The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-02-13

pired to be and was an African Napoleon.
Chaka was the son of Zulu chief and |
received the training Of a princely warrior |
He beard tales of Napoleon's remarkable |
career and took the adventurous Cor~ican |
for his hero and model. On the death of |
his father Chaka usurped the kingdom by
deposing his brother, united the tribe Of the
Umtetwas to the Zulus and at once began
a warfare of uubridled conquest and rapine.
The whole male Zulu population was con-
scrptcd for active service. a band of l5,UOO
picked warriors was formed to constitute
the royal guard and they were ready to
march at an hours notice a distance of 40
or 80 miles without Il halt to execute the
kings decree aud "eat up town, chief
or a tribe without warming.
The main army was organized into regi-
ments or impis, and the troops were drilled
in a thorough system of maneuvers new to
African soldiers. Many fortified krauls
were built as permanent camps for the regi-
ments, and in "A short time Chaka was alb
sulute monarch of n vast and invincible
military power. The surrounding country
was gradually subjugated and the tribes
We're either wiped out by wholesale slaugh-
ter or Incorporated with the Zulus. Chaka's
rule over those who submitted to his power
was the most rigid and cruel that can be
feat was DEATH and sometimes whole ro-i-
ments, including the wives and children of
the soldiers, were massacred by the kings
slayers because they failed to win victory.
In one Of these military massaCres the
wives of two brothers of the king Were
slain, and out of revenge Chaka was killed
by the blow of an AK in the hands of one
of the brothers. Three OF Chaka's brothers
reigned after him. The last one died in
1872 and left his kingdom to Cetewayo,
who inherited the savage gifts Of his Uncle
Chaka and soon turned the Zulu spears
upon the English The NIatabele people
had long since revolted from Chaka'- dom
inatiOu and established a counterpart to
the Zulu kingdom in the country they now
defend as their own. Cetewayo's realm
and army were small as compared with
Chaka's, but were modelled upon the great
original The Zulu youth were drafted at
the age of Is, and after one years active
training became attached to one of the
military kraals
The standing army numbered about So
900 warriors and was composed OF 33 regi-
ments, each having peculiar dress and or
naments. The regiments were divided into
right and left wings, each wing having
eight or ten companies. Their drill was a
system of simple evnlutious to prepare them
Tor ruSllnE attack IN crescent lOTuldllOu,
the tanks or horns being intended TO
inclose the enemy until his lines should be
completely surrounded. The Zulu weapons
were originally Kaflir spears and hunting
rifles or muskets. Cetewayo, however com.
manded each soldier to procure a breech-
loading rifle from the white traders. The
discipline of the army was exceedingly
rigid, the usual punishment being death,
and the officers were the absolute lords of
the lives and persons of followers.
Cetewayos war originated in a dispute
about the boundaries of the Transvaal.
During the year 1873 the king sent fire.
quent notices to Europeans to quit the
lands bordering on the line established by
treaties, and an army of 1900 Britons I'M
der Lord Chelmsford was massed in Natal
to invade Zululand. The army crossed the
dividing line of Tugela river in four col
umns, the second and third, under Colonies
Durntord and Gwyn, constituting the CEN
ter. Those two columns numbered 1000
men and were led by Lord Chelmsford in
person.
On the 2lst of January, 1879, the troops
with Lord Chelmsford made an advance
camp at lsandhlwana 10 miles beyond the
river crossing at Rorkes Drift. Rorke's
Drift, which naturally called for reserve
detachment strongly posted on the Natal
side to cover a retreat, was left with a fee
BILE garrison of l39 men. lsandhlwana was
supply camp and contained 1902 wagons
l,4O0 oxen, . cannon, 400 shell, 1900 rifles
with cartridges, and 100000 worth of com