Shaka Zulu: The Rise of the Zulu EmpireE. A. Ritter's "Shaka Zulu", the great biography of a Zulu king whose achievements rivalled those of his contemporary, Napoleon, in Europe, has established itself as a classic of African history. Shaka was born in 1787, the illegitimate son of a minor chieftain. Branded with this shame, he strove even harder to execute the rigorous duties required of Zulu youths. Excelling in everything he undertook, he soon proved himself a born leader. Gathering about him a nucleus of some 500 untrained tribesmen, he built up an immense army of skilled warriors, conquering and pacifying a territory larger than Europe -- all in the space of twelve years. Although Shaka was capable of cruelties, the author shows that the legends of his atrocities have been grossly exaggerated; paradoxically, Shaka considered many of the white men's punishments inhuman. At the peak of his career, Shaka was assassinated by his jealous brothers, and within fifty years his work was undone. But assassination, usurpation and his own excesses cannot dim the savage greatness of the man and the king, which emanates so strongly from the pages of this book. -- From publisher's description. |
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Page 24
... spears in which he specialised . Armed with three types of the heaviest spears he could procure , and his war - shield , Shaka set off for the ' Lion's ' kraal , which was situated in a clearing surrounded by a gloomy forest . Without ...
... spears in which he specialised . Armed with three types of the heaviest spears he could procure , and his war - shield , Shaka set off for the ' Lion's ' kraal , which was situated in a clearing surrounded by a gloomy forest . Without ...
Page 130
... spears ' throw ( 100 yards ) from the Zulus . The Zulus were still sitting in absolute silence , many of them nonchalantly snuffing tobacco , the grim , dour looks of the warriors in the older regiments contrasting strangely with the ...
... spears ' throw ( 100 yards ) from the Zulus . The Zulus were still sitting in absolute silence , many of them nonchalantly snuffing tobacco , the grim , dour looks of the warriors in the older regiments contrasting strangely with the ...
Page 134
... spear's throw from the Zulus , who had been instructed to crouch low behind their five - foot - long shields . A ' shelf ' * of spears came hurtling amongst them , but the damage they did was negligible . Presently the leading rank of ...
... spear's throw from the Zulus , who had been instructed to crouch low behind their five - foot - long shields . A ' shelf ' * of spears came hurtling amongst them , but the damage they did was negligible . Presently the leading rank of ...
Contents
ZULULAND AND THE ZULUS IN THE LATE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY I | 1 |
BIRTH AND EXILE II | 11 |
THE YOUNG SOLDIERPAMPATATHE ASSEGAI | 21 |
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arrived assegai attack battle Bayete became beer Belebele blade body boys Bulawayo bull Butelezis cattle cattle-kraal chief clan commander councillors cows death Dingane Dingiswayo diviners Dukuza E-Langeni Elephant enemy eyes face Farewell Fasimba father fear feet fighting force forest formed front Fynn gave girls guards harem head heart hyaena immediately indunas Izi-cwe regiment killed King's knew Kumalos Lieutenant King lines looked maidens Matiwane Mbiya Mbopa Mbuzikazi Mdlaka Mgobozi Mhlangana miles military kraals mother Mqalane Mtetwa Mzilikazi Nandi Natal Ndwandwes Ngomane Ngonyama Nguni Ngwadi Ngwanes night Nkandla Nobela Nomahlanjana Nqoboka Ntombazi Pampata party Port Natal present Qwabes regiment replied river Royal sent Senzangakona Shaka shield shouted side silence slayers soon Soshangane spears stabbing Tembus throw told took tree tribe Tugela Tugela river u-dibi Umfolozi warriors whilst White whole witch-doctors witchcraft women wounded yards Zulu army Zulu language Zululand Zwangendaba Zwide