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F. B. Fynney, late Zulu border agent, for much information given to him in bygone years by word of mouth, and more recently through his pamphlet "Zululand and the Zulus," and to Mr. John Bird, formerly treasurer to the Government of Natal, whose compilation, "The Annals of Natal," is invaluable to all who would study the early history of that colony and of Zululand.
At the least, the aged man who tells the tale of his wrongs and vengeance could not be expected to treat his subject in an optimistic or even in a cheerful vein. I grieve to state that I must now say the late Mr. F. B. Fynney. Some years since it was during the winter before the Zulu War a White Man was travelling through Natal. His name does not matter, for he plays no part in this story.
Fynney was in any way prejudiced in making these remarks; on the contrary, he was simply carrying out an official mission, and reporting for the general information of the Governments of Natal and the Transvaal.
Shortly afterwards a message arrived at Pretoria from Cetywayo to inquire into the truth of the story, coolly announcing his intention of sweeping the Transvaal if it were true that "his father" had been fired at. In a conversation with Mr. Fynney after the Annexation Cetywayo alludes to his intentions in these words: If they had done so I should not have waited for anything more.
Fynney, Cetywayo speaks out quite frankly as to what his intentions had been; he says, "I know all about the soldiers being on their way up, but I would have asked Sompseu to allow the soldiers to stand on one side for just a little while, only a little, and see what my men could do. It would have been unnecessary for the Queen's people to trouble.
Had but one shot been fired, I should have said, 'What more do I wait for? they have touched my father. I should have poured my men over the land, and I can tell you, son of Mr. Fynney, the land would have burned with fire." This will show how eagerly Cetywayo was searching for an excuse to commence his attack on the Transvaal.
That Cetywayo personally detested the Boers is made clear by his words to Mr. Fynney. "'The Boers, he says, 'are a nation of liars; they are a bad people, bad altogether. I do not want them near my people; they lie and claim what is not theirs, and ill-use my people. I informed him that Mr. Burgers had left the Transvaal. 'Then let them pack up and follow Thomas, said he. 'Let them go.
How is it now? Has the king listened? Does he hold fast those words? No! not one. The promises he made are all broken. What does Sompseu say to this? Fynney says, "When a charge is made against a Zulu, the question is generally asked, 'Has he any cattle? and if answered in the affirmative, there is little chance of escape.
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