Langalibalele History

Got this story from the KZN Rhino Club Newsletter.
Couldn't see any copyright details so presume safe to post this snippet!

Here is a brief account of the historical background, of the ride of the Natal Carbineers and of the action at the head of the Bushman's River Pass (now known as the Langalibalele Pass) on 4th November, 1873.
Langalibalele was the chief of the Amahlubi tribe, living on the left bank of the Buffalo River in Northern Natal, in the present Utrecht district. He was born round about 1818. In 1848 he and his tribe were driven out by Mpande, and they fled across the Buffalo River into Klip River County, from where they appealed to the Lieut. Governor, Martin West, for help.
The Natal Government decided to move the Amahlubi, together with the related Putini clan, down into the midlands of Natal, where they were settled in 36 450 ha of good arable country, immediately to the north of Giant's Castle, one of the most prominent peaks in the Drakensberg. Part of the idea behind this move was that they would act as a buffer between the marauding Bushman and the settlers.
By 1873 Langalibaleles tribe had grown from a remnant of 7000 men, women and children, to 94000.
Langalibalele himself (the name means 'the sun is boiling hot') was now a man of 55 years of age. He was a difficult man, brooding darkly, and had already caused the Natal Government considerable trouble. When, early in 1873, he was commanded to hand in for registration the guns his young men had acquired in the Diamond Diggings, he first stalled for time, then flatly refused. Sir Benjamin Pine, the new Lieutenant-Governor, ordered him to be brought to his senses.
Langalibalele prepared for open rebellion, armed his men, and made plans to flee over the Drakensberg and into Lesotho.
The Government called up volunteers for a plan of military operations entailed, first of all, throwing a strong cordon round the Arnahlubi and Putini tribes, stretching from Champagne Castle in the north to Giant's Castle in the south, thus closing them off from the rest of Natal and then sending two flying columns to the summit of the Drakensberg so as to seal off the Bushman's River Pass and so prevent Langalibalele's escape into Lesotho.
One column of troops was to go up a pass in Champagne Castle and head south while a second column under Major Durnford was to ascend Giant's Castle pass and head north. Major Durnford took his troops up Hlatimba Pass in error, some 10kms south of Giant's Pass, through impossible country, a maze of steep ridges and deeply-cut valleys. As a result they arrived at the rendezvous, the head of the Bushman's River Pass, twenty-four hours late, to find Langalibalele and his Amahlubi tribesmen already in possession. A short, sharp engagement took place in which three Carbineers, Robert Henry Erskine, Edwin Bond and Charles Davie Potterill were killed, together with two loyal Africans.
The Carbineers, hopelessly outnumbered, retired precipitately along the way they had come, back along the summit to the Hlatimba Pass, down the Pass and so along one of the sources of the Umkomaas to Fort Nottingham.
Langalibalele was finally captured and served time on Robban Island before being released and settled near Swartkop.
He died in 1889 and as befits a king, his body was wrapped in a leopard skin, sewn tightly in a freshly slaughtered ox hide and accompanied by a large impi and followed by a wagon carrying the dead chief's widows and children. The procession made its seven day journey via Mooi River to an area under the shadow of Giant's Castle.
In 1973 a commemorative ride was planned by the Natal Carbineers to retrace the route of Durnford's column and celebrate the centenary of the Langalibalele Rebellion.
Two unplanned, but in retrospect, amusing incidents, took place on this ride. Some 32 of us assembled at the base of Hlatimba Pass and set off up this difficult and very steep pass. Most of us carried our kit in backpacks or saddlebags. One gentleman however had a packhorse loaded with, among other things, a substantial stock of whisky to keep out the chill of the high Berg. Halfway up the pass the packhorse lost it footing and rolled all the way down into the river. The horse was completely unhurt, but I'm afraid the whisky did not survive.
Arriving at the top of the pass we set up camp for the night. During the night many of the horses decided they wanted to go home and disappeared. Much consternation in the morning when only those of us who had secured our horses were still mounted. However, the VIPs had to get to the battle site at the top of Langalibalele Pass for a Natal Carbineers ceremony so they commandeered all the remaining horses and we walked there with our kit on our heads, arriving at dusk after the function was over. The runaway horses were all found looking longingly out over Giant's castle at the edge of the escarpment where there was no way down!

Cheers Snake
I told the story while hiking in the area two weeks ago, glad to see that most of my facts were Ok. These guys check up on me you know.
Yes, he was a hard case but the Brits were gunning for him when they realised what a great piece of land they had given him. The rifles which his lads brought back, as part payment, from the diggings was just the excuse they were looking for.
Apparently the Basotho handed him over after he sought refuge there. His internship on Roben Island turned into house arrest on the mainland in or near Cape Town after a few months and then eventual release. Apparently Langa township is named after him.
The big bad Brits were still too poop scared to try their luck on the Mnweni though.
G