Amatongaland, or ''Tongaland'', was a district of Zululand, located in the far north of the Zulu territory, bordered on the west by the Lebombo Mountains. The country is a continuation of the lowlands of northern Zululand , not rising above 300 ft. C. P. Lucas, B.A. A Historical Geography of the British Colonies, Vol. IV: South and East Africa, part II; publ. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1898; pp.58-59 The district comprised 1280 mi² (2060 km²). The inhabitants were the Amatonga sub-group of the

Zulu people Zulu people (; zu, amaZulu) are a Nguni ethnic group native to Southern Africa. The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group and nation in South Africa, with an estimated 10–12 million people, living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal ...

. British suzerainty or overlordship was asserted by a treaty made with Queen Regent Zambilli of Amatongaland in 1887. The population at the time was estimated at 38,000, mainly Amatonga (alternative name Maputa).John Noble C.M.G. (editor). Illustrated Official Handbook of the Cape and South Africa, publ. C. Jute & Co., London, Cape Town, 1896; pp. 406-407 In 1889, the British set-up a commission which defined the boundary between Amatongaland and Zululand, the latter territory having been annexed as a British protectorate in 1887. The possession of Tongaland was strongly desired by the Boers since it would furnish them an outlet to the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

. In order to disrupt that plan

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

placed Tongaland under British protection on 11 June 1895. The portion of Amatongaland which came under the British protectorate lay between the Portuguese territory in the north and the north-east frontier of Zululand, in the south. British administration was set-up by an Order in Council dated 29 June 29 1896 empowering a Special Commissioner of Amatongaland or Maputaland to appoint executive and judicial officers for the territory, and to legislate by Proclamation, having regard in civil matters to native law. The Special Commissioner was the also the Governor of Zululand, who was also Governor of the colony of Natal. Amatongaland was annexed to Zululand on 27 December 1897, and then promptly annexed to Natal along with Zululand the same year.

References

British Empire History of South Africa 1897 in England Regions of Africa {{SouthAfrica-hist-stub