Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-02-28
Some Facts About the Znlns.
Cincinnati Sun.


Some Facts About the Zulus.
Cincinnati Sun.
We were called upon yesterday by
Mr.. j. ID. Caldon, who has recently
spent several years in Southern Africa,
and especially in the Natal and Zulu
country, the present seat of war. He
left there in November, 1877, meeting
Stanley at Natal when on his way to
Zanzibar, after his last great expedi-
ton. to return the natives in his employ
to their homes. Just at that time,
Ketshwaio, whom the British had made
king Of Xululand, had sent sack OF
maize to the governor of Natal. Sir
Henry Bulwer, which meant a decar-
alton of war q sack OF meal meaning
peacel. The occasion Of the war was a
claim set up by the British to Il tract OF
land called Utrecht, and said to have
been claimed by the Dutch, from whom
the Transvaal Republic (of which Pre-
toria is the capital) was conveyed in
1876. Sir Theophilus Shepstone, who
then succeeded Gov. Burgos, the Dutch
governor, invited ketshwaio, the Zulu
chief, TO take part in running the line
between their territory, but he refused,
saying, only n dog follows his mas
ter
The Zulu country extends along the
coast enthusiastically from the Tugalo
river, about $50 miles, to the Crocodile
river, and from the ocean to the Drag
onsberg (mountains), north of which
lies the Transvaal republic. The popu-
lation is estimated at 100000. The Iu-
lus are the finest tribe of natives in
Southern Africa, though in savage
state. Polygamy prevails, and missions
have gained little foothold among them.
They live in huts formed of bent poles
matched with straw The climate is
very warm and the soil productive. The
The poorest man among them can have
his sixty head of cattle. There Is
abundance Of coal near the mountains,
and gold is found III the vicinity. The
Orange river country, with its diamond
fields, is not far away. The territory III
dispute, near the Dragonsberg, is q tract
quite valuable for agricultural and MN
era resources. The IuIus are deter
mined to regain and keep possession Of
this land and single handed assume the
aggressive, as we have seen, after hay-
ing vainly sought the alliance of a
neighboring tribe. MIR. Galdon, who is
an intelligent gentleman, and we'll in
formed us to the whole situation, be
lieves the other tribes will join ketsh-
British in that quarter have serious work
before them, This chiefs a very large,
powerful man, near GO years of age.
lie has N secretary, an English adven-
turer named Brown, who has the credit
Of being the power behind the throne.
OF the skill and courage Of the Iulus
many anecdotes are told, Of which the
following is specimens: Some few
years ago u Zulu hunter, hearing u
young British officer speak somewhat
lightly OF native proves, offered to
give him specimen OF it by killing
singlc-handed II huge lion which in
tested the heighborhood. The chal-
lenge was accepted, and the brave fell
low ut once set forth upon his danger
Gus GRAND, the officer and several oil
his comrades following Mt distance.
Having drawn the beast from his lair,
the hunter wounded him with II we'll
flung spear, and instantly fell flat on
the ground beneath his huge shield OF
rhinoceros hide, which covered his
whole body like the lid Of dish. The
lion, having vainly expended his fury
upon il. ut length drew back II few
PAGES. Instantly the shield rose again,
second lance struck him, and his
furious rush encountered only the i'm.
penetrable buckler. Fooled again, the
lion crouched close beside his ambush
ed enemy, rs if meditating siege
but the willy savage raised the further
end of the shield just enough TO creep
noiselessly away into the darkness
leaving his huckler unmoved. Arrived
at i safe distance, he leyeled his third
spear ut the broad yellow flank Of the
royal beast with such unerring aim rs
to lay him dead on the spot, and thor
returned composedly to receive the
apologies and congratulations Of tht
wondering spectator.
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