[Footnote 292: The B.M.R. were later on sent a short way into Zululand; they rejoined the column, along with Z.M.R., at Mapumulo on the following day.] [Footnote 293: General Report, September, 1906.] [Footnote 294: When advised by their elders, men who had fought for Cetshwayo during the Zulu War, not to take up arms against the whites, as they would be as surely defeated as they (the elders) had been in 1879, the semi-civilized youths of 1906 shouted derisively: _Sa si nqeko tina!_ _i.e._ _We_ were not there!] [Footnote 295: Colonel Bru-de-Wold resumed duty early in July.] [Footnote 296: On the 30th July, Woolls-Sampson's column was taken over by Arnott, the former having been granted leave of absence.] [Footnote 297: A mistake. Mackay, acting on advice received from the Commissioner, had already imposed a fine of five head of cattle for every rebel, when 312 cattle and 169 goats had been handed over by the Chief, in addition to thirty-three rebels. Matshana was, thereupon, given a complete discharge. Because it was supposed Mackay had not properly dealt with the position, another column, seven days afterwards, invaded the district and swept up almost every beast it could find; and yet Matshana had kept in close touch with the authorities ever since Bambata's arrival at Nkandhla. Out of his many sons, five joined the rebels, whilst a number of people had gone from the tribe. These incidents were immediately reported to the Commissioner, the Chief urging that a striking example should be made of his rebels, beginning with his sons. As regards these defections, Matshana was no worse than the majority of the Nkandhla Chiefs, and not nearly so bad as some, _e.g._ Sigananda, Ndube and Mbuzo. But there is another and more telling consideration. "On Sunday evening (27th May)," says Leuchars' chief staff officer, Major (now Lieut.-Col.) S. Carter, "soon after we settled down in camp, a man came from Matshana ka Mondise, saying the Chief sent him _to warn us to be particularly careful, as we were in a dangerous locality_. The man was told to go back and thank Matshana for his warning. Next morning, after the fight was over (_i.e._ the battle of Mpukunyoni), two mounted messengers, ... arrived and said they had been sent by Matshana to congratulate Col. Leuchars on having defeated the enemy." There are other facts in connection with this matter, other assistance readily afforded by the Chief under difficult circumstances, but the foregoing are, perhaps, sufficient to show the danger of sending one column to generally 'put right' what it is supposed another has failed to do through incompetency or lack of information. The result was that, on the truth coming to light, Matshana's wrongfully seized property was, of course, restored by order of the Commandant of Militia.