JOHN DUNN, THE "SCOTCH ZULU CHIEF."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5496, 28 June 1879, Page 7

JOHN DUNN, THE "SCOTCH ZULU CHIEF."

The name of John Dunn has often been mentioned in connection with affairs in Zululand. Dunn, up to quite a recent date, occupied the position of one of Cetewayo's "indunas," or chief councillors. He is only a Zulu "by adoption," his father, who is said to have been o! Scotch extraction, having been a medic il practitioner at Natal. The elder Dunn was anxious that hie son shonld enter upon a seafaring career, bat as John's inclinations did not rnn in that direction, he declined to fall in with the arrangement, and at length made his way into Zulnland. DuriDg a struggle which took place between Cetewayq and his brother Umbulazi, arising out of a dispute as to the order o£ succession to King Panda, John Dnnn adopted the cause of Umbulazi, a division of whose army he commanded at the engagement at Dondudusaka, in which the warriors of Cetewayo proved victorious. The exploits of the "Scotch Zulu Chief," as Dunn has been called, were noiaea about, and Cetewayo made advance to him, which were accepted, and Dunn, once more became settled among the ZulUB. He soon attained a paramount influence over Cetewayo, who has acted on his advice on several occasions. He was noted as the largest trader in Zululand, and boasted of a considerable number of adherents who were subject to. his authority alone. His lawful epouse, who re not a Kaffir, used to reside, bo eaye a correspondent of the Cape Arnus at a "splendid little place" within half-a-dozen miles from Fort Pearson. Dunn, however, appears to have been polygamic in his tastes, for he is also reported to be the hnaband of fifteen or sixteen native women, whose issue represent quite a patriarchal total. He has not discarded the garb of hie ancesters, but dresses well and tastily, and might easily be taken for a geritleman-fariner, or a successful eogar-planter. He is of a medium height, and is in the prime of life. On iihe outbreak of the present war, Dunn determined to leave the country, and without any delay got bis people together and crossed the Tngela, under pretence of going to the coast with hia cattle. He was interviewed on the 17th of January, at Fort Pearson, by the correspondent before alluded to, who eaye that he is "about as agreeable a man as one could meet within a day's march." ~ >