Gamdana kaXongo and Fugitive's Drift |
Keith Smith
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Michael
I have a full copy of WO 32/7726 which is a record of the Isandlwana Court of Enquiry with accounts by the eight witnesses and additional statements by Essex and Curling. There is no mention of Gamdana in this document, nor of any local Zulu at Fugitives' Drift. I am familiar with the story of the involvement of Gamdana's men at FD but I am unable to put my hand on a source at the moment. If I locate it, I will let you know. KIS |
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mike snook 2
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Michael
I have never seen anything vaguely convincing on this theory. Contrast this with at least two (one of them is Smith-Dorrien I recall) survivors' accounts which specifically mention Zulu pursuers swimming the river at FD. Regards Mike |
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Michael Boyle
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All I've read are assertions with reference to local Zulu oral history. Just interested if there's anything more. A reference in a Blue Book would prove interesting but I'm not sure if those types of allegations would get that high. The closest contemporary reference I've read is Maj. Grenville's quote - "Some of them [the fugitives] got right down to the river six miles off and were killed by a lot of scoundrels whom the General had taken prisoner a few days before". This however seems to me to be an altogether different group. I'm unclear on the circumstances surrounding Gamdana's submitting and am unsure if his people had any connection to the prisoners. If not then there are allegations of two separate 'renegade' Zulu bands (if I may use the term) involved at Isandlwana.
I also recall reading similar allegations in the "Red Book" (which I'll check out when I get back to my library eventually!) but those reports could simply be just another case of unsubstaniated rumours often finding their way into the newspapers. However there does seem to be some contemporary source for the rumours and I'm curious as to the cause and effect relationship as applied to subsequent Zulu oral tradition. Personally I still believe the responsibilty lay with the main impi but an interesting conjecture could be built around the fact that the river was extemely high and swift, the 'drift' rather steep, many of the fugitives seem to have drowned, the amaZulu were not renowned swimmers and the Zulu method of crossing rivers seems to have been a practiced tactical military manouvre which would not have lent itself readily to the excited circumstances surrounding the attempted escape, especially with groups of the NNH further discouraging a Zulu dip by providing covering fire for those attempting to escape. Then there is Cethswayo's stricture against crossing into Natal. Of course one can't deny the eyewitness accounts and there did seem to be a few ibutho who managed it in enough strength to make a nuisance of themselves later on that day! (Although I have read that some at least crossed further upstream.) Best Michael |
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Gamdana kaXongo and Fugitive's Drift |
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