The Tale Of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. By Rider Haggard

https://archive.org/stream/truestorybook00langrich#page/132/mode/1up/search/RORKE'S+DRIFT

The true story Pages 132-152.

The way I read this Haggard, attributes the disaster to Durnford. I have read quite a few books by Haggard, but this is the first book where he, points the finger.

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi LH,

Thanks for that interesting link posted.
In considering what Haggard had to say about Isandlwana one should exercise utter circumspection and remember three things;

1) he was not a military man
2) he was a good fictional "story" writer.
3) at the time he was in the employ of the Natal Colonial Govt as an RM, so quite naturally had to "toe the line",
as many thers did and so perpetuate the cover -up.

regards,

barry

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

He also had some goods friends who were killed.

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Was the movement of men to the ridge, the first big mistake.

Guest

out of memory, re, the annexation
of the Transvaal, did he not hoist
the flag when the feint heart lost
his bottle, i would suggest that was
a military gesture. Neutral

iv'e just dug out andrew langs the
true story book, aimed at children,
i would not endorse its accuracy..
but some very nice illustrations.
cheers xhosa

Guest

i nearly posted an image, Shocked

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 62 Location : UK

Of what?

Guest

sorry john, just an image of the
front cover ist ed. Salute

I would agree with Barry.
Also read his :'Diary of an African Journey" edited by Stephen Coan. There's a few imponderables in there as well.

Cheers.

Hi Springy .

It's an interesting book , it's possibly the only Non fiction book that he wrote , he may have wrote another , happy to be corrected ? .
90th

Barry,

Can I pick you up on some of your points, if you don't mind?

Barry wrote:: In considering what Haggard had to say about Isandlwana one should exercise utter circumspection and remember three things;

1) he was not a military man
2) he was a good fictional "story" writer.
3) at the time he was in the employ of the Natal Colonial Govt as an RM, so quite naturally had to "toe the line",
as many thers did and so perpetuate the cover -up.

The True Story Book which was edited by Andrew Lang was first published in 1893, Henry Rider Haggard had left South Africa in 1882 and returned to England, eleven years prior to the publication of the book to which he contributed to.

1, He might not have been a regular soldier, but in 1878-9 he was serving as an officer in Pretoria Horse, which mustered at the same time as Weatherley's Border Horse/Lancers. Fate intervened and it was thought prudent for the Pretoria Horse to remain in the Transvaal rather than accompany Weatherley's men into Zululand.

2, His first published book was a work of fact Cetywayo and His White Neighbours, first published in 1882. Three years prior to the publication of King Solomon's Mines in 1885.

3, He was not technically in the employ of the Natal Government, in 1875 his father, Sir William Meybohm Rider Haggard obtained an unpaid position for him as an assistant to the Private Secretary of Sir Henry Bulwer, Lieutenant-Governor of Natal. In 1876 he joined the staff of Theophilus Shepstone whilst he was plotting the confederating of the Republic of the Transvaal. In April 1877 it was Haggard who raised the Union Flag in Pretoria when Shepstone annexed the country. The following year 1878 he was appointed as Registrar of the High Court of Transvaal, that might been what you are confusing 'Resident Magistrate' position with.

Haggard actually weaved iSandlwana into his novel Finished published in 1917, with his most famous character Allan Quatermain taking part in the battle. He even overhears Pulleine tell Durnford that his orders ...were to defend the camp... There is even a description of Durnford's death.

Regards,

John

Posts : 527 Join date : 2009-02-28

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

As we taking about Rider Haggard, I'm taking the liberty of posting this again. Film footage of the man himself. With a walking stick given to him a Ceteswayo's coronation. Life in England seemed so by better then. The type of life we all long for today. The house the gardens and Rider Haggard.

http://bps.britishpathe.com/hls-vod/flash/00000000/00036000/00036588.mp4.m3u8

Enjoy.

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

John Young wrote:: 2, His first published book was a work of fact Cetywayo and His White Neighbours, first published in 1882. Three years prior to the publication of King Solomon's Mines in 1885.

I think most of you would much rather read the latter than the former. But, if you want to learn the limitations of the man, who expounds throughout very forcefully, give it a read. With the admittedly entirely unfair advantage of 20-20 hindsight, I did not walk away with the impression he was particularly insightful. Fiction was his strength. I do think he and Maori could have had some very interesting debates and discussions. There were men of their time. But I think John Dunn and Bishop Colenso or even (in a different way,) Kipling could have let the air out of them, given an opportunity.

Guest

6pdr, the former! the AmaZulu and
AZW. haunt my dreams. i have had
passion in my life. thank god.. but
that south eastern portion of the
' dark continent ' has a unrelenting
grip on my consciousness. stay well
every body. cheers xhosa

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

xhosa2000 wrote:: 6pdr, the former! the AmaZulu and
AZW. haunt my dreams. i have had
passion in my life. thank god.. but
that south eastern portion of the
' dark continent ' has a unrelenting
grip on my consciousness. stay well
every body. cheers xhosa

I don't doubt it Xhosa, but you are not typical. Also, the best of Alan Quartermain is set in East Africa...sort of. Anyway, people can make up their minds themselves by reading (for free) here if they like:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/8667/8667-h/8667-h.htm

6pdr wrote:: Alan Quartermain

I take you mean Allan Quatermain?

John Y.

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

John Young wrote:

6pdr wrote:: Alan Quartermain

I take you mean Allan Quatermain?

What's a spare "L" or "R" between friends?

6pdr,

Just making sure you are awake on the other side of the pond!

Regards,

JY

Guest

6pdr

your interesting, for a colonial.
Hrrumph. goodnight. Salute

xhosa

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

Haggard was one of the great's!!!!! Impi, thanks for the footage. Know what you mean. agree

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi John,
Good to hear from you and thanks for responding on the Haggard question.
However, to my knowledge Haggard served for a time as RM in Hlabisa , N.Zululand, and then too, I think, for a while in Newcastle, N. Natal. I write this from memory so will now go back to the records to check my sources.
There are some who say that he based some parts of his stories on the many court cases that he dealt with?.
Will revert shortly.

regards

barry

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

Dave wrote:: Haggard was one of the great's!!!!! Impi, thanks for the footage. Know what you mean.

If you enjoy him, may I also suggest Bertram Mitford and Henty? There were Haggard's contemporaries, more or less, and wrote similar fare.

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

xhosa2000 wrote:: 6pdr your interesting, for a colonial.
Hrrumph. goodnight. xhosa

Well thank-you for the back handed compliment, Xhosa! Surprised

Now I almost feel...accepted on this board. Sad

I enjoy tilting a lance with you too!

The problem with books like this is that they purport to be giving the 'truth' or the 'facts' to the reader, however, with today's better information and a lot better researchers, the claims made of old, ie; 'the truth about' or 'the facts about' can mostly be discredited.

It is very unfortunate that a number of the earlier so called 'researchers' and 'authors' just went with the flow of the 'rigged' COE, and assumed that what they had heard or read was the truth. They therefor set the ball rolling and others followed them, and of course Col Durnford gets the 'mucky end of the stick' and is blamed time after time by these earlier so called researchers and authors. And so the myth set in motion by LC and his cronies at the rigged COE that Durnford was to blame carries on for years and becomes the norm, and is accepted by those wanting a scapegoat.

It is a good job that others could see through this cover up and blame game, and that we now have some decent researchers and authors who can put things right, however, there will always be those who will continue to swallow the web of lies and deceit given at the rigged COE and continue to blame Col Durnford.

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

Let those without sin, cast the first stone.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Martin wrote:: Col Durnford gets the 'mucky end of the stick' and is blamed time after time by these earlier so called researchers and authors.

Why so shocked 24th?

With what we know now, anyone can see that the COE was conspired to get LC off the hook and put the blame elsewhere, ie; Col Durnford. It therefor follows that many gullible folk would simply go along with the flow and believe all the tripe that was dished out regarding Col Durnford being the one to point the finger at, and a lot of authors just accepted all this guff without doing some proper research, and therefor wrote this sort of stuff in their books and articles at the time, purporting it to be the 'true story'. However, there were others who could see through this web of lies and deceit (The Duke of Cambridge being one of them). Read Lock and Quantrill, Zulu Victory, Part Three, The Cover-up, p233.

» Haggard, Henry Rider, JP
» The Days of My Life An Autobiography by H. Rider Haggard Edited by C. J. Longman
» The Strand Magazine. Artical on Rider Haggard.