History of the Zulu war and its originColenso, Frances E. (Frances Ellen)
History
History of the Zulu war and its origin
Colenso, Frances E. (Frances Ellen)
Zulu War, 1879
“I suggested that they could not take their houses away. He replied
that the materials of which they were built—stone, earth, and
wood—were all Zulu property, but they might take them also if they
wished. He thought that four, however, were entitled to greater
consideration; these were Bishop Schreuder and Mr. Oftebro, of the
Norwegian Mission, because of their long residence—more than twenty
years—and their services in other ways than as missionaries; and
Bishop Wilkinson and Mr. Robertson, because they had brought an
introduction from the Governor of Natal; but that the teaching even
of these was mischievous, and could not be received by the Zulus
without injury.... The advantages of education, the value to a man
of being able to read and write, and the extreme inconvenience of
ignorance were discussed. Cetywayo heartily concurred in all that was
said on these subjects, and said it was education made the English
so great; and that, if he thought he could remember what he might
learn, he would be taught himself; and he expressed regret that the
missionaries did not confine themselves to that kind of teaching.
“The result of our conversations on the subject of the missionaries
was an understanding that those who were already in the country
should not be interfered with, and that, if any of them committed
an offence for which the offender might be considered deserving of
expulsion, the case should be submitted to the Government of Natal,
and its assent be received before the sentence should be carried
out. It is necessary to explain that the Zulus have no idea of
inflicting any punishment upon a missionary except that of expulsion
from the country. _I did not consider it wise to attempt to make any
arrangements in favour of native converts._”[98]
What was meant by the teaching of the missionaries being
_mischievous_ is fully explained by the remarks of the prime
ministers Mnyamana and Vumandaba, reported by Mr. Fynney in 1877
(1961, p. 47) as follows:
“We will not allow the Zulus to become so-called Christians. It is
not the king says so, but every man in Zululand. If a Zulu does
anything wrong, he at once goes to a mission station, and says he
wants to become a Christian; if he wants to run away with a girl,
he becomes a Christian; if he wishes to be exempt from serving
the king, he puts on clothes, and is a Christian; if a man is an
umtagati (evil-doer), he becomes a Christian. All these people are
the subjects of the king; and who will keep a cow for another to milk
it?... The missionaries desire to set up another power in the land,
and, as Zululand has only one king, that cannot be allowed.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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