Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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speaking, characterised by flagrant injustice."'''' Sir Benjamin Pine, the
Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, refuted such incrimination as "very
exaggerated statements made under the influence of national or sectarian
prejudices. "131
The British regarded it as their special task to protect the Zulus to whom
they ascribed "every conceivable virtue" against the Voortrekkers whom
they thought intended evil. 132 Governor Napier and some British
missionaries suggested that the Voortrekkers aimed at enslaving all Zulu
children. They tried to gain chiefFaku's co-operation and convinced him
to request British protection against the Voortrekkers m Consequently,
Captain T.e. Smith was sent with 200 men to Faku's land to pressurise
the Voortrekkers. 13 '
Napier welcomed malevolent reports about the Voortrekkers from British
missionaries. He exploited the opportunity in August 1841, when the
Natal Volksraad resolved to re-settle Zulus of Natal to the area between
the Mthamvuna and Mzim.khulu Rivers. 135 The Colonial Office gave him
130
'31
132
133
134
135
Napier to Lord J. Russell, 22 June 1840, Bird. I. Annals ofNatal, p. 611.
CO. 179/16, P.RO.: Pine to Smith, 1>.34, Confidential, 27 November 1851, encl. in
Smith to Grey, 16 December 1851.
J.A. Froude: Two lectures on Soutb Africa, pp. 15 - 16; G.W. Cox: The Life ofJohn
William Colenso, p. 54.
J. Prinsloo and 1.1. Burgar to G.T. Napier. 7 April 1841, Bird. l Annals ofNatal,
pp. 624 - 625.
F.R Statbarn; Blacks. Beers and British, p. 107.
M. Natban: The Voortrekkers ofSoutb Africa - from tbe earliest times to tbe
foundation oftbe Republics, pp. 302 - 305.