Zulu War, 1879; Zululand (South Africa) -- History -- To 1879
Two of Oham's men came in professing their loyalty, and were
appointed spies, but a little boy revealed the fact that one of
them had been with the king down in the bush, and then, before all
the people, they were told that their double-dealing and humbug
were perfectly understood. Trails were followed, people were
examined, but all to no purpose; fealty to the king was paramount.
Neither the loss of their cattle, which were carried off, the
fear of death, nor the offer of bribes, immense in value to them,
were of any avail. Returning from one of their long exploring
expeditions, a woman was suddenly met in the bush, whose fright at
the sight of the white men and the guns was so great as to make her
confess the place where the king had slept two nights previously. A
party went off at dusk to this place, and captured three brothers,
who being questioned, under fear of death, declared that they knew
nothing, and that if killed they would die innocently. In the dark
forest, lit up by the moon and the bright glare of the bivouac
fire, the three men stood before their captors. It was a subject
worthy of the pencil of Salvator Rosa. Interrogatories, threats,
promises, all were useless, until at last the plan was adopted of
leading one of the brothers away blindfolded behind a bush, and
causing a rifle to be fired off in such a way as to induce the
others to believe that he was shot. At last, overcome by fear, one
of them told where the king had slept the night before, and where
he had seen him that morning. The other brother, being informed
that everything was known, confirmed the intelligence. Away went
Lord Gifford and his party, with these two men as guides, and at
daybreak the kraal was reached and found deserted. The direction
that Cetywayo had taken was then pointed out, and having been
followed to one of Umnyamna's kraals, it was then discovered
that the king was only five miles distant, and had halted for
the day. It was then absolutely necessary to surround the place
without being seen, particularly as his refuge was close by the
side of a forest, into which, upon the slightest alarm, he would
immediately escape. As it was known that the Dragoons had gone some
distance beyond this place, a note was sent by Lord Gifford to
Major Marter, telling him to watch the passes. The latter officer,
upon questioning the Zulu, ascertained where the king was, and
immediately made such dispositions as to render escape impossible.
The kraal was surrounded before Cetywayo had the slightest idea
that his pursuers were upon him. The men of the Natal Native
Contingent called upon him to surrender, but no notice was taken of
this summons. Upon Major Marter repeating it, the king came out.
The natives stretched out their hands towards him, but with dignity
the monarch of the Zulus waved them back, and surrendered to Major
Marter, accompanying his submission with a request that he might be
immediately shot. He was informed, in reply, that if no resistance
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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