Plans for the capture of Cetywayo--The Jantjis--Vijn's appearance at
Victoria--His narrative--Its consequences--Despatch of Major Barrow
and Lord Gifford in pursuit of the king--Their march--Description of
country traversed--Gifford and Maurice sent on by Barrow--Marches
and countermarches--Physical characteristics of country; its flora
and fauna--Visit to kraal of friendly Zulus--Capture of two of the
king's attendants--Women of the king's household captured--Captain
and twenty Basutos join Lord Gifford--Gifford's stratagem to obtain
information of the king's hiding-place--Cetywayo's refuge
discovered--Forced night-march--Message to Major Marter--His arrival
on the scene--Capture of the king.
Meantime the meshes of the net spread for King Cetywayo's capture were
being more and more closely woven. Colonel Villiers, who it has been
before mentioned had been sent to Oham's district, having got together a
force of 65 Europeans and 3050 natives in a fair state of organization,
had by August 13th advanced as far as the Assegai river, so as to form a
junction with M'Leod and his 5000 Swazis, at that time on the banks of
the Pongolo, and thus complete the chain round that side of the Zulu
country.
Lord Gifford, with a number of Jantjis, was following up the king,
whilst 200 of the 57th were also in pursuit, carefully patrolling the
hills that lay beyond Amansekranze, ably seconded by 500 of Barton's
natives. The Intanjaneni district, from Middle Drift to Victoria and
St. Paul's, was laid down with a line of piquets, whose orders were to
keep strict watch by night and day. The escape of the Zulu monarch
therefore appeared an impossibility. The Jantjis just spoken of merit a
few words of description, not only on account of the good services they
rendered, but also because in some points they differ vastly from other
South African tribes. The men of this race are fine, active, and well
made, standing not unusually six feet in height. Their clothing consists
simply of a blanket, worn in peace time in the manner of a Roman toga,
but on the war-path invariably discarded for a simple belt of wild-cats'
tails. Their weapons are the light assegai, or umkhonto, and this spear
can be thrown by them to the distance of seventy or eighty yards, when
at that it will have sufficient strength to enter a man's body. Many of
the men even brought their guns, and showing Lord Gifford how expert
they were in their use, were allowed to carry and employ them, instead
of the original native weapon. The Jantjis, like the Kaffirs first, and
then the Zulus, are beginning to find out that the assegai is not a
match for a gun; consequently, as they have money, they procure a
tolerably large number of them. Like most of the Zulu tribes, they build
wickerwork huts, and thatch these with the long tambookie grass. These
huts are, as usual, arranged in a circle, and thus form a village, or,
as we should say, a kraal. The men, unlike the Zulus, are very fond of
horses, and most of them can ride. This makes them most useful as
mercenaries and levies. As they ride well, it is a pretty sight to see
those who are chosen as orderlies dashing along with the letter-bag
upon the smart little horses given them by Government. They utterly
disdain the use of a saddle, and always gallop along at full speed, with
an ostrich feather (if a chief) streaming in the wind, and some wild
animal's skin worn hussar fashion, and floating behind. Even with their
long black legs almost touching the ground, there is nothing grotesque
in their appearance, though doubtless in London such a horseman would
cause astonishment. Dashing up with a letter or heliographic message
from Sir Garnet, these fellows bring their horses to a sudden stand, as
Bedouins do, sending the mould and grit beneath the hoofs flying in the
air. Saluting then most gracefully, with the spearhead to the earth, the
messenger springs to the ground, and hands in his _paquet_.
To resume our narrative. On Sunday afternoon (10th August), as Sir
Garnet Wolseley was walking with an aide-de-camp near the camp at Fort
Victoria, Ulundi, a man on foot was observed, apparently lame and
feeble, making the best of his way towards our camp. With glasses it
could be made out that he came along with difficulty, limping much, and
occasionally casting a furtive glance behind, as if in danger of being
pursued. As ponies were ready at hand and saddled, Sir Garnet mounted
and cantered out of the camp to see who the man was. On coming to close
quarters he found the wayfarer to be no less a personage than one
Cornelius Vijn, a Dutch trader of Natal, who was known to have been a
prisoner for some time at Cetywayo's kraal. His aspect and general
appearance were, to put it mildly, more those of a badly-dressed
scarecrow than those of a human being, and his haggard and hungry
contour, his wearied look, lean and meagre, with eyes deeply sunk in
their orbits, and his parchment-like cheeks, hollow and cavernous, all
spoke with an eloquent voice of the ordeal he must have undergone while
the enforced guest of King Cetywayo. The aide-de-camp, having with him a
flask and some biscuits, was enabled to somewhat revive the fugitive,
who then informed them who he was, and how he had managed to escape from
the king's thrall. As his information was considered highly important,
Sir Garnet desired Mr. Vijn to narrate briefly his story out of hearing
of the camp in order that any future operations or measures, consequent
upon the information given, might not transpire to the outer world. The
necessity for this precaution had been of late forced upon the General,
who had had many of his plans and movements made known by those upon
whose discretion while at headquarters he thought he could vouch for.
Besides, since his arrival in Natal, Sir Garnet had achieved all his
successes by striking without warning, and by carefully concealing the
movements of troops, stores, &c., from all but those actually in command
where the movement was to be made; and there was but little doubt that
the Zulus, in the earlier portion of the war, obtained much of their
information from the Dutch, at least from that section of the Boers who
thought it their interest to see the English army unsuccessful, and who
consequently made known to the enemy the British weak points.
Mr. Vijn's narrative, although very long, did not contain many details
of general interest. He left Natal for trading purposes as far back as
the 29th of October, 1878, and about the middle of January fell into
the power of the king, who, however, does not seem to have treated him
at all rigorously, but allowed him to remain at one of his brother's
kraals under a sort of friendly supervision. During this detention Mr.
Vijn appears to have kept a sort of journal, which has a certain value,
as showing the opinions of the king, his brothers, and the Zulu people
in regard to the war. As Mr. Vijn's information regarding the movements
and whereabouts of the king was both authentic and valuable, and as he
volunteered to return to Cetywayo and persuade him to surrender, Sir
Garnet decided to avail himself of such offer. His presence near the
camp was, however, kept entirely secret, and having been allowed to rest
and refit, he was despatched on his return journey, pledging himself to
return if possible by Tuesday evening with the king's answer. On the
following Wednesday Mr. Vijn came back to the camp, and reported that
his mission had been unsuccessful, as the king had left the kraals where
Vijn had last seen him, and had fled away to the north towards the Ngome
forest. As soon as this news was communicated to Sir Garnet,
instructions were given to Major Barrow to take a troop of the King's
Dragoon Guards, sixty mounted infantry, some colonial levies and
natives, making in all a force of 220 whites and eighty natives, and to
proceed into the territory of those chiefs who were still holding out,
and where, it was supposed, the king had taken refuge. Major Marter,
K.D.G., Captain Maurice, Lord Gifford, Captain Hardy, Captain Hay, and
Mr. Herbert accompanied Major Barrow, and they merely took with them, to
be in as light marching order as possible, three days' preserved
rations--their commander wisely assuming that they would find no great
difficulty in foraging as they went on. Half an hour after the order to
parade was given they were all in the saddle and ready for the road. Sir
Garnet, accompanied by Colonel Colley, minutely inspected men, horses,
equipment, rations, and ammunition, and, after addressing a few private
words of advice to the officers, bade them "God-speed."
Proceeding north-eastward at starting they soon came to the little river
Umbellan, which, flowing past the dense bush of the district, ultimately
joins the Umvolosi. At this time of the year it is about twenty feet
deep, and murmurs along a channel of from twenty to thirty feet wide,
now and then forming deep basins, which were found to be full of fish.
Soon after midnight the junction of the Black Umvolosi was reached, and
the first night's camp was made near a fine tamarind-tree, which was
noted as a landmark in case of a return that way. At this season there
was a rather heavy dew towards daybreak, but the nights were calm, and,
in comparison with the day, considerably colder than would be expected.
Just as the party was ready and preparing to start, after an early meal
in the morning, some natives came from a neighbouring kraal with the
information that on the previous night one of their best oxen, having
strayed outside the cattle enclosure, had been seized and carried off by
a lion. It had already been stated by John Dunn that the district
through which they had to pass had been for some years infested with
lions, and lately the casualties had been so frequent that the
inhabitants were commencing to migrate. The Umvolosi at its junction
with the Umbellan is about the same size as the latter river, and at
this point makes a most remarkable bend from south-east to north-east,
but its general direction for some distance in this district is due
north, the stream flowing between banks twenty or thirty feet in height,
with an average width of full forty feet and a depth of only three feet.
The velocity of the current, however, was 120 feet a minute. Leaving
Amansekranze, they marched about nine miles towards the north-west,
having on their left the Black Umvolosi, and on their right the huge
terraces and wood-crowned ravines of the Lebombo mountains. The woods
came down to the river as it flowed between its rocky banks; and farther
north-west some wide meadow-like flats were crossed, containing water
basins almost as large as lakes. Several kinds of antelope of the larger
sort, waterbucks, and hartebeests appeared, and as the troopers managed
to wound and ride down several, their nightly bivouac in the forest was
solaced by a feast of excellent venison. Between the Umvolosi and the
Lebombo range the previous uniformity of the rocks began to be broken by
projections of gneiss and by scattered hills. About twelve miles from
the junction of the rivers at Amansekranze a remarkable illustration of
this formation was passed, where huge blocks of stone rose in mounds
from which colossal obelisks could be cut. These elevated places
alternated with extensive flats as level as a table-top. In keeping with
this weird and fantastic scenery and eccentric native architecture is
the peculiarity of the conies or rock rabbits that have their dwelling
among the crevices of the gneiss. Soon after the sun went down, and just
before sunrise, they were to be seen all round squatting like natives at
the entrance of their holes, into which at the slightest noise or sound
of danger they darted with the most extraordinary snorts and grunts.
There is, however, a great variety of species--difficult for one who is
not a skilled naturalist to distinguish the one from the
other--scattered through the whole of Zululand, each district seeming to
present its own representative. They appear to feed chiefly on the bark
of trees, although they will occasionally devour young shoots and grass.
Distinct from anything in the more civilized parts of South Africa was
the aspect of the landscape presented to view on the second morning of
the march. From the heights to which Barrow and his men had ascended,
and as far as the eye could reach, there extended a wide, grassy plain,
broken artistically by huge stones of the most fantastic outline and by
thickets and single trees. Graceful and luxuriant palms of the fan
species waved above the groves, while the russet autumnal tints gave a
rich colouring to the scenery; every rock, with its wealth of covering
parasites, being a picture in itself. In the far north could be seen the
Mussipulo and the distant portions of the Lebombo, whose purple peaks
stood out in bold relief in the pale azure of the horizon. In the far
distance, and in the direction of the Amatongas, the country had the
deep and luscious blue of a Neapolitan sky, mellowed, however, as it
came nearer and nearer into the most bewitching tints of grey and a
golden brown that Titian would have loved to paint. In the foreground
were the sturdy troopers of Marter's squadron grouped in picturesque
disorder as the process of saddling went on. These with their bright
uniforms, and the glint of steel scabbard, spur, and chain, were thrown
out by the splendid hues of a foliage rich and alternating with the
varied tints of red, yellow, and olive green, lightened up with the glad
freshness of the sprouting shrubs, the deep red of the numerous
ant-hills and the silver grey of the jutting rocks.
After leaving the river, the way at first led over what for horses
alone, without wheels, was fair trekking ground. They then descended for
about five miles, coming gradually down the slopes to a sort of rough
trampled pathway, evidently made by a herd of driven cattle. Here could
be distinctly traced the spoor, and here the king's cattle had evidently
been driven. Now dipping into a deep hollow, where the grass grew in
rank luxuriance, now topping a gentle rise and stopping to listen if
they could hear the distant horns of the Zulu sounded when they announce
the proximity of an enemy,--the horsemen neared the forest-land at the
foot of the steep mountain range. Troops of eland crossed their path now
and then, and occasionally a herd of koodoo. They now came to the end of
the plain, and had to pass over a much more difficult country, where
they could scarcely manage to get along two abreast, and sometimes in
Indian file. The onward path at one portion of the kloof seemed
completely barred by a closely set forest of underwood bush of dwarf
acacia and creepers of the most tangled nature. Indeed it seemed at one
time impossible to pass, but Lord Gifford, after a search of some
moments, found the dry bed of a stream, up which, he said, they might
have a chance of progressing. They had now to dismount and lead their
horses, and slowly and with the greatest difficulty made their way on,
sometimes crawling on hands and knees, and having to drag their rifles
after them, winning way patiently, yard by yard, and almost inch by
inch. Sometimes they were fairly stopped by huge masses of rock, and
even compelled to cut a road through the spiky branches of the mimosa,
which were bound up tightly together with the wild vines and creeping
cane-like plants. For more than a mile did the column toil on through
this ravine, their clothes torn, and face and hands bleeding from the
thorns.
The morning after the first day's march brought them to the kraals where
the king had been a fortnight previous to his flight, as stated to Sir
Garnet by the Dutch trader, and it was no surprise to find these kraals
burnt to the ground, and completely deserted. Therefore, after a brief
halt, they pushed on, and did not draw rein until it became only too
evident that the tired horses could go no further. They had been more
than three and twenty hours in the saddle, and the weight of the
dragoons had told severely upon Marter's horses, which, after the last
ten miles under a most burning sun, and over rough and broken ground,
were nearly all done up. On coming to the next kraal they found they
were still upon the right track, as they gleaned sufficient intelligence
to know that the king had slept there on the day preceding. He had,
however, been warned by scouts and signal-fires,--the latter had been
noticed as they came along,--and had decamped in time to get a good
start. At this point Major Barrow decided to leave the King's Dragoon
Guards behind, and push on with the lighter portion of his mounted men,
and this arrangement was carried out with the understanding that the
"King's" should follow as soon as their horses were fit. Once more,
therefore, Barrow set out, and, as he subsequently found, was upon the
king's trail for two clear days, having by dint of bribery and threats
extorted information as to the king's intentions. On Thursday the column
had a fearfully fatiguing and at the same time disappointing day. They
reached another kraal at sundown, having travelled over a most difficult
and hilly country all day. Major Barrow decided to bivouac at this
kraal, and to start during the night should the moon give sufficient
light. The moon, however, rose so late that it was really sunrise when
they were on the move on Friday morning. Lord Gifford was now sent on
ahead with a few men, and it was subsequently found afterwards that he
and Captain Hardy chased and nearly caught one of the king's principal
attendants. This man would have been caught had he not dexterously
abandoned his horse, and, taking to the jungle, managed to elude further
pursuit. Meanwhile the main body followed on, and on Saturday came to
another kraal. One of the king's personal attendants was here captured,
who having been frightened by a little threatening, showed where the
king had stayed and slept on Thursday. This fellow's statements were
somewhat contradictory and improbable. He wished Major Barrow to believe
that the king meditated changing the direction of his flight and
endeavouring to gain the Inkhangla bush, which is as nearly as possible
opposite the Tugela middle drift. But to make this point the king would
have had to get through the line of posts stationed in this district,
and this made the story seem improbable. Major Barrow, however, taking
the remote chance of the man being truthful, and having no better
information, allowed the Zulu to take him in a retrograde and southerly
direction, until he met another Zulu messenger, who said he had heard
nothing of the king along the road he came. Major Barrow therefore
retraced his steps to the camp of the main body on the Black Umvolosi,
and sent Lord Gifford and Captain Maurice on with eight men to get some
cattle from a kraal and obtain what information he could.
The first destination of this party was a kraal with cattle and mealies,
and this was said to be about seven miles from where they were then
halted. On reaching the said kraal on Saturday afternoon they surprised
some Zulu boys, and partly by threats and partly by persuasion induced
them to come on to another kraal, seven miles off. These boys, after
some pressing, confessed that on the previous day (Friday), the king had
endeavoured to double back towards the south, and had slept within a
mile of where they had bivouacked, and had actually passed the kraal
where they then were. This intelligence confirmed the story that had
previously been told by the king's attendant, and the information was at
once sent back to Major Barrow. On Saturday night they slept in the
kraal they had reached in the afternoon, having during the day visited a
number of smaller kraals and villages, in which they captured many
assegais and other weapons. They thus had made a circuit and were now
heading almost due south, and though they had now been four clear days
in the saddle, had managed their three days' supply of rations so well
that they had still a reserve to fall back upon. This feat of
commissariat skill was accomplished by obtaining wherever they could
such simple supplies as the kraals afforded--sour milk, Indian corn
cakes made of mealies, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and now and then a
little Kaffir beer, which after a time, and when the taste is acquired,
is not such very bad stuff. Sunday, the 17th, was a most eventful day.
Lord Gifford paraded his men, and they started, as usual, just before
sunrise, their destination being an important military kraal, which they
had every reason to believe the king must have visited. The gallant
leader had on the previous evening induced two Zulu boys to accompany
his men as guides, for the shortest way was through the forest and
across country, where it was impossible to find the smallest trace of a
trek. When they set out, the whole of the wood was veiled in mist, and
the ground was yet reeking with the early dew. But as the light came on
they were rewarded by seeing an immense variety of forest shrubs.
Especially beautiful was the _Encephalartos_, which grew in abundance;
most noticeable too was a cabbage-shaped _Euphorbia_, as well as a large
variety of conspicuous shrubs, many of them covered with such fine
blossoms as to give the wilderness the aspect of an artificial park.
About three miles to the right, and to the south of the ford last
crossed, rose several thickly-wooded hills, and in the kloofs could be
seen the smoke of kraals. The guides had by this time become quite
friendly and confidential, and by their advice more than one of these
kraals were surrounded, in hope that if they did not see the king they
might hear of his more recent movements. At three of these kraals they
captured arms and ammunition, and filled their haversacks with mealies,
but could gain no tidings of Cetywayo, although they knew he could not
be far off. In one instance they thought they had discovered their
prize, as coming out of the forest they saw a portion of open country
before them and several natives on horseback and on foot about two miles
away to their right. The scenery they were now approaching towards the
south-west assumed a character very different to the parklike landscape
through which they had been passing. For many miles the eye rested upon
treeless steppes and flats, broken by bamboo and mimosa jungles that
seemed almost impenetrable, and standing in detached groups, their dark
olive green contrasted admirably with the bright hue of the grass,
giving a complete novelty of character to the general aspect. The moment
the group of natives saw them emerge from the forest they quickened
their pace, and endeavoured to gain the jungle to their left, while Lord
Gifford detached three of his men round a small hill to cut them off. A
most exciting race now commenced, two Basutos joining in the pursuit,
and taking advantage of every rock and bush to dodge and intercept the
fugitives. Suddenly the Zulus became aware of the party sent round the
hill to intercept them, and giving a shout of alarm ran back in the
direction of the kraal the English troopers had left. This was exactly
what was required, and galloping right across the plain the troopers
caught them halfway. These men were found to be Zulus of the
neighbourhood, and when they were satisfied that their pursuers had no
hostile intentions they became quite friendly, offering milk and Kaffir
corn, as well as food for the horses. They professed to be starting on a
journey to a kraal about ten miles off, belonging to a chief named
Isnabomlika, who, they said, was anxious for the capture of the king, as
he had grievously oppressed him. Leaving these men, they continued their
march, and soon came to a tract of country much better cultivated than
any they had hitherto seen. Maize-fields (mealies) showed that the
ground was fertile, and although no cattle was seen, the presence of
several kraals on the neighbouring hills showed that the district was
populous.
About midday they reached the large military kraal where it was thought
probable the king might have stopped. His guides had served him with
fidelity, and so Lord Gifford promised to reward them at headquarters
with a present of cattle to each. These lads had made themselves great
favourites with the men, who seemed quite to fraternize with them. Their
delight was unbounded when the officers came across and killed with
their rifles any description of game, and they seemed wonderfully
impressed with the accuracy of the shooting. They said it had been
currently reported in their neighbourhood that the king was lame and
could not travel fast, and that his followers were leaving him every
day. Just before reaching the kraal one of the lads, an intelligent,
sharp little fellow, as he was running a few yards in front of the
horses, pointed out to Lord Gifford the track of cattle leading away to
the bush on the right. They halted and had a consultation; but it was
decided not to follow these tracks, but to continue on southwards, their
object being, if possible, to hem in the king, and drive him on towards
the pickets of Barrow's party or the scouts of General Clarke, who had
four companies of infantry, the headquarters of the King's Dragoon
Guards, and a number of irregulars (cavalry and infantry) encamped at
the drift of the Black Umvolosi. As they knew that Clarke's patrols were
scouring the country to the north and east, they had no fear of the
king's escape in that direction. But little information was gained at
the big kraal, where they off-saddled for two hours, and fed their
rather overworked mounts. At three o'clock they again started and now
made a bend towards Entonjaneni, as by this course it was considered
they would have the best chance of intercepting the king in his attempt
to cut through the cordon now drawn around him. The range of hills which
they now had on their right were the Umyati. They are a continuation of
the Ngome mountains, which shoot out from the Lebombo towards the west,
and they form a portion of the ridge bordering the southern or right
bank of the Black Umvolosi.
On the summit, as far as the eye could reach, there was an extensive
plateau broken by detached groves and handsome trees, and sloping down
towards the north to the stream. A few miles on they came to some fine
tamarinds, under the pleasant shade of which another short halt and
off-saddle was made. Before reaching the river they had to cross four
little brooks that flowed in an easterly direction to join it. The
first of these to the north of the hills was the upper course of the
Enhlongana, and was full of water in a deep bed enclosed in an avenue of
trees. A ridge of hills ran parallel to the path on the left, and after
they had crossed the second brook a mass of red rock, rising to about
300 feet was observed on the right. The long grass was now very
troublesome, coming up in some places to the saddle-flaps, and tickling
the horses in a most unpleasant manner. Towards five o'clock they
entered the splendid forest of Enhlongana, through which, but ten miles
to the west, they had passed some ten days before. After the forest came
an open steppe, with a distant view of the hills in front, which they
crossed, though more to the west than before. The passage of the
Enhlongana having been accomplished without mishap, the road began to
ascend and led through a wood, where the foliage was so dense that it
was quite impossible to see many steps in front.
It will be observed that there were no less than twelve brooks crossed
in the interval between the march in the morning and the final bivouac
on Sunday night. These are all supplied more or less copiously with
water, even in the dry season; at least so said the guides. Although all
these streams have their origin quite close to the left bank of the
Enhlongana, yet they take a very devious course before they actually
join it; the last five, indeed, do not actually meet the river, but join
another stream a little to the west called the Ivuma, which unites
itself with the Black Umvolosi under the Ngome mountain. On this
watershed bamboo and mimosa jungles extend over an area of many square
miles. The species of bamboo which is thus found in such masses is not
so large as that one is accustomed to see in India, Ceylon, or the
Mauritius; and in the manner of its growth it is not unlike an asparagus
bed in the summer-time, hundreds of sprouts starting up from a single
root, and drooping in the most graceful curves over towards the ground.
In other respects the habit of the plant is similar to the Indian
bamboo. The night was now coming on; they had ridden at the very least
thirty-five miles, besides exploring kraals, examining prisoners, and
galloping after wounded game. All knew and felt instinctively that the
king was in the toils, that he could not have broken through the network
spread for him, and that it was a mere question of days as to when he
would be forced to surrender. The horses were indeed fatigued, but none
as yet were lame, while the three days' rations of biscuit and preserved
meats, with which they had started, were almost intact, so well had they
been husbanded by the men living on what they could shoot or obtain from
the kraals.
On Sunday night (August 17th) the bivouac was made at the wild mountain
kraal of Unhlovani; some women, girls, and children were found here, who
at first were terribly frightened at the approach of the troopers, but
soon became reassured and friendly. Indeed Lord Gifford had a wonderful
faculty of ingratiating himself with the native races, and, after a
little persuasion, made one of the chief's daughters confess that,
although the king did not pass by this particular kraal, his attendants
did but two days since. She also added information of great value,
namely, that there were but two passes over the mountain they had now
reached, and that three of the king's wives had passed over the eastern
road the day before, carrying bundles and food. They further learnt that
this girl had no possible reason for sympathy for or loyalty to
Cetywayo, inasmuch as an old Zulu, who stated that she was his niece,
told them that the king, about two years ago, suspecting her father of
some pretended conspiracy, had had him smelt out and killed, and that
the children were at Cetywayo's disposal for sale or gift. On the
following morning (Monday) the horses were tolerably refreshed. They had
a good amount of forage given them, and a careful examination of each
animal showed that no back sinews were strained, and that no sore backs
had come on. A small supply of sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and a quantity
of mealies were given to them by the chief's daughters, whose hearts
their leader had won by explaining to them that the king's reign of
terror was at an end, and that henceforth they could marry any young
warrior they pleased. Bidding these Zulu friends adieu, the party were
in the saddle and on the road by five o'clock; and, ascending by a path
pointed out by some boys of the kraal, they came to a lofty ridge
dominating the valley below, and along which they pushed at a fast walk
for about an hour. From this ridge, which they were following as quickly
as the rugged nature of the narrow ledge would allow, the view was
magnificently grand. In the foreground, where they were compelled to
march in single file, and where a halt was made every now and then to
allow a straggler to come up, was a most inviting grove, with some of
the most charming types of tropical vegetation--the large-leaved,
blue-green anona, the purple _Grewia mollis_, and a number of pretty
little trees of the pine genus, that gave a Swiss character to the
scene. Having risen in their march to an elevation of 2000 feet, they
gazed down upon a fine view of the valley and its meandering rivers
below. The banks of each stream were marked by rows of tall reeds, and
the morning sun gleamed upon the mirror of the numerous backwaters,
while the distance revealed a series of woody undulations in the
direction of the Norwegian mission station of Enhlongana. Turning
sharply round a curve in the rocky path, they came suddenly upon a kraal
nestled in a most secluded and difficult spot, and here they found two
good-looking and very communicative Zulu girls, who fetched for them
some capital milk, and, after a little coaxing, told them that the
king's attendants had passed on that way the previous evening. These
women, as far as could be gleaned from the interpreter, had also
suffered some wrong and oppression, and whatever might be the political
feeling or loyal tendencies of Cetywayo's male subjects, it seemed
tolerably evident that the Zulu women would have no objection to a
change of government. These women at the kraal having shown them a short
cut down one side of the ridge, they hastened on in the hope of
overtaking some of the king's following, and their activity was soon
rewarded by discovering a couple of figures making their way hurriedly
along the lower ledge about a mile from them. One of the officers
volunteered to proceed on foot to cut these people off by a sort of
goat-path that seemed practicable down the side of the cliff; and,
accompanied by one trooper, half-sliding, half-falling, and with a
desperate scramble, the gallant fellow reached the next ledge at a point
where it was evident the travellers must pass. In ten minutes they came
up--a tall and stalwart Zulu with a bundle of assegais, accompanied by a
lad carrying a sort of canvas bag, something in shape like those in
which cricketers carry a bat and flannel suit. At the word "Halt!"
accompanied by a presented revolver, the couple of natives came to a
stand, and on being questioned declared they were messengers from the
chief Usibibo to a neighbouring kraal. As this story seemed rather
doubtful, it was determined to search the cricket-bag, and they were not
long in finding a trophy that almost repaid them for their many weary
miles of travel. Inside was a very handsome Henry rifle belonging to the
king, a small leather handbag, a number of cartridges, and a
hand-mirror! As such articles do not form the travelling appendages of
the ordinary Zulu, it was at once seen that they were getting hotter and
hotter on the trail. While these two were thus carefully examining the
captured spoil, the main party came winding down the kloof, having
during their absence come suddenly upon and surprised some more of
Cetywayo's attendants. A halt was immediately ordered, and the whole of
the prisoners examined one by one.
Some of the people from the friendly kraal had, in the meantime,
overtaken the English horsemen, and their presence seemed to act as a
wonderful incentive to truth on the part of the prisoners. "Tell them,"
said Lord Gifford, "that if they all speak the truth to our questions we
will do them no harm and let them go free." This had a wonderful effect,
and, coupled with a private communication of a confidential nature,
from the Zulus of the kraal, evidently to the effect that the white
man's intentions were not hostile to them, it caused the prisoners to
confess at once that they were of the king's following, and that the
elder was his personal attendant. From further information then obtained
from these people it was found that a mile further on, and hidden in a
cave, were a troop of Zulu girls and other attendants with goods and
chattels of the king. Guided by these not too faithful adherents of
Cetywayo, the troopers soon came to where these people were, and they
surrendered at once without any attempt to escape. These latter
prisoners appeared to have with them all the paraphernalia of the
monarch's toilet. There were gums, wax, and unguents for the hair and
face, brushes, combs, tweezers, scissors, and razors, together with old
pocket-books, almanacks, gaily-coloured pocket-handkerchiefs, and charms
and medicine, made of ground human teeth, and hair and skins of
reptiles, reminding one irresistibly of the ingredients of the witches'
cauldron in Macbeth. A silk pocket-handkerchief was recognized as
belonging to Colonel Degacher by the name in its corner, and this was
almost the only article that could not be considered rags or rubbish.
While Lord Gifford and his party were holding a solemn Court of Inquiry
over this burlesque of human vanity a loud whistle was heard, and coming
round the corner of the ledge, they saw Captain Hay and a Basuto
approaching at a smart canter. Hay, flinging himself from his panting
mount, and wiping the perspiration from his forehead, announced that he
was sent on by Major Barrow, to say that, having himself failed in
obtaining any traces of the king, and deeming it inadvisable to delay
the others in waiting for him to catch them up, he had decided to
increase Lord Gifford's little force with twenty Basutos, under their
leader, Jantzi, and to leave the pursuit of the king in his (Gifford's)
hands, while he (Barrow) made his way back to Clarke's camp. Meanwhile,
the arrival of these additions to the English force seemed to exercise a
marked influence upon the ladies of the king's household, who
immediately jumped at the conclusion that Cetywayo had fallen into the
hands of the soldiers. This had a wonderful effect, as they now
discovered from the women and attendants where the king had actually
slept the previous day, and armed with this information, they pushed on,
bivouacked for the night at the nearest kraal, and started before
daybreak on the following morning. From these prisoners they learnt,
moreover, several most important and invaluable pieces of information:
first, that the poor king was almost deserted; secondly, that he had
been obliged to abandon his horses; and, thirdly, that he was ill and
footsore.
From Tuesday, the 19th, until Wednesday, the 27th, long marches were
incessant, and to describe the adventures that befell this small party
would be merely a repetition of those already told. The arrival of
Jantzi and the timely reinforcements of Basutos enabled Lord Gifford to
detach parties and hem in the fugitive monarch in a manner he could not
have effected with only nine men. It was now almost a point of honour
with Gifford that his men should succeed in capturing the king after the
way in which Barrow had entrusted the pursuit to him; and although he
knew that the king was pursued by Barton's Native Infantry, three
companies of the 57th, and 150 of Marter's Dragoons, he still felt
confident that his party alone were upon the right track. Marter he had
heard had gone back after losing three of his horses by lions in the
district through which he had passed; and his only fear now was that the
Mounted Police would take the wind out of his sails by a rapid move from
the Transvaal, and capture the king should he attempt to escape towards
the north. This he considered was not improbable, as he had news from
Villiers up to the 12th, saying that the tribes in his neighbourhood
were most unfriendly, and anxious to afford help to the king. Indeed
they had attempted an attack upon the mixed force organized by Villiers,
but had been easily beaten off. The movements of Gifford's party from
the 20th (Wednesday) up to the 26th, were not of special interest. They
marched and countermarched, the king never far in front, but always
managing to keep thirty or forty miles between himself and them, and
their information sometimes right and sometimes wrong, according to the
feelings of the natives whom they questioned.
On the 25th they had tolerably authentic information that the king had
decided to come in to Lord Gifford, and surrender. Dabulamanzi, however,
a brave soldier although a double-dyed and scheming traitor, wrote or
sent to the king, telling him the English would hang or shoot him if he
surrendered. Dabulamanzi's object was most transparent. He hoped the
king might be killed or die in the wilds of starvation, as then he might
possibly be made the English nominee to the throne.
Jumping over the interval between Monday, 18th August, and that day
week, during which the pursuer's movements merely resembled those of a
pack of harriers when "pussy" will keep dodging and doubling over the
same ground, we may come to the incidents which led up to the king's
capture. On Monday night, 28th August, scouts came in, who kept Gifford
and his party well in line with the king's refuge, and although their
horses were nearly dropping from fatigue they marched on Tuesday and on
through Tuesday night, until at daybreak on Wednesday they came to a
large kraal situated close to the Ngome forest, where it was known the
king had passed the previous night. This kraal was situated in a most
curious and out-of-the-way portion of the land that skirted the forest,
and, hidden as it was between two high kops, it might have been easily
passed unobserved had it not been for the information Lord Gifford had
been enabled to obtain. They approached this kraal at dusk, and found
that the king had left early in the morning. Some mats, two blankets,
and a snuff-box were recognized as belonging to the king. A couple of
lads were caught, who at first would tell nothing, but Lord Gifford,
assuming a stern air, ordered them both to be blindfolded, and said in
their own language, "Shoot first one and then the other!" A volley was
fired, and the ruse succeeded, for one boy had been led away out of
sight, and the other, thinking he was shot, exclaimed, "They will kill
me next; I will confess!" He accordingly said, if his life were spared,
he would conduct Lord Gifford to the king's hiding-place.
What was to be done? The horses had had a terrible ten days'
"bucketing," the men were tired, hungry, and incapable of great fatigue;
but when their chief said, "My lads, we must do it to-night!" every
heart beat high with enthusiasm, and hunger, thirst, and fatigue, were
at once forgotten. That night-march, conducted by the Zulu boy, was an
event that will never be forgotten by those engaged therein. Scarcely
had the sun disappeared below the horizon when the devoted little band
started on their way, and the novelty of their position in the
wilderness could hardly be realized by those who were not used to the
country--the deep hum of hundreds of insect creatures signalling their
presence to each other, the lizards and poisonous snakes that crawled
across the path, the grim, gaunt figure of the beast of prey stalking
near the projecting rock, the yells of the monkeys, and the howl of the
wild dogs in the plain. Busy, silent, spectral-like forms passed in the
night, and, with a snort of terror or a growl of anger, moved out of the
path, scarcely liking to let pass such defenceless creatures as men seem
to be, yet apparently in awe of a certain presence which the brute
creation can never thoroughly overcome. Tiny creeping animals crackled
the crisp leaves as they scampered about in their fastnesses among the
bushes, and sniffed the scent of the strange intruder, while the
noiseless flapping of wings attracted for an instant the soldier's sight
as some ghostlike moving night-bird flew around and examined the strange
being that intruded in his domain. Having marched all Tuesday night,
with men and horses almost dead with fatigue, they arrived at daybreak
within four miles of the kraal where they were told the king was lying.
He was, they knew, footsore, weary almost unto death, and so despondent
that he would scarcely speak to those who still continued with him. Lord
Gifford, knowing the king could go no farther, deemed his capture more
certain in the dusk, and accordingly sent back a message to Major
Marter, who was known to be not far off, for him to come up on the
opposite side to that on which he and his men were posted. Where Lord
Gifford was posted was a splendid ambush, as they could see without
being seen, and during the day they noticed that an ox was killed and
preparations made for a feast. They also saw Marter's men appear on the
opposite heights, and then they knew that their task was virtually
accomplished. Gifford's ambush, it may be remarked, was on the
south-east side, while Marter had posted his men on the north-east.
The king, it was subsequently learnt, saw Marter, but did not see
Gifford's men, and he considered that the cavalry could not approach
without his knowing. But Marter had wisely taken off his saddles, and
made his men leave their steel scabbards, advancing only with numnahs
and naked swords, and then, disappearing into the bush as if
disappointed in his quest, the major stole up quietly by a circuitous
route to the kraal, and surrounded the king's hut. The Native Contingent
were actually the men first up, as they were on foot, and could move
more rapidly than the horses. These fellows dashed at the kraal, saying
to the king's attendants, "The white man is here, you are caught!" Major
Marter then rode up quietly to the king's hut, inside the kraal, and
called upon Cetywayo to surrender. The king said, with a certain amount
of dignity, "Enter into my hut; I am your prisoner!" Major Marter,
however, declined this invitation, and prudently invited the king again
to come forth. This was the final picture! A Zulu kraal is, perhaps, a
refuge with as little of the picturesque or dignified as any known
habitation, yet the poor king, somewhat bloated in appearance, weak,
footsore, and evidently sick at heart, came out of his refuge with a
royal dignity which could not be surpassed, and when a too heedless
dragoon tried to touch him, said, in grave and majestic tones, "White
soldier, do not touch me--I surrender to your chief."
Meanwhile Lord Gifford, to whom, beyond all doubt, the capture was due,
as he alone tracked down the quarry, galloped in, and the king expressly
said he surrendered to him, and not to Major Marter. With haughty gaze
and supremely regal though savage dignity, with head erect, and the mien
of a Roman Emperor, Cetywayo marched between the two lines of the 60th
Rifles to his tent, while the men, by the order of Lord Gifford,
presented arms to him as he passed. Such was the final scene of the Zulu
War.
NOTE I.
NARRATIVE OF CETYWAYO'S WANDERINGS AFTER ULUNDI, TAKEN FROM HIS OWN
LIPS.
The following account of Cetywayo's movements after the battle of Ulundi
is of great interest as having been taken directly from his lips since
he has been confined in Capetown:--
"Cetywayo was not present at Ulundi; he was then at the kraal of a chief
called Umbonambi, which is situated about three miles north of
Kwamizekanze. One of Cetywayo's brothers, Uziwetu, in company with
Vijn, the captured German trader, had posted himself on the summit of
the Uncungi hill, and thus witnessed the conflict. Men, also, had been
placed on the look-out, and they brought the news of his army's defeat
to Cetywayo, who, at once crossing the neck of the Ntabankulu mountains,
retreated into the bush beyond, where he was joined by Umnyama and other
chiefs. Vijn and Uziwetu came to the king on the following day, but
after a short interview withdrew to Uziwetu's kraal of Ematina. Cetywayo
then retired to Ekushu Maileni, a kraal belonging to Umnyama, his prime
minister, which is on the banks of the river Isiqmeshi. Arriving here
three days after the engagement, he received news of the retreat of the
English army; this determined him to remain where he was; so he lived in
this kraal for nearly three weeks.
"When information of Sir Garnet Wolseley's advance was brought to him,
Cetywayo despatched three chiefs to meet the General, and tell him that
the king was getting together his cattle, and would send them on to Sir
Garnet by his minister Umnyama, who was then personally engaged in
collecting the royal herds. These messengers, having fallen in with a
detachment of Clarke's column, were directed by them to Entonjaneni,
where they met Sir Garnet on his arrival. Vijn, in the meantime, had, by
the king's command, gone to Fort Victoria bearing a similar message,
with this addition, that after the cattle had been received by the
English commander he would give himself up. During Vijn's absence
Cetywayo moved on to Zonymana's kraal; here he was rejoined by Vijn, who
told him that the English were thoroughly determined to capture him.
Hereupon he sent Vijn a second time to Sir Garnet, with no definite
proposals, but merely a complaint that he could not give himself up to
any of the patrols, as he was apprehensive that he would be killed out
of hand. And there was some ground for this fear, as Dabulamanzi had
sent a message warning him that the English meant to put him to death,
and so he had better not yield himself up until the cattle had been
received and Umnyama made terms for him with the English commander. The
three first messengers, after leaving Entonjaneni, fell in with Umnyama
and the cattle near Ulundi, whither they betook themselves, in company
with that chieftain, instead of returning to Cetywayo.
"The morning following that on which Vijn had been despatched on his
second embassy the king moved on to the river Mona, and slept that night
in a kraal upon its bank. On the next morning, having crossed the
stream, he was ascending the hill that rose on the other side when a
messenger from his brother Uziwetu came to tell him that soldiers on
horseback had just visited Zonymana's kraal. He therefore concealed
himself in the bush, and in no long time beheld the white men's scouts
on the opposite hill; thereupon he descended the ravine into the Mona
bush. The same evening he travelled as far as the Black Umvolosi, and
slept there. On the following day they had scarcely finished killing
and skinning a couple of oxen when scouts came in to say the white
horsemen were coming through the bush. The king then bade all the women
to escape as best they could, whilst he, going out of the bush,
concealed himself in the long grass on the top of a mound just above the
drift, whence he could clearly watch the patrol as they passed, and,
indeed, could hear them speak and laugh. As soon as they had passed, he
and the five or six followers, who were now all the retainers that
remained with him, journeyed further up the Black Umvolosi, and lived
for some days in various kraals. Remaining for three days in the same
kraal, he was joined by one of his wives. Finding the troops still on
the trail, he now struck off across country into the Ingome forest,
where news reached him that Umnyama had, instead of making terms for
him, promised Sir Garnet Wolseley to use his best endeavours to capture
the king and to deliver him up should he be found in any of the kraals
of his (Umnyama's) district. Cetywayo was much grieved at this, and
exclaimed, 'Why does Umnyama do this? Why does he act treacherously
towards me? Why does he not send a message to tell me to deliver myself
up?' He then moved on to the kraal of the Ingome, where four more women
rejoined him. Here he was taken by Lord Gifford and Major Marter, and
conducted by them back to Ulundi. On the way one of the women escaped
into the bush."
NOTE II.
FATE OF CETYWAYO AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF ZULULAND.
Cetywayo was first taken to Sir Garnet Wolseley at Ulundi, and thence by
that General's orders was conveyed, under an escort commanded by Captain
Poole, R.A., to Capetown, where he still remains in an honourable
captivity, treated with all the respect and indulgence due to his
position.
After Cetywayo's capture no further opposition of any sort was
encountered in Zululand, but the chiefs and people immediately assented
to the terms of peace proposed by Sir Garnet, by which the country was
split up into thirteen districts, each subject to its own chief, while
supreme over all these was placed a British resident. Native laws and
customs were to be respected, and European immigration was forbidden.
Mr. Wheelwright, for some considerable time a magistrate of Natal, was
appointed the first resident.
GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, PRINTERS, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, LONDON.