Cory Library and Historical Archives · Ndogeni, the Zulu who accompanied Dick King in 1842

Ndogeni, the Zulu who accompanied Dick King in 1842

Item

Rembrandt Studios, Durban, “Ndogeni, the Zulu who accompanied Dick King in 1842”, Cory Library and Historical Archives, accessed 29 December 2025, https://digitalarchives.ru.ac.za/s/cory/item/13871

Title: Ndogeni, the Zulu who accompanied Dick King in 1842
Description: Note on back reads: “This is a photograph of Ndogeni, the Zulu who accompanied Dick King on his famous ride in 1842. The Boers at this time laid claim to Port Natal. It was, however, because England was determined to protect the rights of her subjects that Capt. Smith and a couple of hundred men were forthwith sent to Durban. On the 25th of May (same year), the situation having become extremely critical, it was imperative to send for help and over a distance of not less than 500 miles of the wildest country. Dick King volunteered at once for this service. As Ndogeni, then 15 or 16 years of age, was his servant and knew how to ride, King selected him as his companion, other persons, for some reason or another, being unavailable. Ndogeni was not, at the outset, told the true objective of the journey, no doubt on account of his youth as well as his nationality. The two were rowed across the Bay in a boat at night by George and Joseph Cato, their two horses being swum at the stern. Ndogeni accompanied King for nearly 250 miles and over what was undoubtedly the most perilous part of the journey. He would have gone further, only, owing to an omission, he became incapacitated because obliged to ride this great distance without stirrups. He proved of considerable assistance to his master, indeed it is not too much to say that without some such help as he was able to afford, the mission might not have been quite as successful as it was. Natal was saved. It is partly because his account of the journey throws fresh lustre on King’s magnificent achievement, that Ndogeni’s narrative has been specially translated, and the accompanying photograph taken.”
Subject: Ndogeni, ca. 1826-
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/19755
Creator: Rembrandt Studios, Durban
Type: Image
Format: jpg

Item sets: Images of Africans Collections

Media: vital_22482+SOURCE1+SOURCE1.0.jpeg

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