The Bishop of Natal has forwarded to a friend in England the following interesting translation of the statements which fugitives from Isandula made to him

"AT ISANDULA. The Bishop of Natal has forwarded to a friend in England the following interesting translation of the statements which fugitives from Isandula made to him:—"Yesterday, January 26, 1879, there came here (Bishop- stowe) four young men running away, escaping from the battle, who had been drivers of the wagons which went with the Government forces. As soon as they arrived, all the men with whom I was sitting outside the kraal gathered together to hear their story. So they related their running away, and said that they had been staying with their wagons close to the place where the army was fighting. It was under the hill by Sirayo's the battle was. There were very bad rocks there some were killed by falling amongst the rocks in running away. The regular soldiers were a little way off at first from the Zulu force, but the mounted men went near to it. The Zulu force was above on a place sloping down, that of the English was below, and firing well. But the Zulu force fought by running violently upon the English force. That force (the Zulu) was a regiment of young men, the Ngakamyte. The sun was turning towards afternoon. The Zulu Induna shouted with a great voice, Stop fir- ing, and go hand to hand." Thereupon the Ngakamyte took the guns in their left hands and rushed altogether, and poured themselves upon the English horse and on the foot, and hemmed it all in together with the regular soldiers, stabbing with assegais, crying, Mamo the cattle of my father (I stake on to-day's work). Just a very few escaped on horseback, running away; some were killed by falling over the rocks; some tumbled over a preci-pice [? precipitous bank of the river ] only a few crossed the Bumilo some died in the water, for the people of Gamdana, brother of Sirayo's, who had just before submitted to the Government force, fell upon the fugitives, and killed many, both on the banks and in the water. At that time these young men, being just got across the river into Natal, they fell in with Sikota, the son of Mpande, together with two of his head-ringed men, and two youths. When they had gone just a little way Sikota said, Let us sit down for a minute to rest.' The Ngakamatye regiment had by then reached the river, stabbing the fugitives. The Zulu Induna, seeing his men about to cross, shouted with a great voice, saying, He has not said that you are to cross He is not invading. He is defending the land of his own people. Do not cross. Come back!' Thereupon the whole regiment turned back, having finished stabbing. But behold! they had been blind till now (the narrators), for there^was now the great Zulu force over there, stretching far and wide beyond that which had attacked, and not having joined the battle at all. They say, these four, that themselves and Sikota, and the men with him, and also some white men who had got across, only began to draw breath upon hearing that word which was proclaimed by the Induna they say that they were saved Uy that alone, for if it had not been uttered by the Induna they would just have been killed, for they were utterly worn out. The white men who were with them, being exhausted, had given them their guns to fire, but there was none of them who cared to do anything but just to look at what would come. The whole Zulu force then set up the great battle song of Dingane—those above and those below all together—the earth resounded with it, and they moved away. Sikota and the others reached a kraal, where they found no one, but they saw a goat, which Sikota ordered to be killed that they might eat, he waiting to see if there would not be one of his men who wouldTreach him, having escaped. But no, there came not one. So they left that place. Vik'induku, a man of Siyingela's tribe, says that he was, as servant of Colonel Durnford's, in charge of his baggage-horse. He gives a similar account of the battle, and says that the last time that he saw Colonel Dumford for certain was when he went out with his mounted men to meet the approaching army. He thinks that he saw him come back with- his men, but cannot be sure. However, some of (r) Zikali's men, to whom he spoke afterwards, said, 'Yes; he had come back with them into the camp, and had died in the beginning of the fighting in the camp shot by the guns.' George Stepstone he certainly saw come back into the camp, but that was the last time he saw him. Gabangayi, son of Pakade, died there, and several of his brothers and his son. Sikota's men were finished com- pletely, but not at that place they fell, being of the party in advance, which was said to have gone to attack Matyana, and which, he hears, has killed him, though with consideiable Joss both white and black. Vik'induku escaped with Colonel Durnford's horse of which he had charge, and went with it to Unisinga, where he left it, and its saddle and bridle, by the magistrate's orders. He had meant to bring them down to Peitermaritzburg, where they had been entrusted to him. When he got near he was advised not to go into town, as the impi was hourly expected there, and he would just get shut in, so he came on to Bishopstown that he may report what has become of the horse which was in his charge. Jonathan savs that he has been told by a wagon driver who has escaped, that there was a little boy leading the oxen, who was just about to be stabbed by a young man, his assegai being lifted, when an Induna. put him back, saying, He has not ordered that—he is not fighting with the black, but with the white no black person is to be killed who is not fighting. Do you not see he is only working! So that boy escaped."

Source:http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3059399/ART47/Boy%20Green%20%20Isandula

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 42

"Vik'induku, a man of Siyingela's tribe, says that he was, as servant of Colonel Durnford's, in charge of his baggage-horse. He gives a similar account of the battle, and says that the last time that he saw Colonel Dumford for certain was when he went out with his mounted men to meet the approaching army. He thinks that he saw him come back with- his men, but cannot be sure. However, some of Zikali's men, to whom he spoke afterwards, said, 'Yes; he had come back with them into the camp, and had died in the beginning of the fighting in the camp shot by the guns."

Yet another account of Durnford being shot.?

If he had been killed at the beginning of the fighting in the camp. He wouldn't have been in the last stand?

Guest

, 'Yes; he had come back with them into the camp, and had died in the beginning of the fighting in the camp shot by the guns."

Yet another account of Durnford being shot.?

If he had been killed at the beginning of the fighting in the camp. He wouldn't have been in the last stand?

Impi, he was not killed in the ' early ' fighting.. too many people
place him in real time! he did return to camp.and did organize
a defensive position albeit his final one.

So many versions!!!!! agree

Correct Les.

Colonel Durnford was back at the camp and many rallied to him and made the last stand which allowed others to escape, all honour to these brave fellows, it takes great courage to do a thing like that.

Salute

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