ZULULAND, a country of south-east Africa, forming the north-eastern part of the province of Natal, in the Union of South Africa. The "Province of Zululand," as it was known from 1898 to 1910, lies between 26° 50' and 29° 15' S. and 3o° 4o' and 33° E. The country has an area of 10,427 sq.m., and in 1921 the natives numbered 250,829 and the white inhabitants 3,985. Zululand in cludes, in the north, the country of the Ama Tonga, Zaambauland and other small territories not part of the former Zulu kingdom, and stretches north from the lower Tugela to the southern frontier of Portuguese East Africa. It is bounded on the south east by the Indian ocean, on the north and north-west by the Utrecht and Vryheid districts of Natal, and by Swaziland. For an account of the physical features, geology, climate, flora, fauna and general geography see under NATAL and SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF.
Although incorporated in Natal, much of Zululand is held as native reserves. Besides a small settlement of Dutch farmers, large sugar plantations have been developed under European con trol in the last sixty years. Crown reserves of land for native use are still considerable though much reduced. European influence has, however,modified native life, but the tribal organization continues, with its elaborate system of laws regulating the inheritance of personal property (which consists chiefly of cattle). Complexity arises from the practice of polygamy and the exchange of cattle made upon marriage. The social organization is almost patriarchal.
(X.) At what period the Zulu (one of a number of closely allied septs) first reached the country to which they have given their name is uncertain ; they were probably settled in the valley of the White Umfolosi river at the beginning of the i 7th century, and they take their name from a chief who flourished about that time. By certain shipwrecked Europeans they were described as very proud and haughty, careful in the preparation of food, very cleanly in person and keeping strict watch over their women. That was in 1756. At the close of the r8th century the Zulu were an unim portant tribe, numbering a few thousands only. At that time the most powerful of the neighbouring tribes was the Umtetwa (mTetwa or Aba-Tetwa), which dwelt in the country north-east of the Tugela. Its ruler was a chief who had had in early life an
adventurous career and was known as Dingiswayo (the Wanderer). He divided the young men of his tribe into impis (regiments), and the Umtetwa became a formidable military power. In 1805 he was joined by Chaka (Tshaka, born c. 1783), the son of the Zulu chief Senzangokona ; on the latter's death in 1810 Chaka, through the influence of Dingiswayo, was chosen as ruler of the Ama-Zulu, though not the rightful heir. About 1812 Dingiswayo was captured and put to death by Zwide, chief of the Undwandwe clan.
Chaka and Dingaan.—After Dingiswayo's death the Um tetwa army then placed themselves under Chaka, who not long afterwards conquered the Undwandwe. By the incorporation of these tribes Chaka made the Zulu a powerful nation. He strengthened the regimental system adopted by Dingiswayo and perfected the discipline of his army. A new order of battle was adopted—the troops being massed in crescent formation, with a reserve in the shape of a parallelogram ready to strengthen the weakest point. This order of battle was not, however, entirely new to the Bantu and probably Chaka's greatest innovation was the introduction of the stabbing assegai. At the same time the size of the shield was increased, the more completely to cover the body of the warrior. Military kraals were formed for the warriors.
Chaka had but two ways of dealing with the tribes with whom he came in contact ; either they received permission to be incor porated in the Zulu nation or they were attacked. In the latter case the only persons spared were young girls and growing lads. About 1820, after the Zulu had conquered Natal, Mosilikatze (properly Umsilikazi), a general in the Zulu army, having incurred Chaka's wrath by keeping back part of the booty taken in an expedition, fled with a large following across the Drakenberg. Mosilikatze was not of the Zulu tribe proper, and he and his fol lowers became known as the Matabele. Chaka's own dominions coincided almost exactly with the limits of Zululand and Natal.