The British under Dingane (c. 1828-1840)

Natalie Chew, British under Dingane

British Zulu relations under Dingane were characterized with great mistrust, tension, and fear. Most of British diplomatic efforts were met with some resistance from Dingane making the relationship rather tense.

When Dingane came to power, he promised peace and amnesty, but these promises were not kept. From early relationships, Dingane had a general distrust for European settlers at Port Natal, especially their access to weapons and the number of refugees that fled to Port Natal (Document 26, ‘Only a show of justice,’ Fynn, Diary, pp. 162-3, 165-6,174-5). This tension is observed when the settlers at Port Natal, under Gardiner, entered a treaty with Dingane, where Dingane would receive deserters in return for recognizing the settlers’ lives and property (Document 30, ‘True Englishmen never broke a treaty,’ Gardiner, diary, May 1835). While Dingane entered this treaty, he voiced that the Englishmen would soon break the treaty (Document 30, ‘True Englishmen never broke a treaty,’ Gardiner, diary, May 1835). This further emphasizes that even the beginnings of British Zulu relations under Dingane were viewed as futile promises despite the Englishmen doing nothing to indicate this. This mistrust was largely driven by Dingane, as the British people wanted peace and even an alliance with Dingane (Document 32, ‘The natives were delivered up,’ A letter from the Port Natal settlers, 1837). The English people felt it was impossible to meet Dingane’s intense demands and further tensions would arise. Dingane did make Gardiner the chief of his people; however, Dingane further imposed obstacles to the British settlers that limited their freedoms, especially regarding trade relations.

Despite Gardiner governing over the English people, Dingane worked to limit the trade relations between the groups further creating tensions among them. For one, Dingane would only trade cattle if Dingane felt the traders conduct was acceptable (Document 31, ‘Chief of the white people,’ Gardiner, diary, July 1835). By basing who Dingane would trade with on his perception of who was acting within good conduct, traders experienced discrimination. Additionally, Dingane imposed greater obstacles on traders. Traders had to make requests through Gardiner, once given permission they would be able to engage in trade relations with Dingane (Document 31, ‘Chief of the white people,’ Gardiner, diary, July 1835). This further shows the tension and distrust between the two groups as even trade relations were heavily regulated. But these regulations were not just applicable to Englishmen trying to trade with Dingane, as Englishmen imposed restrictions on what Dingane could purchase from the Englishmen. The people at Port Natal feared the violence that Dingane could impose as well as an impending attack. As a result, Port Natal would not give Dingane gun powder and weapons (Document 33, ‘Guns or God?,’ F. Owen, diary, October and November 1837). The British were so adamant about Dingane not receiving weapons that Owen would not even allow Dingane to borrow his bullet mold (Document 33, ‘Guns or God?,’ F. Owen, diary, October and November 1837). This highlights the intense mistrust for what Dingane could do. These fears of retaliatory violence were justified as Dingane sought to eliminate anyone he considered enemies. This is shown by Dingane’s executions of people he felt wronged him and important people under Shaka’s reign.

Dingane did have moments where he showed more trust in the British people; however, this was very limited. The most prominent example was allowing missionaries to come into the area (Document 32, ‘The natives were delivered up,’ A letter from the Port Natal settlers, 1837).

Dingane’s mistrust was further exemplified when countrymen published the Retief Manifesto of 1837. In this manifesto, English settlers sought to quit colony life and live a more peaceful life with good relations with Dingane under their own laws (Document 34, ‘The Retief Manifesto of 1837, John C. Chase, Natal Papers, 2 vols (1843), Vol. 1, pp. 83-4). Dingane did meet with Retief but viewed the relationship with mistrust, as he required his stolen cattle to be returned for a diplomatic relationship to form (Document 35, ‘Retief and Dingane,’ October and November 1837). Despite returning the cattle, Dingane felt Sinkoyella should have been captured and his mistrust continued to grow (Document 36, ‘He had told a lie,’ F. Owen, Diary, January 1838, pp. 100-01). This mistrust would lead Dingane to go on violent campaigns. Despite the tensions between the two groups, Dingane did save the Boer’s interpreter, an Englishman, on his attack on the Boers (Document 37, ‘Dingane’s day,’ Owen, Diary, pp. 106-8, 109-11). However, still fearful for their lives, some British men, such as Owen fled the area before they could be met with violence.

Despite numerous attempts from the British to create peaceful relationships and alliances, these were never truly successful as Dingane could not get over his mistrust over white people. Relations were filled with tension, largely on the part of Dingane which further escalated to violence.