Zulu's and European fire arms

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 58 Location : UK

When did the Zulu's first realise the capabilities of European fire arms and show an interest in them, in respect of owning them. The first use of firearms in Zululand must have scared the life out of them. And did John Dun have anything to do with supplying firearms, like the Black Bess to the Zulu’s long or just before the Zulu War of 1879. What was the earliest? Date recorded of fire arms finding there way to Zululand.. Would there have been fire arms in the days of Skaka Zulu.

Subject: Fire arms in zululand Wed Nov 17, 2010 12:52 am

Hi John.
I doubt there were any firearms used by the zulu in the times of Shaka and if there were it would be minimal . As Europeans
had only started dealing with the zulu during Shaka's Reign so I think firearms may have been a few years off . I think Shaka
was murdered by Dingane about 1825 ? . I would be thinking firearms may have become more readily available around 1835
or later. Possibly earlier . These were mostly sold or traded by the Portugese who had a foothold at Delagoa Bay. John Dunn
apparantley was influential in bringing firearms to the zulu nation in great numbers , he also taught his good friend Dabulamanzi
how to shoot and by all reports he was good at it . Let it also be said these firearms were all obsolete weapons which could be
acquired very cheaply and in great numbers . There are other posts somewhere on the forum in regard to the numbers estimated
by the British of the firearms that inhabit zululand . Happy to be corrected as havent checked any books for this post . Idea

cheers 90th.

Subject: Re: Zulu's and European fire arms Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:36 am

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]