White Induna

About the Book

This is the latest book written by Richard Sampson, an authority on the early Europeans to visit what is now Zambia. He has now turned his attention to the pre-Colonial period and concentrates on the hunters and traders who were the first Europeans to establish themselves in the country. The casualties among these people were high, not because of war or trouble with the Africans, but due to most of them developing fatal sicknesses, the sources of which were unknown to them at that time. George Westbeech was the most notable of these hardy people because he had both the personality and the command of the African languages which gained the respect of the ordinary African as well as the tribal chiefs who were ruling both sides of the Zambezi River. The Barotse people appointed him an Induna (a Senior Headman) which gave him considerable influence and power in the country which he exercised with both wisdom and good judgement.

About the Author

RICHARD SAMPSON, a Londoner, after service in the Royal Navy during World War Two, spent 25 years in Zambia (previously called Northern Rhodesia.) He served several years as a Councillor on the Lusaka City Council and two terms as Mayor of the City. In recognition of his services he was made a lifetime Alderman. In addition he was an officer in the Northern Rhodesian army reserve, seeing active service during the early troubles in the Belgium Congo and the Lumpa Church uprising in the Northern Rhodesia. He moved to the United States in 1972, continuing to take a close interest in the history of Zambia, while in addition to articles he has written several books on the early European settlers.