The Times Great Military Lives: Leadership and Courage – from Waterloo to the Falklands in Obituaries. Ian Brunskill

each under the rule of a separate chief, and all supervised by a British Resident. This arrangement had hardly been made when it began to be vehemently assailed. Cetywayo in captivity at Cape Town, became an object of extraordinary and inexplicable interest to a great many good people at home. Impassioned speeches were made about him, accounts were telegraphed home showing the dignity, intelligence, and nobility of his demeanour, and philanthropists in no long time persuaded themselves that nothing but his restoration to the throne of his ancestors could wipe away the guilt of the Zula war. Some astute observer of the ways of men at length started the idea of bringing Cetywayo to England to have an interview with the Queen and to plead his right in person. He came over in the autumn of 1882. and took up his abode in Kensington. The British public received him with the greatest cordiality, and followed his movements with as much interest as if he had been a white elephant. By some process of reasoning which we confess our inability to elucidate, it came to be regarded as an indisputable political truth that, after receiving him in this effusive manner, we were bound in honour to restore him to his kingdom. His people were said to long for his return, the destruction of their national unity was represented as a crime, and sanguine philanthropists pointed to a golden future in which a monarch civilized by the gracious influences of Melbury Road should exercise his mild and beneficent sway over a regenerated nation. In January last year, accordingly, Cetywayo returned to his own land under the patronage of England, a certain number of chiefs being dispossessed of their brief authority in order to furnish him with a kingdom.

      He at once began to scheme for the restoration of his old position, and the state of Zululand became, in the language of the Queen’s Speech, ‘unsettled.’ In less than six months matters came to a crisis, and Cetywayo, notwithstanding the love of his people, was completely vanquished by his rival, and compelled to seek refuge in the Reserve territory, which had been prudently retained to act as a buffer. It was stated by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies that even after this disaster he has never ceased to cherish hopes of recovering his kingdom or to carry on intrigues for that end, and it is even said that he recently ran away and had to be recaptured by a party of soldiers. Tried by European standards of morality, it must be admitted by all except very ardent lovers of aboriginal humanity that there were serious flaws in Cetywayo’s character, but we may cheerfully recognize the rude abilities required in his position, and an indomitable energy and courage. It is matter for regret that circumstances have made it impossible to think of his demise except in connexion with the relief it brings to our administrators in South Africa.