The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-05-21
THE LAND OF THE ZULUS.


"A SActcn Oh AululonO anu Z AnhnoAIahGo
The South African territories comprise
an area of some $780, 900 square miles, or
as much as the united territory Of Ger
many, France, Belgium and Holland
four times the area Of the five Middle
States. The total population is not much
more than 1900, 900, of which about 44O,-
600 persons are white. Let us glance ut
this great country, turning for the better
understanding of recent events to recent
sources of information.
Beginning at the Atlantic Ocean on the
west and going eastward, we shall note
the principal countries of South Africa
as follows:
First. the largest, the Cape Colony,
founded by the Dutch, and seized in 1906
by the English. Until 1867 its growth
was slow. In that year the famous dia-
mond fields were discovered just beyond
its boundaries to the north, inthe district
called Grigna Land West the old No
Man's-Land of u school biographies
it is now becoming every-man's-land),
and the colony, in consequence, is grow
ing rapidly. In 1876 three-fourths of the
total yield, or 773 pounds weight of dia-
monds. were sent across the country to
Cape Town, a distance of 700miles, with
out guards, in the mail wagons, and no
robbery occurred, though there were a
few small thefts. From this we may con-
clude that the 235,O00 whites and $780,
600 blacks who constitute the present
population of the Cape Colony are at
least as honest folk as a like number OF
people living, say, upon the mail routes
in the Western territories. Ostrich farm
ing is fast becoming an important intus.
try. In 1875 the price of a pair OF
ostriches reached 50, 500, and the feathers
in Cape Town.
Next in geographical order come the
aboriginal Observation-Disclosures and
Basuto Land. These countries tit into
notches upon the eastern boundaries OF
Cape Colony. Here, upon an area OF
about 10000 square miles, live various
native tribes, q population of 100000 IN
all, and all under British protection.
Natal lies between these tribes and the
| dreaded Zululand still farther to the
northeast. This country, before 1920,
was thickly populated by the black race
in that year it was desolated by the wal
riors of the Chieftain Chaka. an uncle OF
! the redoubtable Cetewayo Git is to be
pronounced Ke-te-way-o). Chska de-
: stroyed warriors, women and children
together; he made asolitude and called
it peace" The Dutch afterward occu-
| pied Natal, and in 1884 the British seized
and occupied the country. 1t has now
{, 1000 white and 300, 900 black inhabit-
. ants.
Zululand is next in order. The area of
this country is estimated at 10000 square
miles; it's population at 10000. 1t is
! probably greater. for Cctewayo's army is
set down at 80, 900 well-armed men.
Marvellous stories are already current of
the physical prowess and the drill of
these troops-such rs the statement from
IAN eminent authority "'that the Zulu
warriors can travel eight miles an hour,
fully equipped, for four or five hours to-
getier. That may safely be pronounced
impossible. But they have Il formidable
army, as the English found out at 1san-
dula on the ed of January last, when
600 English troops and officers were de-
stroyed by the rifles AID assegais Of Cete-
wayo's warriors.
''Tle present king" said Sir Arthur
Cunynghame, in his book on South
Africa, almost rivals his uncle Dingaan
in cruelty, and his uncle Chaka in mill
tary talent" Cetewayo has shown not
only military but administrative genius.
Every male, from boyhood upward, is
made to serve in the army. The disci-
pline, from the accounts which reach us
is more than Spartan in it's strictness.
Marriage is the reward of brave conduct
in battle. These warriors and those of
the other Katlir tribes as well are now
abundantly supplied with firearms,
Within a few years a surprising number
of weapons have passed into Kaffir
hands. When the railroads were begun
in Cape ColonNa the shrewd katfirs
would not worksEithout permission to
buy fiaearms. blinded by a desire to
secure cheap labor, the colonists allowed
the natives to arm until at least 400, 900
muskets and rifles, some of them breech.
leaders. had been acquired"