The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-07-06

~ s
Gently documentary evidence has been
unearthed to show that the oppression
was on the other side; that the Kaffirs
and Zulus ravaged their farms and the
government would not allow them to
take PREPARATION. To save their rem
nant of nation they sought the will
derness farther up the east coast.
At that time the trekkers had in view
settlement on Delagoa bay, but were
repealed by the deadliness of the climate
and pitched their camps in what is
now known at Natal. That region of
fered attractions in good pasturage and
had been depopulated of natives by the
frightful massacres of Chaka, the Zu-
lu despot. The Tugela river between
Colenso and Estcourt was the scene of
the first Boer settlement. The land
was a paradise in peace and produc-
tiveness, and before setting their
stakes too deep the immigrants made
efforts to secure a title from the rul-
ing Zulu, Dingaan, the successor of
Chaka, .,,i.s4-.,@ e,.. .ss...-as --s-.s'--
FROM among their leaders the Beers
selected Piet Retief to visit Dingaan in
the capacity Of an envoy. Knowing
that he had to deal with a monster, he
was accompanied by party of armed
mounted men On the march to Din
gaan's kraal the Beers rescued from a
tribe at enmity with Dingaan 1000
head of cattle that had been run off
from the pasturages of his people.
Dingaan seemed very gracious and
readily promised to grant the Dutch
the land they asked for along the Tu-
gela to the sea and north and south of
that stream.
! Retief and his party visited the Eng
| fish at the nearest seaport and some OF
the lesser native tribes and returned te
Dingaan's kraal to receive the writer
document of cession. This was deliv
4 cred into Retief's hands, and the kins
begged the Beers to tarry few days
and receive the hospitality of the Zulus
lthen 90 and fetch their people to. pos
lsess the fair land he had given them
On the day fixed for departure all as
sembled in the kraal to drink a parting
cup of native beer. The kraal wa
crowded with troops, ostensibly :
amuse the farmers by wild song
and dances. Suddenly the king Gale
tout, "Seize themr' At this signal til
troops rushed upon the Beers, severf
laying hold of a single man and dras
ging him from the Enclosure, while til
king cried, "Kill the witches" 1t wa
la favorite ruse with Dingaan- as it ha
been with Chaka, to denounce 9
witches the enemies he wished destro.
led IN order to infame his warriors,
Retief was held and compelled
witness the butchery of his comrad'
land then was himself dubbed to deaf
This accomplished, the impis set o.
with orders to massacre all the Doe
left on the Tugela. Needless. or, rat
er. unsuspecting of danger, the famili
had scattered themselves in quiet al
II isolated camps to await the return
n Retief. AS 60 men had persisted wi
him, every family had some male adj
absent. The families We're in lit
bivouacs of three or four wagons eac
} The first attacks were on the cam
on Bushman river. The Zulus ere
up stealthily and began stabbing rig
a land left with their assagais. Not
ze we're killed, for some survived coul
less stabs. In the third camp attack
there was a Botha, ancestor of t
present Boer commandant, Il
IN Botha.
IS This massacre, which .hP q
nls e memorated by naming &sen
IN ''Weenen," the ''Plao che jsefelnrie
- ried off 200 chit .year ,aoninc,
ltoen. The -,Iftan o5 80, q
IA h,,4 aoef9ps of n "onel 80
nd W. - vet Dingaan,s ere lns ~.
was not satisfied Sc thlrsL l a,
:, the remnant hnt haius to WI
sefaDidnce of an ne Do. -,
- they also hoS =" Two held/C
fired nails and O. earrohAae'
ana their rifle bullets, anu
charge whep $ they broke Il
linked hand they ATTEMPTED
Bushman r to force the pa'
After IL Yer.
farmers Is second attack I
it must n along the Tugela
not roo \, pner or black, FOR /
terrific so,. fine two races i'll
war ~ They at once orga
gaar ,na determined to wipe
las ...o1 ont themSe
re thew have elected 70 y
ther rfran be ruled
When lrsustered, the s., nS att
t,on numbered 45o me- i.
i+b h7 vANf3ns cc