CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE DT 958 fSss *" ""'''®'®'**y ^^^'^^ ^^mnifi^i^ul? ^"^^ ^OW we got it : 924 028 618 522 olm ^ The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028618522 MATABELELAND MATABELELAND AND HOW WE GOT IT WITH NOTES ON THE OCCUPATION OF MASHUNALAND, AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE 1893 CAMPAIGN BT THE BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY^ THE AD^ JOINING BRITISH TERRITORIES AND PROTECTORATES BY Captain CHAS. L. NORRIS NEWMAN ^* Reuter^s" Special Commissioner AUTHOR OF "in ZULULAND WITH THE BRITISH,*' " WITH THE BOERS IN 1880-81," " THE BASUTOS AND THEIR COUNTRY," "south AFRICAN TALES," ETC. WITH SKETCH MAP, AND PLANS OF THE FIGHTS LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN PATERNOSTER SQUARE. 1895 All rights reserved. EDICATIOtX' TO MY WIFE, — THE LOVING COMPANION DURING MANY YEARS* TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE IN AFRICA,— I DEDICATE THESE NOTES ON THE LATEST EXTENSION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, IN GRATITUDE FOR HER UNFAILING SYMPATHY AND RESOURCEFUL HELP IN ALL MY VARIED WORK OF THE PAST TWO DECADES. ^-< INTRODUCTION. No excuse should be needed for the putting together and publication of the facts and events as they occurred during the addition of Ma- shunaland and Matabeleland to our already extensive possessions in South Africa, as the Dark Continent has always had a considerable amount of interest, religious, commercial, and general, for all of our own nationality ; and, although many may — nay, perhaps still do — cavil at some of the means taken towards the end, yet I venture to think that while, on the one hand, we cannot exactly be proud of every detail in the course of our dealings with the native races — here or elsewhere — yet, on the other, even the most Socialistic Radical must rejoice when he sees that through the far- sightedness and promptness of one man — Vll J A viii INTRODUCTION, exercised of course with more than purely philanthropic aims — a route has been kept open to the interior for " the Flag " and the trade which naturally follows in its rear ; and that the harmful grasp of Portugal on the one side and Germany on the other has not been allowed to shut us out from communication with the centre and north of this great and important portion of the Eastern Hemisphere. Doubtless the tale might have been told in a more able manner and poetic vein ; but, if a residence in all parts of South Africa of nearly twenty years* journalistic wanderings — the en- joyment of many opportunities open to few — and a thorough acquaintance with all the oc- currences during that time does not qualify me for the task, at any rate I may claim that it enables me at least to guarantee that my book contains ''the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth " ; and I may therefore hope that it will prove useful, if only as a reference, to those — and they are to be numbered by the hundred thousand — whose interests, material and otherwise, are bound up with the present INTRODUCTION. ix progress and also the grand future which even the most pessimistic must, I think, acknowledge is before the land of my adoption : " Afric's sunny strand." CHAS. L. NORRIS NEWMAN. BULAWAYO, MATABELELAND, 1 894. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. THE RUSH FOR AFRICA .... I II. THE RISE OF THE MATABELE NATION . ' lO III. THE RISE OF THE MATABELE NATION {continued) . 1 7 IV. THE TATI SETTLEMENT, GAZALAND, AND BAROTSE CONCESSIONS . . . . 26 V, BRITISH BECHUANALAND AND KGAMA's NOR- THERN PROTECTORATE . . -39 VI. ADVANCE OF PIONEER COLUMN AND OCCUPATION OF MASHUN ALAND . . . 55 VII. EVENTS (1890-3) LEADING UP TO THE ENTRY INTO MATABELELAND . . . '77 VIIL CONSTITUTION AND ADVANCE OF THE FORT SALISBURY AND FORT VICTORIA COLUMNS . 86 IX, RAAFF^S COLUMN, THE IMPERIAL FORCES, AND KGAMA's CONTINGENT , . . .101 ♦1 X. PURSUIT OF THE KING — DISASTER TO MAJOR WILSON'S PARTY . . . . II4 XI xii CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE XI. ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT — DIS- BANDMENT OF FORCES, AND OCCUPATION OF COUNTRY ... - 140 XII. NOTES ON KING LO BENGULA, HIS ARMY, > CHIEFS, AND PEOPLE. . . * ^53 XIII. MY OWN TRIP — INTERVIEWS AND COMMENTS ON THE CAMPAIGN — OFFICERS — ^ACTION OF HOME GOVERNMENT — ^THE HIGH COMMIS- SIONER — ATTITUDE OF MISSOINARIES AND TRADERS ..... 171 XIV. "l'envoi" ..... 204 APPENDICES . , . . .219 A. & B. Capt. Sir John Willoughby's Official Reports of the Two Fights. C. & D. The * Agreement and Concession. E. Returns of Horses and Ammunition used ; and killed and wounded in Campaign. F. Distances of Place to Place. LIST OF MAPS. PAGE MATABiLi WAR AREA . . . Facing page I ROUTES OF THE COLUMNS FROM FORTS CHARTER AND VICTORIA TO BULAWAYO , . .87 BATTLE OF CHANGANI , . . . .92 BATTLE OF IMBEM6ESE . . . .96 FIGHT ON RIVER SANGESI . . . . IO9 ROUTE-PLAN OF THE TWO PURSUIT PATROLS AFTER THE KING . . . . .114 I. THE RUSH FOR AFRICA. It will be generally admitted that the travels and discoveries of Baker, Speke, Grant, Living- stone, Stanley, and Cameron, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, and the causes which led to the Brussels Conference of 1876, were all factors in the rush for Africa, and its parti- tion among the European Powers ; added to which it must not be forgotten that, after the big wars in Europe in 1870-6, the various nations concerned, either directly or indirectly, took a considerable time to get back to their status quo ante, and then quickly found out that, with the possibility of such slight events letting loose the '* dogs of war " over their 2 MA TABELELAND. heads, the only method of ensuring peace was to prepare for a reverse, and this was done;; with a vengeance ; so much so that the burden| put upon those peoples, where conscription was the rule, became almost too heavy to be borne,f crippling the resources of the nation, and causing quite a social ferment among the lower : classes, who, of course, felt the hardships the; most, and thus producing an increased growth| of Nihilism, Anarchist and Socialist et hoc genus omne. The attention of those among the ruling powers whose prescience was equal to the occasion, was therefore turned to some other outlet for public interest; and colonisation schemes and the extension, or in some cases the creation, of a colonial empire was hit upon, as giving a happy solution to many difficult problems. Navies were enlarged, and so work must be found for men and ships ; military training was compulsory, so attractive service must be pro- vided ; and it seems to have occurred to several nations, besides our own, that in no part of the world was there so much scope for action as in the adjoining continent of Africa, THE RUSH FOR AFRICA, 3 where, for years past, only Portugal, Great Britain, and Belgium had any large interests. It is true that France, Germany, Spain, and Italy had all, from time to time, acquired small footholds around the coast ; but the reason for the existence of these tiny, scattered stations was not very apparent ; and the benefit derived from them about on a par therewith. Then, again, the rapid extension of trade and increase in manufactures in Europe, and the gradual closing of the American markets, demanded fresh outlets for commerce ; and, combined with the schemes of philanthropists, who were anxious to deal a deathblow at the enormous and cruel slave system, which the tales brought home by explorers, travellers, missionaries, and others proved only too truly to exist in Central Africa, all added to and strengthened the reasons for the headlong rush to Africa which started with the foundation of the Congo Free State and is not yet finished. Any one looking at the map of Africa in 1879, when only the coast-line was dotted over with a few European settlements, and at the same continent as parcelled out among various European nations between that date and the 4 MATABELELAND. year of grace 1893, will be astonished at the enormous activity shown by Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and even Egypt alike, until now, with the excep- tion of the Sahara, there is nothing more left of Africa to annex or protect, the whole of it being divided into "spheres of action" under different European Protectorates ; and, as a matter of fact, it was only after other nations were turning their colonisation attempts to Africa that Great Britain woke up to the fact of its prior claim to such an important continent. With those portions on, or to the north of, the Equator, this book has little or nothing to do ; but in order to understand the progress of events and the importance of and manner of obtaining the recently acquired territories of Bechuanaland, the Protectorate, Gazalandy Mashunaland, and Matabeleland, it will be' necessary to give a brief notice of the occur- rences of the past ten years in South Africa i from the time of the handing back of the Transvaal to the Dutch Boer inhabitants, when the interior was little valued, the importance of \ the West Coast unrecognised, and the Imperial THE RUSH FOR AFRICA. 5 authorities — backed up by public opinion in Great Britain — ^were inclined to give up any- actual part in the government of South Africa, and leave the various competing interests to fight it out among themselves. The British public were thoroughly sick of our little native wars, in which valuable lives and money were wasted and spent without stint, only, it was said, for the benefit of the colonist ; and after the Transkeian, Zulu, Sekukuni, Morosi, and Basuto campaigns had been finished, with little glory, and still less direct return to John Bull, the policy of the Home Government was decidedly altered to one of letting things slide as much as possible, and matters were there- after allowed, for a short time, to take their own natural course in South Africa. The awakening came, however, in a ruder manner and quicker time than was expected. The intrigues of Portugal to get the Delagoa Bay Railway into its own hands, combined with the overtures of the Transvaal to the German Government for its active co-operation — politically and commercially — so as to counter- balance Great Britain's influence, and keep our nation out of the interior, and the endeavours 6 MA TABELELAND, of the same Government to get connected with an independent port either on the East or West Coast, were straws quickly showing which way the wind was blowing; and it is much to the credit of the Cape Colony that some of her statesmen were sagacious enough to see what was being aimed at, and ready enough to recognise in what manner these little schemes were to be prevented from being realised ; and after explanation and some delay the aid, both moral and physical, of the Imperial Government was asked for and obtained to assist in checking these antagonistic movements. The settlement of the Bechuana- land questions, arising through the establish- ment of two small Boer filibustering Republics in the midst of native territory — where a " Kilkenny cat " policy had been encouraged among the various small tribes inhabiting the country — was the first step in the right direc- tion ; and the Imperial expedition under General Sir Charles Warren soon put matters straight, and showed both the Transvaal Government and other nations that England, though slow to act, was always to be depended upon (to combine business with philanthropy), THE RUSH FOR AFRICA. 7 and protect the natives against the results of their own ignorant acts, as well as against the intrusion of outside land and cattle grabbers. The establishment of a British Protectorate over the adjoining native territory to the north, up to the Zambezi, under the rule of Kgama, chief of the Bamangwato, followed naturally, and thus secured to the Cape Colony a frontier outlet for its enterprising sons, as well as a route to the interior for trade and other kindred purposes, notwithstanding the unfortunate fact that, through selfish division of opinions among themselves — brought about mainly by party politics — ^the Cape Government, sad to admit, with the approbation of the Imperial authorities, had given Damaraland and the West Coast up to 17° south latitude and to 20° east longitude to the Germans, whose inadapt- ability for colonisation is unfortunate for them- selves, and whose chances for future improve- ment are not strengthened by the military* autocratic system of occupation now being carried out both in the East and West Coast territories. Again, beyond this, British missionary, ex- ploring, and hunting enterprises having already 8 MA TABELELAND. made acquaintance with the country to the North- East, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers, it was easily seen how valuable such an increase to our sphere of action would be, both commercially and politically ; and, with the discovery of the vast fields of gold in various parts of the Transvaal, and the knowledge ' '\ that, higher up, there were also unlimited possi- bilities in opening up the rich mineral resources, which it was known existed there, a treaty of friendship was made by the British Govern- ment with Lo Bengula, the King of the Matabeles and ruler of the adjoining subju- gated tribes of Mashunas and Makalakas, and shortly afterwards a concession was obtained from that chief for the exploitation of Mashuna- land. Had this treaty of friendship with the British Government, through the Rev. Mr. Moffat, not been executed at that time, it would have been too late, as envoys were then on the road from the Transvaal Government with a similar purpose, antagonistic to the interests of ; British rule. {Vide Appendix A.) Other concessions had already been granted by Lo Bengula to the Tati Gold Mining Com- pany and the Baines Fairbairn Grant ; but THE RUSH FOR AFRICA, 9 the new Chartered Company, with a powerful directorate and large capital, soon arranged with all others, and a pioneer force of 600 men and guns was raised, equipped, and sent up from Bechuanaland in 1890 by the British South Africa Chartered Company, under Colonel Pennefather, and led by Mr. F. C. Selous, the great hunter, than whom no living man, either native or European, knew more of the country between the two rivers — Limpopo and Zambezi, The making of this splendid march and subsequent occupation of the country is given in another chapter ; but whatever may be the final result, it brought about a collision first with the Portuguese, which was soon settled ; and, later on, with the Matabele, which is also finished. I have given, so far, a sketch of the general leading events which happened from 1882 to 1893 i^ South Africa. The following chapters will, I trust, place my readers in full possession of the various details attending them, and, as Matabeleland holds the place of honour, my next chapter will be devoted to the history of that late powerful tribe. II. RISE OF THE MATABELE NATION. Somewhere about the beginning of the nine- teenth century, shortly after the establishment, by Tshaka, of the great Zulu nation, a small semi-independent chief named Matshobane dwelt with his people, in the eastern portion of what is now the South African Republic. This chief, however, recognising the futility of resistance to the bloodthirsty Zulu tyrant^ voluntarily put himself under Tshaka's pro- tection, and thus saved his people from the devastation in which other adjoining tribes were swept away. To this man a son had been born, who, from various causes, soon became a great pet of the Zulu King's, and after manhood he was promoted to the high post of commander of an important Zulu regiment. This was Umsilikazi, or Mosele- lO RISE OF THE MATABELE NATION, ii katse, as he was termed by the Bechuana races. Tall, handsome, and brave, he distinguished himself greatly in bringing the Zulu army up to its high state of ef5ficiency, rapidly acquired great ascendancy over the native warriors, and became rich and powerful. His position, how- ever, soon caused jealousy to enter into his master's brain; and after an expedition, success- fully conducted against a distant tribe in Gaza- land, he was accused of not sending all the spoils back to Tshaka, who made this so-called act of rebellion an excuse for sending a large impi against them, with orders to kill Mosele- katse and all his people. Owing to secret advices from Zululand, the impi received suffi- cient warning, and the threatened chief re- treated with his men and a few women and cattle to the westward, falling ruthlessly upon the weak and comparatively unarmed Bechuana tribe en routCy sparing none, except girls and a few young men to carry their necessaries, until they reached the western portion of what is now the Transvaal, near the Molapo river, when, as he considered himself far enough off not to have cause to dread 1 2 MA TABELELAND, Tshaka's vengeance, Moselekatse chose a suit- able place, built military kraals, after the fashion of the Zulu King, and, with his 6,000 men, commenced sending out impis far and near to exterminate the surrounding tribes, and bringing back wives, cattle, and other plunder. These expeditions reached as far south as the Vaal river and Basutoland, where Moshesh was besieged, in 1831, on Thaba Bosigo ; but the Matabele had to retire without having effected their purpose, being reduced to great straits through want of provisions. Moshesh, the Basuto chief, hearing of this, sent them plenty of supplies, with messages to their chief that he desired to make a friendly alliance with Mosele- katse. The reports brought back by the de* feated army, though not altogether pleasing,, produced so great an effect on Moselekatse that he sent back his thanks to Moshesh, and never attacked him again. Having completely devastated the country around him for hundreds of miles, having also had several successful contests with the ma- rauding bands of native hunters, Griquas and Korannas, Moselekatse was visited in \^2f> by the Rev. Mr. Moffat, the first established RISE OF THE MATABELE NATION, 13 missionary at Kuruman among the Batlapins ; and the reverend gentleman acquired such an amount of influence over the Matabele chief- tain, that although the whole of Bechuanaland, and its tribes of Barolong, Bakwena, Baharutsi, and Bangwaketsi were nearly exterminated, Mr. Moffat s Batlapins were left alone. Two other missionaries of the French Protestant Mission had previously established themselves near Mosega, in 1829, among the Baharutsi tribe, whose chief was Mokatla ; but owing to Moselekatse's destruction of the Bechuanas, they had to relinquish their mission and retire to Motito, near Kuruman, where they rapidly gathered round them the flying remnants of the above unfortunate Bechuana tribes. Part of one Barolong tribe, however, under its young chief, Matlabe, joined Moselekatse, but remained only a short time under his severe discipline. Many English missionaries and travellers went over this country north of the Vaal about this period, including the Rev. J. Campbell, Dr. Philip, Dr. A. Smith, Capt. W. C. Harris, Mr. H. M. Methuen, Rev. J. J. Freeman, Mr. R. Gordon-Cuming, Gen. Thompson, and Mr. James Chapman, who pub- 1 4 MA TABELELAND. lished works of their travels, and who all unite in describing the utter desolation of the territory between the Vaal river and Mosele- katses country, which, to use the expressive words of one of the unfortunate deposed chief- tains, ''contained no master other than Mosele- katse and the lions." This state of perfect security and savage superiority in which Moselekatse lived, was, however, not to last long, as about 1836, parties of emigrant Boers left the Cape Colony and wended their way northwards, in order to free themselves from the detested yoke of the English Government ; and arriving at the Vet river — now Orange Free State — they found a small portion of the Batating tribe living there under Makwena, who was only too glad to gain such powerful allies, and willingly granted the country between the Vet and Vaal rivers to Commandant Potgieter, upon condition that his tribe were to receive a herd of cattle and be protected from the Matabele. Shortly after- wards, in May, a Boer hunting party was returning from the interior (where they had been successfully chasing the elephant) and was surrounded by several hundred Matabele ■'S RISE OF THE MATABELE NATION. 15 warriors and nearly all murdered. Another party, some distance away, had also fallen in with other Matabele warriors, and lost several lives. The survivors of the two parties joined, and being attacked in their laager — or hollow square built of waggons — by the Matabele, beat them back, slaying hundreds. The two broken impis then united and retreated to their chiefs kraal for reinforcements with the news of the Boer invasion. During the following months every precaution was taken by the Boers to strengthen their posi- tion and be ready to receive the returning Matabele impis ; and in October they were attacked by 5,000 Matabele warriors, under Kalipi, Moselekatses favourite general, and again beat them off, after prolonged fighting, although they lost nearly all their cattle and horses, sheep and goats. Another large party of emigrant Boers, under Commandant Maritz, now arrived on the scene, and made up a force of nearly 200 men, assisted by a Griqua captain, Pieter Davids, who had lost a daughter and nephew, captured alive by the Matabele, and Matlabe, the Barolong chief — who had lived with Moselekatse some time — and volun- 1 6 MATABELELAND. teered to act as guide. So secretly had the puni- tive expedition collected, and so ably was it guided, that on the 17th of January, 1837, they reached Moselekatse s military kraal at Mosega, and surprised the camp— but not the King. At this place, a few months earlier, three American missionaries, Messrs. Lindley, Venable, and Dr. Wilson, had taken up their abode with the chief's permission ; but later on Mosele- katse revoked this leave, and forbade his people to listen to them, leaving his kraal and estab- lishing himself at Kapayin, 50 miles further northwards, where his principal forces were under Kalipi, when the Boers attacked Mosega. After a short fight, during which the attacking party did not lose a man, nearly 500 Matabele were killed, all the kraals burnt, and the waggons, cattle, &c., retaken. So the Boers returned victoriously to the south of the Vaal, and with them went the American missionaries. III. THE RISE OF THE MATABELE {continUCd) DIFFI- CULTIES WITH THE BOERS. Other parties of Boers joining the advance trek, there were about i,ooo waggons between the Orange and Vaal rivers in May, 1837, so the Commandant-General, P. Retief, resolved to send another expedition against the Matabele, having previously sent messages to Mosele- katse to ask that he should agree to peace, provided all prisoners were released and pro- perty restored ; no answer to which was received. About this time, Dingaan, who had succeeded Tshaka, his brother — whom he had murdered — as King of the Zulus, sent a large impi against Moselekatse, and defeated the Matabele most decisively, killing one regiment almost entirely. These Zulus then returned to Zululand with a lot of cattle, among which were many belonging i8 MATABELELAND, to the Trek Boers; and this led to further complications between the Zulus and the emi- grants, with which, however, we have nothing further to do. Splits in the emigrant Boer camp occurring, Retief went off with one party to Natal ; and Commandants H. Potgieter and P. Uys got together a commando of 350 farmers, in two divisions, for another expedition against the Matabele, which journeyed north, and, in November, 1837, found Mondekula on the Marikiva at his military kraal of Kapayin, when they attacked him ; and in a series of fights, lasting over a week, they inflicted such heavy losses that that chief and his remaining warriors fled northwards beyond the Limpopo, and have never come south of this since then. Notwithstanding his heavy loss in men and cattle, Moselekatse soon established himself in the vicinity of Shiloh in a well-watered and wooded district full of game, and began the same policy of devastation and destruction on the surrounding peaceful tribes of Mashunas, Makalakas, and Maarwas as had distinguished his previous career, meeting the only check on his ambition from Kgama s father, Sekomi, on DIFFICULTIES WITH THE BOERS. 19 the south-south-west, and from the Barutsi on the north. On one occasion, when both Kgama and Lo Bengula were young men, a fight occurred about cattle raiding between the Matabeles and the Bamangwato near Ma- cloutsi, where Lo Bengula was slightly wounded in the neck with a bullet from Kgama's gun, the mark of which he bore until his death. After this time, however, Moselekatse always showed a desire to treat Englishmen well, and on one occasion thus addressed his subjects concerning the English : — '' These are the masters of the world. Don't you take notice how they sleep in the open country alone and unprotected, and are not afraid ? They are in my country one day ; they pass on to the towns of other chiefs ; they go fearlessly, for they bear ho malice, and are the friends of all. And when the great men in the white man's country send traders for my ivory, do you think they give me beautiful things in exchange because they could not take the ivory by force ? They could come and take it by force, and all my cattle also. And yet look at them ! They are humble and quiet and 20 MA TABELELAND. easily pleased. The English are the friends of Moselekatse, and they are the masters of the world." (" North of the Orange River," p. 312, Rev. J. Mackenzie.) The numerous visitors to his kraals and territory all speak in high terms of his friend- ship ; especially was this so of Dr. Livingstone, Thomas Baines, and Mr. Mackenzie. The old chief died in 1870, after severe fighting, in which the old Royal Regiment, the Zweng Mdaba, who sided with the eldest son, was entirely exterminated by the younger regiments; and the eldest one, Kuriman, having disappeared, he was supceeded by his second son, Lo Ben- gula, who, while fearing the white man, became more bloodthirsty and autocratic than his sire had ever been — ^at any rate during the later years of his life ; and from time to time he has killed off all his relatives, including uncles, aunts, brothers,, sisters, and cousins innumerable ; each year also •^sending out powerful impis to raid upon the rsurrounding tribes, killing of5f the men, women, and children, sparing only the boys for incor- poration with his regiments as warriors, and the best-looking girls as favourites *for himself or wiyes for his subjects. DIFFICULTIES WITH THE BOERS. 21 III this way, although his people must number about 300,000 souls, and his army consists of from 12,000 to 16,000 warriors, yet, as a nation, I think it is granted that the Matabeles have deteriorated and are of anything but pure blood, though the Rev. Mr. Helm denies this inter- mixture through marriage — at any rate among the Indunas and elder men ; while with all their apparent bravery and success against ad- joining tribes, they have proved themselves to be but unworthy successors of their brave fore* fathers, and have never been pitted against warriors of equal training or strength. Whether Lo Bengula did not want, or could not see his way clear, to take the advice of the many good men who visited his country from time to time will now never be known ; but, with all his faults, he has always shown a desire to follow in his father^s footsteps with regard to his treatment of Englishmen. It is said he was grieved at our reverses in the Transvaal, knowing the Dutch Boer and hating him ; while the successive inroads on his territory by Portuguese and Germans were also matters for alarm, although he feared neither nation. He must, however, have fore- 22 MATABELELAND. seen what was coming when, after the advent of the Warren expedition, the British Protec- torate was extended up to the northern boun- dary of Kgama*s territory and the Shashi river, and Kgama, his old enemy — in fact, the only one who ever held his own against him — was taken under the Imperial protection. No sooner was this done than the King began to be- bothered by concession-hunters, from the Cape, Transvaal, and England, as well as threatened by inroads from the south and east by Boers and Portuguese ; so he decided to send a mission home to England to see the great White Queen, and consulted his advisers. Mr. Maund, himself then after a concession^ — a persona grata with the King — was authorised to take a letter and the two Indunas home, and did so very creditably, Mr. Johann Colen- brander, another well-known Natal trader-hunter, accompanjdng them as interpreter.^ The history ' The following is the text of Lo Bengula*s letter to Her Majesty : — ** Lo Bengula desires to know that there is a Queen. Some of the people who come into this land tell him there is a Queen, some of them tell him there is not. " Lo Bengula can only find out the truth by sending eyes to see whether there is a Queen. t DIFFICULTIES WITH THE BOERS. 23 of the visit to England of the Indunas, Um- sheti and Babjaan, is too well known to be repeated here. The result of the mission, however, has not proved so satisfactory as was anticipated, as through the advice, presumably given by the A.P.S. and Lord Knutsford, the King refused at first to believe that the conces- sion to the Chartered Company was approved of, and therefore killed his chief adviser, Lofcha, and 70 of his adherents, who had all been in favour of granting the application. To counteract this feeling, those at home in- terested in the concession had influence enough to obtain the despatch in 1890 of Capt. Fer- guson, Sergeant- Major Melladew, Corporal- Major White, and Trooper Ross, of the Life Guards, who all appeared before the King in full uniform, with presents, and shortly after- wards Lo Bengula agreed to sign the con- cession to Messrs. Rudd, Maguire, and " The Indunas are his eyes. " Lo Bengula desires, if there is a Queen, to ask her to advise and help him, as he is much troubled by white men who come into his country and ask to dig gold. ** There is no one with him upon whom he can trust, and he asks that the Queen will send some one from her- self." 24 MATABELELAND. Thompson, which was done on October 30^ 1888, the document being translated by the Rev. C. D. Helm, who had long been a mis- sionary at Hopefontein, and Mr. J. F. Dreyes** Previously to this, however, Lo Bengula had also made an agreement of alliance and friend- ship with the British Government. This was done previous to Maund's mission home. After signing this concession, and agreeing to let Dr. Jameson take a pioneer party through to occupy Mashunaland, the King began to be afraid as to the results, and probably foresaw that trouble must inevitably ensue between his barbaric hordes, of the younger generation at any rate, and also the advance of civilisation in its usual manner with armed force. So that when pressed to send men to help the march and clear the road,> he always shuffled over the fulfilment of his promises when tackled by Mr. Doyle and Mr. F. C Selous on this point, and said that Mr. Rhodes and Dr. Jameson must either take their men round by sea to the Salt River, or come up through Bulawayo. Both from the King s attitude, and the reports of the natives and * Appendix B. i DIFFICULTIES WITH THE BOERS. 2$ hunters in and about the King's kraal as to the unswerving enmity of the younger warriors, who swore they would not allow any white men to occupy the country, it was seen that nothing was to be gained by delay, and that, as active opposition might be shown, it was necessary to take in a sufficiently large and properly armed force. This was done; and a short r4sum4 of one of the most magnificent marches ever made in modern or ancient history will be found in the proper sequence further on. IV. THE TATI SETTLEMENT, GAZALAND, AND BAROTSE CONCESSIONS. It would be impossible to bring the position of Matabeleland up to 1893 correctly without alluding to other concessions therein : the one granted by Umsilikazi, and the other by Lo Bengula, as well as making mention of the positions in Barotseland and Gazaland, gained almost concurrently by the British South Africa Company. Of the early explorers into the interior, among those also who first penetrated into Matabeleland to Mashunaland, Messrs. Carl Mauch and Thomas Baines come naturally to the fore, Mauch as having (in 1864) proved conclusively the richness of the gold deposits and other mineral resources therein, and Baines in securing, along with Messrs. Fairbairn, s6 THE TAT I SETTLEMENT, 27 Phillips, and Leask (in 1867), a concession of over 100 square miles of country, north-east of Bulawayo, which, however, from a variety of circumstances — most of which can be gathered from Baines' late and capital book — was never worked or developed, but the right to which, always recognised by Lo Bengula and his father, was purchased by the Chartered Company in 1888, who paid out the remnant of the original concessionnaires. Later on, in 1870, Mr. Dan Francis brought up a party of practical Australian miners, and worked at what was called the *' Australian Reef " at Tods-creek on the Tati river, a little to the south of the present Monarch Mine. From fever, inadequate appliances, and want of funds, this party also gave it up, and gradually left for other places, until, in 1873, none were left ; and Sir John Swinburne came up with another party, Mr. Sam Edwards being their guide, obtained a fresh recognition of the concession from Lo Bengula, and pro- ceeded to work, paying Matcherry, Kgama's uncle, for right to come through, and claimed certain authority over this part of the country at that time, Capt. Elton, an English engineer 28 MATABELELAND. officer, being mining manager, with Mr. August Griete under him. (Capt Elton, by the by, during his period of office, was the only man who ever went down the Crocodile or Limpopo river by boat.) Sir John's party remained at work, finding rich gold reefs for six years, paying the King £60 per annum ; and they also left for divers reasons in 1879. One peculiar circumstance, however, may be here mentioned, known to few — viz., that some- where in the sixties Sir J. Swinburne and Mr. Griete offered the then very impecunious Trans- vaal Government the sum of ;^ 160,000 for all mineral rights in their country, and nearly got them, only one member of the executive being against the sale, and sticking out to the last. What a change it would have made in the Transvaal had this purchase been concluded ! After a short interregnum of two years, Messrs. Dan Francis, W. F- Dobbie, Dodds, and Sam Edwards, with unshaken faith in the gold fields, formed the Northern Light Ex- ploration Company, Limited, at Kimberley, and got a renewed concession for mining and grazing through James Fairbairn; and in 1887 this was again enlarged and changed into the THE TATI SETTLEMENT. 29 Tati Concession, Mining and Exploration Com- pany, Limited, with a capital of 47,100 shares of ;^i each (now worth jQg in the market), and offices in London and Kimberley ; and on October 16, 1888, this Company got the sole proprietory and territorial rights for everything in the whole concession — including its govern- ment — extending nearly 100 miles north and south, and from 20 to 25 miles broad, between the Shashi and Ramoqueban rivers, paying a large yearly rental to the King. The first manager was Mr. Colthard, who was succeeded by Messrs. John Fry, De Mattey, Bythell, Virtue, and Farley, and at the present time the general manager is Mr. W. F. Kirby, M.LM.N., a mining engineer of more than 20 years* experience in South America and Australia. The Company have built a trading store, offices, and settlement at Tati itself, and have erected machinery and necessary stores and buildings, &c., in the Monarch Reef, 35 miles north, on the banks of the Tati river, at a cost of some ;^6o,ooo, employing some 20 Europeans and 200 antives, and have produced, with all the initial difficulties ensuing upon the unap- 30 MATABELELAND, proachableness of the country, over ;^ 10,006 worth of gold, the reef, which they are working at present, being only one of manyj and certainly not the richest. It runs north and south, goes down with an appreciable dip (being nearly perpendicular), and has a width of about 14 feet, producing, when crushed, about 10 to 15 dwts. to the ton, notwith- standing the fact that the ore, at its present depth of 150 feet, is highly pyritous. The Company have been the first pioneers in this part of the world, with traders and miners; and from their unfailing fairness of dealing with the natives, and just treatment of the King, have deserved and obtained his support and protection ; while the aid they have rendered to traders and hunters is undoubted and freely acknowledged. Later on we shall see how the Company was treated and what a gallant stand was made by the few European employers, at a time when almost every other European was clearing out of the country. Suffice it now to say that, as most of the Company's directors are directors or shareholders in the Chartered Company, the best possible course for them to adopt in their future settlement of Matabele- THE TATI SETTLEMENT. 31 land will be to secure the valuable rights of the long established concession over the piece of territory which has been recognised as being British territory for the past 20 years. Going from west to east, Gazaland necessi- tates a little consideration. This territory, including Manicaland, corresponds in the east to that of Kgama in the west, being a large strip running north from the Transvaal and Delagoa Bay to the Zambezi, and lies between the coast settlements of the Portuguese and Lo Bengulas territories. It will be remembered that in the chapter on the rise of the Matabele nation, mention was made of the circumstances under which Mat- shobane, Lo Bengula's grandfather, fled from Zululand and established the Matabele tribe ; and one of the principal men with him on the raid north, in which he was disgraced, was Manukusi, or Gaza, who, after assisting to lay what is now known as Gazaland in waste, had to retreat on account of the people burning their earthenware pots, and destroying their grain ; but later on, seeing the fate of his general, Matshobane resolved to follow his example, and, with about 2,000 men, fled back 32 MATABELELAND. into the sacked territory and established him- self as best he could, his men taking wives from the conquered tribes, and thus becoming a very mixed race, although, ever since, the official language has been Zulu, and the chiefs consider themselves allied to that powerful race. Manukusi had two royal sons by the principal wife; but, on the old chiefs death, the eldest son was driven out of the country by his younger brother, Umziela, and fled to Swazieland (where he remained under the protection of Umbandine, the Swazi King), married, and had a family, of whom the eldest son, Mawarwa, has repeatedly been promised the assistance of the Portuguese to invade Gazaland, and recover the country under their Protectorate. Several times preparations have been made on an extensive scale, aided by several Transvaal Boers, but when it came to the final point Mawarwa and his allies were always afraid of tackling Umziela. It is quite true that, if Mawarwa had invaded the country, quite one-half of the tribe might have been induced to back up the re-entry of the eldest son's line as the rightful heir; but this did not suit the artful policy of the Portuguese THE TATI SETTLEMENT. 33 authorities, who gained more by encroachments and actual peaceful occupation of outside pieces of the country by always threatening and keep- ing in constant fear both Umziela and his successor Gungunhana, with the return of the lawful heir. All this time the Portuguese were also making raids on tributary tribes for slave- dealing purposes, and instigating others to rebel, but in all cases when these unfortunate people have done so their whilom friends have left them in the lurch ; and, in consequence, they have been entirely eaten up — men, women, children, and cattle — by Gungunhana, since his father's death ; and, notwithstanding repeated warnings and protests against their actions, the Portuguese have gone on quietly encroaching on this devastated country, safe in not being attacked through the constant threat of actively supporting the claims of the King's rivals. Umziela, the late chief, being only the second son himself, and having a favourite second son, got a law passed appointing this son, Mafa- mane, to succeed him, but Gungunhana, or Umdumguswa, as he is more often called, was too artful for his brother, who had, as is their 4 34 MATABELELAND, custom, made for himself and followers a royal kraal near his father Umziela's, while Gungunhana remained on the great place with the old chief, and naturally saw his father sicken and die, while the other son was in ignorance of the fact. Gungunhana thus, in the middle of the night, took a small impi of young men (his adherents) and quietly murdered Mafamane, and then had himself proclaimed chief One rival being thus put hors de combat, the Portuguese at once began to play off the old claimant Mawarwa against Gungunhana, and promised that if the new chief would confirm their right to all the territory occupied by them and enter into a friendly treaty, they would settle Mawarwa's claim once and for all ! This charmingly simple contract having been entered into, the Portuguese went to Swazieland, and inducing Mawarwa by a promise of active assistance to regain the throne, got him into their territory on the East Coast, coolly kid- napped him, and sent him a close prisoner to Mozambique, where he died in 1892. Since then Gungunhana has seen through the false promises of the Portuguese, and has steadily THE TATI SETTLEMENT. 35 refused either to recognise their territorial claims or even to remain on friendly terms with them. Hearing of the advent of the British South Africa Company to Mashunaland, and their subsequent check on the Portuguese pre- tensions, Gungunhana expressed a wish to come under the protection of the British Government; and so, in 1889, Dr. Jameson and Mr. Dennis Doyle went on a visit to the King, and arranged the preliminaries, after which Mr. Doyle took home a special deputa- tion to the British Government of two Indunas, Huluhulu and Chickicha, in 1891, and on their return, after a most satisfactory visit, Messrs. Doyle and W. M. Longden, who had been for many years resident in the country, concluded the terms of a concession, the latter thereafter remaining as the representative of the Com- pany at Gungunhana's chief place. Very few Europeans have ever visited this country; and there are at present neither missionaries nor hunters in Gazaland. A few Arabs sometimes come up the rivers to trade with the natives, who thickly populate the whole territory, and are rich in cattle and grain ; but the Arabs prefer to barter for slaves, and 36 MA TABELELAND. do a good business in that ^Hne, with the know- ledge and consent of the Portuguese authorities, through whose territory they pass and repass freely. In fact the Portuguese themselves recruit their colonial army almost entirely from these and other doubtful sources, sending off the men to Mozambique and other East and West Coast ports. Capt. Lendy, R.A., late magistrate of Fort Victoria (since dead), was . appointed the first magistrate there ; and, doubtless, shortly we shall see further develop- ments towards opening up the country on the part of the British South Africa and other subsidiary companies or syndicates, as there is undoubtedly great scope for trade in these regions, and much may be done with the land and people to establish justice and freedom, and to advance civilisation and the English flag concurrently. As, of a truth, it may be conceded that, of late years, at any rate, in South Africa it cannot be written, as was once too often the case, that concessions from native chiefs were ** obtained by fraud, continued in oppression, and ended in blood.'* Again, with admirable farsightedness, the British South Africa Company sent up, towards THE TATI SETTLEMENT. 37 the latter part of 1891, a mission under Mr. Lochner, who .was accompanied by Messrs. Begley and C. Fraser, with a lot of native servants, several waggons, a water cart, and rations and supplies for two years, to Lewa- nika, the chief of the Barotse country, to the immediate north of the Zambezi and German Protectorate, in order to obtain a concession for mining and trading rights over all his country. The party set out from Palachwe, and went up the old hunting road straight to Panda-ma-Tenka, whence they diverged to the west, striking the Zambezi about 75 miles up beyond the Victoria Falls. M. Coillard's French Mission Station at Luahiliwe was reached in a little over three months, and the chiefs place is only a few miles off this spot. Several months well spent in the country, and after a great deal of trouble, patience, and tact, Mr. Lochner succeeded in obtaining everything the Company wanted, and returned successfully to Palachwe, being away altogether twenty- two months in a part of the world hitherto almost unknown, without the loss of a single life or any accident occurring. It is with much regret that the fact has to be chronicled that 38 MATABELELAND, these brave and hardy pioneers state that they were not treated at all well by the British South Africa Company on their return, and have not yet obtained their just dues, or the fulfilment of the promises made them as an inducement to undertake such a long and risky journey and so difficult a mission. V. BRITISH BECHUANALAND AND KGAMA's NORTHERN PROTECTORATE. There is something absolutely refreshing to all who believe in the heaven-born right of the Anglo-Saxon race to colonise new countries and to pose as the protectors, guides, philo- sophers, friends of the native races, in the history of these two interesting and valuable South African territories, one a crown colony and the other a native reserve, both as proving that the Imperial Government do not always make a mess in their well-intentioned but vacillating Colonial Policy ; and also that here, at any rate, is one instance (please note, Mr. Max O'Rell!) where the Englishmen did not come into the partner s ground with the Bible in one hand and several other noted aids to civilisa- tion in the other — gradually exchanging the latter for the land. 39 40 MA TABELELAND, The country known as Bechuanaland has only been so called of recent years, and is that part of South Africa, including several tribes, all descended from the old and powerful Bantu race, which extends north from the Cape Colony to the Molapo river, being bounded on the west by Ovampo and Damara territory, and the Transvaal on the east, in- cluding, since 1891, that portion known as Vilander s country, lying to the west, as far as the 20th degree east longitude, making a total extent of 61,000 square miles. The Protectorate, again, which is principally occu- pied by Kgama and his tribe, the Bamangwato — with headquarters now at Palachwe — goes still further north to the Zambezi, and reaches Lake Ngami on the west, with about 386,000 square miles, of which most is high bush-veldt, dry for over nine months in the year, the rivers, running few and far between, being only sandy beds for that time, and roaring torrents for the other three months. For years after the Matabele race had gone north, and missionary efforts had produced good effects among some of its various tribes then occupying Bechuana- land, both the Transvaal and the Orange Free BRITISH BECHUANALAND, 41 State had looked towards the country west- ward with longing eyes ; and through tribal disturbances — caused principally by fights as to succession, cattle thefts, and border-line quarrels, in which the respective governments were also mixed up — freebooting whites took various sides in the then disputed questions, and bade fair to make such disturbances in the country as to involve all the neighbouring states in political if not actual warfare, not- withstanding the fact that the respective boundary lines had already been laid down in 1870, and later on in 1882. It will not be necessary, for the purposes of this work, to give any of the details of these tribal disturbances and the concurrent actions of the Transvaal, Free State, and Cape Colony Governments. Suffice it to say that matters reached such a crisis, and the natives were simply being so ** eaten up " by Boer free- booters, that the intervention of the British Government was called for and obtained, owing to the terms of the Pretorian Conven- tion, which were supposed to provide for the welfare and independence of the native tribes upon the borders of the JMew South African 42 MA TABELELAND. Republic. Several attempts were made by the British Resident in the Transvaal to stop • these unnecessary disturbances, but without any success ; and, after the Transvaal Govern- ment had been called upon to protect the neutrality of its western border, without effect, the High Commissioner in 1882 issued a pro- clamation against breaches of the Foreign Enlistment Act. The Transvaal authorities then called upon the Imperial Government to intervene, and the Orange Free State Presi- dent forbade any interference on the part of his burghers, and the Secretary of State then proposed a joint armed intervention ; but only the Cape Colony was willing, and so this pro- posal came to nothing. Things went on until, in 1884, two inde- pendent so-called Republics were established in Bechuanaland — one, Goschen, in the north, in Rooi Grond, near Mafeking, under Messrs. Gey Van Pethers and Weley; and the other, Stellaland, in the south, under Van Niekuk, with headquarters at Vryburg. The native chiefs, Montsioa (Barolong) and Mankoroane (Batlapin), having unavailingly petitioned to be taken under British protection, but obtained BRITISH BECHUANALAND. 43 the appointment as Resident Commissioner, in February, 1884, of the Rev. John Mackenzie, a missionary of long residence and great ex- perience of the country and its various tribal residents, with Mr. John Wright as Assistant Commissioner, at Mafeking, these gentlemen quickly obtained the consent of the native chiefs to a British Protectorate, but the Boer leaders objected, wishing rather to be Joined to the Transvaal ; failing which they desired annexation under the Cape Colony. Matters under negotiation went on slowly until July, when the Cape Parliament shelved the question of annexation for a year, and left the Imperial authorities to cope alone with the different elements of discord, with no forces adequate, and a declining moral influence owing to con- current events in the Transvaal. Matters becoming more serious, Mr. Mackenzie hoisted the British flag and issued a warning procla- mation — which, however, did not meet with the then High Commissioner's approval, and gave great oflence to the Afrikander Bond Party in Cape Town. Mr. Mackenzie was then recalled, and the Hon. C. J. Rhodes — then a member of the Cape Opposition — offered his 44 '* ' MATABELELAND. services, which were accepted. Meanwhile a decisive battle had been fought near Mafeking by the Rooi Grond or Goschen Boers against Montsioa, in which the Barolongs were defeated. Mr. Wright, the Assistant Commissioner, was taken prisoner, or rather entrapped under a flag of truce, and Mr. Christopher Bethell (who ^ was living with the chief) most cowardly murdered. Although the Secretary of State had authorised active interference if protected territory was attacked, no steps were taken for some time, and the disputes on the subject in the Cape Parliament were mostly answerable for this. The Ministry, under Mr. Upington, refusing to fulfil Sir T. Scanlen's promises of co-opera- tion with the Imperial Government, and dis- avowing all responsibility for any steps taken by Mr. Rhodes, as Deputy Commissioner, the latter at once proceeded to endeavour to change the Imperial Protectorate idea for that of annexation to the Cape Colony. Capt. Graham Bowes, the Imperial Secretary, and General Joubert of the Transvaal, were sent to assist in getting a peaceful settlement ; but, negotiations failing, Messrs. Rhodes, Graham, BRITISH BECHUANALA ND. 45 Bowes, and Joubert left, after being defied and insulted by the leaders, who would accept no terms that did not recognise the independence of the two Republics ; but at any rate they were given to understand that all Mr. Mackenzie's actions and promises were cancelled. Imme- diately the Transvaal again interfered, and took the disputed Barolong territory and the Republic of Goschen under their flag, but with- drew the proclamation upon the demand of the Imperial Government, who were now thoroughly aroused, the High Commissioner having sug- gested that the Imperial Government should state their determination of expelling the Boer freebooters by force, insisting upon the terms of the Convention of 1884 being carried out ; and His Excellency recommended that a force of colonists, under Sir Charles Warren, an old officer with large South African expe- rience, should be raised for the purpose. Seeing the gravity of the situation, the Cape Ministers now prpposed that some of its mem- bers should be allowed to visit Bechuanaland, with a view of effecting a peaceable settlement, and asked that Mr. Rhodes should be recalled during their visit. This was done, and a 46 MATABELELAND. visit paid by Messrs. Upington and Gordon Spriggs, but It had no permanent result, and the whole of the Cape Colony then rose and demanded the interference of the British Government for the maintenance of the trade route to the interior, and the preservation of the native tribes under our protection. General Sir C. Warren had already been appointed Special Commissioner, and Head of the Bechuanaland Expeditionary Force, and left England with his staff on November 14, 1884. The officers of his staff were specially selected, and comprised Colonel F. Walker, C.B., of the Scots Guards, A. A. and Q.M.G. ; Colonel J. Duncan, A.A. and O.M.G. for lines of com- munication ; Lieutenant-Colonel E. R. Cotting- ham, R.A., in charge of remount department ; Lieutenant- Colonel C. W. Murray (Gloucester- shire Regiment) and Major R. E. Allen (East York Regiment) were Deputy A. A. and Q.M.G.s ; Captain A. J. Watson (Suffolk Regiment), Acting Brigade Major ; Captain R. H. Jelf, R.E., Director of Military Tele- graphs; Captain Sir Bartle Frere, A.D.C. ; Captain M. F. Walker, A.D.C. and Military Secretary; Lieutenant A. E. Haynes, R.E., BRITISH BECHUANALAND. 47 Private Secretary. The strength of the Expe- dition as finally agreed to was as follows : — Regulars.- -Infantry • « • 800 Cavalry • • • 360 Artillery • • » 120 Engineers • • • 60 Transport and Commissariat 80 1,420 Volunteers . — English Volunteers • • • 600 Colonial Volunteers • • • 1,500 3.520 Native Guide Corps • ft « 500 4,020 The regular contingent of the Expedition con- sisted of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons from Natal, under Colonel F. G. S. Curtis ; a battery of artillery, also from Natal, Colonel G. B. B. Hobart ; the 7th Company Royal Engineers and Telegraph Company from England, Colonel A. G. Durnford ; ist Battalion Royal Scots from the West Indies, Colonel H. G. White ; loth Company Commissariat and Transport Corps, Major W. Richardson, 48 MA TABELELAND. A.C.G., from England ; and a detachment of the Ordnance Store Corps from England, Major E. E. Markwick. The Medical Staff was under Deputy Surgeon-General J. G. Faught as P.M.O., and the force was accom- panied by five chaplains. The ist Regiment of Mounted Rifles, or as it was more popu- larly known, " Methuen s Horse," consisted of volunteers raised in England, and specially enlisted under the supervision of Captain J. W. Harrel (late 2nd Queen's Regiment), and Colonel the Hon. Paul Methuen, C.B., the latter afterwards taking over the command. It numbered 600, and was an exceptionally smart and serviceable body of men. The 2nd Mounted Rifles — '' Carington's Horse'* — was raised in the Cape Colony by Colonel (now Sir) Frederick Carington, C.M.G., and was a splendid body of men from all parts of the Colony, except Griqualand West, and well acquainted with the country. This corps was enlisted, equipped, and concentrated at Barkly West in the short period of six weeks. The 3rd Mounted Rifles — " Gough s Horse " — was raised at the Diamond Fields by Colonel H. S. Gough, and was another serviceable corps. BRITISH BECHUANALAND, 49 A regiment of pioneers was organised by- Colonel C. E. Knox, part of which was mounted, the rest being sappers and artificers. A corps of native guides was also enrolled by- Captain F. J. Kempster, some of whom had served under Warren in the Griqualand wars of 1878, The clothing of this field force was similar to that now worn by the Bechuanaland Border Police — ^brown cords with blue serge putties, and all officers and men carried rifles. The whole force was encamped on the Vaal river by January 22, 1885 ; and, as the Trans- vaal now saw that matters were serious, Presi- dent Kruger asked and obtained permission to visit the General, previous to which, with Dr. Lloyd and M. De Villiers, M.L.V., he visited the disturbed districts, and warned them of the consequence of armed resistance. General Warren was accompanied by Messrs. Rhodes, Mackenzie, and Wright ; and the result of the interview was very satisfactory, and simplified matters exceedingly. Sir Charles reached Vry- burg early in February, and established military rule, and then made a report on the whole question, condemning Mr. Rhodes' policy, and supporting that of Mr. Mackenzie for direct so MATABELELAND. Imperial government. The concentration of the force in Vryburg and distribution of detach- ments to various points were completed about the beginning of March, when the General, with a strong cavalry escort, went up to Mafe- king, to which place the wire had been laid, 346 miles from the end of the Cape telegraph line. At Rooi Grond the work of Sir Charles as a General may be said to be completed, but his duties as Special Commissioner yet remained unfinished. It was while he was at Mafeking that England awoke to the fact that the Pro- tectorate was the road to her supremacy in Africa, a fact brought sharply home to her by the energy of the German Empire as mani- fested in the Angra Pequena affair; the Pro- tectorate was enlarged, and General Warren received a telegram from the Government stating that the German Empire had been informed by Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin that Bechuanaland and the Kalahari, as limited by the ist Section of Order in Council of the 27th of January, were under British pro- tection, and that he should communicate as soon as possible this fact to Kgama and Sechele, BRITISH BECHUANALAND. 5 1 and also take care that no filibustering expedi- tion took possession of the country, more espe- cially Shoshong (then Kgamas chief town). This announcement gave great satisfaction to all in South Africa ; and Sir Charles left Mafe- king on his journey northwards to proclaim the increased Protectorate, accompanied by Mn Baden- Powell, C.M.G., a few staff officers, and an escort of 20 men of the 2nd Mounted Rifles under Lord Clandeboye. The Special Commissioner had an interview with the Chief Gasitsiwe at Kanya when he announced the Protectorate, and a treaty similar to those signed by Montsioa and Man- koroane was signed by him ; he also had inter- views with the Chiefs Sechele at Molepolole and Linchwe at Mochudi, and thence proceeded to Kgama's town Shoshong. This chief ex- pressed his pleasure that Sir Charles should visit him personally. The first formal meeting between the General and Kgama, his headmen and tribe, took place on the 12th of May, when the boundaries of the new Protectorate on the west and north were explained. The meeting lasted two days, when Kgama handed the General a document accepting the friendship 5 2 MA TABELELAND, and' protection of the English Government " within the Bamangwato country, and signed the treaty acknowledging the Queen's supre- macy. This intelligent chief also offered to do all public work in his people's district under the superintendence of the local Commissioner. J He also pledged every able-bodied man as available for the defence of the country, and stated that he expected the white settlers who might come in to be available in the same way. He also placed at the disposal of the Govern- ment a tract of country exceeding in value the cost of the Protectorate for the use of white settlers. He, however, reserved his right to the continuance of his law that no intoxicating drinks should enter his country for the use of either black or white. Major Edwards was chosen to convey the news of the Protectorate, and to define the northern boundary line to Lo Bengula, the Matabele chief, and' was accompanied on this mission by Lieutenants Haynes and Maund. There being differences of opinion as to the future government of Bechuanaland between the High Commissioner, Sir Hercules Robin- son, and Sir Charles Warren, the Cape Ministry BRITISH BECHUANALAND, 53 again considered the advisability of getting the new territory annexed to the Cape Colony, but could come to no terms, and meanwhile courts of inquiry took place as to certain matters, of recent occurrence, and the western boundary line between the territory and the Transvaal was fixed by a mixed Commission, and other commissioners were appointed for the con- sideration of the land and other questions. Sir Charles then left for England, and Mr. Justice Shephard, from the Cape Colony, was appointed first administrator on October i, 1885 ; and shortly afterwards Sir Hercules Robinson paid an official visit to the new country. The evacuation of the country by the military then ensued, and a mounted police force was substi- tuted for the maintenance of law and order, under Colonel Carington. The subsequent progress of British Bechu- analand has been rapid, and free from internal troubles, either of Boers or natives ; and it now consists of five districts, viz., Vryburg, Taung, Kuruman, Mafeking, and Uponghis ; with the Northern Protectorate administered by Assis- tant Commissioners, under the direct authority of the High Commissioner at Gaberones and 54 MATABELELAND. Palachwe, Kgama's new township, and a military post at Macloutsi. The Bechuanaland Border Police Force numbers about 500 on a peace footing, but out of this four-fifths are used entirely in the Protectorate. The advance of the Mashunaland Pioneer Force in 1890, and subsequent opening up of that country, the continuation of the telegraph wires to Palachwe and Tati, and the construction of the railway by the Cape Colony and the Char- tered Company, first to Vryburg in 1891, and, since then, on to Mafeking, under the usual sub- sidy from the Imperial Government, has had a wonderful effect upon the prosperity of the whole of this territory ; and it is almost certain that long before the ten years expire, during which the Imperial subsidy of ;^20,ooo per annum is granted, the revenue of the country will in- crease to such an extent as to enable it to bear its own expenses of administration, now amount- ing to some ;^i 50,000 per annum, towards which the local revenue only contributes one- third, the rest coming out of the Imperial purse ; and to this much-desired consummation the result of the recent campaign in Matabeleland will contribute not a little. VI. ADVANCE OF PIONEER COLUMN, AND OCCUPATION OF MASHUNALAND. It will be remembered that on October 29, 1889, the British South Africa Company, Limited, of which the Directors are the Duke of Abercorn, K.G., Chairman ; Duke of Fife, K.G., Deputy Chairman ; Lord Gifford, V.C., Alfred Beit, Albert Grey, Hon. C. J. Rhodes, George Causton, and Sir Horace Farquhar, Bart., received a Royal Charter of Corporation, enabling it to occupy and develop certain regions lying between the Zambezi and the Limpopo, which the year previously they had obtained under an agreement with Lo Bengula, King of the Amatabeles, and which lands had already been proclaimed as under the British sphere of influence, by treaty be- tween Her Majesty's Government and Lo 55 56 MATABELELAND. Bengula. And, in order to enable the Com- pany to do this successfully, a pioneer force was raised in Kimberley, under Colonel Penne- father, and the contract for its journey was undertaken by Messrs. Johnson, Borrow, and Heany. This force was equipped in the most thorough manner, with everything neces- sary which experience could suggest, except, as was afterwards found, sufficient medical officers, and the valuable services of Mr. F- C. Selous, the noted hunter, were obtained as guide. Meanwhile, as several questions have from time to time been raised as to the rights obtained by the Chartered and other Com- panies more recently from Lo Bengula and other native chiefs, all of which matters will shortly be inquired into by a Land Grant Com- mission to be specially appointed, it may not be out of place here to relate shortly what had been done beyond the actual concessions to the Tati Company and the Baines-Fairbairn grant already mentioned. In 1887 Messrs. Borrow, Heany, and others floated the Northern Gold Fields Syndicate in Cape Town, and, en route up, obtained a concession from Kgama, which was after- OCCUPA TION OF MA SHUNALAND, $7 wards made over to the Bechuanaland Explora- tion Company, with the Bechuanaland Trading Association as a later offshoot. On arriving at Bulawayo they found a Mr. Schultz also there, but, after several attempts at a conces- sion, this gentleman returned to the Cape unsuccessful. Messrs. Borrow and Heany remained six months with Lo Bengula, and then managed to get out of the King a mining con- cession of the whole of Mashunaland for ;^ioo per annum, and this grant was enlarged, and other terms made subsequently, on various occasions. About the same period Messrs. Woods, Chap- man, and Francis were all also in the country, with permission to hunt only, as the King had a great dislike to any one prospecting for gold ; but they failed to get anything more substantial out of Lo Bengula. Messrs. Borrow and Heany, after six months' stay, left Matabele- land with the Mashunaland concession, Messrs. Johnson, Spreckly, and Burnett remained be- hind and went also hunting (?), but were brought back and forced to give up their real object, viz., searching for gold. The next hunters for a concession were Messrs. Renny- S8 MATABEIELAND, Tailyour and F. Boyle, representing a strong Natal syndicate ; and, becoming favourites with the King, they also got certain rights in Matabeleland and Mashunaland, which deve- loped into the Lippert Concession, since ab- sorbed by the British South Africa Company. On their return to the Cape Colony Messrs. Johnson and Borrow floated various com- panies in Cape Town, and then got from the Portuguese a concession of their so-called rights to all the upper country in Mashunaland, in- cluding the Mazoe, Hartley Hill, and Umfuli River ; but, later on, doubting these rights, wrote to the Portuguese Government repudia- ting the concession, and then sent Mr. F. C. Selous, who was then staying at Mangwato with Mr. Heany, the general manager of the Bechuanaland Exploration Company, Mr. Ted Burnett, and a practical miner, via Cape Town, to Quillimane, and so up the river Zambezi to Tetle, and thence southerly overland to the principal chiefs of North Mashunaland, who, they found, were totally independent of both the Portuguese and Lo Bengula. In these negotiations Mr. Selous was most successful, and obtained valuable rights, which, with the OCCUPA TION OF MASHUNALAND. 59 Baines-Fairbairn rights, were made over to Messrs. Rhodes and friends, who made very liberal arrangements with all the old conces- sionaries, and then floated the Chartered Com- pany. About the time of the Grohllaai incident, Mr. E. A. Maund, late of the Warren Expedi- tion, also came out from England on behalf of the Caustons, and secured certain rights, which were ultimately vested in the Exploration Company, Limited, who now hold large in- terests in the Chartered and United Conces- sions Companies. With regard to the actual grant of the Chartered Company's concession, the following details are of interest. When the necessary preliminary steps had been taken in Cape Town and London, Messrs. Rudd, Magenis, and Thompson were sent up to negotiate the terms of the concession with Lo Bengula, and John Fry, late chief of the Detective Force in Kimberley, having lived in Tati, and knowing Lo Bengula, accompanied them to Bulawayo, whence, after a short stay, Messrs. Rudd and Magenis returned to the Cape, leaving Messrs. Thompson and Fry with the King, the 6o MATABELELAND. 4 latter also returning quickly through illness. Shortly afterwards, in 1889, Drs. Jameson and Harris and a large convoy were then sent up to establish a camp at Bulawayo, and make the first payments to the King, leaving a per- manent representative, on behalf of the Com- pany, on the spot. Eight months later Dr. Jameson also left, and was followed by Mr. Thompson ; but, later on, they both returned^ and remained a long time at Bulawayo, getting matters in train for the entrance of the pioneer column and the occupation of Mashunaland. It was at this time that the whole matter of the route was worked up by Dr. Jameson and his friends, in consultation with Mr. Rhodes, and it was decided to take the north-easterly one, as Matabeleland itself was too thickly populated, and, in the interests of peace, it was not thought advisable to stir up the feelings of the people against the white men. Dr. Jameson then returned again to Cape Town, leaving Major Maxwell and Mr. Stevens at Bulawayo, repre- senting the Company, with Mr. Johann Colen- brander as interpreter and agent. After having granted the original permission to come in, the King — who was evidently worked upon by his OCCUPA TION OF MASHUNALAND. 6i councillors and other interested parties — began to feel doubtful as to the result, and placed difficulties in the way. In March, 1890, Mr. Selous, who had been sent up to Palachwe to choose the new road, became dissatisfied as to the truth of Lo Ben- gula s permission having been absolutely given to the pioneer column's advance by any other except the old recognised road into the country, vid Tati, and, visiting Lo Bengula the same month, the King stated that he had not granted the permission for the north-eastern route, but insisted upon the force coming through Bula- wayo, so that he could see who they were ; and he then expressed his wish that Selous should go down to the Cape and bring Rhodes up to see him, so that the chief contracting parties might confer together, as he was not satisfied to deal with subordinates. Mr. Selous went back, but could not get Mr. Rhodes to go, who, however, despatched Dr. Jameson on his third visit, Mr. Selous only accompanying him as far as Tati, and returning thence to Palachwe, in readiness for the advent of the pioneers. Dr. Jameson's visit smoothed over all diffi- culties apparently, and to prevent further trouble 62 MATABELELAND. he returned, got together the column, and brought them in so suddenly and quietly that Lo Bengula had no chance of changing his mind, and his subjects hardly knew of the advance before the pioneers were too far in to be meddled with. The pioneer column, which had been got together at Kimberley, was concentrated at Macloutsi, the frontier post of the Northern Protectorate, held as a fortified position by Major Raleigh Grey (6th Inniskillings) and five troops of the Bechuanaland Police, equalling 500 men, with Maxims and guns. The column itself consisted of three mounted companies of pioneers under Major Frank Johnson, and three troops of the British South Africa Company's Police, the pioneer companies being commanded — A, by Capt. Heany, B by Capt. Hoste, and C by Capt. Borrow. With these went 200 of Kgama s picked men, under his chief general and brother, Kraditlaadi; and as, upon crossing the border, after receiv- ing a warning message from the King, all the other natives attached to the column as drivers or leaders bolted, the value of these allies can- not be overestimated. In fact, Mr. F. C. Selous OCCUPATION OF MASHUNALAND, 63 (in his book, p. 369) says : ** Great numbers deserted ; and it is my belief that, had not Kgama come to our assistance at this juncture, not a coloured boy would have crossed the Tuli, and the expedition, in that case, would have been most lamentably crippled." With these went also five troops of the British South Africa Company's Police, two of which were officered and left to guard the base of operations, one at Fort Tuli, on the Shashi river, a few miles north of the Transvaal border (the Limpopo), and one at Macloutsi, The whole force was commanded by Lieut. - Colonel Pennefather, of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, who was accompanied by Dr. Jameson, political agent, and Mr. Rhodes' representative ; Mr. A. R. Colquhoun, the administrator, Mr. Christopher Harrison, secretary to the administrator; Mr. F. C. Selous in charge of the Intelligence Depart- ment, with his signalling officers, Lieuts. Capper and Nicholson ; and Messrs. Edward and George Burnett supervising all transport arrangements ; Surgeon-Major Montgomery, Surgeon-Major Rand, and Surgeons Goodye and Tapidoe, and two others. General Lord 64 MATABELELAND. Methuen came up when all was ready and reviewed the column before the start in June, and Tuli was reached shortly after, and two companies of the British South Africa Com- pany's Police were left there. Proceeding steadily on without a check, the pioneers were always about four days ahead, choosing and clearing the road for the eighty waggons which the column had with them advancing in two parallel lines. Much natural anxiety was shown on the part of the leaders of the expe- dition to get through the thick bush veldts to the highlands before the King's messengers could get back to Bulawayo, and an impi be sent to stop the advance. So successfully was this managed that the scouts, after a great deal of work, found a suit- able opening (named afterwards " Providential Pass"), and Mr. Selous reached the uplands near Fort Victoria early in August, being followed by the main column, which also arrived on the 13th, Capt. Sir John Willoughby, Royal Horse Guards, bringing up the rear, and overtaking the main body in the pass with a convoy of waggons. Here Mr. Johann Colenbrander, the Company's OCCUPATION 6>> MASHUNALAND. 65 agent at Bulawayo, arrived with a message from the King (having followed the column up from Tuli) to the effect that Lo Bengula ordered them "to go back, unless they were strong enough to go on." He further asked, '' Did the white men think the Matabeles were grasshoppers and could walk over them easily?" And concluded by saying that **any white men who got out again could be congratulated upon having escaped a great danger." To which Colonel Pennefather replied that he was a soldier, and sent by the Queen, and, with all respect to the King's words, he must go where he was sent, " and should do so." Practically, from the time the column left Providential Pass, all difficulties were at an end, and they were never attacked or hindered by any natives whatever, and arrived without the loss of any single man at Mount Hampden, the objective point, near which the present seat of government at Fort Salisbury was laid out on September 11, 1890. The pioneers were then disbanded with their pay, kit, arms, and horses, and received promises to enable them to prospect and mark out their farm and gold claim rights. Civil government was then 6 66 MATABELELAND. Started, and magistrates established at Fort Salisbury, Fort Charter, Fort Victoria, and Fort Tuli ; and gold commissions also at the same places, and in addition in Umtati, Hartley Hill, and Mazoe. The first officials were : — ^Administrator, A. R. Colquhoun (succeeded by Dr. Jameson, CM.); Magistrate, Attorney-General Calde- cott, and afterwards Capt. Forbes ; Secretary to the Administrator, V. Harrison, Esq. ; O.C. Forces, Lieut. -Col. Pennefather ; Staff Officer, Major Sir John Willoughby, Bart. ; O.C. Salisbury District, Major P. W. Forbes ; O.C. Mamia District, Capt. H. M. Heyman ; O.C. Victoria District, Capt. Keith- Falconer ; O.C. Tuli District, Capt. C. Turner (late). All the O.C.s had magisterial powers in their own districts. Present officials : — Adminis- trator and Chief Magistrate, Dr. L. S. Jameson ; Surveyor - General, A. F. H. Duncan, Esq. ; Postmaster- General, A. F. H. Duncan, Esq. ; Public Prosecutor, A. E. Caldecott, Esq. ; Accountant, J. H. Kennedy, Esq. ; Master of C. M.'s Court^> J. H. Kennedy, Esq. ; Registrar of Deeds, H. M. Hole, Esq. Salisbury District — Civil Commissioner, H. OCCUPA TION OF MASHUNALA ND, 67 M. Hole, Esq. ; Resident Magistrate, Major Forbes ; Mining Commissioner (acting), R, H. Nesbitt, Esq. ; Commissioner of Police, Capt. Hon. J. White. Victoria District — Civil Commissioner, E. Vigors, Esq. ; Mining Commissioner, E. Vigors, Esq. ; R.M., Capt. Breton (vice Lendy). Mamia Distinct — C.C. and R.M. (acting), G. Seymour Foot, Esq. ; Mining Commissioner, N. MacGlashan, Esq. Tuli District — R.M. (acting), F. Eggert (vice Raaf). Matabeleland District — C.C. and R.M., Capt. H. M. Heyman ; Mining Commissioner, J. C. Christiom, Esq. ; Native Commissioner, J. W. Colenbrander, Esq. ; Inspector of Police, W. Bodle, Esq. During and for some time after the comple- tion of the pioneers' march, Fort Tuli was garrisoned by some Bechuanaland Border Police under Colonel Sir F. Carington, which force was not withdrawn to Macloutsi until the end of 1 89 1, when the British South Africa Company left the latter place entirely in the hands of the Imperial Government. Owing to the severity of the rainy season just beginning, and the impossibility of keeping up communication with the base, great hard- 68 MATABELELAND, ships were experienced by every one, all round, and the opening up of the country was much retarded in consequence. However, sufificient has been done since then, not only to prove th^t the greater portion of the country is fit for agricultural pursuits, but also that it is rich in gold-bearing reefs, and possesses, besides, many other deposits of valuable minerals, notably iron and cobalt. Silver, copper, tin, antiniony, arsenic, and lead have also been discovered, all only requiring easy and cheap transport to become payable. This being the main obstacle to immediate progress, attempts were made during the fol- lowing year, 1891, to open up communication with the East Coast, where a suitable port had been found on the mouth of the Baia River on Portuguese territory. Messrs. Johnson, Heany, and Borrow very pluckily got up coaches and special transport waggons from Cape Town, and established a weekly service between Fort Salisbury and the coast ; but owing to the dreadful ravages of the tsetse fly, and the swampy nature of the country, combined with the sickness which affects all unsalted animals during the rainy season, they were obliged to I • , 1 OCCUPA TION OF MASHUNALAND. 69 give up the attempt, having lost all their live stock and capital, many of their waggons remaining where they were left to this day. Precisely similar drawbacks affecting the progress of the exploration and mining work going on up at Hartley Hill, Sir John Willoughby was asked to send an expedition specially arranged to find out — i. Whether a good road could be got from Hartley Hill, northwards, to the Zambezi, near Zumbo (about 150 miles); and — 2. Whether the river itself was easily navigable between Zumbo and Tetle ; and Sir John carried out the wishes of the Company very successfully, only, however, to prove the utter uselessness of this route from natural difficulties. Moreover, the insight which Sir John obtained into the system of government and working upon the river and its adjoining districts and towns under the Portuguese, was such as to induce him to write a special report on the iniquitous slave system, then in full swing, to the British Government and the Aborigines Protection Society, as well as subsequently to publish a pamphlet on his trip and observations. During the same year the British South 70 MA TABELELAND, Africa Company extended its operations north of the Zambezi into Barotseland and Nyassa- land, its territories now extending over all South Central Africa beyond latitude 22^ south. No actual steps have been taken so far to avail themselves of their rights in Barotse- land, but the Imperial Commissioner, Mr. H. H. Johnstone, administers Nyassaland, including the field of operations of the Lakes Company, the expenses of which (about ;^to,ooo per annum) are defrayed by the Chartered Com- pany ; new forts have been built up there, and gunboats placed on the Shire River and Lake Nyassa, while experimental plantations are being started near Blantyre. Almost im- mediately after the country became opened many people from home and the Cape visited the new land, among whom were Lord Ran- dolph Churchill and party, Mr, Alfred Beit, Mr. Rylands, and many others. Things being in a fairly settled state at Fort Salisbury, the administrators made a treaty with Umtassa, chief of Manica, by which the Com- pany obtained possession of a valuable extent of gold-bearing country, hitherto claimed — though without a shadow of right — by the OCCUPA TION OF MASHUNALAND, 7 1 Portuguese, a portion being occupied by the Mozambique Company. A small force having been sent under Capt. Forbes to Umtassas kraal, were met there by a large armed Portuguese demonstration ; but Capt, Forbes, although he had only ten men with him, knew that Superintendent the Hon. E. Fiennes was coming up with reinforcements, and had just been strengthened by the arrival of Capt. Hoste, Dennis Doyle, and Lieut. Biscoe, took the bull by the horns, and ar- rested Colonel D'Andrada, Baron de Rezende, and Gouviea, the noted half-caste, "Capitao Mor," of Gorongoza, whose men were taken by surprise and bolted, the Colonel and Gouviea being sent back to Fort Salisbury with an escort ; while Capt. Forbes took the Baron and M. de Llombly, the Mozam- bique Company's engineer, with him on to Masso Kessi, and there released them on parole. This trading station was taken possession of and strengthened, becoming afterwards the scene of the attack by the Portuguese on Capt. Heyman's camp, who, with fifty- three men, beat them off, took Masso Kessi from them, and captured their Hotchkiss 72 MATABELELAND. . gun, which now proudly stands in the fort at Bulawayo. The Banjai Trek incident. — Some years ago a party of Dutch Boers from the Transvaal obtained certain alleged rights of land con- cession from Matipi, a petty chief in Banjai- land, and shortly after the occupation of Mashunaland by the British South Africa Company, prompted thereto, doubtless, by in- terested partiesj a large trek was organised in the Transvaal (with whom was Colonel Ferraira) to occupy the territory aforesaid. This alleged concession being disputed by the Company, Dn Jameson sent expostulations to the High Commissioner, who, after inquiring^ called upon the Transvaal Government to for- bid the trek. Meanwhile the trekkers, number- ing about 500 men, encamped on the southern banks of the Limpopo at Rhodes or Hendrik's drift ; and a deputation went over the river to meet Dr. Jameson, who, with a small body of British South Africa and Bechuanaland Border Police, was watching their movements, a force having been hurriedly got together at Fort Tuli, under Colonel Goold Adams, to resist by arms any incursion* No terms being arrived OCCUPA TION OF MASHUNALAND. 75 at, the deputation returned, and Dr. Jameson with them, who made a speech, explaining the circumstances, and offering them farms under the Company on easy terms. Colonel Ferraira^ however, having In one of his visits across the river indulged in rather threatening language, was arrested by the police ; and after a few days' confinement, having signed the necessary documents, was released, and allowed to pro- ceed up country, President Kruger having sent up word that the Boers were not to go on except under the British South Africa Com- pany ; and this not meeting with the farmers' views, the whole trek was broken up. All this time Dr. Jameson had not been idle. The most important matter being the best route to the coast, he went down to Beira and back to see for himself if there was a feasible road ; from thence to Cape Town, and back again, when troubles with the Portu- guese were impending ; and, lastly, he under- took the memorable journey, on foot, in the middle of the rainy season, with only two com- panions, Messrs. Dennis Doyle and Moodie, down to Gungunhanas chief kraal in Gaza- land, and made an alliance with their chief. 74 MATABELELAND. In fact, if it had not been for the interference of Lord Salisbury, then Prime Minister, the whole of Gazaland would then have been in- corporated with the other territories governed by the Chartered Company. Mr. A. R. Col- quhoun, having borne the early brunt of the labour of establishing a Government, resigned, through failing health, and was succeeded by Dr. Jameson, who still remains the able and popular administrator of all the Company's immense territories. After many trials it was at length found that the Beira route could never be properly utilised, unless the swamp and fly portion of it was bridg-ed over with a railway ; and therefore, with that energy and determination so characteristic of the man, Mr. Rhodes went home and arranged for the capital and early construction of a small- gauge railway, giving the contract to the well- known firm of Paulings, who completed the work within the time, and to the satisfaction of every one concerned. The railway is now completed for -84 miles, to Ghitmo a, from Fontesville on the right bank of the Pungwe river, 60 miles off the mouth, and was opened by Mr. Rhodes himself in October, OCCUPA TION OF MASHUNALAND . 75 1893; and the second portion up to Wfnteti is now in course of construction. Several schemes on a large scale for making an agricultural settlement, in as close adjacency to the natural markets as the soil and water would permit, have also been inaugurated, the most complete of which is the one at Melsuter in the Manica district, near the Sabi river, under the leadership of Mr. L. Van Der Byl, who brought up a party of fine young colonial farmers, and remained with them till the hard work and constant worry, combined with a not over-robust constitution, affected also by passing through unhealthy districts at a bad time of the year, caused his untimely and very much regretted decease. Many other farming settlements are also progressing slowly but surely. The only other matter in connection with the occupation of Mashunaland that here re- quires noting is that the telegraph line has been laid from Palachwe via Macloutsi and Tuli right up to Fort Salisbury by the Com- pany in 1891 ; and Mr. EUiston Fry and a large party are now carrying an extension on up to the Zambezi, which will eventually be 1^ MA TABELELAND. taken up to the lakes, and so on as a trans- continental telegraph line, from the Cape ta Egypt, in pursuance of another grand scheme of the South African Colossus* VI L EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE ENTRY INTO MATABELELAND, 189O-3. . From i 891 to 1893 the officials of the Chartered Company as well as the rapidly increasing number of inhabitants scattered all over Mashunaland and the adjoining country had a great deal to put up with from the many natural causes, which were doubtless insepar- able from and almost, I may say, expected in the opening up of a new native territory, so closely adjacent to such antagonistic forces as the Matabeles and the Portuguese; but, even after Lo Bengula fully recognised the fact that the Chartered Company had stolen a march upon him and that portion of the nation which was throughout consistently against the entrance of the white man to the country north of the Limpopo, the unwelcome presence of 77 78 MA TABELELAND . the intruders seemed to make little difference to his marauding expeditions, and it was with the very greatest difficulty, and by the exercise only of a great deal of talk and patience, that the Chartered Company were able to avoid actual collision with Lo Bengula's impis. Each year, at the time of the great dance, the King would throw his spear in a certain , direction, and the youngest regiments then vied, the one with the other, in being first and foremost in the cruel massacres of unoffending Makalakas or Mashunas, which each time occurred further away from Bulawayo, and closer to the centres of civilisation then so recently opened up by the Europeans. Pro- test after protest against the interference with the natives resident among and absolutely depending upon and working for the new- > comers was made to Lo Bengula, and it was pointed out that, having granted to the Com- pany the right of occupation and mining in the country, the King should prevent his impis from ever entering upon that portion, and thus driving away or killing the natives, from whom alone the labour was acquired and obtained for working the mines and farms. EVENTS, 1890-3, 79 But it was all to no purpose ! Petty chiefs were encouraged to quarrel among themselves, so as to bring about the entrance of the King's power on the scene, a regiment of observation, the Insukameni, was put upon the border, and whenever opportunity offered they poured down on the Mashunas, as of old, killing men and women indiscriminately, and capturing all their cattle. At last matters were brought to a head by some of the marauders cutting down the tele-^ graph poles, for which they were promptly brought to book and ordered to pay a fine, which was done by the petty chiefs, Setama and Goomala, apparently out of the cattle held by them in charge for the King. Communications passed between the administrator and Lo Ben- gula, and later on with the High Commissioner, in which the King denied that it was his people who had done the damage and objected to the fine being levied. He then sent an impi, in July, 1893, under the Induna, Umgandine, ostensibly to punish the people who had cut the telegraph wires ; but these men, whether they mistook or exceeded their orders, tackled some friendly Mashunas, killed some, and «o MATABELELAND, chased others right into Fort Victoria, where the poor unfortunates tried to take refuge. Dr. Jameson, happening to be there at the time, interviewed these men and told them distinctly that they were acting illegally in being on the Company's ground, as also in killing the Mashunas, who were no longer sub- ject to Lo Bengula s rule ; and he then gave them an ultimatum, requiring them to with- draw over the boundary within an hour or they would be followed up and fired upon. The Indunas, who were very impudent, withdrew but slowly; and when a little over the hour had expired Capt. Lendy, R.A., the resident magistrate in Fort Victoria, was sent out with thirty-four mounted and armed men to about three miles off, and whilst approaching Magomola's kraal, they were fired upon and returned the fire, killing two Indunas and many others ; the rest fled back to the border, where the remainder of the impi was, and, after coming back in the night for the dead bodies the whole lot retired to Bulawayo and acquainted the King with their account of the matter. Information of the whole proceedings was wired to Lo Bengula EVENTS: 1890-3. 8i and the High Commissioner. A claim was then made upon Lo Bengula for a thousand cattle for damages, he having invaded the country and killed the Mashunas at Fort Victoria ; and preparations — which had been quietly going on for some months previously, in expectation of a row — were hurried up so as to get the various posts throughout the country in a perfect defensive condition ; and as business and mining was at an end, the people all flock- ing to the towns, forces were raised, equipped, and drilled, at Forts Salisbury, Charter, Victoria, and Tuli, ready for any emergency. Lo Bengula, although much annoyed at the turn events were taking, ^even then was not desirous of fighting, but warned all the Euro- peans in Matabeleland that they had better go out, sending first a message to Dr. Jameson, couched in moderate language, stating that he was right to send back the impi, who had exceeded their orders, followed, however, by a second message in more unfriendly terms, electing to pay the fine of a thousand head of cattle as compensation, and asking for the delivery up to his men of all the Mashuna men and women concerned. To this Dr. 7 82 MATABELELAND, Jameson sent no reply, and all direct commu- nication between the King and the Company ceased. The High Commissioner, acting upon the powers vested in him by the royal charter, declined to allow the compensation question to be pressed, and forbade the Company making any aggressive movements unless attacked. Meanwhile His Excellency still kept exchanging messages with Lo Bengula, who, however, began also preparing for the evident outcome, viz., fighting, by recalling his impi of about five thousand men who had that year gone across the Zambezi to raid in Barotseland, but who returned, like dogs, with their tails between their legs, having lost many men, killed by the Barotse, as well as by small-pox, which dreadful epidemic broke out among the impi. This news frightened the King ; and although his other regiments were called up, the remains of this impi were placed away in the north, and not allowed to hold any communication with the rest of the people round Bulawayo. The months of August and September were anxiously passed in preparations, the Euro- pean population being all alarmed, and work EVENTS: 1890-3. 83 at a complete standstill, while no waggon transport was obtainable. Public meetings were held at all the chief centres, and resolu- tions were passed that the whole population would leave the country unless steps were taken at once to punish the Matabeles and prevent their future incursions. With the close advent of the rainy season, which begins in September, preparations were pushed on as hurriedly as possible. Commandant Raaff, the resident magistrate at Fort Tuli, an old South African and native fighter, was author- ised to proceed to the Transvaal and purchase 750 horses at once, and also enlist a force of 250 Boers, who would mount and arm them- selves, to act as a southern column of scouts, with no waggons or commissariat train, except what could be taken on 50 pack-horses. At Fort ' Victoria a volunteer force of 250 mounted men was raised by Major Alan Wilson, the mining expert of the Bechuana- land Exploration Association, a gentleman who had previously seen a good deal of native warfare ; and a similar force was got together at Fort Salisbury, under Major Forbes ; while at Fort Charter a small defensive corps was 84 MA TABELELAND. also enrolled. All these forces were aug- mented from time to time, and, in the mean- while, the routes to Matabeleland were in- spected and laid down, European and native guides being specially employed for the purpose. Commandant Raaff, being very slow in fulfilling his orders, 300 salted horses were purchased in the northern districts of the Transvaal, and a large quantity of ammuni- tion, machine-guns, and stores equipment, of which the Company had large reserves at Fort Tuli, were brought up to Forts Salisbury and Victoria. When Sir John Willoughby returned from England on September 7th, the work had progressed well, Major Forbes was ready with his force, having a month's provisions and 170,000 rounds, and had left for Fort Charter, from which the most northern and favourable route to Bulawayo could be taken. The Fort Victoria force was a little more backward, having been delayed, waiting for reinforcements of men and horses ; those ready, however, did daily duty as patrol-police. An artillery troop had also been organised, under Capt. Lendy, R.A., and had constant EVENTS: 1890-3. 85 practice. Meanwhile frequent scares occurred almost daily, and all the neighbouring Mashunas had fled and taken refuge in their caves. On the 30th of September two of Capt White's police, while out on patrol, were fired upon, just on the border, where they saw, and reported, the spoor of a large impi. About that time advices came also from Mr. J, Colenbrander's stating that the Matabele were advancing in two columns against the invading forces ; one division southwards to- wards Tati, and the other against Port Victoria. Large numbers of Matabeles were also reported as raiding west of Sinoia, , and others were seen between Forts Victoria and Tuli. At last, on the 5 th of October, news came that a patrol of the Imperial forces — the British Bechuanaland Police — had been fired upon by Matabeles on the Shashi River ; and permission was then given by His Excellency the High Commissioner to take the aggressive and invade the country ; so Dr. Jameson and the two northern columns started in. VIII. CONSTITUTION AND MARCH OF THE FORT SALIS- BURY AND FORT VICTORIA COLUMNS. The main column from Fort Salisbury was accompanied by His Honour Dr. Jameson, the administrator, with Capt. Sir J. Willoughby, Royal Horse Guards, as military adviser, and consisted of 269 Europeans with 248 horses, and 106 natives, including Cape boys and coolies, the whole under the command of Major P. Forbes, 6th Dragoons, Capt. the Hon. Alan Finch, late ist Life Guards, being staff officer, and Lieuts. Tanner and Garden A.D.C.'s. The force was divided into three troops, commanded by Capts. Heany, Borrow, and Spreckley ; with Lieuts. Lochner, Bodle, Snodgrass, Reid, Laing and Christison. Capt, Moberley, late R.A., commanded the artillery, having Lieuts. Biscoe, Llewellyn, and Ten- 86 88 MATABELELAND. nant; whilst the scouts, under Capt. Gwynneth Williams, included Iwor Williams, Hon. M. Gifford, Burnham, E. Burnett, Gerald Paget, and Gourlay. Major G. A. Brown was intelli- gence officer; Capt. Campbell, late R.A., ordnance officer ; Capt. A. C. Kennedy com- missariat officer, and Drs. Edgelow and Stuart . medical officers. Capt. Nesbitt and Lieut. Papenfus had charge of the native contingent of ICO men. The guns included two Maxims, one Nordenfeldt, one Gardner, and one 200-lb. M.L. field gun, and were drawn by horses, mules, and oxen; whilst 18 waggons conveyed all the commissariat and ammunition for the columns. The Fort Victoria column was commanded by Major Alan Wilson, and consisted of four mounted troops and one foot company, equal- ling 397 Europeans and 236 horses, with 50 Cape boys, Capt. Kennelly, late Bechuana- land Border Police, being the Major's Adjutant, and Lieut. Bowen A.D.C. The four troops were commanded respectively by Capts. Bastard, late R.N., Napier, Fitzgerald, and Judd ; with Lieuts, Harris, Beale, Sampson, Molyneux, Hofmeyr, Stoddart, Williams, and T" MARCH OF COLUMNS. 89 Hughes ; Capt. Dallamore and Lieuts. Robin- son and Steers looking after the dismounted men. Capt. Lendy, R.A., was in charge of the artillery, with Capt. Read, Capt. Donovan, A.S.C., Lieuts. Rixon and Chalk, late Egyp- tian Camel Corps. Capt. Greenfield was com- missariat officer, Capt. A. B. Kirton transport officer, and Drs. Litchfield and Hogg medical officers. Lieut. Ware was in charge of the native road- making party, Lieut. Brown intelligence officer, and Lieut. Farrell veteri- nary surgeon. In addition there were two native foot contingents, Makalakas and Ma- shunas, one of 800, under Capt. Brabant ; and the other of 500, under Capt. Quested ; and a scout corps of 30 men, under Capt. the Hon. C. J. White, late Scots Fusilier Guards, including Messrs. Ingram and Dollar. The artillery consisted of three Maxims, one y-\h. screw field gun, and one quick-firing Hotchkiss gun, with 19 waggons for transport. No tents or baggage of any description were taken by either column. Nothing of interest or importance occurred to either force until the i6th of October, when the two columns came within touch of each 90 MA TABELELAND. Other at the Iron-Mine Hill, the Fort Salis- bury men having come some 65 miles south- west, and the Fort Victoria column 90 miles north-west, where the first casualty occurred near Indaimas mountain, Capt. Campbell being killed in a skirmish with the enemy, who were all round in small parties. Upon joining forces Major Forbes was placed in command of the whole united column, Capt. Hon. White of all the scouts, and Capt. Lendy of the combined artillery. On the 19th a patrol was sent out to find the Insukameni military kraal on the Gwelo river, the column following up. Capt: Williams found the kraal about 18 miles off, though in a different direction to that supposed, having reached a spot close to it at sundown, and seeing about 60 natives and a lot of cattle, with a large number of men in the kraal itself The reconnoitring party got back on the evening of the 20th, and a strong force was detached to attack and burn the kraal, leaving the camp at midnight. Dr. Jameson, Sir John Willoughby, and Major Wilson went off with 120 men and two Maxims, guided by Capt Williams and Ted Burnett : they MARCH OF COLUMNS. 91 marched through the night, passing through several small scattered parties of natives, and reached the kraal early in the morning, finding it just deserted. They burnt it and secured a few prisoners, from whom they learnt that the Insuka Regiment and a lot of Amaveni had occupied the place in strength, determin- ing to defend it ; but the men were divided in opinion, and the majority decided not to fight, and left, although the patrol heard them all round, waiting in the bush. Attempts were made to bring them to bay, but they would not come out. This retreat proved very important to the march of the column, as it was afterwards ascertained, on passing the edge of the Samabula forest, that another large number of natives had been entrenched there behind strong ** scherms *' — positions surrounded with felled thorn-bushes — and these, hearing of the retreat of the Insuka Regiment, also fell back through the forest in the same direction, leav- ing] the advancing column to cross the Chan- gani river, at a very awkward place, in safety and without opposition, the natives only rally- ing after the column was laagered, although 92 MA TABELELAND. they had intended to attack on the previous evening. The next event of importance occurred on the 23rd of October, when the scouts were out BATTLE OF CHANGAOT. October 25. 1894. By J. C. Willoughby. A. ^^ ^Kraals in advance, and Mr. Edward Burnett and Hon. M. Gifford approached an occupied hut in order to obtain information, in entering which Burnett was shot through the stomach, and died almost immediately afterwards. Mr. MARCH OF COLUMNS. 93 Gifford then set fire to the thatch, and shot two men as they rushed out. On the 25th the fight at the Changani river occurred 160 miles from the start, a full description of which will be found written by Capt. Sir John Willoughby in the Appendix A. One day later another almost irreparable disaster happened, by the death of Capt. Gwynneth Williams, through the bolting of his horse. It appears that the captain and four other scouts, Messrs. Gifford, Gourlay, Swinburne, and Garden, were out in advance, and almost lost their way ; returning to the road, and endeavouring to find the column, they became entangled with the Isisiba Regiment, who were all out after Capt. Heany and a small mounted patrol, which had burnt the large military kraal of Ingengane ; and this party was pursued almost back to camp by half the regiment. On coming on the rest, the scouts had to get round the flank of the natives; and, in so doing, got among very broken and rocky ground, and Capt. Wil- liams' horse became entirely unmanageable and bolted right towards the enemy, who were out along the banks of the river Changani. 94 MA TABELELAND. The natives saw Capt, Williams coming, and could not understand it. One of them shot the horse through both hind legs ; and then poor Williams took to the rocks, and kept off his pursuers for some time with his Lee- Metford magazine rifle, and afterwards his revolver ; just previous to emptying which, he was shot through the head by the same natives whom he had wounded. The party then stripped the body, put it on a horse, and took it back to where the beaten army — who had fought and retreated from the Chan- gani — were resting, and left it there, taking only the rifle, bandoleer, and revolver to the King. From the able and comprehensive account of the battle, it will be seen that the small European column did wonders ; and the Matabeles, though showing pluck enough, y^ lacked unity and generalship. The approxi- mate number of the enemy killed was about 500 ; and our casualties were : no officers killed or wounded ; of others there were : Troopers Walters (died afterwards), Conrath, Mills, Forbes, Beerman, Durman, and Quested, wounded ; one coloured driver killed, 2 7 native contingent killed, and 26 wounded. MARCH OF COLUMNS. 95 The march was resumed on the morning after the fight for six days, throughout the whole of which daily skirmishes occurred be- tween the scouting parties and small bodies of Matabeles, until the arrival of the united column at the Bembezi river, about 30 miles from Bulawayo, after crossing which they were attacked again — on the ist of November — by a very strong force of the enemy numbering some 5,000 to 6,000 men, including the remnants of the regiments beaten off at the Changani, who were eagerly waiting to see whether the older regiments sent by the King would fare better in their attack on the Maxims or ** J'kuto'kuto," as they termed them. With the experience and confidence gained in the first fight the Europeans did even better on this occasion, and utterly routed the enemy in a little under two hours. For a detailed account of this fight I am also obliged to Capt Sir John Willoughby ; and a copy of his official Report to the War Office will be found in Appendix B. Almost double the number of Matabeles that fell at Changani bit the dust on this occasion ; and the column casualty list 96 MA TABELELAND, included Capt. Moberley, wounded; Troopers Carey, Siebert, Thomson, and Calcraft, killed ; wounded, Messrs. Barnard, Crewe, and two others, and one coloured boy. Immediately SKETCH MAP OF BATTLE OF IMBEMBESE. NOVJS.T. 1893. 4 ;^*!^ V*- A, Native kraal ; B, Victoria ; C, Salisbury laagers : D, Dismounted men ; E Maxim ; F,^ Nordenfeldt ; G, Gardner ; K, 7-poundei:^ ; I, Dismounted men ; J[, Huts occupied by enemy ; K, Ground concealed from view of Laager ; L, Approxi" mate 50ft. contour. after this Capt. Sir John Willoughby wanted to be allowed to take a surprise party on in advance to capture Bulawayo, where were MARCH OF COLUMNS. 97 Stowed away nearly 100,000 cartridges, a lot of powder^ ivory, and other valuables ; but Major Forbes declined to let him go- The column advanced again next day, and at 7.30 on the morning of the 3rd of Novem- ber, whilst having a small skirmish near Thaba S'Induna (mountain of the chiefs or council- lors), Sir John saw smoke and heard an explosion at Bulawayo ; and three of the scouts, Messrs.' Burnham, Ingram, and Vava- sour, then hurried on and got into the ruins of the Kings kraal a couple of hours later, finding no natives there, and only Messrs. Fairbairn and Usher on the roof of Dawson's store, where they had spent the last two days in some anxiety. Upon this news reaching the column, Capt. Borrow and 20 men were sent on in advance, and occupied Bulawayo, whilst Messrs. Burnham and Ingram were sent southward with despatches for Colonel Goold Adams* column, and reached them on the afternoon of the 4th of November at the Impandine kraal after the fight at the Sangesi river on the 2nd of November. From information given by Messrs. Fair- 8 98 MATABELELAND. bairn and Usher it appears that the King had left Bulawayo some time before the battle of Changani, and was living at the Umvutchwa kraal a few miles to the north-west. He then wanted to clear out, but the older regiments, including the Umbezu, who were still with him, said there was no necessity, as they had not yet tackled the white men ; and they left to do so at the Bembezi — with what result has already been made known. In the meantime the King, evidently having forebodings of the result, left for Shiloh with a few of his councillors and the Bulawayo men, and after- wards fell back to near Thaba S'Induna, having first given Dawson two Indunas to protect his store against any attack by the natives, although the only fear really was of its being raided by the lower class of natives or the camp followers. Lo Bengula also re- moved his wives, children, waggons, ivory, money, and principal effects, leaving two men with orders to blow up his houses and burn the kraal if the Matabele were beaten at Bembezi. This was done effectually on the J morning after the fight, and Bulawayo, so long the centre of power in the land, lay a MARCH OP COLUMNS. 99 ruined, burnt mass, a desolate evidence of the fall of its late powerful chief, and the victorious finish of a short but brilliant cam- paign. IX. raaffs column, the imperial forces, and kgama's contingent. Having thus far followed the fortunes of the northern column, it is now necessary to note the constitution and work of Raaff's column, com- bined with jlh^i Imperial force of British Bechuaiialand Police- J^ under Major Goold Adams, and Kgama*s * hkti ve contingent. Commandant Raaff — chief magistrate at Fort Tuli, who was succeeded by Mr. Max Egert— after purchasing a large number of very poor horses, which were despatched to the front in batches, proceeded to Johannesburg ; and whether he misunderstood his instructions, or failed to obtain the services of the number of Boers required on the terms offered, -is not known ; but, at any rate, he proceeded to enlist a corps of 225 men, with 200 horses. xoo RAAFF'S COLUMN. loi and a number of ofificers, variously estimated at anything between 30 and 50, on a pro- mise of no pay, but rations, a farm of 3,000 morgen, 20 reef claims, and 5 alluvial, and a share of loot ; and the stamp of men attracted by this filibustering offer may easily be imagined. He had for his adjutants Capt. Carr and Civil Surgeon Bone. To this corps was attached one Maxim and 10 waggons; and after it was recognised that war was inevit- able, and that to prevent complications with the Northern Protectorate it was necessary for an Imperial force to be placed upon the border, His Excellency the High Commissioner, Sir H. B. Loch, applied for the coalition of Com- mandant Raafif *s force with the Imperial column ; and, after the reported firing of the Matabele upon a police patrol near Macloutsi, Major Goold Adams was gazetted, in October, as Commandant of the British Bechuanaland Police, with local rank of Lieut. -Colonel, and placed at the head of a column ; whilst Capts. R. Grey and S. D. Browne were both promoted with local rank of Major ; and a large number of Imperial and Cape Colonial ofificers and men were gazetted for special service with the column. 102 MATABELELAND. After application had been made to several minor chiefs in Bechuanaland for aid, which was refused, Kgama was asked for i,ooo men to proceed to guard the northern border ; and although, as he pointed out at the time, the whole combined force was not strong enough to march on to Bulawayo or fight the Matabele regiments, yet he agreed (without calling a coun- cil of his people) to join Colonel Adams and RaafFs corps, and do his best, but he insisted upon taking with him four regiments out of the five constituting his total armed forces, leaving one behind to guard Palachwe ; and he him- self took the field, in command of some lOO mounted men, leaving the actual command of the whole to Kraditlaadi, his brother and the leading general of the tribe. Kgama and his men left Palachwe with 2 1 waggons on the 9th of October, and arrived at the Macloutsi Drift a few days afterwards, awaiting Colonel Goold Adams' arrival from Macloutsi camp, which occurred on the 14th, Major F. W, Panzera being gazetted as R.M. on the 9th of October, 1893 ; and the colonel then went straight on to Tati, and encamped on the southern bank, being followed by Raaff s column a day after, RAAFF'S COLUMN, 103 which had come from TuU via Macloutsi ; and the following day Kgama's men also arrived. The whole force remained here four days, during which the ** shooting of the envoys" episode unfortunately occurred, on the i8th of October. The united force numbered some 500 Europeans and 2,500 natives. With Colonel Goold Adams were 250 men ; Major Browne, R.A., second in command, and Capt. Walford^ late 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, as staff officer; Capt. Hey man, intelligence and transport officer ; Surgeon Garroway ; Capt. Molyneux, quartermaster ; Messrs. F. C. Selous and F, C. Farley as guides; E and K troops B.B.R, Capt. Hon. C. Coventry, Lieuts. Drury and Phipps, late 24th Regiment ; F troop, B.B.R, Capt. Tancred, R.A., and Lieuts* Monroe, Williams, and Schofield ; four Maxims on gal- loping carriages, with horses, and two 7 lb. 200-pounder field guns, with oxen. Mr. Howard Moffatt acted as interpreter, with Kgama, whose regiments, of about 500 each, were — the Maphatswa, commanded by Kgama's eldest son, Sekomi ; Maalola, commanded by Sephekolo ; Maemeloa, commanded by Seeletswe ; and Maloelamotse, commanded by Seretse; the 104 MATABELELAND, Matsosa Regiment, under Gohakgooi, being- left behind. Just a few days previous to the arrival of the columns at Tati, messengers had reached the King from Mr. Mofifat, asking him to send down envoys of position to try and arrange matters amicably with the High Commissioner; and this meeting Lo Bengula's views, he called to him Ingubogubo (or double blanket), his brother, Mantusa, the head Induna of the Mabokotivani Regiment, and Inguba, the In- duna of Matchoveni, and requested Mr. James Dawson to accompany them down to Palachwe as interpreter. The party left Bulawayo, mounted, on the •I 6th, and arrived at the yard of the Tati Com- pany's store about 4 p.m. on the afternoon of the 1 8th. The evidence of what then occurred is somewhat indistinct, being given differently by most of the principal parties concerned, who all made theiir statements officially, when an inquiry was held into the affair by Major Sawyer, at the High Commissioner's request; but the following are the main facts : — The Indunas — armed as usual— off-saddled in the yard, and were left by Mr. James Dawson RAAFF'S COLUMN. 105 without any explanation being given of their mission, which was a semi-secret one. Mr. Dawson met Colonel Goold Adams, Mr. Selous, Mr. Kirby, and others, being introduced all round, and not knowing the custom of camp- life during active service, did not officially report his arrival to the Commandant, but went away to get a drink, being thirsty and tired, and to have a chat with his old friend, Mr. Selous, on the serious aspect of affairs generally. Meanwhile the Indunas were walking about, looking at everything, being excessively surly ; and, later on, Mantusa, a noted enemy of all Europeans, became very saucy, and refused to state what they had come there for, where they were going, or why they carried arms in a military camp. No satisfactory answers being obtained, the Commandant ordered a guard to take the three Indunas over the river to the camp on the southern side, where they were told they would be fed and well treated, and, if explanations were satisfactory, they would be k South African native races, know little about shooting with firearms of precision, and most of the shots were high, or the losses must have been very great. Meanwhile, in the lulls of the firing, on the south side of the river, volley firing was heard on the other side at apparently a distance of a couple of mileSj gradually becoming fainter and less numerous, until at 9. 1 5 ; then shots were heard, one after another, PURSUIT OF THE KING. 123 sharply, and then, at an interval of some few seconds, a last isolated shot was fired, after which nothing more was heard, Commandant Raaff remarking to Capt. Francis, '* That is the last of them." At six o'clock Messrs. Burnham, Ingram, and Gooding received orders from Major Wilson, who found that he had even then no possible chance of succeeding in his efforts, to return at once and demand help at any cost, and, judging that matters were very serious, they said good- bye to their friends, and determined to have a good struggle to get through. Riding a short way only, they found their passage barred by the left horn of a force approaching to surround Wilson's party, and, striking off at a sharp angle, they almost ran into the right horn, receiving a heavy^yolley at about 80 yards' distance, fortunately receiving no injury to man or horse. Dodging again, they galloped away, and managed to lose the enemy, secreting themselves for about two hours, and they reached the river only to find that, instead of being a small spruit of 20 yards in breadth, it was a roaring torrent, across which they had to swim hard against it for a distance of 300 124 MA TABELELAND. yards, reaching the main body entirely ex- hausted, just as the engagement was over, the natives having been beaten off, and the Euro- pean force thrown back into a patch of bush on the river bank at the urgent request of Com- mandant Raaff. About half an hour previously two men, Nesbett and another, swam through also, having got lost from Major Wilson's party the previous evening whilst charging successive scherms. That night a laager of bushes was made — the laager being flooded all night — and all idea of rescuing Wilson's party given up, whilst small hopes were expressed of getting out of the difficult position themselves. At 8 p.m. Ingram and Lynch left with verbal messages for Inyati, Major Forbes deeming it inadvisable to write full details of the straits to which the pursuit-patrol were reduced, as the King was known to have men with him who could read English. These two plucky men rode through rain, mud, and Matabele for three days and nights, carrying their lives in their hands, to bring assistance to their com- rades, and reached Inyati only to find that Capt. Dallamore, who was occupying that post, PURSUIT OF THE KING, ^ 125 was SO short of provisions and necessaries as to make any idea of succour from him out of the question. They then rode on to Bulawayo, where their story was received with surprise and annoyance, and a week was lost before a relief column could be despatched, which was accompanied by Mr. Rhodes, Dr. Jameson, Sir J. Willoughby, and Major Sawyer. Returning to the pursuit-patrol, now them- selves pursued, a retreat was perforce entered upon, and a line taken along the south river bank, because it was naturally supposed that the Matabele would expect the patrol to return on their own tracks ; and, as a matter of fact, a portion of the enemy did lie in wait for the party on the Bubi river, but the main body followed the retreat on the other bank, not being able to cross the river Changani, which was still fortunately running bank high and strong. On the first day s march (the 4th of December) the wounded were carried on roughly made litters of boughs and raw hide thongs, having been most carefully and skil- fully attended to by Surgeon Hogg, who dis- played great courage and devotion. From this time, however, the wounded had to ride on 126 MATABELELAND. horses, the other men being so knocked up, and the road so bad, that they could not carry the Utters, two of them riding on the galloping gun-carriages. On the 5th of December the junction of the Gwelo and the Changani was passed, and nothing occurred until the 8th, when, after having burnt a small cattle post, and taken therefrom a few head of cattle for food, a small attack was made upon the retreat, the cattle escaping during the attack. Next day a mass of broken country was arrived at, and all available scouts were kept at work 'trying to find the best road through for the gun-carriages, to do which they left the river bank, and turned south for a couple of miles ; then, being attacked at the mid-day halt by a considerable force. Sergeant Gibson, British Bechuanaland Police, of the Maxim gun, being shot dead, and the leader of the Matabele, Umjaan, the Induna of the Imbezu Regiment, was also killed whilst calling on his men to throw away their guns and charge with assegais. Capt. C. Griffiths and Mr. F. C. Farley were also wounded, and had narrow escapes. The enemy falling back. Com-; mandant Raaff went out with a strong dis-? PURSUIT OF THE KING. 127 mounted flanking party, the column being still in broken country, with very thick bush, whilst Major Forbes led the main body back to the river, A second slight attack was made on the flanking party, but easily repelled, which gave Commandant RaafF the idea that they had almost reached the end of the difficult country, and that the Matabele, knowing that the Euro- peans always went into laager when attacked, were desirous of keeping the patrol there until their forces on the other side of the river could cross. After consultation between the two leaders. Commandant Raaff made a speech to the men, saying that it was advisable that the gun-carriages should be left behind, with all horses not absolutely fit to travel, and that a forced night march would have to be made in order to extricate the patrol from its critical position. This was received with acclamation by the men, and the idea was put into execuT tion, the column leaving the laager on foot at 10 p.m., the Maxims being carried by relays of four men, and the horses led, while the deserted horses were left in camp to deceive the enemy, and all spare saddlery thrown in the river. This night march lasted until 7.30 128 MATABELELAND. next day, Monday, nth of December, by which time the force had reached the junction of the Umvungu and Changani rivers. Too much praise cannot be given to Burn- ham, who led the night marches from this time, and who seemed to possess a distinctive intui- tion of when difficulties arose and how they were to be avoided, and when it is remem- bered that the nights were dark, no stars being visible, chopping wind, and heavy showers, thick bush country, with no paths, and entirely strange to him, his wonderful powers of mind, heart, and body will better be estimated. Praise is also due to many of the officers, who walked perforce, and assisted to carry ammu- nition for the Maxims, Capt. Tancred being especially noticeable. Three men got lost on the first night march but fortunately found the column again, one being away two days. Later on in the day another slight attack was made by presumably local natives, but no casualties occurred, Com- mandant Raafif with 25 mounted men chasing the enemy for over two miles ; and, on the day following, a similar unsustained attack was also made, in which Sergeant Pike, British Bechuana- I PURSUIT OF THE KING, 129 land Police, another Maxim gun man, was shot through the arm, and Trooper Nesbett, of the Victoria column, wounded in the wrist. After two days more of weary marches the little force reached the cattle-post of a friendly native, who gave them two cows to kill for food, and volunteered to act as guide to Inyati or Emsh- langeni. This was most welcome relief, as for the past five days the men had had to exist upon the flesh of those horses too weak to journey, being also entirely out of meal and other supplies. On the night of the 14th the suspense and trials were finished, as the relief column which had started away from Bulawayo three days previously was met with, 28 miles north of Inyati, near Ntata Sirnambo, and the whole body returned to Inyati and remained there two weeks for a much-needed rest, a field hospital being established there under Surgeon Virn, of the British Bechuanaland Police, a most clever medico ; Dr. Jameson, in spite of his heavy political duties, finding time to assist professionally in the care of the wounded. Sergeant Pike's arm was amputated, and he recovered slowly, whilst the coloured driver, 10 1 30 MA TABELELAND. Lefleur, had his leg taken off. He was too weak to stand the strain, and succumbed. Major Forbes then took back the Victoria con- tingent, and Commandant Raaff his rangers to Bulawayo, whilst the remnant of the British Bechuanaland Police, under Capt. Coventry, were left to garrison Inyati ; and, on the return journey, a splendid reception was accorded to Commandant Raaff for his plucky, well-timed, and successful effort to extricate the pursuit column from its really serious predicament. The sketch map showing the whole of the patrol's route, drawn by Capt. Sir J. Wil- loughby, kindly placed at my disposal, will be of service in following this chapter, which I .must conclude by giving the names of those gallant men who fell, with their still more gallant leader, Major Alan Wilson, and a full account of whose death appears further on in the book, obtained by Sir J. Willoughby and the Hon. M. Gifford from one of the Indunas present at the last heroic scene. The list is as follows : — Major Alan Wilson, Captains F. Fitzgerald, W. Judd, Greenfield, A. B. Kirton, and Brown ; Lieutenants Hughes, Hofmeyr; Troop Sergt.- PURSUIT OF THE KING, 131 Major Harding ; Sergeants Browne, Bradburn, and Berkeley ; Corporals Colquhoun and Kin- loch ; Troopers Welby, J. Robertson, Robert- son-Hay, Hellett, Dillon, Money, Dervis, De Vos, Brock, Brittain, Bath, Morris, Tuck, Thompson, Abbott, McKenzie, Micklejohn, T. C. and H. G. Watson. Of a truth, it may be said that rarely in the history of nations has such a successful ending to any campaign been witnessed in so short a time, and with such little loss of life, and that although the close of the war was characterised by the loss of Major Wilson and his party, yet they died as soldiers should do, in the cause of progress and civilisation ; and neither relatives, friends, nor their countrymen could wish them a nobler end. The following is substantially the account of the American scout Burnham as told before the committee of inquiry, giving the only account of the last moments of the Wilson party, and placed at my sole disposal for this work : — " In spite of the rain which was almost continuous we — the guides — left Forbes's column in good spirits, and pushed ahead on 132 MATABELELAND, the Spoor of the King's waggons, which were now reduced to two, and in the valleys were very difficult to follow. " Arriving on the banks of the Changani we burned the King's skerm, and found his fresh spoor crossing the river. Major Wilson, with a volunteer force of 15 men, was ordered to follow it; Major Forbes ordering me to act as trailer and scout, giving me his own saddle horse, which was one of the best in the column. On crossing the river we came upon a large number of armed natives ; they were in temporary shelters of leaves and bushes. We told them we were after the King and were not killing any natives ; they were very sullen, but did not fire on us. We told one of them to show us the King. He said he was near and only had about 100 men with him, and he led us at a run for four or five miles through the forest. It was now getting dark, and we saw camp fires, and halted ; I was sent ahead to examine, and I reported a large number of natives. Major Wilson ordered us to advance at a gallop across an open valley, and we totally surprised them. They had women and children with them, but a large PURSUIT OF THE KING. 133 number of armed men also. We asked for the King and they pointed up the valley ; we found the bush for a distance of two miles along this valley lined with skerms and full of natives. We were now convinced that the real heart of the Matabele nation was still with the King, and we expected to be fired on ; but, owing to the darkness and the rapidity of our movements, we surprised skerm after skerm^ At first the natives hardly believed it possible that 15 white men would be so audacious as to ride among thousands of them in their own camp and demand the surrender of the King, unsupported by machine-guns and the rest of the column. At last we came to the King's waggons standing in a circle of poles facing the valley and surrounded by forest, and we rode up to this ; and Capt. Napier shouted Major Wilson s command for the surrender of the King. All was silent ! Fires were smouldering beside the waggons. It was very dark, and a storm about to begin. By the flashes of lightning Capt. Napier saw armed natives filing out of the skerm with guns in hand, and at the same moment I detected numbers running up to surround us 1 34 MA TABELELAND, from the now aroused skerms we had just dashed through. Wilson said, * We had better retire at once ' ; and we slipped away, not direct into the openings, but individually into the forest, where the natives seemed not yet to have gathered. We then struck the open valley in front of the skerm already mentioned. It was now raining, and we halted by a huge ant-heap, and Captains Fitzgerald, Napier, Wilson, and myself talked about the position. It was decided that the clanking of the bits could be heard in the skerm, so we crossed the valley and a big donga (deep dry ditch), and hid in the forest opposite the King's waggons. We were all very tired, some of us having been almost constantly in the saddle for 40 hours! After the storm, which was very heavy and quite cold, a consultation was again held. Captains Judd and Kirton also taking part. It was then decided to retreat toward the main column, get into a thick bush, and rest our horses and men ; I was asked if I could find the kings spoor back. It was inky dark. I found it, and we hid away about 200 yards from it, and opposite the first skerm that we PURSUIT OF THE KING, 135 had charged. The men flung themselves down in the mud, holding the horses by their reins. We could hear the natives shouting all through their camps. It was now decided to send for the column and Maxims at once, so as to attack at daybreak, as the natives evidently intended to fight. Wilson again asked me who could follow the king's spoor to camp. I told him I could. He said, 'No, I want you here with me.' I then suggested Bain, who was a good hand at spooring, but weak from fever and short rations ; he was called up, and Jack Robinson was also sent. Capt. Napier was given the order for Forbes to bring up the Maxims and column at once : this was about nine o'clock p.m., and still storming. As soon as they left, Wilson turned to me and said, * Do you know we have lost three men in the darkness?' I answered, 'No.' He said, ' You must find them.' I told him * it was so dark that I could only follow back the winding spoor we had made by feeling the hoof-marks in the mud with my fingers, and would have to have a man lead my horse.' He said, * I will lead your horse.' With great difficulty we retraced every foot of our 136 MATABELELAND. ground through bush and donga to the Kings skerm, and we then sat down and listened to them talking ; we were about 40 yards off. I could not find the men. Major Wilson said, 'We can't leave them, as they will be killed at break of day.' I said, * Maybe they are in the open valley on horseback.' We shouted and roused the whole camp, and heard the answering shout of the three : they were Cahoun, Bradburn, and Hofmeyr. Wilson called them to us, and we again followed our old spoor to where the other men were. I was very tired and cold, and Wilson gave me his own jacket, as I was in shirt-sleeves only. The men were resting in the mud. It still rained! Wilson also lay down. He asked me if I would scout around the bush. I left my horse and crept away. I could hear the splash of feet in the mud and the rustle of wet branches ; it seemed to be large bodies of men moving between us and the column. I reported this to Wilson. He said, * If the column fails to come up we are in a desperate position ! Go and watch on the King's spoor, so that by no possibility could the column pass us.' I did so. At break of day I heard the PURSUIT OF THE KING. 137 tramp of horses and rushed to our men, and we all gladly went out to the spoor to meet the column ! But, alas ! it was only poor Capt. Borrow and 20 men ! The officers had a consultation, Judd remarking that * this was our end,' and Kirton saying, ' I doubt if we can get out of this, as our horses are done.* Wilson finally decided that to retreat direct to the column meant meeting all the regiments ; therefore it would be better to turn north and hit the King hard and draw off his men, until Forbes came up with the column. This we did, and at light were again in front of the King's waggons ; we were then attacked by about ICO men at once ; we fought them ; they had cover, and we retired and dismounted behind a huge ant-heap, but the natives were reinforced and came out into the open with a rush ; we reserved our fire ; and at 200 yards we opened, and many men fell. Wilson stood on the top watching and directing in his usual cool way ; Capt. Borrow was quietly shooting and talking to his men ; Kirton fought on my right ; Ingram, my brother scout, was at another point 100 yards away, having picked up a dismounted man. We fought very hard. 138 MATABELELAND. Suddenly we were cross-fired at from heavy bush on our left flank, as we faced the King's waggons ; so we rode slowly away, as most of the horses were done up, and some men wounded and dismounted. The fire on us then ceased, and we retreated toward the column weak and dismounted, Capt. Judd and self leading, Major Wilson, Borrow, and scout I ngram as rear-guard. After retreating a short distance Major Wilson rode up to me and said, * Do you think it possible for you to get through to Forbes and tell him to come up at once, as we are nearly finished ? ' I asked for a man : he gave me Gooding, and I told him * I wanted my fellow scout Ingram, and I expected to be ambushed/ We rode away and were opened on by a horn of the enemy, and in a few moments they rushed into us (three) with the assegai, and, in the heavy bush, came very close. For the next two hours we rode and doubled and hid to give our horses breathing-time, and to throw the natives off our spoor which a number, how- ever, persistently followed. At last we reached the banks of the river and found it a torrent ; so we swam it, and, on crossing, saw bodies of PURSUIT OF THE KING, 139 natives firing on Forbes s column. We rode slowly until natives opened on us, and then, with a last effort of our jaded horses, we cantered into the column and delivered Wil- son's last words to me ! But Forbes was then himself attacked and retreating toward the old laager of the previous night. We were in a hollow square in open ground, with natives firing from bush ; 300 yards on our right there was bush, for on our left we were free from the enemy, and Major Forbes finally took shelter in it close to the river. Ingram and Lynch left that night in the height of a terrible gale of hail and wind and rain, which enabled them to pass through the lines of natives and carry the news — as a verbal message — to Inyati, close to where the relief expedition met us, with Mr. Selous as chief scout, Dr. Jameson and the Hon. Cecil J. Rhodes personally accompanying the relief. We all knew when we left Major Wilson that the whole party were surrounded completely and must be killed, except by a miracle. It was only possible for Major Forbess column to have relieved them if the whole force had come instead of Capt. Borrow and 20 men ! " XI. ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL GOVERNMENTS ; DIS- BANDMENT OF FORCES, AND OCCUPATION OF THE COUNTRY. * After the despatch of Colonel Goold Adams* forces to the front by the High Commissioner, Major Raleigh Grey (6th InniskiUing Dragoons), second in command of the British Bechuana- land Police, was authorised to raise these extra troops, which consisted of men enlisted specially for the British Bechuanaland Police, a detach- ment from each of the Imperial regiments quartered in Cape Town — the Black Watch and West Riding — and one of Cape Mounted Rifles, making altogether about 300 men. The officers were, Capt. Ponsonby, Cold- stream Guards ; orderly officer, Capt. Nolan, 3rd Dragoon Guards ; adjutant, Lieut. Walsh, British Bechuanaland Police; quartermaster, 140 SETTLEMENT OF COUNTRY. 141 Capt. C. F. Lindsell, late 21st transport officer ; with Civil Surgeons Bailey and Eaton, the liatter being seconded from the Basutoland Mounted Police. This force left Mafeking on the 27th of October, passed through Tati on the 27th of November, and, though too late to join in the fighting, was used for garrisoning various forts through the newly-acquired territory, at Mangwe, Fig-Tree camp, and Kharmi river. The three troops were respectively numbered — B, under Capt. Gordon, Black Watch, with Lieut. Bremner, 20th Hussars, and later Lieuts. -Williams, British Bechuanaland Police, and Baker, Cape Police ; C, under Capt. Wilson, West Riding, and Lieuts. Turner and Trotter of the same regiment ; and H, under Capt. Woon and Lieut. Cosgrove, Cape Mounted Rifles, the latter detachment being afterwards moved on to Inyati to assist Colonel Goold Adams, arriving there on December i6th, the day after the pur- suit patrol returned to that camp, so as to enable the volunteers, most of whom had large interests at stake, to look after the pegging out of their fancy and prospect for gold reefs upon which to locate their claims, '■ 142 MATABELELAND. It was also felt that, with the rainy season thus on, and the haste of promises and men, it would be best to let the King remain a fugitive until hunger or other circumstances decided him to surrender, the whole attention of the authorities being absolutely required for the disbandment of its forces, the settlement of various vexed questions with the High Com- missioner and the Imperial Government — both then being much worried by the Aborigines Protection Society, " Exeter Hallites,*' and Mr. Labouchere, and other members of Parliament, in the House of Commons — whilst several other annoying matters arose at this time, among which may be mentioned a court of inquiry into the details of the pursuit patrol, the reported ill-treatment of Matabele prisoners, and the re-opening of the inquiry into the shooting of the two Matabele envoys at Tati. It was perhaps fortunate at this time that the Hon. C. J. Rhodes was in the country, and his presence at Bulawayo, followed by that of Major Sawyer, His Excellency the High Commissioner s military secretary, sent up on a special mission, was of immense service in furthering matters all round. Mr. Rhodes, ac- TITLE. 143 companied by his private secretary, Mr. Van der Byl, had left Cape Town on the 8th of September by sea via Durban for Port Beira, at the mouth of the Pungwe river, and from there went up stream to FontesviUe, where he was met by Sir Charles Metcalfand Mr. Pauling, the engineer and contractor of the new Beira Railway. After going over the whole line and opening it officially, the party rode from Chimoa, the terminus, to Fort Salisbury in ten hours, and reached there the second week in October, where Mr. Rhodes remained until the occupation of Bulawayo, coming round to Palachwe via Forts Charter, Victoria, Tuli, and Macloutsi, and from there up through Tati, arriving in Bulawayo on December 4th, just in time to organise and accompany the relief column for Major Forbes' rescue; re- turning to Bulawayo after a trying trip on the 19th, when he received an enthusiastic reception, and made a speech in public to the men, giving them all the praise possible, and stating in effect that "to the winners belonged the spoil, and he would see they got it." Even so far back it was very doubtful as to what the Imperial Government were going to 144 MATABELELAND, do — ^being driven backwards and forwards by, let me say, political pressure or reasons, and the High Commissioner's personal views were evidently changing according to the variations of the Home Barometer, so it was important that Mr. Rhodes should be on the spot to meet difficulties as they arose ; and he therefore left ' on the 23rd of December, and, only staying a short time in Kimberley, en route, got back to Cape Town early in January, where he was feted and made much of. At this time also public expectation ran high both in the Cape and in England, no news having come down from the front for over a fortnight, and great anxiety being shown by all as to the fate of Major Wilson s party. Unfortunately throughout the whole campaign very little correct news had reached the public, and no special correspondents of any recognised standing or experience were attached to either column, but a few of the Colonial papers had made arrangements with certain volunteers with the different contingents to send off such news as was available. So that, owing to this, and the fact that no field wires were laid down as the columns progressed, and the telegraph SETTLEMENT OF COUNTR Y. 145 Stations so far away, the nearest being over 2cx> miles off — little, and that very stale, news leaked out ; and that little was, more often than not, incorrect. However, in December, Capt. Saddler went up, having come out from England to represent The Army and Navy Gazette, being followed by myself, and later on, in January, by Mr. Knight for The Times, 3. journal already represented by Mr. Gedge at Fort Salisbury ; but the latter gentleman, after a very hard year's work on the East Coast, and with Sir Gerald Portal's mission to Uganda, was invalided home at the critical time, and so lost the opportunity of going on with the main column. Shortly after the fall of Bulawayo the British South Africa Company recommended the ap- pointment as R.M. of Major Forbes, who was then allowed to take six months' leave for a visit home; and this officer left immediately (at the conclusion of the inquiry into the non- success of the pursuit patrol), being succeeded by Capt Hey man. At Tati also, Mr. Kirby, who had been appointed special magistrate in August, and who, with his men, held the settle- ment throughout the whole campaign, resigned, and Capt. C. F. Lindsell was appointed R.M. II 146 MA TABELELAND, and C?0. ; and the civil government of the country was organised with the enlistment of a force of 150 mounted men as the Mata- beleland Police, under Capt. Bodle, late 17th Lancers and 6th Dragoons; withLieuts. Straker, late Cape Mounted Rifles ; Chalk, of the militia ; Dykes and Bruce, for the artillery. The civil officials were, Capt. Hey man, C.C, R.M., and CO. ; Messrs, Honey, Bowen, and Sumners, clerks ; Messrs. Christison and Vigers, mining commissioners ; Mr. Dawson, postmaster ; Messrs. Gesborne and Cardigan, stores depart- ment; and Mr. J. Colenbrander, native com- missioner. The volunteer forces were disbanded during the month, and on Christmas Day a proclama- tion was issued, giving details of the assumption of civil government by the Company, with rules and regulations for pegging out and registering farms, to one of which, of the extent of 3,000 morgen, or nine square miles, together with twenty reef claims 150x450 each, and five alluvial claims, each volunteer was entitled ; and within a few weeks these hardy and ex- perienced men were scattered about all over the country, either for themselves or backed by SE TTLEMENT OF CO UNTR V. 147 capitalists, in search of the best country and the richest reefs, until, by the end of January, over 900 farm rights were issued, and half registered and pegged out, whilst nearly 10,000 gold claims were registered during the same period. The volunteers of the Forts Salisbury and Victoria columns, being all men of position and capital, retained their rights, or formed them into syndicates ; but those who had enlisted in Raaflf's column were not of the stamp to make successful colonists, either as farmers or miners, and — much to the benefit of the country and its rapid progress — sold their rights as quickly as possible. The Company treated the disbanded men with the greatest thoughtfulness and generosity when enabled to do so, and all those who wanted to return to the place of their enlistment, at either Johannesburg or Kimberley, were given rations, blankets, and waggons for the road, or were provided with passages free ; the rest, who remained in the country, receiving every assistance in the way of stores, tools, &c., that the limited supplies in the country permitted of ; whilst the best buildings in Bulawayo were obtained for use as a hospital, and the wounded 148 MATABELELAND, men received every attention that was possible. Unfortunately many officers and men of the column soon began to feel the effects of the very trying ordeal through which they had passed; and among them were Commandant Raaff and Capt. Lendy, who both died, the one on Christmas Day (from acute inflammation of the bowels) ; and the other, a week later, from peritonitis and perforation of the bowels. They were buried with full military honours, much regretted by their companions in arms, and lie close beside one another, with the graves of Messrs. Denham, Rixon, Calcraft, Morrison, and others later on alongside. Not long after the occupation of the fallen King's kraal steps were taken by the authorities to let the Matabele know that all those who chose to come in with their arms and surrender would be allowed to return to their kraals in time to plough and sow, and would also have given to them a proportion of the large numbers of looted cattle, the disposal of which became a very difficult question, as, until matters were definitely settled between the Imperial Govern- ment and the British South Africa Company, none could be sold, and only those necessary for SETTLEMENT OF COUNTRY. 149 rations were disposed of. The same difficulty arose in the location and pegging out of new townships, which was, most absurdly, absolutely forbidden by the Home Government, so that, on all hands, the practical and speedy solution of the beneficial occupation of the country was retarded by the quixotic ideas of men living 6,000 miles off, who knew little, and cared less, as to the real rights of the question, and who, in fact, disputed the statements of those best able to judge, to the effect that the war was practically over — a statement, however, which was rapidly justified and proved to be correct by the daily return of several of the- chief Indunas, and hundreds upon hundreds of the married Matabeles and their maholis or dependents, hundreds of guns and thousands of assegais being delivered up, and burnt if injured. One very laughable incident oc- curred when a boy about thirteen brought in his assegais and shield, with a lordly air, and said he was *' tired of fighting the white man, and desired to live in peace with them now, and wanted to go back to his kraal ! " — which of course he was allowed to do, unobstructed. The whole of January and February, 1894, ISO . MATABELELAND, although very wet and consequently unhealthy^ months, was spent in steady work among the pioneers, and quiet anticipation by the acting administrator and his officials, to whom it became speedily apparent that the site first occupied by the European residents, close to the old King's kraal, was^ neither suitable nor healthy; and a fresh one, about two miles to the south-east, was chosen, with a large radius of commonage reserved. Licenses; both whole- sale and retail, for trading and sale of liquors, were quickly granted and taken out, many stores and shops erected, and, in fact, the groundwork of future government was laid upon similar lines to those which had been adopted and proved so successful in Mashunaland; whilst courts were held when necessary under a code of laws drafted upori those in vogue at the Cape Colony. Meanwhile no military precautions were neg- lected, and a fine fort was built at Bulawayo, just below the police camp, with stores and magazines, containing supplies and ammunition enough for nearly a year, the fort being armed with three Maxims, one 7-pounder screw-gun, a Hotch^ kiss, and a Nordenfeldt. SE TTLEMENT OF CO UNTR K. 151 Circular forts were also built at Mangwe and Fig-Tree camps, and the camp at Kharmi river was broken up, Colonel Goold Adams and the British Bechuanaland Police being sent on to Inyati, the headquarters, with posts at Ushers farm, 15 miles south of Bulawayo, and at Shiloh, 25 miles to the north ; and Major Grey s column was ordered back to Macloutsi ; while most of the Special Service men were sent back to their regiments, and the rest of the British Bechuanaland Police utilised as an armed demonstration in a small native row about cattle, which just then occurred in British Bechuanaland. The postal service was carried on weekly, as well as the weather permitted, between Bula- wayo and Palachwe, and the telegraph had been brought up to Tati by the Imperial Government in February, being continued beyond that by the British South Africa Company, heliograph stations being, however, established and utilised between Macloutsi, Tati, and Mangwe when the sun shone, rarely above once a week. Several very clever attempts on the part of certain volunteers and speculators to get away 152 MATABELELAND, with a lot of loot or Matabele cattle into the Transvaal were frustrated by extra vigilance along the road, and the constant patrolling of small parties of police along the banks of the different rivers ; whilst Kgama again rendered good service by also despatching several mounted men along the border to co-operate in the prevention of this wholesale robbery. The example made, however, by the capture and sentence of a couple of these would-be ranchers deterred other Europeans, and the thefts of cattle dwindled down, until at last only small lots were raided now and then by parties of the refugee Matabeles, who were half-starving with the King in the north, or who would not come in and surrender. XII. LO BENGULA, HIS ARMY, CHIEFS, AND PEOPLE. Now that the Matabeles, as an independent nation, are " a thing of the past," a few in- teresting notes which I have been able to make, through information given me by many old inhabitants of the country — including the Rev. Mr. Helm, Messrs. J. Dawson, F. C. Farley, J. Colenbrander, Tainton, Hans Lee, J. C. Van Rooyen, Riley, Engelbrecht, and the Vermaarks — may find naturally a place in my book, as placing on record certain details of the King, his tribe, their lives, manners, and cus- toms, which certainly deserve to be saved from oblivion. Of course a great deal has already been written on the subject by Messrs. Thomas, Thomson, McKenzie, Selous, Livingstone, Baines, Carnegie, and others ; but possibly my 154 MATABELELAND, readers may not have seen any of their works, and will gladly glance over a short epitome of what, perhaps, may be termed somewhat dis- connected Matabele history. The early formation and rise of the nation has been fully given in Chapters II. and III., and from it one may gather the inference that a great distinction has always been made and maintained between those of Zulu birth and others incorporated with it during a long series of years of raiding upon adjoining tribes ; and, as a matter of fact, the Matabeles have always been divided into three branches — the Zantsi, southerners, or pure blood ; the Abeuhla, or northerners, descended from mixed parentage, but including many Zantsis, or southerners ; and the Maholis, or slaves (the aboriginal in- habitants of the country), including Makalakas, Mashunas, and Msarwas, or Bushmen, the latter not being the diminutive yellow race of the south, but fine Kaffirs, so termed from living in small isolated families and kraals in the thick bush country. The total number of the whole nation is put down at about a quarter of a million, although, from my own personal knowledge and observation, I am inclined to LO BENGULA. 155 think the numbers overrated ; but the amount of trained fighting-men always seems to have varied from 12,000 to 15,000 men. The military system is as follows : — Nearly every year the young men of similar age were drawn together from all parts and made into a fresh regiment, had Indunas appointed, and a special kraal set apart for them, or a spot given upon which a new one was to be built. No vacancies caused by death were ever filled up, except in the Imbezu, or King^s Own, Regi- ment, in which, when the young men were old enough to get married, died, or were drafted by the King to other regiments, their places were filled up, and the regiment thus kept always at its full strength of about 1,500; there- fore many of the oldest regiments were very low in numbers, and the senior regiment, the Inyati, or Moselekatse's body-guard, were re- duced to about 50 men at the outbreak of the war, this remnant having always been kept for guarding the grave of the old King in the Matoppo Hills. There were also about 15 more regular regiments, including, in their proper order of precedence, the Insuka, Ingubo, Isiziba, Inshlati, and the Umxitchwa, the last 1 56 MA TABELELAND. one made, in addition to which all the big kraals had a certain number of armed residents, who turned out under their head men whenever occasion arose ; and several mixed regiments of slaves Ivere posted on the borders of the country, including the Amaveni, Umsuaze, Empandine, and Inyorka kraals. Lo Bengula (the Defender), the King, was of the Zulu family whose name is Kumalo, and several of his Zulu distant relations of the same name have visited him up here. Neither the derivation nor meaning of this family name is known. His age must have been about 55, and he was a very much married man, having about 80 queens, all of pure Matabele or Gaza blood. His first royal wife, Looska, is a Gaza woman, a sister of Gungunhana, the present Gaza chief; she has no children, and resides always at Bulawayo or Umvutchwa, the King s two prin- cipal and favourite residential kraals. Lo Ben- gula's next wife was Umbida, a Zantsi, who is the mother of I nyamanda, aged 2 1 , the second son and successor of his father, and Chakalisa, the third son, about 19. She is queen of the Engugeni kraal. Sekumi, the third queen. LO BENGULA. 157 residing at the Inxinxwazin kraal, is another Gaza woman, but, like all the King's Gaza wives, they have no sons. Another queen is Umpolopolwani, a Zantsi woman, and she is the mother of the King's fourth living and favourite son, Jobi, aged 13. Lo Bengula's eldest son is Umslambi, but not by a royal wife, and as he is said to be insane — a very useful peculiarity when one happens to be born a native chiefs eldest son — his chance of suc- ceeding to the throne has never been in con- sideration. Of the King's brothers living there are Ingubogubo, Siluluane (mad), Imslambe, Inyanda, Makgwelambili, and others of less notoriety ; whilst his counsellors, or Amapa- gati, included Umsheti, Manyon, Babgaan, Amaswi, Fagu, and Mapisa. The head dance doctor was Kulugudwani, with Zoudo-Bosangwana and Umbambelele as medicine and witch doctors. No special man was appointed executioner, nor was there any particular spot used as a Golgotha ; but those who were not told to go away and kill them- selves, generally by hanging (a command which was always fulfilled), were taken by some of the younger men present at the 1 5 8 MA TABELELAND. trial or condemnation and assegaied, or knob- kerried, some distance away. • Lo Bengula was his own sole magistrate, though he ruled in ordinary cases in accordance with well-known national laws ; he decided all cases himself, and was looked upon as a great wizard and rain-maker, being ex officio the head medicine chief, and therefore, naturally enough, he encouraged and made use of witchcraft for manifold obvious reasons. The King was the guardian of all the cattle, Cape sheep, and goats in the country, his various head men and kraals looking after such portions as he en- trusted to their care for the national interests, these even having to come and ask permission whenever they wanted to kill a beast for food, for visitors, or in celebration of some feast. Of course the King gave from time to time large nunibers as presents to his favourites; but it was always dangerous to become rich, either in cattle or followers; and the King's mad brother, Siluluane, often says, "It is a good thing for those nearest the King to be mad or poor, or both " — no mad person being amenable to any laws, nor ever injured on any account. The King himself owned a good LO BENGULA, 159 few horses, but they are scarce and expensive articles de luxe, and few except Indunas ever possessed any. It is a strange thing, in connection with the Matabeles, that intelligent and amenable as k they are to outside influence, yet missionary efforts — though extending over 50 years — never seem to have had any practical result, although the King never apparently proposed to put any hindrance in the way of the missionaries ; and another fact is equally singular, namely, that whenever any native, either man or woman, showed that they were becoming interested in missionary work, he or she disappeared ! The Rev. Mr. Helm, however, informed me that before the war there were about 10 or 12 of both sexes who professed Christianity, and attended service ; but that is but a poor result to show for so many years* missionary work ! The Matabeles are not to be counted among first-rate hunters, such as the Bamangwato, few of them ever remaining active enough to indulge in such exercises, or able to ride well enough. The King has been for years past so fat and unwieldy, suffering also latterly from gout, that he was hardly able to get about, and i6o MATABELELAND, spent most of his life in, or just outside, his waggon. The supplies of corn, &c., for him- self, family, and royal kraal, were all grown in certain districts by the people and the slaves ; and his tobacco was specially raised in the Inyorka district up north, and brought down annually by a special deputation. In the brick house, which the King had built for him at Bulawayo, were stored large quantities of presents and other useless articles; but of money, Messrs. Crewe and Colenbrander — who did nearly all the King's business for him — assured me that he could not have much more than ;^i,ooo with him when he fled. He was always very liberal with both property and money, and his queens were always well sup- plied with cash for purchasing beads and other luxuries. From all I can learn the King was not naturally cruel, most of his misdeeds, when he was younger, being committed to remove dangerous or intriguing enemies and keep him- self safe upon his throne ; but of later years his infirmities, gross way of living and natural indolence, together with troubles with the gradually approaching white race, all combined LO BENGULA. i6i to make him bad-tempered and hasty, although — let it be said to his credit — to the last he treated every white man in his country with fairness and consideration. Neither of his sons has betrayed any great military wisdom, or distinguished themselves in any way, the elder not being attached to any regiment, the second, Chakalisa, being in the Inshlati, but taking no part in the last war ; whilst, when the King fled, all the queens and his sons went with him. His other principal men will be found in the following carefully compiled table of the prin- cipal kraals, regiments, and indunas. Of the Igapa or senior division of the nation were the Bulawayo Kraal, Ingwegne Induna, the Ma- kokgwini Kraal, with Gambo, the King's son- in-law, as Induna, the home of the Makogo Regiment; the Mabokotwani Kraal, Induna Mantusa, Mabokotwani Regiment ; Indshla- shlamdlela Kraal, Indunas Letulie and Many on, same regiment; and the Kumalo Kraal, with Umkatchana as Induna. The Mabuto branch included the following : — KraaL Induna. Regiment, Imsinyiatini. Inkoni and Inshlabe. Same name. Adlodlo or Insingweni. Samapulwana. „ Inyati. Inshlochana. ,» 12 1 62 MA TABELELAND, Kraal. Jnduna. Regiment. Isiziba. Umlumbi. Same name. Entemben. Sekombo. 9f Induba. Ujundi. J> Imbezu. Umjaan. >» Matchoveni. Ingubo. Maveni. Ingujeni. Fusi, Ingubo. Jnshlati. Umlambi. Same name. Elebenu. Quati. )i Insukameni. Manondwyan and Unondo. Insuka. Inxogeni. Umbixo. Inxnobo. And of the MahoHs, the principal ones were :- Kraal. Induna. Regiment. Kusingyama. Nata. Inyorka. Isisendeni. Mafemela. Kaweni, Bokwela. Umgandini. Same name. Mazibolongo Same name. The regiments which first became engaged with the British South Africa Company's force were those posted on the borders, the Insuka and Maveni ; and at the fight at the Changani, on the 25th of October, the following took part, viz., Insuka, Inshlati, Isiziba, and Maveni, under Utchani and Unondo ; whilst at the Bembezi fight, remnants of the same were engaged, strengthened by the Imbezu, Ingubo, Inxnobo, and Umxitchwa, under Utchani, Manondwyan, and Fusi ; whilst Gambo was in command of the forces to repel the southern LO BENGULA. 163 column, and detached Bokwela with the In- yamamdhlovu, Inyorka, and parts of the Mabo- kotwani and Indshlashlamdlela Regiments, which attacked Colonel Goold Adams at the Sangesi river. During the campaign most of those Indunas who were antagonistic to the Europeans were killed, and others met their fate since then, so that of all the rest, most have surrendered, and only Gambo and Utchani, of the great chiefs, were with the King to the last. Notwithstanding all the drawbacks incidental to living under native autocratic rule, most of the people were contented, well off, and in- creasing; it was only the poor surrounding tribes that suffered, and even the system of slavery, under which the Msarwas, Mashunas, and Makalakas lived, was not of such a cruel nature as that in existence under the Portuguese at the present day. The men were certainly not to my fancy as honest, hard-working, or brave as the Zulus, Swazies, Mangwatos, or Basutos ; and of the women it is sufficient to say that all young girls did as they pleased whilst unmarried, and upon getting a husband became fairly faithful. 1 64 MA TABELELAND. Mealies are the principal food, and enormous quantities of Kaffir corn are also grown for making the beer, •which is always the principal factor in their lives, whether for ordinary use as a drink to carouse with, or to be utilised upon occurrence either of sorrow or rejoicing. Meat was rarely taken, and only the upper portion of the tribe knew the use of or ate fish. The same custom with regard to native rites, beliefs, and marriages exist as those in common use with the whole Bantu race. One peculiarity specially notable when coming through other native races in the south, is the strange fact that there is not a plough in the country, all the ground being simply hoed up with Mashuna- made iron hoe-heads, placed in a hole at the end of a handle, the women doing practically all the field labour. Among the Makalakas the men also work, but not the Matabeles, except with the younger regiments, the men of which dig their own gardens, and cultivate the gardens of the queens of their respective kraals. Harvesting was never allowed to begin until the King gave permission, and a regular feast of first-fruits was held at the time of the big dance annually in January or February, LO BENGULA. 165 in which from 6,000 to 12,000 men took part. With regard to their weapons, the Matabele do not possess many, or anything very special ; some few have old elephant guns, Sniders, or Martini- Henries, given by the King out of his store of 1,000 which he got from the Chartered Company ; but they were not good shots, and, like most native races, knew nothing of sight- ing, and generally put up the sight to its full height and kept it there, always firing high. With their natural weapons, the assegai, they are, however, much more dangerous. These weapons are of three kinds — the stabbing assegai, with short handle and long, broad blade ; the throwing assegai, with longer shaft and thinner blade on the extreme end of the iron ; and the barbed one, used only for fishing by the northern natives on the banks of the Zambezi. They had also short knives, the iron blade made by the Mashunas, with wooden handles, prettily decorated with beads and brass wire. Their shields were of two kinds and many colours ; the big one for war and dances, and the ordinary smaller size for walking. -X i66 MATABELELAND. Like Other native races they have generally low, soft voices and a musical ear, special songs being used at the big dance, at war dances, by the men alone, and by the women, and their native musical instruments consist of a skin stretched across the mouth of a large, high earthenware pot, acting as a drum ; also a smaller tom-tom with rattles, carried in the hand ; a one-string lute on a bent cane, fastened to a gourd ; and a dulcimer, or " Kaffir piano," as they are termed, consisting of eight keys of iron mounted on wood, with gourd underneath for a sounding-board. The whole nation are stoics, with little value on their own or others' lives, and a perfect childlike belief in their destiny or fate. There is only one instance on record where any one of the men has ever expressed a wish to live ; and that was in the case of an Induna named Myoni, who got mixed up in a scandal with one of the King's wives and fled, although asked to come back by the King, who promised him a free pardon. This man refused to go back, saying, " The queen was a wicked, revengeful woman, and his life was sweet." LO BENGULA. 167 From Mr. W. E. Thomas, the only survivor of three sons of the first missionary in Mata- beleland, the Rev. W. Thomas, who died at Shiloh in 1884, I learnt the following very interesting additional facts regarding certain native customs and beliefs. Certain Jewish customs still exist among the Matabeles, who, however, do not circumcise like tlie rest of the Bantu tribes, the principal one being that of the Scapegoat. In many cases two goats are taken to the witch doctors, one being sacrificed or kept as payment, and the other, after being anointed with all the sins or troubles of the owner, being allowed to go loose or driven into the bush. Then, again, a man takes his deceased brothers wife to himself in order, as they put it, to keep his name alive. In the Makalaka hills, to the west of Matabeleland, the natives all acknow- ledge there dwells a god whom they name Ngwali, much worshipped by the bushmen and Makalakas, and feared even by the Matabele : even Lo Bengula paid tribute and sent presents to him often. This individual has only been seen by a few of those who live close by, and who doubtless profit by the numberless offer- i68 MATABELELAND. ings made to this strange being ; but the god never dies ; and the position is supposed to be hereditary in the one family who are the inter- mediaries for and connection between Ngwali and the outer world. As an instance of how his supposed powers are recognised, and were almost confirmed, at any rate to the ignorant native mind, an old trader named Clarkson once offered Lo Bengula and one of his favourite sisters (a great believer in Ngwali) that he would go to the hill cave and expose the so-called god, but they were afraid to consent ; and this offer of Clarkson's coming to the ears of Ngwali, he threatened the man with sudden death as punishment ; and as Clarkson was struck by lightning shortly afterwards, the coincidence was alarming. In reply to questions about Lo Bengula's habits, Mr. Thomas states that although the King drank a great deal and often, yet only once does he remember seeing him drunk, and that was during the trial about what is known as the "Sea Cow" row, which is described by Mr. F. C. Selous in his last book. As much mystery exists, even in South Africa, as to the death of Messrs. Patterison LO BENGULA. 169 and Sergeant, with Thomases brother in 1878, and only lately the real truth came out, the statement of what occurred may also interest some of those who knew the unfortunate victims of their own obstinacy. It appears that in 1878 Messrs. Patterson and Sergeant came up to Matabeleland for some hunting, and asked the King's permission to go straight up to the Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi, wishing to take young Thomas with them ; but the King refused to let them go direct, saying they must go round to the westward by the old hunter's road, or otherwise he would not be responsible for their lives ; and he told Thomas several times, that if he wanted to die he could go. The party would go their own way, and the King at last gave them some men, but would not, what is called, ^*give them the road." Time went on, and about 14 days after, the Europeans at Bylawayo heard of their deaths, it being reported that they died from drinking poisoned water, which every one thought had been brought about by the natives with them. Years went by, and although the young Thomases were all brought up with the young 170 MATABELELAND. men of the same age in the Imbezu Regiment, and were in fact recognised as Matabeles, the survivors could not get at the truth : until a knife which had belonged to young Thomas was found on a son of Zondo, a witch doctor, and then it all came out. It appears that, whether by the King's orders or not, Patterson and Sergeant were killed with kerries at night- time by the chief boys who went with them, Thomas being tied up for two days, whilst they made up their minds whether they would kill him or not ; but at last fate went against him and he was assegaied. This course was thought to have been caused by the prevalent rumour that a party of white men were said to be coming up the Zambezi in boats to take the King's country, and these three men were going to meet it. This rumour had been spread by a Dutchman in the country, with what fatal result is now known. It is almost certain that the King winked at, if he did not order, their deaths; because no other Euro- pean, who had men given them as guides by the King, have ever been injured ; and the bodies were looted, which would not have been the case if they had died in the ordinary way. XIII. MY OWN TRIP INTERVIEWS AND COMMENTS ON THE CAMPAIGN OFFICERS THE HOME GOVERNMENT THE HIGH COMMISSIONER THE MISSIONARIES AND TRADERS. Towards the middle of December the tension of public interest in the fate of the King and of his pursuers was at its greatest strain, as no specific news was obtainable of any sort from either newspaper sources or from the officials of the Chartered Company in Cape Town, who were specially careful to keep to themselves any knowledge they had of the peculiar state of affairs which then existed at Bulawayo, Inyati, and as to the pursuit patrols. This, taken together with the very irritating manner in which everything was exaggerated — not to say falsified — at home, every act of the Company or its men misrepresented, and the X7t 172 MATABELELAND, unnecessary friction caused between the Im- perial Government and the Chartered Com- pany, led to my appointment as Special Commissioner for Matabeleland on behalf of Reuter's Agency, which had supplied hitherto, through Mr. F. J. Summers, a gentleman attached to the column, all the news of the campaign to the London and provincial papers, none of which had thought the war would create such an interest at home as to be worth while sending out special correspondents for. My appointment was made tenable for a year, and I was given carte blanche^ with instructions to find out as quickly as possible the whole truth of how matters stood and were progressing up in the north, paying special attention to the rumours of so-called * * atro- cities," viz., murdering wounded prisoners, shooting of the Envoys at Tati, and the alleged disagreements between the various commanding officers, and the discontent and mutiny of the men. In consequence of pre- vailing reports that as the telegraph wires through Matabeleland and Mashunaland be- longed to the British South Africa Company, a strict Press censorship had been hitherto MV OWN TRIP. 173 maintained, and only news suiting their views was allowed to pass, I took the necessary steps to ensure my telegrams not being touched; and I owe much indeed to the kind offices of my old friend Sir James Sivewright, K.C.M.G., who is practically the official repre- sentative of the cable companies in South Africa, and, as the old head of the Cape Telegraph Department and an ex-Commis- sioner of Crown Lands and Public Works, commands great interest. Leaving Cape Town within two days of the time of my appointment being settled, I took the train to Vryburg, and found, much to my disgust, that I should have to wait four days for the weekly mail despatches north. Making the best of a bad bargain, I naturally visited the only newspaper office in the place, and spent also some time with His Honour the Administrator, Sir Sidney Shippard, whom I had met many years previously while he was a Judge of the Eastern District Courts at Grahamstown. From him and all his officials I received a good deal of information and letters of introduction up the line. During my stay 174 MATABELELAND. here we got the first news of the disaster to Major Wilson and his little party. Leaving Vryburg on a Sunday in a crowded coach, I arrived in Mafeking (about loo miles) on Christmas morn, and had just time to have a wash, a feed, and a look round before the post went on again. That night we had a capital dinner at a roadside hotel kept by Mr. and Mrs. Van Transveldt, whose warm welcome almost made up for being ^ away from home. Proceeding three nights later, we had a breakdown, the disselboom or pole of the cart breaking; and I and a fellow-passenger had to remain with the mails, with the cart tilted right up at an angle of 45 degrees, all that night and part of next day, while the driver walked back to the nearest post station with his span of ^ mules and returned with a small Scotch cart with no springs or tent, the only vehicle available. We had a very heavy mail on, and it was impossible to take it all ; so my fellow-passenger, a Mr. Bond, a trader at Ramontsa, decided to remain behind with the parcels, heavy paper, and book mail ; while I pushed on, seated on the apex of a pile of mail-bags, MY OIVN TRIP. 175 holding on like grim death — with my face to the tail-board — to a rope passed over them on each side, in a blazing sun, and narrow road where the thorn and other bushes pro- truded out on each side every few yards, while my luggage (only 35 lb.) was strapped on. Travelling day and night like this for two days, we at length reached Mochudi, and there got another proper post-cart, in which we were taken in the next three days with oxen, fresh spans being put on every six or seven miles, and trotting hard like mules all the way. Just before reaching Palla we outspanned at our post, and there found the Hon. Cecil J. Rhodes and Major Sawyer, who were on their way down by special cart from Bulawayo to Cape Town ; and, after joining them at break- fast, I obtained all the latest information to date as to the failure and retreat of the pursuit column, the return to Bulawayo, disbandment of the forces, and the establishment of civil government by the British South Africa Company, who only raised 150 Matabeleland Police assisted by the British Bechuanaland Police to keep law and order and protect the various posts established along the line of 176 MATABELELAND. march from Tati to Inyati. Major Sawyer also told me about his mission, which was to inquire into the shooting of the envoys at Tati, the inquiry into the failure of the pursuit column, and the treatment of the various Mata- bele wounded, prisoners, or others throughout the country. This, wired off in extenso from Palla, gave the first authentic news of the last fortnight, and created quite a sensation in Cape Town and London, at Mr. Rhodes* optimistic views and his forcing the hand of the Imperial Governnjent by establishing his own civil administration. A week was spent at Palach\yre (another 340 miles), the most northern settlement in the Bechuanaland Protectorate — where an Assis- tant Commissioner, the Rev. J. S. Moffat, C.M.G., is kept for very little purpose by the Imperial Government — ^was profitably devoted to interviewing Kgama, who had been charged with the desertion of the British force — ^but whose explanation seemed to my mind perfectly true and sufficient — and to acquiring other information on various cognate matters, to- gether with valuable hints on the Matabele question from the Rev. Mr. Willoughby, the MV OWN TRIP. 177 resident missionary, now in Palachwe, the successor of the Rev. Mr. Hepburn ; and I must here record my high appreciation of the straightforward frankness with which Mr. Willoughby gave me every bit of information I wanted, and in assisting me in obtaining interviews with Kgama. Mr. Willoughby is a model missionary, a cultured and travelled gentleman, having been several years resident in Central Africa with the Chief Mirambo at the Lakes ; and he is one of the most liberal-minded men and charming companions it has been my lot to meet with in long years of travel in many lands. His advice is always at Kgama s disposal, but he steadfastly and very properly refuses to be made into a political adviser to the nation. Leaving Palachwe after a pleasant week — during which I was kindly entertained by Mr. Saddler, the Manager of the Bechuanaland Trading Association, to whom many travellers owe so much for courteous hospitality — I left by the private post-cart used by the British Bechuanaland Police for the conveyance of their and others' mails northwards, arriving at Tati (about 100 miles) the next day, the 178 MATABELELAND, European driver Reynolds being one of the sturdy, independent Colonial men who have done so much in opening up the country. From him I heard comical stories of the various officers and men who had travelled up and down with him ; and he made me laugh over and over again at his dry and caustic remarks upon several eminent person- ages who had journeyed with him, including Major Sawyer, the High Commissioner's Private Secretary, who was new to African travelling ; and Mr. Earle, a Lieutenant in the Guards, the High Commissioner's nephew, whose views on things in general were decidedly different on his return to what they were when he first went up. In Tati I was welcomed by the commanding officer, the Resident Magistrate, in the shape of an old Zulu- War friend, Capt. C. F. Lindsell, late of the 21st Regiment, who, since I had seen him last, some fourteen years before, had been in India, Egypt with the Camel Corps, and Burmah, from which he had retired. Mr. W. F. Kirby, the General Manager of the Tati Concession Mining and Exploration Company, made me free of his MV OWN TRIP, 179 house and of the Company's mess ; and as the telegraph wire which had so long been terminated at Palachwe was being brought on at about the rate of three miles a day by Mr. Mair, of the Cape Telegraphs, with a party of 20 Europeans and 200 natives, I decided to wait their arrival, making inquiries and short journeys meanwhile. The rainy season was on in all its severity, and travelling was not only dangerous for waggons, but risky on account of fevers ; while horse sickness — that dreaded disease — had also set in with terrible effect, five to seven horses daily dying in a few hours from its ravages. In fact, during three months of the year, from December to February, no horse or mule can live up here without being "saulted," i.e., having had the sickness before and recovered ; and as only 2 or 3 per cent, recover on the average, horses and mules when saulted are very dear, realising for the commonest old **moke" from ;^5o to ;^i5o. Matters seemingly settling down quietly up above gave me a little time at Tati, which I spent in being driven over to the Monarch Mine, 35 miles off, lately worked by the 1 80 MA TABELELAND. Company, but where operations had been suspended altogether owing to the outbreak of the war. Several other interesting journeys in com- pany with Mr. F. C. Farley, a well-known Tati man, were made to the camp of Messrs. Van Rooyen, Lee, and Vermaak, the cele- brated hunters, who at the time of the first collision at Fort Victoria between Lo Ben- gula's men and the Company, were ordered out, together with all other Europeans, and had been with their wives, family, and stock at Macloutsi until the fall of Bulawayo, and were now coming up gradually by easy stages so as to re-occupy their old places granted to them years ago by the King. Much, however, to their surprise, they were told that as they had not gone in and assisted the Company in its war against Lo Bengula their rights were lapsed and could not be recognised. This I found afterwards also applied to Mr. Tainton, another old resident, for similar reasons. Many pleasant hours were spent with these good men, full of anecdote of their hunting experiences extend- ing over twenty years, in which the names of Mr. F^ C. Selous and almost every one who MV OWN TRIP. i8i had ever been in the country constantly oc- curred, interspersed with reminiscences both grave and gay. Opportunity offering, after a pleasant week's stay — much enlivened by the capital fellows who form the Company's staff, including Messrs. Robinson, Geise, Clarke, and Dr. Milner ; Messrs. Forman and Smitherman ; Mr. Wiels, the offi- cial contractor, representatives ; and Mr. Giles, the Bechuanaland Trading Association s clerk in charge — I left for Bulawayb at the end of January with Mr. Kirby, who was desirous of meeting the Headquarters of the British South Africa Company, and, like myself, of inter- viewing the Administrator, Dr. Jameson and his staff. Whilst in Tati, I must say I was sitrprised to see what a large amount of trans- port went through, notwithstanding the almost impassable roads and low rates of carriage. The principal portion of this transport seemed to be large bundles, badly compressed, of forage or dry oat hay, weighing about 300 lb. per bundle, which were so badly packed and treated that half was apparently wasted ; and it would be a conundrum not easy of solution to explain why a contract for such a useless and expensive I82 MATABELELAND. article of fodder was entered into when the grass was high, good, and plentiful — the forage, I am told, actually costing about three shillings a bundle on its arrival in Matabeleland— when good Cape oats, mealies, or, better still, com- pressed hay with crushed grain in it, could have been obtained at a cheaper price, and might be calculated to give double the susten- ance. But, like many other Imperial contracts, this requires — but will never get — explanations! Nothing in South Africa is more pleasant, to my mind, than travelling in a nice large Cape post-cart on two wheels, with broad axle, good springs, and large tent with side, front, and back canvas flaps, especially when you are in company with a cheerful friend, with plenty of provisions, good oxen, and useful servants. The trip to Bulawayo had all this, and was agreeably broken by short stays at the camps at Mangwe, on the south side of the Manyema Pass, and in the Fig-Tree Camp, 25 miles further on, at the north end. At the former I met Capt. Gordon, of the Black Watch, in command, with Capt. Woon, Cape Mounted Rifles, Lieut. Cosgrove, Cape Mounted Rifles, and Dr. Eaton ; whilst at the Fig-Tree Camp MY OWN TRIP. 183 Capt. Ashley Williams was in charge, with Lieut. Baker, Cape Police. At each place a circular fort was being built, and the position strengthened as much as possible, one troop of British Bechuanaland Police being divided between both camps. Passing through the lovely Manyema Pass, which is about 15 miles long, at an elevation of about 4,500 feet above the sea, it was specially noticeable how impreg- nable the position was, naturally ; and there were still to be seen, just after entering the pass, the numerous scherms, or thick thorn- bush defences, behind which the Impi under Gambo had entrenched themselves in readiness for an attack from the southern column. On arrival at Bulawayo, 123 miles from Tati, we chose the best position possible for out- spanning our carts and making ourselves com- fortable during our stay, as the only buildings in the place were Dawson's Stores, near the King's kraal, and Colenbranders house and outbuildings occupied as a hospital ; the other adjoining places being used as offices and com- missioner's stores. The Administrator and Sir J. Willoughby lived in a tent inside the garden fence, with a cool Kaffir hut with open sides 1 84 MA TABELELAND. close by as a mess-room. Presenting my credentials at the earliest possible moment, I was first received by Sir John, and afterwards by Dr. Jameson, both of whom have been so often described, that more would be unneces- sary. Suffice it to say that the doctor gave me the impression of being a man of keen intellect and quick perception, a bit obstinate, it may be, but thoughtful withal, with the admirable faculty of being able to throw him- self entirely into the question of the moment, whether of business or pleasure, and of that apparent frankness of manner which is so charming to observe and dangerous to believe in. Quite a different man is Major Sir John Willoughby, Bart., his military adviser, private secretary, and, in fact, alter ego. Very quiet, unassuming, and attentive, he thinks much and says little while on business cares intent ; but get him away from the office, and you find a cultured and observant traveller, a capital com- panion, a good hunter, and quite au fait with all the various little shifts and dodges necessary to making the best of camp life, and roughing it on the veldt, or at the mines. This view of MY OWN TRIP. 185 him, I am afraid, will hardly meet with the approval of Mr. Labouchere (and others of his way of thinking) who described Sir John, the Hon. M. Gifford, and other scions of noble English houses who are out here, as '* ener- vated specimens of a decaying aristocracy ! " All I can say is that, if Mr. Labouchere, or his Radical followers, could see the simple and hardworking lives these two, with many others of as high birth, lead in Mashunaland and Matabeleland, they would be only too glad to retract and apologise, and admit that, for hard work, roughing it, and commercial acumen, the men they detract and sneer at, hold their own with the shrewdest and best trained Colonial men. Mr. Kirby and I were both made honorary members of the mess, which included Capt. Heyman, then Civil Commissioner and Resi- dent Magistrate — the hero of Masso Kessi — and Capt. Heany, of the well-known firm of Johnson, Borrow, and Heany. My stay of nearly a week — five days of which were enlivened and cheered up by constant rains — was fairly well occupied in seeing everybody worth meeting, interviewing Messrs. Tainton, 1 86 MA TABELELA ND, Dawson, and Colenbrander, several visits to the hospital and graveyard, and one to the fort and camp of the Matabeleland Police ; while one afternoon was devoted to an inspec- tion of the ruins of the King's kraal and houses. At the hospital, which I found in charge of Civil-Surgeon Hogg, there were several men rapidly recovering from their wounds received at the Changani, Bembizi, and pursuit patrol fights ; among whom were several Zululand friends, including Capts. Dallamore and Nesbitt, and some wounded Matabeles. There seemed no lack of medical necessaries or comforts, and want of space was all that troubled either the doctor or his patients. Dr. Hogg very kindly related to me his experiences of the pursuit patrol, with which he was the only surgeon ; and I saw many of his sketches of the campaign sent for publication in the Graphic. At the little cemetery, close by the township, lay Com- mandant Raaff and Capt. Lendy, Messrs. Calcraft, Rixon, and Morrison, and since then many others have unfortunately been added to the number. The fort, which was first completed during my stay, is square, with high earthworks and MV OWN TRIP. 187 surrounded by a deep fosse. At each angle there are mounted on raised platforms two Maxims, one screw 7-pounder gun, and a Gard- ner ; while in reserve were two more Maxims, one Nordenfeldt, and the Hotchkiss gun captured from the Portuguese, with ammunition and supplies for nearly a year. At the camp close by lay 150 Matabeleland Police under Capt- Bodle, late of the 17th Lancers and 6th Dragoons, who had with him four lieutenants. The principal subjects of discussion in the camp were the results of the Court of Inquiry into Major Forbes's conduct of the pursuit column, held in consequence of certain charges being made against him by Commandant Raaff and Capt Lendy; the action of the Imperial Government, and the probable surrender or otherwise of the King and his Indunas. From all I could gather it certainly seems a very unfortunate thing for Major Forbes that he alienated all his best friends by his dictatorial conduct during the campaign ; and it is a fact that it needed all the administrator's well- known tact to keep matters from coming to an open outbreak between the commanding officer and Commandant Raaff, Major Wilson, 1 88 MA TABELELAND, and Capt. Lendy. There is no possible impu- tation of the lack of personal bravery, but as a celebrated American scout said of Major Forbes, ** He had all the pluck of a bull-dog and just about as much judgment ; " while the same man, giving evidence before the Court of Inquiry, said that " he had served in many campaigns, under several flags, and various com- manding officers, but that he had never served under any one who was quicker to grasp the situation, and take advantage of it, than were Major Wilson and Commandant Raaff." This unbiased opinion, from a man capable of judging, is worthy of record. All seemed agreed that Major Forbes showed himself fidgety, bad-tempered, abusive in his language, and utterly lacking tact and courtesy, jealous of advice or interference, and forgetful of the fact that most of the men under him were pure volunteers, of equal social status, of greater age and experience, and with large commercial and financial interests in the country. Of Commandant Raaff enough is known throughout South Africa as to his many splendid qualities as a native fighter ; and, although hampered in the march of the MY OWN TRIP. 189 southern column by not being in command, he never showed to better advantage his fertility of resource, pluck, and endurance than after the unfortunate return of the pursuit column, when, beloved and trusted by the men and officers, he extricated them out of the difficulties which, undoubtedly, Forbes' haste and ignorance had got them into. Major Alan Wilson needs no epitaph nor eulogium from me, the papers, at the time of the disaster to himself and party, being full of details of his life and career, equally honourable whether as a mining engineer, an explorer, or a volunteer. His judgment, self-reliance, and cool bravery are well shown in his action during the march of the Fort Victoria column ; and his death, as described further back, only confirmed what we all knew must be about the truth. No better tribute can be paid to his memory than the fact that, when the Pursuit column was formed, and the Hon. M. Gifford, a scout of many years* services and experience in America under French, was asked to go in, he refused ; and when asked for his reasons, declined to give them, but said that if Major Wilson commanded he would go with him ! iQo MA TABELELAND. While criticising the different commanders, it would ill become me to leave out Lieut. -Col. Goold Adams, of the Imperial column, who was undoubtedly hampered by having to play at war and politics at the same time ; but, although there is absolutely no ground for the reports which were spread as to his having *' shown the white feather " during the engage- ment on the Sangesi, as he was seen by all, Standing upon a waggon at the corner of the laager when the fire was hottest — yet, I am afraid, he must meet with some little condem- nation in having shown want of judgment — firstly in laagering in such a bad position, and secondly in leaving behind him a long strag- gling train of waggons. Whether intentionally or not I cannot ascertain, but it is a regretable thing that neither Commandant Raaff nor Chief Kgama was consulted on the march, nor even treated with that courtesy which should have characterised the treatment of a superior officer — and he an Imperial officer — to his in- feriors in position, but not in knowledge of native warfare. Beyond all the inquiries necessary to obtain the information upon which I base my humble MV OWN TRIP, 191 criticisms of the commanders, I took particular interest in the so-called atrocities, shooting of wounded prisoners, and capture of females and children ; and the only conclusion that any one can come to, after hearing all sides of the ques- tion, is that there never were any atrocities, so to speak ; and then, upon the testimony of no less a person than the Rev. C. D. Helm — to see whom Sir J. Wetherby kindly drove me over one day — no campaign has ever been carried out, against natives, with more humanity or consideration for the natives generally, or with less cruelty to prisoners. The following extract from a letter written by the Rev. C. D. Helm, of Hopefontein mission station, Matabeleland, speaks for itself: — ** From what I hear from the people, there were not as many killed as was reported ; and they all say the wounded that fell into the hands of the whites were well looked after. They say there was not a single person killed outside the fighting, or that was not running away, refusing to give up his arms, and only two or three were killed in that latter way. No women or children were killed. At Tjanani some women were killed, but Gwai (a native) 192 MATABELELAND. says the men were firing from the bush where the women were, and the white men returned the fire, but they could not see whether there were women present, for they could not even see the men that fired, only the puffs of smoke. From all I hear the war was carried on as fairly and mercifully as a war can be. Dr. Jameson was determined that no injustice should be done to the Matabele, especially the women." The shooting of the envoys has been treated of elsewhere, and in the Appendix will be found copy of Major Sawyers Report, and also of the Board of Inquiry into the matter. With regard to shooting wounded prisoners by order of the commanding officers the whole statement is a deliberate falsehood, as the natives themselves told me such incidents had never occurred. It is true that, on one occasion on the Bubi river, while the first pursuit patrol was after the King, Capt. Francis, of Raaff's Rangers, with a small de- tachment of men, took six prisoners with guns, including one woman ; and, as the natives were being disarmed, they fired at the guard, and, giving further resistance, were shot down, Capt. Francis distinguishing himself by shoot- MY OWN TRIP. 193 ing two at one shot, as admitted by himself in even his garbled version of the affair published in the Transvaal papers. He had previously informed them that if they offered no resistance they would not be hurt. This is absolutely the only occasion upon which anything approaching such an action took place, As on the march of the column, all prisoners and wounded men were well treated and released, the force having neither food nor guards enough to keep them with them. The only other occa- sion was after the Changani fight, where some wounded prisoners were left behind in charge of the native contingent, and massacred after- wards before any of the European officers or men knew of it or could interfere. Again on the march up of the second pur- suit patrol some of the men and one officer attempted to keep some women and native children which were captured, but, very wisely, Major Forbes, acting for once on Commandant Raaff 's advice, refused to allow it, as the object of the authorities was to show the natives that they need not fear anything, as it was only the King and the armed men who were wanted ; and one of the first acts of the civil administration «4 194 MATABELELAND. at Bulawayo was to issue most stringent orders against the molestation of any women ; and it speaks most highly of the men, that — up to the time of my visit — only two cases had occurred, one of a European, which was not proven, and one against a bastard Griqua driver, who was convicted and got six months* hard labour. It will be remembered that during the ad- vance of the Fort Salisbury column Capt. G. Williams lost his life through his horse bolting ; and a wish having been expressed by his relatives in England to obtain his remains, Major Sir J. Willoughby and the Hon. M. Gifford, accompanied by Mr. Chappe, an in- terpreter, a mule-cart and two servants, left Bulawayo on January i6th for the purpose. On the third day they succeeded in recovering the remains, and brought them back to camp, where they have since been buried. On the road they visited Injangeni Kraal, and there interviewed a native Induna named Matcharia, belonging to the Insuka Regiment, who gave them the following full details of the death of Wilson's party, since amply confirmed by the patrol sent to recover their bodies' remains, Utchani was in command of the retreating MY OWN TRIP. 195 forces when, seeing Major Forbes's patrol, he took back the remains of the Imbezu and Ingubo Regiments to guard the King, leaving others to lie in ambush on both sides of the river Changani. On his arrival back at the place where the King's waggon was, he found the King had left but given no instructions ; and when Wilson first got up to the place, on the night of the 3rd, Utchani did not know what to do. He wanted to fight, but Wilson called out that they only wanted the King to come in and talk ; but they were told that the King was not there, and were ordered to retire. The night was dark and the bush thick. Mean- time those in ambush disobeyed Utchani's orders, and remained all on the south side of the river. Wilson rode up again early in the morning, and fire was soon exchanged between them, Wilson falling back along the road, and, while so doing, came upon a lot of natives, who had disobeyed orders, left the river, and, hearing firing, rushed back to help the King. Wilson, being surrounded and cut off, then made for a small ravine, ringed the horses, and made a final stand for over two and a half hours against 196 MATABELELAND. gradually increasing numbers of the enemy, until ammunition ran short and all the horses were killed and many men wounded. Wilson's party even then had managed to drive the natives back twice, and would have again suc- ceeded had they had more cartridges and no fresh natives to deal with. After the revolvers were all emptied Wilson and his men took their hats off and began to sing. Meanwhile the natives ceased firing on them, thinking it was " umtagati," or witchcraft. At the close of the song the Matabele rushed in with assegais and tried to finish them all off, but were again beaten back. They then crept up on hands and knees pouring in volley after volley ; and some of the whites shot themselves with their last cart- ridges, all those still alive being shot or asse- gaied at the final rush. Not a white man murmured or cried, but they simply put their hands over their eyes as they were being killed. One man was specially noticeable, a fair, tall man, with long, fair moustaches and a red pug- garee (this was Wilson, as he was the only man then with a red puggaree), and he stood up to the last, bleeding from many wounds, another wounded comrade loading for him to the end. i MY OWN TRIP. 197 He did not die for some time, and killed at least ten natives before he was shot stone dead. The bodies were not mutilated, only stripped, as the natives respected their bravery too much. The whole party were absolutely fenced in with dead horses, and outside lay a ring of some 250 natives who were killed by Wilson's men. He saw a lot of pieces of paper written upon lying about, but these were not removed. What struck the natives most was the wonderful way in which the wounded went on fighting, and all said the Europeans were tough, plucky, and took a lot of killing, more than natives. After burying their own dead friends the natives returned to the river to attack Forbes, but found the river full. Men tried to swim over, but were shot at and killed. They then encamped on the other side watching, and saw Forbes send up rockets — as they thought to bring rain — and then retreat. They followed for a couple of days, hoping to get across higher up, but, not being able to succeed, went back to the drift, crossed there, and followed up Forbes again, but never reached him, and then returned to the 198 MATABELELAND. King with women, children, and cattle, after which many surrendered. With the epitomised statements of Messrs. J. Dawson and J. Colen- brander, both interesting actors in the recent affairs, I can close this chapter. Mr. James Dawson, better known by his native name of " Jimsole," is an old resident in Matabeleland, and has lived almost longer in friendship with Lo Bengula than any other man, and he was much grieved at the news of the collision between the Matabeles and the Com- pany, fearing the worst consequences to all the Europeans in the country if the natives were beaten. Naturally enough he was only too anxious to do all he could to smooth matters over and avert warfare. But the situation becoming graver, and the High Commissioner asking that Lo Bengula should send down a deputation to confer with him, Dawson suggested to the King that he, Usher, and Fairbairn should go down, thus intending to get out of the country. Previous to this Dawson went to the King and explained that as his young men had been de- feated they might wreak their vengeance on his property, and asked permission to take every- thing to Macloutsi, returning after all was MY OWN TRIP, 199 settled. To this the King agreed ; and all that night everything was loaded up ready to start ; but in the morning the King changed his mind, and sent down four Indunas to say Dawson must come up and see the King. This Dawson did, being chaffed by all present at his freak and wanting to clear out. At last he told the King if he would guarantee his safety he would stop, and he off-loaded and did so. About the same time Mr. Colenbrander, who had already warned all the European people in Matabeleland that it was not safe to remain, got a waggon and span of oxen from the King in order to go down to Palachwe and bring up the King's goods, among which were some rifles and powder, &c. But on his arrival at Palachwe he refused to go back, and sent up word that matters were serious and the Imperial troops coming in. This unsettled Dawson again. Mr. Tainton had, early in July, cleared out without telling the King of his intention, and Dawson was in- structed by the King to forbid him to come back in consequence. After this Lo Ben- gula called Dawson and gave him his brother 200 MATABELELAND, Ingubo-gubo and two other Indurias to go down to Palachwe and talk with the High Commis- sioner through the wire ; and then occurred the episode of the shooting of the envoys at Tati. Dawson went on to Palachwe with Ingubo- gubo and remained there till the 14th of November, when, hearing of the evacuation of Bulawayo, he returned with Messrs. Burn- ham and Ingram, finding Messrs. Usher and Fairbairn and his goods all safe, having been protected by men from the King against any native raid. Mr. Dawson blamed the Rev. Mr. Helm very much for clearing out of the country, and even on his return for not going round to visit the natives, explaining to them the advantages of surrendering, or taking any steps to communicate with the King. Since thej time of this interview Mr. Dawson went i) himself with Mr. Reilly, Sekombi, the Indunj of Entemben, and several guides, being awa] on his missions, both of which he was success- ful in, as described in the following chapter. | The names of Mr. and Mrs. Johann Colen- brander having several times appeared in previous chapters will have given my readers some little insight into who they are, and I MY OWN TRIP, 20I have only to add that whatever opinion any one may hold as to the peculiar ways and actions of Mr. Colenbrander himself, there is only one idea with respect to his wife — a Miss MuUins of Natal — viz., that she is a plucky woman, a splendid rider, and as charming a hostess as most ladies can be when they like. She has followed her husband in all his wanderings, and was always a persona grata with the King and his people. On the occasion of my visit I found them in temporary premises, in all the discomforts of building in wet weather ; whilst a brother of the lady lay ill with fever. To my request that Mr. Colenbrander would tell me something about the beginning of the war and his actions on behalf of the Chartered Company, whose agent he was, I received a courteous assent, and both gave me a succinct account ; from which I gathered that Mr. Colenbrander was the first at Bulawayo to receive the news of the affair at Fort Victoria, and informed the King of it. After a second wire from the High Commissioner it was con- sidered dangerous for any Europeans to remain in the country, and he warned all possible, and 202 MATABELELAND. every one cleared except Dawson, Usher, and Fairbairn. Mr. Colenbrander, having received orders from Mr. Rhodes, left Bulawayo on August 14th and arrived in Palachwe ten days later. He had an interview with the King previous to leaving, and tendered Lo Bengula the j^ioo monthly allowance from the British. South Africa Company, and £\2^ for Lippert's Syndicate; but the King refused point-blank, saying that it was blood-money, and he would not receive any more until the matters in dispute were settled. He would not give up . any cattle or pay any compensation until such time as his Maholis, or slaves, their wives, children, and stock, were sent back to him from near Fort Victoria. He gave Colen- brander leave to go down, and asked him to bring back his goods. The Rev. Mr. Rees and his family had already left Nyati on the 30th of July, having an Induna with them as safe-conduct sent by the King. Mr. Colenbrander stated that the King him- self, after the results of the fighting, was always willing to surrender, but his men would not allow him. My OWN TRIP. 203 Colenbrander left Palachwe with secret orders on a reconnoitring trip via Tati, on September i6th, but informed no one of his object. He rode up in the night from Tati to the Impakwe river, and there noticed large numbers of armed men at the King's cattle post prepared to go back with their stock. He then returned to Tati and informed the Government and Company of what he had seen. On the 29th he again rode up to Tati after the Imperial colupin had passed through, but did not go on, as he heard that Colonel Goold Adams was beyond the Ramoqueban river in expectation of an attack. Riding up after- wards with despatches to Bulawayo from the High Commissioner, he met Burnham and Ingram coming down, and went with them to Colonel Goold Adams's camp and afterwards on to Bulawayo with the advance column of 100 men under Commandant Raaff» Mr. Burnham being the first man down from Bulawayo with the news, and Colenbrander the first man up after its evacuation. UENVOI. Returning to Tati, as the telegraph terminus was still there, I appointed several correspon- dents in various parts of the country in order to supply me with authentic news ; and I waited there until I received direct information from Dr. Jameson that the King was dead, and that several of the Indunas were willing to surrender. Being also down for nearly a week with my first attack of fever — almost the last man to go sick — I was only too glad to return to Bulawayo on the high veldt, more especially as arrangements had been made to continue the military field telegraph line as far as the northern boundary of the British Protectorate, viz., the Ramaquaban river, whence the British South Africa Company had given out a contract to construct a per- manent line right up to Bulawayo. On my return I had another chat with Mr. 204 DEN VOL 205 Dawson, who gave me the following details of his attempt to get the King to come in. It appears that when he reached the river Chan- gani he came into touch with the first lot of natives, who sent his messages in to the Indunas, but informed him that the King was really dead and buried ; and shortly afterwards some of the headmen came in to talk with him re their surrender and the disposal of the King's widows and children. The King, who had been ill for some time with either fever or modified small-pox, or perhaps both, had long been down-hearted about his men leaving him, but was afraid to come in himself because of the killing of Wilson s party ; and one day, after asking where certain of his more immediate followers were, on being told they had gone back to their kraals, he said nothing more, but walked away some hundred yards from his hut, and, on turning to come back, was seen to fall. His people rushed out and brought him back, but he never seemed to recover consciousness, and died the next morning early — this was about the 22nd or 23rd of January. After learning this Dawson requested the 206 MATABELELAND. aid of a party of natives to assist in getting together and burying temporarily the remains of Wilson's party, and this was done eagerly ; and the party moved on, arriving at the spot a day or two afterwards. Here they found the skulls of all the 34 men killed, with some of the other bones and a few relics. These were hastily collected and buried with a crux over, marked simply " To the brave." By this time Reilly and the rest of the party, except Daw- son, had touches of fever, and the return home was made but slowly. On nearing Inyati Dawson despatched messengers to Dr. Jame- son confirming the news of the King's death, and giving the welcome tidings that the chiefs. Queens, children, and followers, were all pre- pared to come in if waggons and provisions were sent for them. Arrangements were then made to do so ; and just after my arrival in Bulawayo for the second time, Dawson and Reilly were off again with the necessary trans- port and supplies (on the 17th of March), returning successful again on the 8th of April. Meanwhile Gambo, the son-in-law of Lo Ben- gula, and almost the most powerful man in the kingdom next to the King, surrendered, with LENVOL 207 Bokwela, Sekombi, Mpetchwan, Mashlatene, other Indunas, and a large following of natives and stock. They had a most satisfactory interview with the Administrator, and went away prepared to settle down peaceably close by here about two hours to the south- west. On the 9th of April what may justly be termed the last act in the Matabele drama was furnished by the voluntary surrender of Utchani, the great fighting general and leader of the Umbezu Regiment, Manondwyan, the commander of the Insuka Regiment, and Fusi, the head Induna of the Ingubo Regiment. To these men Dr. Jameson ex- plained that they would be in precisely the same positions as they were before, except that the Company's rule would succeed the autocratic one of the late King. That no more witchcraft would be allowed, and no killing on any pretence whatever. They would be located where they liked best on the high healthy veldt, in small kraals, between Europeans, but not near the main roads, or so as to interfere with mining operations. All the arms and King's cattle must be given 2o8 MATABELELAND. Up, and he looked to the headmen to help him keep the young men, or Majakkus, in order, and provide requisite labour for the gold mines, which would of course be paid for. The same laws applied to whites and blacks alike ; and he hoped they would soon get accustomed to living alongside Europeans, and see the difference between the late King^s system of government and the rule of law and order and the safety of property now initiated. Later on Dr. Jameson promised that he would return some of the arms to those he could trust, but at present no native was safe from being shot if he travelled about armed. The widows and children of their late King would be allowed to return to their homes if they had relatives, but if not, they could choose what kraals they would live at and the Government would provide food for them until next grain season. If they had any difficulties with their Maholis, or servants, the Company's police would help them ; and if any white men interfered with their women or property they would be also punished on conviction. All the chiefs thanked Dr. Jameson for his kind words, and said they were thoroughly convinced from VENVOL 209 their own treatment, as well as by the reports of all their people, of the bona fides of the Company ; they would work loyally with the Government to keep the country at peace, and thanked Messrs. Dawson and Reilly for their kind treatment to them whilst bringing them in. This closed the meeting, and the chiefs all left, being shortly afterwards located in different spots round about, under the guidance of Mr. J. Colenbrander, the Native Commissioner, and seemed happy and contented. Mr, Dawson could not speak in too strong terms of the dreadful state of poverty and sickness which he found existing among the people he had gone to fetch in. He saw hundreds dead and dying ; and of his own party of over 300 that came in with him, over 25 died on the road. So much for the native side of the question. With regard to the European occupation, I was simply astonished on my return to Bula- wayo to find such a large, orderly camp existing, under the circumstances ; and although there were numerous daily arrivals, nearly all seemed to be of the working class, or else IS 2IO MATABELELAND. representing capitalists ; and few were seen loafing about the camp longer than was neces- sary to get supplies, &c. The amount of crime, too, was wonderfully small, even less than in many towns of far larger population, notwith- standing the fact that there were seven hotels and canteens, and no church or clergyman in the place. The new township, although laid out in 833 lots, situated about two miles south of the camp, was not ready for occupation, and the Government were undecided what to do about selling lots until the terms of the settlement between the Imperial Government and the Hon. C. J. Rhodes were known. So that, as a matter of fact, sales of properties were hampered, and speculation in land all round was of a feeble and doubtful character. With the mining work, however, unqualified praise can be given, as all over the country, from 50 miles west to 100 miles east, over 5,000 claims had been pegged out, and the reefs ex- posed to the surface and tested by shafts and drives. Oftentimes the prospectors were aided by the old workings which are scattered about on almost every reef. n ENVOI. 2M No alluvial field of any extent has yet been found, although great hopes are entertained of two or three spots registered as such* The finding of even one will be a good thing for the country, as some little immediate return will be got, instead of waiting at least two years, which must be the case before the necessary machinery is erected at the reefs, and gold crushing is commenced. Be that as it may, however, there is little doubt but what the reefs are even poor men's reefs, inasmuch as not half of the available gold belt is prospected or pegged out, and only a small charge will be made for prospectors' licenses ; and the right to ten claims, upon which, if the man does a little work and finds anything decent, he will get a , ready cash sale to syndicates or companies, and can then go on and repeat the operation ad infinitum. The great advantages in this territory are undoubtedly a healthy country, fine climate, good wood, water and grass, and the most numerous and rich lot of reefs ever seen in such a small and compact area. Added to which, the men are able to profit by the bitter 212 MA TABELELAND. experiences gained in other South African mining districts. The only care which must be taken is not to float the first companies with too large a share capital. Let the vendors be satisfied with a fair price, return of expenditure, &c., in cash, and their profit in shares, leaving sufficient cash capital to work the claims to a satisfactory conclusion. With roads being now improved by the Government, with a railway up to Mafeking, with telegraphic service all over the territory, weekly posts to Salisbury, Tuli, and Vryburg, and two newspapers and every other aid to civilisation, including a rush of population now setting in, it would be impossible to foretell the grand future before Bulawayo, the seat of government, and the various settlements now growing up round the principal mining centres, at Gwelo, Bembizi, Umtebekwi, Mangwe, &c., &c. All that is now wanted is the publication and knowledge of the system of government allowed by the Imperial authorities, and the settlement of the various vexed land questions as regards the European rights, and the future of Matabeleland is assured without V ENVOI, 213 any doubt. Whether the railway on the East Coast will ever be able to supply the Mata- bele gold fields, in competition with the routes from Pretoria and Vryburg, is another question, but one which affects the new-comers very little and the future still less. Competition must be good for us all, and we only hope that the quickest and cheapest route will be proved conclusively, and win and retain the main body of what promises to develop into an enormous commerce. In conclusion, I should just like to touch upon what appear to me to be the lessons to be learnt from the campaign as well as to make a few comments upon one or two very vexed questions in connection with the affair. In the first place, it is evident to every one who has followed the course of native wars, in this country especially, that in fighting natives they must be met in their own way by men who know their tactics. The red- tapeism, and machine-like action of the Im- perial forces is not able to cope with natives like irregulars can ; and it does not tend to increase the soldiers' confidence in himself or his officers, nor give him scope for the exer- 214 MATABELELAND. cise of individual quickness of decision, so im- portant in native warfare. Then, again, mixing up Imperial officers with colonial commanders of experience has not proved satisfactory; and indeed, even in the purely Imperial colonial corps, the system of seconding officers from the regiments and bringing them out here, over the heads of men in the colonial corps, who were led to believe their promotion from the ranks was the reward of merit and the goal open to all, has often led to serious consequences, and dis- agreements and dissension among the men of the corps. With the question as to the necessity of the war against the Matabele I can say no more: if the evidence of unbiased colonial people, including clergymen and missionaries, is not able to convince my readers, then any attempts of mine must fail ; but what astonished most of us was the fact that the Imperial Govern- ment, always great sticklers for the rights of others, especially the poor natives, ever allowed the Chartered Company to enlist men, upon the old and very good Dutch method — doubt- less from their point of view — on a promise L ENVOI. 215 of farms and loot, thus encouraging the very system of filibustering which they have spent millions already in putting down, and almost as it were aiding and abetting in any atrocities which might be committed. For it is well known that to touch a Kaffir in his sorest place is to take his live stock ; and it will be seen in reading my narrative of events that Burnett and others lost their lives through riding up to Kaffir kraals, as the natives evidently thought, to capture cattle — instead of, as was often the case, to gain information. The High Commissioner's actions through- out have, to say the least of it, been of the most peculiar description. Whilst at first evidently anxious to assist the Chartered Com- pany in their well-laid schemes. His Excellency nearly spoilt the whole plan by wavering and vacillation ; and had it not been for the fact Q^ that a small body of Imperial police were unexpectedly fired upon near Macloutsi, while out scouting, permission to enter for the column might have been so long delayed as to render the preparations for the campaign futile until next dry season. As it was, the non-commis- sioned officer who says he was fired at (although 216 MATABELELAND. Lo Bengula's Indunas assured me that there were no armed natives down there, as they did not expect war) was promoted to a lieutenancy, and deserves well of the Company at any rate. Those who have followed the course of events in any Kaffir war hitherto, will be well aware that there were always a lot of wounded natives deserted by their own people, prisoners and others, whom it was impossible to feed or keep with the forces, and who therefore dis- appeared ; but although this last campaign has, I am able to assert, seen less of this than any other, yet, forsooth, because a few wounded Matabele were put out of their misery by some of the native Mashuna contingent and camp Makalakas, their| ancient, ill-treated, and Sub- jugated foes, an outcry is raised as to the enormous cruelties practised, it is said, by order of the Company's officers. I need only refer to the connected account given by every- body, and the testimony of missionaries, Bishop Knight Bruce — who, I forgot to state, pluqkily accompanied the column in their march — ^and the natives themselves, since the war, of whom I have interviewed hundreds^ to disprove such accusations ; and it may be LENVOL 217 taken for granted that in no campaign against Kafifirs of recent years has so little cruelty, want of feeling, and loss of life occurred. On the subject of the number of Matabele killed, I have been able to gather from the best native sources that there were not over 1,500 killed, and about 1,000 wounded during the whole campaign ! The only fault seems to have been — if it be granted that in warfare your duty is to kill as many of the enemy as possible — that the troops never gave the Matabele sufficient time to come up close enough to the laagers, but prevented all rushes by long-distance firing. The whole truth with regard to poor Major Wilson's party. can be easily gathered from the chapters ; but I must confess that, in the opinion of many well-qualified men, as well as in the estimation of all the men of both columns, the only proper course for Major Forbes to have adopted on the evening when Wilson sent back for reinforcements, was to have left about 30 or 40 men, with a Maxim, in a scherm at the river Changani to guard their re- crossing, and have marched every other avail- able man, even on foot, up to where Wilson 2i8 MATABELELAND. awaited reinforcements ; and Mr. Burnham, and every other officer and man that I have met since, all are unanimous in saying that had this been done, the advance party could have been brought back, even if the loss of life had been somewhat heavy. The after disclosures, which ended in the trial of Troopers Daniells and Wilson, of the Bechuanaland Border Police, for embezzling j^i,ooo sent by the King to Major Forbes, do not make the whole matter more satisfac- tory to dwell on, nor assist us in conjecturing what otherwise might have been. THE END. APPENDIX. APPENDIX A. Copy of Major Sir John Willoughby's Report of THE Battle of Changani, forwarded to the War Office, fought October 24, 1893. BULAWAYO, Nov. 24, 1894. The Salisbury and Victoria columns crossed the Chan- gani river without opposition by 3.50 p.m. on the 24th of October, 1893, the country to the front and on both flanks having been previously well reconnoitred to a distance of five or six miles without any signs of an enemy having been found, though rumours from our native contingent in the rear, and from natives found in kraals to our right front, led us to believe that a force of some seven regiments — which had missed the chance of attacking us at the edge of the Sambula forest, through having been drawn off by our night advance and the burning of the Insukameni kraal on October 21st — had now passed through the forest and bush some ten miles away on our right flank, and were now threatening our Tight front, in rear of the range of hills and broken country overlooking the left bank of the Changani river, and running parallel to it at a distance of about a mile from it. Immediately after crossing the river the ground 2x9 220 MA TABELELAND. A is much impeded with bush and large thorn trees, and intersected by many dongas (or dry sluits) and water- courses. The column advanced three-quarters of a mile beyond the river up a gradual slope, where the bush was thinnest, covered by two Maxims placed on a low and partially wooded rise, situated a few hundred yards to the left of the line of advance, and laagered for the night in the most open space to be found between the two small tributaries of the Changani river, and at a distance of about i,ooo yards from the nearest kopjies. Except for isolated patches of bush, the ground in the vicinity of the laagers was fairly open to a radius varying from 300 to 600 yards, the low-wooded rise, marked E on the plan, being some 500 yards distant. (N.B. — The above position was far from a good one, and much in favour of an attacking force. Had the columns advanced two miles further on, fine open ground could have been selected, beyond the range of broken country and the dense bush of the neighbourhood of the river ; but, as events turned out, it was as well, perhaps, that this was not done, as it is quite possible that the enemy was induced to attack us, when he did, on account of the apparent weakness of our position, and might have been deterred from risking a decisive engagement had a better one been selected.) Extra precautions were taken in strengthening both laagers with thorn bushes at the weakest points, the general line of front and rear of both facing about the west and east respectively, and running nearly parallel to the course of the river. The trek oxen, with the exception of those picketed on the right face of the Salisbury laager, and on the rear face of the Victoria laager, were picketed in between the two laagers, a small thorn fence on either side of them partially enclos- ing them and connecting the two laagers. Immediately APPENDIX. 221 in rear of them, and about 80 yards distant, a circular thorn scherm was made to hold most of the captured cattle, of which about 1,000 head had been taken by our patrols and reconnoitring parties during the course of the day. Six white pickets, each furnishing two sentries in three reliefs, and six native pickets, each furnishing one sentry in three reliefs, were posted round the camp at a distance of 150 to 250 yards from it. Quested *s native contingent, 500 strong — which formed an extra rear guard, some three miles in the rear, during our daily treks — were encamped on a slight rise, 800 yards to the rear of the Salisbury laager between it and the river, and with it the remainder of the recently captured cattle. This camp was supposed to be guarded against surprise by a native picket, 50 strong. The first notice of attack came from the direction of Quested's camp, where heavy firing commenced at 3.50 a.m. Soon afterwards the pickets ran in on all sides, and the ground on which the Victoria and Salisbury right front pickets had been posted was almost simultaneously occupied by the enemy, who opened at once a steady and continuous fire on all sides with Martini rifles and muzzle-loaders. In the meantime our men, generally speaking, behaved with great coolness and steadiness (especially considering that a large proportion had never previously been under fire), and had manned the waggons, returning the fire, from both laagers intermittently, whenever it was possible to distinguish by the faint light of a setting moon any bodies of the enemy. This was particularly difficult to do, as the neighbouring bush and isolated clumps not only afforded cover to the enemy, but also threw deceptive shadows across the more open ground. The fire control of the Victoria laager was excellent, while that of the Salisbury, although a little wild at first, became afterwards much improved. Unfortunately 222 MA TABELELAND, a large number of Brabant's native contingent, who had been placed in the captured cattle scherm, got panic- stricken, and ran in on the Victoria laager right across the line of fire of the machine guns, and several were shot. This was unavoidable, and could not have happened had they obeyed previous instructions and run in direct amongst the trek oxen between the laagers. A few of Quested's men also fled to the Salisbury laager, and a few in consequence were shot, but the majority of his contingent stood their ground well, and inflicted considerable loss on the enemy, although he got right amongst them, and assegaied several, including many of the recaptured women and children. (These had been raided from the Victoria district by the Matabele this year, and had only been recaptured by our patrols the day before the fight.) They eventually retired slowly and in good order on the laagers after daylight had dawned ; but not till their leader was severely wounded. The enemy's first attack was chiefly directed against the right face and rear of the Salisbury laager and the left and rear faces of the Victoria laager ; though Quested's contingent, from its position, decidedly broke the force of the attack on the Salisbury right, and afforded most valuable assistance by giving us timely warning of the attack, and so ample time to prepare. It was afterwards ascertained from a wounded prisoner that the attack on the front of both laagers was considerably weakened by the regiment that was detailed to advance on that side from the south-west, not arriving in time to take part in the first attack. In several places the enemy advanced to within 1 50 yards, and a few to within 80 yards, right up to the captured cattle, which were then stampeded. About 300 massed within 1 50 yards of the Victoria left face, under cover of a clump of bush ; some few individual parties of two or three approached to within 80 or 100 APPENDIX. 223 yards of the Salisbury front face, but the majority of the enemy never advanced beyond the edge of the surround- ing bush at distances varying between 300 and 500 yards. The heavy firing continued for 20 minutes, when the fire of seven machine guns proved too hot, and drove the enemy on all sides further back into the bush, as they merely kept up a dropping fire till 4.30 a.m. At 4.45 a.m. Captains Heany and Spreckley were sent out with their mounted troops from the Salisbury laager to clear the bush to the left front and right flank, but finding large bodies of the enemy, and there being still in- sufficient light for them to act efficiently, they were almost immediately forced to retire, which was just as well, as they were only masking the fire of the laagers without doing any good. Both troops made two charges, but were each time driven back. Firing then ceased till 5.30, when the enemy made a second advance, chiefly from the river side, on the Victoria left rear, a large body also collecting on the low rise marked E, lying in between those two points. The Maxims could here have done great execution, but then fire was withheld for fear that this body might be some of our friendlies, and this was not the only opportunity which was unavoidably lost, when the enemy showed in compact bodies our fire being similarly withheld for the same reason. The second attack was far less determined, for by this time daylight had become well established, and thus a much more certain fire could be directed on each point, wherever the enemy attempted to show himself, and he again soon fell back, on all sides, lining the watercourses on our right and left, again concealing himself in the thickest bush, lying between us and the river. About this time the impi that had ' not arrived for the first attack, came up, and began collecting on the rise marked M, 2,200 yards to the south-west of our position. One 224 ^A TABELELAND. of the 7 -pounders was advanced from the Salisbury laager, and brought to bear on this position, which at the second shell, well directed by Capt. Moberley, was evacuated ; at the same time Captains Fitzgerald and Bastard were sent in that direction with their mounted troops. These swept the intervening ground in skirmish- ing order j driving the enemy well beyond the hill ; upon which the enemy, lying hid in the watercourse, rushed out to our left to intercept and cut off their retreat. Major Wilson, seeing this, sounded the " retire " ; but our men, having also observed this counter movement, changed positions ** left back," and, with a few shots, drove the enemy back across the stream, and soon after masses of them were to be seen in full retreat round the lower slopes to the east and west of the hill marked L. The Hotchkiss gun here did good execution, inflicting considerable losses on the retreating enemy on these slopes, and wherever they were seen crossing in numbers the open space in the bush below. In the meantime Capt. Heany went out from our right rear with his troops, and found the bush and watercourse on that side quite clear of the enemy ; but, on reaching a ridge running at right angles between the kopjies and the river, at a distance of about 1,200 yards he encountered the enemy's reserve, under the command of Manlevo (the only mounted man present), which had not hitherto come into action ; and though his troop got within 30 yards of this force without perceiving them, experiencing also a heavy fire, its casualties were only two horses wounded. However, a large mass of the enemy charged his troop, and Capt. Heany was forced to retreat, hotly pursued for some 200 yards. A Maxim and a 7 -pounder were then advanced from the laager to cover his retreat, and the result of one or two well-placed shells drove the enemy again back. The engagement APPENDIX, 225 was now (8.10 a.m.) practically over. At 8.30 mounted troops were again sent out to patrol the vicinity of the camp and to drive off any remaining parties of the enemy, but a general retreat had been effected by them on all sides along the bank of the Changani river and through the kopjies and broken country, so that by 9.30 p.m. the country was reported clear all round for a distance of three miles. Our total casualties were, in the Victoria column : killed, i colonial native, 12 Mashuna contingent ; wounded, Europeans, i severely (died next morning), 3 slightly, 26 Mashuna contin- gent. Salisbury column : killed, 10 Mashuna con- tingent ; wounded, Europeans, 3 slightly, Mashuna contingent, 5. Total : killed, i colonial native, 22 Mashuna contingent ; wounded, Europeans, 7, Mashuna contingent, 31. Horses : killed, 8 ; wounded, 2. It was afterwards ascertained from a wounded prisoner that the Insukameni (200 strong, and one of the best regiments), the Inshlati, Isiziba, and Amaveni regiments, with the towns of Induba, Jingen, In- yangen, and Enxa, took part in the attack, with estimated total numbers from 5,000 to 6,000. Their instructions from Umjaan, the Matabele general, were to surround the laagers completely and to rush in with the assegai, without firing a shot ; and it was through one of the Amaveni letting off his rifle that this did not occur ; and no doubt, as beforesaid, the position of Quested's kraal prevented them making a more sudden attack. The enemy had intended to attack at 10 p.m., but postponed it until 3.30 a.m. on account of the three rockets being sent up at 8 p.m. to acquaint a belated patrol with the whereabouts of our camp. Unondo, in command of the Insukameni regiment, was wounded, and afterwards found hanged to a tree by his own hand. Owing to the broken nature of the ground, and the fact 16 226 MATABELELAND. that the enemy was seen carrying off large numbers of his dead, it is difficult to form an exact estimate of the losses of the enemy ; but, from the number of bodies I myself counted, I should say that 200 to 300 killed would be a low estimate ; and natives subsequently stated that 300 were killed, irrespective of the wounded, so that probably 500 to 600 killed and wounded is a fair estimate. The wounded prisoner states that the force was divided in opinions about attacking in this place, and this, no doubt, combined with the position of Quested's camp, and the excellent working of all the machine guns and shell guns, probably prevented a more determined attack being made. It was unfortunate that our success could not be better followed up, and the victory made more complete, but this was impossible, considering the broken nature of the ground, rendering it unrideable in most parts, and because this and the thick bush afforded immediate cover to the enemy whenever he chose to retire. The column broke laager at 3 p.m., and advanced some three miles to open ground. (Signed) John C. Willoughby. APPENDIX B. Account of the Battle of Imbembizi, fought near the' head waters of the Bembizi River, Novem- ber I, 1893. BuLAWAvo, Nov. 9, 1893. On the 30th of October the two columns trekked to one of the streams forming the head waters of the Manyani river, a tributary of the Umsingaan, here distant about APPENDIX. 227 four miles from the Insingweni kraal, of which Sema- pulami is chief. Here it was decided to halt until the following afternoon to give the horses and oxen a much- needed rest, the grazing, which for the last three or four days had been very scanty, being here very good. The delay was also necessary to enable us to reconnoitre the country ahead, for, since the skirmish of the 27th, we had lost touch of the enemy, and were ignorant as to his whereabouts. On the 31st of October a considerable number of shots were heard at i p.m. in the direction of Insingweni : this proved to be an attack on Capt. Whitens scouts by large numbers of Matabele, who had taken up a strong position on a single line of kopjies, at the back of which lay the Insingweni kraal. Two mounted troops were therefore sent to reconnoitre, and on nearing the kopjies we could see small bodies of the enemy moving about on the sky-line, but on approaching to within 800 yards a heavy but ineffective fire was opened on us along the whole line of kopjies, extending for a mile in length. The troops, after returning the enemy's fire for a short time, retreated slowly, and the enemy, thereby en- couraged, showed in great force, masses of men running down to the base of the kopjies, while large bodies were seen to be rapidly advancing on our right flank over ground much intersected by dongas, and sloping away at right angles to the kopjies. However, with the exception of a few who pushed on through a strip of bush to a deep watercourse, running parallel to, and about three-quarters of a mile from, the kopjies, the majority did not advance further than their base. The laagers were broken up at 3.30 p.m., and re-formed \\ miles distant from the kopjies, in a fair position, though at some distance from water. While trekking to this place the enemy showed a disposition to attack, large numbers advancing at a run in skirmishing order on our right flank, but a few well- 228 MATABELELAND. directed shells from one of the 7 -pounders drove them back again to the shelter of the kopjies. It was after- wards ascertained from natives that these shells did considerable execution. Contrary to expectation, a quiet night was passed, notwithstanding that it was evident the Matabele had received reinforcements, from the fact of their astonishment at the shells, many of them rushing forward to shoot at them as they burst. The following morning the column moved on, and on reaching the Insingweni kraal we found the enemy had evacuated his position of the previous day after having burnt many of the huts. I estimated the enemy^s forces shown on the . previous day at 3,000, but judging by the scherm fires and remains of oxen slaughtered behind the range of kopjies, the forces must have amounted to at least 4,000 to 5,000 men. The country to the west of the Insing- weni kraal, through which it had at first been our inten- tion to pass, is bushy in places, and broken by watercourses running into the Imbembizi river, the latter some four miles beyond the range of kopjies ; had we continued on this course it is almost certain that we should have been attacked while crossing the Bembizi river in an awkward place, the banks being steep. It was luckily decided, on information received from the scouts, to make a detour south, and proceed along the higher ground where the bush was more open, and so pass round the head of the river. Several small scouting parties of the Matabele were sighted as we wound our way along for three miles, taking the most open parts — a pretty clear indica- tion that the enemy was close at hand in force, and I fully expected an attack at any moment : the general opinion, however, seemed to be that they would not fight. The open ground was reached at 11.30 a.m., and the laagers formed at 11.50 a.m., on a steep rise 500 yards from the edge of the bush, with a small native APPENDIX. 229 kraal in between the laagers, which it was intended to utilise for holding the captured cattle for the night. This position was far from being a good one, for 150 yards away to the right of the Salisbury laager a sudden drop in the ground on the side nearest the bush would enable the enemy to mass in large numbers under cover, over an area of about 300 yards square, within 50 yards of the bush, and 1 50 of the laager. The water, too, was about one mile distant to the south in the open. The Victoria laager was well formed, and partly bushed with thorns that had been carried on from the last camp by the Mashuna contingent ; the Salisbury laager was not so well made, in shape more or less of an oval, open at both ends in front and rear, with wide gaps where the guns stood, and also between some of the waggons. Up to the time of the attack it had not been strengthened, the natives being still out cutting bush for that purpose. Three roofless huts, too, were still left standing 1 50 yards distant from the right face ; vedettes on the north side were placed west of the bush and in it, as well as on the higher ridges of ground east on south and west and east sides. At 12.50 p.m. a dense mass of natives were seen emerging from the bush on a high ridge to the north- west, about I J miles distant, apparently retreating on Thaba S'Induna, in the direction of Bulawayo. One of the 7-poundprs was run out, and a few shells fired in their direction. This movement would appear to have been intended as a feint on their part, for, almost imme- diately afterwards, the whole body wheeled to its left, and, opening out into skirmishing order, commenced advancing rapidly in the direction of the laagers. At this moment, 12.55 P-ni., one of the pickets stationed near the west side galloped in to report that the enemy were coming on rapidly through the bush in great num- bers scarcely half a mile away. Within less than three 230 MATABELELAND. minutes of this report we perceived the enemy ourselves rushing through the bush in splendid order, and almost instantaneously occupying its outer fringe in various distances from the Salisbury laager at from 600 to 700 yards to 350 at the nearest point, whence they poured in a very heavy and ever-increasing rifle fire (chiefly Martinis) as continuous reinforcements kept coming up from their rear. Our men were outside the laager cooking their mid-day meal, and had barely time to snatch up their saddles, rifles, and bandoliers, to reach and man the waggons. It was not till then that the recall was sounded for the horses and oxen, the furthest away of which were grazing over a mile away, though luckily on the least threatened flank, away in the open. The attack was pushed forward with great determination and admirable pluck for about 20 minutes, being solely directed against the right face and right front and rear of the Salisbury laager, reinforcements working their way up beautifully, making use of the cover of every available bush ; but in no one place did more than one or two collect together, and pouring into the laager a very heavy though, generally speaking, ill-directed fire — the majority of the bullets passing over our heads — though the waggons and head cover, formed of hastily piled-up kits and meal bags, were struck in many places — a small party of the enemy advanced under cover of the low ground already men- tioned, and occupied the three huts distant 150 yards, and some of our casualties were occasioned through this occupation. Our rifle fire in this direction was not at first very effective, it being difiScult from the nature of the ground to ascertain distances ; the machine guns, however, did great execution, more especially the Gard- ner and two Maxims. In the meantime Major Wilson, seeing that his own laager was not seriously threatened, very judiciously moved out three Maxims and the Hotch- APPENDIX, 231 kiss gun, and also flanked the slopes of the hills on both sides to assist in repelling the attack, yet, notwithstanding the heavy fire of three Maxims, one Gardner, one Nor- denfeldt, and two shell guns, besides some 400 rifles, the enemy continued reinforcing his first line (though latterly to a lesser extent) up to 1.25 p.m., when he con- tented himself with holding for some little time longer the fringe of bush occupied. The really serious part of the attack was carried out by the Imbeza and Ingubo regiments, 1,000 and 700 strong respectively, backed up by members from these towns, covering a front of about three-quarters of a mile. Near to them, to the imme- diate right of the Ingubo, the Isiziba pushed on as near as they could without leaving the cover of the bush, distant in their direction about 700 yards. The Inshlati regiment beyond the latter, and in the open, kept at a distance of 1,000 to 1,200 yards, while the Insukameni regiment kept fully a mile away on the extreme right of the enemy's line ; the Inxnobo, in the bush to the left rear, never really engaged until they went in pursuit of the mounted troop. Besides the above-named regiments the Inxchlecho regiment and most of the towns that took part in the Changani attack, with the exception of the Amaveni, were present, but remained in the background in the bush. At 1.30 p.m. the enemy began to show signs of having had enough of the murderous fire he had so long withstood, and by degrees withdrew into the bush, and by 1.50 all had sought cover, merely keeping up a drop- ping fire here and there, and by 2 p.m. his fire ceased altogether. At 2 p.m. 100 of the Victoria men under Capt. Dallamore were sent out to skirmish through the bush to our right rear in pursuit of the now thoroughly demoralised Imbeza regiment, and, admirably handled by their commander, these men worked exceedingly well and in excellent order, driving the enemy before them 232 MATABELELAND, for some distance. Some of this party brought in the body of one of the vedettes who had been, stationed in the bush, and surprised and assegaied by the Matabele as they first came on, his fellow vedette escaping with some difficulty to the laager, being thrown from his horse when 500 yards distant from it, and having to run for his life, being hotly pursued by many of the Matabele. Great credit was here due to Sergeant Whittaker, who with the Gardner gun picked off many of his most press- ing pursuers to the right and left of him, and thus materially assisted in his escape. A mounted troop under Capt. Bastard was sent out at the same time as the Victoria skirmishers in pursuit of the Insukameni and Inshlati, who were now flying in all directions across the open towards Bulawayo, but here some 500 or 600 of the Inxnobo regiment, not previously engaged, rushed out from the bush to cut off his retreat, thus placing the troop between two fires. Capt. Bastard's horse being shot in two places, and being unsupported, he had to make a hasty retreat under cover of a 7-pounder and Maxim, which, being brought to bear at a range of 1,800 yards, made excellent practice and drove the enemy back into the bush with considerable loss. The horses and oxen, as previously mentioned, were over a mile distant from the laagers at the commencement of the attack, and the former only reached the laagers 25 , minutes later. Just as those of the Salisbury laager were reaching it they were stampeded, either by the heavy fire or by "'ome of the native contingent running out to help to bring them in, and they, in their flight, carried with them the Victoria horses ; thus between 400 and 500 horses galloped away across the spruit, running 400 yards west of the position, and then headed straight for the enemy's lines. Fortunately the enemy opened fire upon them, and so turned them towards the open APPENDIX, 233 country. Had he not done this all would have been lost to us, the only horses in laager at the time being some half a dozen of each inlying picket, and one or two odd ones. Capt. Borrow and myself, followed by a few others, started on these in pursuit, whilst two of the grazing guard stuck with the horses throughout, pluckily endeavouring to turn them, even while heading straight for the enemy, and we eventually succeeded in recovering the lot, with the exception of two shot, but the horses were only driven into the laager when the fight was practically over. The Isiziba and Inshlati regiments fired on us while thus engaged, but, except two horses killed, without effect, although the nearest range was only some 300 to 400 yards distant. The Insukameni also made a poor attempt to intercept the horses at the furthest point reached by them, but, probably deterred by shell and Maxim fire from the Victoria laager, covering us as we were turning, they made too wide a circuit to cut them off in time. The oxen of both laagers remained outside throughout the whole fight, those furthest away only being driven in just at the end. Our casualties, considering the very heavy and concentrated fire of the enemy, were very small, and comprised, Salis- bury column ; Europeans, one killed, eight wounded (three of the latter died subsequently of their wounds), three horses killed ; Victoria column : no casualties except one horse wounded. No casualties among the native contingent, who took no part in the fight, but huddled themselves together in the little native kraal, crowding into every available hut and lying low. From the position of the laagers most of the enemy^s fire, being high, must have passed over both. The losses of the enemy must have been very heavy indeed, though difficult to estimate, for he carried off his dead as fast as they fell during the first part of the fight. From per- 234 MATABELELAND. sonal examination of the ground after the engagement, and from the reports of both wounded prisoners at the time and from natives subsequently encountered, they must have amounted to at least 800 to 1,000 killed and wounded ; and it would appear that the Imbeza and Ingubo were practically annihilated. I must record the pluck of these two regiments, which was simply splendid, and I doubt whether any European troops would have stood for such a long time as they did the terrific and well-directed fire brought to bear upon them. It was perhaps fortunate that only a few perceived and made use of the cover afforded by the lie of the ground to our right front, for they might have massed in large numbers there in somewhat dangerous proximity to the laagers ; as it was, with the exception of the few mentioned, none were able to approach nearer than within 350 yards. It was also, perhaps, fortunate that these two regiments arrived too late to attack us on the march, whilst winding through three miles of more or less bush country, for, had they come on there with the same dash they afterwards showed in their attack, they would without doubt have made it very hot for us. The Maxims especially, and all the machine guns, played a most important part throughout, and, without their assistance, I think it is doubtful whether the rifle ^ fire brought to bear could have succeeded in repelling the rush. The Matabele have since stated that they did not fear our rifles so much, but they could not stand against the Maxims. The officers and men all behaved very well, and we have now met and beaten severely the three best regiments of the enemy, the Imbezu, the Ingubo, and Insukameni, and it has been clearly shown that they have no chance of success in an attack on our laagers, at least in the daytime, as on no previous occasion had the threatened laager been so weakly formed, open at both \ \ \ » APPENDIX, 235 ends, and with several wide gaps between the waggons and where the guns stood. (Signed) John C. Willoughby. P.S. — ^The exact numbers of the enemy present at Bembizi are not known for certain, but it is generally estimated that they must have amounted to between 7,000 and 8,000 men. — J. C. W. APPENDIX C. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S NOTICE. By direction of His Excellency the High Commissioner, the following Agreement which has been concluded with Lobengula, Ruler of the Amandebele and of the Mashunas and Makakalaka, is published for general information. GRAHAM BOWER, Imperial Secretary. Government House, Cape Town, 2Sth April, 1888. Agreement. The Chief Lobengula, Ruler of the tribe known as the Amandebele together with the Mashuna and Makakalaka, tributaries of the same, hereby agrees to the following articles and conditions : — That peace and amity shall continue for ever between Her Britannic Majesty, Her Subjects and the Amande- bele people ; and the contracting Chief Lobengula en- ^ "« 236 MA TABELELAND. gages to use his utmost endeavours to prevent any rupture of the same, to cause the strict observance of this Treaty, and so to carry out the spirit of the Treaty of friendship which was entered into by his late father the Chief Umsilagaas with the then Governor of the Cape of Good Hope in the year of Our Lord 1836. It is hereby further agreed by Lobengula, Chief in and over the Amandebele country with its dependencies as aforesaid, on behalf of himself and people, that he will refrain from 'entering into any Correspondence or Treaty with any Foreign State or Power to sell, alienate, or cede, or permit or countenance any sale, alienation, or cession of the whole or any part of the said Amandebele country under his chieftainship, or upon any other subject, with- out the previous knowledge and sanction of Her Majesty's High Commissioner for South Africa. In faith of which, I, Lobengula, on my part have here- unto set my hand at Gubuluwayo, Amandebeleland, this Eleventh day of February, and of Her Majesty's reign the Fifty-first. LOBENGULA X his mark. Witnesses : W. Graham, G. B. VAN Wyk. Before me : J. S. MOFFAT, Assistant Commissioner. February nth, 1888. Approved and ratified by me as Her Majesty's High Commissioner for South Africa, this 25th day of April, 1888. HERCULES ROBINSON, High Commissioner. Government House, Cape Town. APPENDIX, 237 APPENDIX D. LOBENGULA^S CONCESSION. loth October^ 1888. Know all men by these presents that, whereas Charles Dunell Rudd, of Kimberley ; Rochford Maguire, of London ; and Francis Robert Thompson, of Kimberley, hereinafter called the Grantees, have cove- nanted and agreed, and do hereby covenant and agree to pay to me, my heirs, and successors, the sum of one hundred pounds sterling, British currency, on the first day of every lunar month ; and, further, to deliver at my Royal kraal one thousand Martini-Henry Breech-loading Rifles, together with one hundred thousand rounds of suitable ball-cartridge, five hundred of the said rifles and fifty thousand of the said cartridges to be ordered from England forthwith and delivered with reasonable de- spatch, and the remainder of the said rifles and cartridges to be delivered so soon as the said grantees shall have commenced to work mining machinery within my terri- tory; and, further, to deliver on the Zambesi River, a steamboat with guns suitable for defensive purposes upon the said river, or in lieu of the said steamboat, should I so elect, to pay to me the sum of five hundred pounds sterling, British currency. On the execution of those presents, I, Lobengula, King of Matabeleland, Mashona- land, and other adjoining territories, in the exercise of my sovereign powers, and in the presence and with the consent of my Council of Indunas, do hereby grant and assign unto the said grantees, their heirs, representatives, and assigns, jointly and severally, the complete and exclusive charge over all metals and minerals situated 238 MA TABELELAND. and contained in my kingdoms, principalities, and do- minions, together with full power to do all things that they may deem necessary to win and procure the same, and to hold, collect, and enjoy the profits and revenues, if any, derivable from the said metals and minerals, sub- ject to the aforesaid payment ; and, whereas, I have been much molested of late by divers persons seeking and desiring to obtain grants and concessions of land and mining rights in my territories, I do hereby authorise the said grantees, their heirs, representatives and assigns, to take all necessary and lawful steps to exclude from my kingdoms, principalities, and dominions, all persons seek- ing land^ metals, minerals, or mining rights therein, and I do hereby undertake to render them such needful assis- tance as they may, from time to time, require for the exclusion of such persons, and to grant no concessions oj land or mining rights from and after this date without their consent and concurrence, provided that, if at any time the said monthly pajmient of one hundred pounds shall be in arrear for a period of three months, then this grant shall cease and determine from the date of the last made payment ; and, further provided that nothing con- tained in these presents shall extend to, or aifect a grant made by me of certain mining rights in a portion of my Territory south of the Ramakoban River, which grant is commonly known as the Tati Concession. This given under my hand this thirtieth day of October in the Year of Our Lord, eighteen hundred and eighty- eight, at my Royal Kraal. (Sgd.) LOBENGULA his X mark. Witnesses : (Sgd.) Chas. D: Helm. J. F. Dreyer. (Sgd.) C. D. RUDD. ROCHFORD MAGUIRE. F. R. THOMPSON. APPENDIX. 239 Copy of Endorsement on the Original Agreement. I hereby certify that the accompanying document has been fully interpreted and explained by me to the Chief Lobengula and his full Council of Indunas and that all the constitutional usages of the Matabele nation had been complied with prior to his executing the same. Dated at the Unguza River this thirtieth day of October, 1888. CHAS. D. HELM. APPENDIX E. RETURNS. Ammunition used * — Maxims ... 4,500 rounds, averaging 800 per Maxim. Nordenfeldt 360 „ Gardner ... 970 „ 71b. gun ... 91 „ rounds common case, shrapnel. Men and machines t at Bembizi River fighting, about 20,000 „ „ Changani ,, „ 14,000 „ „ Pursuit Patrols ... „ 8,000 „ „ Sangesi ... ... „ 10,000 Horses killed or abandoned t — Changani ... ... ... .., 10 Bembizi ... ... ... ... 4 Sangesi ... ... ... ... 10 „ Pursuit Patrols and skirmishes ... 120 Officers and men killed — B.S.A.C. : Capt. Campbell, R.A., Trooper Walters, Scout Burnett, Capt. O. G. Williams, Trooper Carey, Corpl. Calcraft, Tpr. Thomson, Tpr. Siebert. B.B.P. : Sergt. Gibson, Corpl. Mundy. RaafFs : Sergt. Dahm. Native driver : Le Fleur. Coloured natives^ i ; Mashunas, 27 ; Kgama^s, 10. And Major Wilson's party, given on pages 130-1. * 300,000 were taken in with both columns, Salisbury and Victoria, t 112 ^J?. mules altogether. 240 APPENDIX. 241 Men wounded — B.S.A.C. : Capt. Moberley, Messrs. Conrath Mills, Forbes, Quested, Behrmann, Dunman, Lucas, Mack, Crewe, Burnett, Nesbett. B.B.P. : Sergt. -Major Codrington, Corpl. Ransonae, Sergt. Pike, Lance-Corpl. Williams, Tpr. Shan- rahan, Middleton, Corpl. Newton. Raaif's : Sergt. Dempsey, Sergt. Robinson. Coloured men, 2 ; Mashunas, 26 ; Kgama's, 15. 17 APPENDIX F. TABLE OF APPROXIMATE DISTANCES FROM PLACE TO- PLACE MENTIONED IN THE BOOK- MILES. 774 93 350 98 60 125 120 60 160 200 130 70 226 25 . 46 125 236 83 40 960 Cape Town to Vryburg Vryburg to Mafeking Mafekingto Palachwe Palachwe to Tati Tati to Mangwe Pass ,, Bulawayo Palachwe to Macloutsi Macloutsi to Tuli Tuli to Tati „ Victoria ... Victoria to Charter Charter to Sahsbury Victoria or Charter to Bulawayo Bulawayo to Shiloh Mission Station „ Inyati „ „ Gwelo „ Salisbury to Chimoa Railway Terminus Chimoa to Fontesville or Pungwe River Fontesville to Pt. Beira ... Vryburg to Salisbury direct Dear Captain Newman, — Your letter of Feb. 24th to hand. I enclose herewith a return of the names of the first officials when the expedition arrived. With the exception of the Administrator, all the civil appoint- ments were really conducted by officers and as military appointments up to the end of the first year. After that a proper civil service was commenced, and filled by the officials in the capacity in which I have shown them, only of ^ourse there have been many changes, such as being transposed from one district to another, and that sort of thing. Yours faithfully, James Hayward. Bulawayo, March i, 1894. UNWIN BROTHBRSi CHILWORTH AND LONDON.