 In addition, soldiers who were issued a musket firearm were provided only four rounds of ammunition at any one time.The bulk of the NNC fought with traditional African spears and shields and only about 20% of the unit had some sort of gun.At the beginning of the Anglo-Zulu War in January 1879, the NNC's commander, Colonel Durnford, frequently voiced his opinion that the NNC troops should be used as scouts for the advancing British army, as their appearance (similar to Zulu warriors) would confuse Zulu scouts.