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Subject: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Thu Nov 07, 2013 8:05 am
Hi all
The Zulu king was astonished, by the lost of his impis, after their return from the fighting of the 22 and 23 January 1879 ...
How Could he know since the Zulus did not count their warriors, one by one?
Although this type of accounting is not a Zulu custom, I think they did, out of curiosity ...
Dailleurs after the war, I bet Zulu survivor gave figures of their losses to strengthen their winners who questioned ...
Cheers
Pascal
Guest Guest
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Fri Nov 08, 2013 6:55 am
Perhaps the Zulu at that time did not know the arithmetic
Julian Whybra
Posts : 2357 Join date : 2011-09-12
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:16 pm
Pascal I think that the ibutho commanders and Cetshwayo himself would have an awareness of the size of each ibutho. They would also have an awareness of the physical size of an iviyo - it would be obvious as it passed by if was fewer in numbers. I don't believe they counted them in and counted them out. Losses would be assessed as the result of a general overall viewing.
impi
Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 40
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:22 pm
Possibly only known, when the men returned to thier homes. All women with sons and husbands ok. Those without sons and husbands. KIA.
Julian Whybra
Posts : 2357 Join date : 2011-09-12
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:25 pm
But then with no means of cumulative accounting which would get back to the ibutho/king??
impi
Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 40
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:02 pm
I expect the Widows pension, must have give some calculation.
kopie
Posts : 249 Join date : 2013-06-01
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:49 pm
I am not sure if impi's point about a widow's pension was a serious one or not. But, was there any provision or help for families of Zulu men who were killed?
24th
Posts : 1851 Join date : 2009-03-25
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:43 pm
I would have thought some provision under British rule would have been in place. Good question!
But then again, I don't think the British War widows were given much. I believe a Zulu War Widows fund was established.
Julian Whybra
Posts : 2357 Join date : 2011-09-12
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:21 am
There was no 'state' provision for Zulu war widows, but then it wasn't a state in the conventional sense. There was no provision under British rule either because Zululand post-1879 was not under British rule.
littlehand
Posts : 7086 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 52 Location : Down South.
Subject: Re: Zulu realisation of human cost ? Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:00 pm
Various funds were set-up mainly for those widowed as a result of those Killed at Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift.
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