[166] This company of Native Pioneers (one of those organised by Colonel Durnford, R.E., before the war) was raised from the employés of the Colonial Engineer Department, and commanded by Captain Beddoes of the same department; this officer being highly commended by his chief. The company worked under the supervision of Lieutenant Main, R.E., and rendered excellent service. Colonel Pearson remarked: “The men worked cheerfully. They had eyes like hawks, and they did their scouting to perfection.”
[167] One of the hardest workers in this department was Commissary J. W. Elmes, who distinguished himself by his untiring zeal and energy.
[168] P. P. (C. 2260) p. 104.
[169] P. P. (C. 2374) p. 115.
[170] Mr. Mansel, the officer commanding this troop of Natal Mounted Police, says: “When we went out the morning before the fight we left thirty-one men behind, men whose horses had sore backs, etc. These men were in charge of only a corporal. Seven men escaped, and we buried all of the twenty-four that were killed. Twenty were killed just around Colonel Durnford. Three about two hundred yards away, and one at the Fugitives’ Drift.”
[171] Properly Uzulu—the Zulu nation.
[172] The above is corroborated on all main points by Mehlokazulu, son of Sihayo, who states that he was sent with three other indunas (mounted), on the morning of the 22nd, to see what the English were doing. On reporting to Tshingwayo, he said, “All right, we will see what they are going to do.” “Presently,” says Mehlokazulu, “I heard Tshingwayo give orders for the Tulwana and Ngyaza regiments to assemble. When they had done so, he gave orders for the others to assemble and advance in the direction of the English camp. We were fired on first by the mounted men, who checked our advance for some little time.” He says the soldiers were at first “in loose order,” but afterwards he saw them “massing together,” when “they fired at a fearful rate.” When the Zulus broke the infantry and closed in, they “came on to a mixed party of mounted men and infantry men,” about one hundred, who “made a desperate resistance, some firing with pistols and others using swords, and I repeatedly heard the word ‘Fire!’ given by someone. But we proved too many for them, and killed them all where they stood. When all was over I had a look at these men, and saw a dead officer, with his arm in a sling and a big moustache (Colonel Durnford, R.E.), surrounded by dead carbineers, soldiers, and other men whom I did not know.”—Vide R. E. Journal, Feb. 1880.
[173] Written for him by a Dutch trader, residing with him.
[174] This information he obtained through his messengers ’Mfunzi and ’Nkisimane, who were in Pietermaritzburg in June. The message (sent by Mr. Colenso) being, that the young officer killed at the Styotyozi river was a Prince; that his sword would be desired by his family, and that if Cetshwayo wanted to make peace he had better return it. The result was that, as soon as the king received the message, he sent the sword on to Lord Chelmsford.
[175] Amongst the wild natives of South Africa it is thought that the carrying of burdens is not a manly task. In a family of travelling Zulus the women and lads perform the duties of carriers, while the man of the party marches ahead, unencumbered except by his weapons, ready if necessary to defend his flock against the attack of man or beast. An officer, travelling in the eastern province some years ago, met and questioned a party proceeding in this fashion. “Why,” he asked the leader of the little band, “do you allow these women and girls to carry heavy loads, while you, a strong able-bodied man, have nothing but your assegais and knob-kerries in your hand?” Such questions are not seldom resented when they touch on native customs, and are asked in an overbearing manner. This officer was uniformly kind and courteous to the natives, and the man smilingly replied, “It is our custom, and the women prefer it;” referring his questioner to the women themselves for their opinion. The chief of these latter thereupon replied, with much grace and dignity: “Does the white chief think we would let our man do woman’s work? It is our work to carry, and we should not like to see him do it.”