Cetywayo and his White Neighbours | Page 3

one who was in a position to know the

facts; (2.) To throw as much publicity as possible on the present
disgraceful state of Zululand, resulting from our recent settlement in
that country; (3.) To show all interested in the Kafir races what has
been the character of our recent surrender in the Transvaal, and what its
effect will be on our abandoned native subjects living in that country.
It may, perhaps, seem an odd statement, considering that I have lived in
various parts of South Africa for about six years, and have, perhaps,
enjoyed exceptional advantage in forming my opinions, when I say that
my chief fear in publishing the present volume, is lest my knowledge of
my subject in all its bearings should not be really equal to the task. It is,
I know, the fashion to treat South African difficulties as being simple
of solution. Thus it only took Sir Garnet Wolseley a few weeks to
understand the whole position of Zulu affairs, and to execute his
memorable settlement of that country: whilst eminent writers appear to
be able, in scampering from Durban /via/ Kimberley to Cape Town in a
post-cart, to form decided opinions upon every important question in
South Africa. The power of thus rapidly assimilating intricate
knowledge, and of seeing straight through a wall whilst ordinary
individuals are still criticising the bricks, is no doubt one of the peculiar
privileges of genius--which is, perhaps fortunately for South
Africa--rare. To the common run of mind, however, the difficulty of
forming a sound and accurate judgment on the interlacing problems
that disclose themselves to the student of the politics of South-Eastern
Africa, is exceedingly great and the work of years.
But although it is by no means perfect, I think that my knowledge of
these problems and of their imminent issues is sufficiently intimate to
justify me in making a prophecy--namely, that unless the native and
other questions of South-Eastern Africa are treated with more honest
intelligence, and on a more settled plan than it has hitherto been
thought necessary to apply to them, the British taxpayer will find that
he has /by no means/ heard the last of that country and its wars.
There is one more point to which, although it hardly comes within the
scope of this volume, I have made some allusion, and which I venture
to suggest deserves the consideration of thinking Englishmen. I refer to
the question of the desirability of allowing the Dutch in South Africa,
who are already numerically the strongest, to continue to advance with
such rapid strides towards political supremacy. That the object of this

party is to reduce Englishmen and English ideas to a subordinate
position in the State, if not actually to rid itself of our rule and establish
a republic, there is no manner of doubt. Indeed, there exists a powerful
organisation, the Africander Bond, which has its headquarters in the
Cape, and openly devotes its energies to forwarding these ends, by
offering a sturdy opposition to the introduction of English emigrants
and the use of the English language, whilst striving in every way to
excite class prejudices and embitter the already strained relations
between Englishman and Boer. In considering this question, it is as
well not to lose sight of the fact that the Dutch are as a body, at heart
hostile to our rule, chiefly because they cannot tolerate our lenient
behaviour to the native races. Should they by any chance cease to be
the subjects of England, they will, I believe, become her open enemies.
This of itself would be comparatively unimportant, were it not for the
fact that, in the event of the blocking of the Suez Canal, it would be, to
say the least, inconvenient that the Cape should be in the hands of a
hostile population.
In conclusion, I wish to state that this book is not written for any party
purpose. I have tried to describe a state of affairs which has for the
most part come under my own observation, and events in which I have
been interested, and at times engaged. That the naked truths of such a
business as the Transvaal surrender, or of the present condition of
Zululand, are unpleasant reading for an Englishman, there is no doubt;
but, so far as these pages are concerned, they owe none of their ugliness
to undue colouring or political bias.
Windham Club, St. James' Square, June 1882.

CETYWAYO
AND HIS WHITE NEIGHBOURS

CETYWAYO AND THE ZULU SETTLEMENT
Claims of affairs of Zululand to attention--Proposed visit of Cetywayo
to England--Chaka--His method of government--His death--
Dingaan--Panda--Battle of the Tugela--John Dunn--Nomination of
Cetywayo--His coronation--His lady advocates--Their attacks on
officials--Was Cetywayo bloodthirsty?--Cause of the Zulu war--Zulu

military system--States of feeling amongst the Zulus previous to the
war--Cetywayo's position--His enemies--His