The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-06-01

4
men to undertake nothing without Goa,
to submit every morning their duties
and deeds to God, to keep the Sabbath
holy and not take the Lords name in
vain. There We're no wagon tracks or
trails in those days, and the Beers had
to pick their way in an unbrokenJ Twill
derness, wary of the Zulus, who were
scattered over the country. Some Zu
lus were captured and sent to Dingaan
with messages to the effect that if he
would return the guns and horses he
had taken from the victims of his mas
sacres as Il peace offering the Beers
would epter into negotiations. But the
naughty Dingaan spurned this ultima
tum. He remained in his kraal until
Pretorious, at the head Of 200 mounted
men, appeared in sight to. reconnoiter.
Pretorious said that he thought it I'M
advisable to attack Dingaan on his
mountain with a force so small and re-
turned to the main camp. The day fol
lowing was Sunday, and the Beers pre-
pared to rest and worship God in the
wilderness, but at daybreak the whole
Zulu nation swarmed about the lager.
The Zulus opened the battle by hllrl-
ing their spears fivin distance and
firing with the few guns taken from
their enemies Gradually they grew
holder and tried to storm the wagons,
but each time We're repulsed. Finally
Dingaan mustered his whole strength
for q finishing dash. 1t is believed
that his warriors that day numbered
over 10000. Pretorious said that it re-
quired some nerve on his part not to
! betray uneasness in his .countenance.
The rush of the Zulus was checked by
| the fire at first, and in desperation Pre-
! torious opened the gates of the lager
and launched forth with his 200 mount
ed men, charging and firing into the
solid mass of blacks. For time the
Zulus withstood the onslaught, but they
had already lost enormously and at
last gave way in panic. The Beers
/ pursued to a safe distance. completely
! routing Dingaan's army. 1t is said
! that 5000 Zulus fell that day.
/ In 'Pretorious' narrative there is a
description of his own encounter with
q Zulu chief. He tried to enter into a
! parley with the Zulu, but be says: "He
! closed with me and attempted to stab
! me through the breast. l ayerted this
by grasping at the weapon (assagaD
! with my left hand, but in doing so re-
| ceived it through the hand. Before he
could eNtricate it threw him to the
!, ground, but as the assagai remained
! pierced through my hand, which was
under me as lay upon him, l had but
one hand to hold him and use my dag
] ger, while he attempted to strangle
me. AT this crisis one of my men
! came to my assistance, pulled the ASA
gal out of my hand and stabbed the
Zulu
\ Only two Beers besides Pretorious
were wounded; not one was killed.
| This was the victory celebrated on
Dingaan's dag. The very next day
after the battle the Beers set out for
Dingaan's llraal, but he burned it and
/ fed The bones of Retief and his COM
rades and the treaty" of cession exc.
4 cuted by Dingaan We're found.
i Dingaan finally established his kraal
. again in the mountains, and Pretori
Gus, REINFORCED by 10000 Zulu war;
riors under the kings brother. Panda
marched against him and again routed
his warriors. Dingaan was assassinat-
ed, and the Beers had peace with the
Zulus.
. Having paid for their country twice
over in blood and in service to the Zulu
king, the Dutch naturally believed that
their rights We're paramount. But the
British had meanwhile taken posses
sion and issued manifesto that the
Beers should be treated as conquered
race and their arms and ammunition
taken from them. On learning of this
Pretorious marched a small band OF
his people to Durham and encamped
near the British garrison. The British
forces numbered several hundred. but
!. Pretorious boldly demanded their sur
render. The reply was night attack
? by $50 British on the Boer camp. The