Zulu War, 1879; Zululand (South Africa) -- History -- To 1879
On the 12th of September Major-General Clifford was able to notify
that Colonels Villiers' and Russell's columns were in course
of being broken up, after they had thoroughly patrolled the
Makulusi district and found all quiet. Oham had returned to his
own territory, accompanied by Wheelwright, who was appointed to
act as Resident in Zululand. Mongodhla had been driven from his
caves and his cattle captured, while his brother had surrendered
at Luneburg. Two companies of the 24th Regiment, ordered to encamp
at Isandhlwana, removed the last vestiges of the camp, buried any
bodies remaining above ground, and erected cairns of stones over
the graves of the troops who fell there. More than 5000 guns had
been taken, or surrendered by Zulus. Sir Garnet Wolseley did his
work thoroughly. Troops were despatched against Sekukuni, and
Sir Garnet himself proceeded to the Transvaal, in order to subdue
discontent among the inhabitants, and establish a settled system of
government. It is not necessary to follow him there.
[Sidenote: _John Dunn._]
With the conclusion of the Zulu war this book must terminate.
As regards the political adjustment of affairs in Zululand, the
directions of the Home Government, were no doubt, implicitly
obeyed. The country was made self-supporting in a military point
of view, and the chiefs, with their tribes, were so disposed as
to form a barrier against hostile aggression. John Dunn, who was
a Christian renegade, living as a Zulu in polygamic life, but
whose influence was supreme throughout the country, was placed as
chief over South-Eastern Zululand. One of his first steps was the
prohibition of all missionaries in the country in which he holds
sway. Over Sirayo's country near the border, extending to the foot
of the Drakenberg, the chief Hlubi was appointed, about whose tried
fidelity and loyalty there can be no question. Oham occupies the
region between the Pongolo and the Black Umvolosi. Mnyame, the late
king's prime minister, is established near him, and, it is to be
hoped, will not hatch plots for the establishment of Oham on the
throne of his brother. "Zululand for the Zulus" has been the motto
for this arrangement, but hopeless heathenism has been riveted
as chains upon the people. Missionary enterprise is discouraged
and even forbidden, while all the evils of tribal rule are
virtually perpetuated. It has been said with some fancy, but great
exactitude, that the new dispensation realizes the description of
the country given by Tennyson in "Locksley Hall"—
"Never comes the trader, never floats an European flag,
Slides the bird o'er lustrous woodland, swings the trailer from the crag.
* * * * * *
There methinks would be enjoyment more than in this march of mind.
* * * * * *
The passions cramped no longer shall have scope and breathing-space."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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