DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49271#0299
224
W. S. Fekguson
Accordingly, it is not surprising that Chaka has been reputed the author of the entire
Zulu military system. And, in fact, what service could the mock charge above described
have rendered before it was customary for soldiers to fight hand to hand? Certainly,
that part of the manual of arms which taught the springing forward from the line, the
stabbing and parrying, and the eventual retreat to the line, based though it is on the imita-
tive dances earlier practised, is intelligible only on the assumption that the weapon used
was the short lance introduced by Chaka, and not the long throwing spear which had been
regularly employed before his reform. The Zulu battle array, moreover, is commonly,
and, I believe, correctly, attributed to Chaka.131 When mobilized, just prior to its de-
parture on an expedition, the entire army was drawn up on parade in the form of a horse-
shoe, and it was the object of the Zulu general to reproduce this formation while engaging
the enemy.132 The wings, in which the young warriors were posted, then pushed forward
from the line or “breast” — composed of veterans — in an encircling movement, the
whole force advancing rapidly at the same time. Directly behind the “breast” a second
line was drawn up in the shape of a parallelogram or square, and its regiments could be
brought into action as needed.133 True, these tactics of enveloping at both ends while
securing the center against the enemy’s breaking through at that point by stationing
there a reserve of veterans, are not irreconcilable with the use of hurling darts. All they
required for their execution was the organization of soldiers in regiments and companies.
Hence, if by Zulu tradition they are incorrectly accredited to Chaka, they must be ascribed
to Dingiswayo. They were certainly not hereditary from of old among the eastern
tribes, since we know that before the Zulu invasion and conquest of the Delagoa Bay
region the Bantu tribes there “were ignorant of the mukhumbi, viz., the armed circle of
warriors which is at the base of the Zulu military system”.134
The rigor of the whole regime — the rule that the warrior who returned without his
spear must die;135 that after every battle the officers must designate for death “cowards”
whether there were any or not;136 that no provisions for the return march should be taken
when an expedition started;137 that troops who withdrew in face of an enemy forfeited
their lives;138 that old men who could not fight should be put out of the way;139 that sol-
131 E. g., by Voigt, op. cit., vol. 1, p. 185.
132 See, e. g., how Chaka instructed his men how to destroy a kraal, Isaacs, ap. Bird, op. cit., p. 190.
133 Vide infra, p. 227 sq., n. 158.
134 Junod, vol. 1, op. cit., p. 33.
135 Farewell, ap. Bird, op. cit., p. 93.
136 Fynn, ap. Bird, op. cit., p. 89; Isaacs, ap. Ibid., p. 181.
137 Isaacs, ap. Ibid., p. 179.
138 Fynn, ap. Ibid., p. 90.
139 Isaacs, ap. Ibid., p. 170.
W. S. Fekguson
Accordingly, it is not surprising that Chaka has been reputed the author of the entire
Zulu military system. And, in fact, what service could the mock charge above described
have rendered before it was customary for soldiers to fight hand to hand? Certainly,
that part of the manual of arms which taught the springing forward from the line, the
stabbing and parrying, and the eventual retreat to the line, based though it is on the imita-
tive dances earlier practised, is intelligible only on the assumption that the weapon used
was the short lance introduced by Chaka, and not the long throwing spear which had been
regularly employed before his reform. The Zulu battle array, moreover, is commonly,
and, I believe, correctly, attributed to Chaka.131 When mobilized, just prior to its de-
parture on an expedition, the entire army was drawn up on parade in the form of a horse-
shoe, and it was the object of the Zulu general to reproduce this formation while engaging
the enemy.132 The wings, in which the young warriors were posted, then pushed forward
from the line or “breast” — composed of veterans — in an encircling movement, the
whole force advancing rapidly at the same time. Directly behind the “breast” a second
line was drawn up in the shape of a parallelogram or square, and its regiments could be
brought into action as needed.133 True, these tactics of enveloping at both ends while
securing the center against the enemy’s breaking through at that point by stationing
there a reserve of veterans, are not irreconcilable with the use of hurling darts. All they
required for their execution was the organization of soldiers in regiments and companies.
Hence, if by Zulu tradition they are incorrectly accredited to Chaka, they must be ascribed
to Dingiswayo. They were certainly not hereditary from of old among the eastern
tribes, since we know that before the Zulu invasion and conquest of the Delagoa Bay
region the Bantu tribes there “were ignorant of the mukhumbi, viz., the armed circle of
warriors which is at the base of the Zulu military system”.134
The rigor of the whole regime — the rule that the warrior who returned without his
spear must die;135 that after every battle the officers must designate for death “cowards”
whether there were any or not;136 that no provisions for the return march should be taken
when an expedition started;137 that troops who withdrew in face of an enemy forfeited
their lives;138 that old men who could not fight should be put out of the way;139 that sol-
131 E. g., by Voigt, op. cit., vol. 1, p. 185.
132 See, e. g., how Chaka instructed his men how to destroy a kraal, Isaacs, ap. Bird, op. cit., p. 190.
133 Vide infra, p. 227 sq., n. 158.
134 Junod, vol. 1, op. cit., p. 33.
135 Farewell, ap. Bird, op. cit., p. 93.
136 Fynn, ap. Bird, op. cit., p. 89; Isaacs, ap. Ibid., p. 181.
137 Isaacs, ap. Ibid., p. 179.
138 Fynn, ap. Ibid., p. 90.
139 Isaacs, ap. Ibid., p. 170.