Natal

Retief had descended the mountains with a small group of men and had been given the news that Dingane the Zulu king had given them most of Southern Natal. The trekkers had heard the good news and were streaming towards the Drakensberg passes - unbeknownst to them that at that very time, Louis Tregardt was doing the same thing 200 miles to the north.

The trekkers however were unaware that Retief had been unable to meet with Dingane personally because the Tugela River that marked the border between Natal and Zululand had been in flood. It was only as a result of a shouted conversation with Zulus across the river that he gained the impression that the land was free to settle.

Potgieter and Uys very reluctantly followed the Maritz trekkers over the mountains. Potgieter in particular was filled with foreboding that there would be great trouble in Natal.

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