Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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relationship with the Voortrekkers under A.H. Potgieter at Ohrigstad 217
Although Mpande did not want to accept the Cloete agreement (1843) as
binding, he declared himself willing to accept the Mzinyathi as border
between himself and the British, except at the upper course of the river
where some of his people had settled.'I' The Zulu monarch also admitted
that he, Mvundlana and Nongalaza had entered into an agreement with
A.T. Spies, but said the contents were not explained to them 219 Mpande
also denied that he had communicated with the Voortrekkers of Ohrigstad.
In the meantime the British sent Archbell to Klip River to distribute
copies of the proclamation of 1845 in which the borders of Natal Colony
were indicated and to obtain information about their attitude."o The
Voortrekkers of the area treated him with hostility. They declared that
they received the land from Mpande and would rather live under the Zulu
king whom they could trust and would protect them against any British
aggression. 221 Further, they informed Archbell that Mpande only
acknowledged the territory which king Dingane had previously granted to
Piet Retief as British possession. Thus the Voortrekkers in the Klip River
21 i
218
219
220
221
S.N.A. 1/3/22: West to Mpande, 10 June 1847; M.M. Behn: The Klip River
Insurrection, 1847. (Unpublished MA Dissertation, Natal, 1932), p. 18.
J.D. Huyser: Die Naturelle-Politiek van die Suid-Afrikaanse Republiek, p. 94.
C.O. 48/395, P.RO.: MWest to Mpande, 10 June 1847, reply from Mpande, 9 July
1847.
SAAR: N, Message by Archbell, 15 July 1847; G.E. Cory: The Rise ofSouth Africa,
p.86.
S.P.G.: Yenge to M. West, 9 July 1847: G.E. Cory: The Rise ofSouth Africa, p. 87.