long grass. 600 Zulus +are said to have fallen before the cavalry alone—150 of +them being credited to the Lancers.</p> + +<p>Thus was fought the battle of Ulundi.</p> + +<p>It was impossible for the ill-armed enemy to pass the +belt of fire that encircled the square, even had they not +been shaken by the accurate artillery fire whilst yet at +a distance.</p> + +<p>The ease with which the attack was repelled may be +gathered from the fact that the average number of +rounds fired by the infantry actually in the ranks was +less than six-and-a-half rounds per man (6·4 rounds).</p> + +<p>The troops certainly were very steady, and the firing—generally +volley-firing by sections—was as a rule +under perfect command.</p> + +<p>We have heard of an officer calmly smoking his +pipe whilst in command of his company during the +engagement.</p> + +<p>As soon as the wounded had been attended to, the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_448"></a>[448]</span> +force advanced to the banks of the stream near Ulundi, +whilst the cavalry swept the country beyond. Ulundi +was fired at 11.40 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span>, and the adjacent kraals shortly +afterwards. At 2 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, the return march to the camp +commenced. Every military kraal in the valley that +had not previously been destroyed was in flames; and +not a sign of the Zulu army was to be perceived.</p> + +<p>The British force engaged consisted of 4062 +Europeans and 1103 natives, with 12 guns and 2 +Gatlings. The loss: killed, 2 officers (Captain Wyatt-Edgell, +17th Lancers, and the Hon. W. Drummond, in +charge of the Intelligence Department), 13 non-commissioned +officers and men, and 3 natives; wounded, +19 officers, 59 non-commissioned officers and men, and +7 natives.</p> + +<p>The Zulu force is estimated variously; some put it +at 12,000, some at 20,000. Being scattered over a large +extent of country, and some of the regiments engaged +having already suffered heavily, it is not easy to arrive +at a reliable conclusion. It is probable that the correct +number lay between 15,000 and 20,000.</p> + +<p>As regards the Zulu loss, Lord Chelmsford says: +“It is impossible to estimate with any correctness +the loss of the enemy, owing to the extent of country +over which they attacked and retreated; but it could +not have been less, I consider, than 1000 killed.”—(Despatch, +4th July).</p> + +<p>Using the same reasoning on the 6th, Lord Chelmsford +says: “But judging by the reports of those +engaged, it cannot be placed at a less number than +1500 killed.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_449"></a>[449]</span></p> + +<p>From the statements of prisoners it would seem that +the attacking force was about 15,000 strong, 5000 +being in reserve. At a meeting of the Zulu Council +on the 2nd July, it appears that it was resolved by the +King to send in the royal coronation white cattle as a +peace-offering; but as they were being driven towards +the English camp on the 2nd, they were turned back at +Nodwengo by the Umcityu Regiment, who refused to +let them pass, saying, as they could not fulfil all the +demands, it was useless to give up the cattle, and +therefore they would fight. The king was then at +Ulundi; he said that “as the Inkandampemvu (Umcityu) +Regiment would not let the cattle go in as a peace-offering, +and as we wished to fight, the white army +being now at his home, we could fight, but we were to +fight the white men in the open, and attack before the +Nodwengo and Ulundi kraals, where we were on the +day of the fight.... The army is now thoroughly +beaten, and as it was beaten in the open, it will not +reassemble and fight again. No force is watching the +lower column, and none has been sent there. How +could there be, when all were ordered to be here to-day? +We mustered here by the king’s orders at the beginning +of this moon, about ten days ago. We have not been +called out before.”</p> + +<p>The natives belonging to the British force were +exceedingly struck at the idea of their being brought +into the square, whilst the soldiers formed “a laager” +of their bodies round them.</p> + +<p>The special correspondent of <cite>The Daily News</cite>, +Mr. Archibald Forbes, performed a very gallant act<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_450"></a>[450]</span> +after the battle of Ulundi. Finding that no despatch +was being sent off by the General to announce the +victory, he determined to take the news himself, and, +“taking his life in his hand,” set out alone to ride right +through the Zulu country. This he did, riding the +whole night, having frequently to dismount and actually +<em>feel</em> his way—the tracks of the waggons on the upward +route.</p> + +<p>Next day, after a ride of nearly a hundred miles, +he reached Landtmann’s Drift (in fifteen hours), and was +enabled to telegraph to Sir Garnet Wolseley the news of +the victory of the 4th.</p> + +<p>A few brief remarks on the return march are all +that are necessary. The day after the battle of Ulundi +(5th July) the whole force retired to Entonjaneni, and +remained there till the 9th, when the Flying Column +moved on the road towards the coast to Kwamagwasa, +<i lang="fr">en route</i> to meet Sir Garnet Wolseley.</p> + +<p>On the 10th the 2nd Division marched from Entonjaneni, +and arrived at the Upoko River on the 15th.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford accompanied the Flying Column. +We cannot leave Brigadier-General Wood’s command +without a word of notice. From the beginning to the +end of the campaign its work was done in a thoroughly +soldierlike manner, leaving little or nothing to be desired. +There was a thorough reciprocal confidence between +commander and men, and a total absence of those +“scares” which were occasionally heard of during the +campaign.</p> + +<p>Where all did well, it may seem a little invidious to +single one out for mention, but we will quote the concluding<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_451"></a>[451]</span> +words of Brigadier-General Wood’s despatch of +5th July, referring to Lieut.-Colonel Redvers Buller, not +only on account of this officer’s merit, but “to point +the moral” as to where was the neglect which led +primarily to the disaster to the Head-quarter Column in +January:</p> + +<p>“He has never failed to cover the column with his +mounted men, for from ten to twelve miles in front, and +on the flanks.</p> + +<p>“Constitutionally fearless, he is prudent in counsel, +and though resolute, is very careful of the lives of his +troops in action. He possesses, in my opinion, all the +attributes of a perfect leader of light cavalry.”</p> + +<p>It is stated (<cite>Standard</cite>, August 22nd, 1879) that, +on reaching the White Umvolosi, despatches arrived +from Sir Garnet Wolseley, requesting Lord Chelmsford +to fall back and meet him at Kwamagwasa—a mission +station, where it had at one time been proposed that the +1st and 2nd Divisions should effect a junction.</p> + +<p>On the 4th, Lord Chelmsford sent a despatch to +Sir Garnet Wolseley, in which he said: “As I have +fully accomplished the object for which I advanced, I +consider I shall now be best carrying out Sir Garnet +Wolseley’s instructions by moving at once to Entonjanini, +and thence to Kwamagwaza.”</p> + +<p>Why the blow struck at Ulundi was not followed up +it is difficult to say. If Lord Chelmsford’s instructions +permitted him to advance and engage the enemy, they +would be sufficiently elastic to enable him to follow up +the victory. The king was known to have a new kraal in +a strong position at the junction of the White and Black<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_452"></a>[452]</span> +Umvolosi Rivers, within a day’s march of Ulundi; the +Zulu army was thoroughly beaten and dispersed, and +there was absolutely nothing to prevent an advance for +the destruction of this stronghold, the moral effect of +which on the native mind would have been very great. +There was an ample force, willing hearts, and no lack of +supplies. The solution of the problem must be sought in +Lord Chelmsford’s words: “I have fully accomplished +the object for which I advanced.” He withdrew at +once from the scene of his victory, and—resigned his +command.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_453"></a>[453]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.<br> +<br> +<span class="fs70">SIR GARNET WOLSELEY—CAPTURE OF CETSHWAYO.</span></h2> + + +<p class="noindent">Sir Bartle Frere, whose continued popularity spoke +somewhat of colonial approval of the war, had returned +to the Cape in June, and his reception at Cape Town +“capped the climax of an uninterrupted triumph,” +according to <cite>The Natal Mercury</cite>. That he thought +himself deserving of the honours due to a conqueror +returning home in triumph we may gather from the fact +that he sent no instructions to suppress any demonstrations +of delight at his return, although at that very time +the latest and perhaps the saddest tragedy of all the sad +results of his policy had just been enacted, and Natal, +as with one voice, was lamenting the Prince Imperial’s +death.</p> + +<p>“So be it,” says <cite>The Natal Witness</cite> of June 12th, +1879, commenting upon this text; “Sir Bartle Frere’s +reception capped the climax of an uninterrupted triumph. +We are quite ready to believe this, and, as we have said, +we are glad at last to have so decided an intimation of +what Sir Bartle Frere has intended to do. There are +triumphs of various kinds. There is the triumph which +surrounds the statesman, who, by gentle persuasion, by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_454"></a>[454]</span> +cautious reforms, by a personal example of uprightness +and unselfishness, has reduced threatening elements of +danger, and evolved peace and security out of storm +and terror. There is the triumph which is his who, +impressed with a deep sense of the value of human +life, lays his head upon his pillow every night in the +happy confidence that never through his means, either +directly or indirectly, has a human life been needlessly +sacrificed. There is the triumph of the philanthropist, +who, feeling deep in his heart the claims of an aboriginal +people to the consideration of a civilised power, has, in +his dealings with that people, been careful rather to +strain doubtful points in their favour, than to take +advantage of their presumed simplicity. There is the +triumph of the Christian legislator, who regards the +authority entrusted to him as entrusted with a solemn +injunction to use that authority in the name of his +divine Master, for the purpose of spreading and confirming +the kingdom of peace and good will. There is the +triumph of the diplomatist, who, in respect of his dealings +with state questions, can lay his hand upon his +heart, and affirm that he never misled his superiors, +... never wrote a line which he did not believe +to be true. All these triumphs we doubt not will be yet +achieved by Sir Bartle Frere, if only the fatigue caused +by his ‘troubles and journeying’ does not suggest an +early return to Europe.”</p> + +<p>Would Sir Bartle Frere be supported by the Home +Government? and would Lord Chelmsford be upheld +by his military superiors in England? Such were the +questions perpetually asked in the colony, to which<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_455"></a>[455]</span> +there seemed no full and sufficient answer. True, both +had received messages of sympathy and confidence; but +these were sent palpably on the spur of the moment, and +long before all the facts of the case had been brought to +light; and, on the other hand, Sir Bartle Frere had received +a very severe rebuke in the despatches mentioned +in <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Chapter XII</a>. Still the tide of events was permitted +to flow on, and many doubted the reality of the +condemnation.</p> + +<p>From the time of the disaster at Isandhlwana, prophecies +were current that Lord Chelmsford would be +recalled, and as misfortune pursued our arms the +prophecies were renewed. Many were the conjectures +as to who would be sent to replace Lord Chelmsford +should he be recalled, and a general idea was prevalent +that the sprightly Sir Garnet Wolseley and his “brilliant +staff” would once more grace the shores of Natal. +The despatch announcing his approach reached the +colony in the middle of June, and the telegram to Lord +Chelmsford announcing his appointment ran as follows: +“Her Majesty’s Government have determined to send +out Sir Garnet Wolseley as Administrator in that part +of South-Eastern Africa in the neighbourhood of the +seat of war, with plenary powers, both civil and military. +Sir Bartle Frere, instructed accordingly by Colonial +Office. The appointment of a senior officer is not +intended as a censure on yourself, but you will, as in +ordinary course of service, submit and subordinate your +plans to his control. He leaves this country by next +mail” (sent <em>viâ</em> St. Vincent, 29th May, 1879).</p> + +<p>Sir Garnet Wolseley landed at Durban on the 28th<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_456"></a>[456]</span> +June, and proceeded direct to Pietermaritzburg, where +he was the same day sworn in as Governor of Natal. +Certainly Sir Garnet did not let the grass grow under +his feet. On Sunday, the 29th, he telegraphed to +Colonel Walker at Fort Pearson: “Send back Zulu +messengers immediately to the king with following +message from me: ‘If the king wants peace he must +send Umnyamana, Umfanawendhela, and Vumandaba +to General Crealock’s column, where I will depute an +officer of rank to hear what the king has to say. I +alone have power to make peace. All the other +Generals are under my orders.’ Explain to the messengers +who I am. They are to tell the king, and +remind him that I was here as Governor before, and +had many communications with him then.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. +[C. 2454] p. 149).</span></p> + +<p>The message from Cetshwayo was delivered by two +Zulu messengers at the Lower Tugela, on June 25th, +to Mr. Fynney, Administrator and Border Agent.</p> + +<p>“We are sent by the king straight to you. We +were ordered not to go to the troop at the Umlatazi, +as other messengers (Sintwangu) will go there.... +The king asks you to speak to the great white Chief +with the Upper Column, and ask to stay the advance of +the troops till he (the king) can hear plainly what he +has done, what great sin he has committed. If he ever +killed a white man or white woman, or ever took cattle +from a white man before the war? Did he ever walk +over the words spoken at the Umlambongwenya Kraal +by Somtseu? (Sir T. Shepstone). The king wished us to +say if he is to be destroyed he could die happy if he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_457"></a>[457]</span> +knew first really what wrong he had done. The king +begs you will speak to the great white Chief with the +Upper Column to stay a further advance till chosen +representatives from both sides can meet and hear +really the cause of the war, and what wrong he has +done. The king does not ask for favour if it is +proved he has been wrong. He wants to hear, and he +wishes the troops not to advance till he can hear; for +if they do he cannot help fighting, as there will be +nothing left but to try and push aside a tree if falling +upon him.”</p> + +<p>“This is our message from the king to you, and he +ordered us to tell you that it is from himself; even the +indunas do not know he has sent it” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 154).</p> + +<p>On the same day (29th) Sir Garnet sent the following +order to Captain McLeod: “Make arrangements at once, +with Swazis, for massing north of Pongolo River, with +view to invading Zululand. Spread abroad news that +the invasion will take place immediately, but do not let +them cross river without my orders. When they are +ready to cross let me know, and I <ins class="corr" id="tn-457" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'will send yon'"> +will send you</ins> further instructions. Impress urgently upon them that women +and children must not be murdered, but promise them +all cattle they take. This promise to be made as public +as possible. I am now High Commissioner, with full +powers to decide all terms of peace. All reports must +be sent to me, care of General Clifford, ’Maritzburg” +(<i>ibid.</i> p. 150).</p> + +<p>The object of this message was “to establish a standing +menace, and to bring formidable pressure to bear in +that quarter upon the Zulus.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_458"></a>[458]</span></p> + +<p>The barbarity of the Swazis in warfare, and the keen +delight with which they would have found themselves +let loose upon their hereditary enemies the Zulus, whose +army was either scattered or destroyed, was a well-known +fact, and many wondered that such a course +should be proposed.</p> + +<p>Captain McLeod, a hardy soldier and brave man, +had been for many months in about as unenviable a +position as can well be imagined—in an unsettled border +district in war time, threatened both by Boers and +Zulus. He had been posted at Derby, to guide and +control the movements of our ally the Swazi king, who, +it was imagined, would be stanch to us or not, according +to the fortunes of the Zulu war.</p> + +<p>Captain McLeod knew the Swazis well, and how +little chance there would be of keeping them under +control if once let loose upon the helpless Zulu people; +he therefore begged that they might be used only as a +last resource.</p> + +<p>With the view of still further spreading alarm +through the Zulu country, Sir Garnet sent a message to +the Amatongas that he might “possibly ascend the +Maputa River with a force and use their territory as a +base of operations against the Zulus from the north” +(<i>ibid.</i> p. 149).</p> + +<p>On the 30th, after a long conference with General +Clifford and Commissary-General Strickland, Sir Garnet +Wolseley had an interview with about seventy Natal +native chiefs, who had been assembled at his request, +and addressed them, through an interpreter, to the effect +that the great English Queen had sent him to carry on<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_459"></a>[459]</span> +the war against Cetshwayo, and to thank them for what +they had already done. That the chiefs need have no +fear but that the Queen would send as many armies as +are necessary, if the troops sent were not sufficient. +“They may depend upon it, and the past history of our +nation is a guarantee thereof, that when we give a promise +we will perform it. Our war is not against the +Zulu people, but against Ketshwayo, who has broken all +his promises. We have no wish to rob the Zulu people of +their property or their land; but tell the chiefs this, that +I say this war is going to be finished by us, and finished +in a satisfactory manner. The Queen is most anxious +that the war in Natal should be finished.” Then (as +there was a scarcity of grass for draught-oxen) Sir +Garnet requested the chiefs to furnish a certain number +(2000) of their young men to carry provisions for the +troops; the men to carry their arms whilst so employed, +and to be paid and fed by him.</p> + +<p>Once more, then, we hear the words: “<em>Our war is +not against the Zulu people!</em>”</p> + +<p>These “carriers” were taken from the Tugela Valley, +which had lately suffered from the Zulu raid, and where +many of the men had belonged to the native levies +raised for the defence of the border; they naturally did +not appreciate an employment which removed them +from the protection of their families, and which was at +variance with their customs<a id="FNanchor_175" href="#Footnote_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a> and prejudices.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_460"></a>[460]</span></p> + +<p>There was not much work for these “carriers” after all; +they were assembled at the Lower Tugela, and marched +up to Fort Chelmsford, each man with a fifty-pound +mealie-bag on his head.<a id="FNanchor_176" href="#Footnote_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a> Their commander, Major +Schwabe, left the loads there, and took the men on to +Port Durnford, where they were employed as required. +Having, after some time, received their pay, the +“carriers” quietly walked off to their homes.</p> + +<p>The Commander-in-Chief remained but two days in +Pietermaritzburg, returning to Durban on the 1st of +July. The same evening he embarked on board H.M.S. +<i>Shah</i>, intending to land at Port Durnford, and thus +reach the scene of action. For once in his life Sir +Garnet’s good fortune deserted him; the heavy surf +on the beach prevented his landing, and the <i>Shah</i> +brought him back to Durban. Here he received the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_461"></a>[461]</span> +news of the battle of Ulundi, telegraphed to him by +Mr. Archibald Forbes.</p> + +<p>No one quite knew what Lord Chelmsford was +about, but everyone understood that he would try and +end the war before he was superseded; and the general +feeling in the colony was certainly one of hope that +“poor Lord Chelmsford” might get a chance, win a +battle, and have his bonfire in the enemy’s city of straw. +Some few, indeed, argued that as Lord Chelmsford could +not possibly, in the time left him, settle the Zulu question +by the sword, it might occur to him at last to pay +some attention to the hard-pressed Zulu monarch’s repeated +messages imploring peace, and propose some +conditions possible for Cetshwayo to accept and fulfil. +Without further bloodshed an honourable peace might +thus have been concluded before Sir Garnet Wolseley +could step upon the scene.</p> + +<p>We left the 1st Division at the Umlalazi River, close +to the landing-place, Port Durnford. There the force +remained, General Crealock occupied in receiving the +submission of the neighbouring Zulus, who were flocking +in from every direction.</p> + +<p>But whilst Lord Chelmsford, on his approach to +Ulundi, was inquiring, “Where is Crealock?” Crealock +was quietly established near the coast, his military +activity being displayed in the burning of Empangeni +and other kraals north of the Umlatuzi River. As the +Zulus all round were coming in, and no “impi” was +even heard of, the object of this exhibition of force +seems a little doubtful. As was remarked by <cite>The Cape +Times</cite>: “Why the British soldier was ordered to destroy<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_462"></a>[462]</span> +the shelter, and, with the shelter, the store of grain food +of some thousands of poor women and children whose +husbands and fathers were making their submission, we +can no more understand than we can comprehend the +strategy by which a large British force was held back for +months at the edge of the enemy’s country, while commissariat +supplies were accumulating sufficient to support +a long campaign, the whole work before them being to +march a hundred miles, and with one fight close up the +war. If they were beaten they could fall back on the +base; but with caution and generalship defeat was out +of the question.” However, Major-General Crealock +must have the credit of quieting the eastern portion of +Zululand before the termination of the war. From his +despatches of the 5th July we gather that the “district +people are all wanting to come in,” that he was “sending +back the people to their districts; difficulty of feeding +them would be great.” His division paraded under arms +to receive the “official submission” of “Mabilwana, +Manyingo, and other chiefs,” who, with some 250 men, +double that number of women and children, and their +cattle, etc., had come in—these people belonging to +the coast district, but were not strictly speaking warriors, +or necessarily belonging to the Zulu army; nor could +their submission be looked upon as any desertion of +their king by the fighting-men of the nation. They +were told that the General accepted their submission, +and should look to them in future to keep peace in that +district. If any Zulus were found in arms, their chief +or headman would suffer; but, if they behaved themselves +well, he would give them back their cattle and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_463"></a>[463]</span> +his protection. The men then received passes (or tickets) +and were permitted to return to their districts.<a id="FNanchor_177" href="#Footnote_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a></p> + +<p>Sir Garnet Wolseley crossed the Tugela with his +staff and escort on July 6th, and proceeded to the +head-quarters of the 1st Division, near Port Durnford, +which he reached on the 7th. He at once set to work +“to reduce the excessive rate of expenditure which has +so far been maintained in connection with this war,” and +“arranged with the Commodore to embark the Naval +Brigade at the earliest opportunity,” and also “dispensed +with the services of some of the colonial troops.” Reinforcements +of all kinds were stopped, including a fine +battalion of Marine Infantry and strong detachment of +Marine Artillery, just arrived at the Cape in H.M.S. +<i>Jumna</i>.</p> + +<p>On July 10th, Sir Garnet also put on one side “the +plan of a Swazi invasion.” <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] p. 163.)</span> +All the chiefs up to St. Lucia Bay tendered their +submission, and sent in their arms.</p> + +<p>Sir Garnet Wolseley and Lord Chelmsford met at +St. Paul’s on the 15th July, the latter arriving with +Brigadier-General Wood’s Flying Column. This Sir +Garnet inspected on the following day, taking the +opportunity of decorating Major Chard, R.E., with the +Victoria Cross, awarded him for his gallantry at Rorke’s +Drift.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford left St. Paul’s on the 17th, on his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_464"></a>[464]</span> +way home. His “brilliant victory” had turned the tide +of popular favour somewhat in his direction, and he +found that (as he said) “nothing succeeds like success.”</p> + +<p>In Durban he was accorded a reception which must +have been highly gratifying to his feelings. One of his +last remarks in Natal, in reply to a speech made as he +was about to embark, was to the following effect: “I +think I may say confidently that we have now seen the +beginning of the end of this campaign, and any success +which has attended my efforts, I feel, is due to the +prayers of the people, and the kindly ordinations of +Divine Providence; for I am one of those who believe +firmly and implicitly in the efficacy of prayer and in the +intervention of Providence.”</p> + +<p>In this comfortable frame of mind Lord Chelmsford +passes from the scene.</p> + +<p>Sir Garnet Wolseley completed the chain of forts +across Zululand, commencing with St. Paul’s, an English +mission station on the coast road a little north of where +it crosses the Umlatusi. Fifteen miles west of this is +Kwamagwasa. Twenty miles a little south of west lies +Fort Evelyn, on the road from Rorke’s Drift to Ulundi. +Fort Marshall about twenty miles west-south-west of +Fort Evelyn, Fort Newdigate, twelve miles north-west +of Fort Evelyn, and a fort on Itelezi Hill completes the +chain to the Blood River. Some of these forts were +constructed on the upward march of the 2nd Division +and Flying Column, to keep open their communications. +In addition to these, Fort Cambridge was built near +where the road from Conference Hill crosses the White +Umvolosi; and a little later an entrenched post (Fort<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_465"></a>[465]</span> +George) was thrown up near Enhlongana mission station, +thus thoroughly, by these detached posts, commanding +the country.</p> + +<p>Patrols were pushed out in various directions, by one +of which the two guns lost at Isandhlwana were found +between Ulundi and Maizekanye. They had not been +spiked, but the Zulus had screwed rifle-nipples into the +vents, and had also apparently tried to load the guns +by ramming home shells, but without cartridges.</p> + +<p>The Cavalry Brigade was broken up, and a fresh +disposition of the troops made. Sir Garnet visited +various posts, interviewing the Zulu chiefs who had +surrendered themselves. Some of the most important, +however, of those who came in, and were supposed to +have submitted and deserted their king, had, in point of +fact, no such intention, appearing merely to make their +often and vainly repeated attempt at procuring “terms” +for Cetshwayo and themselves. It had always been +prophesied that the Zulu nation would desert their king. +Before the war began, some of those who professed to +understand the people best, declared that they would be +thankful to throw off the yoke of one whom, it was +alleged, they regarded with fear and hatred, and would +side with the English as soon as the latter crossed their +border.</p> + +<p>The fallacy of this idea was discovered to our cost.</p> + +<p>It was then asserted that the Zulu army had given a +temporary strength to the authority of their king, which +would last until we had beaten his troops and proved +our superiority, and this assertion was used by those +who insisted that no peace must be made, however<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_466"></a>[466]</span> +earnestly desired by the Zulus, until we had beaten them +and shown them that we were their masters.</p> + +<p>After Ulundi, it was argued that the people would +be glad to procure peace by giving up their king, whose +unconditional submission, or capture, was announced by +us to be the only possible conclusion to the war.</p> + +<p>The Zulus had ceased to struggle with their powerful +conquerors, and it now only remained to find Cetshwayo, +who was said to be north of the Black Umvolosi River, +with a very small following. A flying column, under +Lieut.-Colonel Baker Russell, was sent out from Fort +Newdigate early in August, but his patrols were not +successful.</p> + +<p>On August 14th, a cavalry force under Major Barrow, +with Lord Gifford, started from Ulundi to try and find +Cetshwayo, who had hitherto eluded all attempts to +capture him. Day after day it was reported that the +pursuers were close upon the fugitive: they had come to +a kraal where he had slept the previous night, they +reached another where he had been that very morning, +and then they lost “the scent,” and for some time could +trace him no farther. They tried in vain to persuade +his people to betray him, but this “hated tyrant,” +although beaten and powerless, flying through the land +now in the possession of his conquerors, had still such a +hold over the loyalty and affection of his people, that +they were true to him in his adversity, and refused to +give him up or to set his enemies on his track.</p> + +<p>Severe measures were taken to procure by force the +information which could not otherwise be obtained. +Orders were given to one party of the pursuers that at<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_467"></a>[467]</span> +each kraal they reached, if the inhabitants refused to +speak, so many huts should be burnt, so many principal +men and women taken prisoners, and all cattle confiscated. +Many kraals were thus treated, and so many +prisoners collected in this manner, that the number to be +taken at each kraal had to be reduced from eight to four, +then to two, and at last to one of each sex; thus proving +how steadfast were the people generally in their loyalty to +their king. On approaching some of these kraals, the +headmen came out and offered the passes or papers +promising protection, given them on surrendering their +arms; but the unhappy people received another lesson +on the text, “When we give a promise we will perform +it,” and were told that their papers were worthless now; +they must tell where the king was, or suffer like the rest. +One of the officers concerned in carrying out these orders, +exclaimed at the time with natural indignation: “I don’t +care what may be said of the necessity of catching +Cetshwayo; necessary or not, we are committing a crime +in what we are doing now!”</p> + +<p>These measures proving useless, five prisoners were +flogged to make them speak—yet they held their peace. +An interpreter, who accompanied Major Barrow’s party, +writes: “I had been a long time in Zululand. I knew +the people and their habits, and although I believed they +would be true to their king, I never expected such +devotion. Nothing would move them. Neither the +loss of their cattle, the fear of death, or the offering of +large bribes, would make them false to their king.”</p> + +<p>For many days this work of trying to persuade or +force the people to betray their king was continued, and,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_468"></a>[468]</span> +at last a woman was frightened into giving a clue, +which resulted in taking prisoners three brothers, at +whose kraal the king had slept the night before. +“They were questioned,” says the interpreter, “but +denied in the most solemn way that they knew anything +about the king. We threatened to shoot them, +but they said: ‘If you kill us we shall die innocently.’ +This was about nine o’clock at night, a beautiful moonlight +night, and the picture was rather an effective one. +There were all our men sitting round at their fireplaces, +our select tribunal facing the three men, who were calm +and collected, whilst we, as a sort of inquisition, were +trying to force them to divulge their secret. As a last +resource we took one man and led him away blindfolded +behind a bush, and then a rifle was fired off to make +believe that he was shot. We then separated and blindfolded +the remaining two, and said to one of them: ‘You +saw your brother blindfolded and led away; we have shot +him. Now we shall shoot you. You had better tell the +truth.’ After a good deal of coaxing (?) one told us +where the king had slept the night before, and which was +about fifteen miles away, and also where he had seen him +that very morning ... it was now eleven o’clock. +Lord Gifford gave orders for our party to saddle up, +which was smartly done, and we started off with the +two brothers as guides. We left the one brother behind +so as to keep on the screw, to make the two believe he +had been shot. They took us over as ugly a piece of +country as ever horse crossed, and at daybreak we surrounded +the kraal. But disappointment was again in +store for us, for our bird had flown about twelve hours +previously.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_469"></a>[469]</span></p> + +<p>The direction he had taken being pointed out, the +party followed until they got within four or five miles +of a kraal, where the king had halted for the day. +Lord Gifford sent off a note addressed to Captain +Maurice, saying he was on the track and hoped for +speedy capture; and, finding the kraal could not be +approached without his being seen, seems to have made +up his mind to wait till nightfall. It is perhaps fortunate +that this arrangement was not carried out, as, in +the darkness and hurry of a night attack, it is possible +that we might have had the additional wrong laid upon +us of having shot the Zulu king.</p> + +<p>Amongst other patrols sent out to look for Cetshwayo +was one under Major Marter, King’s Dragoon Guards, +consisting of one squadron Dragoons, ten men Mounted +Infantry and Lonsdale’s Horse, and one company Natal +Native Contingent, their orders being to get on the +king’s track and capture him, if possible, and to reconnoitre +the Ngome Forest, and report if it could be +traversed.</p> + +<p>This force started on the 27th August, Major Marter +sending two natives on in the direction of the Ngome to +impress upon the people that until the king was captured +they could not have rest, as troops would be constantly +on the move amongst them, and require supplies, etc., +and to suggest it would be to their advantage to give +him some hint or sign about the king. He had found +the natives friendly, but they said frankly that if they +knew the king to be close by they would not tell him; +he, therefore, remembering the language of symbols was +pleasant to the native mind, endeavoured, by indirect<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_470"></a>[470]</span> +means, to obtain the information he sought. Having +got over about twenty-four miles of rough country, the +little column halted on the summit of the Inenge +Mountain, and, starting at daylight next morning, had +crossed the Ibuluwane River about ten o’clock, when a +Zulu came from the hill in front, sent by a headman to +whom the scouts had been, and began to talk on indifferent +subjects, not appearing to wish to speak about the king. +After some time he casually remarked: “I have heard +the wind blow from this side to-day,” pointing to the +Ngome Forest, “but you should take that road until +you come to Nisaka’s kraal,” showing a track leading +upwards and along the side of the range.</p> + +<p>About half an hour afterwards a native brought a +note addressed to Captain Maurice. As this officer was +out in another direction on the same service, Major +Marter opened and read it. It was from Lord Gifford, +who said he was on the track again and hoped for a +speedy capture of the king, but gave no information as +to where either the king or Lord Gifford were. Sending +the man on in Captain Maurice’s direction, Major Marter +proceeded to Nisaka’s kraal, some distance up the +mountain. After some talk a suggestion of guides +was made to Nisaka, who said they had better go +to his brother’s kraal on top of the mountain, and +called two men to go as guides. On reaching this +kraal the guides made signs for the party to halt +where trees hid them from being seen from below, +and then took Major Marter on to the edge of the +precipice, crawling along on hands and knees; they +then stopped, and told him to go to a bush a little<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_471"></a>[471]</span> +farther on and look down. He did so, and saw a kraal +in an open space about 2000 feet below, in a basin, three +sides of which were precipitous and covered with dense +forest. He considered it would be useless to approach +the kraal from the open side, as one minute’s warning +would enable the king to escape to the nearest point of +the forest; and therefore decided to venture down the +side of the mountain under cover of the forest, feeling +that the importance of the capture would warrant the +risk.</p> + +<p>Having rejoined his men, Major Marter ordered the +natives to take off their uniform, and, with their arms +and ammunition only, pass down the precipitous mountain +to the lower edge of the forest nearest to the kraal, +and remain concealed till the cavalry were seen coming +from the forest on the other side; they were then to +rush out towards the open side of the kraal and surround +it. The cavalry left led horses, pack-animals, and +every article which could make a noise or impede their +progress, and followed Major Marter, leading their +horses down the descent in single file. They left the +upper part of the mountain at 1.45 <span class="allsmcap">P.M.</span>, and, after +a scramble over rocks and watercourses, floundering in +bogs, and hampered everywhere by trees and gigantic +creepers, reached the foot about three o’clock, having lost +two horses killed in the descent, and one man having +his arm badly hurt. In a little dell they mounted, and +at a gallop dashed out—one troop to the right, one to the +left, the irregulars straight to the front—over boulders, +through high grass and every impediment, up to the +kraal; the natives reaching it at the same moment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_472"></a>[472]</span></p> + +<p>Seeing that the men in the kraal were armed with +guns as well as assegais, Major Marter desired his interpreter +to call out that if any resistance were offered +he would shoot down every one and burn the kraal; and +then dismounting, with a few of his men, he entered the +enclosure, which was strongly stockaded. A chief—Umkosana—met +him, and was asked where the king +was; after some delay, seeing it was a hopeless case, he +pointed out a hut on the farther side of the enclosure. +Major Marter called on the king to come out, but he +insisted the officer should go in to him. A threat of +setting fire to the hut was then made, when the king +asked the rank of the officer, and, after some further +parley, came out and stood erect and quite the king, +looking at Major Marter, saying: “You would not have +taken me, but I never thought troops could come down +the mountain through the forest.”</p> + +<p>Besides the Chief Umkosana, there were with Cetshwayo +seven men and a lad, five women and a girl, of his +personal attendants.</p> + +<p>There were twenty guns in the kraal, four of them +rifles that had belonged to the 24th Regiment, much +ammunition, some belts of the 24th, and many assegais, +one of which—the king’s—was sent by Sir Garnet +Wolseley to the Queen.</p> + +<p>Taking the most open line of country, the party set +out for Ulundi, Major Marter taking personal charge of +the king, who was in good health, and showing no signs +of over-fatigue.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the second day three men and a +woman sprang suddenly into the thick bush through +which they were passing and tried to escape; but two<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_473"></a>[473]</span> +of the men were shot. They had been repeatedly +warned that anyone trying to escape would be shot.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 31st August, Major Marter +safely reached the camp at Ulundi with Cetshwayo; +who is described by his captor as “a noble specimen of +a man, without any bad expression, and the king all +over in appearance and manner.”</p> + +<p>Sir Garnet Wolseley did not receive the fallen king +himself, or accord him any of the signs of respect to +which he was entitled, and which at least generosity +demanded. That this was deeply felt is apparent from +the words of an eye-witness, the interpreter attached to +Major Barrow’s force. “Cetywayo,” he says, “who +appreciates nicely the courtesies due to rank—as those +who knew him tell me—felt this keenly. Sir Garnet +Wolseley did not see him at all, and Mr. John +Shepstone only had an interview with him to tell him +that he would leave under the charge of Major Poole, +R.A., for—no one knew where. The instructions to the +Major were, on leaving Ulundi, to proceed to Pietermaritzburg +<em>viâ</em> Rorke’s Drift, but the camp had not +been left many miles behind before a messenger to the +Major from the General gave Port Durnford as the port +of embarkation.</p> + +<p>“Cetshwayo spent less than three hours amidst the +ruins of Ulundi, and when he left them he was not +aware of his destination. His hope was that he was +going to Pietermaritzburg.... This he believed was +where he was going until he came to Kwamagwasa, and +he said, ‘This is not the way to the Tugela.’ He grew +moody after this, and used to moan, ‘It was better to +be killed than sent over the sea.’”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_474"></a>[474]</span></p> + +<p>The party reached Port Durnford on the 4th September, +and was immediately embarked for Cape Town. +There the king met with a fitting reception, and was +conveyed to the castle, where he remained under strict +surveillance in the custody of Colonel Hassard, C.B., R.E., +Commandant at Cape Town.</p> + +<p>One peculiarity regarding the treatment of Cetshwayo +may be illustrated by the following personal anecdote:</p> + +<p>A son and daughter of the Bishop of Natal, on their +way to England, called at Cape Town on board a steamer +at the time of the king’s arrival. They asked permission +to see him, feeling that if anything could be a solace to +the captive it would be an interview with members of a +family which he knew had kindly feelings towards him.<a id="FNanchor_178" href="#Footnote_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a> +This request was refused by Sir Bertie Frere, who +regretted that he could not “at present give anyone +permission to visit Cetewayo,” and said that “all intercourse +with him must be regulated by the orders of the +General Commanding H. M. Forces in the Field, to whom +all applications to communicate with the prisoner should +be referred.” After this communication, it was rather +surprising to find that several of the passengers on +board the mail-steamer, leaving the Cape the next day, +had not only seen the king, but had found no difficulty +in so doing.<a id="FNanchor_179" href="#Footnote_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_475"></a>[475]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONCLUSION">CONCLUSION.</h2> + + +<p class="noindent">The fall of Ulundi was looked upon by some as the +finishing touch to the Zulu power and the end of the +war, while others considered peace ensured only and +completely by the capture of the king. Much, however, +remained to be done before Natal could be thought of as +at peace with her neighbours and herself, and what has +been commonly called the “Settlement of Zululand,” +was a task which required the gravest consideration and +the most careful handling.</p> + +<p>Sir Garnet Wolseley’s first act in this direction was +to call together as many of the principal Zulu chiefs +and officials as could be found, and to address them +upon the situation. This meeting took place at Ulundi +on the 1st of September, the day after the captive +king’s departure for Port Durnford. About 200 Zulus, +including two of Cetshwayo’s brothers, and his prime +minister Mnyamana, had responded to the summons; +and seating themselves in rows four deep, with the +principal chiefs in front, a few paces from the flagstaff +at Sir G. Wolseley’s tent, waited in perfect silence. +When Sir Garnet, with his staff, at last appeared, he +addressed the assembled chiefs through Mr. John<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_476"></a>[476]</span> +Shepstone, who accompanied him as interpreter. He +informed them that it was six years that very day since +Cetshwayo was crowned king of the Zulus, and that he +was now carried away never to return. This, he told +them, was in consequence of his having broken his +coronation promises, and having failed to make and +keep such laws amongst his people as the Queen of +England could approve, therefore his kingdom was +taken from him; and would now be divided amongst +a number of chiefs, who would be expected to rule +with justice. In future no life was to be taken +without trial, and trivial offences were to be punished +by fines; no standing army would be allowed, nor the +possession of guns and ammunition by any Zulu; +nor would any stores be permitted to be landed on the +Zulu coast, in case, under the guise of merchandise, +arms should be brought into the country. The young +men would be allowed to marry when and whom they +pleased, provided they had sufficient for the support of a +wife, and could obtain the consent of the girl’s parents, +and “smelling out” for witchcraft was to be put down. +Nevertheless, the Queen had no wish to force our laws +and customs upon them. By their own rules of war and +conquest, Zululand now belonged to her; but she had +already enough land in Africa, and had therefore no +intention of depriving the Zulus of theirs. Finally, the +missionaries were not to be forced upon them, and the +Zulus were even forbidden to encourage their settling +amongst them.</p> + +<p>To secure the fulfilment of all these commands, +Sir G. Wolseley told the chiefs that he intended to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_477"></a>[477]</span> +leave an English officer as resident, to be the eyes and +ears of England, to watch over the people, and to see the +laws observed and that the chiefs ruled with justice and +equity. With what machinery the officer in question +was to perform so wide a task does not appear. Whether +his position is to be a real one, requiring several British +regiments to support it, or whether it is to be a mere +farce, a fine-sounding pretence, remains yet to be +proved.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of the General’s discourse he produced +a document, the purport of which, he said, he had +now told them, and which was to be signed by all the +chiefs whom he had chosen as rulers of the land, to each +of whom a duplicate copy would be given, while he +retained a similar one himself.</p> + +<p>The first to sign his name was Mr. John Dunn, +whose chieftainship was by far the largest; and after him +the Zulu chiefs touched the pen while Mr. Shepstone +made their crosses for them, in place of the signature +which they could not form.</p> + +<p>For once in the history of Natal, all classes, from +whatever widely differing motives, were united in condemning +the arrangement.</p> + +<p>“The so-called settlement of Zululand,” says <cite>The +Cape Times</cite>, on September 16th, “is regarded with anything +but satisfaction in Natal, if we may accept the press +of that colony as representative of public opinion. Sir +Garnet Wolseley was probably acting under instructions +in making peace on a barbarian basis; such a peace, +however, has no guarantee for continuance, but on the +contrary an inherent weakness, forbidding any hope of<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_478"></a>[478]</span> +permanence. A savage nation is now divided into a +number of savage nations, each leaning to the other with +all the force of common blood and common traditions, +while to check the impulses of that force there is +absolutely nothing beyond the influence of two or three +British residents, unsupported by any armed retinue, +and clothed with no more than a shadow of authority. +And as the embodiment of British civilisation, and as +Her Majesty the Queen’s own representative in Zululand, +is placed Mr. John Dunn.... But whatever John +Dunn’s merits may be, his appointment as Chief Resident +in Zululand is a shock to civilisation. His ways are +Zulu ways; his associations, Zulu associations; his very +habits of thought imbued with the Zulu character. A +white man who for twenty years or more has lived the +Zulu life, wedded Zulu wives, and chosen their society in +preference to that of such women as a white man should +love and honour, is not the man to represent the Queen +of England in a nation of savages. The settlement of +Zululand means simply the appointment of a dozen +Cetywayos, with a white man to look after them, who is +a Cetywayo in all but colour. And now Sir Garnet +Wolseley skips off in his light and airy fashion to the +Transvaal, flattering himself that he has made things +pleasant in Zululand. It is a miserable delusion....”</p> + +<p>The “engagements” into which the Zulu chiefs +entered are:</p> + +<p>“1. I will observe and respect whatever boundaries +shall be assigned to my territory by the British Government +through the Resident of the division in which my +territory is situated.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_479"></a>[479]</span></p> + +<p>“2. I will not permit the existence of the Zulu +military system, or the existence of any military system +of organisation whatever, in my territory, and I will +proclaim and make it a rule that all men shall be +allowed to marry when they choose and as they choose, +according to the good ancient customs of my people, +known and followed in the days preceding the establishment +by Chaka of the system known as the military +system; and I will allow and encourage all men living +within my territory to go and come freely for peaceful +purposes, and to work in Natal and the Transvaal and +elsewhere for themselves or for hire.</p> + +<p>“3. I will not import or allow to be imported into +my territory by any person, upon any pretext or for any +object whatever, any arms or ammunition from any part +whatsoever, or any goods or merchandise by the sea-coast +of Zululand, without the express sanction of the Resident +of the division in which my territory is situated; and I +will not encourage or promote, or take part in, or +countenance in any way whatever, the importation in +any other part of Zululand of arms or ammunition from +any part whatever, or goods or merchandise by the +sea-coast of Zululand, without such sanction, and I will +confiscate and hand over to the Natal Government all +arms and ammunition, and goods and merchandise, so +imported into my territory, and I will punish by fine or +by other sufficient punishment any person guilty of or +concerned in any such unsanctioned importation, and +any person found possessing arms or ammunition, or +goods or merchandise, knowingly obtained thereby.</p> + +<p>“4. I will not allow the life of any of my people to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_480"></a>[480]</span> +be taken for any cause, except after sentence passed in a +council of the chief men of my territory, and after fair +and impartial trial in my presence and after the hearing +of witnesses; and I will not tolerate the employment +of witch-doctors, or the practice known as smelling-out, +or any practices of witchcraft.</p> + +<p>“5. The surrender of persons fugitive in my territory +from justice, when demanded by the government of any +British colony, territory, or province, in the interests of +justice, shall be readily and promptly made to such +government; and the escape into my territory of +persons accused or convicted of offences against British +laws shall be prevented by all possible means, and every +exertion shall be made to seize and deliver up such +persons to British authority.</p> + +<p>“6. I will not make war upon any chief or chiefs, or +people, without the sanction of the British Government, +through the Resident of the division in which my +territory is situated.</p> + +<p>“7. The succession to the chieftainship of my territory +shall be according to the ancient laws and customs of +my people, and the nomination of each successor shall +be subject to the approval of the British Government.</p> + +<p>“8. I will not sell, or in any way alienate, or permit, +or countenance any sale or alienation of any part of the +land in my territory.</p> + +<p>“9. I will permit all people residing in my territory +to there remain, upon the condition that they recognise +my authority as chief, and any persons not wishing to +recognise my authority and desiring to quit my territory +I will permit to quit and to pass unmolested elsewhere.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_481"></a>[481]</span></p> + +<p>“10. In all cases of dispute in which British subjects +are involved I will appeal to and abide by the decision +of the British Resident of the division in which my +territory is situated. In all cases when accusations of +offence or crime committed in my territory are brought +against British subjects, or against my people in relation +to British subjects, I will hold no trial and pass no +sentence except with the approval of such British +Resident.</p> + +<p>“11. In all matters not included within these terms, +conditions, and limitations, and in all cases provided for +herein, and in all cases when there may be doubt or +uncertainty as to the laws, rules, or stipulations applicable +to matters to be dealt with, I will govern, order, or +decide in accordance with the ancient laws and usage of +my people.”</p> + +<p>The following letter, addressed to the Right Hon. +W. E. Gladstone, and published in <cite>The Guardian</cite> of +December 10th, 1879, by the Dean of ’Maritzburg, +contains such valuable and important matter that we +quote it verbatim:</p> + +<div class="blockquot fs85"> +<p class="right"> +<span class="padr2 smcap">The Deanery, ’Maritzburg, Natal,</span><br> +<i>September 27th, 1879</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Though I have not the honour of being known to you, +yet, as the affairs of South Africa must necessarily engage the attention +of Parliament when it next meets, I venture to hope you will not +consider it an intrusion if I lay before you some of the conclusions +I have arrived at after thirty years’ residence as a clergyman in +Natal. I do so as I know from experience how extremely difficult +it is for those who have passed their lives in the midst of a highly +organised society, to realise the conditions of a colony, and especially +of one which is brought into contact with the undeveloped races of +South Africa. The first question that presents itself is, What is the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_482"></a>[482]</span> +meaning of the apparent antagonism of the native races, at the present +time, to the white man? I attribute it immediately to the natives +suddenly and unexpectedly finding themselves in the possession of +firearms. When the Diamond Fields were first opened out, no +restrictions were placed on the gun-trade by the Cape Government, +and so soon as this became known the natives flocked there in +thousands from all parts of South Africa, hiring themselves out to +work, and stipulating to be paid in rifles. Young men everywhere +will arm themselves if they can, and especially in a country in which +there is abundant room for hunting, and still more so when the young +men are savages, and know of no distinction except that which comes +from exhibiting prowess in war. I do not myself think they were +influenced by any feelings of hatred to the white man, or that there +existed any deep-seated conspiracy amongst the chiefs or old men. +But the young men suddenly discovered they could obtain firearms, +so got them; and having got them, they then desired to use them. +Everywhere they were armed, and so everywhere they began to talk +of fighting; the leaven had been put in and the whole lump worked. +The war which arose is now over, and the Cape Government is +engaged in steadily disarming the natives under its rule; its loyal +subjects, the Fingoes and the Basutos, as well as the recently conquered +tribes. Sir Garnet Wolseley told the Zulus also to bring +in their guns; but they have treated his order with contempt, and +he has made no attempt to enforce it; the Zulus themselves, I am +afraid, will soon adduce this as evidence that they were not beaten. +I may say, also, the Natal Governor always placed restrictions on +the natives possessing firearms, and, so far as he could, enforced +those restrictions on his own natives returning from the Diamond +Fields, and they have proved perfectly loyal. Whilst at the time +I deprecated the reckless trade allowed by the Cape Government, +still it seems to me rather hard, after having allowed the natives to +purchase guns, to set to work to disarm them. The wisest course I +consider would be to impose a tax on the possession of firearms +generally, granting privileges to members of volunteer corps, etc. In +that way, without drawing invidious distinctions between white and +coloured, our own young men would be exempted from paying by +serving as volunteers; and if the tax were a heavy one the natives +would be deterred from keeping guns, and, further, the Government +would know exactly to what extent they were armed.</p> + +<p>To leave, however, the native races in general, and to confine +ourselves to the Zulus. They never went to war with us, but we +with them; they have always been excellent neighbours; for thirty<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_483"></a>[483]</span> +years they have never been accused of stealing a sheep, or an ox, +or a horse from the Natal side. Natal had no quarrel with them +nor Cetywayo with us; it has been our misfortune that it has been +found convenient to carry on the war from Natal; but Sir H. Bulwer, +our Governor, has been true to the colony in insisting that it was no +war of ours. If there was any justification of the war, it must be +sought in the interests of Transvaal, and then it can only be accepted +as a judgment. The Crown had not a shadow of right to annex the +Transvaal. True, they were not governing themselves very well +in that State; neither, perhaps, is Germany, but we do not annex +Germany. We did take over the Transvaal, however, in direct +violation of engagements which had been entered into with the +Dutch Boers. Shepstone, in his proclamation, was obliged to say +that we must read between the lines of that engagement—<em>i.e.</em> the +promises of the British Government were worth nothing. The simple +fact was that the Cape and Transvaal merchants had been overtrading +in that republic; it was bankrupt, so many of them were on +the brink of insolvency. I cannot say more without mentioning +names, but there was no difficulty in seeing what influences were +brought to bear on Lord Carnarvon. The Republic was annexed; +farms were accepted at a nominal price in payment of debts, and +resold again in London, say at sixpence per acre, which amply repaid +the merchant, who thus saved himself, whilst the Boers were left +without their independence, and poorer than ever. Had we stayed +our hand, finding themselves hopelessly bankrupt, in a few months +they might probably have sought our assistance, and then we could +have annexed them without their having a grievance; as it is they +cannot forget it. I am sorry for them, for they are a simple people. +Shepstone went up as Governor, and Cetywayo at once asked to have +his old disputes with the Boers arranged—in former days both he +and his father, whenever they had had any difference with the Transvaal, +always sent messengers in to the Natal Government to advise +with it—and Shepstone, the Secretary for Natal Affairs, according to +his wont, always temporised, admitting in a half-and-half way that +they were right, but advising patience. When, however, he found +himself at the Transvaal he suddenly sided with the Dutch, and +Cetywayo became greatly incensed and declared himself betrayed. +I believe he would at once have invaded the Transvaal, but from +fear of us in Natal. He hesitated, however, and according to the old +maxim, he who hesitates does not fight; but before he had quieted +down Sir B. Frere interfered with his <em>ultimatum</em>, and Cetywayo stood +grandly on the defensive. He is a savage, and his ambition was to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_484"></a>[484]</span> +be a great savage; I do not mean a cruel one, but a powerful, influential +savage. He was ambitious, but disliked progress, and such men +must fail; so he has fallen, but with dignity. He has never attacked +a neighbour, white or black; he has defended his country bravely, +and has been guilty of no excesses. It has been our war, not his. +Sir B. Frere says most truly that almost everyone he spoke to +encouraged him to go to war; but I am afraid he avoided those who, +he was told, were against war—and when will not Englishmen advise +war? No argument was used, except the one that Cetywayo might +overrun Natal at any moment; but he had never shown a disposition +to do so, and we were stronger than men would allow. Men who do +not trust in the arm of God do not see the defences which surround +them. The Tugela, the river which separates Natal from Zululand, +was a great protection, as in summer-time, even if fordable, the Zulus +would not cross it, lest it should rise in their rear; and in the winter, +our dry season, they cannot keep the field, as their naked bodies are +quite unable to bear exposure to the cold nights. Moreover, though +our own army will never acknowledge it, Cetywayo’s force did not +exceed 30,000 naked savages. Of course we are told they were +60,000 or 80,000 strong; but if you casually inquire of any officer +who has been in Zululand whether the kraals were thickly dotted +over the country, he will tell you artlessly, “No, quite the contrary.” +I have again and again inquired of traders as to the density of the +population relative to Natal. I have inquired of those who have +lived at Ulundi, and have seen Cetywayo’s regiments mustered, and +I am confident that 30,000 is the very outside at which the Zulu +force could be put. I may return to this. I mention it now to show +why I do not agree with Sir Bartle in his view of our position; and +certainly I cannot admit, because a neighbour is powerful, that therefore +we are justified in going to war with him.</p> + +<p>But, now that we have been at war, on what terms is peace to be +arranged? In the Cape Colony the natives—as the Basutos, the +Fingoes, and others—live in districts to themselves, not intermingled +with the white man. The young men leave their homes, and go into +the colony, and work for a time in the towns or on the farms; but +their home is in Basutoland, Fingoland, etc. The same holds good in +the Transvaal. The natives there are on the border; but Natal is the +one exception to this rule; in this colony we live intermingled; and +a few years ago we were regarded as living in the crater of a volcano. +It was thought that the Natal natives, who outnumber the European +settlers eighteenfold, might at any moment overwhelm us, so that +Cape politicians and others refused to be connected with this colony.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_485"></a>[485]</span> +In 1876, however, before the rising of the natives on the frontier, I +was bold enough to point out to my fellow-colonists that our supposed +weakness was in reality our strength. And so it has proved. During +the last two years Natal has been the oasis of South Africa; everywhere +else the natives have either been in arms, or shown themselves +disaffected, if we except the Fingoes; but the position in which they +stand to the Kafir tribes around them compels them to be loyal, so +they are scarcely to be taken into account.</p> + +<p>Whilst, then, throughout South Africa the natives have been a +source of uneasiness, the overwhelming native population of Natal +(360,000, against 22,000 whites) has been perfectly true to the +Government, and the grounds of their loyalty are now, I think, recognised +in Natal. They are these: 1. The natives are not, like +Englishmen, self-reliant, but naturally dependent; consequently, they +use the machinery of Government much more than we do. An +Englishman dislikes appealing to a magistrate, as it implies a want +of power to take care of himself or to govern his dependents. Not +so the native; he habitually leans upon the magistrate. Thirty years +ago in Natal the native leant upon his chief; now he has become +familiar with the magistrate, who has become a necessity to him. I +argue, therefore, that a people will not plot or even desire to throw +off an authority which enters into their daily life. 2. Natives who +have resided amongst white men feel the need of their presence. The +native races cannot develop themselves—nor, when in some degree +developed, can they stand by themselves—as their wills are weak, +and intellectually they are lawyers, fond of argument, but without +imagination; so they can neither plan nor construct. In their independent +state they have no criminal law, no commercial code, no +municipal one, no law of tenure of landed property; they possess +only a few customs regulating marriage and the division of their cattle +amongst the family; but, scattered amongst white men, they are able +to expand. The effect is seen in many ways—amongst others, in the +increase of their families. 3. They are naturally fond of trading. +In many ways they may be compared to the Celtic race, as they +cannot rise above the tribal organisation; but, unlike the Celt, they +are not intellectual; and, unlike him, their natural bent is towards +trading. They are good soldiers, but they prefer trading to everything; +consequently, on this account, they are unwilling to separate +from the white man. 4. The natives never go to war unless they can +first send their cattle to the rear; but this they cannot do when distributed +amongst the Europeans, and this operates alone as a great check. +During the thirty years I have been in Natal we have only had three<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_486"></a>[486]</span> +chiefs give the slightest trouble, and these three have all been on the +borders, and so have been able to send their cattle away. I am convinced, +therefore, that, if the Government wishes to maintain peace +and to develop the native races, it should intermingle them with the +Europeans. The Aborigines Society at home will probably object. +It is easy to say the white man seeks only to dispossess the native, +but whatever the individual motive, the white man is the benefactor +by his presence. He may have hunted down the North American +Indian and the Aborigines of Australia, but not so in South Africa. +Here not only does the magistrate protect him, but the Kafir is a +worker, which the North American Indian and the native of Australia +is not. The white man wants the Kafir’s labour, and to secure it has +to be just and kind. A farm-servant in England is by no means so +independent as a Kafir out here. Mix up the races therefore, and to +some extent at least the problem of governing and improving the +native race is solved. After the defeat at Isandhlwana, new-comers +like the military thought our natives might rise; but their wives, +children, waggons, cattle, etc., were in the colony, so they made +common cause with us, and showed themselves zealously loyal. I +consider it, therefore, to be most foolish to try and keep the races apart; +we must intermingle them. It was Alexander’s principle and the +Roman rule; the present European families have been founded on +this method—so we must go on mingling, not separating.</p> + +<p>I send you a copy of Sir Garnet Wolseley’s conditions of peace, +as published in <cite>The Natal Witness</cite>. They are universally condemned +here. 1. The chiefs are to be under British Residents, and they must +be supported by a force. But who is to pay? It is said the Zulus +are not to be taxed, as that would amount to annexation; or, rather, +it would test Sir Garnet’s arrangements. If he is afraid to tax the +Zulus the Residents will be afraid to control them. The test of +defeat with Kafirs is the loss of cattle—they do not estimate the loss +of life; but we have not taken cattle. Indeed, the balance is on +their side: they have carried off more than we have.<a id="FNanchor_180" href="#Footnote_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a> The test of +submission is obedience, and they have with one accord disobeyed the +order to give up their guns. The test of the Queen’s authority in +South Africa is the payment of taxes. Even Cetywayo offered to +pay a hut-tax; and if Sir Garnet does not impose one, all the young +men in Zululand, before a year is over, will point to their cattle, their +guns, and their immunity from taxes, and boast that they were not +beaten. If the Zulus are to be controlled by British Residents they<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_487"></a>[487]</span> +should pay a hut-tax. Our natives pay a hut-tax of 14s. per hut. +I have understood that the Cape Government wish it to be uniform +throughout South Africa, and to be fixed at £1. We estimate the +population at three-and-a-half persons to a hut, and at 14s. it amounts +to 4s. per head. Besides that the natives on farms pay rent to the +farmer, and the more they adopt our habits the more do they pay +through the Customs. The Zulus could readily pay £1 per hut, or, +say £36,000 per annum. Cetywayo’s Government was an expensive +one. His commissariat alone was a heavy drain upon the resources +of the people. Savages, as well as civilised persons, understand that +they must support their Government; the Zulus, therefore, would +recognise the justice of being taxed; and not to tax them is, I consider, +to abandon one of the duties of Government. Moreover, it is +said we are to be taxed to pay our quota of the recent expenditure. +But our natives will hardly understand first fighting the Zulus, and +then having to pay for it. It will seem to them as if they were the +offending party, if they, and not the Zulus, are taxed. 2. The conditions +discourage trade. It ought to be encouraged to the utmost. +Instead of forbidding importation by sea, a Custom-house should be +established at the one port or landing-place, 3. The alienation of +land is forbidden, in order to keep out the white man; but he should +be encouraged to enter, and so long as the land is held in common by +the whole tribe there will be no improvement in agriculture. Or, to +take the conditions in order—2 is impossible; the young men will +be quarrelling with one another at weddings and other gatherings, +tribal fights will ensue, and the chiefs must have a force at their +command. 3 I have touched upon. 4 is nugatory; if a chief +wishes to put to death he can give a man a mock trial and have +done with it. 6 overlooks that wars often do not begin with the +chiefs; the young men bring them about. 8 I have touched upon. +The whole implies the active and constant superintendence of the +Resident, and that will be resisted: some kraal or kraals will be +disobedient to orders, the chief will be unable or unwilling to enforce +obedience, and the Resident must call in other assistance at great +expense; and at whose? There is nothing enduring, nothing practical +in this settlement, if it deserves to be called such. It is not likely to +last, and everyone expects, after a short interval, more bloodshed +and more reckless expenditure. The burden cannot be thrown on +the Colony, as the Government has not been consulted on the terms +of peace. The whole thing is a cruelty to the Zulus, to the colonists, +and to the suffering home population, for there will be another +£3,000,000 or more to be voted yet; but during the whole time<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_488"></a>[488]</span> +meat was 8d. and bread 4d. per pound. 1s. 6d. per diem was consequently +ample allowance for the keep of a soldier; of course I am +aware there were numerous other sources of expenditure, but it is +extreme folly to send an army out to a distant place, with power to +draw upon the Treasury at will; it is too great a trial for human +nature. As a blind, all sorts of things are said about the colonists; +a great deal or even all may be true, but it does not explain half. +That, however, is by the way; but I must mention, before concluding, +that one of the newly-appointed chiefs is a white man named John +Dunn. He left home when about fifteen or sixteen, and has since +lived with the Zulus, taking to himself a number of wives. This +appointment is looked upon as an outrage to public morals and as an +insult to the colonists. I say nothing about the missionaries, as I do +not wish that they should lean upon the civil power; the Church +must do her proper work in her proper way. I simply write as an +Englishman, to one who largely guides the counsels of the nation, to +lift up my voice against what has been done, and is being done, +in this part of the empire. Trusting you will excuse my thus +trespassing upon your time, believe me to remain yours most +respectfully,</p> + +<p class="right"> +<span class="padr4 smcap">James Green,</span><br> +<em>Dean of ’Maritzburg</em>.</p> +</div> + +<p>But at all events we had gained one definite result +by all the blood and money spent in the Zulu war. The +most important and earnestly insisted on immediate +cause of our attack upon Zululand was the invasion of +our soil, and the violation of our sanctuary, committed +by Mehlokazulu and his brother, sons of Sihayo, when +they seized and carried off two women who had taken +refuge in Natal. We “requested” the Zulu king to +deliver up the young men to us for judgment and for +punishment, and he begged us to accept a fine in lieu of +the persons of the offenders. We declined this proposal +and repeated our request, which suddenly became a +“demand” when it appeared in the ultimatum, and as +such remained.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_489"></a>[489]</span></p> + +<p>It was said at the time that, had the young men +been given up even after the troops had crossed the +border, hostilities would have been suspended until the +rest of the demands could be complied with. But they +were not, so we went to war.</p> + +<p>And now, at last, the war was over, one of Sihayo’s +sons had fallen in battle, and Mehlokazulu, the other, +was in our hands. Here was what we had fought for, +and obtained! What would be done with him? By +the military authorities he could only be treated like any +other prisoner of war, and released unharmed amongst +the other Zulus. He was therefore handed over to the +civil authorities at Pietermaritzburg to be tried by them, +although he was denied the same advantages of counsel +which are accorded by law to other civil prisoners.</p> + +<p>This denial was commented upon unfavourably by +those who desired justice to be done, but, apparently, +Mehlokazulu required no counsel, for he was not tried. +He had committed no offence on British soil punishable +in a Zulu subject by British law. His own king could +have punished him by our request, but we had deposed +and transported that king, and there was no law by +which we could have inflicted anything beyond a trifling +fine for trespass upon the man whom we had compassed +heaven and earth, and shed so much of England’s +noblest blood, to seize. The magistrate declined to +commit him for trial, and Mehlokazulu was permitted +to return to his home. “Doubtless,” remarks <cite>The +Natal Colonist</cite> of October 27th, “the legal adviser +of the Crown was concerned in the case, and framed +the charge which there was the best chance of being<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_490"></a>[490]</span> +substantiated. And this is the result—‘there was +no evidence to maintain the charge.’... It is a +miserable conclusion to a most miserable affair.... +The charge which, as we have seen, is almost made the +chief occasion of the war which has desolated so many +homes, and cost millions of money, completely breaks +down when brought to the test of legal trial, and the +prisoner is, of necessity, set at liberty. We never +believed much in the other pretexts for the war put +forward by Sir Bartle Frere, but we confess that we +always thought the outrage by Sihayo’s sons was one +to be visited with condign punishment, whether it +was one which would justify war or not; and even though +we knew it was only a pretext, seeing that it only took +place long after war had been determined on, and +preparations for it had been begun to be made.”</p> + +<p>“But the ultimatum and its demands are things of +the past. Rivers of blood have flowed to enforce these +demands, and now they are put on one side as utterly +valueless, both by the settlement of Zululand and the +release of Sirayo’s son.”<a id="FNanchor_181" href="#Footnote_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a></p> + +<p>With this humiliating fact we must close our record +of the Zulu War. In doing so, we feel that too many of +the circumstances which we have thus recorded reflect +no credit on the name of England—that name which as +English men and women we most desire should be +honoured by the world at large; and we realise with pain +that, so far as our work may be perused by dwellers +upon other shores, so far have we lessened the glory +of our motherland in their eyes. But, however much<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_491"></a>[491]</span> +we may regret the necessity, we do not therefore think +it a less imperative duty to bring to the light as much +as possible whatever wrong and injustice has been committed +and concealed by those to whom England has +entrusted her power and her fame. That the light of +publicity should be thrown upon them is the first step +towards their cure, or at least towards the prevention of +any further wrong, and it is with the truest loyalty to +our Sovereign, and the deepest love and reverence for +our country, that we have undertaken the task now +completed.</p> + + +<p class="p4 p6b pfs80">THE END.</p> + +<hr class="r65"> +<p class="pfs70">CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS.</p> + + +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h2>FOOTNOTES:</h2> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> “Few things struck me more than the evident haste and +temporary character of the defensive measures undertaken by the +English part of the population”—in the border districts of Natal. +(See letter from Sir Bartle Frere to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, dated +March 28th, 1879. P. P. [C. 2318] p. 32.)</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> Spelt thus to give the nearest proper pronunciation of +“Cetywayo.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> Residence of the Bishop of Natal.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> These people had refused to leave their homes, or desert their +Bishop, as long as he and his family remained at Bishopstowe, although +both black and white, for miles around, had sought shelter elsewhere.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> A system not unlike the Inquisition in its evil results.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> Who, it may be remarked, have always been well treated in +Zululand.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> Portions of this letter are omitted from the Blue-book. It +would be interesting to see the letter as originally received.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> One put to death in 1861 was condemned on a charge of high +treason.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> As he had previously, in the year 1861, visited Zululand for the +purpose of fixing the succession upon the house of Cetshwayo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_10" href="#FNanchor_10" class="label">[10]</a> Since by our desire he refrained from protecting it by force of +arms.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_11" href="#FNanchor_11" class="label">[11]</a> He gives as reasons for his objections: first, that such treaties +“involve an admission of equality between the contracting parties,” +and therefore “encourage presumption” on the part of the inferior, +etc.; secondly, that “men who cannot read are apt to forget or distort +the words of a treaty.” A third reason, which does not seem to have +occurred to Mr. Shepstone, lies in the ease with which a savage may +be deceived as to the contents of a written document, which facility +we shall soon largely illustrate in the matter of Boer treaties with the +natives.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_12" href="#FNanchor_12" class="label">[12]</a> See Lecky’s “Rationalism in Europe”:—7000 at Trèves; 600 +by a single Bishop of Bamberg; 800 in <em>one</em> year, in the bishopric of +Wurtzburg; 1000 in the province of Como; 400 at <em>once</em>, at Toulouse; +500 in three months, at Geneva; 48 at Constance; 80 at the little +town of Valary in Saxony; 70 in Sweden; and one <em>Christian</em> judge +boasted that he himself had been the means of putting to death, in +sixteen years, 800 witches!</p> + +<p>In Scotland, two centuries ago, but after many centuries of +Christianity and civilisation, John Brown, the Ayrshire carrier, was +shot, and, within a fortnight, an aged widow and a young maid were +tied to stakes in the Solway and drowned by the rising tide, for the +crime of neglecting episcopal worship, and going aside into the moor +to spend the Sabbath day in prayer and praise.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_13" href="#FNanchor_13" class="label">[13]</a> P. P. [C. 1401] p. 30.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_14" href="#FNanchor_14" class="label">[14]</a> Natives of Basutoland, resident for many years in Natal.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_15" href="#FNanchor_15" class="label">[15]</a> See Field Force Order, 1873.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_16" href="#FNanchor_16" class="label">[16]</a> In the Zulu language the word <i lang="zu">abantwana</i> (children) is a general +one, including both women and children.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_17" href="#FNanchor_17" class="label">[17]</a> It is only fair to Major Durnford to state that during the whole +of these proceedings he was away over the mountains, in vain pursuit +of an enemy to be fought.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_18" href="#FNanchor_18" class="label">[18]</a> 1. The following account of the above transaction was given by +one of those concerned, in a letter to <cite>The Natal Times</cite> of that date: +“Twenty of us volunteered yesterday to go up and into a cave about +eight miles from here. We found only one native, whom we shot, +took a lot of goats (eighty-seven), and any amount of assegais and other +weapons. We also searched about the country and killed a few +niggers, taking fourteen prisoners. One fellow in a cave loaded his +rifle with stones, and slightly wounded Wheelwright and Lieutenant +Clarke, R.A. We, however, got him out, and Moodie shot him +through the brains. Fifteen of ours have just volunteered to go to a +cave supposed to contain niggers. We are gradually wiping out the +three poor fellows who were shot, and all our men are determined to +have some more.”</p> + +<p>2. <cite>The Natal Government Gazette</cite>, December 9th, 1873, contains the +following enactment: “All officers and other persons who have acted +under the authority of Sir Benjamin Chillay Campbell Pine, K.C.M.G., +as Lieut.-Governor of the colony of Natal, or as Supreme Chief +over the native population, or have acted <i lang="la">bonâ fide</i> for the purposes +and during the time aforesaid, whether such acts were done in any +district, county, or division of the colony in which martial law was +proclaimed or not, are hereby indemnified in respect of all acts, +matters, and things done, in order to suppress the rebellion and prevent +the spread thereof; and such acts so done are hereby made and +declared to be lawful, and are confirmed.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_19" href="#FNanchor_19" class="label">[19]</a> It is hard to understand why these people should yet be +detained and their harmless old chief still kept prisoner at Capetown. +The common saying that they are all content and the chief better off +than he ever was before in his life, is an entirely and cruelly false one. +Langalibalele is wearying for his freedom and his own people; the +few women with him are tired of their loneliness, and longing to be +with their children in Natal. The present writer paid the chief a +visit in September of this year (1879), and found him very sad. “I +am weary; when will they let me go?” was his continual question.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_20" href="#FNanchor_20" class="label">[20]</a> Not including those individual acts of cruelty which no one +could defend, although many speak of them as unavoidable.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_21" href="#FNanchor_21" class="label">[21]</a> The Lieut.-Governor of the colony.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_22" href="#FNanchor_22" class="label">[22]</a> Kafir law, under which Langalibalele was tried, because most +of the offences with which he was charged were not recognisable by +English law.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_23" href="#FNanchor_23" class="label">[23]</a> Ordinance No. 3, 1849.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_24" href="#FNanchor_24" class="label">[24]</a> The italics are the Author’s own in this and following charge.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_25" href="#FNanchor_25" class="label">[25]</a> The other rebel chiefs of the Cape Colony here alluded to, +however, were not “banished,” but merely imprisoned in a portion of +their own Supreme Chiefs territory, where, at proper times, they could +be visited by members of their families and tribes; moreover, they +were duly tried and convicted before the ordinary courts of serious +crimes committed by themselves individually, and they had actually +resisted by force their Supreme Chief within his territory; whereas +Langalibalele had made no resistance—he was a runaway, but no +rebel; he had not been tried and condemned for any crime in the +Colonial Court, and banishment for life to Robben Island, away from +all his people, was a fate worse than death in his and their eyes.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_26" href="#FNanchor_26" class="label">[26]</a> The same Magema, the Bishop’s printer, before mentioned.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_27" href="#FNanchor_27" class="label">[27]</a> Although Mawiza’s lies were plainly exposed, he was never +punished, but remains to this day in charge of a large tribe, over +which he has been placed by the Government.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_28" href="#FNanchor_28" class="label">[28]</a> On June 24th, 1874, the Bishop presented this “Appeal on behalf +of Langalibalele” to His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor of Natal and +the executive committee of the Colony. The appeal was made in the +first instance to Sir B. C. C. Pine, who altogether refused to listen to it. +On this the Bishop forwarded a letter through the Lieut.-Governor +to the Earl of Carnarvon, enclosing a copy of his correspondence with +Sir B. C. C. Pine, and stating his reasons for acting as he had done in the +matter. This letter was dated August 6th, 1874, and on August 16th +the Bishop left home <i lang="fr">en route</i> to England.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_29" href="#FNanchor_29" class="label">[29]</a> He was a bright intelligent lad, keenly anxious for self-improvement, +and with a great desire, unusual amongst his kind, to go to +England, and see a civilised country.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_30" href="#FNanchor_30" class="label">[30]</a> The Zulus and Zulu-Kafirs bathe their persons frequently, but +they have not our ideas of cleanliness in respect to dress and +habitations, although they are very particular about their food, +utensils, and other matters.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_31" href="#FNanchor_31" class="label">[31]</a> This was done at the expense of Government, which likewise +allowed certain supplies of meal, salt, and a little meat to the +captives.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_32" href="#FNanchor_32" class="label">[32]</a> The boy was one of those who in the meanwhile had learnt at +Bishopstowe to read and write, and who therefore could be of some +use to his father as scribe, although his usefulness in that respect is +much curtailed by the exceeding caution of the Government, which in +its absurd and causeless fear of “treasonable correspondence,” will +not allow written words of any description to reach or leave the poor +old chief without official inspection. This precaution goes so far that +in one instance some mats made by the women for Miss Colenso, and +sent from Uitvlugt (the place of Langalibalele’s confinement after he +was removed from the island), never reached their destination, owing +to the paper attached, signifying for whom they were intended, being +removed, as coming under the head of prohibited liberties. Another +case is that of a lady who visited the family in September, 1879, and +asked them to tell her what trifles they would like her to send them +from Cape Town, but found that she had no power to send some +babies’ socks which the women had chosen, and a comforter for the +old man’s neck, except through an official individual and by formal +permission.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_33" href="#FNanchor_33" class="label">[33]</a> A woman, wife of one of the fugitives, being taken prisoner +during the expedition, found favour, much against her will, in the +eyes of one Adam (a follower of the Secretary for Native Affairs), +who asked to be allowed to take her as his wife. Permission was +granted, but the woman refused, saying that she had a husband +already, to whom she was attached. Her wishes were disregarded, +and she was conveyed home by Adam, from whom she shortly escaped. +Adam applied to the nearest magistrate for an order to take forcible +possession of the fugitive, and the woman was thrown into gaol by the +magistrate, until she should consent to be Adam’s wife. The man +took her home a second time, and she again escaped from him; in +fact her determination was so great that the matter was finally given +up altogether. Eventually she rejoined her own husband, who +received her and her child with the kindness which her constancy +deserved.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_34" href="#FNanchor_34" class="label">[34]</a> Reaching home early in October, 1874.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_35" href="#FNanchor_35" class="label">[35]</a> Acts of “defiance” and “resistance,” too vague for any special +instance to be given, probably striking his lordship as being of a +slightly imaginary character.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_36" href="#FNanchor_36" class="label">[36]</a> Implying plainly that strict justice would demand it.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_37" href="#FNanchor_37" class="label">[37]</a> Author’s italics.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_38" href="#FNanchor_38" class="label">[38]</a> No notice was ever taken of the recommendation.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_39" href="#FNanchor_39" class="label">[39]</a> It is reported that Sir B. Pine has felt the injustice to himself +so keenly that he refuses longer to acknowledge his title of K.C.M.G., +and styles himself simply Mr. Pine. There can be little doubt that +in point of fact Mr. Shepstone was mainly responsible for all that happened; +but “the right man to annex the Transvaal” could not well +be spared, and a scapegoat was found for him in Sir Benjamin Pine.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_40" href="#FNanchor_40" class="label">[40]</a> Three at last.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_41" href="#FNanchor_41" class="label">[41]</a> It would be an injustice to an association, called into existence +and maintained by a true spirit of Christian charity, to pass over in +silence the active, if seemingly ineffectual, efforts of the Aborigines +Protection Society to obtain justice for the unfortunate people of the +Putini tribe.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_42" href="#FNanchor_42" class="label">[42]</a> The annexation of the Transvaal:—so stated by one of his own +staff.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_43" href="#FNanchor_43" class="label">[43]</a> It is neither customary nor convenient to speak publicly of a +parent, and I desire to let facts speak for themselves as much as +possible. I feel, however, bound to remark that of all the mistakes +made by a succession of rulers in Natal, perhaps the most foolish +and unnecessary has been that jealousy of episcopal “or unofficial” +interference, which has blinded them to the fact that the Bishop has +always been ready to give any assistance in his power to the local +Government in carrying out all just and expedient measures towards +the natives, without claiming any credit or taking any apparently +prominent position beyond his own; and, so long as justice is done, +would greatly prefer its being done by those in office. He has never +interfered, except when his duty as a man, and as the servant of a +just and merciful Master, has made it imperatively necessary that +he should do so; nor does he covet any political power or influence. +To a government which intends to carry out a certain line of policy +in defiance of justice and honour, he would ever be an opponent; +but one which honestly aims at the truth would assuredly meet with +his earnest support.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_44" href="#FNanchor_44" class="label">[44]</a> “The recollection of past events”—that is to say, of the +slaughter of many men, women, and children, the destruction of +homes, and the sufferings of the living;—this can hardly with reason +be said to be <em>kept alive</em> by attempts to ameliorate the condition of +those that remained, and to show them some small kindness and +pity. How “a good feeling” was to be restored between the victims +and their conquerors by other means, Sir Garnet does not suggest.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_45" href="#FNanchor_45" class="label">[45]</a> In common only with the rest of the tribe.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_46" href="#FNanchor_46" class="label">[46]</a> Three women and two children only have been allowed to join +him.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_47" href="#FNanchor_47" class="label">[47]</a> Which did not prevent their being of the utmost importance +in considering the case of the chief under trial at the time the +statements were made.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_48" href="#FNanchor_48" class="label">[48]</a> Sir B. Pine complains in his despatch, December 31st, 1874, of +the “intolerable injustice” of charges being made against Mr. J. +Shepstone, upon evidence taken by the Bishop <i lang="la">ex parte</i>, without the +<em>safety of publicity</em> and the opportunity of cross-examination. Yet +Sir Garnet Wolseley refused to allow publicity or searching cross-examination +by experienced advocates.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_49" href="#FNanchor_49" class="label">[49]</a> One of the original four.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_50" href="#FNanchor_50" class="label">[50]</a> Mr. Shepstone says in his second report that a day or two +previous to the meeting with Matshana, he had received information +to the effect that the chief’s intentions were to put him and his people +to death at the expected interview, and all the efforts made by Mr. +Shepstone and his witnesses were to prove, first, the murderous intentions +of Matshana; and, secondly, that <em>nevertheless</em> Mr. Shepstone had +no counter-plans for violence, and did not fire upon the people.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_51" href="#FNanchor_51" class="label">[51]</a> Author’s italics.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_52" href="#FNanchor_52" class="label">[52]</a> Rather by the determination of their rulers to preserve their +land from Boer encroachments.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_53" href="#FNanchor_53" class="label">[53]</a> <span class="smcap">Sand River Treaty.</span>—“Evidence was adduced that the Transvaal +Boers, who, by the Sand River Convention, and in consideration of the +independence which that convention assured to them, had solemnly +pledged themselves to this country (England) not to reintroduce +slavery into their Republic, had been in the habit of capturing, +buying, selling, and holding in forced servitude, African children, +called by the cant name of ‘black ivory,’ murdering the fathers, +and driving off the mothers; that this slave trade was carried on +with the sanction of the subordinate Transvaal authorities, and that +the President did actually imprison and threaten to ruin by State +prosecution a fellow-countryman who brought it to the notice of the +English authority—an authority which, if it had not the power to +prevent, had at any rate a treaty right to denounce it. This and +more was done, sometimes in a barbarous way, under an assumed +divine authority to exterminate those who resisted them. So much +was established by Dutch and German evidence. But it was supplemented +and carried farther by the evidence of natives as to their own +sufferings, and of English officers as to that general notoriety which +used to be called <i lang="la">publica fama</i>.”—<cite>From an article by Lord Blachford +in The Nineteenth Century Review, August 1879</cite>, p. 265.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_54" href="#FNanchor_54" class="label">[54]</a> A native chief.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_55" href="#FNanchor_55" class="label">[55]</a> Written in October, 1879.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_56" href="#FNanchor_56" class="label">[56]</a> Lord Blachford says in the article already quoted from: “The +citizens of these Republics have gone out from among us into a hostile +wilderness, because they could not endure a humanitarianism which +not only runs counter to their habits and interest, but blasphemes that +combination of gain with godliness which is part of their religion. +While that humanitarianism forms a leading principle of our government +they will not submit to it. Why should we bribe or force them +to do so? It is no doubt right and wise to remain, if possible, on +good terms with them. It is wise and generous to save them, if +possible, in their day of calamity—as, with our own opposite +policy, we have been able to save them—by a wave of the hand—twice +from the Basutos, and once from the Zulus. (Once for all +rather, through the course of many years, during which we have restrained +the Zulus from asserting their own rights to the disputed +territory, by promises that we would see justice done.—<em>Author.</em>) But +it is neither wise nor necessary to embroil ourselves in their quarrels +until they call for help, until they have had occasion to feel the evil +effects of their own methods, and the measure of their weakness, and +are ready, not in whispers or innuendos and confidential corners, but +outspokenly in public meetings, or through their constituted authorities, +to accept with gratitude our intervention on our own terms, until they +are, if they ever can be, thus taught by adversity. I do not myself +believe that we could enter into any political union with them +except at the sacrifice of that character for justice to which, I persist +in saying, we owe so much of our power and security in South Africa. +Nor so long as we observe the rules of justice to them shall we do any +good by disguising our substantial differences, or refraining from +indignant remonstrances against proceedings which are not only repugnant +to humanity, but violate their engagements with us and +endanger our security.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_57" href="#FNanchor_57" class="label">[57]</a> Colonel Durnford, R.E., who paid a flying visit to Pretoria at +the time.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_58" href="#FNanchor_58" class="label">[58]</a> Mr. John Dunn is said to have stated to the Special Correspondent +of <cite>The Cape Argus</cite>, and to have since reaffirmed his statement, +that Sir T. Shepstone “sent word to Cetshwayo that he was +being hemmed in, and the king was to hold himself in readiness to +come to his assistance.” This assertion has also been denied by +Sir T. Shepstone’s supporters.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_59" href="#FNanchor_59" class="label">[59]</a> P. P. [C. 1776] p. 88.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_60" href="#FNanchor_60" class="label">[60]</a> It may be interesting to compare the above with the wording of +Sir T. Shepstone’s “Commission”—P. P. [C. 1776] p. 111.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_61" href="#FNanchor_61" class="label">[61]</a> The chief repeatedly refused to sign any paper presented to him +by the Boers, on the grounds that he could not tell what it might +contain, beyond the points explained to him, to which he might afterwards +be said to have agreed; showing plainly to what the natives +were accustomed in their dealings with the Transvaal.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_62" href="#FNanchor_62" class="label">[62]</a> That claimed by the Boers.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_63" href="#FNanchor_63" class="label">[63]</a> P. P. (2079, pp. 51-54).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_64" href="#FNanchor_64" class="label">[64]</a> The conclusion arrived at, after a careful consideration of all +producible evidence, by the Rorke’s Drift Commission, in 1878.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_65" href="#FNanchor_65" class="label">[65]</a> A liability transferred to the Zulu king by Sir Bartle Frere in +his correspondence with the Bishop of Natal.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_66" href="#FNanchor_66" class="label">[66]</a> That is to say, that they may be bribed by substantial benefits to +acquiesce in the loss of their liberties.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_67" href="#FNanchor_67" class="label">[67]</a> Was it by inadvertence that Sir T. Shepstone speaks of “us” +and “we,” thus producing a sentence so strangely and unhappily +applicable?</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_68" href="#FNanchor_68" class="label">[68]</a> Italics not Sir B. Frere’s.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_69" href="#FNanchor_69" class="label">[69]</a> Author’s italics throughout.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_70" href="#FNanchor_70" class="label">[70]</a> Author’s italics.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_71" href="#FNanchor_71" class="label">[71]</a> “<em>Ama</em>-Swazi” for the plural correctly, as also “Ama-Zulu.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_72" href="#FNanchor_72" class="label">[72]</a> Sir Henry Bulwer, speaking of the disputed territory generally, +writes as follows: “The Zulu king had always, in deference very +much to the wishes and advice of this Government (Natal), forborne +from doing anything in respect of the question that might produce a +collision, trusting to the good offices of this Government to arrange +the difficulty by other means. But no such arrangement had ever +been made; and thus the question had drifted on until the formal +annexation of the disputed territory by the Government of the +Republic last year, and their subsequent attempt to give a practical +effect to their proclamation of annexation by levying taxes upon the +Zulus residing in the territory, provoked a resistance and a feeling of +resentment which threatened to precipitate a general collision at any +moment.”—<span class="smcap">Sir H. Bulwer</span>, <em>June 29th, 1876</em> (C. 1961, p. 1).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_73" href="#FNanchor_73" class="label">[73]</a> Umtonga escaped again, and is now living in the Transvaal. His +brother was still living in Zululand, as head of Umtonga’s kraal, at the +beginning of the war, and no injury appears to have been done to any +of the four.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_74" href="#FNanchor_74" class="label">[74]</a> Thereby pointing the truth of his own remark at a previous +date—March 30th, 1876 (1748, p. 24): “But messages from the Zulu +king are becoming more frequent and urgent, and <em>the replies he receives +seem to him to be both temporising and evasive</em>.” (Author’s italics).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_75" href="#FNanchor_75" class="label">[75]</a> Immediately after they had signed the instrument of appointment +the two Zulu messengers were sent in to the Government by +Messrs. Smith and Colenso, and took with them a letter (C. 2000) +which mentioned them as its bearers, and announced what they had +done.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_76" href="#FNanchor_76" class="label">[76]</a> ’Mfunzi and ’Nkisimane were sent down again to ’Maritzburg by +Cetshwayo, at the request of Sir H. Bulwer, and denied the whole +transaction, though it was attested by the signatures of the notary +and two white witnesses. It was afterwards discovered that they had +been frightened into this denial by a Natal Government messenger, +who told them that they had made the Governor very angry with +them and their king by making this appointment; and John Dunn +also, after receiving letters from ’Maritzburg, told them that they had +committed a great fault, and that he saw that they would never <em>all</em> +come home again.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_77" href="#FNanchor_77" class="label">[77]</a> Messrs. Smith and Colenso’s explanatory letter to Sir M. Hicks-Beach, +dated June 9th, 1878, concludes as follows:</p> + +<p>“This business, as far as we are concerned, is, therefore, ended. +We had hoped to be instrumental in embodying in a contract a proposal +which we knew was advantageous to both parties. To do so +only required the intervention of European lawyers trusted by +Cetewayo. We knew that he trusted us, and would trust no others. +The task of acting for the king was, therefore, imposed on us as +lawyers and as gentlemen. Of pecuniary reward, or its equivalent, +our labours have brought us nothing. We do not require it. Honour +we did not desire, nor had a savage prince any means of conferring it. +The duty thus undertaken we give up only in despair, and we have +nothing to regret.</p> + +<p>“Such information, however, as we have gleaned in the course of +our agency you are entitled to hear from us, as we are British +subjects.</p> + +<p>“The Zulus are hostile to the Boers of the Transvaal, and would +fight with them but for fear of being involved in a quarrel with the +English. But neither Cetewayo himself, who is wise and peaceful, +nor the most hot-blooded of his young warriors have any desire to +fight with England, <em>i.e.</em> Natal.</p> + +<p>“If they wished to do so there is nothing to prevent them, and +never has been. As they march, they could march from their border +to this city or to Durban in a little more than twenty-four hours. +Their only fear is, that the English will come with an army +‘to make them pay taxes.’ They say they will rather die than +do so. The king says the same. Almost every man has a gun. Guns +and ammunition are cheaper at any military kraal in Zululand than at +Port Natal. These goods are imported by Tonga men, who come in +large gangs from Delagoa Bay, for white merchants. An Enfield rifle +may be had for a sheep of a Tonga man; many have breech-loaders. +The missionaries, whose principal occupation was trading, deal in +ammunition. The missionaries have recently lost most of their converts, +who have gone trading on their own account. Without these +converts the missionaries cannot do business, and they have left the +country, except Bishop Schreuder, who has gone back, that it may not +be said that a white man is not safe there. Cetewayo says that he has +asked the missionaries to stop. They have certainly not been turned +out or threatened. Their going makes the Zulus think that we are +about to invade the country.</p> + +<p>“Nothing but gross mismanagement will bring about a quarrel +between England and the Zulus.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2144] pp. 215, 216).</span></p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_78" href="#FNanchor_78" class="label">[78]</a> This is apparently a figure of speech, since Luneburg, near +which the kraal was being built, would seem by the map <em>not</em> to lie +“to the rear”—as seen from Zululand—of Utrecht, where Sir T. +Shepstone was staying.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_79" href="#FNanchor_79" class="label">[79]</a> Compare the account of the delay on the part of the Boer +Government when Mr. Keate proposed to arbitrate. See last chapter, +p. 182.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_80" href="#FNanchor_80" class="label">[80]</a> 2144, p. 191.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_81" href="#FNanchor_81" class="label">[81]</a> The Zulus, of course, would not have appreciated the convenience +of a table and chairs; they had no “documents” to lay +upon the former; and their opinion of the comfort of the latter is +best expressed by the well-known Zulu saying that, “<em>Only Englishmen +and chickens sit upon perches.</em>” The mats provided for them were, +therefore, a proper equivalent to the tables and seats placed for the +other delegates.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_82" href="#FNanchor_82" class="label">[82]</a> Sir Bartle Frere gives a very unfair account of this matter-of-course +fact when he transmits to the Secretary of State the above +despatch, “informing me of the incomplete result, in consequence of +the attitude of Cetshwayo’s representatives at the Commission of +Inquiry.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_83" href="#FNanchor_83" class="label">[83]</a> The king’s kraal at that time.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_84" href="#FNanchor_84" class="label">[84]</a> The homestead specially spoken of in this case does not appear +to have been destroyed or injured till March, 1879, in the midst of +the war, nor was any human being, white or black, belonging to these +farms, killed by this “savage, unbridled, revengeful nation,” before +the war began.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_85" href="#FNanchor_85" class="label">[85]</a> Apparently by Sir T. Shepstone’s orders, as the following phrase +appears in one of the Boer protests against arbitration, April 25th, 1873: +“The majority of the people have, by order of your Excellency, +trekked into laager on December 14th last, and after having remained +in laager for nearly five months, <em>we are to go and live on our farms +again</em>.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_86" href="#FNanchor_86" class="label">[86]</a> The married women work in the mealie-gardens, etc., and the +<em>little</em> girls carry the babies; but the marriageable young women seem +to have an interval of happy freedom from all labour and care.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_87" href="#FNanchor_87" class="label">[87]</a> This was comprehensible during the attempt, which proved so +signal a failure, on the part of Sir T. Shepstone, to impose a <em>marriage +tax</em> upon the natives. The tax was so extremely unpopular that it +was thought advisable to relinquish it, and to make the desired increase +in the revenue of the colony by doubling the hut-tax.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_88" href="#FNanchor_88" class="label">[88]</a> Sir T. Shepstone, when he says (1137, p. 18) “Natal gives up +the <em>cattle</em> of Zulu refugees.... The refugees themselves are not +given up,” plainly includes women amongst the cattle or “property” +of the Zulus.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_89" href="#FNanchor_89" class="label">[89]</a> And later, Nov. 18, 1878 (2222, p. 173), he says: “I do not +hold the King responsible for the commission of the act, because there +is nothing to show that it had his previous concurrence or even cognizance. +But he becomes responsible for the act after its commission, +and for such reparation as we may consider is due for it.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_90" href="#FNanchor_90" class="label">[90]</a> Since rifled by our troops, and the bones of the old king brought +over to England.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_91" href="#FNanchor_91" class="label">[91]</a> No “demand” was made until it appeared in Sir B. Frere’s +ultimatum.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_92" href="#FNanchor_92" class="label">[92]</a> On perusing the above italicised words, one learns for the first +time that the ultimatum, which Sir Bartle Frere sent to the Zulu king +a few months later, was actually sent for the express purpose of putting +“an end to pacific relations with our neighbours.” This is hardly the +light in which the British public has been taught to look upon the +matter.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_93" href="#FNanchor_93" class="label">[93]</a> Mr. H. Shepstone (Secretary for Native Affairs in the Transvaal) +acknowledges that this fine was paid (2222, p. 99).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_94" href="#FNanchor_94" class="label">[94]</a> Manyonyoba owed allegiance to Cetshwayo (as did Umbilini). +He lived north of the Pongolo, in a part of the country over which +Sir Bartle Frere and Sir Henry Bulwer altogether deny Cetshwayo’s +supremacy, and was claimed as a subject of the Transvaal Government.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_95" href="#FNanchor_95" class="label">[95]</a> Sir H. Bulwer says “they have suspected, quite wrongly, that +we had some design against them in making it” (the new road to the +drift). It is to be questioned how far their suspicion was a wrongful +one, seeing that it was understood from the first that the drift was +intended especially for military purposes, and was undoubtedly +inspected by Mr. Smith for the same.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_96" href="#FNanchor_96" class="label">[96]</a> Quotations from Mr. Deighton’s report to Mr. Wheelwright.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_97" href="#FNanchor_97" class="label">[97]</a> Words applied to him by Mr. Brownlee, late Secretary for +Native Affairs of the Cape Government.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_98" href="#FNanchor_98" class="label">[98]</a> Author’s italics.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_99" href="#FNanchor_99" class="label">[99]</a> On one of these visits a missionary is reported to have said to +the king coarsely in Zulu, “You are a liar!” (unamanga!) upon which +Cetshwayo turned his back to him, and spoke with him no more.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_100" href="#FNanchor_100" class="label">[100]</a> Or rather he was angry with them for the rudeness which they +committed in going <em>without taking leave</em>. He said they had never +received anything but kindness from him, and might as well have +paid him the compliment of a farewell salutation.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_101" href="#FNanchor_101" class="label">[101]</a> Author’s italics.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_102" href="#FNanchor_102" class="label">[102]</a> “Our Correspondent” of <cite>The Daily News</cite> speaks, in to-day’s +issue (November 17th, 1879), of the “tranquillising fear” of Cetshwayo +having been removed from “our own native population.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_103" href="#FNanchor_103" class="label">[103]</a> A mere assertion, often made, but never supported by the +slightest proof.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_104" href="#FNanchor_104" class="label">[104]</a> And so the Rev. Mr. Glockner, speaking of the late war, says +that they (the missionaries) had often warned the native chiefs of what +would befall them, if they refused to become Christians.—<cite>Vide The +Scotsman, February 5th, 1880.</cite></p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_105" href="#FNanchor_105" class="label">[105]</a> Story of Maqamsela, from <cite>The Natal Colonist</cite> of May 4th, 1877: +“Another case referred to in our previous article was that of a man +named Maqamsela, particulars of which, derived from eye-witnesses, +we have received from different sources. On Friday, March 9th, he +attended morning service at Etshowe mission station as usual, went +home to his kraal, and at noon started to go over to the kraal of +Minyegana, but was seized on the road and killed because he was a +Christian!</p> + +<p>“For many years he had wished to become a Christian, and this +at his own desire was reported to Gaozi, his immediate chief, who +<em>scolded him, saying, ‘it would occasion him</em> (Gaozi) <em>trouble</em>.’ The +earnest and repeated solicitation of Maqamsela was that the missionary +(Mr. Oftebro) would take him to the king to obtain his permission to +profess Christianity. Last winter the missionary consented to mention +it to the king; but, <em>failing to see Gaozi first, deemed it imprudent to +do so at that time</em>. Maqamsela was greatly grieved at this, saying, ‘I +am not afraid of death; it will be well if I am killed for being a +Christian.’ When an opportunity occurred of speaking to Gaozi about +Maqamsela’s wish to be baptized, <em>he would give no direct answer, but +complained of his bad conduct</em>. Maqamsela, however, persisted in his +entreaties that his case should be reported to the king. ‘If they kill +me because I believe, they may do so; the Lord will receive me. Has +not Christ died for me? Why should I fear?’ A favourable opportunity +of naming the matter to the king presented itself some time +after. Cetshwayo appeared very friendly, and proposed that the +Christians should pay a tax, but said that their service should be +building houses for him when called; otherwise they might remain +in peace. Maqamsela was then mentioned as being desirous to become +a Christian. He was an old man, who could not leave his kraal, and +could not come up to serve. He had therefore been eaten up, and had +not now a single head of cattle. On his name being mentioned, the +king replied that <em>he would say nothing, Gaozi, Minyegana, and Xubane +not being there</em>. Maqamsela was glad when he heard what had been +done, and said, ‘If they kill me now, it is all right.’</p> + +<p>“A week later his time came. An induna, named Jubane, sent +for him, and on his return from Jubane’s, an impi came to him, saying +they had orders to kill him. He asked for what reason, and being +told it was because he was a Christian and for nothing else, he said +again, ‘Well, I rejoice to die for the word of the Lord.’ He begged +leave to kneel down and pray, which he was allowed to do. After +praying, he said, ‘Kill me now.’ They had never seen any man act +in this manner before, when about to be killed, and seemed afraid to +touch him. After a long pause, however, a young lad took a gun and +shot him, and they all ran away.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_106" href="#FNanchor_106" class="label">[106]</a> This indiscriminate killing is disproved and denied by Cetshwayo +himself and his principal chiefs (<em>vide</em> “A Visit to King Ketshwayo,” +“Macmillan’s Magazine,” March, 1878).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_107" href="#FNanchor_107" class="label">[107]</a> Author’s italics throughout.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_108" href="#FNanchor_108" class="label">[108]</a> Two Zulu prisoners, captured while on a peaceful errand, just +before the commencement of hostilities, and who were permitted to +reside at Bishopstowe when released from gaol, until they could safely +return home, were questioned concerning these regulations, and said +that they applied only to those who voluntarily joined the regiments, +concerning which there was no compulsion at all, beyond the moral +effect produced by the fact that it was looked upon, by the young +people themselves, as rather a poor thing to do to decline joining. +Once joined, however, they were obliged to obey orders unhesitatingly. +These young men said that in the coast, and outlying districts, there +were large numbers of people who had retained their liberty and +married as they pleased, but that strict loyalty was the <em>fashion</em> nearer +the <em>court</em>. It was in these very coast districts that the Zulus +surrendered during the late war, the <em>loyal</em> inhabitants proving their +loyalty to <em>the bitter end</em>.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_109" href="#FNanchor_109" class="label">[109]</a> “We are equal,” said the interpreter; but the expression used is +more correctly translated as above.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_110" href="#FNanchor_110" class="label">[110]</a> The natives of Natal, “peaceful subjects of Her Majesty,” were +living in perfect security on one side of the border, and the Zulus on +the other, the two populations intermarrying and mingling in the most +friendly manner, without the smallest apprehension of injury to life +or property, when Sir B. Frere landed at Durban.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_111" href="#FNanchor_111" class="label">[111]</a> Compare with 9 and 10 the distinct instructions on this point +given by Lord Carnarvon during the previous year (1961, p. 60): +“I request, therefore, that you will cause the missionaries to understand +distinctly that Her Majesty’s Government cannot undertake to +compel the king to permit the maintenance of the mission stations in +Zululand.” Yet here the clause is made one of the conditions of +an ultimatum, the alternative of which is war.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_112" href="#FNanchor_112" class="label">[112]</a> Sir T. Shepstone’s incontrovertible, overwhelming, and clear +evidence, sifted and proved worthless by the Commissioners.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_113" href="#FNanchor_113" class="label">[113]</a> Sir Bartle Frere declares (Correspondence, p. 57) that Cetshwayo +“could have known nothing of the memorandum,” although (<i>ibid.</i> +p. 6) he himself asserts that “it was intended to explain for Cetshwayo’s +benefit what was the nature of the cession to him,” and it was +plainly very generally known, and therefore naturally by the king.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_114" href="#FNanchor_114" class="label">[114]</a> Correspondence, p. 3.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_115" href="#FNanchor_115" class="label">[115]</a> Ibid. p. 6.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_116" href="#FNanchor_116" class="label">[116]</a> Compare with Sir Bartle Frere’s suggestion to Sir Henry Bulwer +that the latter should persuade the Zulu king that the <i>Active</i> and +her fellows were mostly merchant vessels, but that the English war-vessels +would be sufficient to <em>protect his coast</em>!</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_117" href="#FNanchor_117" class="label">[117]</a> Our own troops’ experience showed that this was no idle excuse.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_118" href="#FNanchor_118" class="label">[118]</a> One of Colonel Durnford’s officers writes, January 26th, “that +he (the Colonel) had worked so hard at equipping this Native Contingent, +against much opposition, and took special pride in his +mounted men, three hundred men, that he called ‘The Natal Native +Horse.’”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_119" href="#FNanchor_119" class="label">[119]</a> These words deserve special remark.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_120" href="#FNanchor_120" class="label">[120]</a> After-events proved the fallacy of these “reports.” Even when +the Zulus could have swept Natal with fatal effect, they refrained.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_121" href="#FNanchor_121" class="label">[121]</a> Lord Chelmsford, January 16th, 1879. <span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2252] p. 63.)</span></p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_122" href="#FNanchor_122" class="label">[122]</a> Captain N. Newman.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_123" href="#FNanchor_123" class="label">[123]</a> Some Zulus (a chief named Gandama, and others) came into the +camp on the 21st, saw the General, and were allowed to depart.—(P. +P. [C. 2454] p. 182).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_124" href="#FNanchor_124" class="label">[124]</a> P. P. (C. 2260) p. 81.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_125" href="#FNanchor_125" class="label">[125]</a> Major Clery.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_126" href="#FNanchor_126" class="label">[126]</a> “There were no high words,” Lieutenant Cochrane says, of any +kind between the colonels, as some would lead the public to suppose. +The above remarks are taken from Lieutenant Cochrane’s account +of what passed; and he says: “I think no one lives who was present +during the conversation but myself; so that anything said contradictory +to my statement is <em>invented</em>.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_127" href="#FNanchor_127" class="label">[127]</a> Captain Essex, 75th Regiment.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_128" href="#FNanchor_128" class="label">[128]</a> Lieutenant Raw, Natal Native Horse.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_129" href="#FNanchor_129" class="label">[129]</a> Lieutenant Cochrane, 32nd Regiment.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_130" href="#FNanchor_130" class="label">[130]</a> Mr. Brickhill.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_131" href="#FNanchor_131" class="label">[131]</a> Having disengaged his men, Captain G. Shepstone said: “I must +go and see where my Chief is,” and rode in again. His devotion cost +him his life.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_132" href="#FNanchor_132" class="label">[132]</a> Captain Gardner.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_133" href="#FNanchor_133" class="label">[133]</a> Captain Essex.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_134" href="#FNanchor_134" class="label">[134]</a> Lieutenant Curling, R.A.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_135" href="#FNanchor_135" class="label">[135]</a> Captain Essex.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_136" href="#FNanchor_136" class="label">[136]</a> Lieutenant Cochrane.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_137" href="#FNanchor_137" class="label">[137]</a> Mr. Brickhill.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_138" href="#FNanchor_138" class="label">[138]</a> Lieutenant Curling.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_139" href="#FNanchor_139" class="label">[139]</a> Three mounted Zulu scouts were seen on the hills on the right +from the rear guard, by an officer, who pointed them out to one of the +staff.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_140" href="#FNanchor_140" class="label">[140]</a> Some remarks made by Lieutenant Milne, R.N. (aide-de-camp), +are worthy of notice: “<em>January 21st.</em>—We then rode up to the high +land to the left of our camp, the ascent very steep, but possible for horses. +On reaching the summit of the highest hill, I counted fourteen Zulu +horsemen watching us at the distance of about four miles; they ultimately +disappeared over a slight rise. Two vedettes were stationed at the +spot from where I saw these horsemen; they said they had seen these +men several times during the day, and had reported the fact.... We +then returned to camp, the General having determined to send out a +patrol in this direction the next day.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] p. 183).</span></p> + +<p><em>January 22nd.</em>—Lieutenant Milne was sent to the top of a hill to see +what was doing in camp, and says: “On reaching the summit I could +see the camp; all the cattle had been driven in close around the tents. +I could see nothing of the enemy on the left” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 184).</p> + +<p>“We are not quite certain about the time. But it is just possible +that what I took to be the cattle having been driven into camp may +possibly have been the Zulu ‘impi’” (<i>ibid.</i> p. 187).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_141" href="#FNanchor_141" class="label">[141]</a> One message only is mentioned by the General or his military +secretary as having been received from the camp. But an officer +(of rank) <em>who had seen them</em>, says that five or six messages were +received from the camp during the day by the General or his staff; +and he says distinctly that the messages were in the possession of +Lieut.-Colonel Crealock.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_142" href="#FNanchor_142" class="label">[142]</a> About this hour the tents in camp suddenly disappeared.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_143" href="#FNanchor_143" class="label">[143]</a> No spare ammunition was taken by the force with the General.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_144" href="#FNanchor_144" class="label">[144]</a> The reserve ammunition is said to have been packed in waggons, +which were then filled up with stores.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_145" href="#FNanchor_145" class="label">[145]</a> The <em>first</em> official mention of this appears in a Blue-book of +August, 1879, where Lieutenant Milne, R.N. (aide-de-camp), says: +“In the meantime, news came that Colonel Harness had heard the +firing, and was proceeding with his guns and companies of infantry +escorting them to camp. Orders were immediately sent to him to +return and rejoin Colonel Glyn.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2454] p. 184).</span></p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_146" href="#FNanchor_146" class="label">[146]</a> By the General’s directions this statement was to be “of the +facts which came under his cognizance on the day in question.”—(P. +P. [C. 2260] p. 80).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_147" href="#FNanchor_147" class="label">[147]</a> “The panic and confusion were fearful,” says one of themselves.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_148" href="#FNanchor_148" class="label">[148]</a> The number of prisoners thus killed is said to have been about +twenty.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_149" href="#FNanchor_149" class="label">[149]</a> Yet Sir B. Frere, on the 30th June, writes: “The position of +Wood’s and Pearson’s columns effectually checked the execution of an +attempt at invasion.” These two columns, being some ninety miles +apart and secure in their own positions <em>only</em>, would have been of little +avail <em>had</em> the Zulu king desired to make “an attempt at invasion.” +It needed no better strategists than Cetshwayo and his chiefs to have +masked each of the posts at Kambula and Etshowe with some 5000 +men, and then “the Zulus might march at will through the country.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_150" href="#FNanchor_150" class="label">[150]</a> Some officers who were with the advance column, and who +afterwards visited Isandhlwana, say that they appear to have “tried +to get the waggons together to form a laager,” but there was not time.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_151" href="#FNanchor_151" class="label">[151]</a> With respect to this, Lord Chelmsford lays down a principle +(relative to the border raids, but even more strongly applicable here) +that if a force remains “on the passive defensive, without endeavouring +by means of scouting in small bodies or by raiding in large ones, to +discover what the enemy is doing in its immediate front, it deserves +to be surprised and overpowered.”—<span class="nowrap">(P. P. [C. 2318] p. 80).</span></p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_152" href="#FNanchor_152" class="label">[152]</a> It is stated that on the previous evening there was no intention +on the part of the Zulus to attack the camp upon the 22nd, which +was not thought by them a propitious day, being that of the new +moon. It is also said that the Zulu army came with pacific intentions, +in order to give up Sihayo’s sons, and the cattle for the fine. In all +probability they <em>left the king</em> with such orders—that is to say, to +make terms if possible, but to fight if forced to it, and if the English +intentions were plainly hostile. This hostility was thoroughly proved +before the morning of the 22nd, when the departure of Lord Chelmsford’s +force from the camp must have been a strong temptation to the +Zulus to attack the latter.</p> + +<p>Warning of the Zulu army moving against Nos. 1 and 3 Columns +was received on the border, and communicated to Mr. Fannin, Border +Agent, on January 20th. The warning stated that the whole Zulu +army, over 35,000 strong (except about 4000 who remained with the +king), was marched in two columns, the strongest against Colonel +Glyn’s column, the other against Colonel Pearson; this was to take +up its position on the 20th or 21st January at the royal kraal near +Inyezane, and the first to approach Rorke’s Drift. The writer complains +of the little and inadequate use made of the information, which +might have been communicated from Fort Pearson to Rorke’s Drift +in time to have averted the fearful disaster of the 22nd January.—(P. +P. [C. 2308] pp. 69, 70).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_153" href="#FNanchor_153" class="label">[153]</a> P. P. (C. 2318) p. 12.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_154" href="#FNanchor_154" class="label">[154]</a> Had Lord Chelmsford been acquainted with this peculiarity of +the Zulus, he might not have thought it necessary to hurry away from +Isandhlwana on the 23rd. There was no fear of the same force +attacking again for some days to come.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_155" href="#FNanchor_155" class="label">[155]</a> P. P. (C. 2318) pp. 11-17.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_156" href="#FNanchor_156" class="label">[156]</a> Who, it is said, insisted upon the animals being fine and in +good condition, returning some which were sent in below the required +mark.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_157" href="#FNanchor_157" class="label">[157]</a> Captain Clarke’s report (C. 2144), p. 37.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_158" href="#FNanchor_158" class="label">[158]</a> Sir T. Shepstone to Sir H. Bulwer, April 16th, 1878 (C. 2144).</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_159" href="#FNanchor_159" class="label">[159]</a> Upon the Zulu border.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_160" href="#FNanchor_160" class="label">[160]</a> C. 2367, p. 90.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_161" href="#FNanchor_161" class="label">[161]</a> Sondolosi, deceased brother of Seketwayo.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_162" href="#FNanchor_162" class="label">[162]</a> Trooper Grandier’s story of ill-treatment has since been contradicted +by this Dutchman.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_163" href="#FNanchor_163" class="label">[163]</a> C. 2374, p. 109.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_164" href="#FNanchor_164" class="label">[164]</a> Nevertheless, during the end of March and beginning of April +communications took place between the Lieut.-Governor and the +General commanding, on this subject (C. 2318, p. 45); therefore <em>both</em> +the military and civil authorities <em>were</em> aware of it.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_165" href="#FNanchor_165" class="label">[165]</a> John Dunn is understood to have come back from his interview +with the last peace messengers, and to have reported that the message +was <i lang="la">bonâ fide</i>, and that Cetshwayo “means to have peace if possible.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_166" href="#FNanchor_166" class="label">[166]</a> This company of Native Pioneers (one of those organised by +Colonel Durnford, R.E., before the war) was raised from the <i lang="fr">employés</i> +of the Colonial Engineer Department, and commanded by +Captain Beddoes of the same department; this officer being highly +commended by his chief. The company worked under the supervision +of Lieutenant Main, R.E., and rendered excellent service. Colonel +Pearson remarked: “The men worked cheerfully. They had eyes +like hawks, and they did their scouting to perfection.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_167" href="#FNanchor_167" class="label">[167]</a> One of the hardest workers in this department was Commissary +J. W. Elmes, who distinguished himself by his untiring zeal and +energy.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_168" href="#FNanchor_168" class="label">[168]</a> P. P. (C. 2260) p. 104.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_169" href="#FNanchor_169" class="label">[169]</a> P. P. (C. 2374) p. 115.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_170" href="#FNanchor_170" class="label">[170]</a> Mr. Mansel, the officer commanding this troop of Natal +Mounted Police, says: “When we went out the morning before +the fight we left thirty-one men behind, men whose horses had sore +backs, etc. These men were in charge of only a corporal. Seven +men escaped, and we buried all of the twenty-four that were killed. +Twenty were killed just around Colonel Durnford. Three about two +hundred yards away, and one at the Fugitives’ Drift.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_171" href="#FNanchor_171" class="label">[171]</a> Properly Uzulu—the Zulu nation.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_172" href="#FNanchor_172" class="label">[172]</a> The above is corroborated on all main points by Mehlokazulu, +son of Sihayo, who states that he was sent with three other indunas +(mounted), on the morning of the 22nd, to see what the English were +doing. On reporting to Tshingwayo, he said, “All right, we will see +what they are going to do.” “Presently,” says Mehlokazulu, “I +heard Tshingwayo give orders for the Tulwana and Ngyaza regiments +to assemble. When they had done so, he gave orders for the others +to assemble and advance in the direction of the English camp. We +were fired on first by the mounted men, who checked our advance for +some little time.” He says the soldiers were at first “in loose order,” +but afterwards he saw them “massing together,” when “they fired at +a fearful rate.” When the Zulus broke the infantry and closed in, +they “came on to a mixed party of mounted men and infantry men,” +about one hundred, who “made a desperate resistance, some firing +with pistols and others using swords, and I repeatedly heard the word +‘Fire!’ given by someone. But we proved too many for them, and +killed them all where they stood. When all was over I had a look at +these men, and saw a dead officer, with his arm in a sling and a big +moustache (Colonel Durnford, R.E.), surrounded by dead carbineers, +soldiers, and other men whom I did not know.”—<cite>Vide R. E. Journal, +Feb. 1880.</cite></p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_173" href="#FNanchor_173" class="label">[173]</a> Written for him by a Dutch trader, residing with him.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_174" href="#FNanchor_174" class="label">[174]</a> This information he obtained through his messengers ’Mfunzi +and ’Nkisimane, who were in Pietermaritzburg in June. The +message (sent by Mr. Colenso) being, that the young officer +killed at the Styotyozi river was a Prince; that his sword would +be desired by his family, and that if Cetshwayo wanted to make +peace he had better return it. The result was that, as soon as +the king received the message, he sent the sword on to Lord +Chelmsford.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_175" href="#FNanchor_175" class="label">[175]</a> Amongst the wild natives of South Africa it is thought that +the carrying of burdens is not a manly task. In a family of travelling +Zulus the women and lads perform the duties of carriers, while the +man of the party marches ahead, unencumbered except by his weapons, +ready if necessary to defend his flock against the attack of man or +beast. An officer, travelling in the eastern province some years ago, +met and questioned a party proceeding in this fashion. “Why,” he +asked the leader of the little band, “do you allow these women and +girls to carry heavy loads, while you, a strong able-bodied man, have +nothing but your assegais and knob-kerries in your hand?” Such +questions are not seldom resented when they touch on native customs, +and are asked in an overbearing manner. This officer was uniformly +kind and courteous to the natives, and the man smilingly replied, +“It is our custom, and the women prefer it;” referring his questioner +to the women themselves for their opinion. The chief of these latter +thereupon replied, with much grace and dignity: “Does the white +chief think we would let <em>our man</em> do woman’s work? It is our +work to carry, and we should not like to see him do it.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_176" href="#FNanchor_176" class="label">[176]</a> The appearance of the native carrier on the march was very +ludicrous. Picture a stalwart Kafir carrying his sleeping mats, provisions, +cooking-pot, drinking-gourd, shield, bundle of assegais and +knob-kerries, and perched on top of all, on his head, a fifty-pound +mealie-bag; the result was likened to a Christmas-tree.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_177" href="#FNanchor_177" class="label">[177]</a> A splendid elephant’s tusk (the Zulu emblem of international +good-will and sincerity) had been sent by Cetshwayo, with one of his +messages, to General Crealock; this Sir Garnet Wolseley sent home +to the Queen, who thus has received a valuable present from her +dusky antagonist.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_178" href="#FNanchor_178" class="label">[178]</a> Mr. Colenso was acquainted with him, having, as already +related, paid him a visit in 1877.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_179" href="#FNanchor_179" class="label">[179]</a> At the same time many residents in Cape Town obtained, from +mere motives of curiosity, that interview which, to those who had +desired it for humanity’s sake, had been refused, while all who know +his language, or are likely to sympathise, are rigidly excluded. Orders +were given afterwards that the name of the Bishop of Natal should +not be mentioned to Cetshwayo, “because it excited the prisoner.”</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_180" href="#FNanchor_180" class="label">[180]</a> We think this statement is hardly correct.</p> + +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> + +<p><a id="Footnote_181" href="#FNanchor_181" class="label">[181]</a> <cite>The Daily News</cite>, 30th October, 1879.</p> + +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="full x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c1"></a>[c1]</span></p> + + +<p class="p3 right fs80"><em>February 16, 1880.</em></p> + +<p class="pfs180 lsp2">BOOKS</p> + +<p class="p1 pfs70">PUBLISHED BY</p> + +<p class="pfs240">CHAPMAN & HALL <span class="smcap">Limited</span>,</p> + +<p class="pfs120">193, PICCADILLY.</p> + +<p class="p1 pfs100 antiqua">(A Selection from their general Catalogue.)</p> + +<hr class="r30a"> +<hr class="r30b"> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="fs120">THE LETTERS OF CHARLES DICKENS.</span><br> +<span class="fs80">(<em>NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME PUBLISHED.</em>)</span><br> +<span class="fs80">Edited by his SISTER-IN-LAW and ELDEST DAUGHTER.</span><br> +<span class="fs70">2 vols. demy 8vo, 30<i>s.</i> Second Edition.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="r30"> + +<p class="negin5"><i>BEESLY (EDWARD SPENCER)—Professor of History in University +College, London</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>CATILINE, CLODIUS, AND TIBERIUS. <span class="fs70">Large crown +8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>BLAKE (MRS.)</i></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE REALITIES OF FREEMASONRY. <span class="fs70">Author of +“Twelve Months in Southern Europe.” Demy 8vo, 9<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“A singularly interesting and entertaining volume, clearly, concisely, and systematically +arranged in a series of chapters, each of which contributes, in its +proper place and order, to the elucidation of the common purpose of them all, that +is, the <em>rationale</em> of Freemasonry as it exists and is practised in the present day. +Mrs. Blake is never desultory or discursive; possessing her subject thoroughly, +and writing with all the calmness of dispassionate investigation.”—<cite>Daily News.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>BOYLE (F.)—Author of “Camp Notes.”</i></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>CHRONICLES OF NO MAN’S LAND. <span class="fs70">Large crown +8vo, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“It would be difficult to single one essay out above another in Mr. Boyle’s +series of remarkably equal sketches.”—<cite>Standard.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>BRADLEY (THOMAS)—of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ELEMENTS OF GEOMETRICAL DRAWING. <span class="fs70">In Two Parts, +with Sixty Plates. 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Apart from its primary use, this is really a book worth +having, as it forms a very good anthology of his wise and witty sayings.”—<cite>Whitehall +Review.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>CLINTON (R. H.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>A COMPENDIUM OF ENGLISH HISTORY, <span class="fs70">from the +Earliest Times to <span class="allsmcap">A.D.</span> 1872. With Copious Quotations on the Leading Events and +the Constitutional History, together with Appendices. Post 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“This is an invaluable book. In 280 pages it gives the whole course of the +history from the earliest ages, judiciously interspersed with quotations from the +best historians down to our own time....”—<cite>Examiner.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c3"></a>[c3]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>CRAIK (GEORGE LILLIE)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ENGLISH OF SHAKESPEARE. <span class="fs70">Illustrated in a Philological +Commentary on his Julius Cæsar. Fifth Edition. Post 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH +LANGUAGE. <span class="fs70">Ninth Edition. Post 8vo, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>DAVIDSON (ELLIS A.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>PRETTY ARTS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF +LEISURE HOURS. <span class="fs70">A Book for Ladies. With Illustrations. Demy 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE AMATEUR HOUSE CARPENTER: <span class="fs70">a Guide in +Building, Making, and Repairing. With numerous Illustrations, drawn on Wood +by the Author. Royal 8vo, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>DAVISON (THE MISSES)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>TRIQUETI MARBLES <span class="allsmcap">IN THE</span> ALBERT MEMORIAL +CHAPEL, WINDSOR. <span class="fs70">A Series of Photographs. Dedicated by express permission +to Her Majesty the Queen. The Work consists of 117 Photographs, with +descriptive Letterpress, mounted on 49 sheets of cardboard, half-imperial. Price +£10 10<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>DE POMAR (THE DUKE)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>FASHION AND PASSION; <span class="fs70">or, Life in Mayfair. New +Edition. Crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>DIXON (W. HEPWORTH)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>BRITISH CYPRUS. <span class="fs70">Demy 8vo, with Frontispiece, 15<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“‘British Cyprus’ is in essential points an able and piquant work, and full of +fresh and valuable information.”—<cite>Graphic.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE HOLY LAND. <span class="fs70">Fourth Edition. With 2 Steel and +12 Wood Engravings, Post 8vo, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>DRAYSON (LIEUT.-COL. A. W.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>PRACTICAL MILITARY SURVEYING AND +SKETCHING. <span class="fs70">Fifth Edition. Post 8vo, cloth, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>DYCE (WILLIAM), R.A.</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>DRAWING-BOOK OF THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL +OF DESIGN;<span class="fs70"> OR, ELEMENTARY OUTLINES OF ORNAMENT. Fifty +selected Plates. Folio, sewed, 5<i>s.</i>; mounted, 18<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p><span class="fs70">Text to ditto. Sewed, 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>ESCOTT (T. H. S.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>PILLARS OF THE EMPIRE: <span class="fs70">Short Biographical +Sketches. Demy 8vo, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“The editor of the present volume deserves praise for the skill displayed both in +arranging the gallery and in painting some of the more striking portraits which +adorn it. From first to last these sketches are full of fresh and lively interest; and +it would be no easy matter to select any one chapter which at all falls short of the +high standard reached by the volume as a whole. The story of the lives and +achievements of the distinguished men whose career is here so brightly and freshly +recorded presents many varied contributions to the history of the Empire, which +appear as different illustrations of Imperial service and aspects of the Imperial idea.... +With bright touches, happy illustrations, and pithy epigrams the whole +book abounds, and is readable from first to last.”—<cite>Standard.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c4"></a>[c4]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>EWALD (ALEX. CHARLES), F.S.A.</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>REPRESENTATIVE STATESMEN: <span class="fs70">Political Studies. +Two Vols. Large crown 8vo, 24<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Contains much interesting matter well put together.... Mr. Ewald has a +happy knack of seizing the most salient points of the story which he has to tell.”—<cite>John +Bull.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>FANE (VIOLET)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>DENZIL PLACE: <span class="fs70">a Story in Verse. Crown 8vo, cloth, 8<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES <span class="fs70">(A Village Story) and other +Poems. By the Author of “Denzil Place.” Crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>ANTHONY BABINGTON: <span class="fs70">a Drama. By the Author of +“Denzil Place,” “The Queen of the Fairies,” &c. Crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>FEARNLEY (W.), late Principal of the Edinburgh Veterinary College; Author +of “Lectures on the Examination of Horses as to Soundness”</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>LESSONS IN HORSE JUDGING, AND THE SUMMERING +OF HUNTERS. <span class="fs70">With Illustrations. Crown 8vo, 4<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“An excellent description (with diagrams) of the points of a horse one by one, +followed by an equally excellent appendix on the ‘Summering of Hunters.’”—<cite>Graphic.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>FITZ-PATRICK (W. J.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>LIFE OF CHARLES LEVER. <span class="fs70">2 vols. Demy 8vo, 30<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mr. Fitzpatrick’s book is one of the most interesting of the season; and we are +glad that the task of writing about a writer of whom all will be anxious to know all +that can be known, should have fallen into such conscientious and pains-taking +hands.”—<cite>John Bull.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>FLEMING (GEORGE), F.R.C.S.</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ANIMAL PLAGUES: THEIR HISTORY, NATURE, +AND PREVENTION. <span class="fs70">8vo, cloth, 15<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>HORSES AND HORSE-SHOEING: <span class="fs70">their Origin, History, +Uses, and Abuses. 210 Engravings. 8vo, cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>PRACTICAL HORSE-SHOEING: <span class="fs70">With 37 Illustrations. +Second Edition, enlarged. 8vo, sewed, 2<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>RABIES AND HYDROPHOBIA: THEIR HISTORY, +NATURE, CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND PREVENTION. <span class="fs70">With 8 Illustrations. +8vo, cloth, 15<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Such a work as that now before us has long been a desideratum. There have +been useful treatises, more or less elaborated, upon dog-madness, but there has not +hitherto been any one which could pretend to such a degree of completeness as the +subject deserved. It is not too much to say that Mr. Fleming has brought to its +consideration a remarkable amount of varied research and of practical knowledge +and judgment, and it must be acknowledged that he has fulfilled the task he had +assigned to himself in the most ample and satisfactory manner.”—<cite>Athenæum.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>A MANUAL OF VETERINARY SANITARY SCIENCE +AND POLICE. <span class="fs70">With 33 Illustrations. 2 vols. Demy 8vo, 36<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“His book is quite an encyclopædia of veterinary science, and cannot fail to be of +great value to all who have animals about them. Mr. Fleming has resorted to the +best authorities both in this country and on the Continent, and has been able to add +to what he has obtained from them the results of a wide and varied practical experience. +His works on ‘Animal Plagues,’ and ‘Rabies and Hydrophobia,’ have +already secured his reputation as a writer on veterinary science, and a material +addition will be made to it by the present extremely valuable and fairly exhaustive +treatise.”—<cite>Pall Mall Gazette.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c5"></a>[c5]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>FORSTER (JOHN)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. <span class="fs70">With Portraits +and other Illustrations. 15th Thousand. 3 vols. 8vo, cloth, £2 2<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mr. Forster’s life of Dickens will always be eagerly read as long as Dickens +himself is eagerly read; and that will be as long as Englishmen retain their delight +in English literature.”—<cite>Spectator.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. <span class="fs70">Uniform with +the Illustrated Edition of Dickens’s Works. 2 vols. Demy 8vo, £1 8<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. <span class="fs70">Uniform with +the Library Edition. Post 8vo, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. <span class="fs70">Uniform with +the “C. D.” Edition of his Works. With Numerous Illustrations. 2 vols. 7<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. <span class="fs70">Uniform with +the Household Edition. With Illustrations by <span class="smcap">F. Barnard</span>. Crown 4to, cloth, +4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR: <span class="fs70">a Biography, 1775-1864. +With Portraits and Vignettes. A New and Revised Edition, in 1 vol. Demy 8vo, 12<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>FRANCATELLI (C. E.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ROYAL CONFECTIONER: <span class="fs70">English and Foreign. A +Practical Treatise. With Coloured Illustrations. 3rd Edition. Post 8vo, cloth, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Under the above abbreviated designation we are announcing a work, the mere +title-page of which is a catalogue of culinary mysteries, and the programme of an +exhibition of subtle and ambrosial art. ‘The Royal English and Foreign Confectioner,’ +as this title-page avers, is a practical treatise on the art of confectionery in +all its branches, comprising ornamental confectionery artistically developed; different +methods of preserving fruit, fruit pulps, and juices in bottles, the preparation +of jams and jellies, fruit and other syrups, summer beverages, and a great variety +of national drinks; with directions for making dessert cakes, plain and fancy bread, +candies, bonbons, comfits, spirituous essences, and cordials; also, the art of ice-making, +and the arrangement and general economy of fashionable desserts. By +Charles Elmé Francatelli, pupil to the celebrated Carême, and late maître d’hotel +to Her Majesty the Queen, author of ‘The Modern Cook,’ ‘The Cook’s Guide,’ +and ‘Cookery for the Working Classes.’ With numerous illustrations in chromo-lithography. +We shall not affect to pass judgment on the vast variety of recipes +which carry out the abundant promise of Francatelli’s title-page. It is enough to +absolve us from such endless labour to mention that the contents of the chapters +occupy 15 pages, and that the index in which the references are printed very closely, +comprises upwards of 20 pages, and includes all imaginable products of the confectionery +art.... <span class="smcap">We salute Francatelli respectfully in dismissing +his book; only adding that his recipe for beignets of pink-apples, on +page 252, is worth all the money which the purchaser will pay for +this very opportune volume.</span>”—<cite>Times.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>HANCOCK (E. CAMPBELL)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE AMATEUR POTTERY AND GLASS PAINTER. +<span class="fs70">With Directions for Gilding, Chasing, Burnishing, Bronzing, and Ground Laying. +Illustrated. Including Fac-similes from the Sketch-Book of <span class="smcap">N. H. J. Westlake</span>, +F.S.A. With an Appendix. Demy 8vo, 5<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“A most useful handbook to the now fashionable art of painting on china and +glass, containing minute instructions which only have to be thoroughly mastered +to render the student capable of turning out reasonably artistic work. The illustrations +will also be found very useful by the beginner, as they show the sort of +designs best adapted for the purpose in hand. For the general reader, who does +not aspire to become a crockery painter, some interesting chapters on pottery and +porcelain are provided, in which they will find descriptions of many of the chief +manufactories, with particulars of the special productions that have rendered them +famous. Any person bitten with the china mania cannot fail to be pleased with the +information given in this part of the book.”—<cite>Globe.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c6"></a>[c6]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>HALL (SIDNEY)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>A TRAVELLING ATLAS OF THE ENGLISH COUNTIES. +<span class="fs70">Fifty Maps, Coloured. New Edition, including the Railways, corrected +up to the present date. Demy 8vo, in roan tuck, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>HILL (MISS G.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE PLEASURES AND PROFITS OF OUR LITTLE +POULTRY FARM. <span class="fs70">Small crown 8vo, 3<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>HITCHMAN (FRANCIS)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD. +<span class="fs70">2 vols. Demy 8vo, 32<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>HOLBEIN</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>TWELVE HEADS AFTER HOLBEIN. <span class="fs70">Selected from +Drawings in Her Majesty’s Collection at Windsor. Reproduced in Autotype, in +portfolio. 36<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>HOVELACQUE (ABEL)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE SCIENCE OF LANGUAGE: LINGUISTICS, +PHILOLOGY, AND ETYMOLOGY. <span class="fs70">With Maps. Large crown 8vo, cloth, 5<i>s.</i> +Being the first volume of “The Library of Contemporary Science.”</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“This is a translation of the first work of a new French series of Popular +Scientific Works. The high character of the series, and also its bias, may be +inferred from the names of some of its writers, <em>e.g.</em> P. Broca, Ch. Martins, C. Vogt, +&c. The English publishers announce that the present volume will be followed +immediately by others on Anthropology and Biology. If they are like their +precursor, they will be clear and well written, somewhat polemical, and nobly +contemptuous of opponents.... The translator has done his work throughout +with care and success.”—<cite>Athenæum.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>JARRY (GENERAL)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>NAPIER (MAJ.-GEN. W. C. E.)—OUTPOST DUTY. +<span class="fs70">Translated, with TREATISES ON MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE AND +ON ROAD-MAKING. Third Edition. Crown 8vo, 5<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>KEMPIS (THOMAS À)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ON THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. <span class="fs70">Four Books, +Beautifully Illustrated Edition. Demy 8vo, 16<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“It is illustrated with great ability—even the head and tail pieces are themselves +complete pictures, suggestive, quaint, beautiful. The paper is of the best, and the +printing very careful. On the whole, for a gift or for presentation, we hardly know +where else to look for a book to match it. Clearly neither care nor expense has +been spared in producing this tasteful but sumptuous volume.”—<cite>Nonconformist.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>KLACZKO (M. JULIAN)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>TWO CHANCELLORS: PRINCE GORTCHAKOF and +PRINCE BISMARCK. <span class="fs70">Translated by Mrs. Tait. New and cheaper edition, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“This is a most interesting and valuable book.... The object is to +<ins class="corr" id="tn-c6" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'trace ou the'"> +trace out the</ins> working and the results of a ten years’ partnership between the two famous +Chancellors of Russia and Germany, Prince Gortchakoff and Prince Bismarck +and these are delineated with considerable artistic power, and in a manner which +betokens considerable political insight, and an intimate acquaintance with the +diplomatic world.”—<cite>Blackwood’s Magazine.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c7"></a>[c7]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>LEFÈVRE (ANDRÉ)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>PHILOSOPHY, <span class="fs70">Historical and Critical. Translated, with +an introduction, by <span class="smcap">A. W. Keane</span>, B.A. Large crown 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>LETOURNEAU (DR. CHARLES)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>BIOLOGY. <span class="fs70">Translated by William MacCall. With Illustrations. +Large crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>LUCAS (CAPTAIN)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE ZULUS AND THE BRITISH FRONTIER. +<span class="fs70">Demy 8vo, 16<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Even if South Africa did not so much engage public attention at this moment, +Mr. Lucas’s book would be well worth reading. It is not a catchpenny publication, +but a well written and well arranged study of our relations with the Zulus. +Mr. Lucas expresses himself in a vigorous and manly style, without waste of +words; and, though he makes use occasionally of the figure of irony, he never +declaims, and never tries to be humorous out of place. He himself has had some +military experience near the scene of the present disturbances, and he writes +with a military clearness and directness which command attention.”—<cite>Saturday +Review.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>CAMP LIFE AND SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA. +<span class="fs70">With Episodes in Kaffir Warfare. With Illustrations. Demy 8vo, 12<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mr. Lucas has admirably executed the task which he set himself to perform, +and that was to touch upon some of the salient points of life and character in South +Africa, at the same time weaving into them some of the everyday incidents of +garrison life whilst serving with his old regiment, the Cape Mounted Rifles. The +book is full of interest from the first page to the last, containing as it does descriptions +of the chief places in South Africa, its various inhabitants, the peculiarities of +Kaffir warfare, and the sport to be met with.”—<cite>Naval and Military Gazette.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>LYTTON (ROBERT, LORD)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>POETICAL WORKS—COLLECTED EDITION. <span class="fs70">Complete +in 5 vols.</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="fs70 pad6 noindent"> +FABLES IN SONG. 2 vols. Fcap. 8vo, 12<i>s.</i><br> +LUCILE. Fcap. 8vo, 6<i>s.</i><br> +THE WANDERER. Fcap. 8vo, 6<i>s.</i><br> +POEMS, HISTORICAL AND CHARACTERISTIC. Fcap. 6<i>s.</i></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>MAXSE (FITZH.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>PRINCE BISMARCK’S LETTERS. <span class="fs70">Translated from +the German. Second Edition. Small crown 8vo, cloth, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>MAZADE (CHARLES DE)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE LIFE OF COUNT CAVOUR. <span class="fs70">Translated from +the French. Demy 8vo, 16<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“The arrangement of incidents, the juxtaposition of historical contrasts, and the +entire elaboration of M. de Mazade’s material, are very artistic and very effective.... +There is also much in M. de Mazade’s work, which, by-the-bye, is well +translated, that may gratify English pride as well as instruct English politicians.”—<cite>World.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c8"></a>[c8]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>McCOAN (J. CARLILE)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>OUR NEW PROTECTORATE. <span class="fs70"><span class="smcap">Turkey in Asia: Its +Geography, Races, Resources, and Government.</span> With a Map, showing +the Existing and Projected Public Works. 2 vols. large crown 8vo, 24<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“If a good book was to be made about Asiatic Turkey, it is difficult to see how +it could have been made with greater success than has attended the efforts of Mr. +McCoan. He has told us all that we could wish to know; he has put his information +into a compact and readable shape; and he has supplied just as much detail as +gives body to his work without overloading it. He has, too, a personal knowledge +of many parts of the vast district he describes; and has been for years familiar with +the Turks, their ways and work.”—<cite>Saturday Review.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>MOLESWORTH (W. NASSAU)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>HISTORY OF ENGLAND FROM THE YEAR 1830 +TO THE RESIGNATION OF THE GLADSTONE MINISTRY.</p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">A Cheap Edition, carefully revised, and carried up to March, 1874. 3 vols. +crown 8vo, 18<i>s.</i></p> + +<p class="cat-review">A School Edition. Post 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p class="cat-review">“It is a great misfortune that the history of our country that is nearest our own +times young men are least acquainted with. It is not written in histories that were +read at school, and they are not old enough, as I am old enough, to remember +almost every political fact since the great Reform Bill of 1832. I wish young men +would read some history of this period. A neighbour and a friend of mine, a most +intelligent and accomplished clergyman—Mr. Molesworth—has published a work, +being a political history of England from the year 1830—that is, from the first +Reform Bill—until within the last two or three years; a book honestly written, +in which facts are plainly—and I believe truly—stated, and a work which would +give great information to all the young men of the country, if they could be prevailed +upon to read it.”—<cite>From the Right Hon. John Bright’s Speech at Birmingham.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>MORLEY (HENRY)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ENGLISH WRITERS. Vol. I. Part I. THE CELTS +AND ANGLO-SAXONS. <span class="fs70">With an Introductory Sketch of the Four Periods of +English Literature. Part II. FROM THE CONQUEST TO CHAUCER. +(Making 2 vols.) 8vo, cloth, £1 2<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">⁂ Each Part is indexed separately. The Two Parts complete the account of +English Literature during the Period of the Formation of the Language, or of +<span class="smcap">The Writers before Chaucer</span>.</p> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mr. Morley’s volume, looks, at first sight, a formidable addition to the existing +mass of English writings after Chaucer; but it is well worth reading. It comprises +the foundation and ground story, so to speak, of a work upon the whole sequence +of English literature. If carried out with the same spirit and on the same scale as +the volume already published, the complete work will undoubtedly form a valuable +contribution towards the story of the growth of the literary mind of England, told +as a national biography of continuous interest.”—<cite>Saturday Review.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>Vol. II. Part I. FROM CHAUCER TO DUNBAR. +<span class="fs70">8vo, cloth, 12<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>TABLES OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. <span class="fs70">Containing +20 Charts. Second Edition, with Index. Royal 4to, cloth, 12<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">In Three Parts. Parts I. and II., containing Three Charts, each 1<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p class="cat-review">Part III., containing 14 Charts, 7<i>s.</i> Part III., also kept in Sections, 1, 2, and +1<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> each; 3 and 4 together, 3<i>s.</i> ⁂ The Charts sold separately.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c9"></a>[c9]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>MORLEY (JOHN)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>DIDEROT AND THE ENCYCLOPÆDISTS. <span class="fs70">2 vols. +demy 8vo, 26<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“We have here the story of a life, full in itself of human interest, vividly and +dramatically told; we have also glimpses of the lives of others whose interest is +scarcely inferior; have a perfect treasure-house of social and political <ins class="corr" id="tn-c9" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'knowledge, terary'"> +knowledge, literary</ins> and artistic criticism; and we have another of those singularly valuable +contributions to the history of the ‘modern spirit,’ which Mr. Morley is perhaps +better qualified than any living English writer to furnish, and which are achieving +for him a reputation that is more than English in its comprehensiveness.”—<cite>World.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>CRITICAL MISCELLANIES. <span class="fs70">Second Series. France +in the Eighteenth Century—Robespierre—Turgot—Death of Mr. Mill—Mr. Mill +on Religion—On Popular Culture—Macaulay. Demy 8vo, cloth, 14<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>VOLTAIRE. <span class="fs70">Large crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“It is impossible to read his volume without being struck by its independence of +thought, its sincerity and candour of expression, as well as by its ability and literary +power. We have freely expressed our dissent from the views which it presents of +the value and wholesomeness of the Voltairean philosophy, if that name can fairly +be applied to anything so essentially unphilosophical; but at the same time it is +well that such views should be fairly argued out, and that, whatever inconvenience +it may occasion to people who, having once made up their minds on a subject, dislike +to have them disturbed, accepted conclusions should be occasionally tested over +again. Mr. Morley has given us a valuable and highly suggestive study of the +great man of a very critical age.”—<cite>Saturday Review.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ROUSSEAU. <span class="fs70">Large crown 8vo, 9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>CRITICAL MISCELLANIES. <span class="fs70">First Series. Large crown +8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>CRITICAL MISCELLANIES. <span class="fs70">Second Series. [<em>In the Press.</em></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“The papers one and all will bear reading not once but twice—papers full of +suggestive thought on subjects of undying interest.”—<cite>Graphic.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>DIDEROT AND THE ENCYCLOPÆDISTS. <span class="fs70">Large +crown 8vo, 12<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>ON COMPROMISE. <span class="fs70">New Edition. Crown 8vo, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL EDUCATION. <span class="fs70">Third +Edition. 8vo, cloth, 3<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>MORRIS (M. O’CONNOR)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>HIBERNIA VENATICA. <span class="fs70">With Portraits of the Marchioness +of Waterford, the Marchioness of Ormonde, Lady Randolph Churchill, +Hon. Mrs. Malone, Miss Persse (of Moyode Castle), Mrs. Stewart Duckett, and +Miss Myra Watson. Large crown 8vo, 18<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>TRIVIATA; <span class="fs70">or, Cross Road Chronicles of Passages in +Irish Hunting History during the season of 1875-76. With illustrations. Large +crown 8vo, 16<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“The highest compliment paid to the merits of ‘Triviator’s’ volume will be +found to proceed from outsiders beyond the circle of ‘hunting men,’ who have +found interest and amusement in its pages. The illustrations do not pretend to +high line in art, but are not lacking in humour and fidelity, and altogether we can +without scruple commend a perusal of ‘Triviata’ to all lovers of hunting, on +whose shelves it should find a place among the standard works of that enthusiastic +body.”—<cite>Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c10"></a>[c10]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>MURPHY (J. M.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>RAMBLES IN NORTH-WEST AMERICA. <span class="fs70">With +Frontispiece and Map. 16<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mr. Murphy has not only written a very readable volume, but must have +employed infinite pains in collecting his materials.”—<cite>Saturday Review.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>OLIVER (PROFESSOR), F.R.S., &c.</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL NATURAL +ORDERS <span class="fs70">OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM, PREPARED FOR THE +SCIENCE AND ART DEPARTMENT, SOUTH KENSINGTON. Oblong +8vo, with 109 Plates. Price, plain, 16<i>s.</i>; coloured, £1 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>PIERCE (GILBERT A.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE DICKENS DICTIONARY: <span class="fs70">a Key to the Characters +and Principal Incidents in the Tales of Charles Dickens. With additions by +<span class="smcap">William A. Wheeler</span>. Large crown 8vo, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“The description of the external and internal peculiarities of the characters is, +as far as possible, given in Dickens’s own words, a sign of laudable discretion on +the editor’s part. The volume forms a useful, we may say necessary, supplement +to the library edition of Dickens’s works.”—<cite>Mayfair.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>POLLOK (LIEUT.-COLONEL)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>SPORT IN BRITISH BURMAH, ASSAM, AND THE +CASSYAH AND JYNTIAH HILLS. <span class="fs70">With Notes of Sport in the Hilly Districts +of the Northern Division, Madras Presidency. 2 vols. Demy 8vo, with +Illustrations and 2 Maps. 24<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Colonel Pollok’s ‘Sport in British Burmah’ must be ranked among the best +books of its class.”—<cite>Graphic.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>POYNTER (E. J.), R.A.</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>TEN LECTURES ON ART. <span class="fs70">Second Edition. Large +crown 8vo, 9<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“This is a fine book, probably one of the books on art for a good many years, +full of clearly and deftly wrought-out explanations upon subjects of much intricacy.... +The remaining contents of this remarkable book we must not even indicate. +Its chief lessons will, perhaps, centre upon the skilful teaching of thoroughness, +nobility, and patience that appears in almost every page, and upon the remarkable +illustrations and exposure of false taste in decorative art.”—<cite>Spectator.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>PRINSEP (VAL), A.R.A.</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>IMPERIAL INDIA. <span class="fs70">Containing numerous Illustrations +and Maps made during a Tour to the Courts of the Principal Rajahs and Princes +of India. Second Edition. Demy, 8vo, 21<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“It is to be hoped that the author of this work may be as successful in his delineation +of the Great Durbar on canvas as he has been in the wood pictures we +have noticed. His book is one of the most readable that has lately appeared on +the subject of India, full of interest and of touches of humour which make it a +pleasant companion from the first chapter to the last.... It may be added that +the illustrations are superlatively good.”—<cite>Athenæum.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>REDGRAVE (SAMUEL)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE HISTORICAL +COLLECTION OF WATER-COLOUR PAINTINGS IN THE +SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM. <span class="fs70">With an Introductory Notice by <span class="smcap">Samuel +Redgrave</span>. With numerous Chromo-lithographs and other Illustrations. Published +for the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education. +Royal 8vo, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“A book which is a real contribution to British art.”—<cite>Graphic.</cite></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c11"></a>[c11]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>ROBSON (REV. J. H., M.A., LL.M.)—late Foundation Scholar of Downing +College, Cambridge</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON ALGEBRA. +<span class="fs70">Post 8vo. 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>ROLAND (ARTHUR)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>FARMING FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT.</p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-subtitle">VOL. I.—DAIRY FARMING, MANAGEMENT OF COWS, &c. Edited +by <span class="smcap">William Ablett</span>. Large crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></p> + +<p class="cat-review">“We cannot follow our author in detail, but we may confidently recommend his +book, not only to the attention of amateurs, but also to that of experts, who will +find a good many hints of advantage to them.”—<cite>Gardeners’ Chronicle.</cite></p> + +<p class="cat-review">“The book contains much information that will be useful to people who may +wish to keep their own cows and utilize their produce, but are at present ignorant +as to the best methods of going to work.”—<cite>Queen.</cite></p> + +<p class="cat-subtitle">VOL. II.—POULTRY-KEEPING. Edited by <span class="smcap">William Ablett</span>. Large crown +8vo, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mr. Roland’s book gives much useful and instructive information on the keeping +and management of fowls; but we particularly recommend his directions for +the construction of a proper fowl-house, which, though of the utmost importance +and absolutely necessary to success, is, as often as not, hopelessly neglected.”—<cite>Graphic.</cite></p> + +<p class="cat-subtitle">VOL. III.—TREE-PLANTING, for Ornamentation or Profit, suitable to every +Soil and Situation. Edited by <span class="smcap">William Ablett</span>. Large crown 8vo, 5<i>s.</i></p> + +<p class="cat-review">“The book comprises much useful and practical information as to the nature, +uses, and growth of various kinds of trees; it possesses the additional merit of +being very readable, and interesting to all admirers of sylvan beauty.”—<cite>Queen.</cite></p> + +<p class="cat-subtitle">VOL. IV.—STOCK-KEEPING AND CATTLE-REARING. [<em>In the Press.</em></p> + +<p class="cat-subtitle">VOL. V.—DRAINAGE OF LAND, MANURES, &c. [<em>In the Press.</em></p> + +<p class="cat-subtitle">VOL. VI.—ROOT-GROWING, HOPS, &c. [<em>In the Press.</em></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>SCOTT-STEVENSON (MRS.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>OUR HOME IN CYPRUS. <span class="fs70">With a Map and Illustrations. +Demy 8vo, 14<i>s.</i> Second Edition.</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mrs. Scott-Stevenson tells her story with delightful <em>naïveté</em> and womanly +simplicity; she gives us many amusing pictures of life in Cyprus, and her sketches +of her interesting female friends at Kyrenia are particularly graphic. Her book is +altogether really attractive reading, gives one a fair idea of several aspects of the +island, and would prove useful to any one contemplating a stay, especially for the +sake of health. It is accompanied by an excellent new map, containing many important +corrections on existing maps and a number of attractive illustrations.”—<cite>Times.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>STORY (W. W.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ROBA DI ROMA. <span class="fs70">Seventh Edition, with Additions and +Portrait. Post 8vo, cloth, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE PROPORTIONS OF THE HUMAN FRAME, +ACCORDING TO A NEW CANON. <span class="fs70">With Plates. Royal 8vo, cloth, 10<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>CASTLE ST. ANGELO. <span class="fs70">Uniform with “Roba di Roma.” +With Illustrations. Large crown 8vo, 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c12"></a>[c12]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>STREETER (E. W.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>GOLD; <span class="fs70">OR, LEGAL REGULATIONS FOR THIS +METAL IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD. Crown 8vo +cloth, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>TANNER (PROFESSOR HENRY), F.C.S.</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>JACK’S EDUCATION; OR, HOW HE LEARNT +FARMING. <span class="fs70">Large crown 8vo, 4<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Few people now fail to appreciate the value of popular lectures on science and +education, and the result of studies in agricultural science is put into a taking +narrative form by Professor H. Tanner in ‘Jack’s Education,’ wherein he traces +the spread of agricultural knowledge in a certain district from a stray remark +dropped by a student at some provincial lectures. Even the most unenlightened +in farming matters could not fail to understand and be interested in Professor +Tanner’s volume.”</p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>TOPINARD (DR. PAUL)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ANTHROPOLOGY. <span class="fs70">With a Preface by Professor PAUL +BROCA, Secretary of the Société d’Anthropologie, and Translated by <span class="smcap">Robert +J. H. Bartlett</span>, M.D. With numerous Illustrations. Large crown 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>TREVELYAN (L. R.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>A YEAR IN PESHAWUR AND A LADY’S RIDE +INTO THE KHYBER PASS. <span class="fs70">Crown 8vo, 9<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“Mrs. Trevelyan has made the best of her opportunities for observing what was +worth noting while she was stationed at Peshawur. The incidents of frontier life +are well described, as also are all the doings that go to make up life at that important +station, the whole being told in a pleasantly written story.”—<cite>Naval and +Military Gazette.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>TROLLOPE (ANTHONY)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>THE CHRONICLES OF BARSETSHIRE. <span class="fs70">A Uniform +Edition, consisting of 8 vols., large crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i> each, handsomely printed, each +vol. containing Frontispiece.</span></p> +</div> + +<p class="fs80 pad6 noindent"> +THE WARDEN.<br> +BARCHESTER TOWERS.<br> +DR. THORNE.<br> +FRAMLEY PARSONAGE.<br> +THE SMALL HOUSE AT ALLINGTON. 2 vols.<br> +LAST CHRONICLE OF BARSET. 2 vols.<br> +</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. <span class="fs70">A Cheap Edition +with Maps. 2 vols. Small 8vo, cloth, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>SOUTH AFRICA. <span class="fs70">2 vols. Large crown 8vo, with Maps. +Fourth Edition, £1 10<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>SOUTH AFRICA, <span class="fs70">1 vol. Crown 8vo, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c13"></a>[c13]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>VÉRON (EUGÈNE)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ÆSTHETICS. <span class="fs70">Translated by <span class="smcap">W. H. Armstrong</span>. Large +crown 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“It is utterly impossible, within our limits, to go far into so vast a subject as +æsthetics, which M. Véron himself can only treat briefly and summarily in a +volume of 473 pages. We can only say that it is, on the whole, by far the best +book on the subject we ever met with. M. Véron is at the same time a master of +his subject and singularly free from those traditional prejudices which usually +hamper the judgment of a Frenchman in art matters. He is quite independent of +the stupid and tiresome official teaching, and in perfect sympathy with true artistic +genius in its various manifestations.”—<cite>Saturday Review.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>WHITE (WALTER)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>HOLIDAYS IN TYROL: <span class="fs70">Kufstein, Klobenstein, and +Paneveggio. Large crown 8vo, 14<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“A delightful holiday volume, full of pleasant chat and valuable hints. Mr. Walter +White has an eye that sees everything, a memory which forgets nothing, a judgment +to discriminate between what is and is not worth repeating, and a fluent and cheery +style, neither striving artificially at epigram, nor relapsing through feebleness into +platitude.”—<cite>World.</cite></p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>LONDONER’S WALK TO THE LAND’S END, AND +A TRIP TO THE SCILLY ISLES. <span class="fs70">Post 8vo. With 4 Maps. Third Edition. 4<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>MONTH IN YORKSHIRE. <span class="fs70">Post 8vo. With a Map. +Fifth Edition. 4<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“These volumes are written with intelligence, and are full of information which +should be welcome to every reader. There are few parts of England which will not +yield delight to the pedestrian: but the counties visited by Mr. White are inexhaustible +in wealth of association and beauty of scenery, and if his pleasantly written +books excite a desire for home travel they will not have been published in vain.”—<cite>Pall +Mall Gazette.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>WORNUM (R. N.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>ANALYSIS OF ORNAMENT: THE CHARACTERISTICS +OF STYLES. <span class="fs70">An Introduction to the Study of the History of Ornamental +Art. With many Illustrations. Sixth Edition. Royal 8vo, cloth, 8<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>WYLDE (ATHERTON)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>MY CHIEF AND I; <span class="fs70">or, Six Months in Natal after the +Langalibalele Outbreak. With Portrait of Colonel Durnford. Demy 8vo, 14<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p class="cat-review">“We may add that the book is extremely interesting. Written simply, but in +good, plain English, without any attempt at ‘word-painting,’ the very first pages +gain the reader’s sympathy, and when the last is reached, he parts from Mr. Wylde +with regret.”—<cite>Examiner.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin5"><i>YOUNGE (C. D.)</i>—</p> + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>PARALLEL LIVES OF ANCIENT AND MODERN +HEROES. <span class="fs70">New Edition. 12mo, cloth, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c14"></a>[c14]</span></p> + + +<p class="negin4">OFFICIAL HANDBOOK FOR THE NATIONAL TRAINING +SCHOOL FOR COOKERY. <span class="fs70">Containing Lessons on Cookery; forming +the Course of Instruction in the School. With List of Utensils Necessary, and +Lessons on Cleaning Utensils. Compiled by “R. O. C.” Large crown 8vo. +Fifth Edition, 8<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p class="cat-review">“The good point about the book is that it presupposes complete ignorance on the +part of the pupil; nothing is left to haphazard; every quantity is given in its exact +and due proportion, and the price of each ingredient carefully set down. All these +lessons, moreover, have been practically tested in the National Training School, +and may therefore be accepted in good faith. It is not, however, to be supposed +that any cunning recipes or rare and costly dishes are to be found in this book; +the ‘first principles’ of good cookery is the lesson it professes to teach, and certainly +the method of tuition is direct and easy to follow.”—<cite>Times.</cite></p> + + +<p class="negin4">FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW.<span class="fs90">—First Series, May, 1865, to Dec. +1866. 6 vols. Cloth, 13<i>s.</i> each.</span></p> + +<p class="negin1">New Series, 1867 to 1872. In Half-yearly Volumes. Cloth, +13<i>s.</i> each.</p> + +<p class="negin1">From January, 1873, to June 30, 1879, in Half-yearly +Volumes. Cloth, 16<i>s.</i> each.</p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="p2 pfs135" id="WHYTE-MELVILLES_WORKS">WHYTE-MELVILLE’S WORKS.</p> + +<p class="pfs120">CHEAP EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs80"><em>Crown 8vo, fancy boards, 2s. each, or 2s. 6d. in cloth.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">UNCLE JOHN.</td> +<td class="tdlbl">SONGS AND VERSES.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">THE WHITE ROSE.</td> +<td class="tdlbl">SATANELLA.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CERISE.</td> +<td class="tdlbl">THE TRUE CROSS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">BROOKES OF BRIDLEMERE.</td> +<td class="tdlbl">KATERFELTO.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">“BONES AND I.”</td> +<td class="tdlbl">SISTER LOUISE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">“M., OR N.”</td> +<td class="tdlbl">ROSINE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CONTRABAND.</td> +<td class="tdlbl">ROY’S WIFE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">MARKET HARBOROUGH.</td> +<td class="tdlbl">BLACK BUT COMELY.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SARCHEDON.</td> +<td class="tdlbl"></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c15"></a>[c15]</span></p> + +<p class="p2 pfs135" id="CARLYLES_THOMAS_WORKS">CARLYLE’S (THOMAS) WORKS.</p> + +<p class="pfs120">LIBRARY EDITION COMPLETE.</p> + +<p class="pfs90">Handsomely printed in 34 vols. Demy 8vo, cloth, £15.</p> + +<hr class="r30"> + + +<div class="cat-title"> + +<p>SARTOR RESARTUS. <span class="fs70">The Life and Opinions of Herr +Teufelsdrockh. With a Portrait, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. <span class="fs70">A History. 3 vols., +each 9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>LIFE OF FREDERICK SCHILLER AND EXAMINATION +OF HIS WORKS. <span class="fs70">With Supplement of 1872. Portrait and Plates, 9<i>s.</i> The +Supplement <em>separately</em>, 2<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>CRITICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. <span class="fs70">With Portrait. +6 vols., each 9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>ON HEROES, HERO WORSHIP, AND THE HEROIC +IN HISTORY. <span class="fs70">7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>PAST AND PRESENT. <span class="fs70">9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>OLIVER CROMWELL’S LETTERS AND SPEECHES. <span class="fs70">With +Portraits. 5 vols., each 9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>LATTER-DAY PAMPHLETS. <span class="fs70">9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>LIFE OF JOHN STERLING. <span class="fs70">With Portrait, 9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>HISTORY OF FREDERICK THE SECOND. <span class="fs70">10 vols., +each 9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>TRANSLATIONS FROM THE GERMAN. <span class="fs70">3 vols., +each 9<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>GENERAL INDEX TO THE LIBRARY EDITION. <span class="fs70">8vo, +cloth, 6<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY; <span class="fs70">also AN ESSAY ON +THE PORTRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. Crown 8vo, with Portrait Illustrations, +7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c16"></a>[c16]</span></p> + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs120">CHEAP AND UNIFORM EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>In 23 vols., Crown 8vo, cloth, £7 5s.</em></p> + + +<table class="autotable fs90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl wd50">THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: <span class="fs80">A History. 2 vols., 12<i>s.</i></span></td> +<td class="tdl bl">CHARTISM AND PAST AND PRESENT. <span class="fs80">1 vol., 6<i>s.</i></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OLIVER CROMWELL’S LETTERS AND SPEECHES, <span class="fs80">with Elucidations, &c. 3 vols., 18<i>s.</i></span></td> +<td class="tdl bl">TRANSLATIONS FROM THE GERMAN OF MUSÆUS, TIECK, AND RICHTER. <span class="fs80">1 vol., 6<i>s.</i></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">LIVES OF SCHILLER AND JOHN STERLING, <span class="fs80">1 vol., 6<i>s.</i></span></td> +<td class="tdl bl">WILHELM MEISTER, <span class="fs80">by Göthe. A Translation. 2 vols., 12<i>s.</i></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CRITICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. <span class="fs80">2 vols., £1 4<i>s.</i></span></td> +<td class="tdl bl" rowspan="3">HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH THE SECOND, <span class="fs80">called Frederick the Great. Vols. I. and II., containing + Part I.—“Friedrich till his Accession.” 14<i>s.</i> Vols. III. and IV., containing Part II.—“The First Two Silesian Wars.” 14<i>s.</i> + Vols. V. VI., VII., completing the Work, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SARTOR RESARTUS AND LECTURES ON HEROES, <span class="fs80">1 vol., 6<i>s.</i></span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">LATTER-DAY PAMPHLETS. <span class="fs80">1 vol., 6<i>s.</i></span></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs120">PEOPLE’S EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>In 37 vols., small Crown 8vo. Price 2s. each vol. bound in cloth; or in sets of +37 vols. in 18, cloth gilt, for £3 14s.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl wd50">SARTOR RESARTUS.</td> +<td class="tdl bl">LIFE OF SCHILLER.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">FRENCH REVOLUTION. <span class="fs80">3 vols.</span></td> +<td class="tdl bl">FREDERICK THE GREAT. <span class="fs80">10 vols.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">LIFE OF JOHN STERLING.</td> +<td class="tdl bl">WILHELM MEISTER. <span class="fs80">3 vols.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OLIVER CROMWELL’S LETTERS AND SPEECHES. <span class="fs80">5 vols.</span></td> +<td class="tdl bl">TRANSLATIONS FROM MUSÆUS, TIECK, AND RICHTER. <span class="fs80">2 vols.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">ON HEROES AND HERO WORSHIP.</td> +<td class="tdl bl"></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PAST AND PRESENT.</td> +<td class="tdl bl" rowspan="3">THE EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY; <span class="fs80">also an Essay on the Portraits of John Knox, with Illustrations. + Small crown 8vo. Bound up with the Index and uniform with the “People’s Edition.”</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CRITICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. <span class="fs80">7 vols.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">LATTER-DAY PAMPHLETS.</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c17"></a>[c17]</span></p> + +<p class="p2 pfs135">DICKENS’S (CHARLES) WORKS.</p> + +<p class="pfs120">ORIGINAL EDITIONS.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>In Demy 8vo.</em></p> + +<div class="blockquotx"> + +<p>THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. <span class="fs80">With Illustrations +by S. L. Fildes, and a Portrait engraved by Baker. Cloth, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></span></p> + +<p>OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by Marcus +Stone. Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE PICKWICK PAPERS. <span class="fs80">With Forty-three Illustrations +by Seymour and Phiz. Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by Phiz. +Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>SKETCHES BY “BOZ.” <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by George +Cruikshank. Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT. <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by Phiz. +Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>DOMBEY AND SON. <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by Phiz. +Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>DAVID COPPERFIELD. <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by Phiz. +Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>BLEAK HOUSE. <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by Phiz. Cloth, +£1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>LITTLE DORRIT. <span class="fs80">With Forty Illustrations by Phiz. Cloth, +£1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP. <span class="fs80">With Seventy-five Illustrations +by George Cattermole and H. K. Browne. A New Edition. Uniform with +the other volumes, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>BARNABY RUDGE: <span class="fs80">a Tale of the Riots of ’Eighty. With +Seventy-eight Illustrations by G. Cattermole and H. K. Browne. Uniform with the +other volumes, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>CHRISTMAS BOOKS: <span class="fs80">Containing—The Christmas Carol; +The Cricket on the Hearth; The Chimes; The Battle of Life; The Haunted House. +With all the original Illustrations. Cloth, 12<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>OLIVER TWIST and TALE OF TWO CITIES. <span class="fs80">In one +volume. Cloth, £1 1<i>s.</i></span></p> + +<p>OLIVER TWIST. Separately. <span class="fs80">With Twenty-four Illustrations +by George Cruikshank.</span></p> + +<p>A TALE OF TWO CITIES. <span class="fs80">Separately. With Sixteen Illustrations +by Phiz. Cloth, 9<i>s.</i></span></p> +</div> + +<p>⁂ <span class="fs80"><em>The remainder of Dickens’s Works were not originally printed in Demy 8vo.</em></span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c18"></a>[c18]</span></p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs135">LIBRARY EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>In Post 8vo. With the Original Illustrations, 30 vols., cloth, £12.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs80"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="4"></td> +<td class="tdr"><i>s.</i></td> +<td class="tdr"><i>d.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PICKWICK PAPERS</td> +<td class="tdr">43</td> +<td class="tdc fs90">Illustrations,</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">NICHOLAS NICKLEBY</td> +<td class="tdr">39</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT</td> +<td class="tdr">40</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OLD CURIOSITY SHOP and REPRINTED PIECES</td> +<td class="tdr">36</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">BARNABY RUDGE and HARD TIMES</td> +<td class="tdr">36</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">BLEAK HOUSE</td> +<td class="tdr">40</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">LITTLE DORRIT</td> +<td class="tdr">40</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">DOMBEY AND SON</td> +<td class="tdr">38</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">DAVID COPPERFIELD</td> +<td class="tdr">38</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OUR MUTUAL FRIEND</td> +<td class="tdr">40</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">2 vols.</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SKETCHES BY “BOZ”</td> +<td class="tdr">39</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OLIVER TWIST</td> +<td class="tdr">24</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CHRISTMAS BOOKS</td> +<td class="tdr">17</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A TALE OF TWO CITIES</td> +<td class="tdr">16</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">GREAT EXPECTATIONS</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PICTURES FROM ITALY and AMERICAN NOTES</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CHILD’S HISTORY OF ENGLAND</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">EDWIN DROOD and MISCELLANIES</td> +<td class="tdr">12</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CHRISTMAS STORIES from “Household Words,” &c.</td> +<td class="tdr">14</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdl">1 vol.</td> +<td class="tdr">8</td> +<td class="tdr">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="6">THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. By <span class="smcap">John Forster</span>. A New Edition. With +Illustrations. Uniform with the Library Edition, post 8vo, of his Works. 10<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs135">THE “CHARLES DICKENS” EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>In Crown 8vo. In 21 vols., cloth, with Illustrations, £3 9s. 6d.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs80 wd90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="3"></td> +<td class="tdc"><i>s.</i></td> +<td class="tdc"><i>d.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PICKWICK PAPERS</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc fs90">Illustrations</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">DOMBEY AND SON</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">NICHOLAS NICKLEBY</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">DAVID COPPERFIELD</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">BLEAK HOUSE</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">LITTLE DORRIT</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OUR MUTUAL FRIEND</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">BARNABY RUDGE</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OLD CURIOSITY SHOP</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A CHILD’S HISTORY OF ENGLAND</td> +<td class="tdc">4</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">EDWIN DROOD and OTHER STORIES</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CHRISTMAS STORIES, from “Household Words”</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">TALE OF TWO CITIES</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SKETCHES BY “BOZ”</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">AMERICAN NOTES and REPRINTED PIECES</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">CHRISTMAS BOOKS</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">OLIVER TWIST</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">GREAT EXPECTATIONS</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">HARD TIMES and PICTURES FROM ITALY</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER</td> +<td class="tdc">4</td> +<td class="tdc">”</td> +<td class="tdc">3</td> +<td class="tdc">0</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl" colspan="5">THE LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. Uniform with this Edition, with numerous +Illustrations. 2 vols. 7<i>s.</i></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c19"></a>[c19]</span></p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs135">THE ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Complete in 30 Volumes. Demy 8vo, 10s. each; or set, £15.</em></p> + +<p class="fs90">This Edition is printed on a finer paper and in a larger type than has been +employed in any previous edition. The type has been cast especially for it, and +the page is of a size to admit of the introduction of all the original illustrations.</p> + +<p class="fs90">No such attractive issue has been made of the writings of Mr. Dickens, +which, various as have been the forms of publication adapted to the demands +of an ever widely-increasing popularity, have never yet been worthily presented +in a really handsome library form.</p> + +<p class="fs90 p1b">The collection comprises all the minor writings it was Mr. Dickens’s wish +to preserve.</p> + +<div class="blockquotx fs80"> + +<p>SKETCHES BY “BOZ.” With 40 Illustrations by George Cruikshank.</p> + +<p>PICKWICK PAPERS. 2 vols. With 42 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>OLIVER TWIST. With 24 Illustrations by Cruikshank.</p> + +<p>NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. 2 vols. With 40 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>OLD CURIOSITY SHOP and REPRINTED PIECES. 2 vols. With Illustrations by +Cattermole, &c.</p> + +<p>BARNABY RUDGE and HARD TIMES. 2 vols. With Illustrations by Cattermole, &c.</p> + +<p>MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT. 2 vols. With 40 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>AMERICAN NOTES and PICTURES FROM ITALY. 1 vol. With 8 Illustrations.</p> + +<p>DOMBEY AND SON. 2 vols. With 40 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>DAVID COPPERFIELD. 2 vols. With 40 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>BLEAK HOUSE. 2 vols. With 40 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>LITTLE DORRIT. 2 vols. With 40 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>A TALE OF TWO CITIES. With 16 Illustrations by Phiz.</p> + +<p>THE UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER. With 8 Illustrations by Marcus Stone.</p> + +<p>GREAT EXPECTATIONS. With 8 Illustrations by Marcus Stone.</p> + +<p>OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. 2 vols. With 40 Illustrations by Marcus Stone.</p> + +<p>CHRISTMAS BOOKS. With 17 Illustrations by Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A., Maclise, +R.A., &c. &c.</p> + +<p>HISTORY OF ENGLAND. With 8 Illustrations by Marcus Stone.</p> + +<p>CHRISTMAS STORIES. (From “Household Words” and “All the Year Round.”) +With 14 Illustrations.</p> + +<p>EDWIN DROOD AND OTHER STORIES. With 12 Illustrations by S. L. Fildes.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c20"></a>[c20]</span></p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs135">HOUSEHOLD EDITION.</p> + +<p class="fs80 p1b">This Edition consists of 22 Volumes, containing nearly 900 Illustrations by +F. Barnard, J. Mahony, F. A. Fraser, C. Green, &c. Price £3 14<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i> in +cloth; and £2 15<i>s.</i> in paper binding.</p> + +<div class="blockquotx fs80"> + +<p>OLIVER TWIST, with 28 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT, with 59 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>DAVID COPPERFIELD, with 60 Illustrations and a Portrait, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>BLEAK HOUSE, with 61 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>LITTLE DORRIT, with 58 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>PICKWICK PAPERS, with 56 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>BARNABY RUDGE, with 46 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>A TALE OF TWO CITIES, with 25 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>OUR MUTUAL FRIEND, with 58 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, with 59 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>GREAT EXPECTATIONS, with 26 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>OLD CURIOSITY SHOP, with 39 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>SKETCHES BY “BOZ,” with 36 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>HARD TIMES, with 20 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>DOMBEY AND SON, with 61 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>UNCOMMERCIAL TRAVELLER, with 26 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>CHRISTMAS BOOKS, with 28 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; sewed, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND, with 15 Illustrations, cloth, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>AMERICAN NOTES and PICTURES FROM ITALY, with 18 New Illustrations, cloth, +2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; paper, 1<i>s.</i> 9<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>EDWIN DROOD; REPRINTED PIECES; and other STORIES, with 30 Illustrations, +cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>CHRISTMAS STORIES, with 23 Illustrations, cloth, 4<i>s.</i>; paper, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>THE LIFE OF DICKENS. By JOHN FORSTER. With 40 Illustrations. Cloth, 4<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i>; +paper, 3<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> +</div> + +<p class="p1 fs90">Messrs. <span class="smcap">Chapman & Hall</span> trust that by this Edition they will be enabled +to place the works of the most popular British Author of the present day in +the hands of all English readers.</p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs100"><em>THE CHEAPEST AND HANDIEST EDITION OF</em></p> + +<p class="pfs120">THE WORKS OF CHARLES DICKENS.</p> + +<p class="pfs135">THE POCKET VOLUME EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs80"><em>30 vols., small fcap. 8vo, £2 5s.</em></p> + +<hr class="r30"> + +<p class="pfs135">MR. DICKENS’S READINGS.</p> + +<p class="pfs80"><em>Fcap. 8vo. sewed.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs80"> +<tr> +<td class="tdly wd50">CHRISTMAS CAROL IN PROSE. 1<i>s.</i></td> +<td class="tdly bl">STORY OF LITTLE DOMBEY. 1<i>s.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">CRICKET ON THE HEARTH. 1<i>s.</i></td> +<td class="tdly bl" rowspan="2">POOR TRAVELLER, BOOTS AT THE HOLLY-TREE INN, and MRS. GAMP. 1<i>s.</i></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">CHIMES: A GOBLIN STORY. 1<i>s.</i></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="r30"> + +<p class="negin2">A CHRISTMAS CAROL, <span class="fs80">with the Original Coloured Plates; +being a reprint of the Original Edition. Small 8vo, red cloth, gilt edges, 5<i>s.</i></span></p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c21"></a>[c21]</span></p> + +<p class="pfs135">LEVER’S (CHARLES) WORKS.</p> + +<p class="pfs90">THE ORIGINAL EDITION WITH THE ILLUSTRATIONS.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>In 17 vols. Demy 8vo. Cloth, 6s. each.</em></p> + + +<p class="p1 pfs120">CHEAP EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Fancy boards, 2s. 6d.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs80 wd90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">CHARLES O’MALLEY.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">THE DALTONS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">TOM BURKE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">ROLAND CASHEL.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">THE KNIGHT OF GWYNNE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">DAVENPORT DUNN.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">MARTINS OF CROMARTIN.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">DODD FAMILY.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Fancy boards, 2s.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs80 wd90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">THE O’DONOGHUE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">LORD KILGOBBI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">FORTUNES OF GLENCORE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">LUTTRELL OF ARRAN.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">HARRY LORREQUER.</td> +<td class="tdly bl" rowspan="2">RENT IN THE CLOUD<br>and ST. PATRICK’S EVE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">ONE OF THEM.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">A DAY’S RIDE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">CON CREGAN.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">JACK HINTON.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">ARTHUR O’LEARY.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">BARRINGTON.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">THAT BOY OF NORCOTTS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">TONY BUTLER.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">CORNELIUS O’DOWD.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">MAURICE TIERNAY.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">SIR JASPER CAREW.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">SIR BROOKE FOSBROOKE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">NUTS AND NUT-CRACKERS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">BRAMLEIGHS OF BISHOP’S FOLLY.</td> +<td class="tdly bl"></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Also in sets, 27 vols., cloth, for £4 4s.</em></p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="pfs135">TROLLOPE’S (ANTHONY) WORKS.</p> + +<p class="pfs120">CHEAP EDITION.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Boards, 2s. 6d.; cloth, 3s. 6d.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs80 wd90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">THE PRIME MINISTER.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">PHINEAS REDUX.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">PHINEAS FINN.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">HE KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">ORLEY FARM.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">EUSTACE DIAMONDS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">CAN YOU FORGIVE HER?</td> +<td class="tdly bl"></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Boards, 2s.; cloth, 3s.</em></p> + +<table class="autotable fs80 wd90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">VICAR OF BULLHAMPTON.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">LADY ANNA.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">RALPH THE HEIR.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">HARRY HOTSPUR.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">THE BERTRAMS.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">RACHEL RAY.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">KELLYS AND O’KELLYS.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">TALES OF ALL COUNTRIES.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">McDERMOT OF BALLYCLORAN.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">MARY GRESLEY.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">CASTLE RICHMOND.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">LOTTA SCHMIDT.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">BELTON ESTATE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">LA VENDÉE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">MISS MACKENSIE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">DOCTOR THORNE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdly">AN EYE FOR AN EYE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">IS HE POPENJOY?</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c22"></a>[c22]</span></p> + +<p class="pfs90">SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM SCIENCE AND ART HANDBOOKS.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Published for the Committee of Council on Education.</em></p> + +<div class="cat-title2"> + +<p>THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS IN SPAIN. By <span class="smcap">Juan F. Riano</span>. +Illustrated. Large crown 8vo, 4<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>GLASS. By <span class="smcap">Alexander Nesbitt</span>. Illustrated. Large Crown +8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>GOLD AND SILVER SMITHS’ WORK. By <span class="smcap">John Hungerford +Pollen</span>. With numerous Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>TAPESTRY. By <span class="smcap">Alfred Champeaux</span>. With Woodcuts. 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>BRONZES. By <span class="smcap">C. Drury E. Fortnum</span>, F.S.A. With numerous +Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>PLAIN WORDS ABOUT WATER. By <span class="smcap">A. H. Church</span>, M.A., +Oxon. Large crown 8vo, sewed, 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>ANIMAL PRODUCTS: their Preparation, Commercial Uses +and Value. By <span class="smcap">T. L. Simmonds</span>. Large crown 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>FOOD: A Short Account of the Sources, Constituents, and +Uses of Food; intended chiefly as a Guide to the Food Collection in the Bethnal +Green Museum. By <span class="smcap">A. H. Church</span>, M.A., Oxon. Large crown 8vo, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>SCIENCE CONFERENCES. Delivered at the South Kensington +Museum. Crown 8vo, 2 vols., 6<i>s.</i> each.<br> +<span class="smcap">Vol. I.</span>—Physics and Mechanics.<br> +<span class="smcap">Vol. II.</span>—Chemistry, Biology, Physical Geography, Geology, Mineralogy, and +Meteorology.</p> + +<p>ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. By <span class="smcap">Andrew Murray</span>, F.L.S. +<span class="smcap">Aptera</span>. With numerous Illustrations. Large crown 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>HANDBOOK TO THE SPECIAL LOAN COLLECTION +of Scientific Apparatus. Large crown 8vo, 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS: Historical Sketches. With 242 +Illustrations. Demy 8vo, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>TEXTILE FABRICS. By the Very Rev. <span class="smcap">Daniel Rock</span>, D.D. +With numerous Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>IVORIES: ANCIENT AND MEDIÆVAL. By <span class="smcap">William +Maskell</span>. With numerous Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>ANCIENT & MODERN FURNITURE & WOODWORK. +By <span class="smcap">John Hungerford Pollen</span>. With numerous Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, +2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>MAIOLICA. By <span class="smcap">C. Drury E. Fortnum</span>, F.S.A. With +numerous Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. By <span class="smcap">Carl Engel</span>. With numerous +Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>MANUAL OF DESIGN, compiled from the Writings and +Addresses of <span class="smcap">Richard Redgrave</span>, R.A. By <span class="smcap">Gilbert R. Redgrave</span>. With +Woodcuts. Large crown 8vo, 2<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>PERSIAN ART. By <span class="smcap">Major R. Murdock Smith</span>, R.E. Second +Edition. With Additional Illustrations. [<em>In the Press.</em></p> + +<p>FREE EVENING LECTURES. Delivered in connection with +the Special Loan Collection of Scientific Apparatus, 1876. Large crown 8vo, 8<i>s.</i></p> +</div> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c23"></a>[c23]</span></p> + +<p class="pfs120">CHAPMAN AND HALL’S</p> + +<p class="pfs180 lsp2">LIST OF DIAGRAMS.</p> + +<p class="pfs90"><em>Issued under the Authority of the Science and Art Department, +South Kensington</em>,</p> + +<p class="pfs100 antiqua">For the use of Schools and Art and Science Classes.</p> + +<hr class="r30"> + +<p class="p1 pfs135">LARGE DIAGRAMS.</p> + +<p>ASTRONOMICAL:</p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">TWELVE SHEETS. By <span class="smcap">John Drew</span>, Ph. Dr., F.R.S.A. Prepared for the Committee +of Council on Education. Sheets, £2 8<i>s.</i>; on rollers and varnished, £4 4<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>BOTANICAL:</p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">NINE SHEETS. Illustrating a Practical Method of Teaching Botany. By Professor +<span class="smcap">Henslow</span>, F.L.S. £2; on rollers, and varnished, £3 3<i>s.</i></p> + +<table class="autotable fs70"> +<tr> +<th class="tdc">CLASS.</th> +<th class="tdc">DIVISION.</th> +<th class="tdc">SECTION.</th> +<th class="tdc">DIAGRAM.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">{</td> +<td class="tdl">{ Thalamifloral</td> +<td class="tdc">1</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="2"><span class="fs150">{</span> Angiospermous</td> +<td class="tdl">{ Calycifloral</td> +<td class="tdc">2 & 3</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Dicotyledon</td> +<td class="tdl">{ Corollifloral</td> +<td class="tdc">4</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">{</td> +<td class="tdl">{ Incomplete</td> +<td class="tdc">5</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">{ Gymnospermous</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdc">6</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td colspan="4"> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl" rowspan="2"><span class="fs150">{</span> Petaloid</td> +<td class="tdl">{ Superior</td> +<td class="tdc">7</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Monocotyledons</td> +<td class="tdl">{ Inferior</td> +<td class="tdc">8</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdl">{ Glumaceous</td> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdc">9</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p>BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:</p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">TEN SHEETS. By <span class="smcap">William J. Glenny</span>, Professor of Drawing, King’s College. +In sets, £1 1<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>GEOLOGICAL:</p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">DIAGRAM OF BRITISH STRATA. By <span class="smcap">H. W. Bristow</span>, F.R.S., F.G.S. A +Sheet, 4<i>s.</i>; on roller and varnished, 7<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> + +<p>MECHANICAL:</p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">DIAGRAMS OF THE MECHANICAL POWERS, AND THEIR APPLICATIONS +IN MACHINERY AND THE ARTS GENERALLY. By +<span class="smcap">Dr. John Anderson</span>.<br> +8 Diagrams, highly coloured on stout paper, 3 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches. +Sheets £1 per set; mounted on rollers, £2.</p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">DIAGRAMS OF THE STEAM-ENGINE. By Professor <span class="smcap">Goodeve</span> and Professor +<span class="smcap">Shelley</span>. Stout paper, 40 inches by 27 inches, highly coloured.<br> +Sets of 41 Diagrams (52½ Sheets), £6 6<i>s.</i>; varnished and mounted on rollers, +£11 11<i>s.</i></p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">MACHINE DETAILS. By Professor <span class="smcap">Unwin</span>. 16 Coloured Diagrams. +<ins class="corr" id="tn-c23" title="Transcriber’s Note—Original text: 'Sheets, £2 2.'"> +Sheets, £2 2<i>s.</i></ins>; mounted on rollers and varnished, £3 14<i>s.</i></p> + +<p>ZOOLOGICAL:</p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">TEN SHEETS. Illustrating the Classification of Animals. By <span class="smcap">Robert Patterson</span>, +£2; on canvas and rollers, varnished, £3 10<i>s.</i></p> + +<p class="negin2 fs80 pad6">The same, reduced in size on Royal paper, in 9 sheets uncoloured, 12<i>s.</i></p> + + +<hr class="r30"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_c24"></a>[c24]</span></p> + +<p class="p1 pfs150 lsp">THE FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW.</p> + +<p class="p1 pfs90">Edited by JOHN MORLEY.</p> + +<p class="p1 drop-capy">THE FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW is published on the 1st of +every month (the issue on the 15th being suspended), and a Volume is +completed every Six Months.</p> + +<p class="p1 p1b pfs90"><em>The following are among the Contributors</em>:—</p> + +<table class="autotable fs80 wd90"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SIR RUTHERFORD ALCOCK.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">LORD LYTTON.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PROFESSOR BAIN.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">SIR H. S. MAINE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PROFESSOR BEESLY.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">DR. MAUDSLEY.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">DR. BRIDGES.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">PROFESSOR MAX MÜLLER.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">HON. GEORGE C. BRODRICK.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">PROFESSOR HENRY MORLEY.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL, M.P.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">G. OSBORNE MORGAN, Q.C., M.P.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">J. CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">WILLIAM MORRIS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PROFESSOR SYDNEY COLVIN.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">F. W. NEWMAN.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">MONTAGUE COOKSON, Q.C.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">W. G. PALGRAVE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">L. H. COURTNEY, M.P.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">WALTER H. PATER.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">G. H. DARWIN.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">RT. HON. LYON PLAYFAIR, M.P.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">F. W. FARRAR.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PROFESSOR FAWCETT, M.P.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">HERBERT SPENCER.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">EDWARD A. FREEMAN.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">HON. E. L. STANLEY.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">MRS. GARRET-ANDERSON.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">SIR J. FITZJAMES STEPHEN, Q.C.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">M. E. GRANT DUFF, M.P.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">LESLIE STEPHEN.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">THOMAS HARE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">J. HUTCHISON STIRLING.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">F. HARRISON.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">A. C. SWINBURNE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">LORD HOUGHTON.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">DR. VON SYBEL.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PROFESSOR HUXLEY.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">J. A. SYMONDS.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">PROFESSOR JEVONS.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">W. T. THORNTON.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">ÉMILE DE LAVELEYE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">HON. LIONEL A. TOLLEMACHE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">T. E. CLIFFE LESLIE.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">ANTHONY TROLLOPE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">RIGHT HON. R. LOWE, M.P.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">PROFESSOR TYNDALL.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">SIR JOHN LUBBOCK, M.P.</td> +<td class="tdly bl">THE EDITOR.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="pfs80">&c. &c. &c.</p> + + +<p class="p1 pfs90"><span class="smcap">The Fortnightly Review</span> <em>is published at 2s. 6d.</em></p> + +<hr class="r30"> + +<p class="pfs90">CHAPMAN & HALL LIMITED, 193, PICCADILLY.</p> + +<p class="fs70">BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO.,]</p> +<p class="rt fs70">[PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.</p> + + +<hr class="p4 chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<div class="p4 transnote"> +<a id="TN"></a> +<p><strong>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</strong></p> + +<p>Footnote [68] is referenced twice from page 135.</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been +corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within +the text and consultation of external sources.</p> + +<p>Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added, +when a predominant preference was found in the original book.</p> + +<p>Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings of names and +words in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been +left unchanged.</p> + +<p> +<a href="#tn-viii">Pg viii</a>: page number ‘23’ replaced by ‘273’.<br> +<a href="#tn-56">Pg 56</a>: ‘retractation of the’ replaced by ‘retraction of the’.<br> +<a href="#tn-124">Pg 124</a>: ‘African Rupublic’ replaced by ‘African Republic’.<br> +<a href="#tn-295">Pg 295</a>: ‘the beleagured camp’ replaced by ‘the beleaguered camp’.<br> +<a href="#tn-348">Pg 348</a>: ‘Schumbrucker’ replaced by ‘Schermbrucker’.<br> +<a href="#tn-398">Pg 398</a>: ‘where-ever the enemy’ replaced by ‘wherever the enemy’.<br> +<a href="#tn-439">Pg 439</a>: ‘casualities were’ replaced by ‘casualties were’.<br> +<a href="#tn-457">Pg 457</a>: ‘will send yon’ replaced by ‘will send you’.<br> +<br> +Catalog<br> +<a href="#tn-c6">Pg c6</a>: ‘trace ou the’ replaced by ‘trace out the’.<br> +<a href="#tn-c9">Pg c9</a>: ‘knowledge, terary’ replaced by ‘knowledge, literary’.<br> +<a href="#tn-c23">Pg c23</a>: ‘Sheets, £2 2.’ replaced by ‘Sheets, £2 2<i>s.</i>.<br> +</p> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75320 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |