Film Zulu: Colour Sergeant Bourne: It's a miracle. Lieutenant John Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle. Colour Sergeant Bourne: And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind it.
Fair use notice.
This website may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorised by the copyright owner.
We are making such material and images are available in our efforts to advance the understanding of the “Anglo Zulu War of 1879. For educational & recreational purposes.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material, as provided for in UK copyright law. The information is purely for educational and research purposes only. No profit is made from any part of this website.
If you hold the copyright on any material on the site, or material refers to you, and you would like it to be removed, please let us know and we will work with you to reach a resolution.
H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction
+3
sas1
John
littlehand
7 posters
Author
Message
littlehand
Posts : 7077 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 54 Location : Down South.
Subject: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:52 pm
Is this fact or Fiction. (Fiction I hope.)
On 25 April they visited the battlefield of Ulundi "passing the spot where our friend and ally, King Panda, was buried. His grave was robbed by British soldiers and it is said his skull is now at Netley hospital. To my mind it was a shameful act, especially as the burying places of their kings are very sacred to the Zulus.
John
Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 60 Location : UK
Subject: Re: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:48 pm
Littlehand. I cannot find any other reference to this, other than what you have posted. I will keep looking but it probably fiction.
sas1
Posts : 629 Join date : 2009-01-20 Age : 44
Subject: Re: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:18 pm
I have read this somewhere before, I will try and dig it out. I do believe its true. It could have been in one of Ian Knights books.
sas1
ADMIN
Posts : 4313 Join date : 2008-11-01 Age : 63 Location : KENT
Subject: Re: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:40 pm
Littlehand you will find this interesting [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] Page 87 & 88
We were going with some soldiers and natives under Col. ; there were 400 soldiers and 180 natives. In the morning the Colonel and officers asked John Dunn — "Where is the grave of Mpande?" He pointed with his hand and showed where it was a long way off. We started after breakfast, and got there about noon. The soldiers took with them four spades and a pick. John Dunn went with us, and pointed out the place again when we came to it. Mpande's grave was in the middle, fenced in with stakes, and with other graves aroimd it. It was in the midst of a thicket of bush ; but some of the trees had been burnt last year by a grass-fire. The soldiei-s fii-st pulled up the stakes and made fires with them to cook their food. Then came two soldiers with spades, and another with a pick, together with Col.. They dug up the King's grave, and came first upon some stones and wicker-work, and then they took out his bones wrapped in his blankets. I stood near enough (about ten or fifteen yards off, as indicated) to see that there had been four blankets of different colours wrapped round the body, one inside the other, and outside there had been a kaross made of jackal-skins; but this last was quite rotten, and three of the blankets also were much decayed, though one seemed to be sound and held together. The white men were surpiised and said, " How is it that the blankets have lasted so long (seven yeai's) 1 " The black people asked our captain, " What are you doing, digging up a man's bones 1 " Said he, " We are doing it in order to catch the King for, now that we have dug up his father, we shall soon catch him." So they took out all his banes, a soldier belonging to the hospital handling them, and I saw the bones of the King, and the skull with the teeth, and the leg-bones they took them all, and
SS Bishop of Natal' s Notes.
put them into a box which had held food (biscuits), and shut it up, and put it in a mule-wagon to carry it away. We asked our captain, " What would be done with them " Said he, " They will be carried across the sea to be looked at." Then they put back the stones upon the grave, and covered it over, and we went away. John Dunn did not stay all the time; he showed the place, and saw them pull up the stakes, and then went on.'
Statement of a Natal Native Pioneer.
The conduct of the English in rifling Mpande's grave contrasts strangely with that of the Zulus, as described by the Correspondent of the Times of Natal, dating Umlalazi Plains, July 22, 1879.'
I have just been talking to a man who has been to Etshowe with the Staff, and he tells me that the chuch and houses are all burned, pulled down, or destroyed. The cemetery has not been interfered with in any way by the Zulus,and the whole of the monuments remain a left
Will Mpande's bones be sent to England? If so, where will they be kept or (?) exhibited And by whose orders was this deed of shame committed Besides the infamous act of sacrilege, could a greater and more deliberate insult have been offered to the whole Zulu Nation than this ?
littlehand
Posts : 7077 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 54 Location : Down South.
Subject: Re: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:19 pm
Thanks Pete. Well its not fiction, I have been on the Nedley Hospital Website nothing about a Zulu Skull. Anyone know any avenues I could try.
Chelmsfordthescapegoat
Posts : 2594 Join date : 2009-04-24
Subject: Re: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Sat Aug 22, 2009 12:26 pm
I wonder if its possible, that Panda’s skull was given back to Cetshwayo when he returned to South Africa
old historian2
Posts : 1095 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London
Subject: Re: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:13 pm
I spent most of last night looking for leads. Nothing. CTSG has a good point. It’s a good possibility.
24th
Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25
Subject: Re: H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:56 pm
SOUTH AFRICA—ZULULAND—AL- LEGED REMOVAL OF THE REMAINS OF THE LATE KING, PANDA. HC Deb 08 July 1881
MR. R. N. FOWLER Asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the alleged digging up and removal of Panda's remains in Zululand have made their Report; and, if so, will he lay it upon the Table of the House?
SIR CHARLES W. DILKE Sir, Commissioners were not appointed; but the Secretary of State for War desired Sir George Colley to report upon this matter, and a despatch was received from him, from which it appeared that no trustworthy information could be procured. A telegram has been sent to Sir Evelyn Wood asking whether any further steps were taken by Sir George Colley. There will be no objection to produce the Papers when they are complete.
Who really knows !!!
H. Rider Haggard and the Anglo-Zulu War in Fact and Fiction