Chapter I: Preface

Although the object of this book is stated in the opening paragraph, it is, perhaps, proper that the circumstances under which it came to be written should also be set briefly before the reader.

Towards the end of the campaign, probably the first to be conducted by a British colony without the assistance of the Mother Country,[1] the Government of Natal decided that a history of the military operations should be compiled. On being asked, I consented to undertake the task. But, though promptly entered upon, the greatest difficulty was experienced in carrying it to a conclusion. This arose from my being a civil servant and being obliged to continue discharging certain special as well as ordinary official duties. As, when the Union of South Africa was established, the work had not been completed, the attention of the Minister of Defence was drawn to the matter. General Smuts intimated that the new Government was unable to ratify the original instructions, and that if the book was ever to be published (which he personally hoped would be the case) it would have to be on my own responsibility and at my own expense. In these circumstances, particularly as an opportunity occurred of severing my twenty-four years' connection with the Civil Service, I resolved to go on with it and appeal for support to those who had taken part in the campaign. This appeal was made to a somewhat limited extent in 1912, and it is owing very largely to the guarantee then obtained that the heavy costs of publication have been incurred.

But, although the volume can no longer claim to be an official publication, it is in the unique position of being based as much on official information as, perhaps, any exclusively official history could have been, for I am pleased to say that considerable assistance has been given by the Government, especially by all records, _e.g._ commanding and other officers' reports, statistics, maps, etc., being placed freely at my disposal. The reader will, however, soon perceive that the subject has been treated with a fulness and freedom that could hardly have been expected in a more formal production. Owing, for instance, to having for years specialized in Zulu history, habits, and customs, I have not hesitated to incorporate information, germane to the subject, which I felt the reader might wish to have, especially as some of it is not procurable elsewhere. Moreover, instead of being limited, as at first intended, to the events of 1906, the narrative includes a detailed account of the Dinuzulu Expedition, and other topics incidental to that important sequel of the Rebellion.

Although I had the privilege of serving as intelligence officer throughout the campaign, as well as during the Expedition, and therefore was an eye-witness of many of the operations, it became necessary, as it was desired that the history should be comprehensive, to obtain exact information regarding several actions, operations, etc., at which I was not present. A party, which included a first-class surveyor and professional photographer, was accordingly organized by direction of the Commandant, as early as November, 1906, for the purpose of visiting the battle-fields. The members were selected for their personal knowledge of what had occurred at the places in question. Quantities of accurate information, not previously available, were thereupon collected by me at each spot, the surveyor at the same time preparing the maps and plans included herein.

So abundant is the material accumulated then, as well as on various other occasions, that it would have been easy to compile a much larger work than the present one. That the book is as full as it is, is due to the fact that no general account exists of an occurrence that must for long loom large in the history of the Native races of South Africa. To some extent, owing to my recent intimate connection with the Native Affairs Department, the book may even claim to be an introduction to and a study of some of the more fundamental aspects of the Native Question--no doubt the greatest problem with which South African statesmen will ever be called on to deal.

The main object throughout has been to ensure accuracy. Working, as I have had to do, practically alone, the task has proved long and difficult. This is the sole reason why the time originally fixed for publication has, I regret to say, been exceeded by a few months.

I cannot conclude without acknowledging my indebtedness and expressing my thanks to the many officers, non-commissioned officers and men, and others not in the military service, who, from time to time, have given valuable information and helpful suggestions or advice. To name but a few of these would be invidious. I can only say that the uniform readiness and unfailing courtesy of all to whom I was obliged to appeal have been greatly appreciated, and have gone a long way towards rendering the undertaking less arduous than it otherwise would have been. To say that the greatest assistance has come from the Government, especially the Militia and Police Departments in Natal and the Volunteer Department in the Transvaal, is but to state what will be patent to everyone.

The despatches from the Governors, Sir Henry McCallum and Sir Matthew Nathan, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in various blue-books have been invaluable. Captain W. Bosman's and Mr. W.J. Powell's well-known books have, of course, also been consulted; the help derived from them, especially the former, is very gratefully acknowledged.

My thanks are also due to J. Windham, Esq., and my mother for reading several of the chapters and suggesting various improvements.

The index is the work of Miss M. Marsh, of the _Encyclopædia Britannica_ staff; no pains have been spared in rendering it as complete and accurate as possible.

J. STUART.

London, _June, 1913_.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: But see p. 63.]

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Introduction, 1

II. System of Native Administration in Natal, 18

III. State of Military Organization on the Outbreak
of Rebellion, 38

IV. Zulu Military System and Connected Customs
(with a Note on the Rebel Organization, 1906), 67

V. Events and Conditions antecedent to Outbreak
of Hostilities.--Murder of Hunt and Armstrong, 92

VI. Mobilization and Demonstrations in Force
(_a_) in the South-west, (_b_) at Mapumulo.--Executions
at Richmond, 127

VII. Outbreak at Mpanza, 155

VIII. Flight of Bambata to Nkandhla Forests.--First
Steps taken to cope with the Situation.--Zulu
Customs, 178

IX. The Nkandhla Forests.--Sigananda and his
Tribe.--Dinuzulu's Attitude.--Early Operations
at Nkandhla.--Murder of H.M.
Stainbank, 204

X. Mobilization of Zululand Field Force.--Mansel
Engages the Enemy at Bobe, 222

XI. Converging Movement on Cetshwayo's Grave.--Negotiations
for Sigananda's Surrender.--Further
Operations, Nkandhla.--Tate Gorge, 237

XII. Operations by (_a_) Umvoti Field Force, (_b_) Mackay's
Column.--Battle of Mpukunyoni, 257

XIII. Further Operations by Zululand Field Force.--Action
at Manzipambana.--Enemy decides to move in Force to Mome, 280

XIV. Action at Mome Gorge, 299

XV. State of Affairs at Umsinga.--Operations by
Murray-Smith's Column.--Further Operations
by Umvoti Field Force and Mackay's
Column, 318

XVI. Concluding Operations, Nkandhla.--Visit of
Dinuzulu's Indunas to Pietermaritzburg.--Position
at Mapumulo.--Actions at Otimati
and Peyana (Hlonono), 333

XVII. General Concentration at Thring's Post.--Actions
at Macrae's Store, Insuze and
Ponjwana.--Converging Movement on Meseni's
Ward, 359

XVIII. Action at Izinsimba.--Concluding Operations.--Disbandment.
--Courts-martial.--Cost of the Rebellion, 386

XIX. Some Lessons of the Rebellion, 407

XX. Native Affairs Commission.--Visit of Dinuzulu
to Pietermaritzburg.--Murders of Loyalists.--Escape
of Bambata's Wife and Children
from Usutu.--Remobilization of Militia
to arrest Dinuzulu, 424

XXI. Dinuzulu Expedition.--Surrender of Dinuzulu.--Calling
in of Firearms.--Searching for
Outstanding Rebels, 443

XXII. Preliminary Examination and Trial of Dinuzulu.--Withholding
of his Salary.--His Settlement
in the Transvaal, 460

XXIII. Review of Policy followed in Connection with
Dinuzulu.--His Status.--His Attitude during,
and subsequent to, the Rebellion, 477

XXIV. Conclusion, 504

APPENDICES.

I. Casualties, (_a_) Killed, (_b_) Wounded, 540

II. Honours, 543

III. Strength of Forces, 7th May, 1906, 546

IV. Disposition of Forces, 7th May, 1906, 547

V. State of Transport, 7th May, 1906, 548

VI. Strength of Active Militia called out, December, 1907, 549

VII. Strength of Reserves in the Field, December, 1907, 549

VIII. Expenditure, Rebellion and Dinuzulu Expedition, 550

IX. Zulu Songs sung at Usutu, 551

X. Causes, Superstitions, etc., Matabele Rebellion, 1896, 551

XI. Native Corps, 557

Index, 563

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

(_a_) ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE

Colonel Sir Henry E. McCallum, R.E., G.C.M.G., _Frontispiece_

Hon. C.J. Smythe, 16

Hon. Sir Thomas Watt, K.C.M.G., "

Hon. T.F. Carter, K.C., "

Hon. H.D. Winter, "

Colonel H.T. Bru-de-Wold, C.M.G., D.S.O., 48

Major-General Sir J.G. Dartneli, K.C.B., C.M.G., "

Colonel G. Leuchars, C.M.G., D.S.O., "

Sir Abe Bailey, K.C.M.G., "

Mr. H.M. Stainbank, 124

Mr. Oliver E. Veal, "

Sub-Inspector S.H.K. Hunt, "

Trooper G. Armstrong, "

Bambata, 188

Cakijana, "

Sigananda, "

Mangati, "

Brigadier-General Sir D. McKenzie, K.C.M.G., C.B., 226

Mveli, 430

Sitshitshili, "

Sibindi, "

Mankulumana, "

Bambata's Wife, "

Usutu Kraal, 450

Group: Dinuzulu, Hon. W.P. Schreiner, K.C., AND OTHERS, 472

(_b_) MAPS AND PLANS.

Key Map, and Area of Operations, _End of Index_

Mpanza, 172

Bobe, 232

Mpukunyoni, 274

Manzipambana, 290

Mome, showing Tate Gorge, 310

Otimati, 351

Peyana (Hlonono), 358

Insuze, 370

Ponjwana (Sikota's Kraal), 372

Izinsimba and Macrae's Store, 390

ABBREVIATIONS.

B.M.R. Border Mounted Rifles. Cd. Command, _i.e._ "Presented by 'Command' of His Majesty to both Houses of Parliament." C.M.R. Cape Mounted Rifles. C.N.A. Commissioner for Native Affairs. D.C.M. Distinguished Conduct Medal. D.L.I. Durban Light Infantry. H.F.F. Helpmakaar Field Force. I.L.H. Imperial Light Horse. J.M.R. Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. L. and Y. Lancaster and York. M.C.R. Militia Composite Regiment. N.C. Natal Carbineers. N.D.M.R. Northern District Mounted Rifles. N.F.A. Natal Field Artillery. N.M.C. Natal Medical Corps. N.M.R. Natal Mounted Rifles. N.N.C. Natal Naval Corps. N.N.H. Natal Native Horse. N.P. Natal Police. N.R. Natal Rangers. N.R.R. Natal Royal Regiment. N.S.C. Natal Service Corps. N.T.C. Natal Telegraph Corps. N.V.C. Natal Veterinary Corps. O.C. Officer Commanding. R.H. Royston's Horse. S.A.L.H. South African Light Horse. Sc.H. Scottish Horse. S.N.A. Secretary for Native Affairs. T.M.R. Transvaal Mounted Rifles. Transport Natal Transport Corps. U.D.R. Umvoti District Reserves. U.F.F. Umvoti Field Force. U.M.R. Umvoti Mounted Rifles. U.S.N.A. Under Secretary for Native Affairs. V.D. Volunteer Decoration. Z.F.F. Zululand Field Force. Z.M.R. Zululand Mounted Rifles. Z.N.P. Zululand Native Police (Nongqai).

GLOSSARY.

_Commando_ A Boer military force, usually one recruited
from a particular district.

_Division (District)_ The magisterial areas in Natal are usually
spoken of as 'divisions,' in Zululand as
'districts.'

_Donga_ A channel or hollow worn in the earth by a
current of water; a gully; the bank of a
river, etc.

_Impi_ A force,--military, hostile, etc.

_Indaba_ A story, affair, public inquiry, etc.

_Induna_ An officer. The word, however, connotes in one
context, military, and in another, civil,
functions. In the case of Dinuzulu it may
also be taken to mean 'political adviser.'

_Isibalo_ Corvée or compulsory labour.

_Ka_ A preposition, signifying son or daughter of,
_e.g._ Matshana _ka_ Mondise.

_Kloof_ A ravine or gorge.

_Kop_ A peak.

_Kopje_ A small hill or peak.

_Krantz_ A precipice or cliff.

_Lagers_ Enclosures of various kinds erected to serve as
temporary or permanent fortifications.

_Loopers_ Large shot, or irregularly-shaped pieces of
metal used instead of shot.

_Nkomondala_ Name of Dinuzulu's bodyguard; formed about
1901.

_Nongqai_ Policeman. Members of Z.N.P. Corps. The word,
which really means 'watching,' is probably
derived from _uGqainyanga_, a moon-gazer,
_i.e._ night-watchman.

_Outspan_ _v._ To unyoke or unharness; _n._ Place where
unyoking or harnessing occurs.

_Spoor_ A recently-formed track.

_Supreme Chief_ Title assumed by Governor in his capacity as
head of the Native population.

_Thorn country, the_ Country, usually low-lying, covered with
_thorns_ stunted trees of Mimosa (thorn) species.

_Trek_ Travelling by waggon, especially when drawn by
oxen.

_Tshokobezi_, properly Bushy portion of ox or cow-tail, usually white,
_umtshokobezi_ worn about the head or neck by adherents of
the Usutu faction among the Zulus; the
wearer of such badge.

_Umkumbi_ The close, circular formation in which an
_impi_ is drawn up to be doctored, to receive
instructions, etc.

_Usutu_ (1) Name of the tribe or faction recently
presided over by Dinuzulu. (2) The war-cry
used by members of Dinuzulu's tribe, as well
as by those who espoused his or Bambata's
cause.

_Veld_ Open, unenclosed country.

_Viyo_ A company of warriors, usually varying from
fifty to eighty or more in number.

_Voorlooper_ A person, generally a small Native boy, who leads
a span of oxen.

_Voortrekker_ A pioneer.

I.