Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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Mawa's cattle and that Mpande no longer honoured the Cloete treaties."'
Instead of addressing Mpande's concerns, West pleaded with the Cape
Colonial establishment for augmentation of British military forces and an
increase of arms and ammunition. In reply to the Zulu emissaries,
however, West promised to send an envoy Yenge to KwaZulu to
ascertain Mpande's true intentions. Consequently, Captain H.D. Kyle of
the 45th Regiment and interpreter and agent John Shepstone were sent to
Mpande on 9 August 1847 .... Shortly afterwards Mpande also received
Mawa's cattle. Mpande reaffirmed his loyalty to the British Colonial
establishment in Natal. He also abandoned his plans for partnership with
the Voortrekkers." By pledging his support to the British, Mpande also
did not necessarily cease his encouragement of the Voortrekkers. He
hoped that keeping alive British-Voortrekker enmity would serve his own
interests.
In January 1848 the British Colonial establishment in Natal learnt that
Mpande was communicating with the Voortrekkers at Klipriver to attack
Zulu refugees loyal to the British authorities. 50 They were residing near
the Bushman's River and abandoned their location for fear of a
50
Ibid, pp 9 -10.
IbiQ, Kyle to Moodie 15 August 1847, ends in Pottinger to Grey, D.201, 6 December
1847, printed for Parliament, July 1848 (980), pp. 181-3.
S.N.A. 1/612: West to Mpande, 6 January 1848; SAAR: N, West to Mpande, 20
January 1848, n, pp. 127-8.
C.O. 179/5, P.RO: Government Notice, 30 December 1847. encl. in Smith to Grey, D.
119, 17July 1849.