(AmaXhosa – abaThembu – amaMpondo nama Mpondomise)
Mzi ka Phalo, mabandla Ka Xhosa; kwesi siqwengana sijonga intlalo yezona zizwe easy zinze eMpuma Kapa ngexesha lee Mfazwe ze mfecane kwiminyaka yoma 1816 ukuya kutsho ku mnyaka ka 1828.
Masiyithethe phandle into yokuba kulo Mmandla waziwa ngokuba yi Mpuma Kapa ngezimini; le yayiyi ndawo enoxolo nezele ulonwabo nokuthula kakhulu, kungekho kulwa nazi ngxabano kuyaphi. Izizwe ezazi zinze apha: AmaXhosa ka Tshawe, abaThembu baka Dlomo, amaMpondo ka Nyawuza na maMpondomise ka Majola kunye nezizwe ngezizwe zama Lawo na Bathwa; zazihlelisene ngoxolo ngokuthula nange mvisiswano. Isizwe esasisoloko siphethe izikhali kwezi zizwe sizikhankanye ngentla, si sizwe samaXhosa, amaNgqika ikakhulu; naso sasingalwi nezi zizwe zi mnyama sakhelene nazo, koko sasisilwa no mlungu owafika wabanga imihlaba; engaphelelanga nje ekuyibangeni koko eyithimba; lonto ke yadala ingxwaba ngxwaba enkulu ku mmandla ophakathi ko mlambo u Mbhashe no mlambo iXelexwa (Gamtoos river) nanjengoko ililizwe lamaXhosa elo. Ezi mfazwe zazinkulu, zine mbubhiso enkulu macala omabini, kwaye zazisiliwa nge ntiyo nango lunya ngamacala omabini. Olu thotho lwee mfazwe zaqhumbuka ngo 1778 zatsala inkulungwane ukutsho oko zaya kuma ngo mnyaka ka 1878 mhla uXhosa eguqiswa ngu mkhosi wama Ngesi udibene nowaba Thembu nama Mfengu kwi dabi laku Centane ngo mhla we 7 kweyo mdumba. Kambe Siya kuze siyibalise loo mbali ixesha xa livuma, kwesi siqwengana ndivumeleni ndithethe nge mfecane.
e Natal: Amandwandwe, amaNgwane, imiThethwa, amaZulu nama Hlubi.
Kuthe ngo mnyaka ka 1818, xeshikweni u Xhosa ebambane ngazo kakhulu nama Ngesi; kuqulwa kuquliwe, nezi ngaphantsi ko mgquba zikhutshiwe: kwa qhambuka imbambano kwizizwe zabe Nguni bangentla ukutsho oko sithi e Natal, kuloo mmandla wase mpuma yezwe lase Afrika, lo mhlaba amaXhosa wa mzuzu ayewubiza ngokuba kuse Mbo. Ezi zizwe nazi: amaNdwandwe ekhokelwe ngu Zwide wakwa Nxumalo, iMithethwa ikhokelwe ngu Gondongwana (u Dingiswayo) ka Jobe wakwa Nyambose, amaNgwane ekhokelwe ngu Matiwane isifombo sika Masumpa, amaNtungwa ka Matshobana wakwa Khumalo, kunye nama Hlubi ekhokolwe ngu Mphangazitha ka Bhungane wakwa Rhadebe. Ezi zizwe yayizezona zizwe zikhulu emantla.
Kukho impazamo ekholise ukuthethwa ngabashicileli be mbali, yokuthi iimfazwe ze mfecane zaqala ngenxa ka Tshaka ka Senzangakhona; kanti hayi akunjalo; eyona nkosi yayingeva kakhulu, ingakuthandi ukuthula, ngu Zwide ka Langa wakwa Nxumalo ukumkani wama Ndwandwe. u Zwide yinkosi eyayifuna ubunganga ngaphezulu kwezo zizwe zabeNguni zonke ezazihleli kwelo lase Natal – ncakasana ukusuka phezulu ku mlambo u Phongola no Mfolozi. Eneneni uzidlile izizwe ezincinane u Zwide ezi ngentla wada ngoku wafuna u ndikho nakwezikhulu ezinjenge sakwa Mthethwa – nhaso ngelingeni ude wasibetha wasichitha, zaqala ngoku nezinye zoyika kakhulu ngoba isizwe sakwa Mthethwa ibisesona sinobunganga kweliya lase Natal. Sithe isizwe semiThethwa ekoyisweni kwaso ngu Zwide sesi sele singena nkokheli, sasele singena phantsi kuka Tshaka kwa Zulu, kuba u Tshaka wayeyi njengele kwimikhosi yakwa Mthethwa ngaphambili kokuba agoduke ayokuba yi nkosi kowabo. Ngelo xesha u Tshaka wayexakekile, ephantsi phezulu esakha isizwe sakowabo esasisesi ncinane kakhulu ngalo maxesha, futhi singe sizwe singathathelwa ngqalelo zi zizwe ezikhulu ezazilapho e Natal.
U Zwide kwelakhe icala, akaphozisanga maseko uye wakhangela esinye isizwe anokusiginya asifake phantsi kolawulo lwakhe. Ngelishwa, amaNgwane yaba seso sizwe esaye sahlaselwa ngu Zwide. Nanjengoko besesitshilo, AmaNgwane ngelo xesha ayephethwe ngu Matiwane; isifombo sika Masumpa – umfo apha obukhali kakhulu, ikroti elikhulu, umfo owayene lizwi elingajikelwa ngasemva, othetha kube kanye. Kuthe kanti u Matiwane sele evile ngee mpukane eziluhlaza into ecetywa ngama Ndwandwe; wasele equla ke nhaye eyihlaba eyakowabo, elungiselela lho mini. UMatiwane uthathe ingxenye yee nkomo zakhe zako mkhulu wazigcinisa kwi komkhulu lika Bhungane inkosi yamaHlubi, kuba wayesazi ukuba inkulu imfazwe ezayo; umfundi uy’okhumbula ukuba amaNgwane namaHlubi namaSwazi nesizwe sakawa Mkhize kunye nama Mpondo nama Mpondomise zizizwe ezihlobeneyo kakhulu– zi zizwe zase Mbo; umnombo mnye. Ngoko ke singatsho sithi xeshikweni u Matiwane egcinisa imihlambi yakowabo kumaHlubi wayeba uzigcinisa kowabo kanti hayi akunjalo.
Ngokwenene uhlasele u Zwide kodwa wafika u Matiwana – into ka Masumpa sele kukade imlindele; zahlaba ngamandla macalana omabani, yajika eka Zwide yabuyela kwa sentla – akwabikho igoba uphondo. Uthe akujika u Zwide ebuyela kwasemva ephaca oku kwenja eshiywe ngu nogwaja, wehh njenjeyaa wagoduka u Matiwane wasele eboleka iinkomo zakhe kwa Bhungane ku Mahlubi; kodwa hayi akavuma ngoku uBhungane wa bhoka nee nkomo esitsho esithi “akukho Matiwana uzakufumana ne Thole apha – Zinkomo zam zonke ezi”. Kwaba kanti lifile ilizwe ngolo hlobo; iMfecane yaba kanti iyaqala ngolo hlobo, ‘de yanwenwa yaphumela kumazantsi e Afrika wonkana ukuya kutsho eMpuma ye Afrika ko Tanzania. Uthe u Matiwana akungazifumani iinkomo zakhe ku Bhungane, akabi saphozisa maseko wamhlasela ngolukhulu ulunya, ebulala etshabalalisa kwanto. Yhaba luduli olukhulu kakubi olo, kwade kwafa u Bhungane yena buqu, amaHlubi akhokelwa ngu mninawa wakhe u Mphangazitha.
UMatiwana wawadla amaHlubi ngolunya wawachitha, isizwe esasisikhulu ngolona hlobo – sachithakala sabalekela e Lusuthu kwa Mshweshwe, wabe u Matiwana engawayekanga esezithendeni zawo ephefumla ezintanyeni zawo ewalandela, etshona apho atshona khona. Esi siganeko yaba kumhla isizwe samaHlubi sachithakala, sibulawa ngama Ngwane. UThe u Tshaka akuyiva lento yokuba isizwe esukhulu kangako, isizwe samaHlubi sichithiwe ngu Matiwana, wasele eyifunza eyakowabo yakwa Zulu edibene namaNtungwa nemiThethwa, eyifunza ku Matiwana. Yadibana okwe zangxa loo mikhosi mibi ingenalusizi yamaZulu nama Ngwane; yaba yi Nkwa ne nkwa iimini ezi ntandathu ixhwithana. Kuthe ngeli ngeni yachithwa eka Matiwane; wabe sele esingisa e Lusuthu naye – elandela kwa amaHlubi, wafika wawachitha kwakhona apho wadla iinkomo zawo. Saba kanti siyachithakala isizwe samaHlubi ngolo hlobo, inkoliso yee nkosi zakhona zehla zeza kwa Hintsa emaXhoseni– ooMatomela noo Mhlambiso unyana ka Mthimkhulu. Afika amaHlubi apho amnkelwa ngobukhulu ububele, u Zanzolo wawanika umhlaba nee nkomo zokusenga. U Mhlambiso ka Mthimkhulu wayeyi nkwenkwe ukufika kwakhe kwa Xhosa, esitya esityeni esinye no Sarhili unyana ka Hintsa ko mkhulu eGcuwa; boluka ngo mnyaka omnye, waza u Mhlambiso wazeka enye yee ntombi zika Hintsa akuba olukile eyi ndoda. Zithe ke nezinye iinkosi zase Mbo, amaBhele akubona abantwana baka Mthimkhulu bephethwe ngenkulu imbeko, zatsho nazo zayiveza eyona nkosi yazo inkulu; u Mabandla ekubeni babeveze u Njokweni owayengeyiyo ne nkosi besithi yeyona nkosi – bathe bakubuzwa ngu Hintsa ukuba bebemfihla ngabuni na uMntwanenkosi, batsho besithi “hayi besicinga ukuba mhlekazi uyakumbulala”, wathi u Hintsa “andingo mbulali, ndingu mgcini mthetho”, kukuze kuthwe xa ebongwa ngabaMbo “si sibi esikhethekayo kwezinye izibi”; oko kukuthi Kwinkosi zalo maxesha ezazingacingi kabini ngaphambi kokubulala, u Hintsa ubengenjalo, wayeqala alive lonke ityalangaphambi kokugweba, athi axolele apho kuxolelekayo khona, futhi waye umfo ka Khawuta enge nkosi inabantu abahlelelekilyo, kungekho nanye indoda ephantsi kwakhe esweleyo, nto leyo yamenza wathandwa nanga kumbi ngabantu kulo lonke elakwa Phalo; kwa Rharhabe nakwa Gcaleka ngokulingana. Izibheno zisiza kuye, ukanti nee nkohla zikwa sonjululwa kwanguye kuma thanga onke akwa Xhosa; kwa Ndlambe ethandwa ngokumandla 'de kuthwe ngu Zanenzolo kuba ebelisombulula ngobuciko nango buchule iqhina, nayo yonke into ebixake abantu, kutsho kube luxolo ne nzolo; ebenjalo umntaka Khawuta.
U-Tshaka (Natal):
UThe uTshaka akuwoyisa amaNgwane, kwasala yena no Zwide ngoku amakhwenkwe amakhulu, betshotsha entla, kucaca mhlophe futhi ukuba bazii nkunzi ezimbini sibayeni sinye kwelo lizwe lase Natal, li ngentla phakathi ko mlambo u Phongolo no Thukela. Kodwa zabe zisekhona izizwe zabe Nguni ngezantsi ko Thukela – esingabala kuzo:
abaThembu base Qhudeni phantsi kuka Ngoza.
abakwa Zelemu (amaBhaca) ngaphantsi kuka Madzikane.
amaChunu phantsi kuka Macingwana.
ama Cele phantsi kuka Magaye.
Ezi zizwe sizikhankanye ngentla zaziphakathi ko mlambo u Thukela no Mzimkhulu. Nganeno ko Mzimkhulu yayizi zizwe ezithetha olu lwimi sithi sisiXhosa ngale mihla, ukutsho oko iMpuma Kapa yayiqala nganeno ko Mzimkhulu. Kwi zizwe ezazilapho singabala kuzo:
amaMpondomise phantsi kuka Velelo – phakathi ko Mzimkhulu no Mthatha embindini.
amaXesibe nama maMpondo phantsi kuka Faku – phakathi ko Mtamvuna no Mthatha enxwemeni.
AbaThembu phantsi kuka Ngubengcuka – phakathi ko Mthatha entla no Mbhashe embindini, ukonyuka ukuya phezulu e gqili ku beSuthu.
AmaXhosa phantsi kuka Hintsa – ukusuka e Mbhashe ukonyuka ukuya ko Cala, Cofimvaba, Indwe nge ntla. Nokusuka ku Gatyana ku Mbhashe oselunxwemeni ukuya kuma e Xelexwa (Jeffereys bay) elunxwemeni, wenyuke ukuya kwi ntaba zakwa Nojoli (e Sommerset East) embindini ibizii ntlanti zika Xhosa zonke ezo. Kuze phakathi ko Mthatha no Mbhashe elu nxwemeni ibe ngama Bomvana ekhokelwe ngu Gambushe. Amabomvana sesinye sezizwe ezikhonze phantsi kuka Xhosa, ngoko singatsho sithi naloo mmandla wase Xhorha no Mqanduli ngowamaXhosa nhoko amaXhosa ebengahlali kuwo koko ewunikele kuama Bomvana 'kuba ayeze ku Khonza ku Hintsa.
Eneneni u Tshaka umoyisile u Zwide kwidabi lase mhlathuze, wamgxotha emthyalela ngentla kwilizwe lase Mozambikhi; yashiyeka ngoku inkonyana ka Ndaba ikhonya yodwa e Natal. Yaqala ngoku yaphosa amehlo wayo kwiziwe ezingezantsi ko Thukela, nanga phesheya ko Mzimkhulu. Yaqala ngo Ngoza, yamhlasela yamchitha wathutha wabhekisa eMpuma kapa, wawela u Mzimkhulu. Yalandelisa ngama Chunu inkonyana ka Ndaba, yamoyisa naye u Macingwana wasele engena ngaphantsi kuka Zulu. U Madzikane akazange alinge nokulwa, wasele ethutha ebhekisa kwaseMpuma kapa elandela u Ngoza ezinyaweni.
Ukufika kuka Ngoza no Madzikane e Mpuma-Kapa
uNgoza uwele u Mzimkhulu waba sele egaleleka emaMpondweni, wathi efika nje waba sele eyifunza eyakowabo yase Qhudeni eyifunza ku Faku; Kodwa waadibana nee mbila zithutha. Woyiswa ke u Ngoza ngamaMpondo, ambulala, ingcwaba lakhe liselalilapho emaMpondweni na namhlanje.
UMadzikane yena ekufikeni kwakhe eMpuma Kapa akayingenanga iMpuma Kapa ngo nxweme, uyingenele phezulu egudle intaba zo khahlamba, eyingena kumhlaba wama Mpondomise. Uthe akufika apho, wadibana no Velelo. UMadzikane ufike ku Mampondomise esilwa wodwa ngobukhosi, wawafikela ebuthathaka, engamanyenanga, wawabetha lula ewagxotha kuloo mhlaba wawo mkhulu ewagxothela ebaThenjini, kodwa aphinda awuthatha kuye awubuyisela kwakuwo. Zabambana ngazo kwanzima; waphela egqithela phambili u Madzikane ngemva kwe dabi lase ntabeni ye Ntsizwa apho amaZulu oyiswa khona ngamaBhaca. Wahle waqonda u Madzikane ukuba u Shaka uza kubuya azophindisa, waza ke wawushiya lo mhlaba ungase Mzimkhulu waza kuma phakathi kwe Ngcobo ne Tsomo – esililini kwelo zwe lika Ngubengcuka, u Vusani ka Ndaba, e Bathenjini, kuba u Shaka wayesethe gqolo ngoku ethumela imikhosi yakhe kwa Madzikane esithi makubuywe naye ephila, ufuna “ukubona le nkosi ithinta Usutu”. Akalibazisanga ke kambe u mfo ka Ndaba (Ngubengcuka) akuzibona ekulo ngozi inkulu ingako, wasele ethumela ku kumkani u Hintsa emaXhoseni ukuba aze kunceda, ngoba yeyele ngo mkhono kwa Ndaba (ebaThenjini).
U Hintsa ke uye wawubeka umhla nosuku okuya kuhlaselwa ngawo u Madzikane, kodwa u Bhawana inkosi yamaTshatshu kuba Thembu yathi yona ayizi kulinda ukuza kuka Nxele ilizwe lifile, izakuhlasela nokuba iyodwa. Kambe le nkosi yayine njongo zokuzenzela igama, futhi isitsho isithi “maTshatshu ne mbovane iyayibulala indlovu”; yatsho ifunza phambili, amaTshatshu engasalindanga nezwi elisuka kwi Kumkani u Ngubengcuka kuba yi Kumkani kakade ekhupha umyolelo – umyolelo kuxa iKumkani ithethela umkhosi ngaphambi kwe dabi. Ukuwenza mafutshane, kwaba ngathi amaTshatshu axhokoshe indlu yoo nomeva, wena wakha wali nqika elinobu gxwangu; aswantsuliswa ngamaBhaca imini nobusuku yaba ngu phantsi phezulu bebulawa kabuhlungu, uBhawana buqu inkosi yamaTshatshu wonzakala kulo mlo ehlatywa ngamaBhaca. Zithe zakufika ezo ndaba ku Vusani Ahh! Ngubengcuka, akabi nakho ukulinda ngoba igazi lo mntana wenkosi u Bhawana lichithekile. Waba ke uyayifunza eyakowabo u Ngubengcuka, amabandla ka Ndaba wonke ekho, nkqu nama Qwathi amakhalipha amakhulu, kunye nama Gcina ekho. Zadibana kude kufuphi nale ndawo inedolophu yase Ngcobo ngezi mini. AmaQwathi alwa ngokuzimisela okukhulu kwelo dabi, oyiswa amaBhaca. Kuthe Kwabanjwa ndoda ithile yomBhaca, yancinwa kusithwa mayixele indawo leyo iKumkani izimele kuyo, ngokwenene yabakhombisa inqaba ye Kumkani apho uMadzikane wayezimele khona. Kuthwa kwaphuma isixhiphothi so mfo omde osukileyo egadeni, ono bom, owondlekileyo, onezoso, onodevu oluhle, isifuba si banzi sizele mome bu boya. Waye onzakele kweli dabi, enamanxeba wo mkhonto, futhi ecela ebongoza apho kwii nkosi ezo zabaThembu ukuba zize zithi xa zimbulala zimhlabe ngowakhe umkhonto. Zathi iinkosi zisa mncina ngemibuzo, ezinye zimbuka kuba zazifuna ukubona le nkosi inamandla kangaka yoyisa uTshaka kwi dabi lase entabeni ye Ntsizwa; kuthe kweso sithuba kwathi thu umfanyana othile wesizwe samaGcina kuba Thembu sele esithi “Yinii leee nilibele kukudla imbadu nesi silwanyana sidle umzi ka Bawo sawugqiba” yathi isitsho le ndodana yabe imtsibela umntanenkosi, ibinza kuye entliziyweni ngo mkhonto. Yaba sisiphelo sika Madzikane eso; zathi iinkosi zisa khwankqisekile sisenzo salo mfana, ngoba kaloku ngokwesiko lwe Sintu, iNkosi neKumkani bezingabulawa ngumntu ongenalo igazi lasebukhosini, ibilityala lonto. Kuthwa wathi akugqiba ukuhlaba iKumkani lo mfana, naye wasele esiwa efela kwalapho kungaziwa ukuba ubulewe yintoni na. AmaBhaca aphathwa ngu Ncaphayi ukusukela lo mini, u Ncaphayi wahamba waya kwa Faku emaMpondweni wahlala khona apho nabantu bakhe.
AmaXhosa wona afike ebaThenjini kanye xa kugqiba kuliwa, sele ewile no Madzikane ngoku ngxama kwamaGcina, zafika zabuza izikhulu zasemaXhoseni ku Bathembu ukuba kumaxa kuyintoni na; wabe sele echaza umhlekazi u Ngubengcuka ngelikhulu lona igugu, ukuba ababanga nakho ukulinda ngoba ixesha bebengenalo, bayaxolisa ngalonto. Azibanga saxoxa ezaseMaxhoseni, zisuke zaqokelela, zaqhuba yonke into eyinkomo eyayilapho zagoduka. AmaTshatshu ebhonte-bhonte enjalo ngamanxeba wo mkhonto agxalathelana ukuya ku Ngubengcuka ngo msindo esithi “Kumkani awukhalimi ngani, uyawabona lamaXhosa amnka nemihlambi yethu abe engakhange alwe nokulwa”. Waphendula u Ngubengcuka wathi “Bayekeni bahambe nazo, beningazanga zinkomeni apha, benize kukhusela ilizwe lenu nee ntsapho zenu kumaBhaca”. AmaTshatshu awazange oneliseke tu kwaphela yile mpendulo ye Kumkani, asele emxelela esithi “ukuba kunjalo ke Ndaba, uMhlekazi makayazi into yokuba thina singamaTshatshu asisokuze siphinde sizihluphe ngokumlwela, ukusukela namhlanje uyedwa kwizinto zakhe”.
Ukufika kuka Matiwana e Mpuma-Kapa:
Umfundi wokhumbula ukuba besithe, uMatiwana walwa namaHlubi wawoyisa, wabulala ne nkosi yawo u Mthimkhulu emva kokuba le nkosi yathi yala ukubuyisa iinkomo eyayizigcinise kuye xeshikweni esilwa no Zwide wakwa Ndwandwe. UTshaka uye wahlasela u Matiwana kweso sithuba ephindezelela amaHlubi; yaba kukuhamba kwa maNgwane oko eNatal, abhekisa eLusuthu, apho afike alwa namaHlubi kwakhona, amaHlubi sele ephethwe ngu Mphangazitha ngelo xesha ebambele u Mhlambiso. Aphinde oyiswa amaHlubi kwakhona. Kuthe kusenjalo, wafika no Mzilikazi e Lusuthu ehamba ezakhe iindlela ebaleka u Tshaka bakuba bengavananga ngezabo; ufike walwa namaNgwane naye u Mzilikazi kodwa akwabikho cala loyiswayo, wasele edlula u Mzilikazi wabhekisa ngaphesheya kwe Gqili.
Kuthe kwesi thuba waqala waqonda u Matiwana ukuba akasokuze akufumane ukuthula nokuphumla kwelo lizwe lase Lusuthu ngoba bekuhlaleka kusuke kuvele umlo, waqala waqonda ukuba mhakajonge ndawo yimbi; iMpuma kapa yaba yeyona ndawo ayikhethayo kuba wayesithi abantu belo lizwe abakwazi kulwa njenge zizwe zabenguni zangentla e Natal, kungoko egqibe ukuba aye kuzivulela indawo khona apho; futhi nee ntlola zakhe awayemana ukuzithumela eMpuma kapa zazibuya ziphethe iindaba ezi mnandi, futhi zingawuvali umlomo nge ntlaninge yee nkomo ezodlula abantu ngobuninzi. Ngenxa yezi zizathu, uye wabiza enkulu imbizo umfo ka Masumpa; izikhulu zase maNgwaneni zonke zikho: watsho esithi ugqibe ekubeni isizwe sifuduke, sifudukele e “Xhoseni”, nanjengoko iintlanga zase ntla zaziyibiza iMpuma Kapa, zingazi mahluko phakathi kwabaThembu, amaMpondomise, amaMpondo nama Xhosa. Izizathu zika Matiwana awazichazayo kwii Nduna zakhe nazi:
UTshaka uyasazi ukuba silapha, futhi akuse ntsuku za tywala athumele amabutho wakhe.
U Mshweshwe ngu mhlobo ka Tshaka, apha sihleli nge ngaphandle kwe mvume ka Mshweshwe, kungekudala uzakudibanisa umkhosi wakhe noka Tshaka asigxothe.
Abantu base Xhoseni abakwazi kulwa njengathi, kwaye banee nkomo ezininzi kakhulu asisokuze silambe.
Uthe lo mfo ezixela izi zathu zakhe, kodwa hayi u Nina indlovukazi wala akavuma, esitsho esithi “Lo mntana uzakusibulala mnqandeni”. Kwa no mninawa wakhe u Matiwana watsho wancama esithi “u Shaka akasokuze asigxothe apha, umhlaba uyasivumela, amanani wamabutho wakhe awazi kutsho nto xa sisilwa naye apha. No Mzilikazi usibethe wasincama wadlula”. Wonke la mazwi afika kumfo one ntloko elukhuni, owayengazimisele kuphikiswa futhi esithi uyakumbulala umntu omphikisayo kwesi sigqibo. Iye yabuliswa ke inkosi ngohlobo lwalapho emaNgwaneni, kwaza kwabekwa usuku lo hambo. Kwaxhelwa, kwasikwa amaKhaka amatsha, kwangenwa endleleni kwehliwa. Phambi kokuba umkhosi uphume, uye u Matiwana wathumela amathokazi alishumi ku Mshweshwe exolisa ngokumhlalisa kakubi. Asikuko nokuba wayexolisa ngokwenene ntonje wayenemihlali nemincili ngobutyebi obumlindileyo kwelo lizwe wayesiya kulo litsha lase “Xhoseni”.
Eneneni ke uphumile loo mkhosi wama Ngwane, nabafazi nabantwana belapha, nee nkomo zonke ziqhutywa ngama khwenkwana. Wadlula koo Quthing, waliwela ne Gqili; kwathi xa elapho e Nkwankca (Barkley East), lakhithika – lazitsho iintaba namathafa zamhlophe wee! Bafa abantu, ayasinda ke kambe ne mpahla. Zaqala zoyika iinduna zika Matiwana ngoku zisitsho zisithi izinyanya aziluthandi olu hambo, kuyakuba ngcono ukuba bangajika; kodwa hayi umfo ka Masumpa ubethe nge nqindi phantsi wala esithi akukho nto izakubajikisa, asikho isizwe esakha sakhiwa kumnandi kungalilwa, izizwe zonke zakhiwa ngee nyembezi. Lithe lakuqabuka elo khephu ne nkwankca, kwaqhutyekwa ngo hambo kwakhona.
Bathe uba babe se Khowa (Elliott); kwahlalwa kwakhiwa nezindlu, inkosi yamane ukuthumela iintlola zayo ebaThenjini, zazibuya nee ndaba ezi mnandi rhoqo, kwaye zisitsho ukuba: abo bantu abazi nokuba kuzani, bafana njee nee mfama. Zazimchulumancisa ezi ndaba umfo ka Masumpa esitsho esithi “Niyabona bendinixelele ku mnandi kweli lizwe”. Uthe umkhosi wakhe wakuqina, iphelile nemikhuhlane waqala u Kumkani wazibonisa into ayiyo; uye wathumela ibutho lakhe phakathi ebathenjini, koko eli butho lisuke ladibana no mzi owawukwi nqila yama Qwathi kwa Fubu, mzi lowo owawune ntonjane – lafikaibutho labulala kwanto eyayikulo mzi, akuzange kushiywe nosana; nto leyo eyawutsho umzi wase Bathenjini wothuka ukuba kanti abantu bangentla apha bangabantu abaloluphi uhlobo aba babulala nee ntsana. Esi sehlo sathi ndiii ebathenjini jikelele, abanye sele befakelela besithi esi sizwe si sizwe esiyitya inkomo siyigqibe inkomo iluhlaza ingaphekwanga sithi siyafukutha. Aduma lamabali anje, abantu behleli ngempundu enye. Ude u Kumkani u Ngubengcuka waqonda ukuba makwenziwe into ngaba bantu kungekonakali, kodwa iinkosi zakhe zisoyika zisithi azinako ukulwa namagongqongqo anjalo, izinto ezihleka okwee ngcuka xa zisilwa yaye abantu zibabulala ngolunya.
Idabi lase Mbholompo – July 1828
Uye kwesisithuba umfo ka Ndaba waphinda wathumela kwa Hintsa eGcuwa ecela uncedo njenge mini zangaphambili; kweli tyeli uthumele nakwa Faku emaMpondweni. UFaku akaphozisanga maseko ufike ngoko nangoko, kungekuko nokuba wenziwa kukubathanda abaThembu ntonje imihlambi yakhe yayiphelile ngamaZulu, isizwe samaMpondo sasisele sixhomekeke ekulimeni, sele sisecicini lokufana nezo zizwe zazichithwe yi mfecane. Eli yayilithuba lika Faku lokudla ezo nkomo zama Ngwane atsho naye abe nemihlambi. u Hintsa usele ethumela e Rhafu kwi ofisi zama Ngesi exela isimo ekusiso, kuba abafazi naba ntwana base Bathenjini babesele beqalile ukuphokoka besiza emaXhoseni kuba ilizwe lalisele lifile emva kubaThembu. Ngokwenza kanjalo u Zanzolo wayesenzela ukuba amadlagusha angathi xa ebona iimbacu ziphokoka kwilizwe lakhe ziphokokela nase Koloni amthyole ngokwenza imfazwe. Irhuluneli yamaNgesi eyayilaphoe Rhini yasele ikhupha u Major Dundas ne qedlana lamadlagusha angabalimi (settlers) ukuba akhaphe u Hintsa xa esiya ebaThenjini abuye ne ngxelo ngesimo ekusiso.
Uye wawubopha ke ngokwenene umkhosi wakowabo u Hintsa, wawela u Mbhashe. Ngalemini zazikho iNkosi zase Mbo (amaMfengu) zonke, zihamba no Hintsa, ekho nama Bomvana eze ku Hintsa kuba ebesele ephantsi kwamaXhosa ngalo maxesha. Amamfengu aye mxhobisile ngolwazi u Hintsa nange ndlela abeNguni bangentla abalwa ngayo; Kodwa eyona nto eyayingaphezulu kunazo zonke, ezi nkosi zama Mfengu zazifuna impindezelo ngaku Matiwane kuba yayi nguye isizathu sokuchithakala kwazo zishiya amakhaya azo emva o Thukela. Eneneni afikile amaXhosa kwi ndawo ye dinga, kuthwa into eyadida u Major Dundas kukuba u Ngubengcuka no Hintsa abazange bavume ukuza kubulisana, abanye bathi kwakungenxa ye senzo esenziwa ngamaXhosa sokubutha zonke iinkomo ngale mini kuliwa no Madzikane akwashiyeka ne thole; bambi bathi u Ngubengcuka whala ukuza kubulisa u Hintsa kuba ngokwenza njalo wayezakuba uyazithoba kwinkosi yesinye isizwe, nto leyo eyayizakuthetha ukuba ungaphantsi kwayo. Kodwa esixakayo kukuba, wayelucela njani uncedo kwi nkosi ajongene ngezikhondo zamehlo nayo. Ukuyiququmbela le ndawana, singatsho sithi ezi Kumkani zombini zajongana ngezikhondo zamehlo wade waba kanti uyabhubha u Ngubengcuka ngo 1830.
UMkhosi ka Matiwana wona awudibananga no mkhosi wemidaka kuqala koko udibene neqela lika Major Dundas. Uye umfo wase mlungwini wayalela iinkosi ezo: u Ngubengcuka, u Faku no Hintsa ukuba uzakuya yena neqela lakhe kuqala ku Matiwana apho akhe adle imbadu naye. Eneneni ke u Major ukhwele inkabi yakhe ye Hashe, amadoda wakhe esemacaleni kuye, baya betyethe iintonga zabo ezinkone. UMajor Dundas lo ube esithetha isiXhosa okungathi wasincanca ebeleni; isiXhosa askudanga kakhulu ku Lwimi olwaluthethwa ngama Ngwane, esingatsho sithi yayilu lwimi olufana nesi Swazi kwii Lwimi zakalokunje. Uthe Major neqela lakhe ukuba abe kude kufutshane naloo mkhosi wama Ngwane woyikeka kunene, wawutsala umkhala, yema ngxi inkabi yakhe.
Major: “Mhooooolo Mhlobo wam” watsho ewangawangisa ngesi sandla sokutya.
INduna: “Bayeedee!” yaphendula enye yamadoda ku mkhosi ka Matiwane.
Major: “iyaphi indlela?... nize ukuza kubona abantakwenu abaThembu nama Xhosa?”
Wathi akuba agqibe nje u Major Dundas ukubuza lo mbuzo; zasuka ngoku izinto zase mzini zooonke zabetha amakhaka wazo ngaxesha nye; za ngqisha phantsi kwatsho kwaqhuma uthuli; into eyatsho apetsula loo mahashe ayekhwelwe ngu Major neqela lakhe baphantsa ukuwa. Bathi besabhidekile yilento bexakekile bezama ukulawula amaHashe wabo, laa nduna yakhwaza yathi “Ayihlaaseeeele”; labe ngalo ndlela liqalile idabi lase mbholompo, e Mthatha. Wambonzeleka umkhosi ka Matiwana kwelo qedlana lamadlagusha. AmaXhosa, abaThembu, nama Mpondo eva ngokuduma kwee nduku zamagwala ezantsi kwaloo nduli babelinde kuyo ukuba zibambene ngazo. Zasele zifunza ke nee nkosi macalana onke ngaxesha nye. AmaNgwane aye sisizwe esasingazange sadibana ngaphambili nabantu abalwa ngemipu, nto leyo eyenza ukuba zithi zakuduma izinandile atsho abhideka amaNgwane, athe ebhideke enjalo, wabe umkhosi wabancedani uhlaba kakhulu ngolunya ungabaphi thuba. Ngamafutshane, u Matiwana woyiswa loo mini, isizwe sakhe sophuka umqolo saphela savuthuluka. Amaxhoba asindayo, asele engena ngaphantsi kwabaThembu, KumaXhosa nakuma Mpondo, asele edityaniswa kwigama elithi “mfengu”. Umfo ka Masumpa, wathumela iinduna zakhe ezinkosini apho eTarhuzisa, esitsho esithi naye wenziwe sisimo emva ekhaya. Zathi iinkosi ezo makaze zizakumsikela indawo ahlale; kodwa hayi wala wathi unqwenela ukuya kufela emva kowabo e Natal. Eneni ke ubuyele emva neqedlana labantu, efika kwa Zulu sekuphethe u Dingane ka Senzangakhona, umninawa ka Tshaka. Sele ebhubhile uTshaka, ebulawa nguye u Dingane nabaninawa bakhe. UDingane umchwechwele ngoko nangoko u Matiwane engalindelanga, kuthwa ngaphambi kokuba ahlatywe, wakha wangenwa nge bhunguza kanobom eqhekezwa ukhakhayi. ‘Ze wahlatywa ukukhutshwa kwezo ntlungu wayekuzo. Kunana mhla oku kwa Zulu kukho indawo ekuthiwa kukwa Matiwane, le ndawo kulapho iNkosi u Matiwane yabulawelwa khonangu Dingane inkosi yamaZulu emenywe kwanguye. No Piet Retief inkokheli yama Bhulu eyayilindwendwe lika Dingane yabulawa kwa ngale ndlela inye ngu Dingane eyibulalela kwa Matiwane.
Amade ngawetyala mzi ka Xhosa, futhi no mbengo omde uyawucima umlilo. Ixesha livuma sisaya kubuya siphakelane kwakhona; nina baka Xhalang’ elimaphik’ amdaka, u Ntloyiy’ onendlwane wase Majojweni. Uvumba lugxoth’ izizwe, phum’ entangeni wab’ inkomo, ubumlala nj’ unyoko ubusith woyiva phi n’ imbadu kwedini? - ngu Lwaganda ka Mlawu lowo.
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