HC Deb 24 July 1883 vol 282 cc289-90
MR. DILLWYN

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Mr. Henriquez Shepstone was recently sent on a special mission to Cetywayo; and, if so, whether he will lay Mr. Shepstone's Report upon the Table of the House?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

Mr. Henriquez Shepstone was recently sent on a special mission to Cetewayo. His Report is already on the Table, and will be distributed in a few days.

MR. J. LOWTHER

I should like to ask the hon. Gentleman whether the Government have any news, confirmatory or otherwise, of the intelligence that has been received of the defeat of Cetewayo?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

The hon. Member for the North Riding of Yorkshire (Mr. Guy Dawnay) has a Question to this effect on the Paper, and I will answer it now. We have received a telegram from Sir Henry Bulwer, in which he says that Mr. Osborne, the British Resident in the Reserve Territory, reports that information had just been received by him that an attack was made upon Ulundi by a strong force, that Cetewayo's forces were defeated, and that Cetewayo himself escaped on horseback, though wounded. The attack was stated to be made by Usibepu in retaliation for an attack and heavy loss inflicted on his rebellious people by Cetewayo's forces a few days previously.

MR. R. N. FOWLER

Is anything known as to whether Ulundi has been burned?

MR. EVELYN ASHLEY

That is all the information we have.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Can the hon. Gentleman state to the House the number of human lives which have been sacrificed in consequence of Cetewayo's restoration to power?