We are only Tourists here.

It seems strange being mere tourists, doing touristy things in Africa.

We remember learning at school about the many battles that the British fought here in the 19th century against the Zulus and Boers, and we had the chance to visit some of the Battlefields over a long weekend. Probably the best known battle was the subject of Michael Caine’s first film, Zulu , which was about the defence of the Rorke’s Drift Mission station in 1879. Not only was this of interest from a historical perspective (when about 100 British (mainly Welsh) soldiers held out against 4000 Zulus), but the site and original mud brick buildings might also have been similar to the first Mission station established in 1900 at Mvumi – out in the wilds of African countryside, miles from any other buildings other than scattered native huts. Unlike today when Mvumi has grown to a village of 12,000 or more people.

The defence of Rorkes Drift immediately followed the massacre of 1,000 British (mainly Welsh) troops at Isandlwana, about 9 miles away (the subject of a later film, Zulu Dawn). Our guide, Foy, explained the history of the war, which was initiated by the British in order to conquer territory. The Zulu king did all he could to prevent it and never understood why his friends, the British, wanted to fight.

Apart from that we are mainly lazying around. Malcolm has been working on some DVD’s including a video of the service at St Andrew’s Church on 4th October which he has posted on YouTube. It can be found by searching for ‘the crawford clan’ or by URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjXmZX3zCmE

On Sunday we return to Tanzania prior to preparing to return to England.