Part 13 (1/2)
Retief, having entered the Natal district with his party, decided after some tiotiate a treaty of peace, and, if possible, to obtain frolish aan, and believed he had so influenced the iven to the Dutche despot is, however, very intricate, and neither Retief nor thein the chief's reed to yield a large portion of land to his friends, the white men, when they had proved themselves friends, and they were to prove their friendshi+p by retaking from Sikonyella a quantity of cattle which this chief, a Mantatee, had captured fro first sentrestitution, theyhiave up about seven hundred head of cattle, as well as horses and guns, some of which he had taken from parties of farmers, and Retief returned with these, and with a party of about seventy of his best-ain welcomed the return of Retief and his party, and actually affixed his signature to a docureater part of the Natal district During all this ti in the e He had heard how his powerful enemy, Moselekatse, had been defeated by these white men; how he had been compelled to quit his kraal, and retreat into the interior; and he therefore decided that they were dangerous neighbours
With a hted policy, he fancied that, could he destroy all those ere now near his country, he would deter others fro near hihbours, was only likely to bring destruction on his head His proceedings, however, had been determined on, and his actsacted in every way so as to gain the confidence of his guests, he invited thereat war-dance, as a fit ter any weapons into the royal presence, the visitors were requested to leave their guns outside the kraal Dingaan had assembled about three thousand warriors, all ary, and with the heavy knob-kerrie, or clubbed stick The Boers were invited into the centre of a circle of these warriors, and invited to sit down and drink itchuala, a species of beer; whilst the warriors, striking their shi+elds and beating their feet in time, continued to advance and retire, whilst they shouted one of their popular songs The very ground seemed to tremble beneath the heavy beat of six thousand feet, and the Boers began to regret that they had left their trusty weapons outside the kraal The Zulu warriors advanced and retired, shaking their assagies and knob-kerries with threatening gestures, the chief Dingaan watching the effect upon his guests Suddenly withdrawing from the immediate presence of his nal the warriors closed in on their victims, whole,--for the Dutch several of their enemies,--killed them all, not before they had tortured several who had been the hter was coaan ordered ten thousand men to dash into the Natal territory, and destroy the white men there located The Zulus spread like locusts over the land, [A detailed description of the slaughter of Retief and his party was given us by two eye-witnesses, one a Kaffir, who subsequently deserted froaan's service at the tihter of Retief This uns, and had ti that some at least of the party suspected treachery The other account was frolish well, and as a boy at the tireed in the rants were principally scattered about in small parties, they fell easy victirants near the Blue Krantz river were killed to a ) It was fro fortunately at a short distance from the detachment when the Zulus attacked it, escaped, and was able to ride forward and warn his friends of their danger
Contrary to expectation, the night arrived and passed with no signs of the enealloping in, and announced that the Zulus were swarer All was ready for their reception, and before they came within three hundred yards several of their number were laid low by the deadly weapons of the Boers
Hans, with his two old companions Victor and Bernhard, had selected a position near one of the angles of the square, this being the shape in which the Dutchons
As the solid ular discharge frorants was poured upon theun, loaded with bullets, sent its round with the slain Even the highly-trained Zulus could not face this deadly rain of lead, and they turned and fled to a secure distance, where they were again drawn up in order by their chiefs, and once ainst their foes
Their recent victories over the white men had caused them to underrate their foes; and this, added to the dread of returning to their chief without having carried out his orders of exterreat deterh mowed down by scores in their advance, still those in the rear leapt over the bodies of the slain in front, and endeavoured to force an entrance through the rae, several Zulus reached the waggon on which Hans was standing; and he, having discharged both barrels of his gun with fatal effect, was for an instant unarmed The Zulus seemed to be aware of this, and boldly leapt on to the wheel, and with a yell of triuies above their heads, as they prepared for their next spring Victor and Bernhard, however, saw the danger, and with rapid aies were dropped fro a freshly-loaded gun into Hans' hands, grasped his eain to supply hiun
Many ties on their foes, but without avail; and from sunrise to sunset the Dutchmen maintained this unequal contest As the day advanced the aeneral de; uns
Should the Zulus again charge, the fate of the whole party would be slaughter; for if a hand-to-hand fight occurred, the nu about forty to one, there could be no doubt as to the result Fortunately at this crisis a shot was fired from the three-pounder into thesoreat distance, caused a panic, and a rapid retreat of the whole body, leaving the Boers h their cattle were nearly all carried off
As soon as the Zulus retired, the Dutch their horses, sallied out to learn the fate of those erants ere scattered about in various parts Whenever the Boers had been able to collect and fore foes; but in other cases the slaughter had been coer of Bushmen's river
Fortunately the loss on the part of the Dutch had been very slight, and their victory coht in from all sides was most disastrous At least 600 htered, in addition to the party of Retief Men ho for years, and ere known as the good shot, the brave rider, and the generous-hearted friend, had been slaughtered ife and children, theirfound near those of their family War in most aspects is bad, but this was a mere wanton massacre; and it was only natural that but one cry should arise fro, and also froeance, retribution for all this ”We have the power to teach the barbarian that he cannot slaughter us with impunity, and that mere numbers will not avail Let us arm and invade his territory,” was the exclaeneral wish, a party of about 400 men was hastily asseallant leader, Piet Uys, seconded by Potgieter, and was soon ready for the expedition
Hans and his two friends joined this party, and were anxious to revenge the losses of their friends and relatives
It was in April, 1838, that this party left the Klip river, and advanced towards Zulu land Each un, and supplied with aainst who was armed only with spears, the result of the conflict did not seee, however, as we have found to our cost in Africa and New Zealand, is crafty and practical; he knows both his strength and his weakness, and he appears to know the weak points of our routine syste time sets us at defiance
The party of Boers rode on steadily froer at Klip river towards Zulu land Rivers were crossed, and plains and bush traversed, whilst every caution was taken to guard against surprise The first night's halting-place was reached, and the party bivouacked, having appointed sentries and reliefs, and detailed the position for each ularly wild scene, this bivouack of so them lion and elephant hunters, men who had lived for years by the chase; there were others who had fought in several wars against the Ae scenes in the land
”We shall capture all the lost cattle and horses,” said the veteran Uys, as he approached Hans, as cleaning his guns and exae Retief's murder too, I hope I think it was not wise of Retief to leave his guns behind hie is ever a treacherous creature”
”Ah! Retief fancied he had won Dingaan over to his side, and he ith so many men because he wanted to show his power to the Zulus: if he had followed the advice given, he would have taken only four or five men, with the cattle that he captured froh, Piet,” inquired Hans, ”to meet the Zulus in bush country?”
”I think we are; but ill try not to aan has never yet fought against men arht be more careful than I expect he will be when he hears there are only 400 men come to invade his territory”
”We shall kill ht us as do the Matabili It is only the Aht lessons, and who keep to the bush, as they know their weakness”
”Zulu spies are out,” said Victor, who had returned fro hills, near which he had been on watch ”I saw three round beyond aan our approach”
”We shall be ready for him whenever he shows himself,” exclaie; so let us remember this as well as that our own safety depends upon the defeat of the Zulus”