"What have I done, Dingaan? You think you can rule this land, but I can already see the 'swallows' (white people) coming. You will not rule when I am dead, for the white people are already here."

On 6 February 1838, Pieter Retief and his 100 men negotiated with Dingaan about settling in Natal. At the conclusion of the treaty, Dingaan had all the Zulu regiments march out for a great dance of friendship. At the command "Bambani aba Thakath!" (Kill the sorcerers), all the Boers were slaughtered, and then almost all of the 1,000 unsuspecting family members were also killed.