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- This thesis is a result of historical-linguistic research into the origin and composition of Zulu place names in the districts of Mapumulo ·and Eshowe. It embraces place names in the Zulu language and names of places situated in areas in Natal which are traditionally Zulu and Lata territories and which, according to proposals for consolidation of areas in Northern Natal, will from part of Kwa-Zulu. In addition to the historical and cultural origin of the names of about 130 places, the majority of which I visited personally for research purposes, I also explain the linguistic composition of these place names. Place names in my thesis do not only mean names of established towns, villages, settlements, railway stations and halts, but also names of rivers, creeks, mountains, valleys, hills, gateways ("poorts"), forests, etc. Most of the names are closely connected with the history of Northern Natal and its peoples in general, and, in particular, the historical development of the Zulu nation under successive kings. Consequently, I have considered it necessary to devote a chapter to ;1 brief outline of the history of the Zulus and Lalas and their contact with European settlers, among whom were British, Voortrekkers and missionaries of various nationalities. Familiar place names in Northern Natal the origin of which has been investigated and ascertained are, amongst others, Eshowe, Mapumulo, Gingindlo7u, Kwa-Bulawayo, Thukela (Tugela), Matikulu, Umhlali, Kwa-Mondi, Nkwalini, Umvoti, Gezinsila, the Mahlongwa River (in the Kranskop area) and Mamba, a tributary of the Tugela River. In order to make readers conversant with the location of the places involved in my project, a map has been provided on which the places in the two districts are shown. In the thesis the location of places is provided according to the wind directions .• This information is correlated with particulars on the map. Khangelani Eshowe 25 SW, for example, means that Khangelani is situated 25 km south-west of Eshowe town. In my linguistic description of the place names I have devised a definite system of classification and applied it consistently. The name Mthandeni (originally eMthandeni) for example, has been classified under names which contain the imperative mood. This chapter is followed by an alphabetical list of place names in which each place name has been explained and discussed. In cases of differing explanations of the origin of place names I have provided the alternative without committing myself as to which explanation should be accepted as authentic. The place names involved in this investigation are mainly Bantu language place names. Therefore the terminology used here involves terms as they are used in the Bantu philology in the Republic of South Africa. The linguistic analysis of the various place names is provided with a view to determine the origin of each place name. I have therefore endeavoured to clarify the relevant morphological formatives. The analysis of, for instance, the stem into root and terminative (suffix) is not of linguistic importance. It does not contribute to the explanation of the derivation of a place name. Only formatives which are explanatory are analysed and discussed.
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