Knowledge (XXG)

Arthur Henry Neumann

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who by this time was in poor shape was also receiving criticism from the growing lobby in the colony that were against the uncontrolled hunting of big game. Neumann began to feel embattled and bitter that he was a pariah to the 'Game Preserving Society' as he called his opponents. He responded by publishing a pamphlet in which he put forward his ideas on how the ivory trade and illegitimate elephant hunting could be controlled. He also offered his services once again as a government border agent in return for a salary that included his right to collect ivory. It was to no avail and after a final hunting trip to Lake Rudolf in 1906 it became clear that his days as an elephant hunter were over.
122:, the youngest child of seven of the Reverend John Stubbs Neumann and his wife (née) Annie Mary Formby. His father was rector of a rural parish, and the young retiring Neumann would recall 'an attempt I remember to have made to get out of the sight of houses in a secluded part of the common and fancy myself in an uninhabited country' Although it is known that Neumann's brother Formby attended 309: 205:
had held a variety of administrative posts in the colony's government and as an avid sportsman of big game had similarly explored the South African hinterland. MacLeod and Neumann formed a tight and resilient partnership and as the situation reached a critical juncture in late 1878 they travelled for
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As Neumann continued his quest for big game the uneasy political situation between the Zulus and the British and their Swazi allies began to unravel and a violent uprising was in the offing in Zululand. Neumann with his fluency in the native language, friendship with the Swazi leaders and an intimate
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fly. Neumann records that he downed a number of large animals before his gun misfired allowing an angry cow elephant to maul him. His injuries were severe enough to force a recuperation period lasting several months during which he could not take solids with any comfort. It curtailed the hunting but
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of East Africa was reluctantly drawn into political conflicts that eventually undermined his position. As 1905 ended his financial return from ivory was in sharp decline. During the year he shot a total of just fifteen elephants and bartered a few more tusks from the Ndorobo and the Sabur. Neumann
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salt merchants, retired from his living in Bedfordshire and departed for Italy, a country with a sizeable flock of wealthy British expatriates, for the next five years. This was the spur for his son Arthur to depart to South Africa to begin a life of wanderlust. Neumann declared in later life that
382:(now known as Lake Turkana) was attained on an expedition conducted in 1895. However the hunting around Lake Rudolf was not a success as the terrain was difficult and a bitter wind blew. On New Year's Day 1896 his personal servant, Shebane, was killed by a crocodile whilst bathing and many of his 371:
and men such as Neumann were available to satiate the demand. In his memoirs in common to the age in which he lived Neumann makes no reference to the ethics of the trade and concentrates instead on the arduousness of travel and the length of journeys into the interior. One such arduous journey in
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with whom he quickly developed a fractious relationship. In his first four months with the Company Neumann's road gang of fifty men carved their way through the bush opening up the hinterland, forging alliances and enmities as they progressed. Whilst the road was completed it proved a dead end in
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rivers whilst renting out his farm and leasing land from the Swazi royal family for cattle raising on the borders of Swaziland and Transvaal. In 1885 he was involved in a dispute with the Transvaal Government as to ownership of the land that they deemed was in Transvaal and not in Swaziland as
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and was a lavish publication. It secured Neumann's name as an elephant hunter and establishment figure. That this reputation was based on a modest score of elephants made no difference. Neumann also cultivated a reputation as an author of articles on wildlife and an authority on the
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August 1896 witnessed the destruction by Neumann of fourteen elephants, his largest bag. Revealingly he was disappointed with his performance 'I did not consider I had done as well as I ought.... But I excused myself, to a certain extent in that I was out of health
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Neumann is recorded as killing five elephants and five hippo, an experience that he found exhilarating and led to the decision to become a professional elephant hunter. On his return trip to Mombasa on 25 May 1891 the returning party was attacked by the
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led to a forced withdrawal by the British who shortly redeployed with a greater force to overcome the Zulus. During the brief war Neumann performed bravely helping consolidate British gains in Transvaal and forging alliances with the Swaziland kingdom.
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By 1890 Neumann had tired of the legal wrangling about ownership of his farms and was in East Africa needing funds to outfit an elephant-hunting expedition. In May 1890 he had been appointed to the General Africa staff of the
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apparently content to lead a solitary life aiming and firing his rifles at the wildlife. Overhunting was already taking its toll in the area and gradually Neumann moved further afield to his ultimate goal of East Africa.
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In September 1906 Neumann sailed for the UK. On board was his stockpile of ivory that he sold for the reasonable sum of £4,500 retaining a few choice pieces for friends, including Millais, with whom he stayed at
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knowledge of the terrain was well placed to act on behalf of a reconnoitring party and accepted a government offer of the rank of captain and command of a detachment of scouts in one of the Swazi contingents.
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Elephant-hunting in East Equatorial Africa : being an account of three years' ivory-hunting under Mount Kenia and among the Ndorobo savages of the Lorogi Mountains, including a trip to the north of Lake
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Elephant-hunting in East Equatorial Africa : being an account of three years' ivory-hunting under Mount Kenia and among the Ndorobo savages of the Lorogi Mountains, including a trip to the north of Lake
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and at a skirmish on Bastion Hill where according to J.G. Millais he was at the head of his troop. Neumann did not see out the end of the South African War returning to Britain sometime in 1901.
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infected the growth and decimated the fledgling industry. Several months of this work was enough for Neumann, and with his brother Charles they struck further north to the lower basin of the
300:. Neumann was wounded in the wrist in the mêlée that saw thirty-eight of his men dead. Once again tiring of his prosaic duties he resigned to fill the post of a magistrate in Zululand. 225:
Neumann spent most of the next decade alternating between his concerns of farming, trading and of course, organising hunting expeditions. He travelled and hunted extensively around the
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In 1877 Neumann took a sabbatical from his life as a merchant and trader to pursue his passion for hunting. He headed for the big game grounds of Swaziland and the low veldt of eastern
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in 1897 where he recuperated and enjoyed his notoriety for the following two years. As was in his nature he pursued a peripatetic existence. He visited the Macleod stronghold of
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we have seldom read a more exciting narrative than this, and the story of many hairbreadth escapes is told with a straightforward simplicity that commands implicit credence
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inhabitants, and the prospect of a gold rush was encouraged. It does not seem to have proved a fruitful period for the young Neumann, who had returned to Natal by 1872.
102:(12 June 1850 – 29 May 1907) was an English explorer, hunter, soldier, farmer and travel writer famous for his exploits in Equatorial East Africa. In 1898 he published 348:, a distance of 450 miles from Mombasa and nine weeks by foot. Once he had established his depot Neumann was ready to initiate the hunting using his collection of 1039: 633:
River area of the Protectorate. This was agreed at the end of May, but the grant was never enacted as on 29 May after writing a brief note Neumann committed
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was ascribed. He returned to Mombasa with the ivory and the specimens in October 1896 in poor physical health and sporting an injured and withered arm.
440:. Neumann was not one to play down his exploits and his memoirs were widely read by a public more than willing to lap up tales of derring-do from the 165:
The subsequent acquisition of property in Natal did little to assuage Neumann's inability to settle and according to his friend the artist and hunter
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xix, 455 pages, 8º. Reprinted by Abercrombie & Finch, New York, 1966; Books of Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 1982; Briar Patch Press, South Carolina, 1987.
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Neumann had believed. Neumann appears to have obfuscated in the hope that the Transvaal authorities in Pretoria would forget him which they did not.
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he returned to East Africa where he intended to resume his elephant hunting activities. In August 1901 he is recorded as visiting his old friend
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coast, Neumann found a town that was barely fifty years old with the demeanour of a frontier town. He took a job with a coffee planter near
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in the late 19th century was high and at its peak. It was, of course a disaster for the elephant but it provided much needed wealth into
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where it was believed large herds of elephants awaited. In late December 1893 at a leisurely pace he set out on a voyage of
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during 1903 and 1904 with diminishing returns. The ivory trade though still profitable was in decline as competition from
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terms of the trade generated but it did provide Neumann with ease of access to the hunting grounds of the interior.
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After an unsatisfactory period in South Africa where he was thwarted in his attempt to obtain a government post in
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life for him had really only begun in 1868: what had gone before, in his opinion, hardly counted. On arriving in
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in retribution for the confiscation of Maasai cattle by a previous expedition led by Neumann's hunter friend
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placed himself in the vanguard of British involvement within East Africa under the domineering leadership of
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border. In fact Neumann probably returned shortly after to Britain as he is recorded buying a large-bore,
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shooting party in late 1901 that was attended by several notable hunters of the period including
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country for five years periodically heading north to hunt bull elephants. He ranged through the
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to begin a career as an ivory trader. The aim of his fifty strong expedition was to travel to
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According to Millais early in 1902 he once again returned to East Africa where he stayed in
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in London with the intention of negotiating the grant of land and a government post in the
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made for an increasingly difficult political position. Neumann with his affinity for
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witnessed Neumann returning to South Africa where he enlisted in the newly formed
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The solitary Neumann had intent to return to East Africa and held a meeting with
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a rendezvous with the Swazi king to elicit his support against the Zulu King,
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Hunter away : the life and times of Arthur Henry Neumann, 1850-1907
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Hunter away : the life and times of Arthur Henry Neumann, 1850-1907
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He moved around the interior for the next few months collecting
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J. G. Millais, Obituary of Arthur Henry Neumann, June 1907.
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where they waited for the main party before travelling to
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During this troublesome period Neumann met and befriended
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Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2009).
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Sacker, Graham (1980). "Arthur Neumann – White Hunter".
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At the end of 1890 Neumann was part of an expedition by
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lasting fourteen months. Initially he followed the old
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river valley and then descending the foothills of the
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The Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society
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he made use of his time collecting specimens in the
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In 1869 his father who was from a wealthy family of
87: 79: 62: 42: 23: 287:. Heading west the party took time to hunt and in 171:After knocking about for some time, he settled in 118:, Bedfordshire, a village four miles east from 867:A. H. Neumann, letter to J. G. Millais c1905. 722: 8: 720: 718: 716: 714: 712: 710: 708: 706: 704: 702: 674: 672: 670: 668: 666: 625:, the senior diplomat in East Africa at the 948:Travel & Adventure in South East Africa 217:commenced. The defeat of British forces at 430:Elephant Hunting in East Equatorial Africa 415:Elephant Hunting in East Equatorial Africa 399:including a previously unrecorded race of 104:Elephant Hunting in East Equatorial Africa 92:Elephant Hunting in East Equatorial Africa 20: 990:People from Central Bedfordshire District 432:, a well-received autobiography that the 363:The worldwide demand for ivory from the 662: 316:At the end of 1893 Neumann returned to 961:Works by or about Arthur Henry Neumann 7: 1040:British expatriates in British Kenya 489:meant that he was given the rank of 245:Imperial British East Africa Company 505:, taking part in the relief of the 503:Lieutenant-General Douglas Cochrane 386:were stricken from the bite of the 271:to the East Africa Company fort at 565:and J.G. Millais whom he knew and 83:Hunter, author, soldier, explorer, 14: 1020:19th-century English male writers 469:In October 1899 the start of the 922:, London, Longmans, Green, 1919. 806:The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals 365:British East Africa Protectorate 199:Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod 31: 913:The Life of Frederick C. Selous 651:List of famous big game hunters 569:who he met for the first time. 1055:Suicides by firearm in England 1025:19th-century English explorers 908:, London, Edward Arnold, 1930. 637:by gunshot at his lodgings in 1: 950:, London, Rowland Ward, 1898. 529:, now Acting Commissioner of 509:. He was also present at the 1015:19th-century English writers 614:in April 1907. Millais' son 511:Battle of the Tugela Heights 16:British explorer (1850–1907) 1010:19th-century travel writers 754:. London: Longmans, Green. 378:His long term aim to reach 312:Arthur Henry Neumann c1902. 247:. Neumann from his base in 1071: 517:Final years in East Africa 507:besieged town of Ladysmith 146:shortly before the deadly 110:Early life and exploration 915:, London, Longmans, 1918. 906:Early Days in East Africa 901:, London, Witherby, 1932. 899:Big Game Shooting Records 483:South African Light Horse 350:Gibbs-Farquharson rifles. 30: 1035:Royal Fusiliers officers 933:. London: Rowland Ward. 686:. London: Rowland Ward. 551:John Rigby & Company 1050:Suicides in Westminster 926:Neumann, A. H. (1898). 920:Wanderings and Memories 794:magazine, 15 June 1895. 752:Wanderings and Memories 750:Millais, J. G. (1919). 679:Neumann, A. H. (1898). 58:, Bedfordshire, England 1030:English travel writers 557:. He was present at a 553:whilst staying at the 448:, Edmund Caldwell and 313: 279:, close to modern day 144:Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal 37:Arthur Neumann in 1897 881:Brown, Monty (1993). 836:Edinburgh Review 1899 727:Brown, Monty (1993). 543:double-barreled rifle 493:under the command of 311: 261:Sir William Mackinnon 420:Neumann returned to 213:In January 1879 the 114:Neumann was born in 100:Arthur Henry Neumann 25:Arthur Henry Neumann 1005:Explorers of Africa 696:xix, 455 pages, 8º. 495:Colonel Julian Byng 450:George Edward Lodge 446:John Guille Millais 167:John Guille Millais 623:James Hayes Sadler 455:wildlife of Africa 403:to which the name 336:before traversing 314: 181:Hunter and soldier 527:Frederick Jackson 499:Natal Field Force 406:Bubalis Neumannii 369:Equatorial Africa 298:Frederick Jackson 97: 96: 75:, London, England 1062: 1000:Elephant hunters 965:Internet Archive 942: 918:Millais, J. G., 911:Millais, J. G., 904:Jackson, F. J., 897:Barclay, E. 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Brown. 698: 661: 660: 658: 655: 654: 653: 646: 643: 639:central London 606: 603: 598:Ndorobo people 518: 515: 475:Boer Republics 466: 463: 417: 411: 397:British Museum 346:Nyambeni Range 332:route through 305: 302: 239: 236: 215:Anglo-Zulu War 182: 179: 124:Wadham College 111: 108: 95: 94: 89: 85: 84: 81: 77: 76: 70:(aged 56) 64: 60: 59: 44: 40: 39: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1067: 1056: 1053: 1051: 1048: 1046: 1045:1907 suicides 1043: 1041: 1038: 1036: 1033: 1031: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1021: 1018: 1016: 1013: 1011: 1008: 1006: 1003: 1001: 998: 996: 993: 991: 988: 986: 983: 981: 978: 977: 975: 966: 962: 959: 958: 954: 949: 945: 940: 936: 932: 931: 924: 921: 917: 914: 910: 907: 903: 900: 896: 892: 888: 884: 879: 878: 874: 864: 861: 857: 851: 848: 842: 839: 833: 830: 825: 821: 817: 815:9780801893049 811: 807: 800: 797: 793: 788: 785: 781:(3): 148–151. 780: 776: 769: 766: 761: 757: 753: 746: 743: 738: 734: 730: 723: 721: 719: 717: 715: 713: 711: 709: 707: 705: 703: 699: 693: 689: 685: 684: 675: 673: 671: 669: 667: 663: 656: 652: 649: 648: 644: 642: 640: 636: 632: 628: 624: 619: 617: 616:Raoul Millais 613: 604: 602: 599: 595: 591: 587: 584:and northern 583: 579: 575: 570: 568: 564: 560: 556: 552: 548: 544: 540: 536: 532: 528: 524: 516: 514: 512: 508: 504: 500: 496: 492: 488: 484: 480: 479:Great Britain 476: 472: 464: 462: 460: 456: 451: 447: 443: 439: 435: 431: 427: 423: 416: 412: 410: 408: 407: 402: 398: 394: 389: 385: 381: 376: 375: 370: 366: 361: 359: 355: 351: 347: 343: 339: 335: 331: 327: 323: 319: 310: 303: 301: 299: 295: 290: 286: 282: 278: 274: 270: 266: 265:Lake Victoria 262: 257: 254: 250: 246: 237: 235: 232: 228: 223: 220: 216: 211: 209: 204: 200: 195: 191: 188: 180: 178: 176: 174: 168: 163: 161: 157: 153: 149: 145: 141: 137: 132: 127: 125: 121: 117: 109: 107: 105: 101: 93: 90: 88:Notable works 86: 82: 78: 74: 65: 61: 57: 45: 41: 34: 29: 22: 19: 947: 928: 919: 912: 905: 898: 882: 863: 850: 841: 832: 805: 799: 787: 778: 774: 768: 751: 745: 728: 681: 620: 608: 578:Lorian Swamp 571: 567:Abel Chapman 520: 473:between the 468: 437: 429: 419: 414: 404: 377: 373: 362: 358:Meru country 315: 258: 241: 224: 212: 196: 192: 184: 170: 164: 152:Umvoti River 148:Borer Beetle 128: 113: 103: 99: 98: 91: 68:(1907-05-29) 53:12 June 1850 18: 985:1907 deaths 980:1850 births 631:Guaso Nyiro 590:Abyssinians 586:Gwaso Nyiro 582:Lake Rudolf 574:Mount Kenya 380:Lake Rudolf 326:serendipity 269:Taru Desert 238:East Africa 219:Isandhlwana 73:Westminster 66:29 May 1907 974:Categories 939:1061626850 692:1061626850 657:References 555:Union Club 539:Abyssinian 491:lieutenant 401:hartebeest 80:Occupation 49:1850-06-12 854:Sabur is 824:270129903 792:The Field 549:gunsmith 547:Southwark 545:from the 523:Transvaal 459:zoologist 277:Dagoretti 187:Transvaal 173:Swaziland 156:Transvaal 131:Liverpool 116:Hockliffe 56:Hockliffe 891:48761545 737:48761545 645:See also 487:Zulu War 471:Boer War 465:Boer War 395:for the 338:Ukambani 273:Machakos 208:Cetewayo 963:at the 930:Rudolph 760:2111470 683:Rudolph 635:suicide 612:Horsham 594:Somalis 559:Norfolk 535:Entebbe 422:Britain 334:Kibwezi 330:caravan 322:Ndorobo 318:Mombasa 281:Nairobi 249:Mombasa 227:Limpopo 138:on the 937:  889:  822:  812:  758:  735:  690:  531:Uganda 501:under 442:Empire 388:Tsetse 294:Maasai 285:Kisumu 136:Durban 384:asses 354:ivory 289:Samia 140:Natal 935:OCLC 887:OCLC 820:OCLC 810:ISBN 756:OCLC 733:OCLC 688:OCLC 592:and 477:and 342:Tana 231:Sabi 229:and 160:Zulu 63:Died 43:Born 533:in 976:: 818:. 779:19 777:. 701:^ 665:^ 641:. 580:, 461:. 360:. 210:. 169:: 106:. 941:. 893:. 858:? 826:. 762:. 739:. 694:. 51:) 47:(

Index

Arthur Neumann in 1897
Hockliffe
Westminster
Hockliffe
Leighton Buzzard
Wadham College
Liverpool
Durban
Natal
Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal
Borer Beetle
Umvoti River
Transvaal
Zulu
John Guille Millais
Swaziland
Transvaal
Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod
74th Highlanders
Cetewayo
Anglo-Zulu War
Isandhlwana
Limpopo
Sabi
Imperial British East Africa Company
Mombasa
Frederick Lugard
Sir William Mackinnon
Lake Victoria
Taru Desert

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