ZEALAND, NEW.—Discovered by Tasman in 1642. Captain Cook planted several spots here in 1773. Great Britain’s right to this island recognized at the general peace of 1814. Since then it has continued slowly developing its inland resources. A rather disastrous war was waged against the British forces by the New Zealanders not long ago; but after some months of continual annoyance the Aborigines were subdued and the island quieted, with every prospect of commercial development.
ZELA, BATTLE OF.—In which Julius Cæsar defeated Pharnaces, King of Pontus, and sent the Senate the well-known laconic letter of three words: “Veni, Vidi, Vici.” Fought B.C. 47.
ZELICHON, BATTLE OF.—Fought, April 6th, 1831, between the Poles and Russians. The Russians were terribly defeated, with the loss of 12,000 men, killed, wounded and prisoners, and Deibitsch, the Russian General, narrowly escaped being taken prisoner in the rout.
ZEUTA, BATTLE OF.—Fought, between the Germans and Turks, the former commanded by Prince Eugene; and it is memorable for the tremendous slaughter of the enemy, A.D. 1697.
ZORNDORFF, BATTLE OF.—Fought between the Prussian and Russian armies: the Prussian commanded by their King. They gained a great victory over the forces of the Czarina of Russia—21,529 men being lost to the Russians, while the Prussians lost 11,000. Fought, August 25th and 26th, 1758.
ZOUAVE OR ZOU-ZOU.—“The gamins of Paris, we believe, first applied to the world-renowned Zouaves the pet name of Zou-Zous; and France has confirmed the pleasant diminutive. We know well enough that Zou-Zou has certain faults; but we also know that he possesses some estimable qualities. On the whole, we gaze at his scarred bronzed face and long shaggy beard with respect, and do not shrink from cordially clasping his horny brown hand, powder-begrimed though it be. We read all about his valorous doings, and his somewhat ludicrous and not unpardonable misdoings, during the late Italian campaign, as chronicled daily by his own countrymen, and we shall now compile some interesting examples of his exploits and racy peculiarities, which have fallen under our notice.
When the Zou-Zous embarked at Marseilles, they leapt on board the vessels as though charging a column of Croats, crying to their comrades, “Come, gentlemen, take your tickets for Austria!” Arrived at Genoa, they received their fair share of flowers and kisses from the enraptured signoras, and embracements and orations from their lords and fathers.
M. Achard visited the camp of the famous 3rd Zouaves, and gives us a graphic sketch of the fire-eaters reposing. We must premise that they had only arrived four or five days from Algeria. “It was,” says he, “like a little corner of a great war picture. The canvas town possessed regularity, animated order, picturesque and lively movement, and one felt the presence of discipline, and a pleasing sense of gaiety and fearlessness. Behold the little, narrow, short tents reserved for the sub-officers; their neighbours large, and similar to a squab coffee-pot, for the captains and commandants; others ample and conical, each for five soldiers, ranged in ranks; groups of Zouaves round a candle, in a low tone chatting about their African campaigns; some silently smoking a pipe apart; two or three lying on the ground in corners, reading letters and dreaming, their comrades singing the chorus of songs; the evening dies away and sleep succeeds. Here and there, under the canvas, a little lamp gives light to an officer, who writes in haste a last letter. Little noise, great order; each battalion has its place. As the darkness increases, we see red sparks in the air along the tents. The cigar enlivens the promenade, then the sparks disappear one by one; the bivouac fires are extinguished; the mules of the regiment bite at each other, and endeavour to break their straps; close by, the Arab horses of the officers, digging the earth with their hoofs, snuffing the air, devoid of the warm odour of the desert, and shaking their manes. * * * The next day, at seven o’clock in the morning, the regiment, containing three battalions on a war strength—2700 men, exclusive of officers—was reviewed by Prince Napoleon. They looked models of hardy active soldiers. Their faces, which appeared cut out of Florentine bronze, had the manly ardour and the confidence resulting from habitual acquaintance with danger. They were in marching order. At eight o’clock they started, clarions at their head and tarbouch in front for their first étape de guerre, twenty-seven kilometres, and in the evening they encamped in the mountain, at Toreglia, very near the Austrians!”
We may remark that one great reason for the very singular celerity with which the Zouaves encamp, provide their food, etc., is the fact, that each company, or portion of a company, or “tribe,” as it is called by the men themselves, is subdivided for what we may term domestic duties, each individual being charged with a distinct and special function; and constant practice naturally renders them amazingly expert at doing whatever they are called upon to daily and nightly perform.
The Zou-Zous, and their African friends the Turcos, are said to have an invincible preference for fighting at close quarters with the bayonet. A certain quantity of cartouches were served out at the moment of departure, but these cartridges were not forthcoming at Genoa. The officers were angry, and required the production of the missing ammunition. “Be not troubled,” said the Zou-Zous; “leave us alone, and we will return you ten for one at the first battle.” A stubborn old sergeant added, “We wish to see if the Austrians are like the Kabyles.” In fact, their point of honour is to charge with the bayonet, and to charge at a swift run. Their activity is incredible; and they have been aptly called “foot cavalry,” which is hardly a paradoxical jest like our own time-honoured sneer of “horse marines.”