Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

-115-
permission to render protection to Zulu refugees who wished to be imder
British control. Napier had to strengthen the bond between the Cape
Colony and Natal Zulus through special agents and missionaries. '36 Under
duress, he received authorisation from Lord John Russell to resume the
military occupation of Natal. This was on condition that he did not
interfere with the Voortrekkers, unless the British colonists or Zulu
"friends" ofthe British were attacked. 137
With the latter as a pretext, he informed the Colonial Office that executing
Russell's decision would cause an influx of Zulus over the Cape eastern
borders which would threaten peace.'" He further argued that the
Voortrekkers planned to move Zulus to an area belonging to Faku without
his consent. Therefore he found it necessary to order Captain T.c. Smith
who was already in uMlazi to annex Port Natal. Napier instructed Smith
to refrain from interfering in the civil concerns ofthe Voortrekkers, whose
internal arrangements were not to be abrogated or disturbed. 13 ' He was to
intervene only when the Voortrekkers organised a commando against the
Zulus on pretence of recovering stolen cattle."" After thorough
investigation offacts, he would allow such a commando and accompanied
by an "adequate military force" of the British. He also had to ensure that
136
137
"8
13.
I. Russell to G. Napier, 17 April 1841, Bird. I. Annals ofNatal, p. 640.
V.c. Malherbe: What They Said. 1795 - 1910 History Documents, pp. 79 - 83.
F.R Slatham: Blacks, Beers and Britis!l, p. 109..
I.A.I. Agar-Hamilton: The Native Policv ofthe Voortrekkers, p. 145.