The two messengers that had been sent to Dinuzulu got back on the evening of the 23rd. Unfortunately, there was a difference between them as to the purport of 'the Prince's' message. One man, the senior, said Dinuzulu had denied all knowledge of Bambata's doings, and had remarked: "they have already begun fighting; let them do just what they want, it is no affair of mine. I do not want to be mixed up in the business." The other man, agreeing whilst in Sigananda's presence, afterwards went among the rebels and encouraged them by declaring that Dinuzulu's _real_ wish was that they should fight the white man. The construction put on the communication by the latter messenger was that which, readily finding favour, was accepted. These men, moreover, had heard of the Government having arranged with Dinuzulu on the 17th to allow Mankulumana to go and act as "peace-maker," a matter that will be noticed later. The second messenger interpreted Mankulumana's mission into his having been "bought by the Europeans"; his coming, therefore, was simply to try and hoodwink Bambata. Mankulumana arrived at Empandhleni on the 23rd, and after interviewing the Commissioner for Native Affairs, proceeded, on the following morning, to see Sigananda. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 144: Gabangaye, with a large following, formed a portion of the Native contingents that assisted the Imperial troops.] [Footnote 145: These men had received orders to mobilize only the morning before.] [Footnote 146: The Reserves, with part of the U.M.R., one Maxim detachment, and one field gun, passed the night at Wintershoek; the Police, with one troop U.M.R. and Maxim detachment, camped at Botha's quarries.] [Footnote 147: See "The Causes, Superstitions and other Characteristics of the Matabele Rebellion, 1896." Appendix X.] [Footnote 148: Ntshelela is one of the many younger sons of Godide, son of Ndhlela, one of Dingana's two principal indunas. Ndhlela was one of the two indunas in power when Piet Retief and his party were massacred at Mgungundhlovu in 1838.] [Footnote 149: By this time, Cakijana had temporarily detached himself from the force.]