The Orphan And The Ants Part 19 � The Tautona

We last left off with the c. 1827 defeat of Kgosi More’s Bakwena bagaMagopa, who were the mother morafe of Botswana’s Bakwena, Bangwaketse, and Bangwato, by Mzilakazi’s Amandebele.

Thereafter other merafe were forced to submit. Among these was the Bakgatla bagaKgafela, who paid tribute and herded the cattle of the Amandebele Nkosi.  The BagaKgafela ruler, Pilane, tried to break out of this subservience by forging an alliance with the Griqua. In June 1831 the Griqua Kaptien Barends Barends had quietly scouted Mzilakazi’s domains, while courting allies. Finding that many of Mzilakazi’s regiments were occupied in raids west of the Limpopo, Barends rallied a commando of over 400 armed Griqua horsemen who pushed north to link up with Pilane’s Bakgatla and others. Meeting little resistance as they advanced, the commando captured great herds of cattle, a feat that distracted them from their military mission.

The Griqua believed that the Amandebele were afraid to challenge their guns. Indeed, Mzilakazi had no intention pitting assegai against musket fire in daylight. Having initially been taken by surprise, he instead he lured his opponents into complacency, while shadowing their every movement.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

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