Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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area openly declared their inclination not to honour any proclamation
from the British, because they committed themselves to Mpande 211
Spies assured Archbell that the Klip River Voortrekkers would be willing
to enter a treaty of peace and commerce with the British, provided they
acknowledged their territory as independent Republic. 2"'..3 Spies made
Archbell to understand that they had accepted Mpande as their king and
relied on him for support in any problem with either the British authorities
or Natal Zulus. 224 Under these circumstances Archbell suggested to the
Lieutenant-Governor not to make any arrests of Klip River
Voortrekkers. 225 This could "result in a rupture" between Mpande and the
British colonial establishment ofNatal.
Walter Harding, the Natal public prosecutor, suggested that a military
force be sent to Klip River to enforce unqualified submission and to
prevent the Voortrekkers from conspiring with Mpande against Natal. 226
Harding believed that reports sent by Mpande to Natal had been false and
that the Zulu king collaborated with "obstinate" Voortrekkers. He warned
Mpande that unless he was prepared to provide information regarding
222
223
224
226
C.O. 48/408, P.R.O.: A Spies to Archbell, 15 July 1847.
S.N.A. 1/7/4, N.A.: A Spies and C Scheepers to Archbell, 15 July1847.
C.O. 48/408, P.R.O: A Spies to Archbell, 15 July 1847.
SAAR. N, Message by Archbelt, 15 July 1847: G.E. Cory: The Rise of South Africa,
p.87.
M. C. van Zyl: Luitenant-Goewemeur Martin West en die Natalse Voortrekkers,
1845 - 1849, p. 159.