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 CHAPTER XVII

THE ZULU REBELLION

In 1906, just before the Asiatic Law Amendment Ordinance was passed by the Provisional Government, the Zulu rebellion began, and an offer was made by the Natal Indian Congress, at Mr. Gandhi's suggestion, to raise a Stretcher-bearer Corps for service with the troops, as had been done in the late Boer War. Difficulty was experienced, however, and the matter was delayed.

In June, owing to the uncertainty of the political situation, Mr. Gandhi broke up his home, and took his wife and family to Natal. Somewhat to his surprise, on reaching Durban, he found that the offer of a Bearer Corps had been accepted, and that the men were waiting for him to take command. The Corps numbered twenty free Indians. Mr. Gandhi was offered the rank of Sergeant-Major, with three Sergeants and one Corporal under him.

With his usual whole-heartedness, he threw himself into to the work, and during the month that followed, he and his men were present at nearly all