Origins of Empangeni: rev. Aldin Grout's mission station Inkanyesi on the Mpangeni river May 1984 - 25 July 1842.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Eerw. Aldin Grout het vir 'n kort tydperk tussen Junie 1840 en Julie 1842 sendingwerk onder die Zoeloes in Natal gedoen. Met sy hoofkwartier by Inkanyesi - die oorsprong van die huidige Empangeni - het hy onder moeilike omstandighede die evangelie begin verkondig. Die verhoudinge tussen Grout en die Zoeloekoning, Mpande, het egter spoedig verswak a.g.v. Grout se hooghartige houding en Mpande se wantroue in die motiewe van die sendeling. Dit was veral Grout se aanmoediging aan Zoeloes om hulle onder sy sorg op die sendingstasie te vestig wat tot Mpande se aanval en vernietiging van Inkanyesi gelei het.• Summary: From June 1840 till July 1842 Rev. Aldin Grout carried out mission work among the Zulus in Natal. His headquarters were at Inkanyesi (the origin of present day Empangeni). The conditions under which he operated were difficult. The relationship between Grout and the Zulu king, Mpande, deteriorated rapidly as a results of Grout's arrogant attitude and Mpande's mistrust of Grout's motives. Specifically, Grout's action in encouraging Zulus to settle on the mission station under his care provoked Mpande's attack on and destruction of Inkanyesi.