The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15 00:00:00

THE ZULU WAR.

(From Monday's Times.)
CAFE Tows (via Madeira), Feb. 18.

On Thursday last an attack was made on Colonel Pear-
son's encampment at Ekowe, and was repulsed with a heavy
loss to the Zulus. Colonel Pearson sallied out and pursued
.the enemy for several miles. Farther operations are at a
standstill, and until the forces have been increased itds not
probable that Lord Chelmsford will be in a position to re-
sume the offensive.

Latest advices are of a satisfactory character as regards
the safety of our troops. Colonel Wood's column was at
Kembulo on the Bth, and Colonel Pearson is maintaining his
position at Ekowe. Very good accounts have been received
from Colonel Bray and Major Russell, which date down to
the 10th. It is stated that a large proportion of the Zulu army
has been temporarily disbanded for the purpose of getting in
crops.
The fear of invasion, which lately disturbed the minds
of the Natal people, seems to have given way to a feeling of
greater confidence, but large numbers of persons are leaving
Maritzburg and the ilt'.country districts for Durban and the
Cake.

There is great alarm at Pretoria owing to the dread of an
attack by Becocoeni's Cakes, and the place is being barri-
caded.

CAPE TOWN, Feb. 18 (vitt Madeira).

The High Commissioner has received a communication
from the President and people of the Orange Free State, ex-
pressing sympathy with the British for the recent disaster
at Isandula. The state of affairs in the Transvaal is dis-
quieting, on account of the hostile attitude of the native
tribes. It is feared that Alapoch has entered into a com-
bination with the other Caffre chiefs against the British.

Her Majesty's ship Active is at Durban. Her Majesty's
ships Boadicea and Flout are at Simon's Bay, with 27 cases
of small-pox on board.

INTERVIEW BETWEEN SIR M. HICKS-BEACH AND THE

BV. IfIC OTTO WITT.

The Ray. Mr. Otto Witt, the missionary at whose place at
Rorke's Drift Lieutenant Bronthead and his companions
made their heroic stand, had an interview on Friday in last
week, by invitation, with Sir Michael Ricks-Beach, at the
Colonial Office, which lasted about half an hour. Mr. Witt
was introduced to the Secretary by one of his friends, and
Earl Cadogan, Under-Secretary, was present during the oon-
versation that ensued, of which the Daily News gives the
following report :
- - -

After the gentlemen had saluted, the Secretary
asked Mr. Witt how the Zulus regarded their King,
Cetewayo—whether, in fact, that ruler was liked?
Mr. Witt said that they did not like Cetewayo at all.
The Secretary asked why, to which Mr. Witt replied,
because he was a tyrant of the worst kind, and no
one was safe under his rule; any of his people were
liable to be killed at any moment by him, or by
those in his service. The King invariably
viewed all his subjects with suspicion who went
to the missions to be taught, and these who did
so were marked for death. Cetewayo got rid of those
he disliked by accusing them of being anxious to learn
from the missionaries art of witchcraft. The Secre-
tary then said, "Do you know, Mr. Witt, personally
if any Zulus were killed by Cetewayo's orders because
they were anxious to learn from the whites?"—" Yes,"
said Mr. Witt, "I do. I know of two persons
who were killed on that account, and Umkwelantaba,
the King's cousin, whom I have with me, was to have
been killed half a year ago, because he, too, was
anxious to learn. Having received news that his life
was to be taken, Umkwelantaba fled into Natal as a re-
fugee, as many others have done, and came to me. Pos-
sibly an additional reason for their anxiety to dispose of
him was because he was the King's cousin."—" What
are the feelings of the Natal Kaffirs, then, towards the
white people 7" said the Secretary.—Mr. Witt :
"Well, not over friendly. The colonists generally
treat the Kaffirs very badly—just as dogs. Therefore
if they felt themselves able to drive the white settlers
out of the colony they would do so at the first oppor-
tunity." The Secretary wished to know if the Natal
Kaffirs might then be expect*d to join the Zulus to
drive the whites out. Mr. Witt thought they might
join forces with the Zulus, but at the same time
the Natal Kaffirs would not submit to the rule of
the present Zulu King, whom they would also be
glad to get rid of; and so would his own people.
—The Secretary: "That is just the point I wish
to come to. Do the Kaffirs like the Zulu King
more than the English Government ?" Mr.
Witt : " No; because there are thousands of
Zulu Kaffirs now in Natal who have run away
from Zululand and Cetewayo's government. At dif-
ferent times I have in ray own house sheltered
Zulus who were to be killed and had fled their
country. Afterwards I did not take such people in,
because as I was allowed to stay where I was on the
goodwill of the King, I thought I ought to obey his
laws."—Sir M. Beach "Yes, just so. Is there
likely then to be any rebellion in the Zulu country
against the King ?"—Mr. Witt: "It has been ex-
pected for a long time that there would be a rebellion
among the Zulus, because some of them are friendly to
the English and others are not. They have had fre-
quent rows among themselves. Last Christmas at one
of these rows about 100 people were killed at the King's
kraal."—The Secretary: "What would become of the
Zulu country if the power is taken from them to govern
it?" Would they be likely to be come rebellious against the
whites, and, if so, what would be the best way of keep-
ing them quiet? "—Mr. Witt: " I think they would
be rebellious, but if their guns and ammunition were
taken from them altogether they would have no chance
of rising against the whites; that is, if at the same
time all chance of their getting other guns and ammu-
nition was also prevented. They must then keep
quiet."—The Secretary: "Did the introduction of
guns into Zululand take place through Natal or by
way of
.Algoa Bay ? "—Mr. Witt: " I consider that
they went in chiefly by way of Algoa Bay."
—The Secretary "Do you know if the introduc-
tion of guns to the Zulus by way of Algoa
Bay has been now stopped? "—Mr. Witt: "I
do net know."—The Secretary : "Have you ever
been to Ekowe, Mr. Witt, or do you know any-
thing about the place? "—Mr. Witt: "Yes, I know
Etchowe (or, as lqr. Witt pronounced it; Etchowa)
particularly well, ror I lived one whole year but
twelve miles from it."—The Secretary: "What sort
of country is it ? "—" It is very broken country, high
above the sea, and hilly."—Tne Secretary: "Do you
know anything of the country in front of where you
lived at Rorke's Drift, further in Zululand ? "—Mr.
Witt: "No, I do not; only that about my own
station."—The Secretary: "What kind of guns have
the Zulus mostly; are they good or worthless ?"
Mr. Witt: "A large part of them have good guns,
breech-loaders. This fellow Umkwelantaba, whom I
have with me, told me to-day that he himself had a
breech-loader, which he left at home."—The Secre-
tary : "Where did the Zulus get their ammunition
from ? "—Mr. Witt : "From the same parties that
sold them the guns,"
After an interchange of some further remarks, the
interview terminated.

The Daily News of Monday says :—" The Rev. Mr.
Otto Witt, the Swedish missionary, and Usakwelan-
taba, cousin of the Zulu King Cetewayo, on Saturday
last were introduced to a number of ladies and gentle-
men who had assembled to hear a personal account
from Mr. Witt of affairs in Zululand. The meeting
took place at four in the afternoon in the London
office of the Central News. About forty people were
present, among those in attendance being Mr. Evelyn
Ashley, M.P., Sir John Kennaway, M.P., Sir Wilfrid
Lawson, M.P., Mr. A. M. Sullivan, M.P. Mr.
Benjamin Whitworth, M.P., &c. Mr. Witt and
Umkwelantaba occupied seats at a table on which a
map of Zululand was spread. Mr. Evelyn Ashley
presided. In opening the proceedings, he remarked
that Mr. Witt had just arrived from the scene where
the whole interest of England is just at present con-
centrated. They had met to hear and learn some
things from him in reepeet to Zululand.
"Mr. Witt and Umkwelantaba were then formally
introduced. Mr. Witt said Ladies and Gentle-
men,—l have come here to meet you. I shall be very
happy to answer any questions about the people with
whom you are at war; but I am so little acquainted
with the English language I am only able to address
you in an ordinary conversational way.' In reply to
Questions, he said the people desired to see white men'
He did not apprehend any danger when at the station.
If the troops had not come he never would have sent
away his family as he did a few weeks before the
occurrence at Isandula. When the troops came
then there was considerable danger. He said the
Zulus had been spoiled by the English, Dutch, and
German traders, who had gone amongst them,
and done much injury by giving them liquor. The
Zulus, however, were used to liquor somewhat before
the traders entered their country, for they have a sort
of beer they take which is intoxicating if drank in
large quantities. They drink this beer with their
food; hot they must drink from morning to evening to
get drunk on it. Since the traders have carried in
rum gin, and brandy, the Zulus have become very
fond of these liquors. They say they like them better
than their beer, because they don't need to sit all day
drinking to get drunk. He had seen Cetewayo, but
only once, at his kraal at Ketchwayo. Cetewayo is a
well-built man, of about forty-five years. He is a big
man—personally a nice man. He is a real prince. He
has his military forces organised in regiments. All the
people born within a specified time belong to a certain
regiment, and the women also are enlisted into
certain regiments. In Zululand a man has no right
to marry until he gets the King's permission to
do so. Those men who marry, or are empowered to
marry, have a ring of hair round their heads. If the
Zulus marry before they get the King's leave they are
killed. Generally, when the men are about forty, the
King tells them they must marry, or look out for wives
for themselves. There is a distinction in the dresses
worn by the different regiments of the King. Each
regiment has its own way of dressing, the men being
distinguished by different feathers, and bunches of corn
and dogs' tails. The King's regiments are commanded
by the chiefs, some of whom Mr. Witt said he had
a personal acquaintance with. He beard from the
Zulu people that war was going to ensue. They were
officially told. They knew of the ultimatum that if
they did not bring in seven hundred cattle by a cer-
tain day that their country would be invaded. He
thought they did not want war, and they regarded
themselves as aggrieved. Usirayo, one of the
chiefs who commanded at the battle fought a week
before that at Isandula, lived near him, just over the
river. They often talked together about the disputed
territory question, and Sir Theophilus Shepstone and
his claims. The chief's opinion was that the English
people had no right at all to claim the disputed terri-
tory. Personally he (Mr. Witt) thought the Zulus
had the right en their side. After the ultimatum was
sent out he saw the Zulus, but never to talk with
them. Mr. Witt said he did not think the Zulus in-
tended to invade Natal, but he was afraid they would
do so now before the reinforcements arrived, and
that the Natal Kaffirs would join them.
" After some farther conversation, Mr. Evelyn Ashley
propelled a vote of thanks to Mr. Witt, and Sir Wil-
frid Lawson said he had much pleasure in seconding
it. Mr. Witt briefly returned thanks, and the com-
pany separated."

The Daily Chronicle says :—" The cousin of Cete-
wayo, who came over with the Rev. Mr. Witt, and is
now in this country, is a youth of about 16 years of
age, and only a little over a month ago left the wilds
of Africa, on the border of Zululand. Umkwelantaba's
father was the brother of the late Zulu king, Umpanda,
the father of Cetewayo. The lad has intelligent negro
features and a fine square forehead. He knows but a
few words of English, and Mr. Witt has to communi-
cate with him in the Zulu tongue. He was being
educated as a missionary at the time the attack
was was made on Rorke's Drift, when he fled
in company with Mr, Witt, On some illustrated

pictures of the burning of the dwelling at the
station being shown to him, Umkwelantaba appeared
to recognise the spot, for his features became quite
animated. Pointing to Mr. Witt's house, he said
Witt,' and indicating the English, he said ' Sol-
diers.' The sight of the dead Zulus seemed to pain
him, and he said, .` Zulus Memo.' The photographs
of Cetewayo which were shown to him he failed to
recognise as being at all like his relative; one of the
pictures, however, he said was that of a Zulu chief,
but not Cetewayo's. In respect to the breech-loader
which Umkwelantaba bought, he said he got it from
a trader in the Zulu country, who was selling guns
and ammunition, and had travelled from Maritz-
burg to sell his stock. He held up his little finger
and the two next it, saying to Mr. Witt that he
paid three cows for his gun, thirty rounds of am-
munition and belts, which he brought from the trader.
Two of the cows were young pulling oxen, and the
other was an old bull. When Mr. Witt was leaving
he told the lad that he could either return home or
follow him. The boy said he would be glad to go with
him, to have the chance of learning. Umkwelantaba
drove the ox teams of the party. On approaching
Greytown, a bridge had to be crossed, which was the
first he ever saw. He said, 'I won't go on that; do
you not see it is standing on the water? If I put my
foot on it, it will sink down, and I will go too.' At
length he was induced to venture on it, and when he
had crossed, he clasped his hands above his head cry-
ing Memo !' The railway at Durbar was his next
surprise. He had heard of the iron horse, but
did not believe it true. There is no way,' said Mr.
Witt, by which I can express his wonder when he
saw the engine move.' On board the ship he was
struck with its beauty; and since his arrival in London
he has passed from one stage of astonishment to
another, at the sight of so many people, houses, ships,
and vehicles. The turning on and ignition of the gas
has also been a source of wonder to him, but apart
from the astonished gaze of the savage at so many new
sights, one can see that his scrutiny of everthing that
attracts him is keen and searching."

"Umkwelantaba, according to the Rev. Mr. Witt,
is a fair type of the Zulu Kaffir. His features are,
however, neither as regular nor as prepossessing as
some of the native aristocracy, who, as well in their
superior physical stature as by their bearing and in-
telligence, are marked leaders of the common people.
The youth expresses himself as both astonished and
pleased with the kindness with which everybody treats
him, and evidently he has become deeply attached to
his white friends, On Saturday forenoon he went
with Mr. Witt and had his photograph taken.
Mr. Witt also had himself photographed, and
with Umkwelantaba. The latter was delighted
when he sawthe negatives' and nodded and laughed
as he recognised his own features and those of Mr.
Witt. He sat looking very serious, and even Mr.
Witt could not get him to understand the modus
operandi by whisk the picture was taken—the impies-
sion on the boy's mind being that it was drawn in
some secret manner. The youth is about 51t. 6in. in
height, and well-made, without being robust. He is
but sixteen years old, and no doubt he will in all
likelihood at maturity be as tall as the majority of his
race, the average height being about 61t. At Madeira,
Umkwelantaba was struck at the skill of the youth
of that island in diving and swimming after the
articles thrown.. om the ship. Zululand is rather
an arid country, and the natives are poor swimmers,
and in the water they blander and paddle like clumsy
dogs."

Mr. Witt arrived in Natal three years ago, and being
forbidden by Cetewayo to reside in Zululand, took up
his position at Rorke's Drift, upon the frontier. King
Cetewayo, it seems, was very well disposed towards
Christianity before he became King. But at the
time of his accession his subjects exacted a promise
from him that he would give the Christian mis-
sionaries no footing upon his territory. This promise
he has kept, and though the Zulus are now
more favourably disposed towards Christianity, the
King rigidly carries out the policy which was forced
upon him. However, any missionaries who settled in
Zululand during the reign of his predecessor, Chaka,
Cetewayo will not disturb. They are allowed to remain
perfectly unmolested. But any of his subjects who be-
come Christians he instantly executes. Mr. Witt
gave a curious instance of how this order was carried
out on one occasion. A Zulu expressed a wish to be
baptised. The intelligence was communicated to the
King. The man was ordered to be immediately exe-
cuted, Two soldiers were sent to carry out the orders.
Being placed in position, one of the soldiers presented
his rifle at the Zulu covert. He drew the trigger, and
the gun missed fire. The soldier became immediately
possessed with a superstitious fear, and flung down the
gun, thinking that if he attempted to fire again some-
thing might happen. However, as a refusal to obey
orders would be punished with death, the soldier got
another man to slay the Zulu, and so the poor fellow
died a martyr.

The Bishop of Natal (says the Standard) has forwarded to
a friend in England the following translation of the state-
ments which fugitives from Isandula made to him :

"Yesterday, January 26, 1879, there came here
(Bishopstowe) four young men running away, escaping
from the battle, who had been drivers of the waggons
which went with the Government forces. As soon as
they arrived, all the men with whom I was sitting out-
side the kraal gathered together to hear their story. So
they related their running away, and said that they had
been staying with their waggons close to the place
where the army was fighting. It was under the
hill by Sirayo's the battle was. There were -very
bad rocks there; some were killed by falling
amongst the rocks in running away. The regular
soldiers were a little way off at first from the Zulu
force, but the mountefl men went near to it, The
Zulu force was above on a place sloping down, that, of
the English was below, and. firing well: But the Zulu
force fought by running violently upon the English
force. That force (the Zulu)was a regiment of young
men, the Ngakamtye. The sun was turning towards
afternoon. The Zulu Induna shouted with a great
voice, 'Stop firing, and go on hand to hand." There-
upon the Ngakamatya took their guns in their left
hands and rushed all together, and poured themselves
upon the English horse and on the foot, and hemmed
it all in together with the regular soldiers, stabbing with
assegais, crying, Mamo ! the cattle of my father, (I
stake on to. day's work). Just a very few escaped on horse-
back, running away; some were killed by falling over
the rocks; some tumbled over a precipice [? precipitous
bank of the river]; only a few crossed the Buffalo;
some died in the water, for the people of Gamdana,
brother of Sirayo'e, who had just before submitted to
the Government force, fell upon the fugitives by the
river, and killed many, both on the banks and in the
water. At that time these young men, being just got
across the river into Natal, they fell in with Sikota,
the son of Mpande, together with two of his head.
ringed men, and two youths. When they had gone
just a little way Sikota said, Let us sit down for
a minute to rest.' The Ngakamatye regiment
had by then reached the river, stabbing the
fugitives. The Zulu Indium, seeing his men
about to cross, shouted with a great voice, saying He
has not said that you are to cross! He is Lot in-
vading. He is defending the land of his own people.
Do not cross. Come back!' Thereupon the whole
regiment turned back, having finished stabbing. But
behold; they had been blind till now (the narrators)
for there was now the great Zulu force over there,
stretching far and wide beyond that which had
attacked, and not having joined the battle at all.
They say, these four, that themselves and Sikota,
and the men with him, and also some white men who
had got across, only began to draw breath upon
hearing that word which was proclaimed by the
Induana ; they say that they were saved by that
alone, for if it had not been uttered by the Induna
they would just have been killed, for they were
utterly worn out. The white men who were with them,
being exhausted, had given them their guns to fire,
but there was none of them who cared to do anything
but just to look at what would come. The whole Zalu
force then set up' the great battle song of Dingane—
those above and those below all together—the earth
resounded with it, and they moved away. Sikota and
the others reached a kraal, where they found no one,
but they saw a goat, which Sikota ordered to be killed
that they might eat, he waiting to see if there would
not be one of his men who would reach him, having
escaped. But no, there came not one. So they left
that place. Vikinduku, a man of Siyingela's tribe,
says that he was, as servant of Colonel Durnford's,
in charge of his baggage-horse. He gives a similar
account of the battle, and says that the last time
that he saw Colonel Durnferd for certain was when he
went out with his mounted men to meet the approach-
ing army. Ye thinks that he saw him comeback
with his men,, but cannot be sure. However, some
of ( ?) Zikali's men, to whom he spoke afterwards,
said, 'Yes; he had come back with them into the
camp, and had died in the beginning of the fighting in
the camp shot by the guns.' George Shepstone he
certainly saw come back into the camp, but that was
the last time he saw him. Gabangayi, son of Pakade,
died there, and several of his brothers and his son.
Sikota's men were finished completely, but not at that
place; they fell, being of the party in advance, which
was said to have gone to attack Diatyana, and which,
he hears, has killed him, though with considerable
loss both black and white. Vikindnku escaped with
Colonel Durnford'e horse of which he had charge, and
went with it to Unisinga, where he left it, and its
saddle and bride, by tile magistrate's orders. He
had meant to bring them down to Pietermaritzburg,
where they had been entrusted to him. When he got
near he was advised not to go into town, as the impi
was hourly expected there, and he would just get shut
in, so he came on to Bishopstowe that he may report
what has become of the horse which was in his charge.
Jonathan says that he has been told by a waggon-
driver who has escaped, that there was a little boy
leading the oxen, who was just about to be stabbed by
a young man, his assegai being lifted, when an Induna
put him back, saying, He has not ordered that—he
is not fighting with the black, but with the white; no
black person is to be killed who is not fighting. Do
you not see that he is only working.' So that boy
escaped,"

The following is the copy of a letter which has been re-
ceived at Chatham from one of the colour-sergeants of the
99th Regiment, with Colonel Pearson's force at the Cape,
giving an account of the engagement fought by Colonel
Pearson's troops on January 22, in which the enemy were de-
feated, with a loss of about 500 men :

"Akowa, Zululand, January 24, 1879.
"Dear -,--There is a mail down from the front
to•night, so I take the opportunity of making you
the general newsagent for my friends in Chatham, and
give you an account of our first battle. On the
morning before last, we started in two columns on
the march. My company formed the advance guard
of the second column, and we had only just started
when we heard the artillery going ahead. We were
pushed up as quickly as we could be, when we found
that we weie attacked by some 4,000 or 5,000 Zulus.
Our cavalry had dismounted, and the advanced guard
of the first column were having their breakfast, while
some were bathing, when these 'gentlemen' popped
in. They had selected a spot to attack us which in
their language, means Victory Hill,' and, it appears
since, from the prisoners that it is a favourite fighting
ground of theirs, and one where they
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ever, on this o4nasion they were destined to find out
they were not to have it all their own way. They
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over the top of it, attempting to surround our
columns, and on the first shot being fired our native
levies skedaddled' and left their officers, five of
whom were shot before you could look round.
Directly they were down, the KafErs were upon
them, and assegaied them cruelly,
stabbing them
in twenty or thirty places. The Zulus got
away with their- breechloaders, about 600 rounds of
ammunition, and a horse, but we got the horse
again. The Zulus stood for -about four hours, our
people firing shells, rockets, Martinis, and the
Gatling guns. I never thought niggers would make
such a stand. They came on with an utter disregard
of danger. The men that fired did not load the guns.
They would fire and run into the bush, and have fresh
guns loaded for them, and out again. They fire
'young' cannon balls, slugs, and even gravel. I tell
you what it is ; our school at Chatham, over our hot
whiskey, used to lau4h about these niggers, but I can
assure you that fighting with them is terribly earnest
work, and not child's play, Sergeant Tuckett's party,
Royal Engineers, were in the thick of it, but none of
the Royal Engineers were killed. Three Buffs were
killed, and some volunteers wounded, but none of
ours. We do not go on from here for a
week, as we have to build a fort for a depOt for
stores. We have advanced about fifteen miles from
where the fight took place, so you may imagine
we gave them a goad whacking.' Sergeant Ttlckett
knocked two or three niggers over. He was in far
greater danger than I was, as he was with the leading
column, while I was with the second, but came in in
time to assist. About 400 niggers were killed. These
niggers were Cetewayo's picked shots, and came down
with the amiable intention of chasing us into the sea.
In this, lam happy to say, they failed. The Sing
told them if they did not succeed they need not go back
to his place, so we expect to have to kill them all.
They are hovering about somewhere. They can scatter
and eollect again. We thus have to sleep with arms
and accoutrements on, and are under arms every
morning at three. We have not had our clothes off,
exceut to bathe, for three weeks. —Yours very truly,
J. W. BuRNErr."

The Lancet says :—" The following is the history of the sad
death of Surgeon-Major Shepherd as related by an eye-witness,
Mr. iluirhead, Natal Carabineers :--‘ As Kelly and I were
riding for our lives, the Zulus pursuing us, my companion—
almost a boy, Trooper K Ily—staggered in his saddle,
evidently hit. I stopped my horse to see what was the matter.
and tried to support him, but I could not, and. had to lift him
off on to the ground. At that moment Dr. Shepherd came
galloping past. I called out to him, and he dismounted
to examine poor Kelly. After carefully examining him he
called out, Ah, poor fellow, too late, too late.' I had Pig
mounted my horse, and Dr. Shepherd was in the act of
putting his foot into the stirrup, when some instinct weaned
me to look round. .As I did so I saw an assegai coming
straight towards me.,. I turned to the left in the saddle, at
the same moment it passed close to my head, and, unfortun-
ately, struck Dr. Sheisherd in the tide. He immediately fell,
and I put spurs to my horse, and galloped off as hard as the
horse could go." • •

We learn from St. retersburg (says the Globe) that the Czar
has been so struck by,the terrible reverse sustained by the
British arms at Isandula, that he has,ordered the Etat Major
to discuss the subject at one of its early sittings. His
Majesty has also given instructions for a military report
on the causes of the disaster to be prepared for him by one
of the officers of the Etat Major, and a map of Zululand to
be suspended in the library of the Winter Palace for his own
especial use.

The Pall Mall ,Gazette gives a letter from a colonist in
Natal, from which we make the following extract respecting
the disaster at Isandula : —"On Wednesday the General
went with the greater part of his force in search of a body
of Zulus, leaving about five companies of 1-24th Regiment in
charge of the dzunp, which was about nine mites from Rorke's
Drift. Colonel Durnford came in with some native levies,
and, being superior officer, assumed command of the camp.
Soon after he arrived they saw a large body of Zulus coming
towards them, estimated 12,000 to 15,000. Instead of
making a laager of his waggons, of which he had 140, and
fighting from behind them, he left 100 men to look after the
waggons and advanced t 4 the attack, and soon got cut off
from his supply of ammunition The result was that the
troops were mobbed by the Zulus, and, with the ex-
ception of a few mounted infantry, were all killed.
The men tired till their hands were blistered by
the hot barrels, and their cartridges used up. The
Zulus did not seem to care twopence for the fire, though
mowed down by the thousand. The artillery had two good
shots at them: and limbs, shields, assegais went flying about.
But the next two shots missed. The Diggers then shouted
that the guns were all smoke, and rushed forward and
stabbed the gunners. The Zulus, seeing that the 24th would
not run, stopped firing and ran in with their knobsticks and
assegais, and passed over them like a wave. One 24th man,
whose pouch was empty and bayonet gone, was last seen
knocking down two Zulus with his fists, The Zulu loss is set
down at 3,000 dead on the field; how many wounded no one
knows. . . .

The Journal des Debuts, commenting upon the latest
news from Natal, observes that after their first check the
British troops have put a bold face on the matter, and have
repulsed several attacks of the Zulus, inflicting enormous
losses upon them. Colonel Pearson's successful engage-
ment, continues the Debats, will undoubtedly cool the war-
like ardour of the savage warriors; and as, on the other
hand, the harvests in South Africa are rathered in during
the months of February and March, the Zulus will, for seve-
ral weeks, abstain from harassing the English soldiers.
When Getaway° and his allies are ready to recommence
hostilities, they will have to deal with the regiments re-
cently sent out from England, and they will pay dearly for
their triumph of it day.