Idabi lase Mthontsi - 1851

“Anditsho ukuba hambani niye kubulala, ndithi hambani niye kunqanda elo Hlahla” - Maqoma

Idabi lase Mthontsi laliwa ngemfazwe ka Mlanjeni, 1850 -1853; lisiliwa ngu Maqoma into ka Ngqika evele tanci, nomkosi wama Ngesi. 

u-Maqoma waye ngayilwanga imfazwe ye-Zembe eyayi phambi kwale ngo 1846-47, ngezizathu ezithile ezazikuye, waza ke wazigulisa. Ute nhoko agulayo wathatyathwa ngama Ngesi amsa e Gqeberha khon’ ukuze ashenxe phakathi kwemikhosi; amaNgesi ayesoyikela ukuthi hleze athi akuziva izithonga zo mlo aqale aphile ngqe. Kodwa naleyo into yaba neyayo inkathazo ku Maqoma, kuba ngo 1847 uthe u Saqhwithi (Sir Harry Smith) xa wayeza kuthabatha iintambo zombuso Kwi Koloni yase Kapa wegqitha ngaku Maqoma apho wayegcinwe khona e Gqeberha, kwathi kuba ngumfo lo owayesile esisaphuselana; wafuna ukubeka unyawo lwakhe entanyeni ka Maqoma, Koko u Maqoma wathi: "Ufuna ukwenza umsebenzi wobunja wena kuba uyinja; akakuthumanga lonto u Vitoliya ngokuba ngowasebukhosini njengam kwaye uyandazi ukuba nam ndingowase bukhosini". Yamdanisa kakhulu u Saqhwithi loo ntetho, kodwa ke nhoko wathi makagoduke aye e Qonce apho wayene mbizo, eza kuthetha khona yena Smith kunye nazo zonke iinkosi zakwa Xhosa.

e-Qonce:

Zifikile zonke inkosi e Qonce, waba ke sele ezixelela u Saqhwithi ukuba namhla izivumelwano zazo nabamhlophe zitshile, zibhangisiwe, satsho eso sibhongobhiyane salumeka umlilo kwi Damanethi (dynamite) kwi nqwelo ethile eyayimiselwe lonto kude kufuphi apho, yaye ke le nqwelo yayizele qhu ngu mthwalo we nkunkuma yamaphepha nobunye ubuvuvu; le damanethi yatsho ngesi thongakazi esaqhashumba kwahlokoma ezintabeni, Zathi inkosi zisajonge lento; wathi u Saqhwithi "niyabona zidenge ndini, ukuba nikhe nalinga nje ukudunga dunga uxolo nilwe ne koloni ndiyakunenza lento ndiyenze kula nqwelo". Yadwanguza yenza njalo le ndedeba ingu Saqhwithi, isithi ngelayo yenza i nkxola-zwe, yabiza no nyawontle u Bishophu u Armstrong ukuba abekho naye ngalomhla, aze athethe nee nkosi zama Xhosa ingakumbi u Sarhili no Sandile no Mhala, ngezinto ze Lizwi. Okunene ke iinkosi zamvulela u Bishopu lowo ukuba makasebenze phakathi kwama Gcaleka nama Ngqika, nama Ndlambe. Kwaba njalo okunene.

u- SANDILE Ahh Mgolombane

u Mhlekazi u Sandile waye nento emkhathazileyo kakhulu nhaye ngayo lemfazwe ye Zembe, kuba wabizwa yinkosi ethile yase mlungwini xa imikhosi yakhe imi kakuhle; yathi yiza sikhe sithetha-thethane ngee ndawo zoxolo, igama lenkosi leyo yase mlungwini ngu Colonel Bisset. Ithe kanti yenza iqhinga lokuba eze engalumnkele nto, ize im’bambe imenze ibanjwa lemfazwe kunye no mkhuluwa wakhe u Anta, nama Phakathi ambalwa. Ayizange iphele lonto ku Sandile, ukuthi kanti inkosi le ikwa yinto exokayo ngeli lixa ibifanele ukuthetha ngokungoyiki. Bathatyathwa ke basiwa e Rhini, nhabo babizwa ke yiloo ndutsuba inezothe ingu Saqhwithi (Sir Harry Smith) bayakuba kwase Qonce nezinye iinkosi zamaXhosa ezazikulo mbizo ka Saqhwithi. Yiyo ke ngoko lento imi-nyaka yaba mithathu phakathi kwe mfazwe ye Zembe neka Mlanjeni. Enye into eyamkhatazayo u Mhlekazi u Sandile (Mgolombane), kukuthi uku-xoliswa kwelizwe ngeye Zembe, athi u Sir Harry Smith uyamkhupha u Sandile ebukhosini, intambo zombuso ziza kubanjwa ngunina u Suthu, encediswa ngu Tshalisi Bhuluneli (Charles Brownlee); asinto wakha wayivuma nange mpumlo leyo u Mgolombane: u Ndanda koo Vece, u Xesi magqagala, u Ngcungcu ayiseli kwabalekayo isel’ ezadungeni ngokoyik’ umlom’ ukugoba, int’ eBantu bantlaninge bazalis’ umhlaba kazi yoz’ ithini na mhla ibahlanganisayo.

Wasuka u Mgolombane waba hlahla nge mbumbulu boba bini oonyana baka Bhuluneli; omnye walala e Hosipitile gabla makhumsha, omnye wamnqamla intloko kwelo dabi lase Boomah Pass e Xesi.

u- MAQOMA: Ahh Jongumsobomvu

Kule mfazwe ka Mlanjeni ke u Maqoma ulwile kakhulu; walwa ngomsindo, kuba ukulala kwakhe ngeye Zembe akumncedanga nto, waye waphathwa kakubi ngokungathi wayesilwa. Waye ke namhlanje ethetha esithi: "ndifuna ihlabathi lonke libone ukuba andigezi, kuba ngeye Zembe kwaku sithiwa ndiyageza." Yena ke u Maqoma ngumfo wase Singqengqeni (eBhofolo), uthe bakungevani no Sir Harry Smith e Ngxondorheni apho e Bhofolo kwi ngxoxo ababenayo apho, ngalamhla wathukwa ngawo kwathiwa ulinxila; wasele ejika egoduka etyethe ingubo yakhe, ephethe ne mfakadolo (rifle), kKuloo ngxoxo yabo no Saqhwithi baxambulisana kakubi esithi u Saqhwithi "Hayi Thulaa nxila ndini, andifuni kuthetha nawe ndifuna u Sandile“; wathi ke yena u Jongumsobomvu "inokuba nguwe loh uli nxila" watsho umfo ka Menyezwa esithi "uyabona kwedini ka nantsi ndifung’ u Mah u Nothonto, uzakuyazi into etyiwa li Gqirha; kwaye uzakundazi kakuhle”. Yatsho lanto injawunjoku yenza iziqwenga kungekudala phakathi kwe Bhofolo ne Khobonqaba (Adelaide) nhakoo Mpofu. Athe ama Satlani kuba ayemoyika kakubi u Maqoma, awashiya amakhaya aya kufihla iintsapo zawo kwii ndawo ezikude, aye nawo eyi qoshele imisila; lathanda ukusala lize iBhofolo lingenamntu; kude kwathi kuse njalo esalawula yedwa u Nompondwana, uSayama nge ntaba ka Mnqwaz’ oneenkomo, uJongumsobomvu, isiJorha so Nothonto; 

Lagaleleka i khalipha elikhulu lase Mangesini, lafika livela kulwa phi-phi-phi; lafika lawumemeza umzi ukuba aye kubanjwa ehleli loo Maqoma wodumo, afakwe endlwaneni oku kwesi khwenene kuye kuboniswa ngaye kwi Nkosazana emaNgesini pesheya kwezi lwandle. Ngelo xesha yona into ka Ngqika yayise Mthontsi, isenza ezibukwayo, iwaqwenga amadlagusha ingahleki nawo. Igama le Khalipha elo lasema Ngesini yayingu Folodayile (Colonel Fordyce), into eyathi ukumdela oku lo Maqoma we bhongo futhi woyikwayo, ayambona nokumbona oku. Athe ama Satilani (Settlers) makulindwe imikhosi evela phesheya e Ngilani, kangayiwa ku Maqoma ngalo mkhosi ukhoyo, usuke u Fordyce waphika ngqo esithi yena akangefumane ahlale, athi eno mkhosi ongqindilili nowaneleyo alinde omye umkhosi ngenxa yo mqaba-qaba we mfene engu Maqoma. Utsho wawulungisa umkhosi wakhe u Folodayile. Hayi ke ama Satilani (settlers) azi chwetha wona, aya kuzivalela kwe zawo iinqaba. u-Maqoma uxelelwe ngamhla uthile ngum Suthu ogama lingu "Ggishela-nge gongqolokoshe" okokuba naaanko umkhosi wama Ngesi uphuma edolopini e Bhofolo ubhekise amabombo nganeno, uthe um-Suthu lowo yena uvela edolopini apho, uze kubusa apha enkosini. Uthe uMaqoma akuva ukuba nanko umkhosi usiza, wakhupha imikhosi emithathu, wayinikela koo nyana bakhe aba thathu.

1. Owokuqala wawuphathisa u Namba, incam yakhe, unyana wom-Thembukazi; inkosi enkula yama Jingqi wonke engaka nje; uyise ka Jamangile.
2. Owesibini umkhosi wawuphathisa u-Kona “inzwan enkala yase Kunene, kulo Ngcweleshe, u Bhululu macal' e xhama, Inkunz’ engqukuva yakulo Tase”. Lho ke ngu Yise ka Ndamase (Hayi loh uyi nkosi yama Mpondo).
3. Owesithathu wawunika u Ngqabe, uyise ka Fokoxo. Ngu mfo ke lo owayehlala eqhulwa ngu yise u Maqoma ngobu gwala; asazi nhokuba kwakukho inyaniso na kulonto nhokuba yayisisi qhulo nje! Kodwa esikwaziyo kukuba le ndoda yabhubha ili kholwa.

u-Myolelo ka Maqoma koo Nyana bakhe:

Athee xa aphumayo nemikhosi yawo lamadodana ka Maqoma; uyise wayolela wenjenje:  "Wena ke Namba; uyokuyimela impi leyo ngaphambili; ingabi sathabatha lunyawo apho ikhoyo. Wena Ngqabe uze ujonge umva wayo, ingabi sathabatha lunyawo kuyo londawo ufike ikuyo. Wena ke Kona uza kuvana ngemi phunga nale mikhosi yomibini, ujonge esiqwini kuyo. Mna ke ndiza kuhlala apha ndilind' u Foludayile aze kundi thabatha. Yivani apha ke makhwenkwam; Anditsho ke ukuthi hambani niye kubulala, ndithi hambani niye kusinqandela elo hlahla; mabandla ka Lwaganda ka Mlawu, ka Rharhabe ka Phalo, mabandla ka Butsolo beentonga”.

Uthe akugqiba ukutsho u Njalatya; wazithi luqe nge ngubo; akabuya aphinde athethe, akabuye aphinde atye, akasela, akathini.

Ukunqoza kwazo:

Ziphume sele zigixa zilila i’nto zika Maqoma, kunye nama phakathi wazo, ziyibona inqumbululu yomkhosi ithe thande ngaku lomzi ka Vulangengqele. Uthe kuba umkhosi ngowoo Nozikhakana (Scottish) ubukhulu bawo, baye bengalazi ilizwe, laye lilibi kuwo linee ngxodorha zamawa, bafunyanwa yimpi yakulo Jingqi bezizisulu - athi amawa eyelisela into eninzi kunene ngaphezulu kwabadliwe ngu mkhonto. Liwuthethele shushu umkhosi wakowalo ikhalipa elikhulu u-Colonel Fordyce; waye nhaye kubonakala ukuba umfo lowo uyakwazi ukuyalathisa intonga enkone. Koko ilizwe lalichasene naye, eyekelwe ngama Satlani akowabo. Awunyhatya ama Jingqi umkhosi wakhe - waphelelwa kaloku nhaye, wadinwa, wanxanwa, wathyafa. Amfumana ama-Jingqi am’bamba, yekoko ukumsa enkosini u Maqoma ehamba ngeenyawo zakhe. Kuthe kuba amageza la zinto ezavela zakho emaXhoseni apha, lavela elinye igeza lamjikela ngasemva u Folodayile, lamtsho gobho! ngo mkhonto kwaba kuphela kwelo khalipa njalo. Kubuziwe kulo mfo ukuba unyanga ni na ngokwenjenje? Uthe yena “uyazi ukuba lo mntu uzakusindiswa phaya yi nkosi; kanti ke umninawa wakhe yena nguye lowa usi sidumbu phaya, ekuphela komntaka-yise”.

Laba njalo ke idabi lase Mthontsi; apho u Maqoma wabulala amakhulu angaphezulu kwesihlanu; nto leyo eyenza ukuba u Smith arhoxiswe li phesheya buphuthu-phuthu; yabe imfazwe imxakile amaXhosa wonke eyingenile, u Mhala nama Ndlambe wakhe betshabalalisa bonke oo loliwe abaphethe ukutya besuka eMonti nge njongo zoku kusa e Rhini nakoma Bhofolo kuma joni wamaNgesi; u Rhili ebhaxabula amaMpondo wase ntshona awayethe gqolo efuna ukuwela u Mbhashe ayekunika isandla amaNgesi e Bhofolo kuba u Faku wayetyikitye izibhambathiso zoku khuselana nawo; wawadubula u Rhili amaMpondo wawatyakatya, yabe nemilambo izele ime ngee mbambo kuba iimvula zazinetha ngamandla - awazange ke akwazi ukuwela amaMpondo ngobuninzi bawo, lawo ayethi awele u Rhili wayewabuyisela umva amnke no msinga arhaxwe, athi lawo abene thamsanqa lokuwela, awele enamanxeba amabi wee mbumbulu no mkhonto. U Rhili uli lwile ne dabi lase Mvana ku Komani ekunye namaTshatshu into zase bathenjini. U Sandile wayese Mathole; eluma aphinde asithele kwase Mathole.

Loo mgqakhwe ungu Smith wagoduka ulila ukubuyela phesheya eNgilani; uhlekwa ngama kubo kusithwa li nqenerha eloyiswe yi mfene. Lathumela ke iphesheya u  Kati-kati (Sir George Cathcart) owafika yena walixolisa ilizwe nangani kungazange kubekho minqophiso; nhekuthe kwakamsinya emva kwakhe kwathunyelwa u George Grey wodumo; yena owafika wahlalisana kakuhle nee nkosi zakuthi, esakha nezibhedlela nezikolo. Kukho abathi u Grey loo ngu ngqondo ngqondo oweza neli cebo lokuthuma u Nongqawuse ukuba akhohlise isizwe samaXhosa akubona ukuba amaNgesi awakwazi ukuwoyisa - ke kambe leyo sakuze siyixoxe ngelinye ilanga. Hlalani nibahle njalo mabandla akulo Jingqi, mabandla akulo Mbombo, mabandla akulo Tete, mabandla ka Sopasi, Laf’ Ilizwe ngee mbiza zika Mbune, ohhw hay’ ngo mona Mamfeng’ asegcuwa, zindinqenil’ izizwe zahlebelana, zindinqenil’ izizwe zacel’ umlungu; ngu Sarhili lowo - Ahhhh Ntaba!! u Ntaba ‘yikhonjwa

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