Episode 267 - Betrayal at the End: Mnyamana, Cetshwayo’s Dutchman, and the Crushing of the Zulu Kingdom

About this episode

The episode explores the journey of Cornelius Vijn during the Anglo-Zulu War and his miscalculations leading to his venture into Zululand.

Cornelius Vijn had made a few bad decisions in his life as we all do at some point. Born in Holland in 1856, he made his way to Natal in 1874 where he rapidly learned both English and isiZulu. That wasn’t necessarily a bad decision. During his childhood, however, he’d suffered an accident, he was run over by a wagon — the wheel shattered his leg, it healed badly and from then on he walked with a limp. He had lived in Natal for over 4 years before setting out from New Guelderland with six Zulu drivers and assistants, sixteen oxen, and a wagon loaded with woollen, baize and cotton blankets, picks, knives, saddles bridles and beads. Just to put his location into perspective, New Guelderland is a few kilometers north of KwaDukuza aka Stanger. Cornelius Vijn’s destination — Zululand. This was a miscalculation because his journey began October 1879 on the eve of the Anglo-Zulu war. Tension had been rising for months, and most whites had fled the territory. Vijn was determined to go the other way. He sensed he could make some extra money without any competition from the other Natal Traders. Vijn was 23 years and six months old. After being held up by rainy weather and a border check to…

People in this episode

Host: Desmond Latham

Topics covered

• Zulu Kingdom
• Anglo-Zulu War
• Colonial History
• Travel
• Personal Journey

Keywords

• Cornelius Vijn
• Zulu Kingdom
• Anglo-Zulu War
• Bishop Colenso
• Cetshwayo
• New Guelderland
• Natal
• travel
• history

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Cetshwayo’s Dutchman

Places: Holland, Natal, Zululand, KwaDukuza, New Guelderland

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