ATDTDA (1): "A Zulu theatrical company ..."

[Charles Albert]

Though it is not relevant to Pynchon's allusion, the concurrent events at
Rorke's Drift, the subject of the classic "Zulu", which starred, among
others, a young Michael Caine, are worth noting. The movie, and the
background to its making are fascinating in isolation. The denouement of
this engagement, as portrayed, will leave you in tears....as will watching
Michael Caine trying to look macho while running in full regalia.......

Those interested can link on from here....

http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vcs.htm


"*This action was at Rorke's Drift, Wednesday 22- Thursday 23 January, 1879,
when some 150 soldiers defended a supply station against some 4000 Zulus,
aided by the Martini-Henry rifle <http://www.martinihenry.com/> 'with some
guts behind it'."


love,

cfa




*
On 1/25/07, Tim Strzechowski <dedalus204 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>  "A Zulu theatrical company re-enacted the massacre of the British troops
> at Isandhlwana" (p. 22).
>
>
> The Zulu (South African English and isiZulu: *amaZulu*) are an African
> ethnic group of about 11 million people who live mainly in the province of
> KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Small numbers also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia,
> and Mozambique. Their language, isiZulu, is a Bantu language; more
> specifically, part of the Nguni subgroup. The Zulu Kingdom played a major
> role in South African History during the 19th and 20th centuries. Under
> apartheid, Zulu people were classed as second-class citizens and severely
> discriminated against. Today, they are the most numerous ethnic group in the
> country, and have equal rights along with all other South Africans. [...]
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu
>
> http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/zulu-culture-traditions.html
>
>
> The shock of the defeat and loss at Isandlwana on 22nd January 1879 caused
> a catastrophic drop in morale among the British forces invading Zululand.
>
> Colonel Evelyn Wood VC's Number 4 Column, the most northerly British
> force, invaded Zululand on 6th December 1879. The Zulus in the area were of
> the abaQulusi, a tribal group vigorously loyal to Cetshwayo the Zulu King.
> Led by the enterprising Prince Mbilini waMswati, the abaQulusi held a group
> of mountains of which Hlobane was the most prominent.
>
> One of Wood's senior officers was Lieutenant Colonel Redvers Buller, an
> energetic leader of irregular South African horse. (Buller became one of
> Britain's generals in the Second Boer War: in this respect Britain's
> experience was similar to France's; highly vigorous and successful colonial
> small war commanders were found wanting when required to command large
> formations in set piece wars).
>
> On 20th January 1879, Wood dispatched Buller with a mounted force to
> reconnoitre the Zulu positions. After a running skirmish Buller was forced
> to retire.
>
> On 21st January 1879, Wood's force marched out of camp and moved swiftly
> on the Zulu positions, forcing the Zulus to withdraw onto Hlobane Mountain.
> Wood's troops camped and on 23rd January 1879 Wood began his attack on
> Hlobane. In the early hours of the morning the column received the news of
> Isandlwana, the destruction of Chelmsford's camp and the loss of nearly a
> full battalion of British troops.
>
> It was immediately apparent to Wood that the whole Zulu army that had
> fought at Isandlwana might well attack his column. He abandoned the
> operation and moved north to a new camp site, away from the main Zulu army.
>
> The British column encamped on a plateau at Khambula, where the ground
> sloped away on two sides. The troops fortified the camp with wagon walls and
> trenches, precautions that might have saved the British force at Isandlwana,
> and built an earthwork bastion on a small hill in the middle of the camp and
> a further laager to house the cattle and oxen.
>
> No Zulu attack materialised over the next few days and the energetic Wood
> returned to harassing the local Zulus.   [...]
>
> http://www.britishbattles.com/zulu-war/khambula/zulu-attack.jpg
>
> http://www.bl.uk/images/content/zulu.jpg
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://waste.org/pipermail/pynchon-l/attachments/20070125/04e2137d/attachment.html>