Note 158 — VIII.

The position, at the time, seems to have been this: As soon as Bambata, fleeing from Mpanza, was known to have entered Zululand, the local authorities applied the principle of communal responsibility, under which every Chief and his adherents became bound to co-operate with Government officials (if any) and one another in apprehending the fugitive. No Government officials being available on the spot at the outset, Chiefs were expected to assist one another. When, however, instead of running from district to district, Bambata made for the Nkandhla forests and there concealed and established himself, it devolved, under Native law, on Sigananda to make the arrest if he could. Mr. Saunders regarded this Chief as able to at least drive the rebels out of the forests by a process of starvation. Hence, qualification of the first order, by Chiefs in general being no longer required to assist Sigananda, but being held responsible merely for arresting Bambata should he escape to or through their respective wards.