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diff --git a/old/52132-0.txt b/old/52132-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ec5fe97..0000000 --- a/old/52132-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11835 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Sunshine and Storm in Rhodesia, by Frederick -Courteney Selous - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Sunshine and Storm in Rhodesia - Being a Narrative of Events in Matabeleland Both Before and During the Recent Native Insurrection Up to the Date of the Disbandment of the Bulawayo Field Force - - -Author: Frederick Courteney Selous - - - -Release Date: May 22, 2016 [eBook #52132] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUNSHINE AND STORM IN RHODESIA*** - - -E-text prepared by Emmanuel Ackerman, Christian Boissonnas, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images -generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 52132-h.htm or 52132-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52132/52132-h/52132-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/52132/52132-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/sunshinestorminr00selouoft - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). - - - - - -SUNSHINE AND STORM IN RHODESIA - - -[Illustration: _Frontispiece._ - -MAHOLI - -An old servant of the author's who came in with his master and mistress -from Essexvale, on the outbreak of the rebellion, and has been with -them ever since.] - - -SUNSHINE AND STORM IN RHODESIA - -Being a Narrative of Events in Matabeleland -Both Before and During the Recent Native Insurrection -Up to the Date of the Disbandment of -the Bulawayo Field Force - -by - -FREDERICK COURTENEY SELOUS - -Gold Medallist of the Royal Geographical Society -Author of 'Travel and Adventure,' etc. - -With Map and Numerous Illustrations - - - - - - - -London -Rowland Ward & Co., Limited -166 Piccadilly, W. -1896 - - - - - To My Wife - - WHO DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS - - HAS AT ONCE BEEN - - MY GREATEST ANXIETY AND MY GREATEST COMFORT - - I DEDICATE THIS BOOK - - - - -PREFACE - - -It was during the early days of the recent insurrection that I -first thought of utilising my spare time by writing some account -of what was taking place around me, and these rough notes, written -at odd moments during the campaign, I intended to have sent to the -_Field_ for publication in that journal, in the form of a series of -articles dealing entirely with my own personal experiences. After -the disbandment of the Bulawayo Field Force, however, and my own -resignation as an officer in that corps, finding that I had leisure -to do so, I determined to amplify these notes, and give some account -of every skirmish which had taken place between the Colonists and -the natives in Matabeleland up to the date of the disbandment of the -above-mentioned Force. To this I add a short account of my personal -experiences in the country during the months immediately preceding the -outbreak of the insurrection, and finding that I had then sufficient -material to fill the covers of a small book, I abandoned my original -idea of getting what I had written published in weekly numbers, and -determined for the third time to launch a book—always about Africa—on -the long-suffering British public. - -What I have written as it were historically regarding the events which -have lately taken place in Matabeleland may, I think, be received as -a simple and unadorned statement of fact, for where I have had to go -outside my own personal experiences, my information has always been -obtained at first hand and checked by the corroborating accounts of -others who were also eye-witnesses of the events described. As to -any conclusions I may have arrived at from given facts, they may be -right or they may be wrong, but at any rate I claim the right to -express my opinions frankly and fearlessly as long as they are my -honest convictions. It may be said that, as I am a friend of Mr. Cecil -Rhodes and of Dr. Jameson, I ought not to have expressed the opinion -that it was the removal of the police force from Matabeleland to the -Transvaal which gave the natives their opportunity to revolt, since -the expression of such an opinion may be held to reflect upon the -administration of the Chartered Company. My reply is, that I have -written a history, which, to have any value, must be truthful, and that -as Dr. Jameson cannot lay claim to infallibility, he was, like other -mortals, liable to err. When he left Matabeleland he never dreamt that -the removal of the police force would have any more effect upon the -Matabele than the disbandment of the police in Mashunaland in 1891 had -had upon the natives in that country. This opinion, moreover, must have -been shared by the great majority of the inhabitants of Matabeleland, -since no remonstrance was made by any public man at the time that the -police left Bulawayo. We now know that the removal of the white police -force was a mistake; but it is easy to criticise after the event, -and as at the time the mistake was made no one in Rhodesia was wise -or prescient enough to foresee the possible effect it might have on -the natives of Matabeleland, it would be the height of meanness and -injustice to hold Dr. Jameson morally responsible for the present -insurrection. - -Judging from the knowledge which we now possess of the secret history -of the rebellion, it appears that the leaders of the movement must -long ago have determined to revolt whenever a favourable opportunity -occurred, and a rebellion would therefore in all probability have taken -place sooner or later; so perhaps it is as well to have had it and got -over it at the same time as the rinderpest. The latter plague will have -far more lasting effects than the native rising; but when the railway -from the south reaches Bulawayo, the country will once again be able -to make a fair start, for with the greater knowledge now possessed by -the authorities of the native character, the outcome of which will be -a complete reorganisation of the native administration, no farther -insurrection ought to be possible. For the rest, it is very evident -that the Matabele broke out in rebellion because they disliked their -position as a conquered people, and imagined that they were strong -enough to throw off the yoke of their conquerors. But I fail to see -that the fact that they have rebelled is any more an indictment against -the general principles of the government of the Chartered Company, than -were the numerous rebellions which have taken place from time to time -in the Cape Colony an indictment against the wisdom and justice of the -Imperial Government. - -Now that the rebellion has occurred, it will very possibly be said that -it was brought about by systematic brutality to the natives on the -part of the white men in the country. Such an allegation, however, -cannot be supported by facts, for, as the records of the magistrates' -court will prove, the present Government has done all that any other -civilised Government could have done to protect the natives from -ill-treatment at the hands of irresponsible individuals; and as a -native commissioner thoroughly conversant with the Matabele language, -and well in touch with the people, was stationed in each of the -districts into which the country has been divided, it cannot be urged -that the natives had no opportunity of making their grievances known. -Grievances of course they had, the chief of which, doubtless, was the -loss of their independence as a nation, and the fact that they found -themselves treated as a conquered people lately engaged in hostilities, -who had only been permitted to return to the country from which they -had been driven at the time of the first war under certain conditions, -one of which was that the indunas should, through the medium of the -native commissioners, supply miners and farmers with native labour—all -the able-bodied young men in the country being required to work for a -certain number of months per annum at a fixed rate of pay. This rate of -pay was fixed at 10s. a month with food; but as a matter of fact mining -work was almost always paid much more highly, as much as 30s. a month -with food being often given for unskilled labour, whilst the managers -of mines made it their business to see that the boys in their Company's -employ were well treated, and cruel treatment by individuals was, I do -not hesitate to say, the exception to the rule. Owing to the excessive -indolence of the people, however, there can be no doubt that the labour -regulations were most irksome to them. The indunas grew more and more -disinclined to exert their authority in the matter of inducing their -people to work when applications were made to them, with the result -that native policemen were sent to their kraals to insist on the labour -regulations being carried out, and these policemen, I fear, sometimes -exceeded their duties, and used their position to tyrannise over the -people. - -I remember well that when Umlugulu[1] visited me for the first time, -after I had taken up my residence on Essexvale,[2] he complained -bitterly of the high-handed manner in which the "Ama Policey Minyama," -the "Black Police," behaved to him and his people. "I have no -complaints to make," he said, "against the white policemen; but the -black police, wa duba, wa duba sebele—they give me trouble; they really -give me trouble." I myself complained to the acting Administrator, Mr. -Duncan, concerning the inconsiderate manner in which it appeared to -me that the labour regulations were sometimes carried out, and I was -led to believe that the whole question of native administration would -shortly be gone into by the Government, and all grievances remedied. - -The cattle question I have dealt with in the course of my story. It -was never sagaciously handled, and its mismanagement probably caused -more discontent against the Chartered Company's rule amongst the -pure-blooded Matabele, or Abenzantsi, than anything else, whilst -the irritation excited by the regulation exacting a certain amount -of paid labour yearly from every able-bodied man produced a feeling -of bitterness and discontent throughout the other classes of the -community, which made them ripe for rebellion when they were called to -arms by the leaders of the insurrection. However, although no impartial -critic can deny that the confiscation of so large a number of their -cattle, and more especially the manner in which that confiscation was -carried out, was impolitic if not ungenerous; whilst the manner in -which the labour regulations were enforced was sometimes calculated -to provoke serious discontent; yet neither of these causes, nor both -combined, would, in my opinion, have been sufficient to induce the -mass of the population to break out in rebellion had there not been -amongst them many men who, having once belonged to the ruling class -in the country, were so dissatisfied at their loss of position and -power under the white man's rule, that they had determined to regain -their independence as a nation, or to attempt to do so, on the first -favourable opportunity which offered. The rebellion was not the -spontaneous act of the mass of the people goaded to desperation by an -insupportable tyranny. It was a drama into which they were surprised, -and in many cases dragged against their better judgment, by a few -leading spirits, who planned and carried out the first murders and -utilised the Makalaka Umlimo,[3] as a prophet. - -To show that neither the cattle nor the labour questions were the only -causes of the rebellion, I may mention that on Mr. Arthur Rhodes' -block of farms on the Impembisi river, extending to some 50,000 acres, -there was a considerable native population which had been altogether -exempted from the general labour regulations—although required to -supply Mr. Arthur Rhodes himself with any labour necessary on the farm -for agricultural purposes; whilst there had been distributed amongst -them 1600 head of cattle, which they held, in addition to their own, -on exactly the same terms on which they had been formerly accustomed -to tend cattle for Lo Bengula. Now here was a population living, one -would have thought, in a state of the most absolute contentment—for -they were receiving the full benefit of the milk from a far larger -number of cattle than they had ever had to look after in Lo Bengula's -time; had been allowed to build their kraals wherever they thought fit, -make use of whatever land they desired for cultivation, and in fact -to lead their own life in their own way undisturbed by any one, for -the number of boys who came voluntarily to ask for employment was far -in excess of what was required for agricultural work on the estate. -And yet, when the rebellion broke out, these people to a man (always -excepting Captain Fynn's Delagoa Bay boy) joined the insurgents, and -not only burnt down Mr. Arthur Rhodes' homestead and swept off all -his cattle, but murdered Mr. Edwards the surveyor, who happened to -be working in the neighbourhood; against whom they could have had no -personal animus, as he was a complete stranger to them. Then, again, -if any one had heard the natives living in the villages close round my -homestead on Essexvale singing and dancing as they were wont to do on -every moonlight night, he could not have maintained that they appeared -to be weighed down by a sense of injustice and oppression, or, in fact, -that they were anything but joyous and happy. It is very difficult to -understand the workings of a Kafir's mind, as any one must admit who -has lived long amongst natives, but the fact that the Matabele broke -out into rebellion against the Government of the Chartered Company, -appears to me to be no proof of any special iniquity _per se_ on the -part of that Government, since history has shown us, that wherever a -savage race, entirely unaccustomed to order and restraint, has been -conquered by a highly civilised people, who have forthwith essayed -to govern that savage race as humanely as possible, but after all in -their own interests rather than in the interests of the conquered -people, a rebellion against the more intelligent ruling class has been -the result; for the ways of the civilised man are not the ways of the -savage, who, there can be no doubt, would rather put up with all the -ills from which we consider we have freed him, than be subject to the -restraints of a settled form of Government. Practically, he says "hang -your _Pax Britanica_"; give me the good old times of superstition and -bloodshed; then, even if I did not know the day nor the hour when I -might be "smelt out" as a witch, and forthwith knocked on the head, at -any rate I could have basked in the sun until my time came; and then, -too, when the "impi" went forth, what glorious times I had, and how I -revelled in blood and loot! - -As to any general charges of systematic injustice and cruelty towards -the natives, which may and will now be made by the personal enemies of -Mr. Rhodes, against the Chartered Company, with the object of providing -a justification for the brutal murders of European women and children -which have been committed during the present rebellion, I would point -out that such charges come rather late in the day, for the natives -of Matabeleland had lived for over two years in an apparently fairly -contented condition under the Government of the Company before the -rebellion broke out, and during the whole of that time there were four -missionaries belonging to the London Missionary Society, besides some -people called "seventh-day adventists"—whatever that may mean, for I -have not the least idea myself—all of whom were working amongst, and -avowedly for the benefit of, the natives. Now, if systematic cruelty, -injustice, and oppression of the Matabele by the Government of the -Chartered Company had been going on constantly for over two years, it -must have been very well known to all these men, and it was their duty -not only to have protested against such gross misgovernment to the -Company's Administrator in Bulawayo, but also to have reported such -abuses to their Directors in England. No such allegations, however, -were ever made prior to the rebellion, and should any be now brought -forward they ought to be received with the very gravest suspicion. The -fact, too, remains that although individual acts of brutality have -occurred in Matabeleland—as they have done in every other country in -the world—during the last two years, and although mistakes have been -made, especially in dealing with the cattle and labour questions, yet, -on the whole, the conditions under which the natives in that territory -were living, were such that no one resident in the country, whether -missionary or miner, imagined before the rebellion broke out that there -could be any deep-seated discontent amongst them. That the government -of the natives has been all that was desirable from their point of view -I do not say, as it is my opinion that, when a black man's country has -been conquered by Europeans, the laws by which that country will be -subsequently governed will be made in the interests of the whites, and -some of them will be very unpalatable to the conquered race, however -just and equitable they may seem to their rulers. We Europeans make -the mistake of thinking that, when we free a tribe of savages from -what we consider a most oppressive and tyrannical form of government, -substituting in its place an orderly rule, under which every man's life -and property is protected and witch-doctors are not recognised, we -ought to earn their gratitude; but the fact is we invariably fail to -do so, as the present insurrection, as well as all the many rebellions -by the natives of the Cape Colony against the rule of the Imperial -Government has shown. Yet, as in the Cape Colony, so also will it be in -Matabeleland. The savages will discover the uselessness of rebelling -against the white man, and as time goes on will become more reconciled -to the ways of their conquerors; that is, if their grievances are -inquired into and as far as possible remedied, as I have every hope and -belief that they will be as soon as the present rebellion has come to -an end; for not until mutual confidence has again been restored between -the whites and the blacks can Rhodesia prosper. From the black man's -point of view the white man is probably not necessary as a factor in -the prosperity of the country. He could get along very well without -him. Unfortunately we cannot manage without the black man; he is -absolutely necessary for the development of the country on the white -man's lines. But a sulky, rebellious black man, only held in subjection -by fear, is both a useless and dangerous personality, and, therefore, -the dictates of policy will be at one with the promptings of humanity, -in demanding that the natives of Matabeleland shall be governed both -kindly and justly as well as firmly. - -One word more. In the following pages I have given descriptions of -many barbarous deeds which have lately been committed in Matabeleland. -I have hidden nothing, but have told the naked truth, and related not -only how white men, women, and children were lately murdered, and -their senseless bodies afterwards cruelly mutilated by black men, but -also how, subsequently, black men were shot down pitilessly by the -whites, no mercy being shown or quarter given them by the outraged -colonists. By those who seek it, matter will doubtless be found in -some of my stories on which to found imputations against the colonists -of Rhodesia, who will be held up to execration for the "slaughter" of -"poor natives"; the insinuation being that the "poor natives" were -ruthlessly killed, with little or no provocation, in order to gratify -the lust for blood, which certain people in England appear to think -takes possession of their countrymen whenever they set foot on African -soil. But by the great mass of the English-speaking race I feel sure -that the conduct of their kith and kin in Matabeleland during the late -rebellion will not be too harshly judged. It will be remembered that -they were the avengers of the women and children of their own colour, -who had but lately been so mercilessly slain, and that, fighting as -they were against hordes of savages eager to spill the life-blood of -every white man in Rhodesia, savages in whose vocabulary no such words -as pity or mercy are to be found, nothing else could be expected than -that in the hour of victory no quarter should be given to the murderous -foe. It is as unfair as it is ridiculous to talk of the "slaughter" of -natives who, having come with arms in their hands, not only to kill -you, but your wife and child also, find they have reckoned without -their host, and are themselves discomfited and shot down by their -would-be victims. Now, possibly, there might be found in England a -philanthropist so meek and good that, were he suddenly confronted by a -burglar who told him plainly that he meant to kill him and walk into -his house, he would reply, although he carried a loaded revolver in -his hand, "Kill me and walk on, for it would be against my creed and -conscience to sully my hands with the slaughter of so fine a specimen -of the human race as yourself." I do not say that so noble a character -really exists within the four seas of Britain, but if he does, I -suppose he ought to be looked for amongst the ranks of those who have -been loudest in their condemnation of the British settlers in Rhodesia, -and who thereby arrogate to themselves the possession of a nobility of -nature to which ordinary mortals cannot hope to attain. For the sake -of example, therefore, let us say that such a man does exist, and that -he is none other than the editor of _Truth_, Mr. Henry Labouchere. -Well, granted then that Mr. Labouchere—the man whom, for the sake of -example, I have endowed with such a noble nature—would be prompted to -sacrifice his own life rather than sully his soul with the killing of -a burglar, would he go yet farther and still spare the robber's life -if he knew that, after he himself had been killed, his wife and child -would also be put to death? I cannot believe that he would, but imagine -rather that he would shoot as straight as possible to prevent such a -catastrophe, and I for one would wish that in such a special case his -practice might be better than his usual preaching. - -Now the settlers in Rhodesia, on those occasions when they have been -accused of slaughtering the natives, have only taken the same course -as I think would have been adopted by the great-souled philanthropist, -whom I hope I am not wronging by imagining that he would steel his -heart to take the life of a burglar, if for no other reason than to -save the lives of those dear to him; and therefore I would ask my -readers not to judge too harshly of the deeds of the colonists which I -have recounted in the following pages, but to remember, when judging -of their actions, the terrible provocation which they had received. It -may be that I have here and there shown a very strong racial feeling -against the black man; but it must be remembered that my story has been -written in the midst of all the horrors of a native rebellion, that I -have seen many gruesome sights, and have with my own hands collected -together the broken skulls of murdered women and children—Dutch and -English—in order to give them Christian burial. Thus I have sometimes -written under the influence of strong emotions, making too little -allowance possibly for the black man smarting under what he perhaps -had some reason to consider the arrogance and injustice of his white -conquerors. However, my opinions after all are of little value, being -those of a single individual; but I trust that whoever may take the -trouble to read my narrative will accept my facts, and believe that -the account I have written of events which have lately occurred in -Matabeleland is a true and unvarnished one. - - THE AUTHOR. - - BULAWAYO, _21st August 1896_. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I - - I return to Matabeleland—Game plentiful near the Sewhoi-whoi river—An - adventure with a leopard—Bulawayo reached—Prosperous outlook—We - leave for Essexvale—Cattle-confiscation question—Its final - settlement Pages 1-9 - - - CHAPTER II - - Our life at Essexvale—Tree-planting and farming—Friendly disposition - of the natives—Umlugulu visits us—His anxiety to know the truth about - Jameson's surrender—Rumours of coming disaster—The Umlimo's - prophecy—Appearance of the rinderpest in Matabeleland—Mr. Jackson's - distrust of the native police—Superstitions regarding the Umlimo—I am - appointed cattle inspector—Spread of the rinderpest—Apprehensions of - famine—Rumours of a disturbance with the natives—Murder of a native - policeman by the Matabele 10-18 - - - CHAPTER III - - First overt act of rebellion—Natives borrow axes from Mrs. - Selous—Where are the white police?—Native woman gives information of - the murder of whites—Natives run off with the cattle—Murder of three - miners—Inscrutability of the Kafir mind—Matabele raid on cattle 19-26 - - - CHAPTER IV - - Precautions against native attack—Conference with the neighbouring - headmen—I take my wife into Bulawayo—Insurrection reported - general—Armed forces sent to disturbed districts—Return to Essexvale - with small mounted force—Short supply of horses and rifles—My views - of the Kafir rising—The progress of the insurrection at Essexvale - and the neighbourhood—Wholesale murders 27-32 - - - CHAPTER V - - Massacre of the whites near Edkins' store—Evidence of a - survivor—Mutilation and attempt to destroy identity—Murder of the - Cunningham family—Herbert Pomeroy Fynn's sworn statement—Murder of - Mr. Maddocks—Laager formed at Cumming's store—Hon. Maurice Gifford - proceeds to the relief of the whites at Cumming's store—Derelict - waggon—Murder of Dr. and Mrs. Langford—Relief of laager at - Cumming's store—Repulse of Matabele attack—Retreat to Bulawayo—Hon. - Maurice Gifford's letters 33-42 - - - CHAPTER VI - - Difficulties of the colonists much underrated—The Matabele campaign - of 1893—Military spirit scotched, not killed—Estimated native - losses—Disarmament of Matabele incomplete—Natives well supplied - with arms and ammunition—Defections amongst the native police 43-50 - - - CHAPTER VII - - Effect of removing the police force—Witch-doctors' - influence—Originators of the insurrection—Gambo detained at - Bulawayo—The Imbezu regiment—Unpreparedness of the Colonists - at the outbreak—The Rhodesia Horse—Horses in possession of - the Government—Rifles, guns, and ammunition in Government - stores—Want of community of action of the Matabele—The Umlimo's - mistake—Critical position at Bulawayo—Neglect of the Matabele to - block the roads—Force in Bulawayo at the outbreak—The Africander - Corps 51-60 - - - CHAPTER VIII - - Cattle stolen by Matabele—I recover the cattle and burn down - Matabele kraal—Start in pursuit of cattle-thieves—Surprise a - raiding party and recover two bands of cattle—Reflections on the - situation 61-67 - - - CHAPTER IX - - Return to Essexvale—Cattle left at Essexvale in charge of the - natives—Essexvale burnt down by Matabele and all the cattle carried - off—Start for Jackson's station—Desertion of the native police—The - Makalaka—False rumours—Start for Spiro's stores—Colonial Boys - report the district quiet—Decide to return to Bulawayo through the - Matopo Hills 68-73 - - - CHAPTER X - - Through the Matopo Hills—Skirmish with the rebels—A narrow - escape—Capture a band of cattle—Retire with wounded—Fidelity of - Mazhlabanyan—Reach Dawson's store—Arrive at Bulawayo 74-79 - - - CHAPTER XI - - O'Connor's wonderful escape—The importance of the Native question - in Rhodesia 80-89 - - - CHAPTER XII - - Laager formed at Bulawayo—Matabele scare—Colonel Spreckley's - valuable services—Meet Mr. Jackson—Disarmament of native - police—Account of the insurrection—Mr. Grey's narrow escape—Returns - to Bulawayo to give warning of the rising—Fortunate escape of a - hunting party—Wholesale murders—Grey's Scouts 90-97 - - - CHAPTER XIII - - Captain Grey's timely arrival at Tekwe store—Colonel Napier's - column arrives at Tekwe—Murder of Wood—Salisbury coach chased - by Kafirs—Forty-three persons rescued by patrols—Account of - Captain Pittendrigh's rescue party—Severe fighting—Massacre - of whites at Inyati—Escape of Madden—Defence of Campbell's - store—Relief of Captain Pittendrigh's party—Fight their way back to - Bulawayo—Courage and skill of the Africander Corps—Gallant conduct - of Henderson in bringing in a wounded comrade 98-108 - - - CHAPTER XIV - - Mr. Dawson's patrol—The last coach on the Tuli road—I take a - patrol down the Mangwe road—Interview at "Fig Tree" with Makalaka - Induna—Proceed to Shashani—Meet a shooting party—Death of Captain - Lumsden—I ride on by myself to Mangwe—Hearty reception—Ravages of - the rinderpest—Extraordinary absence of vultures 109-115 - - - CHAPTER XV - - Escort a convoy of waggons to Bulawayo—Murder of a Greek trader—Mr. - Gordon saved by native police—Mr. Reed warned of danger by - Makalakas—Patrols sent to Gwanda and Shiloh districts—Proceedings - of the Gwanda patrol—Scenes of pillage and desolation—Lieutenant - Webb's narrative—Six hours' severe fighting—Narrow escape of - patrol from annihilation—Captain Van Niekerk's cool judgment and - bravery—Gallant conduct of the patrol 116-126 - - - CHAPTER XVI - - Gifford's fight in the Shiloh Hills—Strength of the patrol—First - skirmish with the Matabele—Form a laager—March resumed—Second - skirmish—Patrol reach Fonseca's farm—Fight at Fonseca's - farm—Death of a witch-doctor—Colonel Gifford wounded—Messengers - sent to Bulawayo for assistance—Laager strengthened—Fighting - renewed—Captain Lumsden wounded—Matabele retire—Relief column - arrives—Return to Bulawayo—Death of Captain Lumsden—Colonel - Gifford's arm amputated 127-134 - - - CHAPTER XVII - - Despatch from Captain Laing—Laager formed at Belingwe—Strange - conduct of a native policeman—Three Matabele caught looting and - hanged—"Young Tradesman's" letter to the _Daily Graphic_—Matabele - capture a herd of cattle and murder some Zambesi Kafirs near - Bulawayo—Determination to build forts between Bulawayo and Mangwe—I - am sent to establish forts and take command of all troops on the - road—Fort Molyneux—I return to Bulawayo to report my views—Curious - position of affairs in Matabeleland 135-143 - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - Matabele advance on Bulawayo—Small force sent out to - reconnoitre—Skirmish with the Matabele—I receive instructions - to build a fort between Bulawayo and Fig Tree—The question - of provisioning the forts—Three men of the Africander Corps - killed—Attack by Matabele on Colonel Napier's farm—Captain - Macfarlane sent with relief party—I ride out to see what was going - on—I join relief party—Overtake Matabele near Colenbrander's - farm—Fighting commences—I take command of a few Africanders—Our - skirmish—Maxim jams at a critical time—Bad shooting of the - Matabele—Their want of combination 144-154 - - - CHAPTER XIX - - A force under command of Colonel Napier sent against the rebels at - the Umguza—Force retire without fighting—I obtain leave to join a - patrol sent out to the Umguza under Captain Bisset—Matabele dispute - our advance—I attack Kafirs' centre with Colonial Boys—Matabele - centre driven back—John Grootboom's escape—Matabele in flight—A - good chance lost—I receive orders to retire—I dismount to get a - shot—My horse bolts and leaves me—Nearly caught by Matabele—Windley - comes to my rescue—Windley's horse refuses to carry double—Reach - the Colonial Boys and am saved by Captain Windley's courage and - self-denial—Baxter's gallant action—Gallantry and devotion to - one another of Captain Grey's officers and men—Patrol retires to - Bulawayo Pages 155-166 - - - CHAPTER XX - - Telegraph wire to Fig Tree Fort cut—Patrol sent out to escort - coach—I join Captain Mainwaring's patrol—Repair telegraph wire—I - rejoin my troop at Dawe's store—Two murdered white men found near - Bulawayo—Fort Marquand—Lieutenant Grenfell's account of the fight - at Umguza 167-175 - - - CHAPTER XXI - - Hand over the command of Fort Marquand to Lieutenant - Grenfell—Proceed towards Bulawayo—Fort at Wilson's farm—Umguza - fight the first Matabele defeat—Murder of eight coolies on the - outskirts of Bulawayo—Arrival of Earl Grey at Bulawayo—Matabele - threaten Fort Dawson—Captain Molyneux's farm destroyed—I am sent to - Khami river to build a fort—Meet Cornelius Van Rooyen—Marzwe orders - his people to come to Fort Mabukitwani for protection—Marzwe's - kraal attacked, and all his people reported murdered—I start with - my men to visit Marzwe's kraal—Rebels defeated by Marzwe's people, - and prisoners and cattle recaptured—We return to the fort—I am - ordered to collect a force, and march to Bulawayo—Changes in the - command of the forts—Reach Bulawayo with my force 176-185 - - - CHAPTER XXII - - Large column commanded by Colonel Napier despatched for the - Tchangani to meet Salisbury relief force—Matabele impi reported - near Tekwe river—Matabele reported to be at Thaba Induna—I am - ordered to the front—Matabele retire—Column in laager near Graham's - store—Captain Grey's patrol has a skirmish with the Kafirs—Pursuit - of Kafirs—No quarter—Reflections—Several kraals burnt, coin and - cattle captured—Cold weather and storms—March with provision convoy - and laager at Dr. Jameson's old camp—Desolation along the line of - march—Burnham reports scouting party from Salisbury contingent had - been met with—We reach Pongo store—Bury the bodies of murdered - white men 186-196 - - - CHAPTER XXIII - - Meet Salisbury relief force, with Mr. Cecil Rhodes, Sir Charles - Metcalfe, and others—Column under Colonel Spreckley sent to the - south—Several kraals burnt—Scouting party sent out under Captain - Van Niekerk—Band of cattle captured—Large body of Kafirs met with—A - running fight; Burnham and Blick nearly captured—Patrol return to - laager—Capture a woman—Discover a body of Matabele, and send for - reinforcement of men on foot—We hear heavy firing in front—Mr. - Cecil Rhodes joins us with Colonial Boys—Advance and take part in - the fight—Enemy's fire silenced—We retire 197-207 - - - CHAPTER XXIV - - Position of laager shifted—Massacre of the Ross and Fourie - families—Remains of some of the Fourie's found—Advance on Matabele - scherms and find them deserted—Visit the scene of yesterday's - fight—Burn kraals and return to camp—Bury two men killed in - yesterday's fight and the remains of the Fourie family—Find the - remains of the Ross family—March down the Insiza valley—Burn a - large number of kraals—Colonel Spreckley's column captures cattle - and donkeys—Remains of several murdered Europeans found—The - murder of Dr. and Mrs. Langford—Column sent to the Filibusi - district—Return to Bulawayo—I visit Essexvale—A scene of desolation - 208-216 - - - CHAPTER XXV - - Sir Frederick Carrington takes over the command of all forces - in Matabeleland—Account of Colonel Plumer's successful - engagement—General Carrington sends out three patrols to clear the - country of rebels to the west, north, and north-east—No enemy met - with, but much grain taken and destroyed—A large impi reported - camped on the Umguza—Force under Colonel Spreckley proceeds to - attack it—Kafirs charged by mounted men and bolt—Heavy Matabele - losses—How this impi was deceived by a witch-doctor—Incorrect - statements in _Truth_ 217-227 - - - CHAPTER XXVI - - I proceed with the column under Colonel Spreckley's command for - Shiloh—A bad time for the horses—I find the bodies of three Zambesi - boys at Stuart's mining camp—Account of the murders—A fort built - on the site of the old police camp—March for the Queen's Mine—Part - of the column sent on to Inyati—Bodies of six murdered men - found—Narrow escape of Mr. Rees and his family—Church and mission - houses at Inyati burnt down by the Matabele—Column move to Fynn's - farm—Patrol fall in with a large body of Kafirs—Council of war - decides to endeavour to drive rebels from their position—Kafirs - decamp during the night—A faithful servant—Kafirs disheartened - but afraid to surrender—Large amount of grain captured—Return to - Bulawayo—News of the rising in Mashunaland—A force sent to Eastern - Rhodesia—The prophetess "Salugazana"—Umlimos responsible for the - outbreak in Mashunaland—Loot the object of the Mashunas—Captain - Laing arrives at Bulawayo—His successful engagements with - the rebels—Matibi's valuable assistance—Loyalty of Chibi and - Chilimanzi—The Bulawayo Field Force disbanded—Lord Grey's address - to the members of the Bulawayo Field Force 228-240 - - -SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER - - Containing a few thoughts and opinions upon matters Rhodesian and - South African 241-259 - - - APPENDICES 263 - - - INDEX 285 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - MAHOLI _Frontispiece_ - - PAGE - - ADVENTURE WITH A LEOPARD _To face_ 2 - - THE AUTHOR'S HOMESTEAD ON ESSEXVALE, MATABELELAND " 11 - - AN ANT-HEAP IN MATABELELAND " 18 - - HON. MAURICE GIFFORD, C.M.G. 39 - - VIEW IN THE MATOPO HILLS _To face_ 74 - - O'CONNOR'S ARRIVAL AT THE STORE " 86 - - LAAGER IN MARKET SQUARE, BULAWAYO 90 - - COLONEL J. A. SPRECKLEY 92 - - GREY'S SCOUTS _To face_ 94 - - HIS LAST OX " 114 - - CAPTAIN VAN NIEKERK 120 - - FORT MARQUAND, WITH A PORTION OF H TROOP OF THE - BULAWAYO FIELD FORCE IN THE FOREGROUND _To face_ 168 - - CAPTAIN R. MACFARLANE 171 - - COLONEL WILLIAM NAPIER 190 - - CAPTAIN TYRIE LAING 237 - - COMMANDANT VAN RENSBERG 243 - - MAP _To face_ 290 - - - - -CHAPTER I - - I return to Matabeleland—Game plentiful near the Sewhoi-whoi - river—An adventure with a leopard—Bulawayo reached—Prosperous - outlook—We leave for Essexvale—Cattle-confiscation question—Its - final settlement. - - -When, in the end of December 1893, immediately after the close of -the first Matabele War, I rode away from Bulawayo and set out on my -journey to England, I thought it more than probable that I should -never again revisit the land over which Lo Bengula had so lately held -sway. Destiny, however, willed it otherwise. Perhaps I found that -the definition of "enough" as "a little more than you've got," when -applied to income, was a true one; or perhaps I thought the ways of -civilisation somewhat irksome, and at times pined for "a breath of the -veld" and one more look at the wild game in the wild country where I -had already passed so many years of my life. At any rate, when I was -asked by my old friend, Mr. Maurice Heany, to go out once more to -Matabeleland to assist him in the management of a land and gold-mining -company which he had recently floated, I gave the proposal my very -serious consideration, and when I found that my wife was quite willing -to face all the troubles and difficulties incidental to a life in a new -country, I agreed to undertake the duties required of me for a period -of two years. - -We—my wife and I—left England for South Africa on 30th March 1895, -but we did not reach Bulawayo until the end of the following August; -as, after landing at Cape Town, we spent two months in the Cape Colony -and the Orange Free State, and then taking ship round the coast to -Beira, proceeded by river steamer to Fontesvilla, and thence by rail -to Chimoio. Here my waggon was awaiting us, and in it we travelled -slowly and comfortably for two months, keeping the main transport -road—which I had myself laid out four years before—to Salisbury, but -from there going across country to my old hunting camp on the Hanyani -river; thence to Hartley Hills on the Umfuli, and from there along the -old hunters' road to Bulawayo. On this portion of our route I found -game very plentiful, especially sable antelopes, large herds of which -beautiful animals I saw almost daily. Near the river Sewhoi-whoi I -was able to take my wife quite close up to the largest herd of these -antelopes that I have ever seen. As they cantered past us within a -hundred yards I counted them roughly and made their number between -seventy-five and eighty. Having plenty of meat at the waggon I had no -need to shoot; so we just sat on our horses and admired them, though -there was one cow with a beautiful curved pair of horns that tempted -me sorely. On several occasions we saw the fresh spoor of lions, but -we never either got a sight of the animals themselves or even heard -one roar. At the Sebakwe river I saw the tracks of a herd of elephants -that had passed only a few days before; and on this same day I met -with rather a curious experience, which, although I am not writing an -article on shooting incidents, I will take the liberty to relate. - -[Illustration: ADVENTURE WITH A LEOPARD. - -"It was close to me before I could even swing my rifle over the horse's -neck."] - -Early on the morning of the day in question I had left the waggon and -ridden down to the river—the Sebakwe—intending to follow its course -to the point at which the road crossed it. Having plenty of meat, I -took no native attendants with me, and resolved not to shoot at -anything but a small antelope, a wild pig, or some animal the greater -part of which I could have carried behind my saddle. However, I saw no -game at all, large or small, with the exception of one reed buck ram -bounding through the long grass, and was approaching the ford across -the river without having fired a shot, when I noticed what I took to -be a jackal sitting on its haunches in the grass about a hundred and -fifty yards to my right. The grass being rather long I could not make -out very well what it was even from my horse's back, and when I had -dismounted I could barely see that there was anything there at all. -However, aiming rather low in the grass, I fired, and distinctly heard -the bullet strike something with a loud thud. Remounting my horse, and -marking by a small bush the spot near which the now invisible animal -had been before I fired, I rode leisurely up to see what I had shot. I -was carrying my rifle across the saddle in front of me, without having -reloaded it, and on nearing the bush I had marked pulled up my horse -and was looking about for a jackal lying dead on the ground. However -I could not see one, and was wondering how such a small animal could -have moved away after being hit by an expanding bullet, when a loud -grunting noise made me look up, and I saw a leopard rushing towards me -through the grass. As it only charged from a distance of fifteen yards, -it was close to me before I could even swing my rifle over the horse's -neck, and I made sure that it would spring upon him and bite and claw -him badly before I could load and shoot. However, strange to say, it -simply galloped past, almost, if not quite, brushing against my horse's -fore-leg, and passing beneath my right stirrup. After going about -thirty yards it stopped and sat down on its haunches. By this time I -had another cartridge in my rifle; so I hastily dismounted and gave -the leopard a shot behind the shoulder, killing it instantly. It proved -to be a large female in good condition, with a beautifully-marked -skin. The first bullet had struck it in the middle of the body, and -going right through, had made a large hole on the further side, out -of which a portion of the liver was protruding. This was of course -sufficient to account for the animal's display of bad temper; but why -it simply rushed past me without springing on to the horse, I don't -quite know. Had my horse turned, possibly it would have done so; but -being an animal of a very imperturbable temper he never moved, and -his immobility may have disconcerted the leopard, and caused it not -to act quite up to its original intention. After disembowelling it, I -lifted it on to my horse, and carried it behind the saddle to the ford -across the Sebakwe, where I found my waggon outspanned. This very mild -adventure is the only incident of interest which I have to record as -having occurred on our journey to Bulawayo, which we finally reached on -20th August. - -When just twenty months previously I had left Matabeleland, there was -no other Bulawayo save a ruined kraal, but lately wrecked and destroyed -by the order of the unhappy Lo Bengula, who in despair at the defeat of -his bravest regiments, had blown up his European house, burnt his chief -town to ashes, and abandoning the land won by his father's assegais -to the victorious troopers of the Chartered Company, fled away to die -heart-broken in the forests to the north. Just across the stream which -runs below the kraal stood the camp of the white invaders, a rough, -hardy lot of men, whom some have called heroes and others filibusters; -a confusion of titles equally applicable, I fancy, to the followers of -Drake or Clive or any other body of men who have helped to make the -British Empire what it is. The site of the new township had indeed -been marked out, but not a house of any kind stood upon it. In the -short interval, however, a European town had sprung up, containing -many good, substantial buildings, whilst the bustle and movement in -the dusty streets gave an air of life and vigour to the new Bulawayo, -which is very commonly absent from the frontier towns of South Africa. -In short, at this time—the autumn of 1895—everything was apparently -_couleur de rose_ in Matabeleland. Properties, whether farm lands, -building sites in town, or mining claims, went up to very high values, -whilst almost every one believed that within a year Bulawayo would -contain a population of 5000 souls, and that the town itself would -receive a plentiful supply of water from the reservoirs already in -course of construction, and be lighted by the electric light. In fact, -all was mirth and joy and hope in the future; for what was to hinder -the ever-increasing prosperity of the country? Much good work had -already been done on many of the reefs, and on the whole the promise -was distinctly good. Then again, after a probation of eighteen months, -the country had been pronounced favourably upon by Dutch and Colonial -farmers, especially for cattle-ranching, whilst many predicted that -much of the high veld would carry sheep. - -Apparently no difficulties with the natives were to be apprehended, -and certainly were not foreseen, as no one could have recognised -the identity in the quiet submissive native carrying nothing but a -stick, to the arrogant savage of old times who was seldom seen without -his shield and assegais, and who was usually insolent and brutal -in his manner to the white man. No one dreamt that within a very -few months the country would be well-nigh overwhelmed in calamity; -that that terrible scourge the rinderpest, which has swept like a -destroying angel from Masailand through Central and Eastern Africa, -almost annihilating in its course all bovine animals as well as all -the various and beautiful species of antelopes, was creeping ever -nearer to the Zambesi river, and was destined ere long to cross that -boundary, and travelling ever southwards destroy tens of thousands of -cattle in Matabeleland, thereby paralysing its transport service, and -rendering the cost of living almost prohibitive in a country separated -by 600 miles of wilderness from the nearest railway station. Still -less, looking at the submissive behaviour of the natives, did any one -picture to himself in the furthest recesses of his mind, the vision of -homesteads burned to ashes throughout Matabeleland, and around them the -corpses of their owners, among them many women and tender children, all -brutally murdered, lying unburied in their blood. Yet were these dire -disasters, with partial drought and plague of locusts superadded, soon -to crush all joy out of Matabeleland. - -In spite of its air of prosperity and the light-heartedness of its -inhabitants, Bulawayo with its constant dust-storms, scarcity of water, -and general burnt-up appearance, had but few attractions either for -my wife or myself, and we made our arrangements to get away to our -Company's property of Essexvale as soon as possible. On this property a -rough two-roomed house of poles, plastered with mud and thatched with -grass, had been got ready for us temporarily, pending the arrival of -a wire-wove bungalow that had been sent out from England in sections, -and which was to be erected on a site chosen by myself. On our way to -Essexvale we spent a night with my old friends the missionaries at -Hope Fountain, and I had a long talk over old times, and the present -condition of the natives in Matabeleland. Mr. Helm told me that -although doubtless the members of the royal family, and the men of -position under the old regime, regretted the downfall of their king and -the conquest of the country by the white man, yet the great mass of -the people acknowledged that they were better off under the rule of the -Chartered Company than they had been in Lo Bengula's time; for although -individual white men were sometimes guilty of injustice and brutality -towards individual natives, yet, speaking generally, the lives and -property of the latter were now secure, and whatever they earned was -their own, all of which blessings were unknown to them before the -conquest of Matabeleland by the white man. - -There was, however, one matter, Mr. Helm informed me, that was causing -a great deal of discontent throughout the country. This was the -periodical taking away of the cattle in small numbers by the Chartered -Company, subsequent to the first confiscation immediately after the -war. Probably if, after the subjugation of the country, the Chartered -Company had at once taken all the cattle they ever intended to take, -and given the natives the balance for their very own to do with as -they liked, there never would have been any heart-burning over the -cattle question at all. However, after the first confiscation, all -the remaining cattle in the country—about 90,000—were branded with -the Company's brand and left with the natives to look after. They -were told that the Company would take more from time to time as they -required them, but at the same time they were given to understand -that only cattle which had belonged to the king would be confiscated, -and none belonging to private owners interfered with. This promise -was made under the belief that nearly all the cattle in Matabeleland -had belonged to the king, and that the private owners had been but -few in number. That this was a mistake I think there can be little -doubt, as almost every man of any standing in Matabeleland had been -a cattle-owner, some of the chief Indunas possessing large herds of -private cattle. But when a native commissioner received an order from -the Government to send to Bulawayo without delay a certain number of -cattle from his district, he never could have done so had he listened -to all the claims made to private ownership previous to the war, some -of which were true, but others false; and he therefore had to use his -own discretion in selecting the cattle necessary to make up the total -required. In this way certain natives suffered wrong, more especially -owners of perhaps only three or four cows, who in some cases lost -their all, both in cattle and faith in the honesty and justice of the -Government of the Chartered Company, which they deemed had broken the -promise given to them, as indeed was the case, though the mistake was -made inadvertently and through not considering the investigation of the -whole question of sufficient importance to take any great trouble about. - -"If," said Mr. Helm, "the Company would take, once for all, all the -cattle they intend taking, and give the natives the remainder, it would -restore their confidence, as they now believe that the cattle will be -constantly taken away from them in small lots until there are none left -to them. However," he continued, "the Company can do what it likes with -them, and treat them generously or otherwise as it pleases, for they -acknowledge themselves to be a conquered people, and will submit to any -terms imposed upon them." This remark was made by a man who had lived -in close intimacy with the natives of Matabeleland for twenty years, -but as subsequent events show, it was far from the truth. Shortly after -this conversation, the Government of the Chartered Company, acting on -the advice I believe of the chief native commissioner, Mr. Herbert -Taylor, decided to finally settle the cattle question. There were at -this time about 70,000 head of cattle in the hands of the natives, and -of this number the Government determined to take two-fifths, leaving -the remaining three-fifths as the absolute property of the Matabele. -A meeting was called at Bulawayo, at which all the chief Indunas in -the country were present, and when the proposition was laid before -them, they expressed themselves as thoroughly satisfied, and assured -Mr. Taylor that their people would also be satisfied; and from my own -subsequent observation, I believe that this final distribution of the -cattle caused a general feeling of relief throughout the country, and, -in the district in which I was living at any rate, the people seemed -well contented with this settlement of the question, which left them -for the most part fairly well off. - - - - -CHAPTER II - - Our life at Essexvale—Tree-planting and farming—Friendly - disposition of the natives—Umlugulu visits us—His anxiety to - know the truth about Jameson's surrender—Rumours of coming - disaster—The Umlimo's prophecy—Appearance of the rinderpest - in Matabeleland—Mr. Jackson's distrust of the native - police—Superstitions regarding the Umlimo—I am appointed - cattle inspector—Spread of the rinderpest—Apprehensions of - famine—Rumours of a disturbance with the natives—Murder of a - native policeman by the Matabele. - - -Of our life on Essexvale I have but little of interest to relate. -In September and October the weather became intensely hot, but our -well-thatched house we found to be much cooler than any building in -Bulawayo, to which seat of light and learning we paid but occasional -visits. Our wire-wove house did not arrive in Matabeleland until late -in November, just as the rainy season was setting in, and it was not -until towards the end of the year that it was put together and stood -ready to receive us, on the site I had chosen for it. This was a very -picturesque position on the top of a cliff about eighty feet above the -Ingnaima river. Here we lived happily and contentedly for three months, -and were apparently on the most friendly terms with all the natives -living near us. Our Company bought about 1200 head of cattle, and these -I distributed amongst the natives living on Essexvale—an estate of -nearly 200,000 acres—to herd for us in lots of from ten to thirty in -number, which they were very glad to do for the sake of the milk. To -all the headmen living immediately round the homestead I gave a larger -proportion of milk cows, on the condition that they brought me daily -half the milk. - -[Illustration: THE AUTHOR'S HOMESTEAD ON ESSEXVALE, MATABELELAND. - -Destroyed by the natives in April 1896.] - -I was assisted in the management of the estate by a young German, Herr -Blöcker, who had taken his diplomas in a German School of Forestry, as -it was part of our Company's scheme to start a plantation of gum trees, -the timber of which is valuable for mining purposes. We therefore -cleared and ploughed up about forty acres of land, and planted out over -5000 trees raised from seed on a strip of eight acres near the house. -The rest of the ploughed land we sowed with maize, reserving about an -acre near the river for a vegetable garden. The ground round the house -my wife laid out in flower-beds, and I had also beds prepared for the -planting of orange and other fruit trees, which I had ordered from -the Cape Colony; whilst several banana and grenadilla plants, which -had been given us by the Rev. Mr. Helm, were already growing well. -Altogether, in spite of the most unseasonable drought which prevailed -during January, February, and March, our homestead commenced to look -quite pretty, and another year's work would have made a nice place of -it; whilst the view from our front door up the river, with our cattle -and horses grazing on the banks, and ducks and geese swimming in the -pools or sunning themselves on the sand, was always singularly homelike. - -As I have said above, up to the day of the native insurrection, which -broke out towards the end of March, all the natives on Essexvale -appeared to be on the most friendly terms with us, and were always -most civil and polite to my wife, who had grown to like them very -much. We had done them many good turns, and I believe they liked us -as individuals. Umlugulu, a relation of Lo Bengula's, and one of the -principal men in that king's time, as well as a high priest of the -ceremonies at the annual religious dance of the Inxwala, was living -about fifteen miles away, and often came to see us. He was a very -gentle-mannered savage, and always most courteous and polite in his -bearing, and by us he was always treated with the consideration due -to one who had held a high position and been a man of importance in -Lo Bengula's time. It is now supposed, and I think with justice, that -this man was one of the chief instigators of the rebellion; but if -this is so, I have strong reasons for believing that he only finally -made up his mind that the time had come for the attempt to be made to -drive the white men out of the country when he learnt that the whole -of the police force of Matabeleland, together with the artillery, -munitions of war, etc., which had been taken down to the Transvaal by -Dr. Jameson, had been captured by the Boers. My reason for thinking so -is, that before he heard this news he asked me several times to take -some unbranded cattle from him, and have them herded amongst my own, or -bought from him at my own price. This request I could not grant, but -advised him to go and tell Dr. Jameson the story he had told me, as to -how these cattle came to be in his possession without the Company's -brand on them. After he heard the news of Dr. Jameson's surrender, -Umlugulu never said anything more about these cattle, but he often -came to see me, and always questioned me very closely as to what had -actually happened in the Transvaal. Although at that time I had no -idea as to the lines on which I now think his mind was working, I gave -him little or no information, the more so that I could see he was very -anxious to get at the truth. - -Towards the end of February, Mr. Jackson, the native commissioner in -my district, who was living with a sub-inspector and a force of native -police at a spot on one of the roads through Essexvale about twelve -miles distant from our house, informed me that rumours of coming -disaster to the white man, purporting to emanate from the "Umlimo" or -god of the Makalakas, who dwells in a cave of the Matopo Hills, were -being spread abroad amongst the people of Matabeleland. Shortly before -this there had been a total eclipse of the moon. This the Umlimo told -the natives meant that white man's blood was about to be spilt. Further -than this, they were informed that Lo Bengula was not dead, but was -now on his way back to Matabeleland with a large army from the north, -whilst two other armies were coming to help him against the white man -from the west and east. "Watch the coming moon," said the Umlimo, -"and be ready." He also claimed to have sent the rinderpest, which -had just reached the cattle in the north of Matabeleland—though of -what advantage that scourge was to the natives I don't quite see—and -promised that he would soon afflict the white men themselves with some -equally terrible disease. - -Now, although these rumours of a native rising were current in -Matabeleland some time before the insurrection actually broke out, and -were reported to the then acting chief native commissioner, Mr. Thomas, -and to the heads of the Government, I do not think that they would have -been warranted in taking any steps of a suppressive nature at this -juncture; for there was absolutely nothing tangible to go upon, nor -could any commission of inquiry have come to any other conclusion than -that the natives had no intention of rebelling; for they were as quiet -and submissive in their demeanour towards Europeans as they ever had -been since the war, and there was absolutely no evidence of any secret -arming amongst them; and the fact remains that, with one exception, -all those Europeans in Matabeleland who had had a long experience of -natives—that is, the native commissioners, missionaries, and a few old -traders and hunters, amongst whom I must include myself—were unanimous -in the opinion that no rebellion on the part of the Matabele was to -be apprehended. I say there was one exception, as I have been told -that Mr. Usher, an old trader long resident in Matabeleland, and who -since the first war has been living altogether amongst the natives, -has always maintained that the Matabele would one day rise against the -white man. - -For myself, I had many conversations with Mr. Jackson on the subject, -and we came to the conclusion, after talking with several intelligent -natives regarding the rumours going about, that the Matabele were not -likely to rebel until Lo Bengula appeared with his army. "However," -said Mr. Jackson one evening, "it is very difficult to worm a secret -out of a native, and if there should be an insurrection those are the -devils we have to fear," pointing to his squad of native Matabele -policemen, sitting about round their huts all armed with repeating -Winchester rifles. At that time no one would have imagined that these -native policemen—all fine, active-looking young fellows, and very -smart at their drill—would have been likely to mutiny, since they -were not only very well disciplined but most civil and obedient to -their white officers; whilst, on the other hand, they were constantly -at loggerheads with their compatriots, whom they had to bring to -book for any transgression of the Chartered Company's laws, and more -particularly for evasion of the regulations exacting a certain amount -of labour annually at a fixed rate of pay from every able-bodied young -man. However, as subsequent events have shown, Mr. Jackson was right in -his prognostication, for when the rebellion did break out, about half -the native police at once turned their rifles against their employers. -The remainder were true to their salt, but had to be disarmed as a -precautionary measure. - -I will now before going further say a word concerning the "Umlimo" or -god of the Makalakas, who has apparently played such an important part -in the present rebellion, but who, I think, has in reality only been -the instrument employed by the actual leaders of the insurrection to -work upon the superstitions of the people, and mould them to their -will. To the best of my belief, there exists amongst the Makalakas, -as amongst all the tribes of allied race throughout South-Eastern -Africa, an hereditary priesthood, confined to one family, though from -time to time certain other young men are adopted by the high priest -and initiated into the mysteries of his profession. These men in -common with the actual sons of the high priest are known henceforth as -children of the god. The head of the family lives in the Matopo Hills, -and is known as the Umlimo, but as far as one can understand from the -rather conflicting statements made concerning him by the natives, he -is not actually the Umlimo, but a being possessed of all the ordinary -attributes of man,—in fact a human being, with a spiritual nature -superadded which enables him to commune with the unseen Deity that -pervades space, and communicate the wishes or commands of the invisible -spirit to the people. The temple of the Umlimo is a cave in the Matopo -Hills, whither the people repair to consult him; and I believe that the -voice which is heard in answer to their questions from the depths of -the cave is supposed to emanate not from the human Umlimo or priest, -but to be the actual utterance of the invisible god. The human Umlimo -is kept wonderfully well posted up concerning everything that happens -in Matabeleland, probably by the various members of his family, who -live in different parts of the country, and who often visit him. He -is thus often enabled to make very shrewd answers to the questions -asked him, and to show himself conversant with matters which his -interlocutors thought were known only to themselves; and in this way he -has gained a great ascendency over the minds of the people. - -If one asks who the Umlimo is, the answer is that he is a spirit or -supernatural being of infinite wisdom, known to man only as a voice -speaking from the depths of a cave. He is said to be able to speak all -languages, as well as to be possessed of the faculty of roaring like a -lion, crowing like a cock, barking like a dog, etc. On the other hand, -the human Umlimo accepts or rather demands presents from those who -visit his cave for the purpose of consulting the Deity, and possesses -not only cattle, sheep, and goats, but also a large number of wives. -The great mass of the Matabele people seem to me to have very vague -ideas concerning the Umlimo; and sometimes I think that besides the -priest in the Matopos through whom the voice of God is supposed to -be heard, there are other priests,[4] or so-called Umlimos, in other -parts of the country through whom they believe that the commands of -the Almighty can be conveyed to them. At any rate, both prior to and -during the present rebellion, utterances purporting to emanate from the -"Umlimo" have been implicitly believed in, and the commands attributed -to him obeyed with a blind fanaticism, that one would not have looked -for in a people who always seem to be extremely matter of fact and -practical in everyday life. It may seem strange that this "Umlimo," -or god of the despised Makalakas, should be accepted as an oracle by -the Matabele, but I know that Lo Bengula professed a strong belief in -his magical powers, and from time to time consulted him. I believe, -however, that the Umlimo was made use of for the purposes of the -present rebellion by Umlugulu, and other members of the late king's -family. - -These men were naturally not content with their position under the -white man's rule, and as ever since the war they had probably been -rebels at heart, they only wanted an opportunity to call the people to -arms. This opportunity they thought had come when they heard that the -entire police force of Matabeleland, together with most of the big guns -and munitions of war up till then stored in Bulawayo, had been captured -by the Boers. For to them the police represented the fighting or -military element amongst the white men, and they more or less despised -all other classes, whom they usually saw going about altogether unarmed -and defenceless. When the police were gone, therefore, they at once -probably set about stirring up a rebellion, and got the Umlimo to play -their game and work upon the superstitions of the people. This at any -rate is my own opinion of the origin of the insurrection. - -About the middle of March I was appointed cattle inspector for the -district between the Umzingwani and Insiza rivers, and had to do a lot -of riding about in my endeavours to assist the Government to arrest the -spread of the rinderpest. However, one might as well have tried to stop -a rising tide on the sea-shore, as prevent this dreadful disease from -travelling steadily down the main roads, leaving nothing but rotting -carcasses and ruined men behind it. Therefore, while still strictly -prohibiting all movement of cattle from infected districts to parts of -the country yet free from the terrible scourge, the Government declared -the main roads open for traffic on Tuesday, 24th March, in order that -as many waggon-loads of provisions as possible might be brought into -Bulawayo, whilst any oxen were still left alive to pull them; for at -this time the only calamities apprehended in Matabeleland were famine, -and the complete dislocation of transport throughout the country owing -to the terrible mortality amongst the cattle from rinderpest. These -dangers indeed seemed so pressing that the Government was called upon -by a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce to at once purchase 2000 -mules, to be used for the importation of food-stuffs into Bulawayo, and -their distribution from that centre to the various mining districts. - -On Sunday, 22nd March, I reached Bulawayo late in the evening, after -a very long day's ride inspecting cattle, and I then heard rumours of -a disturbance having taken place between some of Mr. Jackson's native -police and the inhabitants of a Matabele kraal near the north-western -boundary of our Company's property of Essexvale. On the following day -I got a fresh horse and rode twenty-five miles down the Tuli road to -Dawson's store on the Umzingwani river—the limit of my beat in this -direction—issuing passes to all the waggons I met with to proceed on -their way up or down the road on the following morning. Arrived at the -store, I there met my friend Mr. Jackson, the native commissioner, -and Mr. Cooke, and learned from them that a native policeman had -been murdered by the Matabele on the previous Friday night, and that -the murderers had fled into the Matopo Hills, taking all their women -and children as well as their cattle with them. My friends were only -waiting for a detachment of native police, under two white inspectors, -to follow up the murderers and endeavour to bring them to justice. - -[Illustration: - - _By permission of the Proprietors of "Black and White."_ - -AN ANT-HEAP IN MATABELELAND.] - - - - -CHAPTER III - - First overt act of rebellion—Natives borrow axes from Mrs. - Selous—Where are the white police?—Native woman gives information - of the murder of whites—Natives run off with the cattle—Murder of - three miners—Inscrutability of the Kafir mind—Matabele raid on - cattle. - - -Now this murder of a native policeman on the night of Friday, 20th -March, was the first overt act of rebellion on the part of the Matabele -against the Government of the British South Africa Company, and I -will therefore relate exactly what occurred. On the evening of the -aforementioned day, eight native policemen, acting on instructions of -Mr. Jackson, arrived at the town of Umgorshlwini, situated in the hills -near the Umzingwani river. Being accompanied by several boys carrying -their blankets, etc., they formed quite a little party, and so camped -outside the native town. They were sitting talking over their fires -after the evening meal, when a number of Matabele came up, and ranging -themselves in a line in front of them, commenced to dance. These men -all carried knob-kerries, and were led by a man named Umzobo,[5] who -had held a post of importance at Bulawayo in Lo Bengula's time. The -so-called dancing of all Kafirs of Zulu race is not dancing in the -European sense, but consists for the most part in stamping on the -ground, swaying the body and gesticulating with sticks. The stamping -is usually accompanied by a chant, the words of which are often -improvised for the occasion, and the effect of the whole dance is -decidedly stimulating, as I have often watched a stolid, stupid-looking -Kafir work himself up to a state of high excitability by this means. -On the present occasion Umzobo and his men very soon showed that they -had come to dance before the representatives of the law with a purpose, -that purpose being to pick a quarrel with them. They soon commenced -to "jia," or point with their sticks; then one of them ran out of the -line, and coming close up to the police, stooped forward, and drawing -his left hand rapidly backwards and forwards across his throat, -said: "You are killing us, you are killing us; why don't you cut our -throats, and make an end of it?" Then another ran out, and repeating -the formula, "you are killing us," pressed his finger on his temple, -and said: "Why don't you shoot us? why don't you put the bullet in -just here?" The expression, "you're killing us," so frequently used by -Umzobo's men, meant "you're making life unpleasant to us by enforcing -the Company's laws." - -When these hostile demonstrations had gone on for some time, the -sergeant in charge of the police told Umzobo that he had better take -his men away, and tell them to go to sleep, as nobody wanted to fight -with them; but his words were without effect, and the dancing was still -going on, when one of the policemen saw a man creeping stealthily -towards them round the back of the cattle kraal. At once suspecting -mischief, he jumped up, and calling to his comrades "Look out, we're -amongst enemies," rushed upon the crouching figure that at once stood -up and revealed a Kafir armed with an assegai. Before he could make -use of his weapon, however, the policeman caught him by the wrist, -whilst another guardian of the law who had followed close behind -seized his other arm. They at once disarmed the man, and were putting -the handcuffs on him, when a shot was fired out of the cattle kraal, -aimed of course at the police, but so badly aimed that instead of -hitting one of them, it struck their prisoner in the back, killing him -almost instantly. Indeed, he fell dead with the handcuff on one wrist. -Immediately the shot was fired some of the police rushed into the kraal -and almost succeeded in capturing the man who had fired, so nearly in -fact that he dropped his rifle in his hurry to escape. - -Umzobo and his men had now disappeared, and the police having collected -together, were standing in the light of their camp fires uncertain what -to do, when a volley was fired amongst them from the bush outside the -kraal. None of the police were hit, but one of their blanket-carriers -was shot through the head and killed on the spot. Not knowing the -number of their unseen enemies, the representatives of the law then -thought it advisable to beat a retreat. They reached Mr. Jackson's camp -at 1 A.M. on Saturday, handing him the captured rifle, and reporting -the loss of two of their boys; for besides the one whom they knew to be -dead, another small boy some ten or twelve years of age was missing. -This boy Mr. Jackson found lying dead half under the kraal fence, when -he visited Umgorshlwini with all the police he could muster on the -morning after the disturbance. The town was then deserted, and Mr. -Jackson thinks that this small boy must have been discovered trying to -hide under the fence after the police had left. He had been murdered -in a most brutal way, his skull having been smashed to atoms with -knob-kerries. - -But the murder of these two police boys and the accidental killing of -one of Umzobo's men was not the only deed of blood which occurred on -this Friday night. Amongst Umzobo's men was one Ganyana. After the -retreat of the police this man went alone to the kraal of a nephew of -Lo Bengula—Umfondisi, the son of Lo Magazi—and waking him up, told -him what had happened. According to the report of a stranger who was -sleeping in Umfondisi's kraal that night, Ganyana was very much excited -and called out, "Come, Umfondisi; why are you sleeping? don't you know -we're fighting? we've killed some policemen, come; blood is running -and men are lying dead; come with me and let us do some more killing." -Umfondisi was nothing loth, and arming himself with an assegai went off -with Ganyana to a neighbouring kraal, the headman of which they at once -awakened in order to tell him the news. At this kraal there happened to -be one of Mr. Jackson's native policemen. He was asleep in a hut when -Ganyana and Umfondisi arrived, but the loud and excited conversation -that was being carried on awoke him, and he got up and came out of the -hut, asking as he did so what all the noise was about. "Who are you?" -said Ganyana. "I am so and so, one of Mr. Jackson's policemen," was the -answer. "What!" responded Ganyana; "do you tell me that you are one -of the witches who are always troubling us?" and running up to him he -shot him, and as he fell down mortally wounded, Umfondisi, the king's -nephew, plunged his assegai into him. - -When on Monday evening, 23rd March, I heard from Mr. Jackson what had -happened on the previous Friday night, I imagined that the disturbance -was merely the outcome of local discontent, and little thought that -this attack on native policemen was but the prelude to the most -terrible massacre of Europeans that has ever yet taken place in a -native rising in South Africa; and more than this, that even whilst -I listened to the story, white men, women, and children lay freshly -murdered not many miles away. On the following morning, Tuesday, 24th -March, I rode through the hills to my own place, passing Umgorshlwini -on the way. Riding round the kraal I found bloodstains where the three -men had been killed, but the bodies had been taken away and buried by -the order of Mr. Jackson. The kraal itself, together with many smaller -ones in its vicinity, was absolutely deserted, and a splendid crop of -corn left standing in the valley below. - -Having been absent since the previous Sunday morning, I was still all -unsuspicious of danger, but knowing now all that actually happened -during that time within a short distance of my house, I shudder to -think of what might have occurred there during my absence; for my -wife had been quite alone in the house with two little native girls; -Mr. Blöcker, my German assistant, and a young Scotchman, Mr. Notman, -occupying huts some distance away. - -I reached home about mid-day, and found everything going on as usual. -My wife told me that during the morning several men—all of whom I -knew well—had come over to see her from the chief village of the -district—Intuntini—which had been a big military kraal before the war. -These men were all true-blooded Matabele, and several of them were in -charge of cattle belonging to my Company. They all wished to borrow -axes from her, to be used for the purpose of strengthening their cattle -kraals, they said, but I know now that they wanted them as weapons of -offence, as many of the murders were committed with axes. As we were -accustomed to assist the natives in any small matter of this kind, she -let them have all the axes that could be spared, and allowed them to -sharpen them on the grindstone. About sundown some of these same men -brought the usual evening's milk, and my wife and I chatted with them -for some time. We spoke about the recent murders on the Umzingwani, -and the conduct of Umzobo and Umfondisi, and my wife asked me to say -that she thought they had acted very foolishly, as the white men would -punish them. At this they laughed, and one of them said significantly, -"How can the white men punish them? where are the white police? there -are none left in the country." - -Soon after these men had left us, George, a colonial Kafir in my -employ, came and said he wished to speak to me, and on my going aside -with him informed me that his wife—a Matabele woman—had just heard -from another native woman that white men had been murdered on the -previous day by the Matabele, on the further side of the Malungwani -range, amongst them a native commissioner, who, it was said, had had -his throat cut by his own black police. On hearing this disagreeable -news, which I did not doubt was substantially true, I began to think -that we were going to have a native rising after all. However, I did -not consider that we were in any danger, except from natives coming -from a distance, as I could not believe that any of the people living -close round us would be keen to murder either my wife or myself or any -one living with us, as we had benefited them in many ways, and had -certainly never given them any cause to dislike our presence amongst -them. I, of course, said nothing to my wife as to what I had heard, but -I told Mr. Blöcker and the young Scotchman to keep their rifles handy -in case of accidents. I had, too, some very good watch-dogs that I knew -would give me warning if any Kafirs came near the house, and I kept -awake all night with my rifle and a belt full of cartridges alongside -of me. But the night passed off quite quietly. - -Why no attempt was made to murder us on that Tuesday night will -always remain a mystery to me. I should like to think that because -we had always treated them kindly and considerately, our immediate -neighbours shrank from killing us; but after all that has happened I -find it very difficult to believe this. They may have come with the -intention of killing us on the Tuesday morning, but finding me absent, -and Mr. Blöcker with a rifle in his hands—for when they arrived at -the homestead he was just going off to shoot a cow whose hip had been -dislocated in branding—may not have thought the opportunity a good one. -My wife noticed that they seemed very excited, and they also seemed -very anxious to know when I would return. - -All things considered, I am afraid we owe them little, as if they did -not attempt to murder us they at any rate gave us no warning, and went -off on the Tuesday night with all the cattle I had entrusted to their -care, and in all likelihood assisted in the murder of Messrs. Foster, -Eagleson, and Anderson, all three of whom were carrying on mining work -on Essexvale; Foster's camp being within four miles of my home. - -The events of the last three months have taught me at least this, -that it is impossible for a European to understand the workings of a -native's mind; and, speaking personally, after having spent over twenty -years of my life amongst the Kafirs, I now see that I know nothing -about them, and recognise that I am quite incompetent to express an -opinion as to the line of conduct they would be likely to adopt under -any given circumstances. - -On the following morning I got up early, and after seeing the Kafirs -make a start on the work on which I was then engaged—which was the -preparation of a piece of ground round the house for a plantation of -fruit trees—I went up to George's hut and told him to try and get some -farther particulars, through his wife, as to the murders said to have -been committed on the previous Monday. Then I strolled back to the -house and worked at one thing and another till breakfast time, and was -just going indoors to sit down to that meal, when I saw George running -down from his hut to our house, followed by a Kafir boy. As he came -near he shouted out to the horse-herd who was standing by the stable, -"Bring the horses, bring the horses; make haste!" - -I knew then there was something wrong, and half thought that an attack -was imminent, and having my wife's safety to provide for, was much -relieved when George told me that no pressing danger threatened, but -that armed Kafirs had driven off some of my Company's cattle. The boy -who accompanied George belonged to a small kraal, to the members of -which I had given some twenty or thirty head of cattle to look after -for our Company, they getting full benefit of all the milk, a great -boon to them, as they possessed no cattle of their own. He had been -sent by the headman to inform me that just at daylight a number of -Matabele from the kraal of Gwibu, a nephew of Lo Bengula, had opened -the cattle kraal and driven off all the cattle, threatening the life of -any one who interfered with them. These men, he said, were all armed -either with guns or shields and assegais, and wore white ox-tails -round their left arms and necks. Whilst I was still speaking, another -messenger arrived to tell me that all the Intuntini people had left -in the night, taking all their cattle with them, the greater part of -which belonged to my Company. I now knew that we were face to face -with a native rising, but I thought—what was indeed the fact—that this -rising had been fomented by members of the late king's family, and was -confined so far to the Abenzantsi, or Matabele of pure Zulu descent, -and I cherished the hope that if energetic measures were at once -adopted by the Government, the more numerous and useful section of the -nation, of Makalaka and Mashuna descent, might be kept quiet and the -rebellion speedily suppressed. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - - Precautions against native attack—Conference with the - neighbouring headmen—I take my wife into Bulawayo—Insurrection - reported general—Armed forces sent to disturbed districts—Return - to Essexvale with small mounted force—Short supply of horses - and rifles—My views of the Kafir rising—The progress of the - insurrection at Essexvale and the neighbourhood—Wholesale murders. - - -The first thing to be done was to take my wife into Bulawayo, and -then return at once with a body of armed men to Essexvale, in order -to make a display of force which might deter those natives, who were -still sitting quiet watching events, from joining the rebels; for I -knew that the general idea was, that there being now no longer any -police force in the country, the Government was practically powerless -to cope with an organised rebellion. I therefore had all our horses -saddled up immediately to be ready for emergencies, and in order to -guard against surprise placed George as a vidette on the top of a rise -behind the house, from which a good view of the surrounding country was -obtainable. Then, whilst we were having breakfast, I sent messengers -to summon all the headmen of the kraals in the immediate vicinity -of the homestead. These men, I may say, were all in possession of -cattle belonging to my Company, and as none of them were pure-blooded -Matabele, I imagined they would have no sympathy with the insurgents. - -They all answered my summons, accompanied by many of their people, -and before leaving I spoke to them, and did my best to impress upon -them the folly of rebelling against the white man. They professed -themselves in perfect accord with all I said; averred that they were -quite content to live with me as their "inkosi,"[6] and protested that -they had nothing to hope for from the overthrow of the white man by the -Matabele. In conclusion, I told them that I was going into Bulawayo -to place my wife in a position of safety, but that I would return -immediately with an armed force and endeavour to recover some of the -cattle stolen by Gwibu and the rest of the Matabele. Mr. Blöcker wished -to remain at the homestead until my return, but this I would not allow, -as I did not care to leave a white man all by himself; and besides -I required him to help me in getting some men together. George—the -colonial Kafir—however, stopped behind, as he considered himself quite -safe with Umsetchi's people,—Umsetchi being the headman of several -little kraals close to the house, with the inhabitants of which we had -always been on the most friendly terms. - -Our ride into Bulawayo was altogether uneventful, as our road lay -almost entirely through uninhabited country, and did not cross the line -that the rebel natives of the district would have been likely to take -on their way to the fastnesses of the Malungwani Hills. As, however, it -was a scorching hot day it was a very trying experience for my wife. - -Just before reaching town we met Mr. Claude Grenfell, who, with -Messrs. Norton and Edmonds, was on his way out to Essexvale with a -cart and horses to bring in my wife, and from them we learned that -the insurrection was becoming general all over the country, and that -forces had already been raised and sent out to relieve miners and -settlers in the outlying districts. The Hon. Maurice Gifford had left -the previous day for the Insiza, whilst Messrs. Napier and Spreckley -were just on the point of starting for other disturbed parts of the -country. - -After handing over my wife to the kind care of her good friend Mrs. -Spreckley, I at once set to work to get together a mounted force with -which to return immediately to Essexvale, and thanks to the energetic -assistance of Mr. Blöcker and Mr. Norton I was able to leave Bulawayo -again at eight o'clock the same evening with thirty-six mounted men. -I had wished to raise a force of 100 men, but found it impossible -to do so, nearly all the horses and rifles in the possession of the -Government having been given out to equip the forces already sent out -before my arrival in town. There were men enough left, and good men -too, ready to go with me anywhere, but the Government could only supply -six horses—and not good ones at that—and twenty rifles. However, I -managed to raise thirty private horses, and some private rifles, and -got away about two hours after sundown with a compact little force of -thirty-six mounted men. - -The moon was now getting near the full, and by its light we pushed -on, and at 2 A.M. on Thursday, 26th March, were back at my homestead, -which is just twenty-three miles distant from Bulawayo. Here I found -everything as I had left it, George having installed himself with some -of Umsetchi's men in the stable, which being built very solidly of -stone, they might easily have held against any ordinary attack. - -I had left Essexvale a few hours before, without any very bitter -feeling against the Kafirs, for after all, looking at things from their -point of view, if they thought they could succeed in shaking off the -white man's rule, and retaking all the cattle that once were theirs -or their king's, and all those brought into the country since the war -as well, why shouldn't they try the chances of rebellion? I knew they -would have to fight to accomplish their ends, and it was for them to -consider whether the game was worth the candle or not. At that time, -however, I was far from realising what had happened, and was inclined -to judge the Kafirs very leniently. But my visit to Bulawayo had -changed my sentiments entirely, and the accounts which I had there -heard of the cruel and treacherous murders that had been perpetrated -on defenceless women and children, besides at once destroying whatever -sympathy I may have at first felt for the rebels, had not only filled -me with indignation, but had excited a desire for vengeance, which -could only be satisfied by a personal and active participation in the -killing of the murderers. I don't defend such feelings, nor deny that -they are vile and brutal when viewed from a high moral standpoint; only -I would say to the highly moral critic, Be charitable if you have not -yourself lived through similar experiences; be not too harsh in your -judgment of your fellow-man, for you probably know not your own nature, -nor are you capable of analysing passions which can only be understood -by those Europeans who have lived through a native rising, in which -women and children of their race have been barbarously murdered by -savages; by beings whom, in their hearts, they despise; as rightly or -wrongly they consider that they belong to a lower type of the human -family than themselves. - -I offer no opinion upon this sentiment, but I say that it undoubtedly -exists, and must always aggravate the savagery of a conflict between -the two races; whilst the murder of white women and children, by -natives, seems to the colonist not merely a crime, but a sacrilege, -and calls forth all the latent ferocity of the more civilised race. -For, kind and considerate though any European may be under ordinary -circumstances to the savages amongst whom he happens to be living, yet -deep down in his heart, whether he be a miner or a missionary, is the -conviction that the black man belongs to a lower type of humanity than -the white; and if this is a mistaken conviction, ask the negrophilist -who professes to think so, whether he would give his daughter in -marriage to a negro, and if not, why not? - -At any rate the lovers and admirers of the Matabele would do well to -caution their protégés not to commence another insurrection by the -murder of white women and children, for should they do so, they will -once more have cause to rue a war of retaliation, that will be waged -with all the merciless ferocity which must inevitably follow upon -such a course; as, although the murder of Europeans by savages may -commend itself to certain arm-chair philosophers in England, who can -see no good in a colonist, nor any harm in a savage, yet the colonists -themselves cannot look upon such matters from the same point of view, -and will take such steps to prevent the recurrence of any farther -ebullitions of temper, as were taken by the United States troops after -the massacres of Minnesota, or by the British troops at Secunderabad -and other places in suppressing the Indian Mutiny. - -Before resuming my personal narrative, I will give a short account -of what had already taken place in the progress of the insurrection -on Essexvale itself, and in those parts of the Insiza and Filibusi -districts which border upon Essexvale. - -There is reason to believe that the outbreak of the rebellion, -commencing as it did with the murder of a native policeman on Friday, -20th March, was somewhat premature, and thus there was an interval of -nearly three days between the date of this murder and the day when the -first white men were killed by the natives. From the Umzingwani, the -flame of rebellion spread through the Filibusi and Insiza districts, -to the Tchangani and Inyati, and thence to the mining camps in the -neighbourhood of the Gwelo and Ingwenia rivers, and indeed throughout -the country wherever white men, women, and children could be taken -by surprise and murdered either singly or in small parties; and so -quickly was this cruel work accomplished, that although it was only on -23rd March that the first Europeans were murdered, there is reason to -believe that by the evening of the 30th not a white man was left alive -in the outlying districts of Matabeleland. Between these two dates many -people escaped or were brought in to Bulawayo by relief parties, but a -large number were cruelly and treacherously murdered. - - - - -CHAPTER V - - Massacre of the whites near Edkins' store—Evidence of a - survivor—Mutilation and attempt to destroy identity—Murder of the - Cunningham family—Herbert Pomeroy Fynn's sworn statement—Murder - of Mr. Maddocks—Laager formed at Cumming's store—Hon. Maurice - Gifford proceeds to the relief of the whites at Cumming's - store—Derelict waggon—Murder of Dr. and Mrs. Langford—Relief of - laager at Cumming's store—Repulse of Matabele attack—Retreat to - Bulawayo—Hon. Maurice Gifford's letters. - - -Not far from the once large military kraal of Gorshlwayo, near the -southern border of Essexvale, was a trading station known as Edkins' -store. In the neighbourhood were several mining camps and the residence -of a native commissioner, and it is here probably that the first -murders of Europeans were committed during the present native rising. - -At any rate some time on Monday, 23rd March,[7] seven white men, two -colonial boys and a coolie cook were murdered there. Among the murdered -men was Mr. Bentley, the native commissioner, who was shot or stabbed -from behind, whilst sitting in his hut writing—the date above the -last words he ever wrote being 23rd March. Mr. Edkins and three other -white men, together with their two colonial servants and the coolie -cook, were killed in and round the store, whilst Messrs. Ivers and -Ottens were killed, the former near the Celtic mining camp, and the -latter about half-way between the camp and the store, from which it was -distant about a mile and a half. The corpses of these poor fellows were -found by Colonel Spreckley's relief party four days subsequent to the -massacre. A colonial native was also discovered still living, though -terribly injured. He had evidently been left for dead by the Matabele, -and besides the wounds which they had inflicted on him in order to kill -him, they had slit his mouth open from ear to ear. It was not thought -that this man could possibly live, but his wounds were dressed, and -food given him, and, wonderful to relate, he eventually made his way to -Bulawayo, where, thanks to the skilful treatment and kind nursing he -received in the hospital there, he in time recovered from his injuries. - -He was able to give evidence concerning the murders, which he said were -committed suddenly and without warning by native policemen, aided by -natives from the surrounding kraals under two brothers of Lo Bengula, -Maschlaschlin and Umfaizella, who, with Umlugulu, Gwibu, Umfondisi, and -other members of the king's family, were the chief instigators of the -rebellion; and this being so, no peace can be made that will satisfy -the colonists until all the members of the late king's family, as well -as every Induna and every native policeman who it can be proved took -part in the murders which marked the outbreak of the rebellion, have -been either hanged or shot. - -This may seem a big order to some people—who, however, do not probably -contemplate residing on a lonely farm in Rhodesia—but it is necessary -for the future safety of the country. - -The bodies of Ottens and Bentley had been mutilated, and dry grass had -been heaped up and burnt over the faces of all the dead, possibly with -the idea of destroying their identity. - -Almost simultaneously with the murders at Edkins' store, or at any rate -on the same day, the massacre of the whites was commenced in the Insiza -district, the first sufferers being probably the Cunningham family, who -were living on a farm near the Insiza river. These poor people seem to -have been attacked early in the afternoon, as when their homestead was -visited on the following day by Messrs. Liebert and Fynn, the remains -of the mid-day meal were still on the table, whilst old Mr. Cunningham -seemed to have been murdered whilst reclining on a couch reading a -newspaper. Here is the sworn deposition of Mr. Fynn, the assistant -native commissioner for the Insiza district, as to the finding of the -bodies. - -Herbert Pomeroy Fynn's sworn statement:— - -"I am an assistant native commissioner for the Insiza district. I -accompanied last witness—Mr. Liebert—and Orpen to Cunningham's farm -on Tuesday morning, 24th March. On arrival there I saw eight dead -bodies lying on the ground about twenty yards from the homestead. We -made a cursory examination and saw that the deceased persons had been -murdered by means of knob-kerries and battle-axes, or similar weapons. -The ground was covered with native footprints, and there were broken -knob-kerries lying about. I identified among the dead bodies those of -Mr. Cunningham senior, Mrs. Cunningham, two Miss Cunninghams, Master -Cunningham, and three children whom I identified as the grandchildren -of Mr. Cunningham senior. The deceased persons appeared to have been -killed inside the house and afterwards dragged out and thrown outside -in the position in which we found them. From the fact that all the -native kraals in the vicinity were quite deserted, I have absolutely no -doubt that the persons who killed the deceased were Matabele natives. -Young Cunningham, aged about fourteen years, was still alive when we -arrived, but unconscious, and died immediately after our arrival." - -Such is the bald account of the discovery of the battered and bloody -remains of this unfortunate family, which, alas! was not the only one -suddenly blotted out of existence, root and branch, during the first -terrible days of the Matabele rebellion. The hideous barbarity of these -murders, and the feeling of intense exasperation they would be likely -to excite amongst the surviving settlers, seem to have been somewhat -underrated in England; whilst for obvious reasons they have been -carefully kept out of sight by those dishonest speakers who recently -endeavoured to excite public opinion against the white population of -Rhodesia. You can respect an honest enemy even if you can't like him; -but when a fanatic endeavours to support either his or her theories by -the suppression of truth, he or she becomes contemptible. - -But we are thankful for the sympathy of that most determined enemy of -everything Rhodesian—except the noble savages who therein dwell—Mr. -Labouchere, who has professed himself "sorry for the women and children -who have been killed." Sorry—only sorry! Wonderful indeed is the calm -serenity of soul that enables that noble nature to view all mundane -affairs from the same cold, passionless plane, whether it be the cruel -murder of an English settler's wife and family in Rhodesia, or an -accident to the wheel of a friend's bicycle in Hyde Park! But the men -who have looked upon the corpses of the murdered ones, who have seen -the shattered skulls of their countrywomen, the long grey locks of the -aged and the sunny curls of the girls and little children all alike -dabbled in their blood, are something more than sorry; indignation -mingles with their sorrow, and they are determined to exact such -punishment for the crimes committed, as shall preclude as far as -possible their recurrence in the future. - -At a distance of a few miles from the Cunninghams' farm was a mining -property belonging to the Nellie Reef Development Company, where work -was being carried on under the superintendence of Mr. Thomas Maddocks, -the manager of the Nellie Reef Mine. At about a quarter to six on the -evening of Monday, 23rd March, that is probably some four hours after -the murder of the Cunningham family, Mr. Maddocks and two miners, -Messrs. Hocking and Hosking, were sitting smoking outside their huts -just before dinner, when some fifteen natives came up armed with -knob-kerries and battle-axes. The man who appeared to be their leader -spoke to Mr. Maddocks and said that he and his companions had been sent -by Mr. Fynn, the native commissioner, to work, and on being asked if he -had a letter from that gentleman, called to some more natives who were -standing not far off. What followed I will tell in the words of Mr. -John Hosking, who, in his sworn statement regarding the death of Mr. -Maddocks, deposes as follows:— - -"The call was answered by a shout of 'Tchaia,' 'strike.' A number of -natives joined those who were with us, and the leader then struck -deceased on the head with a knob-kerry. I immediately retired into -my hut for my revolver. When I came back three natives were hitting -Hocking with kerries and axes. I fired a shot and dropped one man, -and just as I had fired my second shot, I received a blow on the head -causing the mark I now show. Hocking then managed to get into the hut, -whereupon the natives cleared off; Hocking and I then went to Maddocks, -but found him dead. We retired into an iron store, at which the natives -fired a shot. The bullet passed inside through the iron, which caused -us to retire again to the hut." By this time it was growing dusk, so -the two wounded miners, fearing that the natives would soon return and -fire the hut, crept out, and getting into the long grass, made their -escape to Cumming's store, three miles from Maddocks' camp, where about -twenty men had already collected, many of whom, however, were unarmed. -A laager was at once formed, and Mr. Cumming and another rode into -Bulawayo for assistance. They first, however, warned several miners and -farmers living in the neighbourhood, that the natives had risen, thus -saving the lives of these people, as they all got safely to the laager -and ultimately escaped to Bulawayo, whereas but for this timely warning -they would most certainly have been murdered. - -Mr. Cumming and his companion reached Bulawayo on Tuesday morning, and -at once reported themselves to Mr. Duncan, the Administrator. - -[Illustration: - -_From a photograph by J. Edwards, Hyde Park Corner._ - -HON. MAURICE GIFFORD, C.M.G.] - -At this time no organised force existed in the country, with the -exception of the few men of the Matabele Mounted Police under Captain -Southey; and there were only some 370 rifles in the Government stores. -However, no difficulty was experienced in getting men together who -were ready to proceed at once to the relief of their countrymen and -countrywomen; and, as I have already narrated, three small corps under -experienced leaders were despatched to various outlying districts -within a few hours of the time when the first alarm was given. The -Hon. Maurice Gifford, as energetic as he is brave, got off that same -evening with about forty men, including Captain Southey and twelve of -his Mounted Police; his object being the relief of the men who had -laagered up at Cumming's store. The first sign of the rising seen by -this party was near Woodford's store, about fourteen miles beyond -Thaba Induna, or twenty-six from Bulawayo. Here an abandoned waggon -was found standing in the road, the sixteen donkeys that had been -harnessed to it lying all of a heap dead. They had for the most part -been stabbed to death with assegais, but some had been shot. Nothing on -the waggon had been touched, though it was loaded with flour, whisky, -etc. No trace of those who had been in charge of the waggon could be -discovered, but it has been subsequently ascertained that they were -murdered in the bush some little distance away. They were colonial -boys taking down a load of stores to the Insiza district. Soon after -this derelict waggon had been passed, three colonial boys were met -making their way to Bulawayo, one armed with a rifle and another with -a revolver. They reported to Mr. Gifford that the rising was general -in the Insiza district, and said that a Dr. and Mrs. Langford had been -killed on the previous day—Wednesday, 25th March—near Rixon's farm; but -that Mr. Rixon, the Blicks, and others in the district had escaped to -the laager at Cumming's store. They also told Mr. Gifford that they had -seen several troops of cattle being driven by armed Matabele towards -the Malungwani and Matopo Hills. On meeting Mr. Gifford these "boys" -turned back and accompanied him to the Insiza, and did good service in -the subsequent fight, in which one of them was wounded. - -On Thursday night the relief party reached Cumming's store, where they -found about thirty men in laager. Of these, however, a large proportion -were unarmed, so that Mr. Gifford had only about fifty rifles at his -command altogether. The night passed off quietly, but at about 5 A.M., -just before daylight on Friday morning, a most determined attack was -made on the position by a large party of Matabele, who did not finally -retreat until they had suffered heavy loss from the steady fire of the -white men. The natives came on with the utmost fearlessness, as may -be inferred from the fact that one was killed with his hands on the -window-sill of the store, whilst six others lay dead close round; and -it was afterwards ascertained that their total loss was twenty-five. - -On the side of the whites, Sergt.-Major O'Leary of the Matabele Mounted -Police was killed, as well as an educated American negro, a servant of -Mr. Wrey's, whilst six white men were wounded. As soon as the attack -had been completely beaten off, the waggons were inspanned, and the -beleaguered white men broke up their laager and commenced their retreat -to Bulawayo. - -The first portion of the road to be travelled led amongst broken -wooded hills, through which it was expected they would have to fight -their way; but although the Matabele once gathered on the top of a -neighbouring hill, and seemed about to attack, they did not do so, and -thus allowed the whites to get out into the open country, where they -were comparatively safe, without further molestation. - -I think it will not be out of place to here reproduce, with the kind -permission of Mr. Maurice Gifford, two letters written by him on the -night after the fight, of which I happen to have copies, as they cannot -fail, I think, to interest my readers. - - To A. H. F. DUNCAN, Esq., - - Bulawayo. - - 14 miles from Lee's Store, - - 10.5 P.M. - - DEAR SIR—We have relieved Insiza, and brought away thirty-six - men and one woman. At 5 A.M. this morning were attacked and - enemy repulsed. Details of same will be given you by bearer. We - have at present six wounded, and the woman with a child. One of - the wounded is a serious case. Suggest the following for your - consideration and for our assistance. Send out two large American - spiders with mules to bring them in. Leave it to your judgment to - say whether you consider escort necessary. Suggest fifteen men. - We can then bring in the remainder of the party. I am sending two - men who have brought me dispatches this morning from Napier to - advise him of the serious nature of this rising; but again leave - it to your judgment whether you consider it advisable to send him - advice from your end, taking into consideration the possibility - of these two men not being able to reach him. If a doctor can - come with the spiders, so much the better; also suggest making - arrangements for beds for wounded. Advise me as to your knowledge - of any possible attacks from natives _en route_ from here to - Bulawayo. Written by moonlight. We are all well and cheery, and - hope to have a drink with you to-morrow night at 9 P.M.—Yours - faithfully, - - MAURICE R. GIFFORD. - - Written at the Camp where Thackeray - and friend left you, - 10.30 P.M. - - DEAR NAPIER—Your dispatch duly received. Just a line from me to - let you know that the Kafirs mean business this time. We were - attacked this morning at one hour before sunrise by about three - hundred natives, who came on in the most fanatical and plucky - style—the old Zulu rush. Three natives were shot alongside the - walls of our barricade. I mention this to you to put you on your - guard, as you must have many new chums with you, and to advise - great caution to prevent night surprises. We never thought an - attack probable, but fortunately were well prepared. This, in my - opinion, will prove a more serious business than the old war, and - I am sure that prompt action is necessary.—Yours, - - M. R. GIFFORD. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - - Difficulties of the colonists much underrated—The Matabele - campaign of 1893—Military spirit scotched, not killed—Estimated - native losses—Disarmament of Matabele incomplete—Natives well - supplied with arms and ammunition—Defections amongst the native - police. - - -As will be seen from the last sentence of Mr. Gifford's letter to -Colonel Napier, even at this early stage of the insurrection he -predicted that it would prove a more serious business than the first -war, and that this prediction has been fully justified will never I -think be gainsaid by any man who has taken part in both campaigns. -As, however, the difficulties experienced by the colonists in coping -with the present rebellion have been very much underrated in certain -quarters, and invidious comparisons instituted between Dr. Jameson's -victorious march on Bulawayo in 1893 and the conduct of the present -campaign, I will take the liberty of giving my own opinion on the -subject; which is that the essential differences in the circumstances -under which the two campaigns were conducted render it impossible to -institute any comparison between them. In 1893 Dr. Jameson marched from -Mashunaland to Bulawayo with a compact force of 670 white men, 400 of -whom were mounted, a small number of native allies, and a strong party -of artillery consisting of 5 Maxim guns, 2 seven-pounders, 1 Gardner -gun, and 1 Hotchkiss. Choosing its own line, and under the guidance -of Nyenyezi —a Matabele of high position, whose whole family to the -number of seventy had lately been put to death by the order of Lo -Bengula, and who was himself a proscribed fugitive—this force kept in -the open country as much as possible, but were obliged to pass through -some broken wooded country in the neighbourhood of the Tchangani -river. Here, at 4 A.M. on the morning of the 25th of October, it was -attacked for the first time by the eastern division of the Matabele -army, computed at some 5000 strong, though it is improbable that all -the regiments composing this division were actually engaged, as all the -fighting seems to have been done by the Insukamini regiment, aided -by small detachments of the Inhlati and Umquicho. - -The attack failed, the Matabele being beaten off from the laager with -heavy loss, whilst the column marched on towards Bulawayo, and was not -again attacked until after the Impembisi had been crossed. - -At a point a few miles beyond this river the laager was again attacked -on 1st November, this time in perfectly open ground, and in the middle -of the day. The attack was made by the Imbezu and Ingubu regiments, -computed by Sir John Willoughby to number together about 1700 men; some -5000 more of other regiments who were hanging round never having come -into action at all. In this engagement these two regiments suffered -very heavily from the fire of the Maxim guns, although, as they have -both reformed and taken a prominent part in the present rebellion, they -were certainly not annihilated. On hearing of the defeat of the Imbezu -and Ingubu, one or other of which regiments he usually kept near him as -a sort of bodyguard, Lo Bengula fled from Bulawayo, after first burning -the kraal and blowing up his European house; but before doing so he -recalled his son-in-law, Gambo, from the Mangwe Pass, thus leaving it -open for the unopposed advance of the southern column under Colonel -Gould Adams, who with the 400 men under his command was thus enabled to -effect a junction with Dr. Jameson on 15th November. Gambo had been in -command of all the regiments composing the Eegapa and the Umschlopay, -the two largest military divisions of the four into which the country -was divided, numbering together at least 8000 men. Excepting, however, -a small detachment which attacked Colonel Gould Adams at the Singuesi -river, none of the men composing this force took any part in the first -Matabele war, although it numbered in its ranks some of the king's best -regiments, such as the Inyama Nghlovu and M'schlaschlanglela. Neither -were the men under Sikombo, Umlugulu, and many other influential -Indunas living to the south-east of Bulawayo, ever engaged in the first -war, as although they were all mustered and were close to Bulawayo at -the time of the defeat of their compatriots at the Impembisi, they seem -to have lost heart when they heard of the disastrous result of that -fight, immediately followed as it was by the flight of their king, and -so retired to the Matopo Hills, and subsequently surrendered without -fighting. - -The death of Lo Bengula probably closed the campaign, for but for this -event his pursuit to the lower Tchangani, resulting as it did in the -death of Major Wilson and all his brave companions, would scarcely have -had any other effect than to show the Matabele that although white men -were invincible when defending a laager with Maxim guns, they were by -no means so when only armed with rifles, if they could be outnumbered -and surrounded in difficult country. - -But the death of their king left them like a swarm of bees bereft of -their queen. Their councils were divided; their military arrogance -crushed out of them by the heavy defeats their best regiments had -sustained at the Tchangani, the Impembisi, and in a minor degree at -the Singuesi. Short of food, and living like wild beasts in the rocks -and forests, with all the bitter discomfort which such a life entails -even on savages during the rainy season in a sub-tropical country, they -saw their women and children sicken and die day by day, until their -only hope of life seemed to lie in a speedy return to the high and -healthy plateau from which they had fled. But there lay the laagers of -the white men strongly defended with cannon and Maxim guns. From such -positions they could not hope to drive them, nor without a leader or -any cohesion between the numberless little parties into which they were -divided did they dare to try conclusions with the mounted patrols which -scoured the open country. What wonder then that when liberal terms of -peace were offered them, first one Induna with all his people, and -then another and another, surrendered, until in a short time the whole -nation had freely and frankly submitted itself to the white man's rule? -Such is a brief account of the conquest of Matabeleland in 1893, which -was practically settled by two battles, in which the Matabele attacked -the white men in laager and were in each case driven off with heavy -loss by the fire of the Maxim guns. - -The brilliancy of the exploit, resulting as it did in the overthrow -of one of the most cruel and barbarous despotisms that has ever -existed even in barbarous Africa, and in the throwing open to European -enterprise of a rich and fertile territory, blessed with a climate in -which white men can live and thrive, will ever be remembered as one -of the most brilliant episodes in the history of British colonisation -in South Africa; and no one, in this country at any rate, would wish -to detract one iota from the honour due to all those who took part -in Dr. Jameson's historic march to Bulawayo in 1893. It was admirable -both in the boldness of its conception and the steady and unflinching -resolution with which it was carried out. - -All I wish to point out is that in 1893 the fighting power and the -military spirit of the Matabele nation was only scotched, not killed; -for more than half the regiments which had formed the king's army at -the time of the war did not lose a single man during the hostilities, -never having been engaged in any of the fights; whilst the only -regiments which lost really heavily were the Insukamini, the Imbezu, -and the Ingubu. It is difficult to state with any degree of exactitude -the number of men lost by the Matabele in 1893, but personally I find -it difficult to believe that their loss in men killed or who died from -wounds can have exceeded 1000—that is, 200 at the Tchangani, 500 at -the Impembisi, 100 at the Inguesi, and 200 killed during the fighting -on the lower Tchangani. Be it remembered by those who consider this -too low an estimate, that if more than 500 Matabele were killed at the -Impembisi fight, it would mean over 30 per cent of the entire force -engaged, as the strength of the Imbezu and Ingubu together did not -exceed 1700, whilst the number of the survivors who have been and still -are taking part in the present rebellion is by no means inconsiderable. -As regards the loss inflicted on the Matabele by Major Wilson and -his brave companions during their last desperate stand on the lower -Tchangani, we have nothing to go upon, except what natives who were -there can tell us, and I think there is reason to believe that their -loss there was not actually so heavy as at one time it was supposed -to be, as they were always able to fire on the whites from behind -the shelter of trees. Apart, however, from the direct loss sustained -in the various fights, the Matabele must have suffered heavily from -the ravages of sickness caused by exposure and want of food after the -fighting had ceased. The greatest sufferers were naturally the women -and children, the able-bodied men having been better able to withstand -the unaccustomed hardships. Altogether, I think that if to the 1000, -which is my estimate of those killed in battle, or who died from the -effects of their wounds, another 1000 is added for the able-bodied men -who died of sickness afterwards, the aggregate will be a very liberal -allowance for the total losses sustained by the Matabele in fighting -men during, and in consequence of, the war of 1893. - -However, to avoid all cavilling let us add another 1000 to this number, -making 3000 altogether. Subtract these 3000 from the entire fighting -strength of the nation before the war, which has never been estimated -at less than 20,000, and it leaves a residue of 17,000 able-bodied -men. This total may be a thousand or two out one way or the other; -but, whatever the fighting strength of the nation may be, every man -composing it throughout the length and breadth of the land is now in -arms against the white men, with the exception of some of Gambo's -people and a few others, numbering in all under 1000 men, about whom I -shall say a few words later on. - -But, it has been said, however many Matabele may have rebelled against -the Government, they cannot be very dangerous foes, since the whole -nation was disarmed after the first war. This is an error. After the -war of 1893 a considerable number of guns were certainly given up, -but that the total handed in and destroyed was but a small proportion -of what they had possessed before the war no one who knew anything -about the matter ever doubted. Besides muzzle-loading guns of every -description, the Matabele were formerly in possession of at least 2000 -breech-loading rifles, principally Martini-Henrys, a certain number -of which were captured from them during the war or surrendered after -hostilities were over. As no count seems ever to have been kept of the -number of these rifles captured or handed in, no exact figure can be -given. General report says 150 to 300, whilst the highest number I have -ever heard ventured was "between 400 and 500." - -Even taking the highest number to be correct, considering that a -considerable number of Martini-Henry rifles have been illicitly sold to -the Matabele during the last two years, that nearly 100 breech-loading -rifles were taken over to the enemy by the rebel police, whilst many -more were captured from murdered men during the first days of the -rebellion, it cannot be denied that they have regained more than they -lost, so that in the matter of breech-loading arms they entered upon -the present insurrection with a larger supply than they possessed in -1893, whilst, as I have said before, however many muzzle-loading guns -they may have surrendered, they kept back a great many which they -are now using. As regards ammunition, I, for one, certainly thought -when the present rebellion broke out that their supply would soon run -short, but it has not yet done so, and, moreover, it seems to be fairly -distributed through the whole nation, as every impi with which we have -yet been engaged has shown itself to be well supplied, especially with -Martini-Henry cartridges. - -Thus we now see that after the first conquest of Matabeleland a very -large proportion of the former military strength of the country was -still available, and that although this large number of able-bodied -savages were apparently without arms, their weapons were only hidden -for the time being. Where the large supply of ammunition which they -have proved themselves to be possessed of came from, I cannot say. -Probably large quantities were buried with the rifles after the first -war, and this store has been constantly added to by theft and illicit -purchase ever since. - -However, over two years of most submissive behaviour, unbroken by -any attempt whatever to rebel against the authority of the Chartered -Company, lulled every white man in the country into a feeling of -security which events have not justified. - -A native police force was raised, which was apparently working -admirably up to the time of the rebellion; and even then, it is but -fair to say, almost all the police who had been first enrolled, and -who had done more than a year's service, held themselves aloof from -the rebels, the great majority of defections occurring amongst those -who had been but lately enrolled and amongst whom there was therefore -little or no _esprit de corps_. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - - Effect of removing the police force—Witch-doctors' - influence—Originators of the insurrection—Gambo detained at - Bulawayo—The Imbezu regiment—Unpreparedness of the Colonists - at the outbreak—The Rhodesia Horse—Horses in possession of - the Government—Rifles, guns, and ammunition in Government - stores—Want of community of action of the Matabele—The Umlimo's - mistake—Critical position at Bulawayo—Neglect of the Matabele to - block the roads—Force in Bulawayo at the outbreak—The Africander - Corps. - - -In spite of their submissive behaviour, it seems probable that all -the members of the late king's family and many of the chief Indunas -were only biding their time, and waiting for an opportunity to try the -chances of a rebellion against the white man. - -This opportunity did not present itself as long as there was a strong -police force in the country, but once that police force was removed, I -think the malcontents began to act. - -That the plague of locusts with which Matabeleland has been afflicted -ever since 1890, the first year of the occupation of Mashunaland by -Europeans; the partial drought of the last two years; and, finally, the -outbreak of the rinderpest, would all be ascribed to the evil influence -of the white man, and made use of by the witch-doctors to incite the -mass of the people to join the insurgents, is doubtless true; but -that the insurrection can be fairly ascribed to the bitterness caused -by these visitations alone, I very much doubt, for it is remarkable -that throughout the Umzingwani, Filibusi, and Insiza districts, where -all the first murders of white men were committed, the rainfall had -been plentiful, and the locusts had done but little damage, so that, -as I can personally bear witness, the crops throughout these portions -of the country were exceptionally good, whilst as the rinderpest had -not yet approached this part of Matabeleland, the people living in -these districts could have known little or nothing about it. In its -inception, the insurrection was, in my opinion, a rebellion against -the white man's rule by the Matabele of Zulu origin alone, and I am -convinced that, in the district where I was living at least, the other -section of the tribe were at first not in the secret; however, the -greater part of these soon joined, some unwillingly and under threats -from their former masters, but most of them readily enough, believing, -as they did, that with the assistance of the Umlimo they would be able -to completely root out the white man, and revel once more in loot and -wholesale murder. And a merry time they had of it, if it was but a -short one, to be followed by a heavy retribution. - -When the first news of the rising reached Bulawayo, Gambo was in the -town on a visit to the chief native commissioner, by whom he was very -wisely detained as a prisoner. Whether, if he had been at large, he -would have joined the rebels or not, it is difficult to say. Since -the war, he has lost control over the greater part of the people who -formerly composed the Eegapa military division, and many of these have -joined the ranks of the insurgents, but all Gambo's own people, under -his head Induna, Marzwe, have remained loyal to the Government. Umjan, -once the Induna of the Imbezu regiment, and now quite an old man, has -also refrained from taking part in the present hostilities, although he -is one of the few whose cattle were shot by order of the Government -because they were infected with the rinderpest. He came in to Bulawayo -soon after the outbreak of the rebellion with his wives and immediate -attendants, and is now living quietly near the town. His sons, however, -have joined the rebels, whilst the men whom he formerly commanded—the -Imbezu—reformed themselves into a regiment, and have been fighting -since the outbreak of the insurrection. - -Besides Gambo's men, a few hundreds of Matabele Maholi (men of Makalaka -and Mashuna descent) living on my Company's property of Essexvale, on -Colonel Napier's land and round the Hope Fountain mission station, have -thought it advisable to stand by the Government, and have, therefore, -come in to live near Bulawayo for protection. But putting aside these -few hundreds of natives who have not joined in the rebellion, the -fact remains that at least nine-tenths, I think I might safely say -nineteen-twentieths, of the Matabele nation are now in arms against the -whites. - -And, now, let us see how the colonists were prepared to meet the onset -of these hordes of savages. When the rising first broke out, with -the exception of the native police, there was no organised force in -Matabeleland worth speaking of; and as one-half of the native police -at once went over to the enemy, and the remainder had to be disarmed, -for fear lest they should follow suit, it may be said that there was -no police force at all. Of the old Mounted Police there only remained -forty-eight officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, in the whole -of Matabeleland, under Inspector Southey. Of these, twenty-two were -stationed in Bulawayo, and the rest distributed over the country at -the police stations of Gwelo, Selukwe, Belingwe, Inyati, Mangwe, Tuli, -Matopos, Umzingwani, and Iron Mine Hill. When the rebellion broke out -only twelve of these men were available at Bulawayo for immediate -service, and these, under Inspector Southey, accompanied Mr. Gifford -to the Insiza. The Rhodesia Horse, a volunteer force which had been -raised and equipped the previous year, had also practically ceased -to exist as an effective force fit for use at a moment's notice, for -although there were some six hundred men in Matabeleland who had -enrolled themselves as members of this corps, they were scattered all -over the country at the outbreak of the rebellion. Some of these were -murdered, whilst others had to take refuge in the laagers of Belingwe -and Gwelo. However, about five hundred were soon mustered in Bulawayo, -but the services of the majority could not be utilised except to defend -the town, owing to the want of horses, since, so great had been the -ravages of the fatal horse-sickness during the rainy season then just -coming to an end, that when Colonel Napier, the senior officer of -the Rhodesia Horse, called on the Government for seventy horses for -immediate use on 23rd March, he could only be supplied with sixty-two. - -The actual number of horses in the possession of the Government -throughout Matabeleland on the day when the first tidings of the -outbreak of the insurrection reached Bulawayo is as follows:— - - Horses in Government stables 77 - - Horses in possession of members of the Rhodesia - Horse Volunteers scattered over various - parts of Matabeleland 117 - - In possession of cattle inspectors 28 - - Unfit for work 58 - -Of the 117 horses that had been issued to Volunteers, a good many never -returned to Bulawayo, as they either died of horse-sickness or were -taken to Gwelo or Belingwe, so that in the first days of the rebellion -the Government could not command the services of more than 100 horses; -but no expense was spared to procure more, and very soon all the -private horses in Bulawayo were bought up, whilst others were sent up -from the Transvaal, so that by the end of April there were nearly 450 -horses in the Government stables, the large majority of which were fit -for active service. - -The number of rifles belonging to the Government throughout the country -on 25th March was as follows:— - - Lee-Metford Lee-Metford - Rifles. Carbines. - - At Gwanda 20 ―― - - At Gwelo 40 ―― - - With Colonel Napier's patrol 33 52 - - " " Spreckley's patrol 36 2 - - To guard coaches 7 ―― - - In stores 295 70 - - Permanent staff 25 ―― - - ――― ――― - - Total 456 124 - ═══ ═══ - -Making a total of 580 rifles all told. - -Besides these, however, there were about eighty old Martini-Henry -rifles in the Government stores, but these were nearly all -unserviceable at the outbreak of the rebellion, though the armourer has -since been able to get most of them into working order. Of ammunition -there was a good supply, viz. 1,500,000 rounds. - -In the way of artillery there was in Bulawayo when the insurrection -broke out one 303 Maxim gun in good order, and a second so much out of -repair as to be useless; two 2.5 screw guns in good order, but with -only seventeen rounds of ammunition for the two; one Hotchkiss gun and -limber, one Gatling, one Gardner, one Nordenfeldt—all in good order—and -one seven-pounder, useless except at Bulawayo owing to carriage having -been destroyed by white ants. In addition to this ordnance there -arrived in Bulawayo from Macloutsie, on the very day on which Mr. -Maddocks was murdered, two old Maxims and two seven-pounders. These, -however, were unserviceable at the time, one of the seven-pounders -being without a carriage and the two Maxims being also out of repair. -The armourer here has now, however, I believe, put them all in working -order. - -Taking these figures as correct—and they are absolutely beyond -question—it cannot, I think, be said that the colonists in Matabeleland -were very well prepared to cope with a sudden and unexpected rising -of at least 10,000 natives, about one-fifth of whom were armed with -breech-loading rifles and well supplied with ammunition, whilst -many more were in possession of muzzle-loading guns; and when it is -remembered that at the time of the outbreak the food supply was very -low in Bulawayo, owing to the ravages of the rinderpest, it must be -acknowledged that the position was at one time a very serious one, -which a little more intelligence on the part of the Matabele might have -rendered absolutely disastrous. - -But all through they have behaved in an incomprehensible manner, their -leaders apparently never having arranged any settled plan of campaign, -the consequence being that there has never been any understanding or -community of action between the various hordes into which the nation -is now divided. All through there appears to have been a general -belief amongst them that they would receive supernatural aid from the -"Umlimo," or god, but this belief must be getting a little thin now, -and they would have done far better had they worked together under one -intelligent general. - -Why, when the rebellion first broke out, they never attempted to block -the main road to Mangwe will ever remain a mystery. No one doubts -that they might have done so, nor that, if they had placed a couple -of thousand men in the Shashani Pass, we could not have raised a -sufficient force on this side to dislodge them and open the road; for -it must be remembered that as there were over six hundred women and -children in Bulawayo a large force was always necessary to protect -them. Possibly there is some truth in the report that the road to -Mangwe has been purposely left open by command of the Umlimo in order -to give the white men the opportunity of escaping from the country. -That this was an error of judgment, if it is a fact, is very clear, -as in the critical time but few men left the country, and such as did -could be well spared, as they were of no use as defenders of the women -and children, and were only consuming valuable food. On the other hand, -owing to the road having been left open, stores of arms and food and -horses were constantly being brought in. - -It certainly seems very strange that no attempt has ever been made -to stop waggons and coaches on this road, when it is remembered that -at one time Government House—which is less than three miles from -the centre of Bulawayo—was practically in the hands of the rebels, -sometimes in the daytime and always at nights for a period of about ten -days, their impis during that time lying in a semicircle to the west -and north of the town, and being sometimes within two miles of it. - -Yet although two Dutchmen, living in their waggon standing near the -boundary of the town commonage, about four and a half miles along the -road from Bulawayo, were murdered, no waggon or coach moving along the -road was ever interfered with, nor was the Government House burnt, the -reason for this being, it is said, because the Umlimo told the people -that when Bulawayo had been destroyed, and all the white men in the -country killed, they would find Lo Bengula sitting there, ready to rule -them once more; for, be it said, Government House has been built in the -centre of the old kraal of Bulawayo, just where the king's house once -stood. - -For over a month, an impi, supposed to be at least a thousand strong, -was camped just within the Matopo Hills, not ten miles from the nearest -point on the road to Mangwe, and no one doubts that at any moment a -portion of this impi might have moved over to the road by night, and, -by shooting a mule or two, have had a coachload of white men at its -mercy; and God help the unfortunate white man who has nothing else to -trust to but the mercy of the Matabele! - -Of course there were forts along the road, and patrols rode daily -between the forts, but even so I maintain that much damage might have -been done if the natives had determined at any moment to block the -road. Now, however, that the impi of which I have been speaking has -been driven from its position by the forces under Major-General Sir -Frederick Carrington, it is not likely that the safety of the road will -ever again be threatened. - -And, now, let me hark back to the early days of the rebellion. I think -I have shown by figures that on the outbreak of the insurrection the -country was not over well supplied with either horses or arms, nor was -there any superfluity of men, and the smallness of the number will, -I think, astonish some critics of the present campaign in England. -Turning to the _Matabele Times_ of 6th April last, I find it stated -under the heading "The Native Rising up to Date," "A census was taken -of all those who had been in the laager on Friday night as they made -their exit on Saturday morning, or remained on the waggons. The count -was carefully made, and showed that the refugees numbered 632 women -and children, and 915 men, making a total of 1547"; and further on we -read—"A general parade was held yesterday of the men now in town who -have enrolled themselves in the Bulawayo Field Force. They fell in at -ten o'clock, the scouts, under Captain Grey, in front making a splendid -display of the class of men whom the hostile natives will not seek to -tackle twice. The men on foot looked like business, and went through -their movements with sufficient precision. The Africander Corps now -consists of three companies, numbering 76, 64, and 73, with 6 on the -staff. The total number on parade was over 500, of whom about 300 were -fully armed, and about 100 were engineers and artillerymen. To this -number have to be added the 169 out under the Hon. M. Gifford and -Captain Dawson, and the 100 men gone down to Gwanda under Captain Brand -and Captain Van Niekerk. The total efficient force now available for -the reconquest of Matabeleland may be put down at 700, nearer 800." - -From these figures it will be seen that at the outbreak of the -rebellion there were under 1000 men in Bulawayo, some 200 of whom were -unfit for active service. The remainder of the male population of the -country were shut up in the laagers at Gwelo, Belingwe, and Mangwe, and -therefore unavailable for offensive operations against the Matabele; -whilst of the 800 fighting men in Bulawayo, it was necessary to have -at least 400 always in town to protect the women and children, and 130 -were drafted off to man the forts on the Mangwe road, leaving less than -300 available for active operations against the enemy. This force was, -however, augmented by about 150 Cape boys, chiefly Amaxosa Kafirs and -Zulus. These boys were got together and formed into a regiment by Mr. -Johan Colenbrander, and they have done most excellent service during -the present campaign, being man for man both braver and better armed -than the Matabele. - -Thus, all things considered, I do not think the colonists have done -so badly. With small patrols they first succeeded in bringing in -many scattered whites from the outlying districts, and then after a -series of engagements, always fought on ground of the enemy's own -choosing, succeeded in driving them from the immediate neighbourhood -of Bulawayo, and forcing them to take refuge in the forests and hills, -from which they will be finally driven by the forces now in the country -under the command of Major-General Sir Frederick Carrington. - -It is worthy of remark that whilst in the first war the Matabele -attacked strong positions defended by artillery and Maxim guns, thereby -suffering very heavy loss themselves but killing very few white men, in -the present war all the fighting has been amongst broken ground, and in -country more or less covered with bush, and all the killing has been -done with rifles; for in the first war the natives learnt the futility -of attacking fortified positions, and now only fight in the bush in -skirmishing order, giving but little opportunity for the effective use -of machine guns; so that, although a good many rounds have been fired -from Maxims at long ranges, only a very small amount of execution has -been done by them. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - - Cattle stolen by Matabele—I recover the cattle and burn down - Matabele kraal—Start in pursuit of cattle-thieves—Surprise a - raiding party and recover two bands of cattle—Reflections on the - situation. - - -I will now again take up the thread of my own personal experiences. As -will be remembered, I reached my homestead at 2 A.M. on Thursday, 26th -March, and found everything as I had left it seventeen hours before. -A mule cart carrying food supplies for my men was to have followed -immediately behind us, but the men in charge lost the road, and the -provisions did not turn up till late the next day. - -On the following morning, just at daybreak, a native named Inshlupo, -who had been in charge of a herd of over thirty head of cattle -belonging to my Company, turned up and informed me that on the previous -evening the headman of a small Matabele kraal, situated in the -broken ground just below the Malungwani Hills, had paid him a visit, -accompanied by several armed men, and taken off all the cattle. - -On the receipt of this news I had the horses saddled up at once, as, -it being still so early, I had little doubt that, if no time was lost, -we should find the stolen cattle still in the kraal to which they had -been taken the previous evening. Before moving, however, I said a few -words to my men, telling them that my object in visiting Essexvale and -other parts of the country with an armed force was twofold, namely, to -endeavour by prompt action to strike terror into the hearts of some -of the rebels before they had time to concentrate, and at the same -time to reassure those who were content with the white man's rule, -but who, in the absence of any display of power on the part of the -Government, might be led to believe that their only chance of safety -from the vengeance of the Matabele lay in taking part with them in the -rebellion. In conclusion, I told them that any Kafirs we might find -with arms in their hands, who had left their kraals and gone off into -the hills with stolen cattle, ought to be shot without question and -without mercy, as they were every one of them more or less responsible -for the cruel murders of white men that had already been committed. - -Under the guidance of Inshlupo we reached the neighbourhood of the -kraal where I hoped to find my Company's cattle before the sun was an -hour higher. Here I halted my men, and sent half of them round under -the shelter of the bush to a certain point where they were to show -themselves, that being the signal for a simultaneous advance as rapidly -as possible on the kraal from both sides. However, although we found -all the cattle still in the kraal, there were no men there, and in -fact no one but a Matabele woman, the wife of the headman, and several -children. The woman would offer no explanation of the undeniable fact -that my Company's cattle were in her husband's kraal, and would give -no information concerning his whereabouts, so, after driving out the -stolen cattle, I had the whole place burnt, first allowing the woman -to remove all her private effects. When this had been done, I sent the -recaptured cattle back to the homestead, in charge of two of Inshlupo's -boys, and then proceeded straight into the Malungwani Hills, in the -hope of coming across some of the rebels who had gone off with the -first lot of my Company's cattle that had been stolen on the previous -Tuesday night. - -As we proceeded, the hills became thickly wooded, and in the valleys -between them we found the spoor of a good many cattle that had passed -during the last two days, although we saw no fresh tracks. - -About nine o'clock I gave the order to off-saddle in a little grassy -hollow, after first placing sentries all round to guard against any -sudden attack, for we were now, of course, in the enemy's country. -After an hour's rest the horses were just being caught when one of the -sentries reported that a herd of cattle was being driven up a valley -at the foot of a high ridge to our left. I at once went up to have a -look myself, but by this time the cattle were out of sight. However, I -carefully examined the ground, and saw that by following another valley -running parallel to the one in which the cattle had been seen, and then -ascending the steep ridge at its head, we should in all probability -drop right on to the rebels in charge of them. - -And this is exactly what happened, as upon cresting the ridge we found -that both Kafirs and cattle were immediately below us. Some of the -former were driving the cattle, but most of them were in the bush -ahead. We at once opened fire on them, which they made no attempt to -return. Indeed, taken by surprise as they were, and having so much the -worse of the position, and, moreover, not being in any force, they -could scarcely be expected to do anything else but run for it. And -run they did, throwing down almost everything they were carrying, and -abandoning the cattle. I saw one man throw a gun away, probably fearing -lest he should be caught with it in his possession, but most of them -were, I think, only armed with assegais. We chased them up and down -several hills, and expended a lot of ammunition on them, but did them I -am afraid very little damage, as the hills were all thickly wooded, and -our horses were not able to climb up and down them any faster than the -light-footed savages we were pursuing. In the second valley we found -another herd of cattle, but could see no Kafirs near them, and I think -they must have heard the firing, and run off before we came in sight. -Altogether we captured over 150 head of cattle, every one of which had -been taken from white men, a large number having Mr. Colenbrander's -brand on them. - -I have stated plainly that we fired on these Kafirs at sight, and that -although they offered no resistance, but ran away as hard as they -could, we chased them and kept on firing at them as long as we could -see them, and this action may possibly be cited as an example of the -brutality and inhumanity of the Englishmen in Rhodesia. The fact that -the Kafirs whom we sought to destroy—with as little compunction as -though they were a pack of wild dogs—were taking part in a rebellion -which had just been inaugurated by a series of the foulest murders it -is possible to conceive, and the ultimate object of which was evidently -to stamp out the white man throughout the land, will, of course, be -entirely lost sight of or quietly ignored. In fact, I should not be at -all surprised to see it stated that the rebellion was caused by the -inhuman behaviour of the white men in Rhodesia, who, it will be said, -were in the habit of shooting down the poor, meek, inoffensive Matabele. - -The Kafirs upon whom we fired were, of course, caught red-handed, -driving off a herd of cattle, every animal in which had been taken -from a white man, and we afterwards learnt that they were the very men -who had stopped Mr. Meikle's waggon two days before on the Insiza road -(some eight or ten miles distant), murdered the colonial boys in charge -of it, and assegaied the sixteen donkeys harnessed to it. - -For breaking out into rebellion against the white man's rule, and for -taking all the cattle in the country, I should have borne them no great -animosity, especially as the great majority of these cattle had once -belonged to their king or to them personally. Being a representative of -the race that had conquered them, I should, of course, have lent the -services of my rifle to help to quell the rebellion no matter what form -it had taken; but had it not been accompanied by the cruel murders of -white women and children, I should not have been animated by the same -vengeful feelings as now possessed me, as well as every other white man -in Matabeleland. - -"But," the kind-hearted, untravelled humanitarian may say, "such -incidents are the necessary accompaniments of a native rebellion -against Europeans, and ought not therefore to excite any greater -surprise or indignation in your colonist than they do in myself; and, -moreover, given that you admit that, looking at things from their point -of view, the Matabele were justified in rebelling against the white -man's rule, go further and acknowledge that the white men were wrong -in ever attempting the colonisation of any of the territories between -the Limpopo and the Zambesi, since it was the occupation of Mashunaland -in 1890 that led to the various disagreements between Lo Bengula and -the Chartered Company which culminated in the invasion and conquest of -Matabeleland in 1893." - -To this proposition I would answer that the whole question of the -colonisation by Europeans of countries previously inhabited by savage -tribes must be looked upon from a broad point of view, and be judged -by its final results as compared with the primitive conditions it has -superseded. Two hundred years ago, the Eastern States of North America -were inhabited by savage tribes who, by incessant internecine war and -the practice of many abominable customs, constantly deluged the whole -land with blood. Now the noble red man has disappeared from those -territories—has been exterminated by the more intelligent white man—and -in place of a cruel, hopeless savagery there has arisen a civilisation -whose ideals are surely higher than those of the displaced barbarism. -In like manner, before Van Kiebek landed at the Cape of Good Hope, the -whole of South Africa was in the hands of savages, a people, be it -noted, who were not living in Arcadian simplicity, a peaceful happy -race amongst whom crime and misery were unknown quantities, but on the -contrary, who were a prey to cruel superstitions, involving a constant -sacrifice of innocent life, and who were, moreover, continually exposed -to all the horrors of intertribal wars. Now an orderly civilisation -has been established over a large area of this once completely savage -country, and no one but an ignorant fanatic would, I think, assert that -its present condition is not preferable from a humanitarian point of -view to its former barbarism. Well, the present state of Matabeleland -is one of transition. Its past history—and this fact ought not to be -ignored by the impartial critic of what is happening there to-day—has -been one of ceaseless cruelty and bloodshed. But in time a civilisation -will have been built up in that blood-stained land, as orderly and -humane as that which has been established—in place of a parallel -barbarism—in the older States of South Africa. - -Yet, just as in the establishment of the white man's supremacy in the -Cape Colony, the aboriginal black races have either been displaced or -reduced to a state of submission to the white man's rule at the cost -of much blood and injustice to the black man, so also will it be in -Matabeleland, and so must it ever be in any country where the European -comes into contact with native races, and where at the same time the -climate is such that the more highly organised and intelligent race -can live and thrive, as it can do in Matabeleland; whilst the presence -of valuable minerals or anything else that excites the greed of the -stronger race will naturally hasten the process. Therefore Matabeleland -is doomed by what seems a law of nature to be ruled by the white man, -and the black man must go, or conform to the white man's laws, or die -in resisting them. It seems a hard and cruel fate for the black man, -but it is a destiny which the broadest philanthropy cannot avert, -whilst the British colonist is but the irresponsible atom employed in -carrying out a preordained law—the law which has ruled upon this planet -ever since, in the far-off misty depths of time, organic life was first -evolved upon the earth—the inexorable law which Darwin has aptly termed -the "Survival of the Fittest." - -Now there may be those who maintain that the aboriginal savagery of -the Red Indians in the Eastern States of North America, or of the -Kafirs in the Cape Colony, was a preferable state of things to the -imperfect civilisations which have superseded them. To such I have -no reply. "Chacun à son goût." Only I would ask them to endeavour to -make themselves as well acquainted as possible with the subject under -discussion, either by actual travel or by reading, and I would beg -them not to accept too readily the assertions constantly made without -any regard to truth or honesty by the newspaper opponents of British -colonisation, which are broadly to the effect that no savagery exists -in Africa except that practised on the blacks by Europeans. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - - Return to Essexvale—Cattle left at Essexvale in charge of the - natives—Essexvale burnt down by Matabele and all the cattle - carried off—Start for Jackson's station—Desertion of the - native police—The Makalaka—False rumours—Start for Spiro's - stores—Colonial boys report the district quiet—Decide to return - to Bulawayo through the Matopo Hills. - - -When on the afternoon of Thursday, 26th March, we got back to my -homestead with the recaptured cattle, both men and horses were tired -out, as the heat had been intense, and the former had had no food since -early dawn. However, the cart carrying provisions having arrived, the -men were soon able to get a good meal, whilst the horses were turned -into a twenty-five acre patch of maize, which, although it had been -sadly destroyed as a crop by the locusts, still afforded an abundance -of sweet succulent food for stock. In order to allow the horses time -to recover from the effects of their hard day's work in the hills, I -resolved to let them feed and rest until the cool of the afternoon of -the following day, and then make a night march over to Mr. Jackson's -police station at Makupikupeni, where I hoped to be able to get some -news as to the whereabouts of Colonel Spreckley's patrol, with which -I was anxious to effect a junction. I should have sent the recaptured -cattle at once in to Bulawayo, had it not been for the rinderpest -scourge which would have rendered such a course worse than useless, -since every one of them would have died within a week. The only other -plan open to me was to commit them to the care of the natives living -immediately round my homestead, who, at this time at any rate, did not -seem at all inclined to take part in the rebellion. - -As there were now at least 500 head of cattle collected together in a -small area, I fully recognised the danger there would be lest so rich a -bait should attract a Matabele raiding party as soon as it became known -that there was no one left to defend them. However, no other course was -open to me, so the cattle were left on the off chance that they would -not fall into the hands of the rebels. - -Some ten days later the not unexpected came to pass. Inxnozan, an -old Matabele warrior, whom I knew well, and whose manly independent -bearing I had always admired, descended upon my homestead with a -following of some 300 men, burnt down my house and stables and all -adjoining storehouses and huts, and either carried off or destroyed -everything they contained. Then they collected all the cattle in the -neighbourhood, all of which belonged to my Company by right of purchase -or capture, and went off. All the Kafirs who up to this time had been -living quietly in their kraals looking after my cattle went away into -the hills after Inxnozan's visit, and as they have never sent me any -message, I do not know whether they have joined the rebels or have only -taken refuge in the hills until the war is over. At any rate I shall -do all I can to protect them, as they must have been placed in a very -difficult position—fearing the enmity of the rebels on the one hand, if -they refused to join them, and the vengeance of the white man on the -other for suspected complicity in some of the outrages that had taken -place in the district if they remained at their kraals. - -On the Friday afternoon we made a start for Mr. Jackson's police -station, passing the remains of the once large military kraal of -Intuntini, and still the largest in the district. Such as it was, we -set it alight, and as it was situated on the shoulder of a hill the -burning huts must have been plainly visible to the people who had so -lately deserted it, from almost any point in the Malungwani range, to -which they had probably retired. - -Shortly after midnight we reached the police station, which we found -entirely deserted, though all the huts were still standing. A closer -inspection showed that these huts had been very hastily evacuated by -the native police to whom they had belonged, as they were still full of -their personal effects, such as coats, hats, blankets, etc. In one of -the huts we found a broken Winchester rifle, and in one of the coats -a purse containing a few shillings in silver, about the last thing a -Kafir would willingly leave behind him. We afterwards learned that -Colonel Spreckley's patrol had reached the police station—which was -situated on the main road to the Filibusi district from Bulawayo—late -at night on the previous Wednesday. At this time there were seven -native policemen with a sergeant in the huts. These men, hearing the -horsemen approaching, immediately fled, taking nothing with them but -their arms and ammunition, and went over to the rebels. That they must -have previously made up their minds to desert, is, I think, certain, -otherwise there was no reason why they should have left the station of -which they were in charge on the approach of the white men. In one of -the huts we found several bags of maize, and so were able to give all -our horses a good feed. - -On the following morning I paid a visit to several kraals in the -neighbourhood, the inhabitants of which were in charge of cattle -belonging to my Company. These people I found in their villages. They -were subsequently attacked by the rebels, who carried off a large -proportion of the cattle in their charge. They however escaped with -the remainder, which they brought in to Bulawayo, where they very -soon all died of rinderpest. These Kafirs are amongst the few who -out of the entire nation have stood by the Government and rendered -active assistance to the white men during the present crisis. They -are Matabele Maholi of Makalaka descent, as I think are all the -"friendlies," with the exception of a small leavening amongst them of -"Abenzantsi" or Matabele of pure Zulu blood, and I think I am correct -in stating that there is not a single Maholi of any other descent who -is not in arms with the pure-blooded Matabele against the Government. - -The Makalaka proper, a numerous people living on the western border of -Matabeleland, have—except possibly with some individual exceptions—held -themselves resolutely aloof from any participation in the present -rebellion, just as they took no part in the war of 1893. They are -an industrious, peaceable people, and have found the rule of the -Chartered Company if not perfect, at any rate a vast improvement on the -oppressive tyranny under which they lived in the good old days of Lo -Bengula. - -At Makupikupeni we heard a rumour, which happily proved to be entirely -false, though at the time it disturbed my peace of mind very much, -to the effect that the ninety native police who had accompanied Mr. -Jackson and his companions into the Matopo Hills, on the trail of -Umzobo and Umfondisi, had mutinied and murdered their officers, Mr. -Jackson having been bound to a tree, and then having had his throat -cut. We also heard that Colonel Spreckley had buried the white men who -were murdered at Edkins' store, and then crossed over to the Tuli road -and returned to Bulawayo. - -This being so, I determined to make for Spiro's store, situated just -on the edge of the Matopo Hills on the main road from Bulawayo to -the Transvaal, and about twelve miles distant from the Makupikupeni -police station, as I was in hopes of there hearing something authentic -concerning the fate of my friend Mr. Jackson and his companions. I knew -the way across country to the store well enough myself, but had I not -done so, I had a good guide with me in the person of one Mazhlabanyan, -a Matabele—not of Zulu blood, but of Makalaka descent—who had joined -me that morning. This man had known me in former years when he was an -elephant-hunter in the employ of the late Mr. Thomas, and on hearing -that I was residing on Essexvale, had come with his wives and family to -live near me, and I had given him a nice little herd of cattle—amongst -them some good milk cows—to look after for our Company, for which he -was very grateful. He fought in the war of 1893 against the whites and -was with the Imbezu at the battle of the Impembisi, on which occasion -he was the recipient of a bullet through the shoulder. - -During the present troubles, however, he has stood by the Government, -and joined the rest of the "friendlies." Shortly before sundown -we reached Spiro's store, which we found had been deserted by its -occupants not many hours prior to our arrival. The colonial boys in -charge of the coach mules were still at their post, and reported -everything quiet in the district as far as they knew, nor could they -give any information concerning Mr. Jackson. - -Since mid-day the weather, which had been intensely dry and hot for -some time past, had changed suddenly, the sky became overcast and a -light rain commenced to fall. Luckily, however, there proved to be -sufficient accommodation in the out-buildings and beneath the broad -verandah which surrounded the store for all my men, and we were thus -spared the disagreeable necessity of sleeping out on the wet ground -and beneath a rainy sky. - -The next day—Sunday, 29th March—broke fine, but cool and cloudy, a very -pleasant change after the excessive heat we had recently experienced. -The question now arose as to whether any other course was open to me -but to return at once to Bulawayo by the Tuli road. To my left lay the -rugged mass of broken granite hills called the Matopos, within whose -recesses it was believed by many people at Bulawayo that the Matabele -had already massed in large numbers. Now I fully realised that had this -been the case, it would have been madness to take so small a force as -that at my disposal into so difficult a country. As, however, I had -very good reasons for believing that as yet no large number of Matabele -had assembled in this part of the country, I was anxious to make a -reconnaissance through them in order to see what the difficulties of -the country really were. - -Before starting I paraded my men and told them what I wished to do, -stating that in my opinion, although we should have some very rough -country to get over, and should have to walk and lead our horses most -of the way, we should not meet any large force of hostile Kafirs, -or indeed be likely to fire a shot at all unless we met some of the -revolted police who had murdered Jackson—for at this time I believed -that he had really been murdered. However, I told them that I did -not wish any one to go with me who did not care to do so, which was -unnecessary, as no one was willing to be left behind. - - - - -CHAPTER X - - Through the Matopo Hills—Skirmish with the rebels—A narrow - escape—Capture a band of cattle—Retire with wounded—Fidelity of - Mazhlabanyan—Reach Dawson's store—Arrive at Bulawayo. - - -It was about seven o'clock when we entered the first gorge leading in -amongst the foothills, which were here well wooded. Mr. Blöcker, who is -an excellent walker and a very good shot, I told off to scout on foot a -short distance ahead of us, whilst Messrs. Simms and Fletcher, two Cape -Colonists and both steady, reliable men, scouted on the left and right -flanks respectively. - -After we had proceeded for about an hour through very broken and, for -the most part, thickly wooded country, we emerged upon a huge bare -granite rock. Here Mr. Simms rejoined us and reported that as he was -scouting on the left flank, upon emerging from a patch of bush, he had -come suddenly upon four Kafirs, one carrying a gun whilst the rest were -armed with assegais. These men quickly moved out of sight, fearing to -attack Simms lest there should prove to be more white men behind him, -whilst he on his side did not care to fire on them, as he did not know -how many more natives there might be close at hand. - -[Illustration: _By permission of the Proprietors of "Black and White."_ - -VIEW IN THE MATOPO HILLS.] - -Beyond us there now lay a large open grassy valley enclosed on every -side by rocky granite hills. In its broadest part this valley was over -a mile in width, but at its top end it gradually narrowed into a -rocky gorge, which apparently led on to some higher ground beyond the -farthest hills we could see. Much of the valley was under cultivation, -and a splendid crop of corn was standing, still unreaped, in the -fields. Mazhlabanyan told me that these cornfields belonged to Banyubi, -a tribe allied to the Makalakas, and who are the aboriginal inhabitants -of the district. After carefully looking over the country on ahead, I -decided to keep straight up the valley, and make my way to the higher -ground by the gorge I have spoken of. When we were half-way through the -open valley, Kafirs began to shout to one another amongst the hills to -our left, and presently we saw some, but they were a long way off and -we could not make out whether they were armed or not. I now gave orders -that any Kafir who approached us must be fired on if he was armed, but -not unless. - -We had just entered the neck of the gorge and were finding a good deal -of difficulty in getting our horses through a stream that was too -deep to ford and could only be crossed on flat slippery stones, when -some shots were fired at us from a rocky kopje about 300 yards to our -left rear. However, as the Kafirs who had fired were hidden behind -rocks, we could see nothing of them, nor did we catch a glimpse of the -enemy until we had all crossed the stream. We then saw a few natives -amongst the wooded hills directly ahead of us, and at once commenced -a skirmishing fight with them. They were in no great numbers, and -they retired before us without firing many shots or giving us much -of a chance at them. In this way we had advanced slowly but steadily -in extended order for about 300 yards through rocks and bush when we -suddenly came upon a kraal filled with cattle, at the foot of a mass of -bare castellated rocks. From these rocks we drove the enemy, without -any loss on our side, though many of us were fired at at very close -quarters, but, as has so often been remarked, Kafirs always make -wretched shooting if at all hustled. Personally I had one little piece -of luck. A Kafir had fired either at me or Mr. Blöcker—we were close -together—from behind a buttress of rock, and as I knew that his rifle -was therefore empty, and hoped he had been alone, I ran up the flat -slope of rock on which I was standing, thinking to get a good shot at -him round the corner of the rock. When I got there, however, I did not -see the man who had fired at me, but found another Kafir waiting for me -with his rifle at his shoulder. He was on a lower level than the rock -slab on which I was standing, and must have heard me approaching as -he was evidently on the lookout for me to show myself. I was carrying -my own rifle at the ready, but had to get it up to my shoulder before -I could fire. There was no time to get a sight, so, looking at him, I -raised my rifle as quickly as possible and fired, and at almost the -same moment he fired at me. The result was mutually disappointing, as -we both missed our mark. How I managed to make so bad a shot I don't -know, as the Kafir was not more than fifteen yards from me. However, -had I waited for the few seconds necessary to get the sight on him, he -might very likely have shot me first, whilst my quick snap-shot very -probably disconcerted him and made him miss. Immediately he had fired, -he dodged behind a rock, and I did not get another chance at him. - -We now took possession of the rocks above the cattle kraal, and got a -few good shots at a lot of Kafirs running away amongst the trees to the -left. Having placed several men as sentinels on the highest boulders, -I went down to look at the cattle, considering it very bad luck having -ever come across them, as I did not like to leave them and then -continue my reconnaissance, nor did I think it would be possible to -drive them out of the hills to the Tuli road without any Kafirs on foot -to help. I first thought of shooting the lot, but as there were over a -hundred, could not spare the ammunition that would have been required -for the purpose. I therefore determined to try and drive them out of -the hills and take them to Bulawayo. - -With a great deal of trouble we got them down to the broken ground -above the stream, but farther than this we could not drive them, as -they scattered in all directions, but would not go down the rocks. -Over and over again we rounded them up and tried to force them to go -the way we wanted them to take, but without success, and I was once -more thinking of shooting them all when some shots were fired at us -from the broken ground to our left front. By a mistake the sentinels -had left their posts on the top of the rocks and rejoined the rest of -our party, and the Kafirs, now heavily reinforced, had got back to -positions amongst the wooded cliffs above us without being observed. I -at once sent Mr. Blöcker and a few men who were good shots to take up -a position beyond the stream, from which they could check the enemy's -fire, whilst the rest of the men were crossing. I myself with Mr. -Claude Grenfell and a few more men protected the rear. However, before -we got down into the open ground, we had four horses killed and two men -wounded, Mr. Stracey and Mr. Munzberg. How it was that more men were -not hit, I don't know, as the bullets were pinging about pretty freely. -Everyone, I think, although I spread the men out as much as possible, -had some narrow shaves, and my Sergeant-Major got two bullets through -his gaiter, and one through his trousers between his legs, yet he was -not touched. - -Not knowing how many Kafirs we had to deal with, nor whether some of -them would not try to get round in front of us, I now sent Mr. Blöcker -on with half the troop and the wounded men to take up a position on -ahead, on our line of retreat; whilst Mr. Grenfell and I with the rest -of the men remained behind to keep the Kafirs from coming out of the -broken ground behind us. However, having lost a few of their number, -they showed no disposition to leave the shelter of the rocks, so we -retired slowly and off-saddled on an open spot just beyond the hills. - -The Kafirs with whom we had been engaged had been for the most part, -I think, members of the native police force, as I had seen several -myself who were wearing the white knickerbocker trousers of the police -uniform. They all, too, seemed to be young men, and were shooting with -Winchester rifles; and did not shoot badly either—that is for natives. -It was most fortunate that neither of the two men hit was mortally -wounded, as if they had been we should have found it very difficult to -carry them. Mr. Stracey was shot through the knee, though fortunately -the bone was not much shattered, so he not only did not lose his leg, -but will eventually, the doctor promises, have as good a limb as ever. -Mr. Munzberg, a young German, was hit in the small of the back, and had -a wonderful escape, as the bullet struck a kind of chain belt he was -wearing round his waist. It went through this, but being much flattened -out lost its velocity, and only inflicted a deep flesh wound. - -In some ways the Kafirs may be said to have had the best of this -encounter, as we left them in possession of the field. However, whilst -we lost no men, we left a few of our opponents ready for burial, and -our retreat, although it was a retreat, was of the slowest and most -orderly character. Our horses were simply a nuisance to us amongst the -granite boulders, and we could have done much better without them. -Indeed, I saw enough this day to assure me that all subsequent fighting -in the Matopos would have to be done on foot. - -During the firing old Mazhlabanyan had behaved with great coolness. At -first, when we were driving the Kafirs from the rocks above the cattle -kraal, he had remained below holding my horse, but after recrossing the -stream, I told him to go on with Mr. Blöcker. Finding that I did not -immediately follow, the old fellow seems to have got very nervous about -my safety, as after asking Mr. Blöcker a great many times where his -master was, he came back to look. However, old Jack will be comfortably -settled on my Company's land when these troublous times are over, and -when the rinderpest has died out, and fresh cattle can be brought into -the country, his fidelity will not be forgotten. After an hour's rest -we again saddled up, and made straight across country to Dawson's -store, at the Umzingwani ford on the Tuli road, twenty-five miles from -Bulawayo. Here we were able to obtain a stretcher on which to carry Mr. -Stracey, Mr. Munzberg still being able to ride. - -As there could now be no doubt that there were hostile Kafirs at no -great distance, I advised Mr. Boyce, who was in charge of the store, to -lock up everything and accompany us to Bulawayo, which he did. - -We started at sundown, all of us taking it in turns to carry our -wounded comrade, and reached the post station, twelve miles from -Bulawayo, soon after midnight. Here we passed a wretched night in the -mule stable, as we were all wet through, a soaking rain having come on -about an hour previously, which lasted for the rest of the night. - -I sent two men on at once to Bulawayo, asking that a cart and a doctor -might be sent out for the wounded men in the morning. The cart was -sent, but no doctor could be spared. However, by mid-day we reached -Bulawayo, and the wounded men were soon made comfortable in the -hospital. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - - O'Connor's wonderful escape—The importance of the Native Question - in Rhodesia. - - -In the course of conversation, during our journey to Bulawayo, Mr. -Boyce, the manager of Mr. Dawson's store on the Umzingwani, told me -that, on the night before our arrival there, a miner named O'Connor had -reached the store in a dreadful condition, having been terribly beaten -about the head by Kafirs, from whose tender mercies he had escaped on -24th March. This poor fellow had been sent in to the hospital on the -morning of the day on which we readied the store, and as his escape was -a most remarkable one, I will tell it as I heard it from the man's own -lips. - -O'Connor, it appears, was engaged in mining work together with two -other miners named Ivers and Ottens, on a reef called the Celtic, -situated some mile and a half from Edkins' store. - -On the morning of Tuesday, 24th March, after their early cup of -coffee, the three miners were discussing matters in general, and more -particularly the fact that during the last few days thirteen of their -boys had run away for no apparent reason, unless it were that they -had gone off to take part in a beer drink at the neighbouring kraal -of Gorshlwayo. About seven o'clock they had an early breakfast, and -shortly afterwards Ottens went off to see the Native Commissioner, -Mr. Bentley, who was living at the police camp not far from Edkins' -store. Then Ivers went away to see how the work was progressing at one -of the shafts on the Celtic reef, leaving O'Connor alone. He, after -kneading a loaf of bread and placing it in the sun to rise, went into -his hut, and sitting down on his bed, threw his hat on a chair beside -him, and lit his pipe. He had been sitting smoking some few minutes, -when he was suddenly startled by the loud and angry barking of Ottens' -dogs, Captain and Snowball, just outside his hut. "The angry condition -of the dogs was so unusual," said O'Connor, "that I give you my word -I thought there was a lion in the camp." Jumping up, he ran to the -door of the hut, only to find a Kafir standing just on one side of -the entrance with a musket pointed towards him in his hands. "For an -instant," said O'Connor, "I was paralysed, and retreated back into -the hut, the door of which was immediately afterwards blocked by a -crowd of Kafirs all armed with heavy knob-kerries. Then, seeing that -they had come to murder me, I became mad, and rushed in amongst them. -I succeeded in wresting two knob-kerries from them, and with these I -fought desperately, always making my way towards the mouth of No. 1 -shaft, which was something over 100 yards from my hut. I was repeatedly -knocked down, and heavy blows were continually rained upon me, but, -now on my knees, again on my feet, and sometimes rolling, I got to the -mouth of the shaft with the remains of two broken sticks in my hands." - -During this desperate struggle, O'Connor remembers hearing the Kafirs, -who were attacking him with sticks, continually calling to the one with -the gun, _u injani wena ai posa_—"why don't you shoot?"—and says that -this man actually fired at him more than once, holding his gun at his -hip, and always missing him. Just as he fell at the mouth of the shaft -he was fired at for the last time. Then O'Connor rolled down the shaft -"like a football," as he expressed it. - -This was what is called an "incline shaft," going down for 136 feet -at an angle of about 45 degrees. From the bottom of the incline shaft -a tunnel had been driven into the reef 170 feet in length. Arrived at -the bottom of the shaft, the hapless miner was at once attacked by his -own boys—ten in number—who had been working in the tunnel. These devils -fell upon him with hammers and drills, O'Connor defending himself as -best he could with stones, and finally driving them all, as he thought, -up the shaft. - -After the terrible punishment he had received, which included thirteen -scalp wounds—one of which had broken the outer table of the skull -above the left temple—heavy blows with a hammer on each cheek-bone, -and bruises and contusions all over the body, it may be wondered how -O'Connor managed to retain his senses. But the fact remains that he -did, and, thanks to a good old Irish head, still lives to tell the tale -of the sufferings he endured, which, however, were not yet over by any -means. - -Believing that all his assailants had left the mine, he bethought him -of a place of refuge, at a spot some half-way up the incline, where -a vertical shaft had been cut into it. Here the shafts cut through -some old workings, which formed a recess, into which O'Connor crept. -Just as he was about to avail himself of this hiding-place, a Kafir, -who, during the last fight, must have run back down the tunnel, rushed -past him up the incline shaft. This man must have told the rest of the -would-be murderers where the white man was hiding, and they did not -leave him long in peace, for shortly afterwards several Kafirs came -down the shaft, some with lighted candles, and four with guns. Two -of these men carried muzzle-loaders, whilst the other two were armed -with breech-loading rifles. The latter O'Connor recognised by the light -of the candles as "boys" who had been working for himself and his -companions. Their names were "Candle," and "Makupeni," and they had -been in the employ of the miners for nearly eighteen months, and as -they were both good shots they had often been sent out with the only -two rifles in camp to shoot game for the sake of the meat. Latterly, so -implicit was the trust reposed in them by their masters that the rifles -had been left entirely in their possession, but now they were among the -first to volunteer their services to put an end to their employer in -his sore extremity. - -When O'Connor recognised his own trusted servants amongst his -assailants he spoke to them, asking what harm he had done them, and -why they wished to kill him, to which they answered, "We're going to -kill you and all the white men in the country." However, although their -would-be victim could see them, they could not see him, and seemed -afraid to advance their heads into the recess where he lay—as they -would have had to do in order to shoot him—for fear probably of being -hit with a lump of quartz, which, even though it had been gold-bearing, -might have made a nasty mark on their skulls. - -During this time the Kafirs at the top of the shaft kept continually -calling out to those below with the guns, "What are you doing; why -don't you shoot the white man?" but still the cowardly murderers lacked -the courage to creep into the recess and finish their victim. Suddenly -there was a commotion at the top of the mine, and shouts of "_Amakiwa_, -_Amakiwa_"—"white men, white men,"—and the four men with guns, together -with those who were holding the candles, ran up the shaft, leaving the -white man once more alone. - -This cry of "white men" must have been a false alarm, as all the -Europeans at the neighbouring police station and at Edkins' store were -murdered without offering any resistance, having been taken completely -by surprise. However, it gave O'Connor a few minutes' respite and -enabled him to gain the shelter of another hiding-place where he -thought he would be more secure from the guns of his enemies. This was -a spot about half-way down the tunnel, where some loose ground had -fallen in and rendered a certain amount of timbering necessary. Here, -behind some boulders, O'Connor took refuge, but his enemies having -recovered from their alarm and again come down the mine with candles, -soon found out, probably by his tracks, where he had hidden. And now -the fruits of education were brought to the aid of native devilry to -compass his destruction, for some of his own boys threw two charges -of dynamite with short fuses into his hiding-place. Then the Kafirs -all ran out of the mine, nor did they return, thinking probably that -they had blown the white man to pieces. Having only seen the wonderful -effects of dynamite when employed for blasting rocks and exploded at -the bottom of a hole drilled deep into solid stone, they did not know -that a loose charge exploded on the surface of the ground would have -comparatively little effect. However O'Connor, except that he was -nearly suffocated by the fumes of the dynamite, remained uninjured -in the shelter of the boulder behind which he lay. Shortly after the -explosions he thinks he must have become unconscious and remained -so for many hours. When he came to himself, hearing no sound that -betokened the proximity of his enemies, he crept from his hiding-place, -and made his way to the mouth of the tunnel, and then ascended the -incline shaft. - -It was a bright moonlight night, and from the position of the moon he -judged that it was about eight o'clock. A glance showed him that his -camp had been destroyed and all the huts burnt down, but he could see -no Kafirs about. He then made his way to an old mining camp about one -and a half miles distant, called Nelson's Camp, from which he could -look down on the police station, which he still hoped to find in the -possession of white men. In the brilliant moonlight he saw the huts -still standing; but there was no life or movement perceptible, and no -lights or fires burning, and he therefore felt assured that the whites -had either been murdered or left the camp. Then he went down to the -stream which ran between the police camp and Edkins' store, and as he -expressed it "wallowed in it like a pig." - -After having quenched his thirst and washed the blood from his wounds -he carefully approached Edkins' store, which he found had been burnt -down, whilst the smell of murder was in the air, and the deathlike -stillness was unbroken by even the bark of a dog. Then, indeed, the -unfortunate man recognised to the full all the terrors of his dreadful -position. All hope of succour from his immediate neighbours was gone; -they had all been killed or forced to flee for their lives, whilst he -stood alone amongst a nation of murderers. But his stout Irish heart -never quailed, and weakened as he was by loss of blood he set out to -the north-west, towards Bulawayo. - -Leaving the Matabele kraal of Gorshlwayo as far as possible to his -left, he at length reached the Insiza river some four miles from the -camp he had left. By this time he was completely exhausted, and lay -down in the reeds on the river's edge. Here he remained hidden all that -night and the next day. On Wednesday night he again tried to get on -towards Bulawayo, but by this time he was becoming more or less light -headed, and unable to steer a good course, nor does he know exactly -where he wandered. He lay hidden by day, and only moved at night, nor -was it until Saturday night at about eleven o'clock, more than 110 -hours after he had been attacked by the Kafirs, that he found his way -to Mr. Dawson's store on the Umzingwani river. - -All this time he had had no food. On approaching the store he found -two men standing outside—Messrs. Schultz and Judge—whom he knew well, -but who had looked upon him as dead. As he approached them in the -moonlight, hatless, his face and head covered with wounds, he thinks -they took him for an apparition come to call the white men to avenge -his murder, for they fell back as if they had seen a ghost, and he -said, "What, don't you know me—Joe O'Connor?" Then as they rushed up -and seized him by the hands, he fell down senseless and they carried -him to the store. Mr. Judge at once rode in to Bulawayo to try and get -a doctor to come out and dress his wounds. - -The following morning he was sent on by waggon from the Umzingwani -store, and was met half-way by Mr. Lyons, the dispenser at the -hospital, who, as no doctor could be spared, had volunteered to go to -the wounded man's assistance. On Sunday afternoon he reached Bulawayo, -where he lay a long time in hospital. All that medical skill and kindly -nursing could do for him was done, and he eventually recovered from the -dreadful injuries he had received; but the terrible experiences he has -passed through have turned his hair partially grey, he being a young -man of only twenty-six years of age. He has, too, to mourn the loss of -his brother and cousin, both of whom were murdered by the Matabele. - -[Illustration: O'CONNOR'S ARRIVAL AT THE STORE. - - "As he approached them in the moonlight, hatless, his face - and head covered with wounds, he thinks they took him for an - apparition come to call the white men to avenge his murder."] - -I was present in Colonel Napier's office, when a Zambesi boy, who had -been working for them, gave evidence as to the manner in which they -had been killed. He said, "I saw them killed with my eyes; they were -killed by their own boys. O'Connor's brother was drawn up from the -bottom of the shaft in which he was working by two men, who held the -windlass still when his head came above the level of the ground, whilst -others beat his brains out with knob-kerries; the other man—O'Connor's -cousin—was stabbed to death with assegais." I have made many inquiries -concerning O'Connor, and find that he bears the character of being a -hard-working man, whilst he was known to the Native Commissioner of his -district as one who always got on well with the natives. - -From some remarks which he made, however, subsequent to the relation of -his trying experiences, I judge that he has now abandoned any latent -intention he may ever have had of becoming a member of the Aborigines -Protection Society, nor do I think that the funds of that admirable -institution are likely to be added to by any donation from Mr. O'Connor. - -The worst feature in the foregoing history of the attempted murder of -O'Connor and the actual murder and mutilation of his two companions, -Messrs. Ivers and Ottens, is the participation in the crimes by two -trusted servants who had been in the employ of the murdered men for so -long a time as eighteen months, since the very fact that these boys had -worked for so many months for the same white men shows conclusively -that they must have been kindly treated by them, for no Kafir will -remain long in the service of a master who ill-treats him. - -Now I am not so unreasonable as to think that the natures of the -Matabele natives ought to be judged of by the unamiable qualities shown -by two individuals; indeed I know that as a set-off, even during the -present rebellion, the lives of some few white men have been saved -by the fidelity of natives in their employ. But unfortunately the -evil deeds get more noised abroad, and they add to the bitterness of -the exasperation felt by the whites against the blacks; for it seems -inevitable that during an insurrection such as the present, the average -nature of the native will be judged of by the average European on the -spot, according to the worst atrocities that have been committed, -and such an instance of treachery as I have related will harden the -kindest heart and produce a feeling of distrust in the whole race that -can never be eradicated from the mind. In many, too—and these by no -means the most brutal or worst educated in the community—such acts, -coupled with the indiscriminate murder of women and children, produce -a conviction that beings who are capable of such deeds, who can lick -your hand and fawn upon you for eighteen months and then one day turn -and murder you, and afterwards perhaps mutilate your senseless corpse, -are not men and brothers, but monsters in human shape, that ought to be -shot down mercilessly like wild dogs or hyaenas, until they are reduced -to a state of abject submission to the white man's rule. - -In time, however, let us hope that the cruel deeds of the last few -months will be forgotten, and the fierce passions they have evoked on -both sides gradually smoulder out and die from the lack of fresh fuel. -Henceforth it will, I trust, be recognised by the authorities that -the native question in Rhodesia is one of the very first importance, -and that it is also one which demands the most careful handling in -order to ensure the future peace and prosperity of the country. When -this rebellion is quelled and the natives have once more submitted -themselves to the white man's rule, they must know exactly the terms on -which their submission has been accepted; and they must also understand -precisely what will be required of them in the shape of hut-tax, -labour, etc. Then if they are treated kindly and justly, as well as -firmly, they ought not to have any valid reason for again rebelling -against the government of their white conquerors; but lest they should -ever be inclined to make such an attempt without any valid reason, they -must now be so thoroughly and completely disarmed as to render any such -action futile. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - - Laager formed at Bulawayo—Matabele scare—Colonel - Spreckley's valuable services—Meet Mr. Jackson—Disarmament - of native police—Account of the insurrection—Mr. Grey's - narrow escape—Returns to Bulawayo to give warning of the - rising—Fortunate escape of a hunting party—Wholesale - murders—Grey's Scouts. - - -[Illustration: THE LAAGER IN THE MARKET SQUARE, BULAWAYO, APRIL 1896.] - -On our return to Bulawayo, we found that a very strong laager had been -formed in the large square round the Market Buildings. Within this -laager the whole population of the town, with few exceptions, slept -every night; the women and children within the buildings, whilst the -men manned the waggons in readiness to resist any sudden attack. - -The Bulawayo laager was probably the strongest ever constructed in -South Africa, and the whole Matabele nation, I think, would never have -taken it by assault. But if 2000 of them, or even a smaller number, had -made a night attack upon the town before the laager had been formed, -I think it more than probable that the entire white population would -have been massacred. It appears that there was a terrible scare on the -very night on which I had left the town for Essexvale, viz. Wednesday, -25th March. This scare was absolutely groundless and seems to have been -caused by a drunken man galloping about calling out "The Matabele are -here; the Matabele are here." - -My wife was resting in Mrs. Spreckley's house at the time, being much -fatigued by her long ride in the hot sun from Essexvale. However, she -and her kind hostess, as well as all the other ladies living on the -suburban stands, were hurried over to the new Club-house, nearly a mile -distant, in the centre of the town. Here the large number of women -and children in Bulawayo, many of them hastily summoned from their -beds, and most of them terribly frightened, passed a miserable night -all huddled up together, but getting neither rest nor sleep, as they -were constantly kept on the _qui vive_ by fresh rumours, all equally -groundless, as happily at this time there was no force of hostile -natives within twenty miles of Bulawayo. On the following day the -laager was formed, and by the time I got back to town Colonel Spreckley -and Mr. Scott (the town major) had, after an immense amount of hard -work, got everything into good order. - -These two gentlemen deserve the utmost credit not only for getting the -laager into good order, but also for keeping it in that condition for -the next two months. Major Scott was indefatigable in looking after -the sanitary arrangements, whilst Colonel Spreckley, by his genial -good nature, backed by great common sense and strength of character, -kept all the various human elements shut up in that confined space not -only in good order but in good humour. Nobody in Bulawayo, I think, -could have performed the very difficult duties required from the chief -officer in charge of the laager so ably as Colonel Spreckley during the -first two months of the insurrection, and his conduct was all the more -admirable because he was carrying out a very arduous and harassing duty -against his inclination, or rather burning desire, to be out of town at -the head of a patrol doing active work against the insurgents. - -[Illustration: COLONEL J. A. SPRECKLEY.] - -Soon after my arrival in town, I was delighted to meet the Native -Commissioner of my district, Mr. Jackson, whom I had never thought -to see again. He and his white companions had received warning of -the rising from his sub-inspector, and were also cautioned lest there -should be a plot on foot for their murder by the native police. At this -time, however, the ninety men they had with them, each of whom was -armed with a Winchester rifle and seventy rounds of ammunition, did -not know that the rebellion had commenced, and they managed to bring -them all in to Bulawayo without any trouble, where they were at once -disarmed. - -Now by this time it had become evident that the insurrection had become -general throughout the length and breadth of Matabeleland, and I will -give a brief account of what had happened so far as is known. - -I have already related that Mr. Cumming and another man brought the -first news of the murders of white men in the Insiza district to -Bulawayo. On reaching Lee's store, twenty-four miles from the town, -they found that their horses were completely knocked up, and they could -thus only have proceeded on foot, had not Mr. Claude Grenfell just -happened to be passing the store with a cart and horses on his way from -Gwelo to Bulawayo. - -On hearing the alarming news Mr. Grenfell took Mr. Cumming on with him -at once to headquarters, his companion, Mr. Edmunds, giving up his seat -to him, and walking. Before reaching Lee's store, Mr. Grenfell had met -Mr. George Grey, travelling alone in a Cape cart with a coloured boy, -on his way to inspect some of his mining properties near the Tchangani -river, and when the news of the murders in the Insiza district became -known, much anxiety was naturally felt concerning Mr. Grey's safety, as -well as that of all other Europeans who were living at a distance from -Bulawayo in mining camps or on lonely farms. - -Early on Thursday morning, however, Mr. Grey returned to town, having -escaped death by the merest chance, as he must only just have escaped -falling into the hands of more than one party of murderers. - -On reaching the Pongo store some twelve miles from the Tchangani river, -Mr. Grey had found all the outhouses just burnt. The store itself -seemed to have been looted, but was not at this time burnt down. No -trace of the owners could be found, but the ground was thickly covered -with the naked footprints of natives, and, more ominous still, a large -pool of blood was seen in the road in front of the store. We now know -that at this time the recently-murdered corpses of three white men were -lying, two of them close to the store, and the third on the top of a -rise a short distance away. I was present some six weeks later when the -bodies were discovered and buried. The unfortunate men must have been -suddenly attacked with knob-kerries and axes, as their skulls had all -been smashed in. In this instance the clothes were not removed from the -bodies. - -This was the first intimation that Mr. Grey got that mischief was -brewing in the country. Soon after passing the Pongo store, he turned -off the main road and went down to the Eagle mine some four miles -distant. This he found had been only recently deserted by the Europeans -employed there, and with his suspicions now fully aroused he returned -at once to the main road, and made for the Tchangani store. On his way -there he came across a white man on the roadside, who had escaped from -a party of Kafirs, after receiving two severe battle-axe wounds, one of -which had cut his face open from nose to ear, whilst the second had cut -his arm to the bone and severed all the tendons of the wrist. This man -had been working with two companions on a farm in the neighbourhood, -when on the previous day—Tuesday, 24th March—they had been suddenly -and without any warning attacked by a party of Kafirs armed with -knob-kerries and battle-axes. Although two of them were wounded, -they managed to retreat to their hut, on which the natives, probably -thinking that they had firearms there, retired. - -[Illustration: - - Those numbers refer to the four gentlemen with folded arms. - - 3 2 1 4 - -GREY'S SCOUTS. - - 1. Captain George Grey. - 2. Lieutenant F. Crewe. - 3. Lieutenant Jack Stuart. - 4. Lieutenant Hodgson.] - -After sundown the three white men left their hut, intending to make for -Stewart's store at the Tekwe. Unfortunately it was a bright moonlight -night, and the Kafirs must have been watching them, as they immediately -followed, and chased them into a maize field, through which they hunted -them. During this pursuit the white men became separated. One of them -reached Mr. Stewart's store in safety; the second, Mr. Scott by name, -found his way to the road near the Pongo store and was picked up and -taken to the Tchangani by Mr. Grey; but the third must have fallen into -the hands of the Kafirs, and, of course, been murdered, as he has never -again been heard of from that day to this. The man who made his way to -the Tekwe had received a severe blow on the head with a knob-kerry. - -Arrived at the Tchangani, Mr. Grey found seventeen Europeans in laager -there, amongst them the men from the Eagle mine, who had been pursued -on their way to the store. The natives, however, were afraid to come to -close quarters with them as they were armed with rifles, and at this -time the rebels in this district had not yet dug up the firearms which -they had buried after the war of 1893, and were therefore only able to -kill white men whom they could take by surprise with knob-kerries and -axes. - -Now fully realising the very serious aspect of affairs, Mr. Grey, -instead of remaining in the shelter of the laager, most pluckily -determined to return to Bulawayo at once, making use of the post mules -along the road, in order to warn all people with as little delay as -possible that the Kafirs had risen. - -A few hours after he had left the Tchangani, the garrison of the -laager was augmented by the arrival of Messrs. Farquhar, Weston -Jarvis, Currie, and Mr. Egerton (M.P. for Knutsford) and his son. -These gentlemen had been on a hunting trip to the Sebakwe river, and -were returning to Bulawayo only just in time, as had they remained -out in the veld any longer they would certainly have been murdered, -for although they would doubtless have given a very good account of -themselves, yet a few men cannot fight an army. - -On the following day—Thursday, 26th March—two small patrols were -organised and sent out from the Tchangani, one of which, consisting of -Mr. Mowbray Farquhar and two companions, visited a mine where a white -man was known to have been working a day or two previously, whilst the -other, consisting of Mr. Robinson and two others, visited the Pongo -store and the Eagle mine. A careful search was made by the latter all -round the store, and the bodies of two out of the three men who had -been murdered there two days previously were discovered and covered -with blankets, which were still in their places when we buried the -remains some six weeks later. The third corpse they did not find, as it -was lying some distance from the store. - -Mr. Farquhar and his two companions visited Comployer's camp, and found -the unfortunate man lying murdered in front of the door of his hut. -They tried to get on to Gracey's camp, but could not do so for fear -of being surrounded and cut off by the Kafirs, who were all in their -kraals watching them. It has since been ascertained that Gracey was -murdered on the same day as Comployer. - -On returning to the laager, they found that a mule-waggon had been -sent from Gwelo, with orders from the officer commanding there that -all Europeans should come in as quickly as possible to assist in the -defence of the town against the Kafirs. - -Leaving the Tchangani at 5 P.M. on Thursday evening, the whole party -reached Gwelo in safety on Friday morning at half-past eight. In the -meantime Mr. Grey, travelling at express speed with relays of coach -mules, reached Bulawayo early on Thursday morning. On passing the Tekwe -store, he found assembled there Mr. Stewart, five other white men, -and two women, who were endeavouring to fortify a hut. Promising them -speedy relief, Mr. Grey hurried on to warn others of their danger, but -beyond the Tekwe he found that the occupants of the roadside hotels -and post stations had already taken the alarm and made their way to -Bulawayo. - -On Thursday, 26th March, Mr. Grey got together twenty-three good men, -and started back for the Tekwe that same evening. These men formed the -nucleus of a force which has done splendid service in the suppression -of the present rebellion, under the name of Grey's Scouts. They were -a picked body of men, and neither their name nor their brave deeds -will ever be forgotten in Rhodesia, whilst I think we all regard -Captain Grey as one of the finest specimens of an Englishman in the -country—quiet, self-contained and unassuming, but at the same time, -brave, capable, and energetic. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - - Captain Grey's timely arrival at Tekwe store—Colonel Napier's - column arrives at Tekwe—Murder of Wood—Salisbury coach chased - by Kafirs—Forty-three persons rescued by patrols—Account of - Captain Pittendrigh's rescue party—Severe fighting—Massacre - of whites at Inyati—Escape of Madden—Defence of Campbell's - store—Relief of Captain Pittendrigh's party—Fight their way back - to Bulawayo—Courage and skill of the Africander Corps—Gallant - conduct of Henderson in bringing in a wounded comrade. - - -Captain Grey and his men reached Tekwe store about 2 P.M. on Friday, -27th March, and were only just in time to save the beleaguered whites -there; for shortly before their arrival a party of Kafirs had driven -off all Mr. Stewart's cattle, and killed a horse belonging to him. At -the same time they had been kind enough to send him a message by the -boy who had been looking after his cattle, to the effect that they -meant to return and kill all the white people that night. However, they -made no attack when they found that Mr. Stewart's small party had been -reinforced by some twenty well-armed men. - -On the following day Colonel Napier's column, which had left Bulawayo -on the previous Tuesday, and had been patrolling the country in the -direction of the Insiza river, came across country to the Tekwe store. -Besides saving the lives of Mr. Stewart and his party, the presence of -Colonel Napier and Captain Grey with the men under their command on -the Salisbury road at this juncture was the means of saving the lives -of nine other white men and two coloured boys, the latter being the -drivers, whilst the former were the guard, sent down with the last mail -coach from Gwelo. - -This coach left Gwelo on Saturday, 28th March, arriving at the -Tchangani early the following morning. Here they found the body of a -white man, just murdered and stripped stark naked, lying in the middle -of the road in front of the store. This was the body of a prospector -named Wood in the employ of Willoughby's Consolidated Company, who had -come across country from the Selukwe district. Unfortunately he arrived -at the Tchangani store on the day after it had been evacuated by the -white men who had been in laager there, and he probably found it in -possession of the Kafirs, who of course murdered him. - -On seeing this ghastly sign of the times, the men in charge of the -coach determined to drive on at once without outspanning, and soon -observed Kafirs running in the bush and keeping pace with the coach on -both sides of the road. These natives, however, seemed to have no guns, -and by continually firing at them the white men kept them from coming -to close quarters. After a time the Pongo store was reached, but no -halt was possible owing to the threatening attitude of the Kafirs. The -mules were now almost done up, and could only get the coach along at a -walk, but still the Kafirs hung on either flank, as thirsty for blood -as a pack of wild dogs awaiting the moment to rush in upon a wounded -buffalo. - -Some three miles farther on the poor mules came to a standstill, and -the white men were forced to leave the coach, and keep on on foot along -the road, the Kafirs ever keeping pace with them in the bush on either -side, and doubtless only waiting for the darkness of night to enable -them to rush in and kill them with as little loss to themselves as -possible. But just at dusk they reached Colonel Napier's column in a -very exhausted condition. - -Some six weeks later, when we found the bodies of the men who had been -murdered at the Pongo store, we also found some three miles on this -side of the store the coach which had been captured by the Kafirs. -A linch-pin had been removed, and one of the wheels taken off. The -pole had also been sawn in two, and all the mail bags cut open, their -contents being scattered all over the ground. The poor mules had all -been stabbed to death with assegais, and lay in a heap together, still -in their harness. - -Altogether the combined patrols under Colonel Napier and Captain Grey -collected and brought back with them to Bulawayo forty-three persons, -including two women and a child, many, if not all of whom, had they not -been thus timely rescued, would have fallen victims to the Kafirs. The -names of the poor fellows murdered at the Pongo store are Frederick -Hurlstone, J. Beddington, and H. Zeeburg. At midnight on the Saturday -before my return to Bulawayo from the Matopo Hills, Captain Pittendrigh -of the Africander Corps had left town with a small party only eleven -strong, in order first of all to reinforce for the night a small party -at Jenkins' store, and then push on some thirty miles farther, in order -to relieve Mr. Graham, the native commissioner at Inyati, who with -Sub-inspector Hanley and five other white men was believed to be in -laager there. There were many volunteers for this expedition, but as -the Government was unable to furnish them with horses or rifles, only -those could go who were in a position to equip themselves. - -Jenkins' store was reached at half-past two on Sunday morning. Here ten -men were found in laager, including a younger brother of Mr. Graham the -native commissioner. He, with an assistant native commissioner, Mr. -Carter, a cart and four mules and two spare horses, had been on his -way to Inyati to bring his brother, who was suffering from an attack of -fever, into Bulawayo. As an attack had been expected on the store that -night, the thatch had been removed from the roof, and a rough fence put -up round the building. However, no attack was made, and at 5 A.M. the -whole party, now consisting of nineteen men, with the two spare horses -and the cart and mules driven by two colonial boys, set out for the -Bembisi,[8] twenty-three miles distant. - -For the subsequent experiences of this small rescue party, I am -indebted to the kindness of Mr. Moodie Thomson, the able editor of the -_Matabele Times_, who accompanied Captain Pittendrigh and wrote an -account of the expedition. This he has kindly placed at my disposal, -and I will take up his narrative at the point when the start was made -from Jenkins' store early on Sunday morning. It proceeds as follows:— - -"We were now in a very different country from the open veld of the -earlier ride. Kopjes were close on either hand, the road was of the -roughest, and progress with the mule cart consequently slow. The word -was constantly given for a good look-out on either hand, but for over -an hour not a man or a woman was seen, though tracks crossing the -path were met with at frequent intervals. The kopjes in which we had -expected to have trouble were passed, and the more open undulating -ground at the Elibaini Hills reached. Progress was slow along this -portion of the ascending road, and near the highest point skirting the -base of the most prominent hill a strip of bush was entered. No sooner -had we made our way into this cover than a shot was heard from the -hill-slope. In a second it was seen to be occupied by half a dozen or -so natives, who sent in another and another shot. It was impossible to -make a sufficient reply from our position, and a dash was made from -the road through the strip of bush to the open slope of the hill. One -or more of the natives was shot as they retreated over the crest, and a -hot pursuit was made. - -"When those of our party who were foremost reached the top of the hill -they found that affairs had assumed a different aspect from repulsing -a handful of stray rebels. A glance was sufficient. The natives were -there in a dense mass, throwing out skirmishers on either flank to -surround us, one body proceeding rapidly around the lower slope to -cut us off. Our advance men fell back, and the natives began to show -themselves in the open. Firing became hot on both sides, but taking -advantage of the strip of bush we were able at first to inflict -considerable damage. The natives to the number of about three hundred -were soon in the bush also, advancing in excellent open order and -becoming formidable. Several rushed in to close quarters, and Captain -Pittendrigh, who had dismounted, lost his horse. Before he could get -one of the spare horses, a native armed with an assegai grappled him, -and a hand-to-hand struggle took place. The native, however, was thrown -off and shot, and the captain escaped with some slits in his coat. At -the same moment Thomas Haden, who had been fighting most determinedly -in the front, received a shot on the upper part of his bandoleer, -which exploded three of his cartridges, one bullet passing through his -shoulder and with a ricochet entering his neck and passing through his -cheek. Immediately after Mr. S. Carter received a bullet through his -ankle. The natives began to approach closer in their attack despite our -heavy fire, and as they were gradually surrounding us, it was found -advisable, encumbered as we were with two wounded men, to retire to the -road. - -"With a rush through without further casualty on our side, we regained -the road and found that one of our boys at the mule waggon had -vanished, and the other was getting away on one of the spare horses. -The mules and cart had therefore to be abandoned, and at a good pace we -cut across through the lower bush over rough ground, avoiding the curve -round the hills, to where the road bent round on the open. - -"Here half-sections were again formed, the wounded in front, and a -quick canter gave us a good start. Looking back, the natives could be -seen in hot pursuit, and it was thought they might be able to reach one -of the kopjes ahead whose base we must skirt. Suggestions as to taking -up a position on a kopje were untenable on account of the wounded men, -and there was nothing for it but to get over the seventeen miles to the -Bembisi as rapidly as possible. Again and again the natives seemed to -be closing up on us, and sundry indications were closely scrutinised as -to the presence of hostile forces ahead. The ride was made heavier by -two of the ponies becoming done up. It was an anxious time, as the road -ran through the hollows, but the clearness of the day gave abundant -scope for noting the absence of an enemy ahead and the black mass -falling farther astern. - -"About eleven o'clock Campbell's store came in sight, and we crossed -the Bembisi with gladdened spirits. These, however, were immediately -damped. The news was awaiting us that the party at Inyati, eight miles -farther on, which we had been sent to relieve, had been massacred. The -intelligence was given by Patrick Madden, miner, who, and a native -in his employ, were the sole survivors. This man told with most -circumstantial and convincing detail how Native Commissioner Graham, -Inspector Hanley, George Hurford, George Case, and S. H. Corke had -fought against ever-increasing odds on the evening of the previous -Friday—this was now Sunday—until they were killed. Madden, another -miner named Tim Donovan, and a colonial native had made for the hills, -and after two days' hiding Madden and the native had reached this store. - -"The narrative, it may be said, has been fully corroborated since from -other sources, with the addition that Donovan was also pursued and -killed. Further, there was the news that an impi of from 1200 to 1500 -lay at Inyati. It was hard to decide to abandon the projected relief, -but the facts were obvious that with an impi ahead, and with a body -of 300 at least following us, and very shortly seen to be in the bush -across the river, there was nothing for it but to take up the strongest -position possible. - -"Across the river the natives could be seen in the bush, and were we -even to venture with our wounded to go by the road, we were at their -mercy. At the store we had found Mr. Campbell with a waggon and oxen, -hourly expecting to be pounced upon, and it was resolved to set to -work to fortify the store. The verandah thatch was cut away, passages -were pierced so that there might be free communication through the -large building, and loopholes were cut through the brick walls in every -direction. In addition, a case of dynamite was found in the store which -was utilised to lay mines with ingeniously-contrived short fuse, and to -make a score or so hand grenades with a radius of about fifteen yards -that could be thrown at assailants. The large stock of meal in sacks -was put into service to block windows, and then we were certain that, -having about 2000 rounds of ammunition, we could hold out well against -a night attack. - -"It was necessary, however, to send word to Bulawayo of our condition -and the intelligence we had received, and to obtain reinforcements -which we calculated could arrive in time to fall on the rear of the -natives attacking us at daybreak. Messrs. Fincham and Mostert were -mounted on the best horses as despatch-riders. A diversion was made by -the whole party crossing the river as if returning by the road we had -come, and as we saw the natives moving to meet us the despatch-riders -went off at an angle by the Queen's Reef road, passing the Shiloh -Hills. The rest of the day was spent in completing our fortifications. -Strong guard was set at night, and we waited eagerly for the natives to -come for the reception prepared for them. The wounded had been bandaged -and made as comfortable as possible; the horses were stabled in the bar -and store-room, and every man was at his post carefully looking out. - -"About four on Monday morning the silence was broken by the sound of -firing, and speculation was rife as to its meaning. It came nearer and -nearer, and it was soon decided that this was the reinforcing party -fighting its way through the natives lying in wait for us. There was -silence for a time, broken again by the cracking of shots, and with -the dim dawn we could see a body of men emerging from the thick bush. -As they came nearer it became plain that they were white men, and -we left the store to send up a cheer to let them know we were still -safe. As day came more brightly, in they rode across the open veld, -and with answering cheers dashed up the river-bank to the store. -They were thirty strong, fifteen from the Africander Corps under -Commandant Van Rensburg and Captain Van Niekerk, and the remainder from -various Rhodesia Horse Volunteers, troops or volunteers under Captain -Macfarlane. They had ridden the whole night through, with only a brief -halt at the Queen's Reef, and in our vicinity had been met in the black -darkness of the bush with a volley fired not twenty yards off. They had -replied, and a running fire had been kept up for about half an hour. No -one in the party had been wounded, but two men in the advanced guard, -Messrs. Celliers and Henderson, were missing. Several dead bodies of -natives seen in the bush testified later to the effect of the replying -fire. - -"About nine o'clock it was decided that the whole party should return -by the Queen's Reef road and ride straight for Bulawayo. A start was -made with strong flanking parties, Captain Pittendrigh's men being -placed in the rear-guard after the waggon containing our two wounded. -Cautious progress was made through the bush where the natives had -been assembled and where spoor was thick, but without a sign of life -visible. The Queen's Reef was reached about eleven o'clock, and at noon -the column got again into dangerous bush. - -"Nothing occurred, however, until the Shiloh Hills were reached, when -on the spur of a kopje and in the bush below natives were seen. They -opened fire, but their aim was high. Those of them who were venturous -enough to make the attack were summarily disposed of—nothing being more -convincing of the perfection of the fire of our party than the manner -in which seven, eight, or nine shots would simultaneously bowl over a -native who exposed himself even for a moment. On our side a horse—one -of Mr. Zeederberg's finest animals—was shot through the lower part -of the stomach, and subsequently died from the effects of the wound. -This was our only casualty, and on the other side there must have -been a loss of a dozen men at least. The fire was fairly hot while it -lasted, but a party of about fifty was too strong for the natives, even -though they may have been several hundred. They had to depend upon -their firing, as close quarters against such marksmen was almost an -impossibility. - -"The Kotki river was reached after a heavy detour through the bush to -avoid giving the natives around us too much opportunity at the kopjes, -and a halt made for an hour. Just before reaching there a herd of -native cattle had been met and seized, and heifer steaks cooked on -ramrods proved refreshing after our twenty-mile ride at ox-waggon pace. -Then on again, the remaining fifteen miles without further attack, -until in the darkness a cheer from the pickets about ten o'clock -announced that Bulawayo had been reached. - -"The wounded were conveyed to the hospital, and tired horses and -men had the satisfaction of seeking what comfort was available in a -laagered town. The men in Captain Pittendrigh's party who had this -experience of Matabele skirmishing, were, with one or two additional -exceptions, members of the Africander Corps. It is useful to testify -that their courage, their determination, their skill with the rifle, -and their expert employment of every ruse in such fighting as we had at -the Elibaini Hills, command the highest admiration. We were in a fairly -tight place, as may be judged when hand-to-hand fighting was possible, -and we were only nineteen against several hundreds; but the pluck and -brilliant dash displayed, as well as the good comradeship throughout, -are convincing that in a like or even a stiffer affray one could -neither wish nor hope to have better men than these. It remains to be -said that the two missing men came in to Bulawayo on Wednesday morning. -Celliers had had his horse shot under him and was himself badly wounded -in the knee. With that consideration which is akin to heroism Henderson -placed him on his horse, and walking beside him for three days they -had hidden amongst the hills, making their way through most dangerous -country. Henderson tended his wounded comrade in every way possible, -and succeeded in keeping clear of natives, though at times they passed -in unpleasantly close proximity. Such conduct is something more than -typical of the men who are bent upon holding Matabeleland." - -The devoted courage shown by Mr. Henderson in giving up his own horse -to his wounded comrade and sticking to him for three days, during -the whole of which time they were surrounded by the enemy, and in -continual danger of being discovered, appears to me to be as brave a -deed as has yet been chronicled in the annals of Rhodesia. I commend -it to the notice of Mr. Labouchere, as I feel sure that it will be -quite a revelation to him to learn that there exists amongst the -"Buccaneers"[9] at least one man who has shown himself capable of a -self-sacrificing and generous act. Yet all Mr. Henderson's gallantry -could not save his comrade's life, as Mr. Celliers eventually died from -the effects of the amputation of his leg, owing principally to the -length of time which had elapsed between the time when he was wounded -and the date when the operation was performed. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - - Mr. Dawson's patrol—The last coach on the Tuli road—I take a - patrol down the Mangwe road—Interview at "Fig Tree" with Makalaka - Induna—Proceed to Shashani—Meet a shooting party—Death of Captain - Lumsden—I ride on by myself to Mangwe—Hearty reception—Ravages of - the rinderpest—Extraordinary absence of vultures. - - -Besides the patrols of which I have already spoken that were sent out -from Bulawayo during the first days of the insurrection, I must not -forget that which was taken down to the Gwanda district by Mr. James -Dawson. Mr. Dawson, who has lived amongst the natives of Matabeleland -for many years, and both speaks their language and understands their -character well, could not believe that a general rising throughout the -country was possible, and even after hearing of the murders in the -Insiza and Filibusi districts, and my own report as to what had taken -place on Essexvale, imagined that the disturbance was only local. -However, in order to assure himself of the true position of affairs, he -got together some ten or twelve men, and leaving Bulawayo with them on -Wednesday night, 25th March, proceeded down the Tuli road to his own -store at "Amanzi minyama," situated in the Gwanda district, and distant -about seventy-five miles from Bulawayo. - -On his way there he found everything perfectly quiet along the road, -all the wayside stores being still in the occupation of their owners, -none of whom had heard anything about the native rising—a state of -things which of course confirmed Mr. Dawson in his scepticism. - -On the return journey, however, shortly before reaching Spiro's store, -which is distant thirty-seven miles from Bulawayo, the fresh tracks -of numbers of natives—men, women, and children—as well as of cattle, -goats, and sheep, were noticed crossing the road. These were doubtless -the trails made by the Matabele from the Filibusi district, who were -making their way to the Matopo Hills, and at once aroused suspicion. - -Spiro's store was reached on Sunday, a few hours after I had left it -the same morning on my way into the hills. Here Mr. Dawson found no -one, for after my departure the boys who had been looking after the -coach mules became frightened and took them in to Bulawayo, leaving the -cattle behind; and these were still in the kraal, with no one to tend -them, when Mr. Dawson passed. Not quite liking the look of things, the -patrol went on beyond the store, and slept some four miles away from it. - -On the following morning early they reached the wayside hotel at the -Umzingwani river, which we had left at sundown on the evening before. -Here in one of the huts were found the blood-stained shirt of Mr. -Munzberg, and also a sock soaked with blood that had been taken from -Mr. Stracey. During Monday Mr. Dawson and his men remained at the -Umzingwani, but sent messengers to Bulawayo to obtain news as to what -was going on. - -Late that evening an answer was received requesting him to come on -to town at once, as the Kafirs were reported to be massing in the -neighbourhood. Before this there had been several alarms, and it was -believed that natives were on the watch round about the store. Thus -when the start was made for Bulawayo, the lights were left burning, in -order to make the Kafirs believe that some of the party were still in -the house. Arrived at the river some 600 yards distant from the store, -Mr. Dawson rode back alone to reconnoitre, but hearing natives talking, -retired and rejoined his men. - -Early on Tuesday morning Inspector Southey was met with a small force -at the head of the pass leading down to the Umzingwani. He had been -sent out to escort the coach to Bulawayo, which was now some time -overdue from Tuli. However, as Mr. Dawson had heard nothing of this -coach, it was thought that it must have turned back; so Inspector -Southey, who had been ordered not to descend the pass, returned to -town, where shortly after his arrival the coach turned up too without -an escort. - -This was the last coach that ran on the Tuli road, and it seems to have -been missed by the natives by a miracle, as they had broken into the -Umzingwani store and gone away again in the interval between the time -of its arrival there and Mr. Dawson's departure. - -This coach reached Bulawayo on the morning of Tuesday, 31st March, and -on the same day—the day after my own return from the Matopos—I was -asked to take a patrol of twenty-five men down the Mangwe road, in -order to ascertain if it was still clear, as a coach loaded with rifles -and ammunition and ten waggon-loads of provisions were on their way up. - -We left town about 2 P.M., each man carrying three days' rations with -him, and reaching Mabukitwani, twenty miles distant from Bulawayo, the -same night, arrived at "Fig Tree" by noon the following day, where we -found a store and mule stable in charge of Mr. Elliott. - -The people living in the neighbourhood are nearly all of Makalaka -descent, and have taken no part in the present insurrection. At the -time of my visit they were in a great state of alarm, and the greater -part of them had left their villages and fled into the hills, fearing -lest the white men should visit the sins of the insurgents upon them. I -therefore sent one of Mr. Elliott's boys to call the principal Induna -to come and see me. With this man, an intelligent-looking Makalaka -named Jackal, who bears a striking resemblance to the chief Khama, I -had a long interview, and finally persuaded him to send messengers to -the refugees ordering them to return to their kraals. Jackal assured -me that the first news of the rebellion was brought to him by the son -of Umfaizella (the brother of Lo Bengula, who with Umlugulu and others -is responsible for the murders at Edkins' store), who was sent by his -father to incite some of the Makalaka to revolt. When he found that -Jackal's people did not seem very anxious to assist the Matabele in -their attempt to regain their independence, he said to him, "You say -that your people don't want to fight; that they wish to sit still. -Don't you know that the white men are killing all the black men they -can catch? Don't you know that they have shot Gambo through the head, -and thrown his body to the birds? Have you not heard that every Kafir -boy who was working in Bulawayo has had his throat cut?" "I did not -believe him," said Jackal, "and soon afterwards one of my own men, who -had been working in town, came home, and told me that the white men had -killed no one in Bulawayo except a few Matabele spies. Then I knew that -the son of Umfaizella had lied to me, but still the bad news frightened -my people." I may here state that Jackal expressed the opinion that -if they were unable to kill all the white men, a large section of the -Matabele would probably leave the country with as many cattle as they -could get together, and seek a new home beyond the Zambesi. What amount -of truth there may be in this view, and how far the original plan may -have been modified owing to the destruction of all the cattle by the -rinderpest, remains to be seen. At present, however, no section of -the tribe seems actually to have made a move beyond the outskirts of -Matabeleland proper. - -In the afternoon we proceeded to the Shashani. Before reaching "Fig -Tree," the coach, loaded with ammunition, had passed us on its way to -Bulawayo in charge of the escort that had accompanied it from Mangwe. -As, according to the information I had received before leaving town, -the convoy of waggons ought now to have been close at hand, and I -did not wish to tire all my horses by taking them any farther than -necessary down the road, I left Lieutenant Grenfell in charge of the -patrol at the deserted shanty, which had done duty as an hotel, near to -which we had off-saddled, and rode on alone. - -Shortly before reaching the Shashani hotel we had met a light -waggonette drawn by a team of horses on its way to Bulawayo. In it were -two gentlemen, Captain Lumsden (late of the 4th Battalion Scottish -Rifles) and Mr. Frost, on their way to Matabeleland on a shooting -expedition. We halted and gave one another the news from up and down -country respectively, and had a laugh and a joke about the kind of -shooting one was likely to get in Matabeleland at the present time. -When Captain Lumsden got out of the waggonette I saw what a fine -specimen of a man he was—tall and broad-shouldered, with a pleasant -face and keen blue eye—and I little thought that when next I met him, -only a week later, it would be in the Bulawayo hospital, where, poor -fellow, he lay with a leg shattered by a Kafir's bullet, on what -soon proved to be his deathbed, for he died from the effects of the -subsequent amputation of the limb. - -After leaving my men I rode quietly on, but only met the waggons I -was looking out for when close to Mangwe. Having many friends in the -laager there, I determined to ride a little farther and pay them a -visit. First, however, I exhorted the man in charge of the waggons to -push on at once, as I was anxious to return to Bulawayo as soon as -possible, in the hope of getting something more exciting to do there -than escorting waggons. - -When still some three miles from Mangwe I met a party of horsemen -riding towards me along the road. They proved to be old friends who had -come out to meet me, as they had heard by telegraph that I was coming -their way. Amongst them was one of my oldest and most esteemed friends, -Cornelius Van Rooyen, with whom in the good old days I had wandered and -hunted for months together over the then unknown wilds of Mashunaland. - -Arrived at the laager, I received a very warm welcome from both Dutch -and English. Major Armstrong was in command, whom, though a very young -man, I thought both shrewd and capable, and the excellent service he -has done for the Government during the present insurrection has, I -think, been fully recognised. - -Before leaving Bulawayo I had heard it said that in the Mangwe laager -order and discipline were conspicuous by their absence; but this I did -not find to be at all the case. On the contrary, it seemed to me that -Major Armstrong and Commandant Van Rooyen, by the exercise of great -tact, had between them got everything into excellent order; and this is -no small praise, for it must be remembered that the occupants of the -Mangwe laager belonged to two nationalities, Dutch and English, each of -which has its own way of doing things, and the two can only be brought -to work harmoniously together by the exercise of both forbearance and -good sense on the part of the officer commanding the combined force. - -[Illustration: - -_By permission of the Proprietors of "Black and White."_ - -HIS LAST OX.] - -All my Dutch friends at Mangwe had suffered terrible losses amongst -their stock from the rinderpest; indeed, some who had been rich men -a couple of months before, possessing several hundred head of stock, -had now scarcely a beast left. All along the road, too, from Bulawayo -to Mangwe the evidences of the ruthless severity of this plague were -most lamentable. Hundreds of carcasses in every stage of putrefaction -everywhere lined the track, whilst here and there were groups of empty -waggons abandoned by their owners, who, having lost their means of -livelihood through the death of their oxen, had left the rest of their -property standing uncared for in the wilderness, and walked away ruined -men. - -At Wilson's farm, six miles from Bulawayo, where herds of infected -cattle had been slaughtered in the hopeless endeavour to stamp out the -disease, acres of carcasses were lying festering in the sun, and any -one passing along the road did not require to look at them to know they -were there. Strangely enough, in spite of the exceptional opportunities -offering for free meals throughout Matabeleland at this time, not -a vulture was to be seen. I have heard it said that too hearty an -indulgence in rinderpest meat in the early days of the plague killed -all the vultures, and whether this is so or not, certain it is that -these useful birds are now as scarce as cows in Matabeleland. - - - - -CHAPTER XV - - Escort a convoy of waggons to Bulawayo—Murder of a Greek - trader—Mr. Gordon saved by native police—Mr. Reed warned - of danger by Makalakas—Patrols sent to Gwanda and Shiloh - districts—Proceedings of the Gwanda patrol—Scenes of pillage - and desolation—Lieutenant Webb's narrative—Six hours' severe - fighting—Narrow escape of patrol from annihilation—Captain Van - Niekerk's cool judgment and bravery—Gallant conduct of the patrol. - - -Leaving Mangwe on 2nd April, I rejoined my men on the following day, -and we then escorted the convoy of waggons to Bulawayo, where we -arrived early on the morning of Saturday, 4th April. - -Before reaching Bulawayo, I had heard that a Greek trader had been -murdered in the Bulilima district, near the Maitengwe river, and -this news was confirmed by the Rev. Mr. Reed and Assistant Native -Commissioner Gordon, both of whom had been stationed in the same -district, and both of whom owe their escape to the fact that they -received notice from friendly natives that their lives were in danger. -Mr. Gordon was informed by his own native police that a Matabele -Induna, named Langabi, had given orders to his people to kill him, and -they not only warned him of his danger, but escorted him by bypaths -through the dangerous part of the country, and put him on to the main -road to Bulawayo. - -These police, thirty in number, have all remained loyal to the -Government. One of them was murdered by the rebels, but the remainder -all reported themselves to the Chief Native Commissioner, by whom they -were disarmed, but they have since been employed on Government service. - -Mr. Reed was saved by the Makalaka amongst whom he was working. They -informed him that the Greek trader living near him had been murdered, -and told him plainly that he too would be killed unless he got away -to a place of safety. At the same time a horse was sent to him by the -Rev. Mr. Carnegie from Hope Fountain, together with a letter containing -information concerning the generally disturbed state of the country. -This decided him to leave his station for the time being and retire on -Bulawayo, which place he reached safely the day before the return of my -patrol from Mangwe. - -During my absence two patrols, somewhat stronger than those first sent -out, had been despatched to the Gwanda and Shiloh districts. The first, -under Captains Brand and Van Niekerk, had left town on the previous -Thursday, in order to relieve a party of prospectors and families -said to be in laager in the Gwanda district. This patrol consisted of -one hundred mounted men—fifty of C troop and fifty of the Africander -Corps—and was accompanied by a mule waggon and a Maxim gun. The -second patrol, numbering one hundred and sixty-nine men all told, and -accompanied by a Maxim gun, was commanded by the Hon. Maurice Gifford, -and had started on the Friday night to dislodge an impi, which it was -reported had gathered in the hills near Shiloh. I will first give a -short account of the proceedings of the Gwanda patrol, for the most -interesting portion of which, namely the account of the return journey -to Bulawayo, I am indebted to Lieutenant Webb of the Africander Corps, -who has most kindly placed the graphic description which he has himself -written of this fateful march at my disposal. - -Leaving Bulawayo at six o'clock on Thursday evening, 2nd April, the -first halt was made at Spargot's store, some six miles from town. Here -the horses were off-saddled for an hour. During the halt one of the -sentries found a wounded Kafir lying in the grass, who, on examination, -proved to be the colonial boy "Jim," who had been so terribly knocked -about by the Matabele at Edkins' store, that when discovered there it -was not thought he could possibly survive many hours; and yet, thanks -to the food that had been left with him, he had not only been able to -keep body and soul together, but had recovered in the course of a few -days sufficiently to enable him to make his way slowly and by easy -stages, travelling always by night, to Bulawayo. Fortunately he was -never short of food, as the rainy season being not yet over, the young -maize cobs—green mealies—were standing ready for plucking in all the -native fields. - -After leaving Spargot's the next halting-place was Dawson's store at -the Umzingwani river, which was reached late at night. The store it was -found had been burnt and destroyed by the Kafirs, but the mule stables -were still standing, and in them a plentiful supply of maize was -obtained for the horses. The latter were all placed inside the stable -fence, whilst the men lay down behind their saddles on the rising -ground outside. The pickets were fired on during the night, but a few -volleys from a portion of the Africander Corps drove the Kafirs off, -though they were afterwards heard calling to one another in the hills -near the river. - -When day broke no natives were to be seen, and the horses were at -once saddled up, and the march continued. Spiro's store, thirty-seven -miles from Bulawayo, was found to have been totally destroyed by fire, -but Grainger's hotel, twelve miles farther on, was still standing. The -Kafirs had, however, apparently only just left it before the patrol -arrived, as everything was in the utmost disorder, and water was -discovered in a bucket which had evidently only just been brought up -from the stream, as some of it had been spilt on the ground. A large -supply of maize was again found in the mule stables, so the horses got -another good feed. - -In the evening the expedition moved on to Grainger's second store, -which it was found had not been interfered with by the natives. Here -Friday night was passed, the men again lying down behind their saddles. -Early the following morning Dawson's store at "Amanzi minyama" was -reached. It was found to have been very recently deserted by its -European occupants, and since their departure had been partially looted -by Kafirs. From here a move was made to Mr. Nicholson's camp, some four -miles farther down the road, where it was thought that all the white -men in the Gwanda district had probably collected. On arriving there a -most excellent fort was discovered on the top of a kopje near the camp. -Whilst the fort was being strengthened, Mr. Zeederberg, the well-known -post contractor, and three more men rode down the Tuli road to discover -how far ahead the Gwanda people were. Mr. Zeederberg and one of these -men rode through to Tuli, in order to despatch telegrams to Bulawayo; -but the other two returned the following day, after having caught up -the waggon with the people from Dawson's store, who were retiring -on Tuli, and who reported that the Gwanda party was thirteen hours -ahead of them, making for the same destination. On Sunday, 5th April, -two more despatch-riders were sent to Tuli with farther messages for -Bulawayo, asking that reinforcements and a Hotchkiss gun should be sent -down to meet the patrol on its return, as, from information received -from a native scout, it was believed that the Kafirs would attack -them in force at some point along the road. On Wednesday morning the -despatch-riders returned, with a message informing Captain Brand that -it was impossible to send the reinforcements asked for, and requesting -him to return as soon as possible to Bulawayo. On Monday, the day after -the despatch-riders had left, an escort which had been sent in charge -of a waggon to Dawson's store to bring in some supplies was fired on by -the Kafirs. Captain Van Niekerk with some men of the Africander Corps, -and some of C troop under Mr. Holland, immediately went off in pursuit, -but beyond a few stragglers saw nothing of them. On the following day -Captain Van Niekerk and Mr. Purssell went out with a force to patrol -round the store and bring in all the remaining stores left. They found -the country strewn for several miles with blankets, boots, etc., left -by the Kafirs in their hasty flight on the preceding day, but again no -resistance was met with. - -[Illustration: - -_From a photo by C. H. Newberry, Bulawayo._ - -CAPTAIN VAN NIEKERK - -who commanded the Africander Corps of the Bulawayo Field Force in many -engagements during the last campaign.] - -From this point I will proceed with the narrative in Lieutenant Webb's -own words, as follows:—"We started early the next morning, 9th April, -on our return journey. By lunch time we had marched fifteen miles, and -reached Grainger's store No. 2. This place we found had been burnt -to the ground by the Matabele during our stay at Gwanda, and judging -by the spoor a large number of them had been at work. We decided to -stay the rest of the day at this place, and were careful to take -every necessary precaution in case of a night attack. Next morning we -saddled up at daybreak, and covered twelve miles to Grainger's store -No. 1, before halting. This store had in our absence shared the same -fate as the other, and we recovered nothing from the ashes. As we were -now entering a most dangerous section of the road, we were careful to -use extra vigilance. At about ten o'clock we came up with some cattle -at the foot of the range of hills on our left, but before capturing -them, narrowly inspected the hills for natives, as we suspected a -trap. Sure enough on a ridge about 1000 yards away we made out a body -of men hiding under cover. We at once put the Maxim on them, and as -they retreated in haste up the side of the hill, we found that several -hundreds of them had been waiting in ambush. They only returned our -fire with one or two shots. We were then going through thick bush, with -hills a couple of hundred yards away towering on each side. - -"Upon emerging from these, we came to the ruins of Spiro's store, and -about a mile beyond we saw a column of smoke ascending, and rightly -conjectured that this was the place where they meant to attack us. The -situation was all in their favour. We had to pass through a narrow neck -amongst the hills in order to emerge into comparatively open country, -though even this latter afforded them ample cover from our fire. The -first evidence we had of the ambuscade was a steady and prolonged fire -directed at the head of the column (composed of our corps) from the -kopjes on the left flank. We at once returned the fire; but so well was -the enemy concealed amongst the rocks, that I may tell you—though you -will hardly credit my statement—that I scarcely saw one of them for -half an hour. As the column was pressing on to get out of the dangerous -position we were in, a few of Captain Brand's men fired just in front -of the faces of the mules drawing the provision waggon. The mules -swerved round suddenly, and broke the disselboom. Whilst the damage was -being repaired, Mr. Jobson, who was in command of the Maxim, brought -his gun into action with the greatest coolness and promptitude; but -this unfortunate accident delayed us for half an hour, and was largely -responsible for the wounds of many horses and men. - -"When we at last emerged from the pass, the disorganised appearance -of the column showed the severity of the enemy's fire, and I firmly -believe it was due to the fact that there were a number of old -campaigners in the Africander Corps, which was commanded by our -cool and experienced chief Captain Van Niekerk, that we escaped -annihilation. When we had got the men into skirmishing order, we were -better able to cope with the enemy; and when I tell you that the -latter were over 1000 strong and followed us for over five miles at -a distance of little more than 200 yards, you will be better able to -judge of the task we had in hand. Our route lay over successive ranges -of ridges and valleys, and afforded plenty of cover for the enemy, as -the grass was about three feet high, and the country thickly studded -with bush and trees. They formed a half-moon round us and skirmished -excellently, taking advantage of every bit of cover. They also fought -with ferocious determination, and often showed pluck verging on lunacy. -They were kept well in hand by their leaders, who constantly urged them -to fire low. Our horses and men were now falling with deadly monotony, -and we all saw the importance of getting into more open country. Our -men were firing steadily and rapidly all this time, and the Maxim did -good service; but being on the move and owing to the tactics of the -enemy, did not do the execution we were accustomed to see in the first -Matabele war. - -"At last, after about three hours' fighting, we saw about a mile ahead -of us a round stone kopje, for which we made in order to take a short -halt. The enemy at once saw through our movement, and a number of -them endeavoured to defeat our object by out-flanking our advance. -Our horsemen, however, were too sharp for them, and by hard riding -reached the kopje first, and held them in check until the main body -arrived. The kopje we thus reached was nothing but a huge flat rock, -showing out about twelve or fifteen feet above the surrounding country. -It was almost surrounded by broken rocks and trees, and under this -cover—in some instances only some thirty to forty yards from where we -were standing—the Matabele concealed themselves, and continued their -fire upon us. This alone will give you some idea of their astounding -audacity and bravery. We had to charge them four times to make them at -last give in and retire. It was now about sundown (5.30 P.M.), and we -had actually been about six hours fighting over five miles of country. - -"When at last we had time to look about us, we saw a scene that I for -one shall never forget. The men still stood at their posts about the -kopje keeping a good look-out. Across the plain through which we had -come could be seen the carcasses of horses slain, and the bodies of -men lying as they fell. On the kopje itself was the little ammunition -waggonette, capable of holding two men comfortably, and now surrounded -by the wounded and dying. We found that we had lost five men shot dead, -and two more were dying, whilst over twenty others were wounded, and -thirty-three horses had been killed. Of the enemy we estimated that -we had killed and wounded between two and three hundred. I do not -think that any one of us had reckoned upon having such a tough job in -getting through the pass, and even now our position was very grave. -Prompt action was needed to get us out of our difficulty, and after -consultation amongst the officers, we decided at once to move on, so as -to give the Matabele no time for united action to surround us during -the night. Our greatest difficulty was the conveyance of our wounded, -and how any of the poor fellows survived that night will always remain -a mystery. In the little waggonette we had to place eight, and on -the Maxim gun-carriage we carried several more. The remainder were -fortunately able to ride. - -"We left the kopje at dusk, and for the next sixteen miles had a most -unpleasant section of the road to traverse, on any portion of which the -Matabele had us at their mercy had they chosen to attack. Whether they -had had enough fighting, or whether they did not suspect our departure, -is not known, but we were all heartily glad to get through that section -of the country unmolested. At half-past four on the morning of the -11th of April, we met the relief force sent to meet us, and two hours -later we halted in front of the Government Offices in Bulawayo. That -afternoon we buried one of my most intimate friends, poor Baker, who -had been shot in the fight, and died on the homeward march." - -From the foregoing narrative it is evident that this small patrol of -100 men narrowly escaped annihilation at the hands of the Matabele; and -I should be doing an injustice if I did not state that, in the opinion -of at any rate the majority of those who took part in the fight, they -were only saved from destruction by the determined bravery combined -with cool judgment—the result of long experience gained in many a -previous fight with Kafirs in the Old Colony and the Transvaal—shown -by Captain Van Niekerk, who took over the command during the action. -Captain Brand, who was the senior officer, and who is as gallant a -fellow as ever stepped, indeed brave to the point of foolhardiness, -but who had had no previous experience of native warfare, showed both -generosity of character and soundness of judgment in asking Van Niekerk -to take over the command directly he saw that his men were in a tight -place. Van Niekerk himself speaks enthusiastically of the cool bravery -shown throughout this trying time by all the men forming the patrol. -They were all equally brave, he says. But amongst the Africanders there -were many old Kafir fighters, such as old Mr. Steyn and Messrs. Loots -and Ferreira, and these old campaigners were naturally more useful -than inexperienced men. Lieutenants Webb and Holland, Purssell and -Jobson—the latter in charge of the Maxim gun—did their duty throughout -the engagement as coolly as if they were on parade. Five dead men had -to be left on the field, viz. Messrs. Forbes, Pack, Greer, Hayland, and -Green. Mr. Baker died on the Maxim carriage, and his body was laid on -the roadside eight miles from Bulawayo. - -On the following morning, Saturday, 11th April, a party was sent out to -bring in the body, which they did, but they were fired on from a kopje -near the road. No damage however was done, and poor Baker was buried -the same afternoon. - -About half-past eight on the previous evening, a messenger—Mr. White, -attached to the Africander Corps—had reached town, with a despatch -from Captain Brand, saying that he was in a tight place and feared -that his ammunition might run short if the fight lasted much longer. -Mr. White had left the patrol about four o'clock in the afternoon, and -some two hours earlier had been struck on the head by a bullet, which -luckily however only inflicted a scalp wound, stunning him for the -moment. - -On his arrival there was great excitement in Bulawayo, and a relief -force was at once organised to go to Captain Brand's assistance. Being -then in town, I and my men of course volunteered like every one else, -and I well remember how bitterly disappointed we were that we could -not go. As it happened, the relief force was not required to rescue -the patrol, which had extricated itself from a very difficult position -without assistance; but its appearance must have been most welcome to -the jaded men, whose horses when they reached Bulawayo had been upwards -of twenty-six hours under the saddle without food or rest. Thus ended -one of the toughest fights of the present campaign, in which more than -one-third of the men engaged were either killed or wounded, and more -than one-third of the horses were likewise killed. Several men, whose -wounds were slight, never reported themselves at all. Brave Captain -Van Niekerk was twice hit, one bullet cutting his bandoleer-strap -and bruising his shoulder, and the second smashing the stock of his -revolver and bruising his side. The Kafirs, although they probably lost -heavily, had the satisfaction of getting possession of the dead bodies -of five white men to mutilate, together with the saddles and other -accoutrements of the horses killed; whilst, worst of all from our point -of view, several Lee-Metford rifles and bandoleers full of cartridges -fell into their hands. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - - Gifford's fight in the Shiloh Hills—Strength of the patrol—First - skirmish with the Matabele—Form a laager—March resumed—Second - skirmish—Patrol reach Fonseca's farm—Fight at Fonseca's - farm—Death of a witch-doctor—Colonel Gifford wounded—Messengers - sent to Bulawayo for assistance—Laager strengthened—Fighting - renewed—Captain Lumsden wounded—Matabele retire—Relief column - arrives—Return to Bulawayo—Death of Captain Lumsden—Colonel - Gifford's arm amputated. - - -For the following narrative of what is now known as Gifford's fight in -the Shiloh Hills, I am indebted to an officer in Gifford's Horse, who -has done very good service throughout the campaign, but who however has -modestly asked me not to mention his name. - -"The patrol under Lieutenant-Colonel Gifford—now commonly known as the -Shiloh Patrol—consisted of Gifford's Horse, with thirty-one men of -F troop under Captain Dawson, and eleven men of Grey's Scouts under -Lieutenant F. Crewe—one hundred and eighteen Europeans in all, with one -Maxim gun and forty-nine Colonial Boys under Captain Bisset. Captain J. -W. Lumsden accompanied the patrol as chief of the Staff and second in -command. - -"We left Bulawayo about one o'clock on Saturday morning, 4th April. It -was bright moonlight, and we travelled on without any delay or anything -exciting happening till the sun rose, when we outspanned at M'Kisa's -kraal, about twelve miles from Bulawayo. I believe we had a sort of -roving commission to go down to the Khami river, break up an impi or -two there, then to go over to Inyati, do the same there, and finally to -come out on the Salisbury road at the Bembisi. - -"At our first outspan however Colonel Gifford obtained information -that there was an impi encamped down the Umguza, on Holm's farm, about -fourteen miles to the north of us, and he determined to have a go at -them. We therefore broke camp about two o'clock and trekked on through -very bad country, heavy sand and thick bush. - -"We had just got into better and more open country when continuous -firing was heard on our right, in which direction a few of our scouts -were out, and shortly afterwards a party of two or three hundred -Matabele were seen coming down from a ridge on our right, and the -rear-guard—B troop, under Captain Fynn—were soon engaged with them. At -this juncture Colonel Gifford sent back Captain Dawson's troop and the -Colonial Boys to support Captain Fynn, and after about an hour's heavy -firing the Matabele withdrew into the hills close by. - -"In the meantime, the rest of the column had drawn out into an open -space and laagered up. The scouts turned up just before the Matabele -attacked, having narrowly escaped being cut off. We passed a quiet -night as the enemy made no move, though we could see them in the hills, -and they fired occasional shots at the laager before it got dark. Next -morning we started again after breakfast, but had not gone more than -a couple of miles, when the wily Matabele showed himself again, and -in stronger force. Our advance guard, A troop, under Captain Meikle, -were attacked, and at the same time a party of two or three hundred -came down on our right and attacked the column. They did not come on -very close—to do this they would have had to cross the Umguza river, -and this they did not seem to care about doing, but kept on the other -side of the river firing at the column and showing themselves in pretty -strong force. Colonel Gifford then opened on them with the Maxim at -about 600 yards, and this quite quenched their military ardour. It was -funny to see the way in which they all immediately lay down in the -grass and then spread out, and finally strutted off into the bush, -bending down and hiding themselves as much as they could in the grass -all the time. - -"During this time A troop had beaten off the attack on the advance, and -Captain Bisset's boys who were on the left advance fell on the already -defeated party and did some damage, killing twenty or thirty of them. -As the enemy appeared to be all round us, we outspanned again, and, the -men remaining at their posts, a biscuit each was served out all round, -and the horses were allowed to graze. No further attack was made, and -we trekked on again to Fonseca's farm without any further hindrance -from our enemy, though we could see an impi on our right keeping along -with us all the way, though at a safe distance. - -"We camped and laagered behind our saddles in an open glade. Behind us -was a ridge of kopjes, on one of which was the homestead, on our left -was thick bush, and on our right was a dry river-bed. Just beyond, and -parallel to it, ran a stream in which were some deep pools of water. -These riverbeds afterwards proved to be our salvation, or at any rate -of great assistance in our defence. - -"We passed another quiet night, and next morning, Easter Monday, at -daybreak, the men made the fires and were soon brewing their coffee, as -it was bitterly cold. The usual patrol of five or six men was sent out -to scout round, and the Colonial Boys were sent out to look for cattle, -as we had so far only had "bully" to eat, and a change was desirable. -They had not been out long when Lieutenant Rorke, who was in command -of the morning patrol, came across the impi holding an "indaba" in a -kraal. He and his patrol opened fire on them, to which they promptly -replied by rushing our men. Lieutenant Rorke had a very narrow escape; -his horse broke away from him, and he was compelled to retire as best -he could on foot. The Colonial Boys, who were not far behind, and his -own few men, however, checked the enemy, and saved his life. - -"This opened the ball; as soon as the firing was heard in camp, -Colonel Gifford ordered Dawson's troop out in support, and B troop -under Captain Fynn were ordered up into the kopjes where Fonseca's -homestead stood. The battle soon became general, and there was heavy -firing through the bush on our left, which was occupied by the Colonial -Boys, Captains Dawson's and Fynn's troops. Colonel Gifford then gave -the order for the men in laager to take cover in the bed of the stream -to which I have already referred. The two small waggons, one of which -carried ammunition, and the other our provisions, and on which the -Maxim was standing on its tripod, were quickly drawn up alongside of -the gully, and the men took up their positions and manned the banks -of both streams, which formed a natural laager. Colonel Gifford then -sent out the gallopers to call the troops in to laager, not a minute -too soon. Captain Fynn's troop, with whom was Captain Lumsden, were -fairly rushed by the enemy, who poured a fire into them at close range. -Here Trooper Kenneth M'Kenzie was shot through the head and dropped -dead from his horse. Trooper Fielding was wounded in the leg, and his -horse shot under him, and Captain Lumsden's horse also fell shot under -him. Captain Fynn, however, brought his men into laager in good order, -returning the enemy's fire. Captain Dawson and the Colonial Boys also -retired in good order into laager. - -"The Matabele came on close behind, and our men were hardly in laager -when they rushed out into the open from the bush, with the evident -intention of charging the laager. The steady fire from the men, -however, soon checked them, and a few shots from the Maxim made them -retire into the bush again. A few of their bravest, having taken cover -behind some stumps and dead trees which were lying in the open, kept up -a galling fire on the laager, but these were soon picked off by some of -our good shots. - -"One man, however, came on in the open and appeared to bear a charmed -life, as no bullets touched him; he had no gun or assegai, but came on -alone down the valley towards us. He must have got to within about 150 -yards of the laager when he fell shot in the leg. He rose again, and -only then turned to fly, but the charm seemed to be broken, and he fell -dead, shot through with several bullets. - -"In the afternoon, when we were able to go out to where he lay, we -found he had in his hands a skin-bag full of fat, and some of the -usual witch-doctor's throwing bones—no arms of any sort. Apparently -he was a witch-doctor, or one of the priests of the much-talked-of -'Umlimo,' who thought he'd do for the white man by means of his bones -and incantations and that the white man's bullets were to turn to water -before him as had been predicted. The Matabele lined the bush all down -our front and took to the kopjes, from where, at about 600 yards, they -kept up a continuous fire. - -"Colonel Gifford had all the time been standing on the waggon alongside -of the Maxim directing the fire, and giving his orders to the men. The -enemy on our front were not more than 200 yards away, and were making -good shooting, aiming especially at the waggon and Maxim. Here poor -Reynolds was mortally wounded, having been shot through the arm and -lungs, and dying within a brief space. Soon afterwards Colonel Gifford -was wounded in the shoulder. The men saw he had been hit; but he called -out, "It's all right, boys, don't mind me—give it to them—give it to -them." He had soon, however, to be lifted down from the waggon and -carried into the bed of the stream, at the same time calling on Captain -Lumsden to take command. Troopers J. Walker (Gifford's Horse) and -Eatwell (Dawson's) were wounded shortly afterwards. - -"The fire from the enemy slackened soon after this, but they kept up a -desultory fire till about twelve o'clock, when they finally drew off -and left us in peace, though we could see them every now and then in -the bush. - -"Shortly after Colonel Gifford was wounded Captain Lumsden, after -consulting the officers, sent in to Bulawayo a despatch by two of -Captain Bisset's boys on horseback, reporting that Colonel Gifford was -wounded, and asking for assistance, as both ammunition and food were -running short. - -"As soon as the natives drew off the horses were let out to graze, and -we spent the afternoon, as far as we could, strengthening our position. -As the sun went down we could see smoke from what we judged to be the -enemy's camp behind the kopjes, and on the top of one of these, against -the sky, we saw what was evidently their sentry carefully watching us. -We passed a quiet night, and next day had a repetition of our Monday's -experience. - -"After an early breakfast of one biscuit per man all round, some of -the Colonial Boys were sent up on to the kopjes to see where our enemy -had got to. This was soon very evident, as the Matabele came up from -beyond the kopjes and chased our boys down and back into camp. They -came out into the open again exactly as on the previous day, but this -time from the kopje side. The fire from our men soon checked them and -drove them back into the bush, and they then spread right round us and -opened fire from every side. Captain Lumsden was wounded in the leg -while walking about the laager, giving orders and directing the Maxim, -and immediately carried down into the donga, which was our place of -safety. Captain Bisset then took command. Lieutenant Hulbert was soon -afterwards wounded in the leg by a Lee-Metford bullet. After keeping -up a desultory fire till about mid-day, the enemy again retired, as we -afterwards found out having had quite enough of the white men in the -dongas. In the afternoon some of B troop and the Colonial Boys went out -and recovered poor M'Kenzie's body, which was lying where he fell. Both -he and Corporal Reynolds were buried by their comrades in the centre of -our laager, between the two dongas. - -"At about two o'clock a despatch-rider arrived from Captain Macfarlane, -who, with the relief column, was about five miles off. - -"Captain Macfarlane's column arrived soon afterwards, and we were very -glad to see them, as provisions were running short. We had about a -biscuit per man and seven tins of bully beef left, and not too much -ammunition for another fight. Our troubles were then over, except for -our poor wounded. - -"We broke laager next morning, and carried them off on the waggons -as carefully as we could into town, arriving in Bulawayo that night -(Wednesday), late. It was, however, a long weary journey for them, -twenty-two miles over the stumps and stones of a South African road. -Captain Lumsden died next day in hospital, to the universal regret of -all who had met him and served under him. Our own brave Colonel had -to lose his arm, so our leaders suffered severely. Certainly they by -their coolness and daring behaviour inspired confidence in their men, -and helped to keep the fire steady. That the firing of our men was -exceptionally steady there is no doubt. After the first rush it was -impossible for a Matabele to show himself without receiving three or -four bullets most uncomfortably near him, if he did not receive his -quietus. It was estimated that the patrol killed at lowest 200 of the -enemy, and many more must have been wounded. The Maxim did not have -much chance, as after the first rush the Matabele spread themselves -out in the bush, and kept under very good cover, and it then became -a matter of sharpshooting. On the Monday, and the last day's fight, -the enemy must have been about 1500 strong. As we could see, they -increased every day, and we afterwards heard from native reports that -reinforcements were joining them all the time. We also heard that after -the failure of the last attack the impi retired and sent round the -country for still further reinforcements. When they arrived and the -impis came back to the scene of their flight, they found the dongas -empty—the white men had gone." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - - Despatch from Captain Laing—Laager formed at Belingwe—Strange - conduct of a native policeman—Three Matabele caught looting and - hanged—"Young Tradesman's" letter to the _Daily Graphic_—Matabele - capture a herd of cattle and murder some Zambesi Kafirs near - Bulawayo—Determination to build forts between Bulawayo and - Mangwe—I am sent to establish forts and take command of all - troops on the road—Fort Molyneux—I return to Bulawayo to report - my views—Curious position of affairs in Matabeleland. - - -On the day before the return of Brand's patrol, the first news was -received from Belingwe that had reached Bulawayo since the outbreak -of the insurrection. The despatch was from Captain Laing, who was -in command there, and was to the effect that all the whites in the -district were in laager, and that they felt confident of being able to -resist any attack made upon them by the natives. - -This news gave great relief to many people who had friends in the -Belingwe district, for it was not known whether they had been able to -collect together and form a laager, or whether they had been surprised -and murdered before they were aware that anything was amiss; as indeed -they would have been, in all probability, had not Mr. H. P. Fynn, the -native commissioner in the Insiza district, sent a message to Captain -Laing to warn him that a native rising seemed imminent immediately -after he was informed of the murder of Mr. Maddocks. This message was -faithfully carried by one of Mr. Fynn's native policemen, and Captain -Laing, recognising the gravity of the situation, at once acted with the -promptitude and decision which always distinguish him, and ordered all -the whites in his district to immediately come in to laager at Belingwe. - -They were only just in time, for the natives showed their teeth very -soon afterwards, and although fearing to attack the laager, succeeded -in driving off a considerable number of cattle. Captain Laing, -accompanied by only nine men—all he was able to mount—then in his -turn attacked the insurgents, and succeeded in recapturing some of -the cattle, though these were of little value, as the rinderpest was -amongst them. It is worthy of remark that the native policeman who -took the message to Captain Laing, which probably saved many white -men's lives in the Belingwe district, never returned to his duty, but -as is now known, went over to the rebels with his rifle and bandoleer -full of cartridges. This fact, taken in conjunction with many other -circumstances, goes to prove that the secret of the actual date of the -outbreak of the insurrection was not known to the mass of the people, -though probably, owing to the prophetic utterances ascribed to the -Umlimo, which had been diligently circulated amongst them, they were -in a state of expectancy; but this policeman, for instance, must have -been thoroughly taken by surprise, and after the first murders remained -loyal to the Government until he was got at by some one capable of -explaining to him the scope of the whole plot. - -On 10th April, too, a further excitement was caused in Bulawayo by the -arrest of three Matabele rebels. They were captured near Soluso's, some -twenty miles west of Bulawayo, by Marzwe's Friendlies, and sent in to -town by Josana, having been caught red-handed, looting and burning -property belonging to white men. I was present when the evidence was -taken, and it certainly seemed to me to be overwhelming, especially -as one of them was known to Mr. Colenbrander, and they all three -acknowledged themselves to be the subjects of a certain Induna named -Maiyaisa, who with all his people has been amongst the rebels from -the first outbreak of the insurrection. They were caught, too, with -assegais in their hands, looting a white man's farm, so that it might -very reasonably be asked "que diable allaient-ils faire dans cette -galère?" - -At any rate they were condemned to death, and hanged forthwith, all -three on one tree on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Besides these three -men who had been incontestably guilty of taking part in the rebellion, -and who were hanged together, six others were hanged singly and -at different times, all of whom, if they were tried in a somewhat -rough-and-ready fashion, were undoubtedly spies and rebels. - -These are the only Matabele who have been hanged during the present -insurrection, and a letter therefore on the subject of hanging -natives which appeared in the _Daily Graphic_ of Saturday, 13th June, -purporting to have been written by a young tradesman of Bulawayo, is a -trifle incorrect, to say the least of it. A portion of the letter runs -as follows: "My stand has one big tree on it, and it is often used as -a gallows. Yesterday there was a goodly crop of seven Matabele hanging -there; to-day there are eight, the eighth being a nigger who was heard -boasting to a companion that he had helped to kill white men, and got -back to town without being suspected." - -This letter was reproduced by Mr. Labouchere in _Truth_, as well as -another he got hold of at the same time, in which the writer expresses -it as his opinion that "it is grand fun potting niggers off, and seeing -them fall like nine-pins," while further on he speaks of it being -"quite a nice sight" to see men shot as spies. I can quite believe -that a man who can write in this strain would take pleasure in, or -"would not object," as he puts it, to seeing Kafirs shot, but I doubt -very much if such an one would ever risk his skin to enjoy "the grand -fun" he speaks of. - -It seems a pity that a writer who takes "Truth" as the motto of his -paper, should seize upon every little scrap of published matter he -can discover (apparently without inquiry as to its real value), and -not only reproduce it as gospel in an ensuing number of his journal, -but found a sermon upon it into the bargain on the iniquities of his -fellow-countrymen in Rhodesia. However, we have the consolation of -knowing that nothing has discredited the editor of _Truth_ in the eyes -of all fair-minded men so much as the hostile feeling he has ever shown -against the British settlers in Rhodesia, whilst, happily for that -colony, his rage is as impotent as that of "a viper gnawing at an old -file." - -During the week in which the aforesaid Kafirs were hanged, some parties -of Matabele approached the town very closely at nights, and on the -night of 6th April one of them succeeded in capturing a herd of cattle -within a mile and a half of the hospital, at the same time murdering -some Zambesi Kafirs who were sleeping outside the cattle kraal. As at -this time there was a herd of cattle which was penned every night in a -kraal near Dr. Sauer's house, some two miles away on the other side of -the town, I was asked to take some of my men and lie in wait for any -Matabele who might attempt to capture them on the following night. - -I went down and reconnoitred the position during the day, and after -dark rode down with fifteen good men. We first off-saddled our horses, -and tied them up within the paling round Dr. Sauer's house, and then -took up our positions along two walls of the square stone cattle -kraal. During the night, the weather, which had been fine and warm, -suddenly changed; a cold wind sprang up, and masses of cloud spread -over the sky from the south-east. It looked as if it was going to -rain every minute, but luckily the wind kept it off. However, it was -bitterly cold, and we were all of us very glad when day at last dawned -and our weary vigil was over, for no Kafirs came near us; and when -I examined the cattle I did not think it likely they would, as the -rinderpest was rife amongst them, two lying dead in the kraal, whilst -many others, the herd boy told us, lay rotting about the veld all round. - -About this time the authorities determined to carry out a scheme for -keeping open communications with the south by means of forts which -were to be built along the road between Bulawayo and Mangwe. As a -commencement in this direction, Captain Molyneux left Bulawayo, on -Saturday, 11th April, with sixty men to establish a fort at Fig Tree, -distant thirty miles down the road, whilst at the same time Captain -Luck was ordered up from Mangwe with fifty men to build a second fort -some fifteen miles from that place, in the centre of the hilly country -through which the coach road passes. - -Two days later I was sent down the road to establish further forts -between Fig Tree and Mangwe, and to take command of all garrisons on -the road, the force with which I left town consisting of sixty men of H -troop of the Bulawayo Field Force (my own), forty men of E troop under -Captain Halsted, and twenty of the Africander Corps under Lieutenant -Webb. - -We left Bulawayo on the evening of Monday, 13th April, and slept that -night at Wilson's farm, reaching Mabukitwani the following evening. -From information I received there concerning the movements of the -Matabele, I became convinced that the dangerous part of the road was -that portion of it lying between Bulawayo and Fig Tree, and not the -hill passes farther on, as the inhabitants of the latter are all -Makalakas, the rebel Matabele who had been living amongst them having -all come up nearer to Bulawayo, and joined their compatriots on the -Khami river. - -According to the plan which I had been asked to carry out, the thirty -miles of road between Bulawayo and Fig Tree would have been left -entirely undefended, which did not appear to me to be at all advisable -in view of the fact that there was a large impi under the Induna -Maiyaisa encamped on the Khami, only twelve miles below the ford on the -main coach road. I therefore took it upon myself to send Lieutenant -Webb with his twenty men back to the Khami river, to commence a fort -there, at the same time despatching a messenger to Bulawayo requesting -Colonel Napier to reinforce him with another twenty or thirty men. At -the same time I gave it as my opinion that a fort ought also to be -established at Mabukitwani. - -On Wednesday afternoon we reached Fig Tree, where we found that Captain -Molyneux had already nearly completed an almost impregnable fort, which -had been built on a small isolated kopje, itself a natural stronghold, -about 200 yards from the mule stables, hotel, and telegraph office at -Fig Tree. The natural strength of this kopje had been most cunningly -taken advantage of and increased by blasting a rock out here and -there, and fortifying the weak places with sand-bags. Good water was -obtainable in the bed of a stream at the very foot of the kopje, whilst -a recess amongst the rocks near its base had been cleared in such a way -as to form a stable within which some twenty horses could be completely -sheltered from the bullets of any attacking force. Altogether, Fort -Molyneux was a perfect little place of its kind, and did every credit -to the very capable officer by whom it was built. - -On the following day we went on to Shashani neck, some five and a half -miles beyond Fort Molyneux. Here the road descends for a distance -of three miles into the Shashani valley, winding continually in and -out amongst thickly-wooded granite hills. Had the Kafirs, at the -commencement of the insurrection, put a force of 1000 men armed with -rifles, backed by another 1000 with assegais, into this pass, it is -my opinion that they would have completely cut off all communication -between Bulawayo and the south until a body of troops at least 1000 -strong had been sent up from Mafeking to open the road. However, -luckily they missed this opportunity, as they have missed every other -chance they have had of striking a really effective blow at the white -men. In fact, they have shown a general want of intelligence that -stamps them as an altogether inferior people, in brain capacity at -least, to the European. - -About one-third of the way down the pass Captain Halsted and I found -a kopje close to water, which commanded the road, and at the same -time could be rendered absolutely impregnable to such enemies as the -Matabele with a comparatively small amount of labour. Here I left -Captain Halsted with the men of E troop to build a fort, and on Friday -morning, 17th April, went on with my own troop to the Matoli river -where Captain Luck had already almost completed a strong fort of -earthworks and palisades in the centre of a large open space amongst -the hills, by none of which, however, was it commanded. Here I met -Major Armstrong from Mangwe, and as all I heard from him regarding the -state of affairs in his district only confirmed me in the opinion that -it would be a waste of time and men to build another fort between -Matoli and Mangwe, as I had been instructed to do, whilst on the other -hand I felt that it was of vital importance to establish forts without -delay between Fig Tree and Bulawayo, I determined to return to town -and lay my views before the administrator personally before proceeding -farther southwards. - -Major Armstrong having also official business to transact in Bulawayo, -we arranged to ride in together forthwith. On passing Captain Halsted -late in the afternoon we found that he had already made wonderful -progress with the stronghold which is now known to fame as Fort -Halsted. Just at dusk we reached Fort Molyneux, where we got an -excellent dinner and were made comfortable for the night. Here I -received a telegram from Colonel Napier, telling me that at the present -moment he could not possibly spare any men from Bulawayo to reinforce -Lieutenant Webb at the Khami river, as the Kafirs were massing round -the town; and that as twenty men was too small a number to leave alone -without reinforcements, he had ordered him to fall back on Fig Tree, or -join Captain Halsted for the present. - -At daylight Lieutenant Webb turned up, and as Captain Molyneux had -over fifty men at Fig Tree, and Captain Halsted only forty, I sent him -on to the latter. Major Armstrong and I then saddled up, and reached -Bulawayo about two o'clock on Saturday, 18th April, having passed -the down coach accompanied by a strong escort at the Khami river. -The situation in Matabeleland was now a sufficiently curious one. In -Bulawayo were some 1500 white men, women, and children, all of whom, -although they were able to visit their houses in different parts of -the town by day, had to seek safety within the laager at nights, and -were not allowed to leave it before seven o'clock in the morning. At -this time the whole of Matabeleland, with the exception of Bulawayo, -and the laagers of Gwelo and Belingwe, was absolutely in the hands of -the Kafirs, although, apparently by the orders of the Umlimo, the main -road to the south had not been closed. A large impi lay at Mr. Crewe's -farm, Redbank, on the Khami river, about twelve miles to the west of -the town, besides which some thousands of rebels, amongst whom it was -said was Lo Bengula's eldest son, Inyamanda, were camped all along the -Umguza, considerable numbers of them being actually within three miles -of Bulawayo, whilst other two large impis had taken up their quarters -amongst the Elibaini Hills, and in the neighbourhood of Intaba Induna, -there being altogether not less than 10,000 hostile natives spread -out in a semicircle from the west to the north-east of the town. Had -these different impis only combined and acted in concert under one -leader they might have accomplished something; but each impi appears -to have been acting independently of the others, and my own belief -is that they kept hanging round the town without any general plan of -action, in the expectation of some supernatural interference by the -deity on their behalf. At least this is what we hear from themselves, -and I think it is the truth. Besides the impis to the north and west, -there were others encamped within the edge of the Matopo Hills. These -latter, however, although they blocked the Tuli road and destroyed the -mission station at Hope Fountain, which had been established for over -twenty-five years, never approached Bulawayo. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - - Matabele advance on Bulawayo—Small force sent out to - reconnoitre—Skirmish with the Matabele—I receive instructions - to build a fort between Bulawayo and Fig Tree—The question - of provisioning the forts—Three men of the Africander Corps - killed—Attack by Matabele on Colonel Napier's farm—Captain - Macfarlane sent with relief party—I ride out to see what - was going on—I join relief party—Overtake Matabele near - Colenbrander's farm—Fighting commences—I take command of a few - Africanders—Our skirmish—Maxim jams at a critical time—Bad - shooting of the Matabele—Their want of combination. - - -It was, I think, on Thursday, 16th April, that it was first realised -that the Matabele had really advanced to within a short distance of the -town. On that day, information having been received that there was an -impi on the Umguza just below Government House, a small force was got -together to go out and ascertain the truth of the report. This force -consisted of twenty-one Scouts under Captain Grey and twenty-two of -the Africander Corps under Captain Van Niekerk, Captains Nicholson and -Howard Brown accompanying them, so that there were only forty-five men -and officers all told. - -Leaving town before daylight on the Friday morning, this little force -crossed the stream on this side of Government House just as the sun -was rising. It then, after emerging on to the high ground, turned to -the right towards the Umguza. Soon numbers of Kafirs were seen moving -about in the bush on the farther side of the river, who, when they saw -the white men advancing at once opened fire on them, at a distance at -first of about 800 yards. This fire was not answered, but as soon as -the Scouts and Africanders could be thrown out in skirmishing order, -they were ordered to advance towards the river at a canter. On reaching -it they at once crossed at two different places, the Africanders being -on the right and Grey's Scouts on the left. When the top of the farther -bank was reached the white men found themselves within 150 yards of -a number of Matabele advancing rapidly towards them in skirmishing -order through the bush. These latter at once fired a volley, all their -bullets going high, and then turned and ran as the horsemen came -galloping towards them. As Grey's Scouts got amongst them it was seen -that the line of skirmishers was supported by a large body of men some -distance in their rear, from which two flanking parties had been thrown -out on either side. Van Niekerk charged with his men right on to the -head of the left-hand flanking party and drove it back, but Captain -Grey with his Scouts, whilst driving in the skirmishers on the main -body, passed the right-hand flanking party, which then attempted to cut -off his retreat to the river. - -At once recognising that the natives were in force, and that the number -of men at his command was altogether too small to cope with them, he -gave the word to retire, and then both the Scouts and Africanders got -back across the river again as quickly as possible, closely followed by -the Kafirs. On reaching a rise some few hundred yards on the near side -of the river, the white men halted, and dismounting kept the Kafirs in -check for a while, but it was soon seen that their numbers were such -that they would have been completely surrounded, so, one man and three -horses having already been wounded, it was deemed advisable to retire -and leave the field for the time being in possession of the Matabele. -The wounded man was Mr. Harker, who was shot through the leg, but -eventually recovered without losing the limb. The three horses that -were wounded all died subsequently. - -Upon reaching Bulawayo I at once had interviews with Mr. Duncan and -Colonel Napier, and convinced them both that it was more necessary to -establish a fort on the road between Bulawayo and Fig Tree than to add -one more to the two already existing between Fig Tree and Mangwe, and I -then and there received instructions to bring my own troop back again -from Matoli, in order to build a fort at Mabukitwani. I should have -left the same evening, to rejoin my men and carry out these orders, but -the question arose as to the best means of provisioning the garrisons -of the various forts, amounting altogether to 180 men. It was most -inadvisable that any more food-stuff should be sent out of Bulawayo at -this juncture than was absolutely necessary, so as there were three -Government mule waggons at different forts along the road, I suggested -that these should be sent down to Tati, where I understood that there -was a good deal of food-stuff stored, to bring up full loads of the -most necessary kinds of provisions, the balance of which, when the -garrisons of the forts had been supplied with a month's rations, could -be brought on to Bulawayo. Colonel Napier at once telegraphed to Mr. -Vigers, who was in charge at Tati, to ascertain what food supplies he -had on hand, and requested me not to leave Bulawayo until an answer -had been received. I therefore spent Saturday night in bed, instead -of on horseback riding down the Mangwe road. About eight o'clock on -the following morning, Sunday, 19th April, a horse came galloping into -town riderless, and with its saddle and bridle covered with blood. -This horse was soon identified as having belonged to one of three men -of the Africander Corps, who had left Bulawayo on picket duty in the -neighbourhood of Government House on the preceding evening. It was -subsequently discovered that these poor fellows had been surprised and -killed by the Matabele early in the morning, two of their horses being -also killed or captured, whilst the third made good its escape and -galloped back into Bulawayo with a bullet-wound through its neck. The -names of the unfortunate men were Heinemann, Van Zyl, and Montgomerie. - -The excitement caused by this incident had scarcely subsided when news -was received that Colonel Napier's homestead at Maatjiumschlopay, only -about three miles to the south of the town, was being attacked by a -large force of Matabele. At this homestead there were a large number of -friendly natives, mostly armed with assegais, and also sixteen white -men who occupied a small fort which had been built on the top of a -small kopje overlooking the farm. - -The first news received was that the Matabele had carried off a lot of -cattle, killed a large number of the Friendlies, and were now besieging -the white men in their fort. A small force of mounted men was therefore -hastily got together and sent out to their assistance under Captain -Macfarlane. This force consisted of a troop of the Africander Corps -under Captain Pittendrigh, a few of Grey's Scouts, and some men of K -troop under Captain Reid; about sixty troopers all told, with a Maxim -gun in charge of Lieutenant Biscoe. It left town at about ten o'clock, -taking the Tuli road. - -At this time I had an appointment with Colonel Napier at his office, -to get the answer expected to the telegram sent the day before to -Mr. Vigers at Tati. However, on inquiry at the office, I found that -Colonel Napier was out, and that no reply had yet been received from -Tati. On asking where Colonel Napier was, I was told that he had -accompanied Captain Macfarlane. Now I had been requested not to leave -Bulawayo until Colonel Napier had communicated to me the contents of -the telegraphic message he was expecting from Tati, and therefore, -believing that he had gone out with Captain Macfarlane's patrol, and -that I would not be able to make a start for Matoli until he returned, -I thought that I might as well take a ride out and see what was going -on too. - -Major Armstrong very kindly lent me the pony which he had ridden from -Mangwe, which I knew was a very steady animal, trained for shooting. -It did not take me long to saddle up, and I was soon riding hard on -the tracks of Captain Macfarlane's troopers. I came up with them on -the race-course, not far beyond the suburban stands, and learned from -the officer in command that the attack on Maatjiumschlopay had been -repulsed by the Friendlies, with the assistance of the white men -in garrison there. The Matabele had not been in any force, and had -evidently intended to sweep off a herd of cattle which was kept on the -farm, and which the sixteen white men were there to protect. - -No doubt the rebels were ignorant of the presence of these latter, -for they cleared off when they were fired upon, hotly pursued by the -Friendlies, who overtook and killed six of their number with clubs and -assegais. - -As these marauders had had ample time to reach the thick bush bordering -the Umguza, where they would have been able to scatter and hide, -Captain Macfarlane determined to waste no time in pursuing them, but to -make a reconnaissance down the Umguza towards Government House, in the -hope of coming across a larger body of rebels who would be likely to -make a stand. - -We therefore crossed the Salisbury road and followed down the bank -of a stream which runs into the Umguza some two and a half miles -from Bulawayo, just beyond a deserted farmhouse belonging to Mr. -Colenbrander. The farmhouse stands on a rising piece of ground, in the -angle formed by the two streams, but is about 400 yards distant from -the Umguza, though close to its tributary. - -When we got near the farmhouse, being still on the near side of the -stream we had been following, some Colonial Boys, who proved to be -scouts sent out by Mr. Colenbrander, came up and informed Captain -Macfarlane that there were a lot of Matabele along the river, and that -a number of them had only just left the farmhouse opposite. - -The right-hand flanking party, under Lieutenant Hook, had now crossed -the stream, so I galloped after them to get a look round from the -high ground. Standing near the house, we could see large numbers of -Kafirs spread out in skirmishing order amongst the scrubby bush on -the farther side of the Umguza. As soon as they saw us, they at once -commenced their usual tactics, throwing out flanking parties on either -side, no doubt with the idea of surrounding us, whilst at the same time -skirmishers were sent forward from the centre, evidently to take up a -position in the bed of the river. - -At this moment a messenger arrived recalling Lieutenant Hook to the -other side of the stream, and upon riding through with him Captain -Macfarlane informed me that, having just heard that another impi was -approaching from the direction of Government House, he intended to take -up his position on a fairly open piece of ground, near the junction -of the smaller stream with the Umguza, and let the Kafirs attack him -there, his force being altogether too small to risk crossing to the -other side. - -As we advanced the Kafirs opened fire on us, and a skirmishing fight -soon commenced. I was asked to take a few of the Africanders across the -smaller stream, so as to keep the Kafirs from taking possession of it, -which I at once proceeded to do, but as I thus became separated from -the main body I can only give an account of our own little skirmish. - -As we rode up the rising ground beyond the stream, some Kafirs sent a -few bullets whizzing amongst us from the shelter of the river, and then -as we still advanced they very foolishly abandoned a good position and -ran up the farther bank, and then along the river in a line, and in -such a manner that if the one aimed at was missed, the next was very -likely to be hit. The men I had with me were all good shots, and I saw -several natives drop to our fire before they got round a bend of the -river. Keeping a sharp look-out on ahead, I noticed a lot more coming -down from the scrubby bush beyond it and crossing to our side, and -rightly divining that their object was to advance up the valley behind -the next ridge and then close in on us, I called to the few men with -me to gallop at once to the top of the rise to prevent being taken by -surprise and fired on from above. - -Just at this moment we were joined by Lieutenant Hook and a few more -men, and spreading out in skirmishing order, we rode to the top of the -rise. We were just in time to meet a number of Kafirs—I daresay fifty -or sixty altogether—making for the same position from the opposite -side. They were right in the open, the nearest being within 150 yards -of us. Some were armed with guns and rifles, but many of them had -nothing but assegais and shields. - -As soon as we appeared on the rise in front of them they all stopped, -and those with rifles fired on us, their bullets nearly all going high, -but on two of their number falling they commenced to retreat towards -a strip of thickish bush which ran from near the bank of the Umguza -river right up behind Colenbrander's farmhouse. This bush was about 400 -yards from the top of the ridge from which the men with me were firing, -and from its shelter a number of Kafirs were answering us and covering -the retreat of their men across the valley. However, as the horses -were quickly taken behind the ridge, and the men showed as little of -themselves as possible, their fire did us no harm. On the other hand, -several of the Kafirs fell to our shots before they reached the cover -of the bush. They made no attempt to run fast, but went off crouching -down at a slow trot. I myself was sitting down with my back against a -stone, and shooting as carefully as possible, when a bullet struck a -small stone close to my left foot and ricochetted with a loud buzzing -noise close past poor Pat Whelan, a brave son of Erin, who had been -with me on the first patrol to the Matopos, and who, having come out -from Bulawayo on this day for the fun of the thing, thought it his duty -to keep near me. "That was a fair buzzer," said Pat. - -The Kafirs were now calling to one another, or some one was giving -them orders in the bush, and we could see that they were all making -up within its shelter towards the farmhouse. Thinking that their idea -was to get behind it, and then fire on the position taken up by the -Maxim, I gave the word to the men with me to mount and take possession -of it first. This we promptly did, just getting there as the foremost -of the enemy were about half-way between the bush and the house. They -stopped and fired at us as before, and then retired to the bush again, -from which they kept up a fusillade on the house, which, however, -unless they had made a heavy rush, we could have held against them -if necessary; but just then Lieutenant Moffat came up with a message -from Captain Macfarlane, requesting me to retire on his position and -endeavour to draw the Kafirs on to the Maxim. - -As we withdrew from the house they at once came on out of the bush, -and when we got down to the stream they were already firing at us from -behind it, and, their advance not being opposed, some of them came -right down into the bed of the stream. - -At this time there was a really good chance for the Maxim to do some -execution, for although the Kafirs were nowhere in masses, there was -a straggling line of a couple of hundred of them right out in the -open, and not more than 400 yards from the gun. But when the word was -given to fire it most unfortunately jammed at the sixth shot, and the -Kafirs had to be driven back by rifle fire. The cause of the mishap was -that a cartridge-case had broken off at the rim in the barrel of the -Maxim, rendering it for the time being useless. The natives now again -commenced to try and get round us on both sides, and it being reported -that the other impi was advancing from the direction of Government -House, Captain Macfarlane gave the word to retire. - -At this time I was with Captain Reid and the men of his troop, helping -to keep the Kafirs from crossing the Umguza at a point where they were -trying to do so a few hundred yards below us, and it was here that a -man named Boyes, of the Africander Corps, was killed. He, with another -man, seems to have gone down close to where the smaller stream joined -the river, and was shot from the cover of the bank right through the -chest, his horse being shot at the same time I think. He fell dead at -once, and his companion galloped back to the main body. - -Captain Macfarlane was already retiring, and the order had come to -Captain Reid to do the same, acting as flanking party to the right of -the main body. Unfortunately, the death of Boyes was not reported to -the commanding officer until the patrol was half-way to Bulawayo, so -that the poor fellow's corpse fell into the hands of the Kafirs. The -only other casualty was one man badly wounded in the knee. Considering -the number of bullets that pass pretty near to every one engaged in a -small skirmish such as I have described, it is wonderful how few men -get actually hit. The fact seems to be that in a running fight, when -they are flurried and hustled, Kafirs cannot get the time they require -to take good aim, and if you are near them they always shoot over you. -The golden rule is to scatter out, each man firing independently in the -Boer fashion. - -But although Kafirs shoot very badly if hurried and kept moving, many -of them are very fair shots if they can get all the time they require -for aiming, as they can in hilly country, where they can take up -positions behind rocks, from which they can fire at their enemy at -their leisure and without exposing themselves. - -On the day of which I have been speaking, some of them with whom my -little advanced party was engaged were firing at us with some very -peculiar bullets, which I think had probably been made by first putting -a stone into the mould, and then pouring lead on to it, forming a very -rough irregular projectile. At any rate you could hear these bullets -coming on with a loud buzzing noise, which increased in intensity until -they passed with a peculiar whizzing sound. The trouble was one did not -know which way to dodge, for as you could hear them approaching but -could not see them, it would have been as easy to dodge into one as out -of its way. - -As our small force retired the bush became more and more open, so the -Kafirs made no attempt to follow us. I do not think that they realised -that the Maxim was out of order, and if not they probably thought that -the retreat was a ruse to draw them into more open ground. What their -losses were it is difficult to say, but I think that the small advance -party to which I had attached myself could not have killed less than -twenty; indeed, I think I saw quite that number fall. My friend Pat -Whelan had fired away almost all his cartridges, and on examining my -belt I found that I had nineteen less than I came out with. - -However, the Kafirs again retained their position, and it was evident -that their numbers were so great—we having only engaged their advanced -skirmishing line—that it would not be safe to cross the Umguza and -attack them on their own ground without a considerable force, both of -foot and horsemen; the latter to work in the more open ground, and the -former to drive them out of patches of bush. - -Before returning to Bulawayo, Captain Macfarlane took a sweep round -across the open ground in the direction of Dr. Sauer's house, and we -there came in sight of the impi which had been reported early in the -day. The main body was standing in a dense black mass on the top of a -ridge just below Government House, their skirmishing lines being thrown -out on either side, and in advance of the centre. Now the fact that -this impi had stood idly by, not exactly watching, but at any rate -listening to the firing that had been going on during the skirmish -between their compatriots and the white men, shows, I think, the -extraordinary want of combination amongst them, of which I have before -spoken, and which has been one of the features of this campaign. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - - A force under command of Colonel Napier sent against the - rebels at the Umguza—Force retire without fighting—I obtain - leave to join a patrol sent out to the Umguza under Captain - Bisset—Matabele dispute our advance—I attack Kafirs' centre - with Colonial Boys—Matabele centre driven back—John Grootboom's - escape—Matabele in flight—A good chance lost—I receive orders - to retire—I dismount to get a shot—My horse bolts and leaves - me—Nearly caught by Matabele—Windley comes to my rescue—Windley's - horse refuses to carry double—Reach the Colonial Boys and am - saved by Captain Windley's courage and self-denial—Baxter's - gallant action—Gallantry and devotion to one another of Captain - Grey's officers and men—Patrol retires to Bulawayo. - - -On the way back to Bulawayo we were met by Colonel Napier and Captain -Nicholson, and it was arranged that as strong a force as could be -spared from the town should be sent out again to the Umguza on the -morrow, under the command of the former gentleman. Accordingly, at -about eleven o'clock on Monday, 20th April, a force of two hundred -and thirty white men and one hundred colonial natives, all told, left -Bulawayo for the scene of the previous day's skirmish. With the force -were a seven-pounder, a Hotchkiss, and a Maxim. Captain Macfarlane had -command of the right flank, and Captain Van Niekerk of the left; whilst -I was in charge of a detachment of men on foot, drawn from various -corps, and a body of Colenbrander's natives were under the command of -Captain Cardigan. - -This was a most disappointing day for all those who wanted a little -excitement, as the Matabele and the officers commanding our column -were at cross purposes; the former wanting the white men to cross the -river and fight them in the bush, and the latter being in favour of the -Kafirs coming through to their side, and attacking a position defended -with artillery. The result was that there was no fight. - -The decision not to cross the Umguza may have been a wise one, but -it was not popular with the men, who marched back to town in a very -dejected frame of mind; so strong was the feeling, indeed, that it -was decided to send out another patrol to the Umguza on the following -Wednesday, and as I was anxious to see a good blow struck at them, I -asked Mr. Duncan and Colonel Napier to give me another day's leave -of absence from my work of superintending the building of forts and -patrolling along the Mangwe road, in order that I might take part in -the engagement. At the same time I sent a wire to Captain Molyneux at -Fig Tree, requesting him to forward instructions to Lieutenant Grenfell -at Matoli to march back with the men of my troop to Mabukitwani, where -it had been decided that we were to build a fort, and where I undertook -to meet him, unless anything unforeseen should happen, on Thursday -evening. - -Thus on Wednesday morning, 22nd April, for the fourth time a small -force marched out of Bulawayo, in order to try and dislodge the Kafirs -from their position on the Umguza, in the immediate vicinity of the -town. This patrol was put under the command of Captain Bisset, a -gentleman who had had some previous experience of native warfare in -Basutoland and Zululand. - -The patrol consisted of twenty Scouts under Captain Grey; forty men -under Captain Van Niekerk; twenty under Captain Meikle, and twenty -under Captain Brand, making, with some twenty others unattached, about -one hundred and twenty mounted men, with a Hotchkiss and a Maxim under -Lieutenant Walsh. Besides these mounted troops, there were a detachment -of one hundred colonial Kafirs and Zulus recruited by Mr. Colenbrander, -and some friendly Kafirs who, however, were only armed with assegais, -and who took no part in the fight. I was asked to take command of the -Colonial Boys, which I could hardly do, as they had their own trusted -officers with them, but I accompanied these gentlemen, and undertook -to assist them in leading their men to the attack. Dr. Vigne went in -charge of the ambulance waggon which accompanied the patrol. - -After much valuable time had been lost in looking for the impi which -was said to be behind the brickfields, but which as a matter of fact -had never been there, we turned towards the Umguza, passing at the -back of Government House. Here an accident occurred to the Hotchkiss -limber carriage, which delayed us for more than an hour, and although -the broken shaft was temporarily tied up with a chain, so that the gun -could be drawn along, it was rendered useless for action until the -damage done could be properly repaired. - -On proceeding we changed our direction and made straight for the -Umguza, and it was soon evident that the Kafirs intended to dispute our -advance, as they commenced to fire on us from the low ridges covered -with scrubby bush which here border the river on both sides. Captain -Van Niekerk and his Africanders were soon hotly engaged on the left -flank, and as the Kafirs were in possession of some ridges just in -front of us as well, I was asked to advance with the Colonial Boys -from the centre, and endeavour to chase them across the river. My -instructions were to attack and, if possible, drive them before me, but -to retire on the guns if I found them too strong. - -The boys came on capitally, led by their officers, who were all -mounted, and we soon drove all the Matabele in this part of the field -through the Umguza, and following them up at once, pursued them for -about a mile over some stony ridges covered with scrubby bush. - -Up to this time I had not fired a shot, as I had been principally -engaged in encouraging the Colonial Boys to come on quickly and give -our enemies no breathing time. But by this time we had got right up -amongst them, and I began to use my rifle. - -A number of the Matabele had built little fortifications of loose -stones near the bank of the river, from behind the shelter of which -they fired on us; but the warlike Amakosa and Zulus charged them most -gallantly, and engaging them hand to hand drove them out of their -shelters into the river, and killed many of them in the water. Several -of the Colonial Boys were here wounded with assegais and axes, but none -were killed. - -It was at this time that I saw John Grootboom, a Xosa Kafir—who has -distinguished himself for bravery on many occasions both during the -first war and the present campaign—galloping after a Matabele just in -front of me, who was armed only with assegais and shield. As the horse -came upon him he ducked down, and only just escaped a blow on the head -from John's rifle, which was dealt with such vigour that the rider lost -his balance and fell off, and his foot catching in the stirrup, he was -dragged along the road for some yards. If the Matabele had but kept his -presence of mind and been quick, he might have assegaied his antagonist -easily, and possibly would have done so had not Captain Fynn and myself -been close to him. - -We had now got the Matabele fairly on the run in our part of the field, -and the only ones who were still firing at us were a party who had -taken shelter in a bend of the river under cover of the bank, some -three hundred yards ahead of us. I was just going with some of the -Colonial Boys to dislodge them, when I saw Grey's Scouts charging down -on them from the other side of the river. Finding themselves attacked -from this quarter, the Matabele left their cover and ran out into -the open in large numbers, exposing themselves to a heavy fire which -thinned their ranks every instant. - -The position was now this.—The Matabele had been driven from the banks -of the river, and two or three hundred of them, panic-stricken and -demoralised, were running in a crowd across some undulating ground, but -scantily covered with bush, and had only Captain Meikle and Captain -Brand been sent in support of the Colonial Boys and the Scouts, they -might have galloped in amongst them, and could not have failed to kill -a very large number of them. But no; although these officers and their -men were chafing and cursing at their enforced inactivity, they were -kept idly standing round the Maxim doing nothing, which was all the -more inexcusable as Captain Van Niekerk with his forty Africanders had -by this time silenced the enemy's fire on the left flank, and there was -no farther apprehension of any heavy attack from that quarter. At any -rate, one of the best chances of inflicting a heavy loss on the rebels -which has occurred during the campaign was not taken advantage of. - -At this time, that is just when Grey's Scouts were driving the Matabele -out of the river, some one told me that an order had come recalling the -Colonial Boys, so I galloped along the line of those that were farthest -in advance, and told them that the order had been given to retire. Then -I thought that before going back myself I would gallop forwards and try -and get a shot or two at some of the Kafirs armed with guns, who were -retreating from the fire of Grey's Scouts. - -In front of me lay a piece of perfectly open ground extending along -the Umguza, some 200 yards broad, whilst from the edge of the open to -the left the country was undulating and very scantily covered with low -bush. The pony I was riding was the same that had been lent to me on -the previous Sunday, and he had proved himself so absolutely steady, -with rifles going off all round him, and bullets pinging and buzzing -past him, that the last thing I thought of was that he might now play -me false and run away. However this is what happened. I had dismounted -and was sitting down to get a steady shot when some one said close -behind me, "Look out, they're coming down on us from the left." I -did not know that any one was near me, but on getting up and looking -round, saw one of the officers of the Colonial Boys—now Captain, then -Lieutenant Windley—close behind me. At the same time I saw Grey's -Scouts retreating on the other side of the river, and recognised that -Windley and I were a long way ahead of John Grootboom and five or six -other Xosa Kafirs, who were the only members of the corps I could see, -and who were also retiring; whilst I also saw that some of the Matabele -we had been chasing had rallied, and seeing two white men alone, were -coming down on us as hard as they could, with the evident intention of -cutting off our retreat. However, they were still some 250 yards from -us, and could I but have mounted my pony, we could have galloped away -from them and rejoined the Colonial Boys easily enough. - -A few bullets were again beginning to ping past us, so I did not want -to lose any time, but before I could take my pony by the bridle he -suddenly threw up his head, and spinning round trotted off, luckily -running in the direction from which we had come. Being so very steady -a pony, I imagine that a bullet must have grazed him and startled him -into playing me this sorry trick at such a very inconvenient moment. -"Come on as hard as you can, and I'll catch your horse and bring him -back to you," said Windley, and started off after the faithless steed. -But the brute would not allow himself to be caught, and when his -pursuer approached him, broke from a trot into a gallop, and finally -showed a clean pair of heels. - -When my pony went off with Windley after him, leaving me, comparatively -speaking, _planté là_, the Kafirs thought they had got me, and -commenced to shout out encouragingly to one another and also to make -a kind of hissing noise, like the word "jee" long drawn out. All this -time I was running as hard as I could after Windley and my runaway -horse. As I ran carrying my rifle at the trail, I felt in my bandoleer -with my left hand to see how many cartridges were still at my disposal, -and found that I had fired away all but two of the thirty I had come -out with, one being left in the belt and the other in my rifle. -Glancing round, I saw that the foremost Kafirs were gaining on me fast, -though had this incident occurred in 1876 instead of 1896, with the -start I had got I would have run away from any of them. - -Windley, after galloping some distance, realised that it was useless -wasting any more time trying to catch my horse, and like a good fellow -came back to help me; and had he not done so, let me here say that -the present history would never have been written, for nothing could -possibly have saved me from being overtaken, surrounded, and killed. -When Windley came up to me he said "Get up behind me; there's no time -to lose," and pulled his foot out of the left stirrup for me to mount. -Without any unnecessary loss of time, I caught hold of the pommel of -the saddle, and got my foot into the iron, but it seemed to me that my -weight might pull Windley and the saddle right round, so, as a glance -over my shoulder showed me that the foremost Kafirs were now within -100 yards of us, I hastily pulled my foot out of the stirrup again, -and shifting my rifle to my left hand caught hold of the thong round -the horse's neck with my right, and told Windley to let him go. He -was a big strong animal, and as, by keeping my arm well bent, I held -my body close up to him, he got me along at a good pace, and we began -to gain on the Kafirs. They now commenced to shoot, but being more or -less blown by hard running, they shot very badly, though they put the -bullets all about us. Two struck just by my foot, and one knocked the -heel of Windley's boot off. If they could only have hit the horse, they -would have got both of us. - -After having gained a little on our pursuers, Windley, thinking I -must have been getting done up, asked me to try again to mount behind -him: no very easy matter when you have a big horse to get on to and -are holding a rifle in your right hand. However, with a desperate -effort I got up behind him; but the horse, being unaccustomed to such -a proceeding, immediately commenced to buck, and in spite of spurring -would not go forwards, and the Kafirs, seeing our predicament, raised a -yell and came on again with renewed ardour. - -Seeing that if I stuck on the horse behind Windley we should both of -us very soon lose our lives, I flung myself off in the middle of a -buck, and landed right on the back of my neck and shoulders. Luckily -I was not stunned or in any way hurt, and was on my legs and ready to -run again with my hand on the thong round the horse's neck in a very -creditably short space of time. My hat had fallen off, but I never left -go of my rifle, and as I didn't think it quite the best time to be -looking for a hat, I left it, all adorned with the colours of my troop -as it was, to be picked up by the enemy, by whom it has no doubt been -preserved as a souvenir of my presence amongst them. - -And now another spurt brought us almost up to John Grootboom and the -five or six Colonial Boys who were with him, and I called to John to -halt the men and check the Matabele who were pursuing us, by firing a -volley past us at them. This they did, and it at once had the desired -effect, the Kafirs who were nearest to us hanging back and waiting for -those behind to join them. In the meantime Windley and I joined John -Grootboom's party, and old John at once gave me his horse, which, as -I was very much exhausted and out of breath, I was very glad to get. -Indeed I was so tired by the hardest run I had ever had since my old -elephant-hunting days, that it was quite an effort to mount. I was now -safe, except that a few bullets were buzzing about, for soon after -getting up to John Grootboom we joined the main body of the Colonial -Boys, and then, keeping the Matabele at bay, retired slowly towards the -position defended by the Maxim. Our enemies, who had been so narrowly -baulked of their expected prey, followed us to the top of a rise, well -within range of the gun, but disappeared immediately a few sighting -shots were fired at them. - -Thus ended a very disagreeable little experience, which but for the -cool courage of Captain Windley would undoubtedly have ended fatally -to myself. Like many brave men, Captain Windley is so modest that I -should probably offend him were I to say very much about him; but at -any rate I shall never forget the service he did me at the risk of his -own life that day on the Umguza, whilst the personal gallantry he has -always shown throughout the present campaign as a leader of our native -allies has earned for him such respect and admiration that they have -nicknamed him "Inkunzi," the Bull, the symbol of strength and courage. -But Captain Windley was not the only man who performed a brave and -self-denying deed on this somewhat eventful day, as I shall now proceed -to relate. - -When the Scouts were recalled, and commenced to retire from the Umguza, -after having driven a body of natives from its shelter, as I have -already related, they were suddenly fired on by a party of Matabele -who had taken up a position amongst some bush to the left of their -line of retreat. The foremost amongst the Scouts galloped past this -ambush, but Captain Grey with a few of those in the rear halted and -returned the enemy's fire. Trooper Wise was the first man hit, and -seems to have received his wound from behind just as he was mounting -his horse, as the bullet struck him high in the back, and travelling -up the shoulder-blade, came out near the collar-bone. At this instant -Wise's horse stumbled, and then, recovering himself, broke away from -its rider, galloping straight back to town, and leaving the wounded -man on the ground. A brave fellow named Baxter at once dismounted and -put Wise on his own horse, thus saving the latter's life, but, as it -proved, thereby sacrificing his own. Captain Grey and Lieutenant Hook -at once went to Baxter's assistance, and they got him along as fast -as they could, but the Kafirs had now closed on them, and were firing -out of the bush at very close quarters. Lieutenant Hook was shot from -behind, the bullet entering the right buttock and coming out near -the groin, but most luckily, though severing the sciatic nerve, just -missing both the thigh-bone and the femoral artery. Nearly at the same -time, too, a bullet just grazed Captain Grey's forehead, half-stunning -him for an instant. "Texas" Long, a well-known member of the Scouts, -then went to Baxter's assistance, and was helping him along, when a -bullet struck the dismounted man in the side, and he at once let go of -Long's stirrup leather and fell to the ground. No further assistance -was then possible, and poor Baxter was killed by the Kafirs immediately -afterwards. Whilst these brave deeds were being performed, Lieutenant -Fred Crewe, with some others of the Scouts, amongst whom I may mention -Button and Radermayer, were keeping the Kafirs in check and covering -the retreat of the wounded men. Just as Lieutenant Hook got near to -Crewe, his horse was shot through the fetlock and buttock at the same -time, and rolling over, threw Hook to the ground, causing him at the -same time to drop his rifle. Hook got on his legs and was hobbling -forwards when Crewe said to him, "Why don't you pick up your rifle?" "I -can't," was the answer; "I'm too badly wounded." "Are you wounded, old -chap?" said Crewe; "then take my horse, and I'll try and get out of it -on foot." Crewe then assisted Hook to mount his horse, and fought his -way back on foot, only escaping with his life by a miracle, keeping -several Kafirs who were very near him, but who had no guns, at bay with -his revolver, whilst he retreated backwards. So near were these men to -him, that one of them, as he turned, threw a heavy knob-kerry at him, -which struck him a severe blow in the back. Nothing could have saved -him had not the Kafirs been constantly kept in check by the steady fire -of Radermayer, Button, Jack Stuart, and others of the Scouts, and also -by a cross-fire from some of the Colonial Boys, directed by Captain -Fynn and Lieutenant Mullins. - -The splendid gallantry and devotion to one another shown by Captain -Grey and his officers and men on this day will ever be remembered in -Rhodesia as amongst the bravest of the brave deeds performed by the -Colonists in the suppression of the present rebellion. Such acts, too, -speak for themselves, and bear eloquent if silent testimony against the -cruel and malicious calumnies on the character of the white settlers -in Matabeleland which have so frequently disgraced the pages of a -widely-read, if generally-despised, weekly journal. - -As soon as Grey's Scouts and the Colonial Boys had reached the guns, -these latter were limbered up and the whole patrol retired slowly on -Bulawayo, the Matabele making no attempt to follow. Indeed their loss -must have been severe, and had Grey's Scouts and the Colonial Boys only -been supported instead of being recalled, the Matabele would never -have rallied, but would have been kept on the run and killed in large -numbers by the mounted men. At least this is my view, and it has been -thoroughly borne out by the experience gained in subsequent fights -during this campaign. - -Our loss on this day was, Baxter killed and Wise and Hook wounded -amongst Grey's Scouts, while five or six of the Colonial Boys were -wounded, but none dangerously. Wise has long ago recovered from his -wound, and Lieutenant Hook is on a fair way to do so. I have forgotten -to mention that my horse must have been captured by the Matabele, as he -did not return to Bulawayo, and has not since been heard of. The lucky -savage into whose hands he fell became possessed at the same time of a -very good saddle and bridle, and a brand new Government coat. - - - - -CHAPTER XX - - Telegraph wire to Fig Tree Fort cut—Patrol sent out to escort - coach—I join Captain Mainwaring's patrol—Repair telegraph wire—I - rejoin my troop at Dawe's store—Two murdered white men found near - Bulawayo—Fort Marquand—Lieutenant Grenfell's account of the fight - at Umguza. - - -On our arrival in town we heard that the wire was down or had been -cut by the natives between Bulawayo and Fig Tree Fort. A patrol was -therefore at once organised to proceed along the telegraph line, repair -the break, and then go on to Fig Tree in order to act as an escort back -to town for a coach now due containing a large and valuable consignment -of rifles. This patrol was under the command of Captain Mainwaring, -and consisted of thirty-five men of his own troop of the Bulawayo -Police Force, and twenty-two men of the Matabele Mounted Police under -Inspector Southey. - -Being due at Mabukitwani on Thursday evening, I left town early on the -morning of that day, and joining Captain Mainwaring travelled with -him down the telegraph line. We found the wire broken about three and -a half miles from Bulawayo. One of the poles had been chopped down -evidently with small-bladed native axes, whilst the wire itself had -been cut and the insulator broken. - -After the wire had been repaired we continued our journey, and reached -the Khami river at about 2 P.M., where we remained till about seven -o'clock. Then, both horses and men being rested and refreshed, we -saddled-up and rode on to Mr. Dawe's store, which is about half a -mile from the old kraal of Mabukitwani. Here I heard that Lieutenant -Grenfell had arrived with my troop from Matoli the same evening, and -was encamped near the mule stable on the further side of the stream; so -bidding good-bye to Captain Mainwaring, who decided to camp near the -store, I at once rejoined my own men. - -On the following morning Captain Mainwaring proceeded to Fig Tree, -where he had not to wait long for the coach which he had come to meet, -as he got back to my camp with it on Saturday evening. There were 123 -rifles on board from which the locks and pins had been taken—each man -of the escort carrying three of each—in order that, in the event of the -coach being captured by an overwhelming force of Matabele, the rifles -should be useless to them. However, both coach and escort reached -Bulawayo safely, no rebels having been met with. - -When about four miles from town they discovered the bodies of two white -men lying on the roadside about 150 yards from their waggon. They had -evidently been surprised by the rebels, and had made a bolt for life -towards the road. The bodies had been terribly mutilated and hacked -about, and seemed to have been lying where they were found for at -least forty-eight hours. They were examined by Captain Mainwaring and -Inspector Southey, as was also the waggon, but nothing was discovered -by which to identify the murdered men except a branding iron. It was, -however, subsequently ascertained that they were two Dutch transport -riders named Potgieter and Fourie. - -Strangely enough, these are the only white men who have been murdered -on the main road from Bulawayo to Mafeking during the present -insurrection, and it is noteworthy that they were not travelling -along the road, but had been living for some time in their waggon some -little distance away from it. I have no doubt that they were murdered -by the party of rebels by whom the telegraph wire was cut on Wednesday, -22nd April. These men probably discovered their whereabouts the same -evening, and were thus able to surprise and murder them during the -night, or more probably at daylight on the following morning. The -murderers were followers of Babian, one of the two envoys who visited -England with Mr. E. A. Maund in 1899. The second envoy, Umsheti, is -dead, or he, too, would be found in the ranks of the insurgents. - -On Friday morning Lieutenant Grenfell and Mr. Norton rode into Bulawayo -on business, and on the following day the former gentleman took part -in the memorable fight with the Matabele on the Umguza, when for the -first time the rebels were driven from their position in the immediate -vicinity of the town, near Government House, which they have never -since reoccupied. - -During Mr. Grenfell's absence, Messrs. Blöcker, Marquand, and myself -chose a site for a fort on a kopje near the site of the old kraal -of Mabukitwani, from the top of which a magnificent view of the -surrounding country was obtainable, whilst with a certain amount of -work the kopje itself could be turned into an impregnable fortress. Now -that work has been accomplished, and Fort Marquand will long remain as -a memento of the present struggle in Matabeleland. I christened it Fort -Marquand, after my lieutenant of that name, whom, he being an architect -by profession, I put in charge of the working parties, so that the -fort was built entirely under his direction and superintendence, and -whosoever may care to examine it will see for himself that it is a very -good fort, built with great care and sagacity. - -[Illustration: FORT MARQUAND, ON THE ROAD BETWEEN BULAWAYO AND MANGWE; -WITH A PORTION OF H TROOP OF THE BULAWAYO FIELD FORCE IN THE FOREGROUND. - -1. The Author (commanding H Troop). - -2. Lieutenant Claud Grenfell. - -3. Lieutenant Marquand (who superintended the building of the Fort). - -4. Lieutenant H. H. Blöcker. - -5. Sergeant-Major Robertson, standing behind Author. - -6. Sergeant Gates, standing behind Lieut. C. Grenfell. - -7. Sergeant Norton, standing behind Lieut. Marquand.] - -On Monday evening Lieutenant Grenfell and Mr. Norton returned to -Mabukitwani, in company with a detachment of the Africander Corps which -had been sent down under Commandant Barnard to meet Earl Grey, who was -expected by the next coach. From Lieutenant Grenfell and Commandant -Barnard and his men I heard all about the fight on the previous day -at the Umguza, as they had all taken part in it. All agreed that -the Kafirs had suffered very heavy loss, and been most signally -discomfited, and Lieutenant Grenfell was kind enough to write for me -the following account of the engagement:— - -"On Friday, 24th of April, it was not difficult to discern that a -determined move against the Kafirs on the Umguza was in contemplation. -The situation was getting unbearable, the town being surrounded by the -Matabele, and the operations against them with a view to clearing the -country round Bulawayo not having hitherto been at all successful. In -fact, an uncomfortable feeling was prevalent that we were in process of -being closed in upon every side. - -"It was therefore with great satisfaction that we learnt this Friday -night that Captain Macfarlane was to be given as many men as could be -spared, two guns, and a free hand, and go out in the morning. Great was -the scrimmaging for horses among the unattached, unexpectedly sudden -the popularity of the remount officer. There is a good deal to be said -in favour of fighting when the state of affairs is such that you can -go out after morning coffee to a certain find, with every chance of a -gallop and a kill, and return to a late breakfast at say 2 P.M. There -were rumours, too, that this time we really meant business, and that -the natives would be encouraged to surround us on all sides, in order -to give every opportunity to the machine guns and rifle fire. - -"Such were the directions actually given by Captain Macfarlane to -his officers, when on the march, and the tactics proved to be sound -enough. The patrol consisted of 35 Grey's Scouts under Captain Grey; -25 B troop under Captain Fynn; 15 of Captain Dawson's troop; 35 of the -Africander Corps under Commandant Van Rensburg; 100 Colenbrander's Cape -Boys under Captain Cardigan, and 60 to 70 Friendlies under Chief Native -Commissioner Taylor; 1 Hotchkiss and 1 Maxim under Captain Rixon, and -an ambulance with stretchers under Dr. Vigne; making in all some 120 -whites and about 170 Colonial Boys and Friendlies all told, all under -the command of Captain Macfarlane. Mr. Duncan, Colonel Spreckley, -Captain Nicholson, Town Major Scott, Captain Wrey, and several other -unattached officers and scouts, also accompanied the force. It is worth -mentioning that Messrs. F. G. Hammond, Stewart, Anderson, Farquhar jr., -and two or three more, shouldered their rifles and marched out on foot, -in order to participate in the day's work. - -[Illustration: CAPTAIN R. MACFARLANE.] - -"The patrol left Bulawayo at 7.30 in the morning of the 25th of April, -and proceeded in a north-easterly direction, taking the road to the -right of the scene of the recent engagements on the Umguza river. The -Scouts went on ahead as usual, the Africanders opening out on the left, -and Captain Dawson taking command of the right flanking party, the guns -bringing up the rear with an ambulance waggon and the Friendlies. This -order was kept until a small bare eminence was reached on which stood -four old walls, the wreck of a small farmhouse some three miles out of -Bulawayo. There was a circuit of bush in front of this position, then -the Umguza river, and beyond that rocky ground with thick bush rising -from the river, the lines of the native "scherms" showing up black on -the heights in the distance. - -"Up to now nothing had been seen of the enemy, only some smoke from -their fires. The Scouts rode down to the river with orders to draw -the enemy on, while the rest of the men took up their places round -the two guns. The position was very suitable for both the Maxim and -the Hotchkiss; but afforded absolutely no cover for the men. The -rebels, several hundred in number, no sooner saw the Scouts than they -streamed down to the river, shouting out a loud challenge to come on, -which was answered by our side. The Scouts drew back slowly, bringing -the Kafirs well on, but were finally driven in on our position with -a rush, and the Kafirs pulled up about 200 yards off in the bush, -firing very rapidly. Bullets of all sorts came whistling along, from -elephant-guns, Martinis, Winchesters, and Lee-Metfords, and for about -an hour things were decidedly unpleasant, though up to this time we had -only one man killed and one wounded. Our firing was incessant, and the -shooting, though mostly at long range, very steady, and as effective -probably as our exposed position and the cover afforded our assailants -by the bush would allow. After the rebels had made two determined -efforts to approach the Maxim, in both of which they were foiled, their -fire slackened, and they apparently sent their best marksmen to the -front to see what they could do. - -"At this juncture, however, Captain Macfarlane ordered the Africanders -to charge those on our left, and the brilliant manner in which this was -carried out will not soon be forgotten by those who witnessed it. The -enemy had cover here behind some rocky ridges, but the Africanders rode -them out of this ground in the cheeriest way possible—they use rather -more "noise" fighting than the Britishers do—and sent them flying over -the river, killing no fewer than seventy-four at the crossing, and -completely breaking up that wing of the enemy's line. The Hotchkiss -planted several shells very well among the flying natives; whilst on -our side only one horse was lost in the charge. - -"About this time the Scouts were ordered to drive off the rebels to -our front, and in this they succeeded admirably, but owing to the -bad ground they had three men wounded. Lovett was shot here, and -subsequently died from the effects of his wound, whilst John Grootboom, -a very plucky colonial native, well known in Rhodesia, was also hit in -two places while trying to drive some natives out of a donga. - -"Meanwhile Captain Dawson with his men on the right had been holding -his own under a galling fire in open ground, unable to have a good shot -at the enemy who were in the bush. They were having a very warm time -of it, and had lost two men killed and one wounded, when Burnham was -ordered to clear the bush with 100 of the Taylor's Friendlies, wearing -red capes and carrying assegais. The charge was successful, and, backed -up by Captain Taylor and Colenbrander's Cape Boys armed with rifles, -the Friendlies cleared the bush and relieved Dawson from the hidden -enemy. - -"About this time a message arrived from Captain Colenbrander that a -fresh impi from the west meant to attack us, and sure enough they -turned up very soon after, but seeing how the others had fared they -kept fully half a mile off, sending a number of shots after the -Africanders, whom they tried to cut off. The Maxim and Hotchkiss, -however, kept them from coming nearer. The main body of the enemy -having now partially reformed, the Africanders went to assist the -Scouts, and the enemy were driven off fully two miles, one of our men -and one horse being wounded in the sortie. - -"Captain Macfarlane thought it was now time to get home, as the wounded -would take some time to see to, and there was a chance of his having -to fight his way back to town; so orders were given for the ambulance -to prepare to return to Bulawayo, and the whole column marched back -in good order, having had by far the most successful day since the -commencement of the rebellion. Our loss was four white men killed -and four wounded, two Cape Boys and one Friendly wounded, one horse -and one mule killed. It is very difficult to estimate the number of -natives engaged, but there were probably at least as many as 2000 in -all opposed to us. How many were killed it is difficult to say, but -from the bodies which were counted, and from the reports of the wounded -brought in by Captain Colenbrander and his boys, who were over the -ground in the afternoon, the enemy's loss must have been considerable. -A vidette party of four mounted men, who were sent out to Government -House in the morning, allowed themselves to be surprised and -surrounded by the rebels, and one, unfortunately, got killed, namely -Trooper B. Parsons of D troop, the other three just escaping with their -lives. - -"After the return of the column in the afternoon from the Umguza, a -small patrol under Lieutenant Boggie, consisting of thirty dismounted -men of C troop, fifty of Colenbrander's Cape Boys, and ten of Grey's -Scouts mounted, with one Maxim gun, went out in the direction of -Sauer's house, and turning to the left, past Government House and -Gifford's house, picked up Trooper Parsons' body, and returned to town -via the Brickfields, not having seen any of the enemy. A seven-pounder -was placed in position on the rise at the back of Williams' buildings, -trained ready on to the ridge at the left of Government House, in order -to shell the position if necessary. After the return of the patrol the -Observatory reported the appearance of a large body of the rebels, who -came over the ridge to the east of Government House down as far as the -spruit. Trooper Edward Appleyard, seriously wounded on the Umguza in -the morning, died on Saturday night, and at 11.30 on Sunday morning his -body, together with those of Troopers Whitehouse, Gordon, and Parsons, -was accorded a military funeral." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - - Hand over the command of Fort Marquand to Lieutenant - Grenfell—Proceed towards Bulawayo—Fort at Wilson's farm—Umguza - fight the first Matabele defeat—Murder of eight coolies on the - outskirts of Bulawayo—Arrival of Earl Grey at Bulawayo—Matabele - threaten Fort Dawson—Captain Molyneux's farm destroyed—I - am sent to Khami river to build a fort—Meet Cornelius Van - Rooyen—Marzwe orders his people to come to Fort Mabukitwani for - protection—Marzwe's kraal attacked, and all his people reported - murdered—I start with my men to visit Marzwe's kraal—Rebels - defeated by Marzwe's people, and prisoners and cattle - recaptured—We return to the fort—I am ordered to collect a force, - and march to Bulawayo—Changes in the command of the forts—Reach - Bulawayo with my force. - - -Lieutenant Grenfell having brought me a despatch on Monday evening, -acquainting me that my presence was again required in Bulawayo, I -handed over the command of Fort Marquand to him on the following -morning, and rode in to town alone, meeting Lieutenant Parkin and a -second escort which had been sent down to meet Earl Grey at the Khami -river. - -On arriving at Matabele, Wilson's farm, six miles from Bulawayo, I -found Captain Dawson with his troop and a lot of the "Friendlies" -busily engaged in building a fort on a commanding position some four -hundred yards away from the homestead and mule stables. With Captain -Dawson, too, were my old friends, the well-known American Scouts -Burnham and Ingram, and that very plucky English Scout Mr. Swinburne. - -Although this detachment had only arrived here on the previous day, -very considerable progress had already been made with the fort, which I -was very pleased to find was being built at this place, as I had long -advocated it, as also that another should be established at the Khami -river, about half-way between Wilson's farm and Fort Marquand. - -This last link in the chain of forts between Bulawayo and Mangwe did -not come into existence until some few days later, and only then could -it be said that it was possible to have the road properly patrolled. -Whilst resting my horse for half an hour at Dawson's Fort I heard more -details from him and the Scouts concerning the fight on the Umguza on -the previous Saturday, which they considered to be the greatest reverse -which the Matabele had yet suffered; or perhaps it would be fairer to -say the only reverse, since, although, in every encounter their losses -must have been very heavy compared with those of the whites, yet this -was the first time that they had deemed it expedient to retreat from -their position after the fight was over. - -On reaching Bulawayo, however, I found that, although the impis which -for the last ten days had been encamped along the Umguza in the -immediate neighbourhood of the town had now moved some miles farther -down the river, yet parties of them were still hanging about ready to -murder any defenceless persons that they might be able to surprise, -even on the very outskirts of the town, as was sufficiently proved by -the fact that on the very morning of my arrival, that is on Tuesday, -28th April, several coolies had been murdered in their vegetable -gardens just beyond the native location. - -The following account of this affair I have taken over from the -_Matabele Times_ of 2nd May, by kind permission of the editor: "On -their arrival in camp on Tuesday morning after night duty in the -laager, the Mounted Police found a number of terrified coolies -awaiting them, who informed them that they had been attacked by a large -body of Matabele at their vegetable gardens, situated about two miles -beyond the Matabele Mounted Police camp, and that eight of their number -had been murdered. Some twelve or fifteen of the police promptly seized -their rifles and bandoleers, and proceeded—on their own accord—in -skirmishing order to the scene of the massacre, which they reached -after a sharp twenty minutes' walk. The enemy had disappeared from -sight, but the tale of those coolies who had been fortunate enough to -escape proved only too true. No less than eight coolies, including one -young woman, were found lying foully murdered in different parts of the -gardens, and every one, though pierced through over and over again with -assegai stabs, was still warm. This proves that the enemy must have -rushed down on the unprotected coolies in broad daylight. - -"Shortly after the return of the police to camp, a couple of unarmed -mounted men rode down to the gardens. They had not been there five -minutes when they were fired upon from the adjacent kopjes, and they -had to retire precipitately. This goes to prove that the enemy do -not intend to give up their present position unless they are driven -from it, and the sooner that is effected the better." The following -information was also given to the public committee. Sedan deposed: "I -slept at my garden near the Butts last night with an American negro -called Smith. Smith this morning before sunrise started to go to his -own garden. I heard shots fired just after he left me. His Zambesi boy -ran over and told me Smith had been killed. I saw about forty or fifty -Kafirs. I saw one man with a gun, whilst the rest had assegais and -sticks. I hid myself in a ditch, and saw the Kafirs in the gardens. I -saw them kill Indians with the gun and the assegais. About half an hour -later I saw a picket of four white men come to the gardens. I ran to -the picket and came in to town. I was too frightened to say anything." -Ahchelrising deposed: "I slept in my garden and heard a shout from a -lot of Indians early this morning that the Matabele were on to us. I -ran away, and saw my brother Isree shot in front of me. I came to town -and reported in the laager, and then went back to my garden. I saw -the bodies of Goolab, Yitian, Venctayelee and his wife, Ramsamee and -Chinantoniem. Smith's Zambesi boy was also killed." - -On Tuesday night, 28th April, Earl Grey, accompanied by his secretary -Mr. Benson, and General Digby Willoughby—who had been down to Mafeking -in order to hurry forward the food supplies and relief forces—arrived -in Bulawayo. The coach which brought the administrator and his party -was escorted into town by Lieutenant Parkin and his men, whom I had -met on their way down to meet it. They seem to have narrowly missed, -or been missed by, a portion of Babian's impi, which was reported on -Wednesday morning to have crossed the road near the Khami river early -on Tuesday night just after the coach had passed. - -On the following morning, Wednesday, 29th April, an impi of several -hundred Kafirs, in all likelihood a portion of Babian's force, suddenly -appeared on the rising ground about 1000 yards away from Dawson's -Fort. They were probably on their way to Wilson's homestead with the -intention of destroying and burning it down, but on seeing the fort -manned by a number of white men, were evidently a bit taken aback, -as they halted and held a council of war. They then spread out in -skirmishing order, and getting down amongst the thorn trees in the -river-bed below the house, advanced towards the fort as if about to -attack it. However, after approaching to within 800 yards they thought -better of it and withdrew, probably imagining that the place was -defended with Maxim guns. - -After retiring from the neighbourhood of the fort, they went down to -Captain Molyneux's farm, some two miles distant, and destroyed and -burnt everything they could, even assegaiing the pigs, the carcasses of -which animals they left untouched, as the Matabele of Zulu descent do -not eat the flesh of the domestic pig, although they are very partial -to that of both species of the wild swine found in Southern Africa, -viz. the Wart Hog and the Bush Pig. - -During my visit to Bulawayo it was at last decided to build a fort at -the Khami river, and I was asked to take the work in hand forthwith. -As only thirty men could be spared from Bulawayo, it was arranged that -twenty more should be withdrawn from Fort Halsted, five miles beyond -Fig Tree, and I requested that Lieutenant Howard, an old member of the -Bechuanaland Border Police, who was at present with Captain Molyneux at -Fig Tree, and who had done very good service in the first war during -Major Forbes' memorable retreat along the Tchangani river, should be -placed in command of the two troops combined. - -On Friday, 1st May, I left Bulawayo with Lieutenant Parkin and -thirty men, accompanied by a mule waggon carrying kit, tools for -fort-building, and provisions. We had first to take the waggon to Fort -Marquand, there off-load it, and then send it on to Fort Halsted to -bring back the twenty men from that place, who on their arrival at -Mabukitwani could be at once despatched, together with the thirty under -Lieutenant Parkin, to the Khami river, to commence building the fort -there. This was all arranged by the Sunday evening, and everything got -ready to proceed to the Khami river early the following morning. That -evening, my old friend Cornelius Van Rooyen, commandant of the forces -at Mangwe, accompanied by three of his men, arrived at my fort on his -way to see Earl Grey, by whom he had been called to Bulawayo. He was, -of course, an honoured guest with us, and we did all we could to make -him and his men comfortable. - -At this time, Marzwe, Gambo's head Induna, was camped with many of -his people round the base of the hill on which my fort stood. As he -had often expressed a fear lest the remainder of his people, who -were living at their kraals some eight miles to the west, should be -attacked some fine morning by Maiyaisa's impi, I had repeatedly told -him to bring all his women and children to the immediate vicinity of -the fort, since, as I had only ten serviceable horses at my disposal, -it was out of the question to attempt any attack on a large impi in a -thickly-wooded country, although I should be able to protect any of his -tribe who were willing to take quarters round the walls of my fort. - -On my last return from Bulawayo, I found that Marzwe had taken my -advice, and had sent messengers on the Saturday morning to call all his -people in to the fort. These men ought to have returned with the women -and children on the following day, but owing to their dilatory ways, -and their unfailing habit of "never doing to-day what can be put off -till to-morrow," they did not do so. - -On the following morning, Monday, 4th May, Lieutenants Parkin and Webb -started off early for the Khami river, taking the mule waggon with -them, Lieutenant Howard and myself intending to follow them up and -choose a site for the fort immediately after breakfast. Just before -discussing this meal, Marzwe came out and reported to me that one of -his men had heard shots fired in the direction of his kraal. None of my -sentries or horse-guards having heard these shots, I half thought there -was no truth in the report. However, I sent Mr. Simms and two other -good men to scout round the back of some kopjes, about two miles to -the west of our position, beyond which the shots were said to have been -fired. - -Shortly after the scouts had left, two of the men sent on the previous -Saturday to bring in the women and children turned up, saying that -Marzwe's town had been attacked at daylight by a portion of Maiyaisa's -impi, and some of his people killed. A little later a young girl -arrived at the fort with an assegai-wound in her right side just above -the hip-bone. The wound was not a dangerous one, and after it had been -washed and dressed, the child was able to tell her story, which was to -the effect that Marzwe's kraal had been surrounded in the night, and -every man, woman, and child in it murdered just at dawn. - -Although, with the few mounted men at my disposal, I knew it would -be madness to engage any large number of Matabele, unless I could -get them in perfectly open country where there was no chance of -being surrounded, I was not inclined to let this affair pass without -endeavouring to ascertain exactly what had happened. Van Rooyen at once -agreed to put off his visit to Bulawayo and accompany me with his three -troopers to the scene of the reported massacre, and I sent a messenger -to tell Lieutenant Parkin to return immediately to Mabukitwani with ten -good men mounted on his best horses. When he arrived, my three scouts -had also returned, having seen nothing, and I found myself in command -of about twenty-five mounted men; some of the horses, however, were in -wretched condition, and altogether unfit for hard work. - -When the report of the massacre of his whole family, as well as a large -number of his people, was brought to Marzwe, he received it with the -utmost stoicism, only saying, "They wanted me; they were looking for -me; they wanted my skin." Whether he believed it or not I cannot say, -but he never betrayed the slightest sign of emotion. - -It was already past mid-day when I was at last able to get away -with my little force, travelling across country under the guidance -of an elderly savage armed with a shield, and two long-bladed -insinuating-looking assegais, and at the same time adorned with a -chimney-pot hat, of all things in the world, thus combining in his -own person the attributes of primitive savagery and the most advanced -civilisation of Western Europe. - -Before we were a couple of miles from camp we met a lot of women and -children making for the fort, who said that they had fled from some of -Marzwe's outlying villages early that morning as they had heard firing -going on in the direction of the chief's kraal. Soon after passing -these people we got into country where a small force such as mine might -have been very easily surrounded and cut up by a hostile impi, as the -ground was very broken and on every side of us were small hills and -rocky ridges, the whole being covered with dense, scrubby bush, in -many parts of which a Kafir would have been invisible at a distance -of thirty yards. Had this sort of country continued for any great -distance, I would not have risked taking my men on indefinitely over -ground so very favourable to any force of hostile Matabele which might -chance to be there. However, after a time we emerged into country of a -more open character, where the bush was much less dense, and where one -was not constantly shut in amongst kopjes and scrub-covered ridges. - -Just here one of my flanking parties came on a woman carrying a large -bundle of blankets and other household goods on her head. On being -questioned, she told us that at daylight that morning Marzwe's kraal -had been attacked and three of his men killed, as well as one girl who -had endeavoured to escape with the rest of the men. The girl referred -to proved afterwards to be the damsel who had been wounded in the side -by an assegai, but who had managed to evade her enemies and make her -way to our fort at Mabukitwani. All the rest of the women and children, -together with the cattle, sheep, and goats, the woman said, had been -captured by Maiyaisa's people, who, however, she thought were in no -great force, being only a small raiding party detached from the main -body at the Khami river. - -But now comes the sequel, about which the wounded girl had known -nothing. Amongst Marzwe's men who had escaped from the first onslaught -on the kraal was one Obas.[10] This man had recognised that the -attacking force was not a large one, and he at once went round to all -the outlying villages and collected a very considerable number of -his chief's retainers, and taking command of them, followed up the -raiders, and not only rescued all the women and children who had been -taken captive but also killed eleven of the enemy, and retook all -the cattle, sheep, and goats they were driving off. This good news -was soon confirmed by Obas himself, whom we met coming on with all -the recaptured women and children and cattle. He was a well-built, -active-looking Kafir of middle height, light in colour, and with good -features, altogether a good specimen of the best type of Matabele. -He was armed with a Martini-Henry rifle, as were some few of his -followers, whilst all carried assegais. He told us much the same story -as we had heard from the woman who had just passed, except that he -informed us that the number of Marzwe's men who had been killed was -four, instead of three. - -There was now no necessity to proceed any further, so we turned back to -the fort, where all Marzwe's people arrived safely the same evening. - -Early the following morning I rode over to the Khami with Lieutenant -Howard, and after selecting a site for the fort which was to be -built there, and leaving Lieutenant Howard in charge, returned to -Mabukitwani. Here I found a telegram from Colonel Napier, which had -been sent on to me by Captain Molyneux from Fig Tree. It was to the -effect that I was to at once collect a force of forty mounted and -eighty dismounted men from all the forts along the road, including -Mangwe, and march them in to Bulawayo by Friday evening, as they were -required to form part of a column which was to leave for the Tchangani -on the following day, Saturday, 9th May. - -As the time was so short, I rode the same evening (Tuesday) to Fig Tree -in order to despatch a telegram as soon as possible to Major Armstrong, -asking him to send me up twenty mounted men from the garrisons of -Matoli and Mangwe, and on Wednesday I made all arrangements at the -other forts. As Colonel Napier particularly wished Captain Molyneux and -Lieutenant Howard to accompany the column, I put Lieutenant Stewart in -command at Fig Tree, whilst Lieutenant Parkin took charge of the fort -at the Khami river, Lieutenant Grenfell taking over the command of my -own fort. - -On Thursday evening I had all the men from the lower forts mustered -at Mabukitwani, and after a cold rainy night we marched to Bulawayo, -picking up the other detachments on our way, and reaching town before -sundown on Friday evening, 8th May. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - - Large column commanded by Colonel Napier despatched for the - Tchangani to meet Salisbury relief force—Matabele impi reported - near Tekwe river—Matabele reported to be at Thaba Induna—I am - ordered to the front—Matabele retire—Column in laager near - Graham's store—Captain Grey's patrol has a skirmish with the - Kafirs—Pursuit of Kafirs—No quarter—Reflections—Several kraals - burnt, coin and cattle captured—Cold weather and storms—March - with provision convoy and laager at Dr. Jameson's old - camp—Desolation along the line of march—Burnham reports scouting - party from Salisbury contingent had been met with—We reach Pongo - store—Bury the bodies of murdered white men. - - -Owing to various circumstances, it was found impossible to get the -column off for the Tchangani on the following morning, and the start -was not actually made until Monday, 11th May. This column, the largest -yet sent out from Bulawayo, was despatched with the object of opening -the road to the Tchangani river, where it was hoped that the relief -force from Salisbury under Colonel Beal, with which was Mr. Cecil -Rhodes, would be met, when the future movements of the combined columns -would be determined according to circumstances. - -The composition of the force was as follows: Artillery, four officers -and thirty-four men under Captain Biscoe; Grey's Scouts, four officers -and forty men under Captain Grey; Africander Corps, three officers -and fifty-nine men under Commandant Van Rensberg and Captain Van -Niekerk; A troop (Gifford's Horse) two officers and nineteen men; -B troop (Gifford's Horse) two officers and twenty men—the combined -troops under Captain Fynn; F troop, one officer and twenty men under -Lieutenant H. Lamb; four officers and 100 dismounted men under Captain -Selous, consisting of detachments from H, C, D, K, and L troops, under -Captains Mainwaring and Reid, and Lieutenants Holland and Hyden; -also four engineers; making altogether 312 Europeans, supported by -150 of Colenbrander's Colonial Boys under Captain Windley, and 100 -Friendly Matabele under Chief Native Commissioner Taylor. Also one -seven-pounder, one 2·5 gun, one Hotchkiss, one Nordenfeldt, one Maxim; -fourteen mule waggons carrying provisions, kit, and ammunition, and one -ambulance waggon. - -Of this force Colonel Napier was in command; Colonel Spreckley, second -in command; Captain Llewellyn, staff orderly officer; Captain Howard -Brown, staff officer; Captain Bradley, remount officer; Captain -Molyneux, adjutant; Captain Wrey, heliograph officer; Captain Purssell, -quartermaster; Dr. Levy, medical officer, with Lieutenants Little, -Dollar, and Burnham as gallopers; whilst Captain the Honourable C. J. -White and Mr. A. Rhodes also accompanied the expedition unattached, -making I believe a total force of forty-two officers and 613 men. - -With the column was one of two colonial natives who had been despatched -on horseback a few days previously to try and carry a message through -to Gwelo. They saw no signs of the enemy until after they had passed -Mr. Stewart's farm, but near the Tekwe river they rode into the middle -of a Matabele impi, in the middle of the night, which was watching -the road and had no fires burning. They were immediately attacked, -and the boy who got back to Bulawayo had his horse killed under him -almost immediately, and received an assegai-wound in the arm. However, -in the darkness he managed to elude his enemies, and made his way -back to town. His companion neither reached Gwelo nor ever returned -to Bulawayo, but he apparently galloped through his assailants at -the Tekwe, only to be again waylaid, and this time killed, at the -Tchangani, where his corpse was discovered a few days later lying in -the road by Colonel Beal's column. - -To quote the words of the correspondent with the column representing -the _Bulawayo Chronicle_: "To the martial strains of the town band, on -Monday, 11th May, the column under Colonel Napier left the citadel, -and boldly started forth into the country lately taken from us by the -Matabele. Within two hours our men had crossed from British territory -into the Matabele country—to wit, the Umguza brooklet." - -Arrived at the Umguza, it was found that we could not proceed until -certain stores, which had been left behind in Bulawayo, reached us; and -as these did not come to hand until the following morning, we did not -again make a move until shortly before noon on Tuesday. For some miles -our route lay through perfectly open country, but on getting abreast of -Thaba Induna we came to a strip of thorn bush through which the road -passes. Here a halt was made, whilst Colonel Spreckley went forward -with Grey's Scouts to see if the bush was clear of Kafirs. He soon sent -a messenger back reporting that the enemy were just in front of him, so -Colonel Napier asked me to go on and obtain further particulars before -he advanced with the whole column. - -I found Colonel Spreckley about 600 yards in advance, the bush between -where he had halted his men and the main body being much less dense -than I had imagined, whilst in front of him the country was very open -indeed. However, the grass was three or four feet high, and as some -Kafirs had been seen on the rise only a few hundred yards ahead, it -was impossible to tell how many of them there might be there. Colonel -Spreckley therefore wanted some men on foot to be sent forward to -assist the Scouts in driving the Kafirs out of the long grass. - -I at once galloped back to the column, and was ordered to go forward -again with two of the three troops of infantry under my command, -Colonel Napier bringing on the remainder of the force behind us. As -soon as my footmen reached the advance guard, we all spread out in -skirmishing order and went forwards as rapidly as possible. The Kafirs, -however, who had been seen in the long grass could only have been a few -scouts, who, on seeing the mounted men, had retired on the main body, -for until we came within a mile of the little pyramidal hill which -stands by itself about a mile to the south of the low flat-topped hill -known as Thaba Induna, we never saw a sign of the enemy. - -Then, however, standing as we were on the crest of a rise, from which -the ground sloped off into a broad valley which lay between us and the -aforesaid hill, we suddenly came in sight of a considerable number -of the rebels. A detachment of them was on the hill itself, whilst -considerable numbers were scattered over the open ground below it. -Altogether some hundreds of them must have been in sight. Between the -single hill and the wooded slopes of Thaba Induna itself there is a -space of perfectly open ground over a mile in breadth, and it certainly -looked to the eye of an old hunter, accustomed in the pursuit of game -to measure distances and take in at a glance the details of the ground -before him, that, had the whole of the mounted men with the column at -this juncture galloped as hard as they could go to the point of Thaba -Induna, and then swept round at the back of the single hill, a large -number of the rebels would have been cut off from the bush and killed -in the open ground. - -These tactics, however, were not adopted, and the natives got off -scot free, for although a few shots were fired at them with a Maxim -and seven-pounder at an unknown range, none were hit, and they all -retreated into the thick bush to the north of Thaba Induna. Our column -then advanced for another couple of miles, and laagered up near -Graham's store on the Kotki river. - -[Illustration: COLONEL WILLIAM NAPIER - -who commanded the Bulawayo Field Force during the late rebellion.] - -On the following day the column remained in laager, and Colonel Napier -took out a patrol, consisting of some 150 mounted men of Grey's Scouts, -Gifford's Horse, and the Africander Corps, to ascertain if any of the -rebels were still in our vicinity, and Captain Wrey accompanied the -patrol in order to send some heliographic messages to Bulawayo. - -Leaving the laager about 8 A.M., this force first returned about three -miles along the road to Bulawayo, and when abreast of the single hill -I have spoken of as having been occupied by the rebels on the previous -day, turned to the right, and spreading out in skirmishing order -advanced towards the hill, which was reached without a Kafir having -been seen. Here Captain Wrey was left with his heliograph party, and -a further advance was made towards the bush on the north-east corner -of Thaba Induna, where were found the "scherms," or military camps of -the Matabele who had been seen on the previous day. These encampments -appeared to have been evacuated early that morning, their occupants -having probably moved off to join the impis which had retired from the -vicinity of Bulawayo a short time before and taken up their quarters on -the lower Umguza. - -After these scherms had been burnt, a portion of the patrol was -detached to the right, consisting of Grey's Scouts, a section of the -Africander Corps, and a small party of Gifford's Horse, in all about -eighty men. This detachment, after having advanced for a couple of -miles through undulating country more or less covered with thorn bush, -which in some places was fairly thick, came suddenly upon a small impi -of 200 or 300 Kafirs, which I believe was a section of the Ingubu -regiment. - -These men had taken up a position along the crest of a rough stony -ridge covered with bush, and when the approaching horsemen were still -some four hundred yards distant they opened fire on them. Captain Grey -immediately ordered his men to charge, which they did in extended order. - -The sight of the long line of cavalry thundering down upon them seems -to have turned the hearts of the savages to water, as their saying is, -for after having fired a few more shots, they turned and ran, trusting -to evade their enemies in the bush. A considerable number of them no -doubt succeeded in doing so, but the chase was continued for a mile -and a half, and when it was at last abandoned a long line of corpses -marked the track where the whirlwind of the white man's vengeance had -swept along. _Vae victis!_—"woe to the conquered!"—woe indeed; for -amongst the men who took part in the pursuit of the Kafirs, on this, to -them, most fatal day, were many who, maddened by the loss of old chums -foully slain in cold blood by the natives, were determined to use their -opportunity to the utmost to inflict a heavy punishment for the crimes -committed, while all were bent on exacting vengeance for the murders of -the European women and children who had been hurried out of existence -during the first days of the rebellion. Once broken, the Kafirs never -made any attempt to rally, but ran as hard as they could, accepting -death when overtaken without offering the slightest resistance; some -indeed, when too tired to run any farther, walked doggedly forward with -arms in their hands which they never attempted to use, and did not even -turn their heads to look at the white men who were about to shoot them -down. No quarter was either given or asked for, nor was any more mercy -shown than had been lately granted by the Kafirs to the white women and -children who had fallen into their power. This realistic picture may -seem very horrible to all those who believe themselves to be superior -beings to the cruel colonists of Rhodesia, but let them not forget the -terrible provocation. I cannot dispute the horror of the picture; but -I must confess that had I been with Captain Grey that day, I should -have done my utmost to kill as many Kafirs as possible, and yet I think -I can claim to be as humane a man as any of my critics who may feel -inclined to consider such deeds cowardly and brutal and altogether -unworthy of a civilised being. - -This claim to humanity, coupled with the defence of savage deeds, -may seem paradoxical, but the fact is, as I have said before, that -in the smooth and easy course of ordinary civilised existence it is -possible for a man to live a long life without ever becoming aware -that somewhere deep down below the polished surface of conventionality -there exists in him an ineradicable leaven of innate ferocity, which, -although it may never show itself except under the most exceptional -circumstances, must and ever will be there—the cruel instinct which, -given sufficient provocation, prompts the meekest nature to kill his -enemy—the instinct which forms the connecting link between the nature -of man and that of the beast. - -The horrors of a native insurrection—the murders and mutilations of -white men, women, and children by savages—are perhaps better calculated -than anything else to awake this slumbering fiend—the indestructible -and imperishable inheritance which, through countless generations, has -been handed down to the most highly civilised races of the present -day from the savage animals or beings from whom or which modern -science teaches us that they have been evolved. I have been told -that Mr. Labouchere often jokingly says that we are all monkeys with -our tails rubbed off, but with natures still very much akin to those -of our simian relatives; and however that may be, we are certainly -the descendants of the fierce and savage races by whom Northern and -Central Europe was peopled in prehistoric times; and I am afraid that -the saying of Napoleon, that "if you scratch a Russian you will find -a Tartar," may be extended to embrace the modern Briton or any other -civilised people of Western Europe, none of whom it will be found -necessary to scratch very deeply in order to discover the savage -ancestors from whom they are descended. - -On Wednesday afternoon subsequent to the dispersal of the natives, -several kraals were burnt and a good deal of corn taken, which proved -most valuable, being urgently required to keep the horses and mules -in condition. About eighty head of cattle and some sheep and goats -were also captured by Captain Fynn and Lieutenant Moffat. As during -the time when the Kafirs were being chased by Grey's Scouts and the -Africanders, Captain Wrey had received a heliographic message from Earl -Grey, requesting Colonel Napier not to proceed any farther until some -waggons loaded with provisions for the Salisbury column, which had -already left Bulawayo, had reached him, we spent another day in laager. -The weather had now turned very cold, and on the Wednesday night heavy -storms of rain had fallen all round us, though we had escaped with only -a few drops; but on the following night, or rather very early on Friday -morning, a soaking shower passed over us, and as we were lying out in -the open, our blankets got wet through, rendering a very early start -impossible; although, the convoy having reached us on Thursday night, -the order had been given to have everything packed up ready to move by -daylight. - -However we got off by eight o'clock, and reached Lee's store, distant -twenty-four miles from Bulawayo, before mid-day. This store and hotel, -noted as being the most comfortable on the whole road between the -capital of Matabeleland and Salisbury, had, like every other building -erected by a white man in this part of the country, been burnt down and -as far as possible destroyed. After our horses and transport animals -had had a couple of hours' feeding, we proceeded on our way, and -laagered up for the night on the site of the camp where Dr. Jameson -was attacked on 1st November 1893 by the Imbezu and Ingubu regiments, -during his memorable march from Mashunaland to Bulawayo. - -On every side of this camp but that facing towards the west, the -country consisted of open rolling downs, entirely devoid of bush for -miles and miles. On the western face there was a space of open ground -bounded at a distance of 500 or 600 yards by a strip of open thorn -bush, and it was through this thorn bush that the Matabele warriors -made their advance. Naturally, as they had to face the fire of several -Maxims and other pieces of ordnance, they never got beyond the edge of -the bush. It seems a marvel that they should have been foolish enough -to advance as they did, but it was doubtless their ignorance of the -impossibility of taking a laager by assault in the face even of a -heavy rifle fire, let alone Maxim guns and other destructive toys of -a similar character, which led them to expose themselves so vainly. -But they learnt a lesson that day which has never been forgotten in -Matabeleland, as the present campaign has shown. - -The three following days were entirely without incident, as we never -saw a sign of a Kafir, though every wayside hotel and store had been -burnt to the ground. On Monday evening we laagered up at a spot a few -miles short of the Pongo store, where it was known that some white men -had been murdered. Mr. Burnham, the American scout, who had ridden on -ahead in the afternoon, returned to the column at dusk from the store, -with the news that a scouting party from the Salisbury contingent had -been there also the same day, but had returned towards the Tchangani -just before his own arrival. - -On the following morning, Tuesday, 19th May, we reached the Pongo store -early, having passed the coach which had been captured by the Kafirs -some three miles on this side of it. As I have already stated, one -wheel had been removed from the coach, and the pole had been sawn in -two, whilst the contents of the mail-bags had been torn up and strewn -over the ground in every direction. The sun-dried carcasses of the -mules still lay all of a heap in their harness, just as they had fallen -when they were assegaied some six weeks previously. - -On reaching the store we found and buried the bodies of the two poor -fellows (Hurlstone and Reddington) who had been murdered there just -seven weeks previously, on Tuesday, 24th March. Both their skulls had -been battered and chipped by heavy blows struck with knob-kerries and -axes. The bodies had not been touched by any animal or Kafir since -the day when the murders were committed, as their clothes and boots -had not been removed, and the blankets thrown over them by the patrol -party sent out from the Tchangani, two days after they were killed, -were still covering them. The poor battered remains of what had so -lately been two fine young Englishmen were reverently placed by their -countrymen in a hastily-dug grave, and a prayer said over them by the -good Catholic priest Father Barthélemy. The remains of the third white -man murdered here were found at some little distance from the store. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - - Meet Salisbury relief force, with Mr. Cecil Rhodes, Sir Charles - Metcalfe, and others—Column under Colonel Spreckley sent to the - south—Several kraals burnt—Scouting party sent out under Captain - Van Niekerk—Band of cattle captured—Large body of Kafirs met - with—A running fight; Burnham and Blick nearly captured—Patrol - return to laager—Capture a woman—Discover a body of Matabele, and - send for reinforcement of men on foot—We hear heavy firing in - front—Mr. Cecil Rhodes joins us with Colonial Boys—Advance and - take part in the fight—Enemy's fire silenced—We retire. - - -On resuming our journey, we had not proceeded a couple of miles, when -on cresting a rise we came in sight of the Salisbury relief force -coming out of the bush ahead of us and just entering the valley which -lay between us. The two columns were soon laagered up in the open -ground some 500 yards apart on either side of a small stream. With the -Salisbury contingent were Mr. Cecil Rhodes, Sir Charles Metcalfe, and -several gentlemen who, having left Bulawayo on a shooting trip some two -months previously, had been obliged on the outbreak of the rebellion -to take refuge in the Gwelo laager, where they had been cooped up ever -since. - -Mr. Rhodes, I thought, looked remarkably well, and yet the fast -grizzling hair and a certain look in the strong face told the tale -of the excessive mental strain undergone during the last few months. -Amongst those who had joined the Salisbury column at Gwelo were Mr. -Weston Jarvis, Mr. Farquhar, the Hon. Tatton Egerton (M.P. for -Knutsford) and his son. That evening Mr. Rhodes and Colonel Napier -dined with our mess, and in course of conversation after dinner it was -decided that, instead of returning at once with the combined columns -along the main road to Bulawayo, a flying column should be sent under -Colonel Spreckley through the country to the south of the hills -bordering the Insiza river, whilst Colonel Napier should travel down -the valley of that river itself with the main body; the two columns to -meet in the neighbourhood of the ford across the Insiza, on the road -from Bulawayo to Belingwe. - -Early on the morning of Thursday, 21st May, Colonel Spreckley's column -of about four hundred men left us and bore away to the south; the main -body to which my own troop was attached making a move very shortly -afterwards. We first kept the road as far as the valley beyond the -Pongo store, but there turned off to the south, outspanning at about -eleven o'clock amongst a lot of kraals, all of which had evidently been -hastily vacated on our approach, as they were all full of grain, and -pots were found cooking on fires that had only lately been lighted. The -corn-bins in these villages were one and all quite full of maize, Kafir -corn, and ground-nuts, showing not only that the harvest in this part -of Matabeleland had been a very plentiful one, but also that the people -thought they had got rid of the white men for good and all and had no -reason to fear their return. - -After all the grain had been removed that we could carry, the kraals -were burnt and the remainder of the corn destroyed, in order that -it might not again fall into the hands of the rebels, for a good -food-supply constitutes "the sinews of war" to a savage people, who are -not likely to come to terms as long as such supplies hold out. - -In the afternoon we moved on a few miles farther, destroying several -more kraals. The huts in some of these had been newly built and -plastered, and we found that ground had been freshly hoed up to lie -fallow until the sowing-time came. In every village were found goods -of some kind or another which had belonged to the many white people -murdered in this district, and the articles of women's clothing, and -especially a hat that was recognised as having belonged to a young -girl of the name of Agnes Kirk, made the troopers simply mad to exact -vengeance on the murderers. - -About two miles distant from the spot where we laagered up for the -night, the huts of some white prospectors were found, but no trace of -their former owners. These huts had been made use of by the Kafirs as -store-rooms, and were found to be full of every conceivable description -of merchandise, taken from neighbouring farmhouses and the hotels and -stores along the road. The goods were all carefully packed up, and -included bags of sugar, flour, and Boer meal, as well as boxes of soap -and candles, tinned provisions, blankets, and many other articles. -Outside the huts stood a waggon and a coach, the latter of which was -known to have been brought from the Tekwe store, some five miles -distant. - -As it was evident that we were now in the midst of a native population, -who were not only responsible for the murders of the white men in the -district, the destruction of their homes, and the looting of their -property, but who also seemed so infatuated by their success that they -appeared to think that the compatriots of the murdered people "would -never come back no more," it was determined to make an effort to prove -to them in a practical manner that there is some truth in the French -proverb which says that "tout vient à qui sait attendre." - -Therefore at 4 A.M. on the following morning, the 22nd May, Grey's -Scouts and a portion of the Africander Corps under Captain Van Niekerk, -in all about one hundred men, were sent out down the valley of the -Insiza in order to try and discover the whereabouts of the main body of -the rebels in this part of the country. The members of the patrol at -first proceeded on foot, leading their horses until day broke, when the -order was given to mount. Shortly afterwards smoke was seen rising from -a valley amongst the hills to the left, and the horses' heads were at -once turned in that direction, and presently, after the first range of -hills which bounds the Insiza valley had been passed, a herd of cattle -was seen amongst the broken country on ahead. These cattle were found -to be in charge of a small force of Kafirs, who abandoned them to the -white men without making much resistance. - -It was the firing which took place during this skirmish which was heard -in camp soon after sunrise, and which caused Colonel Napier to send -Commandant Van Rensberg and myself with a small party to ascertain what -was going on. Just after these cattle had been captured, Mr. Little -and some of Gifford's Horse under Captain Fynn, forming the right-hand -flanking party to Colonel Spreckley's column, which was then moving -forwards some four miles to the south, rode up, having been attracted -by the firing. After a few minutes' conversation, no more Kafirs being -anywhere in sight, Colonel Spreckley's men went on their way, whilst -the Scouts and Africanders started on their return with the captured -cattle towards the laager. A little farther on a halt was made, and -some of the men produced some provisions from their wallets and were -proceeding to discuss the same, when Kafirs were suddenly seen on the -crest of a rise in front. - -At this moment Captain Grey was missing, but he turned up immediately -afterwards with seven of the Scouts, who had been foraging with him, -each man having a dead sheep tied behind his saddle. These, however, -had to be immediately cut loose and abandoned, as large numbers of -Kafirs were now seen both in front and to the right, where they had -previously been hidden in a deep river-bed. - -A running fight was now commenced, which was kept up for some four -miles before the Kafirs were shaken off. When it was first seen that -the Matabele were in force, and meant to try and cut off their enemy's -retreat, Captain Grey sent the American Scout Burnham, together with -a compatriot named Blick, to the top of a hill on ahead, to try and -ascertain the numbers and disposition of the rebels; but Burnham and -his companion were cut off from the main body, and had to gallop for -their lives, and had they not both been very well mounted, they would -probably not have got away, as the Kafirs nearly surrounded them in a -very rocky bit of ground. The cattle which had been captured had to be -abandoned by the men who were driving them, and very hurriedly too, as -a party of the rebels made a determined attempt to cut them off from -the main body. - -Early in the fight Trooper Rothman of the Africanders was shot through -the stomach, and, as a comrade named Parker belonging to the same corps -was assisting the wounded man to mount his horse, he was himself shot -through the upper part of the body, from side to side, and died almost -immediately. Poor Parker had to be left where he fell, as there was no -means of carrying him. - -Just as the white men were descending the last hill-slope into the -level valley of the Insiza river, a young Dutchman named Frikky Greeff, -the son of an old elephant-hunter long resident in Matabeleland, had -his horse shot through both forelegs just above the fetlocks. On being -struck the poor animal fell heavily, pinning its rider to the ground. -He, however, soon extricated himself, and one of the Scouts, Trooper -Button, who was riding a strong, quiet horse, took him up behind him. -Up to this time poor Rothman had been able to retain his seat on his -horse, but being greatly weakened by loss of blood, and in fact in a -dying condition, he now fell off. Lieutenant Sinclair of the Africander -Corps, on seeing this, dismounted, and with the assistance of others -placed Rothman across his saddle, and, mounting behind him, carried him -in this way for over three miles. By this time it was apparent to all -that the man was dead, so, as the Kafirs had now given up the pursuit, -the body was placed on the ground in a shady place, there to remain -until it could be recovered and brought in to camp. - -After getting out into the open country the horses were off-saddled for -an hour on the banks of a stream which runs into the Insiza, and the -patrol then returned to laager. Besides the two men who were killed, -two more were wounded, though not seriously, Trooper Niemand being shot -through the fleshy part of the arm, and Trooper Geldenhuis getting -something more than a graze just above his ankle. Singularly enough, -as all the men were mixed up together, all the casualties occurred to -members of the Africander Corps. - -Just at sunrise the same morning Colonel Napier asked me to take a few -mounted men of the Salisbury column and proceed, together with a small -detachment of the Africander Corps under Commandant Van Rensberg, to -a ridge of hills on our left rear, in order to burn some kraals which -could be seen with the glasses in that direction. - -We were just getting ready to start, when shots were heard straight -ahead of us down the Insiza valley; and as the firing, though never -very heavy, was kept up until our horses were all saddled up, Van -Rensberg and myself asked permission to take our men in the direction -of the firing, as we knew that it meant that Captains Grey and Van -Niekerk were engaged with a party of Matabele, and we thought that we -might be able to render them some assistance. - -Colonel Napier at once granted us permission to do as we wished; so -we lost no time in making a move, and before we had ridden much more -than a mile heard two shots at no great distance on our left front. We -immediately turned in that direction, and after having crossed a small -stream, again heard two more shots which sounded quite close, in fact, -only just beyond a ridge of low stony hills on our left. On hearing -these shots we rode to the crest of the ridge as quickly as possible, -and then saw a broad open valley beyond us, in the centre of which -stood a good-sized native kraal. We however could see nothing, either -of our friends or our enemies, nor did we hear any further shots. We -therefore crossed the ridge, and a deep river-bed beyond it, and rode -towards the kraal, with the intention of burning it. Before reaching -it, however, we caught sight of a few natives running through some corn -stubble, and galloping after them found them to be a young woman and -three little girls. These were taken prisoners and sent back to camp, -as it was thought that Colonel Napier might be able to obtain some -information from them regarding the whereabouts of any impis that might -be about. - -Just then a man carrying a shield and assegais was seen running to our -right. He was soon caught and shot by some of the Africanders, just as -he threw himself under a bush, where he then lay on his face, dead. -"Pull him out that I may look on the murderer's face," I said in Dutch -to the men, which they did, revealing the features of a middle-aged -evil-looking Kafir, whom, however, I did not remember to have ever seen -before. - -After killing this man we rode back towards the kraal, but before -reaching it, made out a number of Matabele standing on the slope of a -hill overlooking a deep river-bed, about a mile distant. On looking at -these natives through the glasses, I could see that they were all men, -many carrying shields, and as there were too many of them to make it -possible to suppose that they all belonged to the kraal near which we -were standing, I surmised that they probably belonged to the impi with -which Captains Grey and Van Niekerk had been engaged. - -Not knowing their numbers, and recognising the impossibility of getting -at them in the hills with mounted men, Van Rensberg and myself judged -it advisable to send back to the laager for a reinforcement of men on -foot. A man was therefore at once despatched with a verbal message -to Colonel Napier, and whilst waiting for his return we took up our -position on the crest of the rise we had previously crossed, in order -both to guard against a surprise and keep a watch on the enemy. These -latter gradually retired round the shoulder of the hill and disappeared -from view. - -From where we had taken up our position we could see the laager, which -was little more than a mile distant, and the reinforcement of footmen -we had asked for had already left it, when a heavy fusillade broke out -which sounded amongst the hills to our left front. Immediately after -this heavy firing commenced, large numbers of Matabele, who up to that -moment had been hidden in the river-bed below the hill on which we had -seen the others standing, suddenly showed themselves, and streamed out -across a corn-field with the evident intention of taking part in the -fight which it seemed was going on between the Scouts and Africanders -under Captains Grey and Van Niekerk and another body of Matabele. Our -party consisted of only twenty-two men all told, and it was rather -difficult to know what was the best course for us to pursue; but we -had just decided to go on and try and reach our friends without waiting -for the reinforcements, when the heavy firing ceased, being succeeded -by scattered shots, which showed that the fight was moving more and -more to the right. The Matabele whom we had seen leaving the shelter -of the river-bed must also have recognised this fact, as they soon -returned, marching in lines across the corn-field where we had first -seen them, and again taking up their old position. - -Shortly after this Captain Windley and Lieutenant Frost came up with -thirty Colonial Boys, and Captain Taylor and Lieutenant Jackson also -brought a contingent of Friendly Matabele; but as but few of these -latter were armed with rifles, they could not be expected to be very -useful in attacking a position, though no doubt they would have done -excellent service in following up a defeated foe. Mr. Cecil Rhodes, Sir -Charles Metcalfe, Mr. Weston Jarvis, and Lieutenant Howard also came up -with the Colonial Boys. - -On their arrival we at once proceeded as quickly as possible towards -the point in the hills from which the heavy firing had seemed to come, -and after having advanced for about a mile and a half through thick -thorn bush we found ourselves in a valley bounded on one side by the -main range of hills, and on the other by a single hill very thickly -wooded at the crest. At this point several natives were seen on the -hills above us to the left, and a few shots were fired at them, which -they returned, whilst at the same time some shots were also fired at -us from the crest of the rise to our right. I therefore ordered the -Colonial Boys to charge up the hill and take it, which they at once -did, led by their officers and Lieutenant Howard; the few natives who -had been firing from the summit at once giving up their position, and -running down into the thick bush on the farther side, several of -them leaving blankets and other goods behind them, whilst in one case -a handkerchief had been abandoned, which was found to contain about -twenty Martini-Henry cartridges. After we had taken possession of the -hill, a few odd Matabele fired a shot or two at us from the valley -below and from the hills above, but their fire was soon silenced by the -heavy fusillade kept up by the Colonial Boys. - -From the position we had taken we commanded a good view over the -country to our front and right front, but we could see nothing of -the mounted men under Captains Grey and Van Niekerk, and therefore -judged that they had found it necessary to retreat from the Matabele -by a circuitous route to the laager; and we soon saw that it would be -expedient for us to do the same, as we could see a large number of -rebels on a hill about 1000 yards to our right, amongst them being a -man on horseback, and knew that besides those actually in sight there -were many others in the river-bed under the hill, as well as the impi -which had been engaged with the Scouts and Africanders, which we -afterwards discovered was lying in a deep river-bed hidden from view -only a short distance ahead of the hill on which we were standing. - -In the valley beyond this river-bed were two small herds of cattle -in a corn-field, but this seemed such a very obvious bait to entice -us onwards that Van Rensberg and myself at once saw the advisability -of getting back to the more open country beyond the thick thorn bush -through which we had come as quickly as possible, in order not to allow -ourselves to be outflanked by the impi to our right, which had now -disappeared in the bush behind the hill on which we had seen it. - -Had we crossed the river-bed in front of us and endeavoured to capture -the cattle, we should have been completely cut off from the laager by -two separate impis, which our small force would have been altogether -inadequate to cope with. By keeping well to the right, however, on our -return to the open country we avoided coming in contact with the enemy -in the bush, and saw nothing more of them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - - Position of laager shifted—Massacre of the Ross and Fourie - families—Remains of some of the Fouries found—Advance on Matabele - scherms and find them deserted—Visit the scene of yesterday's - fight—Burn kraals and return to camp—Bury two men killed in - yesterday's fight and the remains of the Fourie family—Find the - remains of the Ross family—March down the Insiza valley—Burn - a large number of kraals—Colonel Spreckley's column captures - cattle and donkeys—Remains of several murdered Europeans - found—The murder of Dr. and Mrs. Langford—Column sent to the - Filibusi district—Return to Bulawayo—I visit Essexvale—A scene of - desolation. - - -On reaching the laager, Van Rensberg and myself, backed by Mr. Cecil -Rhodes, were very anxious to have the base camp moved at once to the -kraal near to which we had captured the woman in the early morning, -and then at once attack the impis we had seen that same afternoon -with as large a force as could be spared from the laager. However, as -Captains Grey and Van Niekerk had then not yet returned, Colonel Napier -thought it would be better to move the laager round the hills to the -vicinity of the Insiza river and attack the rebels from that side on -the following day. - -This plan was at once acted upon, and the Scouts and Africanders -turning up just as we had inspanned, we moved round the broken country -in which the Matabele had taken up their positions, and camped in open -ground beyond it, on a small stream running into the Insiza river. - -Early the following morning we moved to the bank of the river itself, -just opposite the spot where a Dutchman named Fourie had been building -a house for a Mr. Ross, whose temporary residence whilst the house was -being built could be seen still standing on a rise some mile and a half -farther down the river. - -At the latter end of March Mr. Fourie had been living here with his -wife and six children, whilst Mr. and Mrs. Ross with an adopted -daughter named Agnes Kirk were occupying temporary dwellings some -little distance away from them. These eleven people—two men and nine -women and children—were all murdered on the outbreak of the rebellion, -Miss Johanna Ross being the only survivor of her family, and owing her -escape to the fact that at the time the murders were committed she was -on a visit to friends living near the main road, who, having received -warning of the rising, took her with them to Mr. Stewart's store at the -Tekwe river, where they were relieved by Captain Grey and his men on -Thursday, 26th March. - -With others I went down to the scene of the massacre of the Fourie -family early in the morning and found the remains of four people—a -woman and three children, the body of Mr. Fourie and those of three of -the children being missing. The murders had evidently been committed -with knob-kerries and axes, as the skulls of all these poor people -had been very much shattered. The remains had been much pulled about -by dogs or jackals, but the long fair hair of the young Dutch girls -was still intact, and it is needless to say that these blood-stained -tresses awoke the most bitter wrath in the hearts of all who looked -upon them, Englishmen and Dutchmen alike vowing a pitiless vengeance -against the whole Matabele race. - -At about ten o'clock a force of about 300 men under Captain Grey was -despatched to the scene of yesterday's fighting, Colonel Napier and -staff taking up a position with a seven-pounder gun on the top of a -hill which commanded the valley in which we had seen the two small -herds of cattle on the preceding day. I was placed in charge of the -infantry division, which, spread out in skirmishing order, formed the -centre of the line of attack. - -After what had been seen that morning of the ghastly remains of the -Fourie family, every one was most eager to come to close quarters with -the Kafirs, but we were not able to do so, as, although we found the -scherms where they had slept, with the fires still burning in them, -the impis had left apparently at daylight in the morning, and it was -impossible to tell in which direction they had gone, as their camp was -surrounded by rough stony hills, on which their footsteps had left no -trace. As the number of their scherms showed that the rebels must have -been at least a thousand strong, I don't quite know why they did not -wait for us and have another day's fighting, the more especially as -they had been successful in repulsing about one hundred mounted men of -the Scouts and Africanders on the previous day. I am half inclined to -think that several rocket signals sent up from our laager during the -early part of the preceding night, to notify our whereabouts to Colonel -Spreckley, may have had something to do with their unexpected retreat, -or possibly a peep at our laager at daylight may have given them an -exaggerated idea of our numbers. At any rate they were gone, and the -blow which might have been struck at them on the afternoon of the day -before was now not struck at all. - -On the site of the engagement of the previous morning between Grey's -Scouts and the Africanders and the one section of the Matabele, we -found the body of Parker, absolutely stripped of clothing, even to -the socks, and riddled with assegai stabs inflicted after death. The -corpse was carried back to camp, together with that of Rothman, which -latter, as it had been carried to some distance from the scene of the -fight, had not been found and mutilated by the Kafirs. The Matabele -must have removed their dead, as none were lying on the hill-side -below Parker's corpse, where many had been seen to fall. However, in -a small kraal situated just under the hills and within a mile of the -scene of the fight, we found a Kafir lying stretched out on his back -close to the door of a hut, who could not long have been dead, as his -body was still warm, and his limbs quite limp. He had evidently been -wounded during the fight, the bullet having passed through both thighs, -and broken the right femur. Then I suppose he had been carried or had -crawled to the village where we found him lying, and a cord tightly -twisted round his neck showed that he had been strangled shortly before -our arrival on the scene. Whether he had thus compassed his own death -on hearing or being informed of our approach, or whether he had been -strangled by a friend to prevent his falling into the hands of the -white men, I cannot say, but as, besides having been strangled, he -had a fresh assegai-wound in the right side, I fancy that he had been -killed by his friends, who had fled at our approach and were unable to -carry the wounded man with them. - -Besides this man, another was found in a dying condition—a young fellow -of two or three and twenty who must have been some one of importance, -as his friends had made a stretcher of oxhide lashed to poles, on which -to carry him. They seem to have been surprised in the act of carrying -him away, as the stretcher was first found, and then the wounded man -was seen crawling away at a little distance, but he was nearly spent, -having been shot right through the chest, and died soon afterwards. His -shield and assegais, and many little personal belongings, were found -tied on to the stretcher. - -After having burnt a few kraals and picked up a flock of sheep -and goats and a stray cow or two, we returned to laager very much -disappointed that we had had a ten-mile walk for nothing, so far as -meeting with the rebels was concerned. The Hon. Tatton Egerton (M.P. -for Knutsford) accompanied us on this outing, walking and shouldering -a rifle with the rest of us, and unless I am very much mistaken no -one was more eager to let off his piece at a Kafir than was he. In -the afternoon a military funeral was accorded to the bodies of Parker -and Rothman, and also to the poor scattered remains of the Fourie -family, which having been carefully collected were all buried in one -grave dug close alongside that in which the two dead troopers had been -placed. The funeral service was read by the Rev. Douglas Pelly, who was -attached to the Salisbury contingent. - -After the service was over I took a few men of the Africander Corps, -and some friendly Matabele with a stretcher, and went off to collect -the remains of the Ross family. These we found had been scattered and -dragged about in every direction by dogs or wild animals. We could -find no trace of Mr. Ross, and it is quite possible that he had been -murdered at some distance from his homestead. The broken skull of a -young woman which we found close to the door of one of the huts must -have been that of Miss Agnes Kirk, but of old Mrs. Ross all we found by -which to identify her was a mass of long grey hair, the skull having -disappeared. Besides these sad relics we also found the remains of -three children, the one a boy by his clothes, and the other two, little -girls, their fair hair being still plaited into several short plaits -in the Boer style. These three poor children must have been members of -the Fourie family who had probably been visiting the Rosses on the day -when the murders were committed. - -Thus, of the eleven people murdered here some remains of all were -found, except of Mr. Fourie and Mr. Ross, and these being the only -men were very likely led away on some pretext, such as looking at -cattle, and murdered at a distance from their dwellings where there -was no chance of their getting hold of rifles or revolvers. Then, -the men being disposed of, the noble savages came down fearlessly to -the homesteads and smashed in the heads of the women and children -comfortably and at their leisure. - -On Sunday, 24th May—the Queen's Birthday—we continued our march down -the Insiza valley, burning a large number of kraals as we advanced. -All these kraals had only just been deserted by their owners, and -they were all full of grain, while, in addition, in every one were -found articles of some kind or another which had been taken from the -homesteads of white men. All the grain that could not be carried with -us was destroyed as far as possible. In many of the kraals were found -large accumulations of dried meat, and many dried skins of bullocks, -cows and calves, proving that the rinderpest had been brought into this -district by the natives since the outbreak of the rebellion, and had -been playing havoc amongst their cattle. - -As we advanced, burning kraal after kraal, on the northern slope of -the range which runs to the south of and parallel to the course of the -Insiza river, column after column of smoke continually ascending into -the clear sky from the southern side of the hills let us know that -Colonel Spreckley's column was devastating the murderers' country on -his line of march as effectually as we were doing on ours. - -On the following day we still pursued our way unopposed down the Insiza -valley, burning kraal after kraal, but never seeing a sign of the -native inhabitants, who had evidently received timely notice of our -approach and fled into the hills. On the morning of Wednesday, 27th -May, we reached the Belingwe road at about nine o'clock, and were soon -joined by Colonel Spreckley's column which had been waiting for us a -little farther down the road. Colonel Spreckley's force had had no -general engagement with the enemy, but his scouts had captured about -seven hundred head of cattle and twenty-three donkeys. They had also -found the remains of several murdered Europeans, amongst whom the -bodies of a miner named Gracey and those of Dr. and Mrs. Langford and a -Mr. Lemon were recognised. Mr. Gracey's body lay just outside his hut, -but he had evidently been killed when lying on his bed inside, as a -blanket still lying there was soaked through and through with blood. - -The case of Dr. and Mrs. Langford is one of the saddest of the many -sad episodes of the late native insurrection in Matabeleland. They had -been married but a short time, and had only left the old country three -months before the rebellion broke out. Unfortunately fate ordained that -they should reach Bulawayo, and leave it in order to take up their -residence in the Insiza district, just before the outbreak. Thus they -were suddenly surprised by a party of murderous savages when travelling -in their waggon. Mr. Lemon was with them, and his body was found lying -close to that of Dr. Langford; but poor Mrs. Langford's corpse was -discovered some two miles away under the bank of a stream flowing a few -hundred yards below Mr. Rixon's farmstead. It looked as if when first -attacked the two men had held the murderers at bay, and given Mrs. -Langford time to run on to Mr. Rixon's house in the hope of obtaining -assistance. But when she reached the homestead she found it unoccupied, -Mr. Rixon having left the day before. The poor woman then probably -waited at the house for the husband and friend that never came, and -then knowing that they must have been killed took refuge under the -bank of the river which ran below the house. Here she seems to have -lain hidden for some days at least, as she had made a sort of bed of -dry grass to lie on under the bank, and as a pie-dish was found beside -her body, she probably visited the house at nights to get food of some -sort. The agony of mind this poor young woman must have suffered, one -shudders to think of. But at last the Kafirs found her, and then, poor -soul, her troubles were nearly at an end, for they lost no time in -killing her. They appear to have stoned her to death, as her skull was -terribly shattered and some large round stones taken from the river-bed -were lying beside her corpse. None of her clothes had been removed, and -two rings were still on her finger, on the inner side of one of which -were engraved the words "Sunny Curls, Mizpah." - -On the afternoon of the day on which the columns rejoined, the Insiza -river was recrossed by the ford on the main road leading from Belingwe -to Bulawayo, and on the following day, 27th May, the Salisbury -contingent, reinforced by sixty men of Gifford's Horse, left the -Bulawayo column, and went off southwards with the intention of visiting -the Filibusi district, where it was thought that an impi might be met -with, and thence making their way to Bulawayo by the road which passes -Edkins' store, where it may be remembered a number of white men were -murdered at the first outbreak of the insurrection. As soon as the -flying column under Colonel Beal had left us, Colonel Napier gave the -word to inspan, and an hour later the remainder of the troops under his -command were on their way back to the capital of Matabeleland, which -was finally reached after an uneventful journey on Sunday, 31st May. - -As on the road home the column passed near the northern boundary of -my Company's property of Essexvale, I asked and obtained leave from -Colonel Napier to pay a visit in company with Mr. Blöcker to the -homestead where I had been living in the midst of an apparently happy -and contented native population at the outbreak of the insurrection. -Leaving the camp at daylight, just as the mules were being inspanned -for the morning's trek, we reached the scene of our agricultural -labours after a two hours' ride, only to find that the house was -absolutely gone, literally burnt to ashes, there being nothing left -to mark the spot on which our pretty cottage had once stood but the -stone pillars and solid iron shoes on which it had rested. The roof -of the stable had been burnt too, as well as all the outhouses, and a -waggon, under which last wood must have been piled in order to set it -alight. The only building which had not been destroyed was the kitchen, -which, having been built very solidly of stone with an iron roof, -was practically fireproof. The mowing machine and rake had not been -touched, nor had the ploughs been interfered with. In the vegetable -garden we found any amount of cabbages, cauliflowers, onions, carrots, -parsnips, beetroot, tomatoes, etc., which had ripened since the natives -had left, and we loaded up our horses with as much as they could carry. -The potatoes had all been dug up by some animals, probably porcupines. -We visited some of the native villages close round the homestead, but -found them entirely empty, having been probably deserted since the time -when the Matabele burnt my house down. After having off-saddled our -horses for a short time, we rode back with our load of vegetables to -the column, which we found laagered up some six miles farther along the -road than where we had left it in the morning. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - - Sir Frederick Carrington takes over the command of all forces - in Matabeleland—Account of Colonel Plumer'a successful - engagement—General Carrington sends out three patrols to clear - the country of rebels to the west, north, and north-east—No - enemy met with, but much grain taken and destroyed—A large impi - reported camped on the Umguza—Force under Colonel Spreckley - proceeds to attack it—Kafirs charged by mounted men and - bolt—Heavy Matabele losses—How this impi was deceived by a - witch-doctor—Incorrect statements in _Truth_. - - -Shortly after the return of Colonel Napier's column from the Insiza -district, Major-General Sir Frederick Carrington reached Bulawayo with -his very able and carefully-chosen staff, and at once took over the -command of all the forces in Matabeleland. And here I ought perhaps to -close my narrative, which I only intend to be a history of the efforts -made by the colonists themselves to suppress the native insurrection, -before the arrival in Matabeleland of the relief forces sent up to -their assistance. However, at the risk of wearying my readers, I will -ask them to have patience yet a little longer until I bring my story -up to the date of the disbandment of the Bulawayo Field Force. Some -time before the return of Colonel Napier's column, the force raised by -Colonel Plumer (of the York and Lancaster Regiment) for the relief of -the colonists in Matabeleland had reached Bulawayo, and had already had -a successful engagement with the rebels, whom he had dislodged from -the positions they had taken up on the Umguza, some twelve miles from -Bulawayo, to which they had retired after having been driven from the -immediate vicinity of the town by the sortie under Captain Macfarlane -on 25th April. - -As a detachment of the Bulawayo Field Force and some of Colenbrander's -colonial natives took part in this expedition, I will, before -proceeding further, give a short account of what took place. Acting -under instructions from headquarters, Captain Knapp of the Bulawayo -Field Force left Bulawayo at 10 P.M. on the night of 24th May in -command of a detachment of forty men of Gifford's Horse, with orders -to report himself to Major Watts at Government House. On his arrival -there the latter officer was found to be in readiness to move with the -men under his command, and at about 11.30 P.M. the whole force marched -in a north-westerly direction, holding a course across country between -the Umguza and Khami rivers, whilst at the same time Colonel Plumer -moved out of Bulawayo with another column, taking a line parallel to -the course followed by Major Watts. During this night march Captain -Knapp was in command of the advance, himself leading the one detachment -of Gifford's Horse on the right front of the column, whilst Lieutenant -Warwick led the other half on the left. Colenbrander's boys under -Lieutenant Mullins were placed in the centre of the advanced line. - -At about 2.30 A.M. Captain Knapp came suddenly in contact with the -enemy's outposts, who immediately opened fire on his party in the -darkness. Captain Knapp at once dismounted his men and kept the rebels -from charging by pouring volleys into the thickets where they were -concealed. He was soon joined by Lieutenant Warwick and the Colonial -Boys under Lieutenant Mullins, but it was not until Major Watts had -come up with the main body and the Maxim had been brought into action -that the enemy's fire was completely silenced. - -When the firing commenced, Colonel Plumer and his men were not very far -off on the left flank, and their course was at once directed towards -the spot where the engagement appeared to be proceeding. Thus the -two columns joined forces soon after the enemy had retired, when a -square was formed, and a good watch kept during the remaining hours of -darkness. However, no further attack was made. - -During the first attack, Mr. Hamilton, who was acting as galloper to -Captain Knapp, was shot through both legs, whilst one of the Colonial -Boys was badly wounded and several horses killed. - -At daylight the following morning Captain Knapp and Captain Coope -were sent out to look for the enemy, and the latter officer coming -across a small party of them, he at once attacked with the force under -his command, consisting of twenty white men and some of Radikladi's -Bamangwato natives, and drove the rebels back on their main body, which -was found to be in a strong position amongst some thickly-wooded ridges -about two miles to the west of Colonel Plumer's camp. - -At about half-past seven or eight o'clock the whole column was moved -forwards to attack them, Captain Coope's Scouts being in advance on -the right, whilst Captain Knapp with the troopers of Gifford's Horse -occupied a similar position on the left. These two officers, after -galloping to the foot of the first ridge occupied by the rebels, there -dismounted their men, and then in the face of a heavy fire, led them on -foot most gallantly against the hidden enemy, whom they succeeded in -driving from their most advanced position. - -In this attack two of Captain Knapp's men were severely wounded, -Sergeant Peacock being shot in the stomach, whilst Trooper Slowey had -his right leg so badly shattered that amputation of the limb was found -necessary. - -The enemy's first line of defence having been taken in this brilliant -manner by the advance guard, the whole column under Colonel Plumer then -came into action, and the rebels were driven from three densely-wooded -ridges successively into the open valley of the Umguza, and were then -pursued for a distance of three miles. When the pursuit was over, the -horses were off-saddled on the bank of the Umguza and allowed to rest -until 2 P.M., at which hour a start was made for Mr. Crewe's farm of -Redbank on the Khami river, some sixteen miles from Bulawayo, where it -was believed that a large impi was camped in a very strong position. -Captain Knapp now took charge of the right-hand section of the advance -guard, and Captain Coope with his Scouts was placed on the left. - -After having proceeded for about two hours, the latter officer sent -a messenger to Captain Knapp to inform him that the enemy were in -force on his left. They then joined forces and attacked the Kafirs, -who were in a strong position on a wooded hill, to reach which two -deep gullies had to be crossed under a very heavy fire. Here one of -Coope's Scouts was shot dead (Trooper Hays), whilst Mr. Gordon Forbes, -who had accompanied the expedition as a volunteer, had a very narrow -escape. He had crossed a dry gully with four of Captain Coope's Scouts, -when Kafirs showed themselves on either side at a distance of only -thirty yards and fired on the white men. Mr. Gordon Forbes' horse was -shot in two places, and, falling with him, pinned him to the ground, -the men who were with him retreating under the heavy fire, and had -not some more of Coope's Scouts come up and pulled him out he would -undoubtedly have been killed. At this time, too, one of Radikladi's -boys was wounded in the face and another horse killed. The main column -then coming up, the enemy were driven from their position and pursued -through the bush till dusk, Colonel Plumer taking up his quarters for -the night in the camp on the top of the hill from which the rebels had -been driven. - -On the following day scouts were sent out to endeavour to discover -the position of the enemy, but no trace of them could be found, so, -as the horses were very much knocked up, a return to Bulawayo was -decided upon. During these skirmishes Captain Knapp lost five horses, -in addition to the two men of his troop who were badly wounded, whilst -Captain Coope also had several horses killed. These two officers and -their men, being always in advance of the main column, naturally -got the lion's share of the fighting. They were both thanked for -the gallant way in which they had led their men by their commanding -officer, Colonel Plumer, who also complimented Mr. Maurice Gifford on -the excellent service rendered by the troop of horse which bore his -name. - -During the first week in June, General Carrington determined to send -out three patrols simultaneously with the object of thoroughly clearing -the country of rebels to the west, north, and north-east of Bulawayo, -before making an attack with the combined forces on the impis of -Babian, Umlugulu, and Sikombo, who, it was known, had taken up strong -positions in the Matopo Hills, from which they could only be driven -with great difficulty and at the expense of a heavy loss of life on the -side of the attacking party. Thus, towards the end of the week Colonel -Plumer proceeded with a force of some 600 men to the Khami river, the -course of which stream it was his intention to follow to its junction -with the Gwai, whilst on Friday, 5th June, Captain Macfarlane got off -with 300 mounted white men and 100 Colonial Boys for the Umguza, -which he was determined to thoroughly clear of rebels along its whole -course. Mr. Cecil Rhodes, Sir Charles Metcalfe, and Mr. Weston Jarvis -accompanied the latter force. - -Both these patrols were unsuccessful in coming up with any large body -of the rebels, who dispersed and fled as the white men advanced. Thus, -although some kraals were burnt and a good deal of grain taken and -destroyed, no decisive engagement took place, and no heavy blow could -be dealt at the ever-vanishing foe. Colonel Plumer's column got back -to their quarters on the Khami river on Wednesday, 24th June, whilst -Captain Macfarlane's men did not return to Bulawayo until Friday, 3rd -July. - -Before these patrols left, Colonel Beal, who it may be remembered -had parted company with Colonel Napier at the Insiza river, reached -Bulawayo and formed a laager about two miles out of town to the right -of the main road to Salisbury. It had been arranged that on the morning -after Captain Macfarlane got away with his men to the lower Umguza, -another patrol was to leave town under the command of Colonel Spreckley -for the purpose of establishing forts at Shiloh and Inyati, and to this -patrol I had been attached with a few of my men, the majority of my -troop being stationed at Fort Marquand. - -Every preparation had been made for an early start on the Saturday -morning, when late on Friday evening a report came in that there was -a large impi camped on the Umguza, at the ford on the main road to -Salisbury. It appeared that Sir Charles Metcalfe and the American Scout -Burnham, who had been riding out to Colonel Beal's camp, having missed -their way in the dark, had ridden down the main road to the Umguza, -and had there seen a line of camp-fires, extending over half a mile of -ground, along the wooded ridge beyond the river, which could betoken -nothing else but that a Matabele impi had taken up its position there. -This news that a large impi was within six miles of the town having -been confirmed by scouts sent out later on during the Friday night, -Colonel Spreckley received orders to make an attack upon it on the -following morning with all the mounted men he could muster in town, -supplemented by the contingent under Colonel Beal. By nine o'clock a -force of some 200 mounted men with three guns was ready, and forthwith -set out for the Umguza. This force was composed of the Scouts under -Captain Grey, a large contingent of Africanders under Captain Van -Niekerk, thirty men under Captain Brand, and fifteen of my own troop -which was all for which horses could be found. - -On reaching the rising ground about a mile on this side of the Umguza, -we found the Salisbury men drawn up all ready waiting for us, and they -informed us that they had been watching the Matabele for some time -past, and had seen them leave the camps in which they had slept in a -very leisurely way and take up their positions in the open bush behind, -where they were waiting for us. - -They had not to wait long. The Africanders under Captain Van Niekerk -were ordered to cross the river about half a mile below the ford, which -they did at the same time that the remainder of Colonel Spreckley's -force and the mounted men of the Salisbury contingent crossed by the -main road, the latter then deploying to the left. - -At this time we were hidden from the Kafirs by the slope of rising -ground behind which they had retreated, but when this was crested they -were seen in the bush little more than a hundred yards in front of the -foremost horsemen. The order was at once given to charge, on which a -whirlwind of horsemen bore down on them, Grey's Scouts and Brand's men -being in the centre, the Africanders on the left, and the Salisbury men -on the right. - -On this occasion the Kafirs must have been quite 1000 strong, spread -out in skirmishing order through the open bush in face of the long line -of advancing horsemen, yet they never stood for a moment, but were -seized with a panic just as the smaller number of their compatriots -had been when charged at Thaba Induna, as I have already related. In -the same way as these latter, they fired a hurried ill-aimed volley -and then turned and ran. In the chase which followed, a large number -of them were shot down, and the pursuit was only abandoned when the -fleetest-footed amongst them had gained the shelter of the belt of -thick bush which runs down from the western side of Thaba Induna -towards the Umguza. - -I am of opinion myself that the Matabele lost more heavily on this -occasion than at any other fight during the campaign, for the very -reason that it was not a fight but only a pursuit in which the natives -were killed as fast as they were overtaken. Just as on the day at -Thaba Induna, so on this occasion the panic-stricken savages accepted -death when the horsemen came up with them without making any attempt -at resistance, except in a few instances. One man turned on Trooper -Davey of Grey's Scouts and shot him through the thigh with an old -musket at close quarters, the large bullet smashing the thigh-bone and -necessitating the amputation of the limb; whilst another, leaping out -of a bush, rushed on to Trooper Hamilton of the Salisbury contingent -and stabbed him in the right side, the assegai entering his liver. -Hamilton wrenched the assegai out of his assailant's hand and then shot -him. My old friend, Mr. F. C. Farley of Grey's Scouts and a well-known -figure in the Bulawayo of to-day, as he was also in the native kraal -of Lo Bengula many years ago, had too a very narrow escape. He had -dismounted to shoot a Kafir running a short distance in front of him, -when the latter turned and rushed at him shaking his shield in front of -him. Farley luckily carried a double-barrelled rifle, for he missed the -Kafir with the first shot, and only brought him down with the second -barrel when his assailant was so near him that his assegai struck the -ground close to his feet. Two other men were slightly wounded, but -these were the only casualties on our side, whilst the loss sustained -by the Matabele was very heavy, not only in number, but in the rank -of the men who were killed, for it was naturally the young and nimble -who were able to make good their escape, whilst the greater part of -the older men were overtaken and slain. Some of the latter, however, -outlived this fatal day by hiding themselves in the midst of thick -bushes. - -That this impi should have dared to come close up to Bulawayo and take -up its quarters at a point on the Umguza where the bush was not nearly -so thick as it is farther down the river, at the point where several -large impis had already tried conclusions and failed to hold their own -against the white men, certainly took everyone by surprise; but since -then several hundred men of this impi have surrendered to Mr. W. Fynn, -and we now know that when they approached Bulawayo they did so under -the superstitious belief that their enemies would be delivered into -their hands by the Umlimo, and that they would be able to kill them all -without any loss to themselves. - -The story is as follows: Since the outbreak of the rebellion there -has appeared amongst that section of the insurgents to which the -defeated impi belonged a man who professes himself to be the prophet -and mouthpiece of the "Umlimo" or invisible spirit. This man, it -is said, possesses the power of throwing himself into an ecstatic -condition, under the influence of which he swallows stones, rolls on -the ground, dances on hot ashes, puts burning coals into his mouth, -and goes through many other strange performances. He is known to the -Matabele by the name of "Si ginya amachi," "He who swallows stones," -and his utterances have come to be implicitly believed in, insomuch -that when he called for an impi to go and destroy all the white men in -Bulawayo, he had no difficulty in getting a number of picked men from -seven different regiments to obey his behests. His orders were that the -men composing this impi should take up their quarters where we found -them on the Salisbury road, and there wait for the white men to attack -them. They were on no account to endeavour to prevent their enemies -from crossing the Umguza, but were to offer them every encouragement -to do so, "for," said the stone-swallower, "once they have crossed -to the east of the river the Umlimo will strike them all blind, and -you will then be able to kill them without trouble, and then go on -and murder all the women and children in Bulawayo." As the white men -were not struck blind, whilst on the other hand a large number of the -prophet's dupes lost their lives through their superstitious belief in -his supernatural gifts, it would be interesting to know how "Si ginya -amachi" has accounted to the survivors for his most dismal failure; for -the fact that he has not yet been put to death seems to show that he -has been able to offer some excuse which has saved his life up to the -present time. - -It is this episode of the killing of a large number of Matabele at the -Umguza by the colonists _whom they had come to kill_, of which Mr. -Labouchere has made so much capital lately, and which has enabled him -to indulge in so many sneers against the white settlers in Rhodesia; -his stock phrase being "that the natives are being shot down like -game at a battue, with apparently as little danger to the shooters -as to those killing hares and rabbits." Now no one knows better than -Mr. Labouchere himself the utter recklessness of such a statement if -applied to the whole campaign, since it is evident that he is ever -on the watch for every scrap of news emanating from Rhodesia, in the -charitable hope of picking up something discreditable to the settlers -or to the government of the Chartered Company, and he must therefore -be well aware that the number of white men who have been killed and -wounded in the various engagements and skirmishes that have lately -taken place in Matabeleland is very considerable. But should any one -who does me the honour to read my story be either a constant or a -fitful reader of the pages of _Truth_, and be inclined to believe that -the editor of that journal is correct in his oft-repeated assertion -that the white men in Matabeleland have suffered an insignificant loss -in their encounters with the natives during the present rebellion, I -would ask such an one to turn to the Appendix at the end of this book, -and look over the lists which I have there given both of the settlers -who were murdered on the first outbreak of the rebellion, and also of -those who have since been killed and wounded in battle. These lists, if -compared with Mr. Labouchere's statements, will, I think, prove to the -most prejudiced that Truth—the everlasting Truth which we are told is -great and will prevail—is one thing, whilst Mr. Labouchere's _Truth_, -sold at all the bookstalls at 6d. a copy, is quite another. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - - I proceed with the column under Colonel Spreckley's command for - Shiloh—A bad time for the horses—I find the bodies of three - Zambesi boys at Stuart's mining camp—Account of the murders—A - fort built on the site of the old police camp—March for the - Queen's Mine—Part of the column sent on to Inyati—Bodies of - six murdered men found—Narrow escape of Mr. Rees and his - family—Church and mission houses at Inyati burnt down by the - Matabele—Column move to Fynn's farm—Patrol fall in with a - large body of Kafirs—Council of war decides to endeavour to - drive rebels from their position—Kafirs decamp during the - night—A faithful servant—Kafirs disheartened but afraid to - surrender—Large amount of grain captured—Return to Bulawayo—News - of the rising in Mashunaland—A force sent to Eastern Rhodesia—The - prophetess "Salugazana"—Umlimos responsible for the outbreak in - Mashunaland—Loot the object of the Mashunas—Captain Laing arrives - at Bulawayo—His successful engagements with the rebels—Matibi's - valuable assistance—Loyalty of Chibi and Chilimanzi—The Bulawayo - Field Force disbanded—Lord Grey's address to the members of the - Bulawayo Field Force. - - -Owing to the delay caused by the attack on and pursuit of the impi from -the Umguza, as I have just narrated, Colonel Spreckley's patrol did not -leave Bulawayo for Shiloh until the afternoon of the following day, -Sunday, 7th June. This patrol comprised about 330 white men, about half -of whom were mounted, 100 Colonial Boys, and 100 Friendly Matabele—over -500 men altogether. - -As we did not proceed along the main road, but first took a branch -track to the old Imbezu kraal, and then followed the course of the -Kotki river until we struck the main road, we did not reach the site -of the old police camp near Shiloh mission station until Thursday, -11th June. Up to this time we had not seen a single native, whilst all -the kraals we passed had been long deserted and all stores of grain -removed, so that our horses and mules, having to depend entirely on the -dry scanty grass for their sustenance, lost condition rapidly. - -One day we outspanned close to a miner's camp, which was situated on -a rise above the Kotki river, and as I was field officer for the day -and had to post the videttes, I placed two of them on the site of -the mining camp. Here we found the dead bodies of three natives, who -proved to be Zambesi boys who had been working at the mine at the time -when the rebellion broke out. On inquiry I found that this camp had -belonged to an American miner named Jack Stuart—a lieutenant in Grey's -Scouts—from whom I learned, that on hearing rumours towards the end of -March that a native rising was imminent, he and his partner had gone -in to Bulawayo to ascertain if there was any truth in the report. Six -Zambesi boys were left working in the shaft, which had been sunk on -a reef just alongside of the camp, and two days later one of these -boys came to town and reported that on the previous evening a party of -Matabele had visited the mine, and forthwith proceeded to murder all -the Zambesi boys they found there. He himself, he said, had managed -to escape by running, but he thought that all his companions had been -killed. A few days later, however, another of these boys turned up who -had been very badly wounded and left for dead by the Matabele. - -It appears that, on seeing two of his friends attacked, this boy had -made a bolt for it, but was overtaken and knocked down by a heavy -blow on the back of the head from a knob-kerry. He fell on his face -stunned, and was then stabbed in the back with an assegai, the weapon -being driven clean through him, and then twice nearly but not quite -withdrawn from the wound, and again driven through him, so that, -although there was only one wound on his back, there were three in -front, where the point of the assegai had come through, just below -his breast-bone, and his right lung must have been punctured in three -different places. This boy would seem to have lain a day and a night, -insensible, where he fell, but on regaining consciousness had found -strength enough to walk to Bulawayo, some twenty miles distant from the -mining camp where he had been knocked down, assegaied, and left for -dead. - -On his arrival in town he was at once taken to the hospital, and, owing -to the kind nursing and skilful treatment which he received there, he -in a few weeks' time completely recovered, and although he still bears -the scars of the wounds which he received, his general health appears -to be as good as ever it was. - -On Friday, 12th June, the day after our arrival on the site of the old -police camp, a fort was built, and here Native Commissioner Lanning was -left in charge with a garrison of about seventy white men and twenty -Friendly Matabele and a stock of provisions sufficient to last for two -months. - -On the following morning we struck across country towards the Queen's -Mine, a property belonging to Willoughby's Consolidated Company. That -night we slept on the way there, and the fresh tracks of Kafirs and -cattle having been seen late in the afternoon, a patrol was sent after -them very early the next morning, the column shortly afterwards getting -under way and arriving at the mining camp at about eight o'clock. - -Here it was found that although a good deal of property had been -destroyed by the Kafirs, but little damage had been done to the -machinery and pumping gear, the savages probably not having recognised -its value nor been sufficiently energetic to give themselves the -trouble of smashing it up. Another short trek in the afternoon brought -us to the ford of the Impembisi river, on the main road between -Bulawayo and the mission station of Inyati. Here the patrol which had -left us in the early morning under Captain Gradwell rejoined us just at -dusk, having been unsuccessful in coming up with any Kafirs or cattle, -all of whom seemed to have gone down the Impembisi river. - -As the mules and horses were now getting into very low condition, it -was determined not to take the whole column on to Inyati, but only to -send on the contingent who were to remain in garrison there under the -command of Lieutenant Banks-Wright, together with another 100 men who -were to return to the main column as soon as the fort was in a fair way -towards completion. This force was accompanied by four waggons carrying -provisions and other necessaries for the garrison of the fort, and the -Rev. Mr. Rees also went with it, in order to bury the remains of the -six white men who had been murdered near the police camp of Inyati on -27th March. - -Five of these bodies were found lying on the roadside near together, -about a mile on this side of the police camp, while the sixth was -discovered near the camp itself. The corpses had been partially -mummified by the dryness of the atmosphere, and were all quite -recognisable. Mr. Graham, the native commissioner, and his four -companions had evidently been attacked by a large force of Kafirs -soon after they had left the police station, and were killed whilst -defending the waggon on which they were travelling to Bulawayo. In -addition to their bodies the remains of two Colonial Boys were also -found who had been murdered at the same time as their white masters. - -That Mr. Graham and his companions had made a good fight of it, -and sold their lives dearly, was evident from the number of empty -cartridge-cases which were found on the ground round their dead bodies, -Lieutenant Howard having picked up and counted eighty-five. As, -however, the Matabele had removed their dead, it is quite impossible to -say what loss they had suffered. The murdered men were all buried with -military honours in the cemetery near the old mission station by Mr. -Rees. This gentleman himself, with his wife and family, must have had a -very narrow escape, as they only left the mission station on the 26th -March, the day before Mr. Graham and his companions were attacked and -killed; and they must too have only just passed through the Elibaini -Hills on their way to Bulawayo before the rebels collected there. -Both mission houses at Inyati were found to have been burnt down and -destroyed, as well as the church, in which it was evident that large -quantities of wood had been piled up in order to set light to the heavy -beams supporting the roof. The natives had also taken the trouble to -chop down fruit trees and ornamental shrubs growing round the mission -houses, and had evidently done their best, not only to rid themselves -of the presence of all white men in the country, but also to destroy as -far as possible all traces of their ever having been there. - -On Wednesday morning the men who had been sent to assist in building -the fort at Inyati returned to the Impembisi, and in the afternoon the -whole column moved some four miles up the river to Mr. Fynn's farm. -On the morning of the same day Lieutenant Mullins—Mr. Colenbrander's -brother-in-law—had been sent on to this point with some fifty Colonial -Boys to look for grain, and had come across a considerable number of -armed Kafirs in a very broken, densely-wooded piece of country, just to -the east of the Impembisi river. As it was impossible for Lieutenant -Mullins to tell the numbers of the rebels in the broken country, he -retired with his Colonial Boys to the top of a single hill to the west -of the river, and sent back to camp for reinforcements. Captain Grey -was at once sent on with his Scouts, and the whole column followed more -leisurely, arriving at Fynn's farm just before sundown. - -Captain Grey had seen a considerable number of natives, evidently -watching his men from the tops of different kopjes, but as the country -they were in was altogether impracticable for horses, he was unable to -attack them, and they on their side showed no disposition to come out -of the hills. At a council of war that evening it was determined to -endeavour to clear the hills in the morning with as large a force of -footmen as could be spared from the laager; Grey's Scouts at the same -time being sent round at the back of the hills in order to cut off any -Kafirs who might be driven out of them into the level country beyond. -The general impression in camp was that the Kafirs were in force, and -that we should have all our work cut out to drive them out of their -positions. And so we should have had, if they had only remained to -dispute our advance. However, leaving the laager on the following -morning just as day was breaking, we entered the hills at sunrise, and -went right through them without seeing a sign of the rebels, who we -found had decamped during the night and fled to what they considered -a more secure stronghold—to wit, the "Intabas a Mambo," a sort of -miniature Matopos some twenty miles farther eastward. - -To this fastness it was not possible for Colonel Spreckley to follow -them, so, as we met no other natives during our farther progress up the -river to Mr. Arthur Rhodes' homestead, nor on our return journey from -there to Bulawayo, we had absolutely no fighting during the whole trip. - -Curiously enough, the temporary huts in which Mr. Fynn had been living -before the outbreak of the insurrection had not been burnt, and on -going up to a kraal some few miles higher up the river, where had dwelt -a native to whom he had entrusted some Merino sheep, pigs, and a number -of very handsome black Spanish fowls, Mr. Fynn found the fowls and -pigs still there and in very good condition, and on making a closer -examination observed fresh Kafir footprints, and therefore came to the -conclusion that the man he had left in charge of his live stock was -still looking after it, retiring into the hills by day and feeding his -master's pigs and fowls by night. Mr. Fynn therefore asked Colonel -Spreckley to allow him to take two friends that evening, and return to -the kraal in the hope of being able to intercept his servant, and bring -him down to the camp. - -The plan succeeded perfectly, for just after dusk the man came along -the footpath leading from the river to the kraal, and was suddenly -confronted by Mr. Fynn, who had been waiting for him concealed behind -a bush. The Kafir was at first very much taken aback, but when he -recognised his master, he burst out laughing and said: "Why, is it you, -Willy? you've caught me now." This man was a native of Delagoa Bay, and -being lame had been able to escape being forced into taking part in the -rebellion, and ever since the outbreak had been able to surreptitiously -look after a portion of his master's property, for though the Merino -sheep had been driven off to the "Intabas a Mambo," the pigs and fowls -had been left, and these the faithful servant had fed and watered -regularly every night. - -He was able to give us a great deal of useful information, and told us -that the men who had been seen the day before amongst the hills on the -other side of the Impembisi river were a portion of the impi which had -suffered so heavily at the Umguza, on Saturday, 6th June. He informed -us that they were thoroughly disheartened, and wished to surrender, -but were afraid to do so, knowing that they had made the white men -very angry by murdering their women and children. He gave the names of -thirteen headmen of kraals who had been killed on that fatal day, all -of whom had been personally known to Mr. Fynn, as they had been one and -all living on Mr. Arthur Rhodes' block of farms before the rebellion -broke out. - -The next three days were spent in collecting grain, an immense amount -being found stored in all the kraals on Mr. Arthur Rhodes' farms. In -almost every kraal was found something or other which had been taken -from his homestead, which had evidently been completely looted before -it was burnt down. Several hundred head of cattle were also recovered -which had been stolen from Mr. Rhodes, but the rinderpest was amongst -them and they died by the score every day. As it was very important to -get as much corn as possible to Bulawayo for the use of the horses and -mules stabled there, and it could not be all carried in at once on the -waggons at Colonel Spreckley's disposal, a large amount was stored in a -kraal near Mr. Fynn's dwelling-house, and Captain Robinson with fifty -men and some Friendly Matabele left in charge of it until it could be -sent for. - -When this matter had been arranged, the column moved up to Mr. Arthur -Rhodes' desolated homestead, which was reached at mid-day on Sunday, -21st June, and leaving again the same evening arrived in Bulawayo two -days later after an absence of seventeen days. - -On our arrival in town we heard for the first time of the insurrection -which had broken out in Mashunaland, and learned the sad news that many -settlers had been murdered in the outlying districts of the country. -Colonel Beal was at this time already on his way back to Salisbury with -the entire force under his command, and two days after our return to -Bulawayo sixty more mounted men of Grey's Scouts and Gifford's Horse, -under the command of Captain the Hon. C. White, were despatched to the -assistance of their fellow-colonists in Eastern Rhodesia. - -When the secret history of the rebellion in Mashunaland comes to be -known, I fancy it will be found that it was brought about by the -leaders of the Matabele insurrection through the instrumentality of the -Umlimos or prophets, who exist amongst all the tribes in Mashunaland, -where they are known as "Mondoros," _i.e._ "Lions." In the district -to the north-west of Salisbury there lives a prophetess known as -"Salugazana," whose magical powers were apparently believed in by Lo -Bengula, as he was in the habit of sending messengers to consult with -her. - -Now, we know that messages have been sent to this wise woman either -by the leaders of the Matabele or the agents of one of the Umlimos -or priests during the present rebellion, and I think that she was in -all probability informed that the white men had all been killed in -Matabeleland, including the column under Colonel Beal, and asked to -disseminate this news amongst all the members of the priestly families -throughout the country, bidding them at the same time to call upon the -people to destroy the few surviving white men still left alive in the -eastern province of Rhodesia. - -As for the rising in Mashunaland proving that the natives of that -country have been very cruelly treated by the whites, as Mr. Labouchere -has asserted, it really demonstrates nothing of the kind; it only -shows that the Mashunas imagined that they would be able to possess -themselves of a vast amount of valuable loot with little danger to -themselves, and no fear of punishment. The kindness or otherwise of the -government of the whites would not be likely to weigh with them one way -or the other, given the belief in their own power to kill the whites -and take possession of their property without fear of retribution. - -That is the crux of the whole question; for no one who has lived long -amongst the various peoples generically known as Mashunas, whose -principal characteristics are avarice, cowardice, and a complete -callousness to the sufferings of others, will be inclined to doubt that -were they governed by an angel from heaven, they would infallibly kill -that angel, if his wing feathers were of any value to them, provided -that they believed at the same time that the crime might be committed -with impunity. - -[Illustration: CAPTAIN TYRIE LAING - -who was in command at BELINGWE on the outbreak of the native -insurrection.] - -Towards the end of June Captain Laing arrived in Bulawayo in command -of the relief forces which had been sent to him from Tuli and Victoria, -Lieutenant Stoddart being left in command of the laager at Belingwe. -On his way to Bulawayo, Captain Laing had had several successful -engagements with the tribes in rebellion living between Belingwe and -Filibusi, who are all Mashunas, with a small number of Matabele living -amongst them; these latter having been the ringleaders of the rebellion -in this part of the country. Captain Laing received very valuable -assistance from Matibi, a Mashuna chief living near the Bubyi river, -who sent several hundred of his men to accompany him on his march to -Bulawayo. These men did good service and fought well when supported -by white men. They accompanied the column as far as the Umzingwani -river, twenty-five miles from Bulawayo, returning home from this point -loaded up with loot of all kinds which they had taken from their rebel -countrymen. - -Besides Matibi, it is worthy of remark that Chibi and Chilimanzi, -the two most important chiefs in the district between Belingwe and -Victoria, have both not only held aloof from the present rebellion, -but have given active assistance to the whites since the outbreak of -hostilities, whilst Gutu's people—the Zinjanja—have also remained loyal -to the Government. - -I have now, I think, given a fairly comprehensive history of the -late insurrection in Matabeleland up to the time when, relief forces -having arrived in the country, it was deemed expedient to disband the -volunteer troops which had been originally raised to suppress the -rebellion, and I will therefore leave to abler and more accustomed pens -than mine the task of describing all the subsequent incidents of a -campaign which we will hope is now fast drawing to an end. I will only -say that no one appreciates more than myself the excessive difficulties -that have been encountered in dislodging the rebels from such -fastnesses as the Intabas a Mambo and the Matopo Hills, or recognises -more fully the brave work which has been done under the guidance of -Major-General Sir Frederick Carrington, by Colonel Plumer, Major Baden -Powell, and all the officers and men under their command. - -The Bulawayo Field Force was not actually disbanded until Saturday, 4th -July, upon which occasion the assembled troops were addressed by Lord -Grey after they had been first inspected by Major-General Sir Frederick -Carrington. The Administrator concluded his address to the members of -the force in the following words:—"All of you have acquitted yourselves -as brave men, and I would particularly commend the conduct of Colonel -Napier, who throughout the campaign has performed his very arduous -duties so satisfactorily. But mingled with our enjoyment there must be -some pain in looking back upon many of the episodes of this rebellion. -The Company has done its best to look after your comfort, but you have -undergone notwithstanding some severe hardships, which, however, you -have borne like men; and the only complaint I have heard is that you -were not always able to go out against the enemy, but had to perform -as well the hard and monotonous work of laager and fort duty. Many of -you have a Matabele memento in the shape of a wound, the mark of which -you will carry to your graves. Many too have lost friends; and possibly -none of us realise the loss of life which has taken place both before -and during hostilities; for our losses have been heavy, and form a -large percentage of the total number of people who were engaged in -the exploitation of the country. I cannot refer to individual cases -of bravery where all have done so well, but I would again especially -mention Colonel Napier's services to the country. He has exhibited -remarkable tact and judgment, and has freely given great assistance -to the Government. I regret that he is to-day retiring from the -service, but I hope that he will continue to give us the benefit of his -experience. I do not like to mention any particular troop, as each has -acted so creditably, but I would note the excellent services rendered -by the Africander Corps in this war, as showing the whole world the -complete brotherhood which exists between the two races of Dutchmen -and Britons in Rhodesia. I trust that an Africander troop will again -form part of the new force which is now being raised by the Government. -Information reached this country by last mail that Her Majesty has been -pleased to allow a medal to be worn for the last Matabele war, and I -shall represent strongly to Her Majesty that the same honour ought to -be conferred on the members of the Bulawayo Field Force. You have as -much right and title to the distinction as those who fought in the -first war, and I hope there will be a sufficient number struck for both -those who fought in the first war and those who have fought during the -present rebellion. I thank you for your assistance in the past, and I -hope you will remain in the country to witness the prosperity which is -certain to come." - - * * * * * - -And now, Lord Grey's speech to the members of the Bulawayo Field Force -having formed the closing scene in the history of the corps, whose -deeds in the cause of civilisation, and for the preservation of British -supremacy in Rhodesia, it has been my endeavour to describe in the -foregoing pages, it only remains for me to bid adieu to my readers, and -to hope that the intrinsic interest of the scenes I have attempted to -describe in very plain and homely fashion may be sufficient to atone -for the deficiencies which will doubtless be only too apparent in my -literary style. - - - - -SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER - -CONTAINING A FEW THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS UPON MATTERS RHODESIAN AND SOUTH -AFRICAN - - -No one, I think, who has carefully read the little history which I -have just brought to a close, can fail to have been struck by the -conspicuous part which has been played by the Dutch settlers in -Matabeleland in the recent struggle for supremacy between the white -invaders of that country and the native black races; and it will -probably come as a surprise to many to find that the Boer element -is so strong as it is in Rhodesia, for that country has always been -considered more exclusively British as regards its white population -than any other State in South Africa, not except Natal and the Eastern -Province of the Cape Colony, both of which territories, though almost -purely British in the large towns, yet possess a large Boer population -in the farming districts, whose ancestors were living on the land -before the arrival of the British colonists. - -But, in the opening up and colonisation of Rhodesia by means of the -pioneer expedition of the British South Africa Company, which took -possession of Eastern Mashunaland in 1890, a new departure was made in -South African history, for the British became the pioneers instead of -the Dutch, and a British colony was established in the far interior -of the country many hundred miles to the north of the most northerly -Dutch state; and it is the fact that the occupation of Mashunaland in -1890 and the invasion and conquest of Matabeleland in 1893 were purely -British enterprises, which has, I think, created the belief generally -held in England that Rhodesia at the present day is a purely British -colony. Yet this is not the case, for within the British state there -are two Boer colonies, the one of which has been established subsequent -to the Matabele war in the country to the south of Fort Charter, -whilst the other has occupied the hills and valleys of Gazaland since -the latter part of 1891. Besides these agricultural colonies, where -a number of contiguous farms are occupied by Boers who have settled -on the land with their wives and families, there are many other Boer -farmers scattered throughout Rhodesia, whilst up to the time when the -rinderpest destroyed all their cattle, a large number of Dutchmen were -constantly present in the country, earning their living with their -waggons and oxen as carriers from one district to another. - -When the rebellion broke out, Commandant Van Rensberg at once formed -an Africander Corps, the great majority of whose members were Boers, -although it numbered in its ranks a certain proportion of colonists of -British blood, and it is a matter of history that these Dutchmen under -Commandant Van Rensberg and Captains Van Niekerk and Pittendrigh have -done splendid service during the recent insurrection in Matabeleland, -and have fought side by side with Grey's Scouts and Gifford's Horse, -and all the other troops of the Bulawayo Field Force, in a way which -has won for them the admiration and respect of their brothers in arms -and fellow-colonists of British blood; and that the mutual esteem and -good fellowship engendered between the two races during the recent -time of common peril may be fostered and maintained in the coming years -ought not only to be the earnest desire of all thinking men, but should -be also one of the main objects constantly kept in view by the English -Administrator of these territories. - -[Illustration: COMMANDANT VAN RENSBERG - -who raised the Africander Corps of the Bulawayo Field Force.] - -Many years ago, at a time when the scheme for the colonisation of the -high and healthy plateaus lying between the Limpopo and the Zambesi -had not yet assumed definite shape in the fertile brain of Mr. Cecil -Rhodes, I remember writing in the course of an article, published, I -think, in the _Fortnightly Review_, that those territories were in my -opinion the natural heritage of the British and Dutch colonists in -the older states of South Africa. My forecast was true enough, for -although in its first inception the colonisation of Rhodesia was a -purely British enterprise, yet to-day, in less than six years from the -date when the Union Jack was hoisted at Fort Salisbury and the country -proclaimed to be a province of Britain, it already numbers amongst -its inhabitants a very considerable number of Dutch Boers, who form -an element of the population, which in all South African history has -been found indispensable for the gradual conversion of vast uncultured -wastes into civilised states. - -Now I might, I think, have gone further, and said that the whole of -temperate South Africa (in which must be included the high plateaus -lying between the Limpopo and the Zambesi) was the joint possession of -the British and Dutch races; for in all the states of that country, -the old and the new alike, we find the two races living side by side, -whilst, curiously enough, in the British province of the Cape Colony -the Dutch outnumber the British, and in the Boer State of the Transvaal -the British outnumber the Dutch. - -Throughout South Africa the Dutch live away from the towns on their -farms, and, speaking generally, form the agricultural and pastoral -population of the country. They are naturally a kindly, hospitable -race; but as the inevitable result of their surroundings and the -circumstances in which they have lived for generations, they are -for the most part very poorly educated, and therefore ignorant, -unprogressive and bigoted; whilst among the descendants of the -"voor-trekkers," who some forty years ago abandoned their farms in the -Cape Colony and fled, with their wives and their children, their flocks -and their herds, into the unknown interior beyond the great Orange -River, in order to escape from what they considered the injustice of -British rule, there exists an ingrained hatred and distrust, not of -the individual Englishman, but of the government of the country under -whose flag they believe their fathers suffered wrong, and it is this -sentiment which at the present moment, unfortunately, is being used as -a political lever, which threatens nothing but disaster to the whole of -South Africa, by the anti-British, but non-Boer adventurers, who are -fighting for their own hands in Pretoria. - -The recent deplorable invasion of Transvaal territory by a British -force in defiance of all international law, to accomplish I still -fail to understand what, has naturally exasperated the Dutch of the -Transvaal, and caused them to look upon everything British with more -distrust and suspicion than ever; but the history of that disastrous -expedition, evoking as it did the most intense national sentiment, not -only amongst the Boers of the Transvaal, but also in a somewhat milder -degree perhaps, though still in a most pronounced manner, amongst their -compatriots in the Orange Free State, coupled with the very notorious -fact that in the exclusively Dutch districts both of the Cape Colony -and Natal a very strong anti-British feeling was excited, must have -convinced even the most infatuated that a conflict between Dutchmen -and Englishmen, in whatever portion of South Africa it may arise, will -be but the prelude to a war between the two races throughout every -province from Cape Agulhas to the Zambesi—a war which would retard -the general progress of the country for a generation, which would be -infinitely disastrous to both races engaged in the struggle, and yet -could be beneficial to neither, no matter which proved victorious. - -In future let us hope that neither young military aspirants to fame, -who, being ignorant of everything concerning South Africa, would yet -climb their way to glory over the dead bodies of British and Dutch -South Africans with the most light-hearted carelessness, just in the -way of their professional business, nor cold-hearted self-seeking -foreign politicians, who would use the ignorance and prejudice of the -Boer to assist them in gratifying their jealous hatred of England, -will be allowed to sway the councils of the statesmen, British or Boer, -on whose decree the fate of South Africa really depends. - -Not being a politician nor anything else but a wandering Englishman -with a taste for natural history and sport, it may be held most -presumptuous on my part to have written as I have done; but yet I have -the most profound conviction that a war between the Boers and British -in South Africa can only be a calamity of incalculable dimensions to -both races; whilst the name of that statesman, whether Boer or Briton, -who should without just cause on the one hand "cry havoc and let loose -the dogs of war," or on the other compel the slipping of such dogs by -fatuous obstinacy, and a cynical disregard for all the principles of -enlightened government, will be assuredly held in execration by unborn -generations of Boers and Britons alike. Neither race can get away from -or do away with the other, and therefore both must try and rub off -their mutual prejudices, and live harmoniously together. - -This is not difficult in a new country like Rhodesia, where the -representatives of the two peoples are in the nature of things thrown -much together, and where there has always been a good understanding -between them, which has of late been very much strengthened by the -mutual assistance given by each to the other during the recent -troublous times; and the fact that in these territories a very good -understanding prevails between the Dutch and British gives one reason -to hope that in time a similar state of things may be attained in the -Transvaal, although unfortunately in that State there are several -factors which militate against such a result being speedily arrived at. - -In the first place, the great mass of the European population in the -Transvaal, the greater part of which is British, resides in one great -city, where it leads its own life, and does not come in contact with -the Dutch farming population, of which it knows neither the language -nor the history, and with whose modes of thought and manner of life it -is altogether out of sympathy; whilst, on the other hand, the rough -Boer, in too many cases, despises the ultra-civilised, sharp-witted, -faultlessly-dressed European, and does not recognise that many amongst -them are fine fellows and good sportsmen, and are capable of throwing -off their coats and doing a day's work, hunting or fighting, with the -roughest Boer amongst them, should occasion serve. - -And yet these mutual prejudices and misunderstandings between the two -peoples might easily be rubbed away if it were not for the presence of -an anti-British clique of Hollanders and Germans in Pretoria, whose -object it is to widen the breach between the Boers and the British; and -as many of these men occupy official positions in the Government of the -country, and are therefore more in touch with the Boer legislators than -the citizens of Johannesburg can hope to be, they have opportunities -which they do not fail to use of increasing the distrust and suspicion -already existing between the two races who alone have got to work out -the destiny of South Africa between them, and amongst whom they are -only meddlesome self-seeking interlopers. - -All the various States of South Africa will no doubt be united sooner -or later under one flag, but I am beginning to have my doubts as to -what flag that will be. It is true that at the present time there -exists in South Africa a very large British population of highly -intelligent and energetic men, who have been attracted to that -country by the diamond and gold fields. That population is constantly -increasing, but it is not one which settles on the land. It is rather a -population which has come to the country on a visit, in the endeavour -to make a fortune with which to retire to the old country, and as the -recent census taken in Johannesburg has shown, it is for the most part -composed of young men, the greater number of whom are unmarried. Now -I suppose it is conceivable that a day may come, say in fifty, eighty -or a hundred years time, when all the treasures have been dug up out -of the South African earth; and should such a day arrive, is it not -also conceivable that the great mining populations which have built -the cities of Kimberley and Johannesburg in what a few years ago was a -sparsely-inhabited wilderness, may dwindle down to comparatively small -proportions, leaving the Boer population, which during all that time -will have been increasing at a very rapid rate, once more numerically -very much in excess of the British? - -It does not appear to me very probable that during the present -generation at least the Boers, either of the Transvaal or the Orange -Free State, are likely (except under compulsion, which presupposes a -deplorable war) to enter any confederacy of South African States, on -any terms whatever, under the British flag; and therefore should the -large British mining population now existent in the country gradually -vanish, and the Boer population at the same time very much increase, -the eventful confederation may take place under some other flag than -the Union Jack. After all, as the Boers hold as large a stake in land, -if not in wealth, as the British in South Africa, and as they were the -first comers, and can lay claim to having killed off as many natives, -and generally prepared as much country for occupation by white men, as -the British, I think they are entitled to some consideration in the -matter of the flag which is eventually to fly over the confederated -States of South Africa; and for my part I would rather see a -confederation take place under a compound flag, composed of equal parts -of the Union Jack and Dutch ensign, with a bit of a French flag let -in, to represent the Huguenots who, on their first arrival in South -Africa, formed one-sixth of the entire white population of the country, -and to whom the South African Boers of to-day owe many of their most -estimable qualities, than have the country plunged into war in order to -enforce its acceptance of the Union Jack. - -However, this flag question is a problem of the future, and in the -meantime it is the duty of all South Africans who have the welfare -of the country as a whole at heart to do all they can to obliterate -the remembrance of events galling to the national pride either of -Dutchmen or Englishmen, and to endeavour to bring about once more a -feeling of mutual trust and confidence between the two races. The Dutch -must forget Slagter's Nek and Boomplaats, and the English must learn -to think no more of avenging the defeats of Laing's Nek and Majuba -Hill than they do of avenging the battles lost by the British troops -in America which culminated in the surrender of Cornwallis and the -declaration of American independence. - -Now there has been for some years past an association in South Africa -called the African Bond, which in some quarters at least must be -considered anti-British, since another association called the Loyal -Colonists' League has been inaugurated to counteract its effects. This -latter society, judging by some speeches which have lately been made -by some of its members, is frankly anti-Dutch. Now, would it not be -better, if, in place of the latter society, whose object seems to be to -widen and accentuate the breach which, in the Transvaal at least, is -existent between the two races, an association should be formed, which -all clergymen of all denominations, including ministers of the Dutch -Reformed Church, should be invited to join, whose object should be the -gradual obliteration of race-hatred and race-jealousy between the Dutch -and British throughout South Africa, by the promotion of knowledge -amongst the ignorant and prejudiced of both peoples?—for that, after -all, is what is most required in order to bring about mutual respect -and mutual forbearance, and enable every member of every State in South -Africa to work under equal laws for the general prosperity of the whole -country, a prosperity which can never attain to full fruition until the -Dutch and British have attained to a political unity throughout South -Africa as complete as it is to-day in the Cape Colony. - -And now, after this long digression upon matters South African, and -the expression of many opinions which, should they be read at all, -will possibly only excite ridicule, coupled with a rebuke upon my -presumption in wandering from the fields of sport and natural history, -where I may be at home, into the arena of politics, where, it will be -said, I certainly am not, let me say a few words about the present -position and future prospects of Rhodesia. - -Should the lists I have given at the end of my book be glanced through, -it will be seen that the number of the settlers who were murdered in -Matabeleland alone at the outbreak of the native insurrection, added -to those who have since been killed and wounded in the subsequent -fighting, amounts to over 300, or more than ten per cent of the entire -white population of the country at the time of the outbreak of the -rebellion, a proportion, I think, which ought to be entirely gratifying -to even the most determined enemies of colonial expansion in Africa, -whilst it gives the lie direct to the statement which has so frequently -been made, that the settlers in Matabeleland have run no greater risks -in fighting with the Matabele in order to put down the rebellion than -would be incurred by a sportsman engaged in shooting hares and rabbits -at home. - -I do not expect that the publication of these lists will call the -blush of shame to the cheeks of those who have been so eager to vilify -their countrymen in Rhodesia, but I do hope that it will arouse a -feeling of indignation in the minds of many who have hitherto been -more or less led astray by these dishonest, spiteful, and unpatriotic -mentors, and at any rate they must be sad reading to all but the most -prejudiced. However, the rebellion can now, I think, be considered as -almost at an end. The Kafirs have entirely failed in their attempt to -kill all the white men in Matabeleland, and to re-establish themselves -as an independent nation. To the west, north-west, north, north-east, -and east, the impis which four months ago had formed a cordon round -all those faces of Bulawayo have one and all been driven from their -positions, and have now broken up into hundreds of little bands, living -in the forests with their wives and children. From all the information -one can gather, the vast majority of these people are already suffering -from want of food, as their cattle are all or nearly all dead from -rinderpest, and a large proportion of their year's supply of grain has -been taken possession of or destroyed by the white men. Under these -conditions they cannot hold out much longer, and they would probably -have already come in to surrender were it not that on the one hand, -knowing the exasperation caused amongst the whites by the crimes they -have committed, they are afraid to throw themselves on their mercy, and -on the other they are kept from doing so by their chiefs, who having -been the ringleaders of the rebellion, and fearing that in case of -surrender their own lives at least would be forfeited, are still doing -all they can to prevent their people from submitting. - -In the Matopos, Mr. Cecil Rhodes and Mr. Johan Colenbrander are at the -present moment carrying on negotiations with the insurgent chiefs, -which may or may not end in peace. Should no satisfactory arrangement -be arrived at, and the war be continued, the natives will be driven -to desperation, and it will not only require a much larger force than -there is at present in the country, but the expenditure of a vast -amount of money, and the loss of many valuable lives, before they -can be absolutely all killed or hunted out of the almost impregnable -fastnesses and hills honeycombed with caverns which exist all over the -large area of country known as the Matopos. - -Now I think that, in view of the enormous cost and great loss of -life that would be entailed by the decision to make no terms with -the natives, it would be better to accept their submission on lines -consistent with the future safety of the country. The chiefs must stand -their trial, but the lives of all those who have had no part in the -murder of white men, women, and children, could be guaranteed. The -whole nation must of course be disarmed as completely as possible, -and the actual murderers of white people during the first days of -the rebellion must be shot or hanged. But should these conditions -be complied with, whilst at the same time a large police force is -maintained in the country, and the native administration carried on in -such a way that, although the natives are treated with firmness, their -grievances will always be heard, and as far as possible remedied, I do -not think we need fear another rebellion. - -Of course there are those who say that it is a great mistake to hold -any parley with them at all. Go on killing them, they say, until the -remnant crawl in on their hands and knees and beg for mercy. Well, that -end could only be attained, as I have already said, at a cost of much -money and many lives; so I think that there are many here, who, some -for the sake of expediency and others for the sake of humanity, would -now wish to see this rebellion ended as soon as possible, if it can be -done in such a way as to ensure the future safety of the settlers in -the country. As soon as the chiefs submit and their people are again -located on the lands from which they have been driven, I think there -can be no doubt that the country will, for the time being, be perfectly -safe for white men; for history has shown us that when a Kafir tribe -submits it does so absolutely for the time being, and no murders of -isolated individuals are committed until the chiefs are ready for -another insurrection. - -It may of course be said that the Matabele have not yet been thoroughly -beaten, and that, having gained a good deal of experience during the -last five months, their idea in submitting is to get in their next -year's crops and then begin again, on the principle of "reculer pour -mieux sauter." But is this at all probable? After the first war they -were more or less surprised into submission to the white men, the -greater part of them never having fought for their country at all. -Then they found that the shoe of the white man's rule began to pinch, -but they wore it for two years, and did not attempt to throw it off -until the country appeared to them to have been left in an absolutely -defenceless condition by their conquerors. - -They have now had their rebellion, and it has absolutely failed, and -they have lost at least twice as many men in the recent fighting as -they did in the first war. Nor is there any longer a cattle question -to excite their resentment, for the cattle are all, or almost all, -dead from the rinderpest. Therefore it appears to me, that if they -are disarmed as far as is possible, and if a strong police force is -maintained in the country for the next few years, their submission -can be safely accepted, and the mass of the people be allowed to go -unpunished; but justice and common sense both demand that all who are -proved to have been implicated, either directly or indirectly, in any -of the murders which marked the outbreak of the rebellion, shall be -most summarily dealt with. They will be gradually discovered, and some, -it may be, may not be brought to justice for years to come, but no -mercy must be shown them whenever or wherever they may be found. - -In less than two years' time the railway now being pushed on through -the Bechuanaland Protectorate will have reached Bulawayo; and if the -natives can be kept quiet by a firm and just rule until the advent of -the iron horse in Matabeleland, there is little fear of their ever -again rising in rebellion against the white man. - -In the meantime the development of the country must remain at a -standstill, and the country retained as a British possession, by an -occupation which will be almost purely military, as not only has the -cost of living been rendered almost prohibitive through the destruction -of all the cattle in Matabeleland and Bechuanaland by the rinderpest, -and the consequent substitution of mules and donkeys in the place of -oxen for draught purposes, but farming also has been rendered very -difficult, as, putting aside stock and dairy farming, no ploughing -can be done without oxen, nor can agricultural produce be carried to -market without the assistance of those useful animals, for salted -and acclimatised horses and mules are too scarce and expensive to be -reckoned on for farm work. The rinderpest, therefore, has for the -present put an end to all European enterprise in the way of mining and -farming in Matabeleland. - -People in England can only realise the disastrous effect which this -dread disease has had on the prosperity of the country by endeavouring -to picture to themselves what the consequences would have been had a -disease suddenly made its appearance in Great Britain in the early part -of the present century, before the introduction of railways, which -destroyed ninety-nine per cent of all the horses in the British Isles; -yet even that would scarcely represent the extent of the calamity from -the effects of which we are now suffering, when it is considered what -an immense tract of barren wilderness yet lies between Matabeleland and -the nearest railway station. - -In the early part of this year there were over 100,000 head of cattle, -all sleek and in excellent condition, in Matabeleland, but when it -closes, I think it very doubtful if 500 will be still left alive in the -whole country. Even this loss is small as compared with that sustained -by Khama and his people, who were the largest cattle-holders in South -Africa, and whose loss it has been computed, from reliable data, -exceeds 800,000 head of horned cattle. - -However, the rinderpest is a calamity which is not likely to occur -again, but which, when it does occur, sweeps everything before it both -in Europe and Africa. That Matabeleland as a whole is a country second -to none in South Africa for cattle-breeding is the opinion of everyone -who has lived there for any length of time and had the opportunity of -studying the matter. When, therefore, the rinderpest has died out, -and the railway has reached Bulawayo, the country will be gradually -restocked; and then, too, mining machinery will be imported, and our -mines will at last be worked with a result which will give the final -death-blow to all those who have for the last six years been engaged in -disseminating falsehoods concerning Rhodesia. - -From the statistics supplied to me by the Compensation Board, which -I have given in the form of an appendix, it will be seen that a good -deal of farming work had already been done at the time of the outbreak -of the rebellion, and that the population of Matabeleland were not all -"gin-sellers" or "men who had gone out to Matabeleland in order to -swindle the British public, by inducing them to subscribe for shares -in worthless companies, whose so-called gold claims contained no gold." -The fact, too, that farmers and prospectors were living all over the -country in perfect health rather explodes the theory of a noxious -vapour rising to some four feet from the ground which is so deadly -to Europeans that all colonisation of the country is impossible; but -this, if I remember aright, was the theory propounded by one of Mr. -Labouchere's "reliable" correspondents—a fit contributor, forsooth, to -the pages of _Truth_. - -It is now known throughout South Africa that Matabeleland and -Mashunaland are white men's countries, where Europeans can live and -thrive and rear strong healthy children; that they are magnificent -countries for stock-breeding, and that many portions of them will -prove suitable for Merino sheep and Angora goats; whilst agriculture -and fruit-growing can be carried on successfully almost everywhere -in a small way, and in certain districts, especially in Mashunaland -and Manica where there is a greater abundance of water, on a fairly -extensive scale. - -As for the gold, there is every reason to believe that out of the -enormous number of reefs which are considered by their owners to be -payable properties some small proportion at least will turn up trumps, -and, should this proportion only amount to two per cent, that will be -quite sufficient to ensure a big output of gold in the near future, -which will in its turn ensure the prosperity of the whole country. - -Once let the railway reach Bulawayo, and given intelligent legislation -in the best interests of the settlers and miners in the country, -Rhodesia will soon prove its value to the most sceptical; but the -prosperity which I predict will, I am afraid, be very much retarded, -if not completely destroyed, by the revocation at the present moment -of the Charter which was granted to the British South Africa Company -in 1889, and the substitution of Imperial rule for the present form of -Government. For this reason:—Under the present régime the Company's -administrator is always accessible to the people living in the country, -and whatever local reforms may be deemed necessary by the latter are -always capable of discussion, and can be acceded to by him on the spot, -without despatches having first of all to be forwarded to the High -Commissioner at the Cape, by whom they would be sent on to the Colonial -Office, with the result that a local reform, urgently required, might -be delayed for months or never granted at all. - -Under the Company's government, too, the administrator himself would -always be a man acquainted with the history of the territories he was -governing, and would be probably one who not only had the prosperity of -the country he was governing deeply at heart, but who also would have -a very good idea as to how that prosperity was likely to be attained. -During the next few years, too, which will be a very critical period -in the history of Rhodesia, such an administrator would always have -the benefit of the advice of the man through whose energy and genius -the territories forming that state have been secured for the British -Empire. But should this territory be converted into a Crown colony and -governed from Downing Street on hard-and-fast lines, some of them not -at all applicable to local requirements, with an administrator very -likely ignorant of his local surroundings, and possibly out of sympathy -with the settlers—Dutch and British—who have made the country their -home, nothing but disaster is to be expected. - -Surely the people who have stuck to Rhodesia through good and evil -times, and who, under the auspices of the Chartered Company, have added -a vast territory to the British Empire and laid the foundations of -what will soon be a prosperous colony, which, given an intelligent and -adaptable form of government, will be able to pay its way, ought to -have some say in this matter, and not be transferred unwillingly to a -rule which they know would be ill suited to local requirements, and -under which local enterprises would surely languish for want of the -fostering care which only a local administrator can provide. - -The white population of Rhodesia have had many a growl at the -government of the Chartered Company, but in most cases they have got -what they growled for—to wit, the extension of the railways, both from -the Cape Colony and the East Coast; the reduction of the Company's -percentage of interest in the mines; and full and most generous -compensation, where the claims were just, for cattle destroyed in -the endeavour to stay the progress of the rinderpest, and for all -losses sustained owing to the late native insurrection. Under Imperial -rule they know that no compensation has ever been granted for losses -sustained through a native rebellion, and they also know that little -or no assistance could be hoped for in the construction of railways -or other public works. Recognising all these things, having as an -object-lesson just before their eyes the wretchedly slow progress -made in Bechuanaland under the Imperial administration, and knowing, -moreover, that the Transvaal war of 1880-81, if not the loss of the -Transvaal itself as a British possession, was brought about solely by -a Government from Downing Street, through an administrator entirely -ignorant of local requirements and absolutely out of sympathy with the -people he was chosen to govern, can it be wondered at that at a recent -meeting of the Chamber of Commerce in this town, the people of Bulawayo -expressed confidence in the government of the Chartered Company and in -Mr. Cecil Rhodes, representing as they do a corporation of capitalists -who hold the largest financial stake in the country, and whose aims and -objects are identical with those of the people living in the country, -whilst they resented the idea of being handed over to Imperial rule -without having their wishes in the matter consulted, in order to please -the Little Englander party at home? - -One of the most noteworthy features at the meeting to which I have -referred was the remarkable unanimity shown by the British and Dutch -on this subject, for the Dutch up here believe in Mr. Rhodes, and have -the most absolute confidence in his ability to insure the prosperity of -the country. The natives, too, as has just been shown, look upon him as -their father; and I believe that through his influence and the strength -of his personality, a peace will soon be arranged with them, which -would have been impossible at the present time but for his presence in -the country. - - BULAWAYO, _26th August 1896_. - - - - -APPENDICES - - - - -APPENDIX A - - - HEADQUARTERS, INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT, - BULAWAYO, _August 1896_. - - - Amended List of Persons murdered in Matabeleland during the - recent native insurrection. - - ┌―――――――――――――――――――┬―――――――――――――┬――――――――――――┬―――――――――――――――――――――――┐ - │ │ │ Date │ │ - │ Names. │ District. │ (1896). │ Details. │ - ├―――――――――――――――――――┼―――――――――――――┼――――――――――――┼―――――――――――――――――――――――┤ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Anderson, │ Sebakwe │ End March │ On way to │ - │ Joscelyn Hepburn │ │ │ Mafungabusi; │ - │ │ │ │ engineer. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Anderson, Alex. │ Boola Boola │ 25th " │ Reported killed by │ - │ │ │ │ F. Evans, his mate, │ - │ │ │ │ who escaped. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bertlesen Family │ Shangani │ End " │ Farming 12 miles │ - │ (6) (father, │ River │ │ north of Hartley │ - │ mother, and 4 │ │ │ Hills Road. │ - │ sons) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Baragwanath, John │ Filibusi │ 24th May │ Brother in the B.F.F. │ - │ Albert │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bentley, Arthur │ " │ " " │ A N.-C. from │ - │ │ │ │ Queenstown district. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Barr, W. A. │ Shangani │ End March │ Family, contractors │ - │ │ │ │ at Bristol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Barnard, Harry │ Umvungu │ 25th " │ Partner of West │ - │ Edgar │ │ │ Brothers, Umvungu │ - │ │ │ │ Store; late with │ - │ │ │ │ Parker Wood, │ - │ │ │ │ Johannesburg. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bolton │ Inyati │ End March │ Killed with Cyril │ - │ │ │ │ West (Williams' │ - │ │ │ │ Ex. Coy.) │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bowen, Jimmy │ Mavene │ 30th " │ Hammond's Mines; │ - │ │ │ │ killed with │ - │ │ │ │ S. Van Blerk. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Borgen or Vorgen │ Shangani │ ... │ Prospector. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bowker, Trooper │ Lower Gwelo │ 30th " │ M.M.P. sent to warn │ - │ │ │ │ people, Lower Gwelo. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Colas, Dionysius │ Inyati │ End " │ A Greek trader. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cunningham, James │ Filibusi │ 24th " │ One of Cunningham │ - │ Samuel │ │ │ family, away carting │ - │ │ │ │ wood. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Clark, W. E. │ Mavene │ End " │ Body found—Gwelo │ - │ │ │ │ patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Carpenter, John │ Filibusi │ 24th " │ Body found near │ - │ Loran │ │ │ Filibusi Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cunningham Family │ Filibusi │ 24th March │ Farmers near Store │ - │ (8) (father, │ │ │ (brother, F. H. │ - │ mother, and 6 │ │ │ Cunningham, Dundee, │ - │ children) │ │ │ Natal). │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Classen, Henry │ Makukapene │ 26th " │ Body seen. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Case, George │ Inyati │ " " │ M.M.P., killed with │ - │ │ │ │ Graham, Handley, │ - │ │ │ │ Hurford, and Corke. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Corke, Leighton │ " │ " " │ Ex. M.M.P., do. │ - │ Huntley │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Comploier, P. │ Gwelo │ " " │ Prospector; body │ - │ │ │ │ buried by Napier's │ - │ │ │ │ Gwelo patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cumming, Percy H. │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Son of Mr. and Mrs. │ - │ │ │ │ Cumming, Bulawayo; │ - │ │ │ │ body seen near │ - │ │ │ │ Filibusi Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Crawley, Alaine │ " │ " " │ Working with J. │ - │ M. │ │ │ Schultz. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cato, Colin │ " │ " " │ Body seen at edge of │ - │ │ │ │ shaft. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Donovan, Timothy │ Inyati │ " " │ Killed with Seward │ - │ (?S. A.) │ │ │ near Ancients Reef; │ - │ │ │ │ working for Mallert. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Durden, Charles │ Ingwena │ " " │ Killed with Surveyor │ - │ │ │ │ Fitzpatrick. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Dufra │ Lower Gwelo │ 30th " │ Killed at Shangani. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Daly, John │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Left for Gambo's │ - │ (?James) │ │ │ kraal. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Davies, Harold │ Bembisi │ 2nd April │ Killed near Thaba │ - │ John │ │ │ N'Couga. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Danby, Lewis │ Bulawayo │ ... │ Prospector. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Daly, James M. │ Bubi │ 25th March │ Managing Glen's │ - │ │ │ │ farms; sick at time │ - │ │ │ │ of death. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Edwards, Norman │ Inyati │ " " │ Surveyor (of Fletcher │ - │ │ │ │ and Espiro). │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Edkins, E. C. │ Filibusi │ 24th " │ Storekeeper (brother │ - │ │ │ │ in Johannesburg); │ - │ │ │ │ body seen in store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Eaglestone, │ Makukapene │ End March │ Partner of Joseph │ - │ Charles Percy │ │ │ Clinton. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ehlert, Ferdinand │ Filibusi │ " " │ Working with J. │ - │ (known as │ │ │ Jeffries. Family in │ - │ "Bill") │ │ │ Kimberley. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Earst, Ayerst │ " │ " " │ Working with J. │ - │ Alfred │ │ │ Jeffries. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Edgell, E. R. │ On way from │ " " │ Murdered by natives, │ - │ │ Gwelo to │ │ as reported by │ - │ │ Hartley │ │ Adjutant Taylor, │ - │ │ Hills │ │ Gwelo. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fitzpatrick │ Lower Gwelo │ 25th " │ Surveyor; body seen. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Farquharson, │ Bulawayo │ ... │ Storekeeper. │ - │ James John │ │ │ │ - │ Edward │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Forster, Wilson │ Makukapene │ " " │ Prospector; body seen.│ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fourie Family (8) │ Tekwe River │ 2nd April │ Farming; bodies │ - │ (Stephanus, │ │ │ buried by Napier's │ - │ wife,and 6 │ │ │ Gwelo patrol. │ - │ children) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fourie, Caspar │ Near │ 20th April │ Transport rider, │ - │ Hendrick │ Bulawayo │ │ killed with │ - │ │ │ │ Potgieter. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Farrar │ Lower Gwelo │ End March │ Prospector, with │ - │ │ │ │ companion (name │ - │ │ │ │ unknown). │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Foxkerk, Stanley │ Shangani │ 25th " │ Prospector. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Grenfell, Pascoe │ Inyati │ End " │ Left Inyati for Bubi; │ - │ St. L. │ │ │ Manager Company. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Gordon, John │ Gwelo │ " " │ Miner. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Graham, A. M. │ Inyati │ 26th " │ A N.-C. Family in │ - │ │ │ │ Glasgow. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Grant, John │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Mining with Robert │ - │ M'Innes │ │ │ Sharpe. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Grant, Jock │ " │ " " │ Killed with Jock │ - │ M'Leod. │ │ │ Nimmo at Godlway's │ - │ │ │ │ kraal; body buried │ - │ │ │ │ by Salisbury column. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Greenhaugh, John │ Hotel, │ " " │ Working with Whawill │ - │ │ Filibusi │ │ and Reddan. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Gracey, Robert │ Shangani │ End " │ Body buried by │ - │ │ │ │ Napier's Gwelo │ - │ │ │ │ patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hunter, H. E. │ Bembisi │ " " │ Body seen. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Handley, Mark │ Inyati │ " " │ Sub-Inspector M.M.P., │ - │ │ │ │ son of Henry Handley,│ - │ │ │ │ Natal. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hurford, George │ " │ " " │ Late M.M.P., killed │ - │ │ │ │ with Graham, Handley,│ - │ │ │ │ Case, and Corke. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hurlstone, │ Pongo River │ " " │ Partner of H. P. │ - │ Frederick │ Hotel │ │ Selmes. Family in │ - │ │ │ │ Coventry. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Harbord, H. M. │ Mavene │ " " │ Store on Hartley Hill │ - │ │ │ │ Road (brother, A. G. │ - │ │ │ │ Harbord, Longton, │ - │ │ │ │ near Nottingham). │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hammond, And. │ Shangani │ " " │ Killed with Palmer │ - │ Robt. │ │ │ and Johnson, │ - │ │ │ │ engineers. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hartley, Joseph │ Ingwena │ " " │ Body found at │ - │ │ Store │ │ Harbord's Store; age │ - │ │ │ │ about forty-five, │ - │ │ │ │ height 5 ft. 8 in. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Holstein │ Shangani │ ... │ Prospector. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ivers, Colin │ Filibusi │ 24th " │ Body found Celtic │ - │ Campbell │ │ │ Reef. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Johnson, W. H. │ Shangani │ 30th " │ Killed with Hammond │ - │ │ │ │ and Palmer. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Jensen, Charles │ " │ " " │ A Swede. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Johnston │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Jeffries, J. │ " │ " " │ Working with Ehlert │ - │ │ │ │ and Earst. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Kirk, Agnes │ Tekwe River │ 2nd April │ J. Ross's │ - │ │ │ │ stepdaughter; body │ - │ │ │ │ buried by Napier's │ - │ │ │ │ patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Keefe, Charles │ Shangani │ 2nd March │ Working with Webster. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Keefe, Christopher│ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Koch │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Killed with Jeffries, │ - │ │ │ │ Ehlert, and Earst. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Livesay, E. R. │ Filibusi │ End March │ Late Lieutenant 3rd │ - │ Eustace │ │ │ Dragoon Guards. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Luckcass, Herbert │ " │ 25th " │ Killed at O'Maker's │ - │ │ │ │ waggon; others │ - │ │ │ │ escaped. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Lennock, George │ Gwelo │ End " │ Body found Mavene; │ - │ │ │ │ almost │ - │ │ │ │ unrecognisable. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Langford (2), Dr. │ Insiza │ " " │ Bodies found on │ - │ and Mrs. │ │ │ Rixon's farm and │ - │ │ │ │ buried by Napier's │ - │ │ │ │ Gwelo patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Lemon, C. J. │ " │ " " │ Father G. D. Lemon, │ - │ │ │ │ Raleigh, Bedeford, │ - │ │ │ │ North Devon; money │ - │ │ │ │ at Standard Bank; │ - │ │ │ │ buried by Napier's │ - │ │ │ │ Gwelo patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Lewis, Arthur B. │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Lund, Severin │ Gwaai River │ End " │ A Dane. │ - │ H. C. │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ M'Heugh, Harry │ Bembisi │ " " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Maddocks, Thomas │ Filibusi │ 23rd " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Melford, William │ Gwelo │ End " │ │ - │ B. │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Matthews │ Shangani │ " " │ With Van der Doorten; │ - │ │ │ │ a Jew from Melbourne.│ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Mathey, Ernest │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Body recognised near │ - │ │ │ │ Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Marcussen, │ Hartley │ ... │ Prospector. │ - │ Andreas E. │ Hills │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Morrison, James E.│ Queen's │ 29th " │ Refused to leave. │ - │ │ Reef │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ M'Cormack │ Ingwena │ End " │ Working with H. B. │ - │ │ Store │ │ Taylor; body not │ - │ │ │ │ seen. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Macdonald, Colin │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Killed with Classen. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Nimmo, Walter │ " │ " " │ Murdered with John │ - │ (known as Jock │ │ │ M'Leod Grant. │ - │ or Watty) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Palmer, H. M. │ Shangani │ 30th " │ Killed with Hammond │ - │ │ │ │ and Johnson. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Potgieter, Derk │ Bulawayo │ 20th April │ Transport rider. │ - │ Rainer │ Road │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ottens, Wilhelm O.│ Filibusi │ 24th March │ Family lives near │ - │ │ │ │ Assen, Holland. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ O'Reilly, T. │ Gwelo │ End " │ Murdered on Leechdale │ - │ │ │ │ Co.'s property. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ O'Connor, │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Brother saved; in │ - │ ("Jack") John │ │ │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Reddington, │ Pongo River │ End " │ Clerk to Hurlstone. │ - │ Reginald │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Reddan, Valentine │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Murdered with │ - │ │ │ │ Greenhaugh and │ - │ │ │ │ Whawill. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Rowe, F. R. │ Shangani │ 30th " │ Miner of St. Austell. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Richards, John │ Bulawayo │ ... │ Prospector. │ - │ Edward │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ross (2), Joseph │ Tekwe River │ 2nd April │ │ - │ and wife │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Rowlands, John │ Bembisi │ │ Miner of King │ - │ James │ │ │ William's Town. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Radford, A. │ Shangani │ End March │ Partner of Leech. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Raw │ Lower Gwelo │ ... │ Prospector. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Sharpe, Robert │ Filibusi │ 25th March │ Killed with Grant. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Stanley, Frank │ Sebakwe │ End " │ Brother, late Lieut. │ - │ Harrison │ │ │ Royal Irish Rifles, │ - │ │ │ │ c/o Armstrong Bros., │ - │ │ │ │ bankers, │ - │ │ │ │ 93 Bishopgate St., │ - │ │ │ │ London. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Stobie, James │ Mavene │ 25th " │ Murdered with Joseph │ - │ │ │ │ Hartley, both working│ - │ │ │ │ for G. R. Ainnocks. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Smith │ Lower Gwelo │ ... │ Miner. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Seward, George E. │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Killed with Cato, │ - │ │ │ │ near Ancients Reef; │ - │ │ │ │ working for Mallett. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Talman, Frank │ Gwelo │ End " │ Near Pongo Store; │ - │ │ │ │ body recognised by │ - │ │ │ │ Robinson. Age 24; │ - │ │ │ │ 5 ft. 5 in.; light. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Taylor, George │ Shangani │ " " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Thomas, Jock │ " │ " " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Tyass, George (of │ Bembisi │ " " │ Sent with medicine to │ - │ Natal) │ │ │ J. H. Daly. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Van Blerk, Sid. │ Mavene │ 30th " │ Hammond's Mines; age │ - │ │ │ │ 30; killed with │ - │ │ │ │ Jimmy Bowen. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Vaughan, Thomas │ Pongo River │ 25th " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Van Gorckim, │ Bulawayo │ ... │ Bricklayer. │ - │ Martinus │ │ │ │ - │ Gerhardus │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Vavaseur, Robert │ Stoneybrook │ June │ Reported murdered to │ - │ │ Thabas M. │ │ Charter. │ - │ │ Simbi │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Van der Doorten │ Shangani │ 30th March │ From Rotterdam. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ White, Robert │ Inyati │ End " │ Left Inyati for Bubi. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ West, Cyril │ Inyati │ End " │ Killed with Bolton. │ - │ (Willoughbys) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ West Bros. (2) │ Shangani │ " " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Wren │ " │ 25th " │ Cattle-inspector in │ - │ │ │ │ district. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Wyllie, David │ Gwelo │ End " │ Working for Warwick │ - │ │ │ │ Colliers. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Wright, James │ Bembisi │ ... │ Storeman (of │ - │ │ │ │ Johannesburg). │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Woods, Arthur │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Working and killed │ - │ W. P. │ │ │ with E. Mathey. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ White, Charles │ Shangani │ " " │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ White, Edward │ Filibusi │ " " │ Killed with Jack │ - │ │ │ │ O'Connor. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Walsh, William │ Mavene │ End " │ Body found Gwelo │ - │ │ │ │ patrol; aged 40; │ - │ │ │ │ buried Mavene patrol.│ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Whawill, John │ Filibusi │ 25th " │ Killed with Reddan │ - │ │ │ │ and Greenhaugh. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Webster, R. │ Shangani │ End " │ Killed with Keefes, a │ - │ │ │ │ partner of Peacock's.│ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Weinand │ " │ " " │ Cattle-inspector. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Zeeburg, H. │ Pongo River │ 26th " │ Trader. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - └―――――――――――――――――――┴―――――――――――――┴――――――――――――┴―――――――――――――――――――――――┘ - - - List of Persons supposed to have been in Matabeleland at the - time of the outbreak of the insurrection, of whom nothing has - since been heard, and the greater part, if not all, of whom must - therefore be numbered amongst those murdered by the natives. - - ┌――――――――――――――――――――――┬――――――――――――――┬――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――┐ - │ │ Details and │ │ - │ Names. │ Address. │ Last heard of. │ - ├——————————————————————┼——————————————┼————————————————————————————————┤ - │ Ansterhauzen │ Thabas Mamba │ Trading at Thabas Mamba. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Bird, Robert George │ ... │ Left Cape Town 13th April. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Band │ ... │ Late of Johannesburg Police. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Burch, Dr. │ ... │ Reported to be in Matabeleland.│ - │ │ │ │ - │ Bridge, Walter │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Batchelor, Franc D. │ ... │ Reported to have been on some │ - │ │ │ mining property near Bulawayo.│ - │ │ │ │ - │ Bruce, Stewart │ ... │ A Trooper in Dr. Jameson's │ - │ │ │ force. │ - │ Bent │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Bowen, O. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Beaton, James │ Johannesburg │ Left Scotland in 1880 East for │ - │ │ │ London, afterwards in │ - │ │ │ Kimberley and Johannesburg, │ - │ │ │ and left latter place │ - │ │ │ probably for Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ Height 5 ft. 10 in.; │ - │ │ │ black curly hair; well built; │ - │ │ │ 42 years of age. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Cook, James P. │ Bulawayo │ Photographer's assistant, │ - │ │ │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Cook, Thomas │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Cook, Robert │ ... │ Late of M.M.P. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Carstens, John E. A. │ Bulawayo │ Formerly in Captain Selous' │ - │ │ │ Troop. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Carter, James │ " │ Civil engineer in Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Dickson or Dixon │ Gwelo │ Gwelo district. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Douvre │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Dixon, R. │ ... │ Formerly in army. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Doveton, W. T. │ Inyati │ Seen in Bulawayo between 1-13 │ - │ │ │ April, and not heard of since.│ - │ │ │ │ - │ Evers, Harold Cecil │ Bulawayo │ Bulawayo district. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Greyling (5), John, │ " │ On road to Bulawayo. │ - │ wife, and 3 │ │ │ - │ children │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Grant, Jimmy │ " │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Hill, John Shutter │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Jacobs, Charlie │ ... │ Gwelo camp, 2nd June. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Jones, William │ Bulawayo │ Bulawayo at time Matabele War. │ - │ Stevens │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Kerr │ Gwelo │ Shangani district. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Kroger, Frans J. │ Chemist │ Delagoa Bay. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Lee, Thomas │ Gwelo │ Gwelo district. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Mackenzie, Thomas │ Bulawayo │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Morrison, Wm. │ ... │ Late of B.B.P. │ - │ Hutchinson │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Matthews, Stuart │ Bulawayo │ Late of Dunraven mines. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Honey, Clifford │ ... │ Formerly of B.B.P. │ - │ Francis │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Mitchell, Basil │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Magee, Joseph │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Nieuwenhaus │ ... │ Bulawayo road. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Oosthuizen │ Gwelo │ Shangani district. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Orton, Henry │ ... │ Sebakwe drift. │ - │ Sambourne │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Palmer, William R. │ Johannesburg │ Bulawayo, end February. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Reet, P. │ Transport │ Pietersburg. │ - │ │ rider │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Rothman, John │ Bulawayo │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Reynard, J. J. │ ... │ Believed to be in Colonel │ - │ │ │ Plumer's force. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Reed, William James │ late │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ Johannesburg │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Richardson, Arthur │ ... │ A prospector. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Stalmp, Frank J. │ London │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Spalteholz, Kurt │ Dresden, │ Left Johannesburg for Bulawayo,│ - │ │ Germany │ December 1895. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Spalteholz, Kurt │ Amsterdam │ Last heard of, Pietersburg, │ - │ │ │ 2nd Jan. 1896, when on road │ - │ │ │ Bulawayo with party by ox │ - │ │ │ waggon. Height 6 ft.; age 24; │ - │ │ │ smooth face; light brown hair;│ - │ │ │ sharp features. Papers of his │ - │ │ │ have been found on Rixon's │ - │ │ │ farm, and bag (possibly │ - │ │ │ belonging to him) at Thabas │ - │ │ │ Mamba. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Smith, Sidney Z. │ Mafeking │ Reported to have left Mafeking │ - │ │ │ with M.R.F. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Tilbury, George │ ... │ Mafeking, 24th April. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Taylor, Alfred West │ ... │ Possibly passing under his │ - │ │ │ step-father's name of Bent. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Wright, James │ Bulawayo │ Bulawayo. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Wilson, Edward E. │ ... │ Bulawayo, June 1895. │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Walsh, Frederick │ │ │ - │ Byron. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Webster, R. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ - │ Walsh, I. │ Bulawayo │ Came in from Golingena at │ - │ │ │ beginning of rebellion. │ - │ │ │ │ - └――――――――――――――――――――――┴――――――――――――――┴――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――┘ - - - - -APPENDIX B - - - HEADQUARTERS, INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT, - BULAWAYO, _August 1896_. - - - List of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men killed in - action during the Matabele rebellion. - - ┌――――┬――――――――――┬――――――─―――――――――――――┬――――――――――――――――――――┬―――――─――――――┐ - │ │ │ │ │ Date │ - │ No.│ Rank. │ Name. │ Where killed. │ (1896). │ - ├――――┼――――――――――┼――――――――――――――――――――┼――――――――――――――――――――┼――――─―――――――┤ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 1 │ Sergeant │ O'Leary, T., │ Cumming's Store │ 27th March │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 2 │ Corporal │ Reynolds, Ernest │ Gifford's patrol │ 6th April │ - │ │ │ E., R.H.V. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 3 │ Trooper │ Mackenzie, S. │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ Kenneth, R.H.V. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 4 │ " │ Baker, Richard │ Gwanda patrol │ 10th April │ - │ │ │ Arthur, R.H.V. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 5 │ " │ Hayland, Edward, │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ R.H.V. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 6 │ " │ Packe, Christopher │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ J., R.H.V. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 7 │ Corporal │ Greer, Stewart │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ George, R.H.V. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 8 │ Trooper │ Forbes, J. │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ M'Ainsch, R.H.V. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 9 │ " │ Boyes, George │ Macfarlane's │ 19th April │ - │ │ │ Walter, B.F.F., │ patrol │ │ - │ │ │ Afcr. Corps │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 10 │ " │ Heinemann, J. J., │ Vedette duty │ " │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 11 │ " │ Van Zyl, W., │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 12 │ " │ Montgomerie, │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ Henry, B.F.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 13 │ " │ Baxter, Frank Wm., │ Grey's Scouts, │ 22nd April │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ Bisset's patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 14 │ " │ Whitehouse, Henry │ Ambulance, │ 25th April │ - │ │ │ George, B.F.F. │ Macfarlane's │ │ - │ │ │ │ patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 15 │ " │ Gordon, Charles, │ Dawson's Scouts, │ " │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ Macfarlane's │ │ - │ │ │ │ patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 16 │ " │ Parsons, Benj., │ D Troop, vedette │ " │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ duty │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 17 │ " │ Hay, Carrick, │ Coope's Scouts, │ 25th May │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ Plumer's patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 18 │ Trooper │ Parker, Arthur, │ L Troop, Napier's │ 22nd May │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ Gwelo patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 19 │ " │ Rothman, George, │ L Troop, Napier's │ " │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ Gwelo patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 20 │ " │ Langton, Courtney, │ Thabas Mamba │ 6th July │ - │ │ │ E Squad, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 21 │ " │ O'Reilly, John, │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ Brand's Troop, │ │ │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 22 │ Corporal │ Pringle, James F., │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ A Squad, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 23 │ Sergeant │ Warringham, Fred. │ Matopos, Babian's │ 20th July │ - │ │ │ Chas., A Troop, │ impi │ │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 24 │ Corporal │ Hall, John, │ Inugu engagement, │ " │ - │ │ │ Belingwe F.F. │ Matopos │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 25 │ Trooper │ Bennett, Peter, │ Inugu engagement, │ " │ - │ │ │ E. Troop, M.M.P. │ Matopos │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 26 │ " │ Bush, William │ Inugu engagement, │ " │ - │ │ │ Henry, E. Troop, │ Matopos │ │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 27 │ " │ Matheson, R. B., │ Bezury Hills │ 21st July │ - │ │ │ Major Hurrell's │ engagement │ │ - │ │ │ Troop │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 28 │ Corporal │ Hayes, Dan., Major │ Sinango kopje │ 7th July │ - │ │ │ Hurrell's Troop │ engagement │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 29 │ Major │ Kershaw, C Squad, │ Sikombo engagement │ 5th │ - │ │ │ M.R.F. │ │ August │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 30 │ Sergeant │ M'Closkie, Oswald, │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ C Squad, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 31 │ " │ Gibb, William, │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ D Squad, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 32 │ " │ Innes, Kerr, Maxim │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ gun, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 33 │ Battery │ Ainslie, │ " " │ " │ - │ │ Sergt.- │ Alexander, M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ Maj. │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 34 │ Lieut., │ Hervey, Herbert │ " " │ " │ - │ │ Dismnt. │ John Anthony, │ │ │ - │ │ Troop. │ died from │ │ │ - │ │ │ wounds, late │ │ │ - │ │ │ Paymaster-General │ │ │ - └――――┴――――――――――┴――――――─―――――――――――――┴――――――――――――――――――――┴―――――─――――――┘ - - - - -APPENDIX C - - - HEADQUARTERS, INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT, - BULAWAYO, _August 1896_. - - List of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men wounded; - or died in hospital from wounds received in action during the - Matabele rebellion. - - ┌――――┬――――――――――┬――――――─――――――――――――┬―――――――――――――――――――─―┬――――─――――─――┐ - │ │ │ │ │ Date │ - │ No.│ Rank. │ Name. │ Details. │ (1896). │ - ├――――┼――――――――――┼―――――――――――――――――――┼―――――――――――――――――――─―┼―――─―――――─――┤ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 1 │ Trooper │ Hill, Eustace │ Gifford's patrol, │ 27th March │ - │ │ │ │ Insiza │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 2 │ " │ Hocking, John │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 3 │ " │ Luis, Wilton │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 4 │ Corporal │ Strutt, M. M. P. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 5 │ Trooper │ Saunders, Charles │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 6 │ │ O'Connor, Joseph │ Prospector, escaped │ " │ - │ │ │ │ from Filibusi │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 7 │ Trooper │ Stracey, A. H. │ Selous' patrol │ 28th March │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 8 │ " │ Munzberg, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ Berthold │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 9 │ A. N. C. │ Carter, Samuel │ Shiloh patrol │ 29th March │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 10 │ Serg.- │ Haden, Thomas │ " (Afric. Corps) │ " │ - │ │ Maj. │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ " │ - │ 11 │ Trooper │ Celliers, John │ Shiloh patrol (died │ " │ - │ │ │ │ in hospital, 16th │ │ - │ │ │ │ May 1896) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 12 │ " │ Anderson, August │ Shiloh patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 13 │ Lieut.- │ Gifford, Hon. │ Fonseca's Farm │ 6th April │ - │ │ Col. │ M. R. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 14 │ Captain │ Lumsden, J. W. │ Fonseca's Farm │ " │ - │ │ │ │ (died in hospital, │ │ - │ │ │ │ 10th April 1896) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 15 │Lieutenant│ Hulbert │ Fonseca's Farm │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 16 │ Trooper │ Eatwell │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 17 │ " │ Fielding │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 18 │ " │ Walker │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 19 │ M. O. │ Levy, Dr. J. │ Gwanda patrol │ 10th April │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 20 │ Trooper │ Harvey, F. J. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 21 │ " │ Whitlow, Chas. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ Ern. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 22 │ " │ Stowell, W. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 23 │ " │ Ormsby, O. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 24 │ Trooper │ Ferreira, J. │ Gwanda patrol │ 10th April │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 25 │ " │ De Villiers, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ Isaac James │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 26 │ " │ Wilson, J. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 27 │ " │ Collins, C. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 28 │ " │ Ashley, W. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 29 │ " │ Kramer, S. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 30 │ " │ Blackwell, J. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 31 │ " │ Wallace, E. C. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 32 │ " │ Farrell, E. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 33 │ " │ Swift, Henry │ Gwanda patrol (died │ " │ - │ │ │ │ in hospital, 14th │ │ - │ │ │ │ April 1896) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 34 │ " │ Harker, George, │ Local patrol │ 17th April │ - │ │ │ B.F.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 35 │ " │ Ter. Blanche │ Macfarlane's patrol │ 19th " │ - │ │ │ Esiah Michael, │ │ │ - │ │ │ Afric. Corps. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 36 │ Captain │ Grey, George │ Bisset's patrol │ 22nd April │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 37 │Lieutenant│ Hook, Godfrey │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ Blair │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 38 │ " │ Crewe, F. H. │ Bisset's patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ │ (Grey's Scouts) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 39 │ Corporal │ Wise, George │ Bisset's patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ │ (Grey's Scouts) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 40 │Lieutenant│ Lyons, M. H., │ Macfarlane's patrol │ 25th April │ - │ │ │ Hosp. Corps │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 41 │ T.S.M. │ Botha, Joh. │ Macfarlane's patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ Christian │ (Afric. Corps) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 42 │ Trooper │ Howell, Thos. │ Macfarlane's patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ Easton │ (Grey's Scouts) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 43 │ " │ Price, F. H. │ Macfarlane's patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ Talbot │ (Maxim detachment) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 44 │ " │ Appleyard, Edward │ Macfarlane's patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ │ (Dawson's Scouts). │ │ - │ │ │ │ Died in hospital │ │ - │ │ │ │ same evening │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 45 │ " │ Lovatt, Ronald │ Macfarlane's patrol │ " │ - │ │ │ Venables │ (Grey's Scouts). │ │ - │ │ │ │ Died in hospital, │ │ - │ │ │ │ 29th April 1896 │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 46 │ " │ Beatty-Pownall, │ Laing's Camp, │ 2nd May │ - │ │ │ W. C. │ Belingwe │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 47 │ " │ Hamilton, H. Rice │ Unattached, │ 25th May │ - │ │ │ │ Plumer's patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 48 │ Sergeant │ Peacock, Arthur │ Plumer's patrol (B │ " │ - │ │ │ W. │ Troop) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 49 │ Trooper │ Slowey, W. John │ Plumer's patrol (A │ " │ - │ │ │ │ Troop) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 50 │ " │ Beinedell, Pieter │ Napier's Gwelo │ 22nd May │ - │ │ │ │ patrol (L Troop) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 51 │ " │ Niemand, Jac. P. │ Napier's Gwelo │ " │ - │ │ │ Joh. │ patrol (Mangwe │ │ - │ │ │ │ detachment) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 52 │ Trooper │ Geldenhuis, Elias │ Napier's Gwelo │ 22nd May │ - │ │ │ Jac. │ patrol (Mangwe │ │ - │ │ │ │ detachment) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 53 │ Corporal │ Combrink, Jacobus,│ Spreckley's patrol │ 6th June │ - │ │ │ Afric. Corps │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 54 │ Trooper │ Davey, Cecil, │ Spreckley's patrol. │ " │ - │ │ │ A Troop, B.F.F. │ Serious gun-shot, │ │ - │ │ │ │ right hip since │ │ - │ │ │ │ amputated │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 55 │ Sergeant │ Hamilton, Geo. │ Spreckley's patrol. │ " │ - │ │ │ Michael, R.V.H. │ Assegai wound │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 56 │ T.S.M. │ Morrison, S., │ Macfarlane's Gwaai │ 8th June │ - │ │ │ 8 Troop, M.R.F. │ patrol. Bullet │ │ - │ │ │ │ wound on head │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 57 │ Trooper │ Clark, A Troop, │ Macfarlane's Gwaai │ " │ - │ │ │ Gifford's Horse │ patrol. Slight │ │ - │ │ │ │ wound │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 58 │ T.S.M. │ Blatherwick, S. │ Macfarlane's Gwaai │ " │ - │ │ │ M., M.R.F. │ patrol │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 59 │ Trooper │ Hill, John H., │ Thabas Mamba. │ 6th July │ - │ │ │ A Squad, M.R.F. │ Dangerously │ │ - │ │ │ │ wounded; died same │ │ - │ │ │ │ day │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 60 │ " │ Meyer, George, │ Thabas Mamba │ " │ - │ │ │ A Squad, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 61 │ " │ Cooper, David E., │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ A Squad, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 62 │ " │ Dupreez, Arthur, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 63 │ " │ Dunn, George, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 64 │ " │ Potgieter, L., │ Belingwe patrol │ 26th June │ - │ │ │ Belingwe F.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 65 │Lieutenant│ Taylor, Scouts, │ Matopos, Babian's │ 20th July │ - │ │ │ M.R.F. │ impi │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 66 │ Sergeant │ Halkett, C. H., │ Matopos, Inugu │ " │ - │ │ │ Belingwe F.F. │ engagement │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 67 │ " │ Eadio, Malcolm, │ Matopos, Inugu │ " │ - │ │ │ A Troop, M.M.P. │ engagement │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 68 │ Trooper │ Dick, Duncan, │ Matopos, Inugu │ " │ - │ │ │ Belingwe F.F. │ engagement │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 69 │ " │ Judge, T., │ Matopos, Inugu │ " │ - │ │ │ Belingwe F.F. │ engagement │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 70 │ " │ Toulson, John │ Matopos, Inugu │ " │ - │ │ │ George │ engagement │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 71 │ " │ Parker Parker, │ Severe bullet │ " │ - │ │ │ F.F. │ wound, thigh │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 72 │ " │ Morgan, Charles │ Matopos, Inugu │ " │ - │ │ │ Oglethorpe A., │ engagement (died │ │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ 23rd July, buried │ │ - │ │ │ │ at Usher's Farm) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 73 │ " │ Stewart, A. M., │ Matopos, Inugu │ " │ - │ │ │ Belingwe F.F. │ fight │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 74 │ " │ Sell, Charles A. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ T., M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 75 │ " │ Millar, Fredk., │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 76 │ Trooper │ Roger, Scott, │ Matopos Inugu fight │ 20th July │ - │ │ │ Belingwe F.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 77 │ " │ Wilson, Campbell, │ Hope Fountain │ 12th " │ - │ │ │ A Squad, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 78 │ " │ Cheres, Laurence, │} Nicholson's }│ │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │} patrol, Inugu }│ 25th July │ - │ │ │ │} gorge (died and }│ │ - │ 79 │ " │ Bern, William, │} buried at }│ │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │} Usher's Camp, }│ │ - │ │ │ │} 27th July) }│ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 80 │ Trooper │ Heathfield, │ Nicholson's patrol, │ " │ - │ │ │ Richard, Jr., │ Inugu gorge │ │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 81 │ " │ Bell, James, │ Nicholson's patrol, │ " │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ Inugu gorge │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 82 │ Corporal │ Porter, Joseph │ Nicholson's patrol, │ " │ - │ │ │ Kirk, M.M.P. │ Inugu gorge (died │ │ - │ │ │ │ in Bulawayo │ │ - │ │ │ │ hospital, 3rd │ │ - │ │ │ │ August) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 83 │Lieutenant│ Norton, Frederick │ Taylor's patrol, │ 27th July │ - │ │ │ Cunningham, │ Sobisi │ │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 84 │ Captain │ Lloyd, Chas. P., │ Inyandi engagement │ 3rd Aug. │ - │ │ │ Engineer Train │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 85 │ Trooper │ Little, Edward │ Gun accident, │ " │ - │ │ │ Runnell, M.R.F. │ Spargo's (died 3rd │ │ - │ │ │ │ August) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 86 │ " │ Champion, William │ Gun accident, │ " │ - │ │ │ Lewis, M.R.F. │ Spargo │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 87 │ " │ Silberhazen, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ George, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 88 │ " │ Macdougall, Lorne │ Fort-Spargo │ 5th Aug. │ - │ │ │ Somerlea │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 89 │Lieutenant│ M'Culloch, Robert │ Sikombo engagement │ " │ - │ │ │ H., Royal Art. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 90 │ " │ Frazer, Norman │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ Warden, West │ │ │ - │ │ │ Riding Regt. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 91 │ Captain │ Fowler, Charles │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ H., M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 92 │ Staff- │ Josephs, William, │ " │ " │ - │ │ Sergt.- │ M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ Major. │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 93 │ Sergt.- │ Dumeresq, │ " │ " │ - │ │ Maj. │ Rawlings, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 94 │ Sergeant │ Brabant, Arthur │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ E., M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 95 │ Corporal │ Turnbull, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ Richard, M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 96 │ Trooper │ Currie, William, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ M.R.F. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 97 │ " │ Holmes, Evelyn, │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ M.R.F. │ (Died 9th August) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 98 │ " │ Gordon, Thomas, │ Sikombo engagement │ " │ - │ │ │ M.M.P. │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │ 99 │Lieutenant│ Howard, Hon. H. │ " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ (Robertson's Cape │ │ - │ │ │ │ Boys) │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - │100 │ Captain │ Windley │ Robertson's Cape │ " │ - │ │ │ │ Boys │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ │ - └――――┴――――――――――┴――――――─――――――――――――┴―――――─―――――――――――――――┴―――――─――――――┘ - - - - -APPENDIX D - - - HEADQUARTERS INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT, - SALISBURY, _August 1896_. - - List of persons murdered in Mashunaland during the recent native - insurrection. - - ┌―――――――――――――――――――┬――――――――――――┬――――――――――――┬―――――――――――――――─――――――――┐ - │ │ │ Date │ │ - │ Names. │ District. │ (1896). │ Details. │ - ├―――――――――――――――――――┼――――――――――――┼――――――――――――┼――――――――――――――――――─―――――┤ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Birkett, W. │ Salisbury │ │ Body supposed to be │ - │ │ │ │ his recovered on 5th │ - │ │ │ │ August. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Kentenge, Frank │ " │ 18th June │ Killed at the Gwibi │ - │ │ │ │ River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Wills, M.M.P. │ " │ " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Loeford, S. │ " │ 15th June │ Killed at Beatrice │ - │ │ │ │ Mine. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Tait, James │ " │ " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Van Rooyen │ " │ 16th June │ Killed at Hartley Road.│ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fourie, Benj. │ " │ " │ " " │ - │ John │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Norton Family │ " │ 17th June │ Killed at Norton's │ - │ (3), Joseph, │ │ │ Farm, on the Hungani │ - │ Mrs., and infant │ │ │ River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fairweather, Miss │ " │ " │ Killed at Norton's │ - │ │ │ │ Farm, on the Hungani │ - │ │ │ │ River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Alexander, H. │ " │ " │ Killed at Norton's │ - │ │ │ │ Farm, on the Hungani │ - │ │ │ │ River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Grahener, H. │ " │ " │ Killed at Norton's │ - │ │ │ │ Farm, on the Hungani │ - │ │ │ │ River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Harvey, J. L. │ " │} │ │ - │ │ │} │ │ - │ Dixon, James │ " │} │ │ - │ │ │} │ │ - │ Briscoe │ " │} │ │ - │ │ │} │ No particulars of │ - │ Hite, W. D. │ " │} │ murders; but six or │ - │ │ │} │ seven weeks having │ - │ Dowenbrock, R. │ " │} │ elapsed without any │ - │ │ │} │ news of these │ - │ Basson, Nicholas │ " │} │ persons, and who were │ - │ │ │} │ known to have been │ - │ Joubert, J. │ " │} │ surrounded by rebels │ - │ │ │} │ at the time of the │ - │ Gray, Harry │ " │} │ rising, it is beyond │ - │ │ │} │ all doubt that they │ - │ Curtis, J. H. │ " │} │ are dead. │ - │ (surveyor) │ │} │ │ - │ │ │} │ │ - │ Saunders │ " │} │ │ - │ │ │} │ │ - │ Calcott │ " │} │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cass, J. │ Mazoe │ 18th June │ Killed near Salvation │ - │ │ │ │ Army Camp. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Faull, W. │ Mazoe │ 18th June │ Killed near Salvation │ - │ │ │ │ Army Camp. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Dickenson, J., │ " │ " │ Killed near Salvation │ - │ Mining │ │ │ Army Camp. │ - │ Commissioner │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Routledge, J. J. │ " │ " │ Killed near Telegraph │ - │ │ │ │ Station │ - │ │ │ │ (telegraphist). │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Blakiston, J. J. │ " │ " │ Killed near Telegraph │ - │ │ │ │ Station │ - │ │ │ │ (telegraphist). │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Pollard, H. H. │ " │ ... │ Killed near Mount │ - │ │ │ │ Hampden. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Nunesty, C. │ " │ ... │ Missing. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fletcher, John. │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Salthouse │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Smith │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Short, Henry │ Charter │ ... │ Killed. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bester, Mrs. │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Smith │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Moore, John │ " │ ... │ Dunstan estate; killed │ - │ │ │ │ Umtala Road; body │ - │ │ │ │ recovered 3rd August. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Milton (transport │ " │ ... │ Killed at Homestead │ - │ rider) │ │ │ Store; body found on │ - │ │ │ │ 3rd August. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Graham, Harry │ " │ │ Killed at Homestead │ - │ │ │ │ Store; body found on │ - │ │ │ │ 3rd August. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Weyers Family │ " │ ... │ Bodies recovered. │ - │ (4), Jan, wife, │ │ │ │ - │ and 2 children │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bekers, C. D. │ " │ ... │ Killed at Campbell's │ - │ │ │ │ Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Campbell, J. D. │ " │ ... │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Phillips │ " │ ... │ Killed at Graham's │ - │ │ │ │ Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Law, Horace, │ " │ 20th June │ Killed near Campbell's │ - │ M.M.P. │ │ │ Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Tucker, M.M.P. │ " │ " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Dickenson, A. J. │ " │ ... │ Killed near Law's │ - │ │ │ │ Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ White, James │ " │ 7th July │ Killed at Marandellas │ - │ (Willoughby's │ │ │ Mission Store. │ - │ consolidated) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bremner, Lieut. │ " │ ... │ Killed near │ - │ │ │ │ Marandellas. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Eyre, Herbert H., │ Lo Magondi │ 21st June │ Killed at Umvokwe │ - │ M.M.P. │ │ │ Mountains. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Young, Arthur │ " │ " │ Killed at Umvokwe │ - │ Liston, M.M.P. │ │ │ Mountains. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Gambier, J. C. │ " │ 22nd June │ Killed at Menin River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Boijes, W. H. │ " │ " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Drysdale │ " │ " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Mynhardt (native │ " │ 21st June │ Killed at Mynhardt's │ - │ commissioner) │ │ │ Camp. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Shooter, F. │ " │ " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Dougherty, J. │ " │ 31st May │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Watkins, Charles │ " │ ... │ Medical officer; │ - │ H. │ │ │ killed at Hinnan's │ - │ │ │ │ Store. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Jameson, Arthur │ Lo Magondi │ ... │ Mining Commissioner. │ - │ John │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ M'Gowan J. } │ │ │{ Were at Jameson's │ - │ } │ " │ ... │{ Camp and have not │ - │ Hodgson, A. } │ │ │{ been heard of. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bent, F. L. │ " │ ... │ Missing. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Box, James │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Box, Duncan │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Kerr, Carr, or │ " │ ... │ " United States │ - │ Care │ │ │ man. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ireland │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hermann, Louis │ Abercorn │ 21st June │ Killed at Macombis. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Tupnell, W. │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Steel, J. │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Austin, F. │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Smith, Newman H. │ " │ ... │ Missing. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Horn, J. │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Jansen │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Steele, W. │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cronchly, J. │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ North, A. │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hawkins │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hornby │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Gibson, J. G. │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Sagus │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Newman │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hermann, Harry │ " │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ruping (native │ " │ 28th June │ Killed by his native │ - │ commissioner) │ │ │ police at Tahoskos. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Rhapiro, Renten │ " │ 21st " │ Shot at Abercorn Store.│ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fletcher │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Eaton, J. │ " │ 19th " │ Killed at Chipadgus. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Thurgood, A. │ Hartley │ 15th " │ │ - │ │ Hill │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hepworth, J. C. │ " │ 17th " │ Killed at Wallace's │ - │ │ │ │ farm. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Wallace, "Friday" │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Moonie, D. E. │ " │ 15th " │ Killed at Mashingontis.│ - │ (native │ │ │ │ - │ commissioner) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hunt, A. J. │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Skell │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Purser, A. L. │ " │ 19th " │ Killed near Hunyani │ - │ │ │ │ River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Carrick Edward │ " │ " " │ " " │ - │ (mining │ │ │ │ - │ commissioner) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Wickslorn, A. │ │ │ Killed while │ - │ │ │ │ prospecting near │ - │ │ │ │ Hartley. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Nelson │ │ ... │ Killed while │ - │ │ │ │ prospecting near │ - │ │ │ │ Hartley. │ - └――――─────――――――――――┴――――――─―――――┴―――――─――――――┴―――――――――───―――――─――――――┘ - - The following were killed in action:— - - ┌―――――――――――――――――――┬――――――――――――┬――――――――――――┬―――――――――――――――─――――――――┐ - │ │ │ Date │ │ - │ Names. │ District. │ (1896). │ Details. │ - ├―――――――――――――――――――┼――――――――――――┼――――――――――――┼――――――――――――――――――─―――――┤ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ M'Geer, C. M. │ ... │ 20th June │ Mazoe patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Van Staden, H. J. │ ... │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Jacobs │ ... │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Dillon │ ... │ " " │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Mitchell, J. │ ... │ ... │ Wounded first Hartley │ - │ Bentley │ │ │ patrol; died 27th │ - │ │ │ │ June. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Stevens, Charles │ │ 25th " │ Killed Cheshwasha │ - │ Trelawney │ │ │ patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Gwilkin, W. H. │ │ 20th July │ Killed second Hartley │ - │ │ │ │ patrol. │ - - The following were wounded in action:— - - │ Grey, Dr. │ ... │ ... │ First Hartley patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bottemley, │ ... │ ... │ " " │ - │ Trumpeter (Natal │ │ │ │ - │ Contingent) │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Finucase, E. │ Salisbury │ ... │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Burton, Arthur │ " │ ... │ Mazoe patrol at Jwito │ - │ │ │ │ River. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hendrikz, C. │ " │ ... │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Neibuhr │ " │ ... │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ogilvie │ " │ ... │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Berry │ " │ ... │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Judson, Captain │ " │ ... │ " " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cartwright, │ Charter │ ... │ │ - │ Trumpeter, M.M.P.│ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Van de Merwe │ │ ... │ At Hunyani. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fitzpatrick │ │ ... │ Beal's column on │ - │ │ │ │ second Hartley patrol.│ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Arnott │ Salisbury │ ... │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Kerr │ " │ ... │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Lee │ ... │ ... │ White's column in │ - │ │ │ │ foraging patrol. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Fraser │ ... │ ... │ Beal's column. │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Brown │ ... │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Millar │ ... │ ... │ " │ - │ │ │ │ │ - └――――─────――――――――――┴――――――─―――――┴―――――─――――――┴―――――――――───―――――─――――――┘ - - - - -APPENDIX E - - -For the following statistics I am indebted to the courtesy of Colonel -Heyman, the President of the Compensation Board, which up to 15th -August 1896 had paid claims for the following items:— - - -GROWING CROPS DESTROYED - - Mealies 896 acres - Kafir corn 270 " - Oats 70½ " - Barley 17 " - Potatoes 67 " - Wheat 7 " - Various 151½ " - ――――― - Total 1,479 acres - ═════ - - -TREES DESTROYED - - Fruit trees 1,092 - Gum trees 290 - Various trees 19,957 - ―――――― - Total 21,339 - ══════ - - -DOMESTIC ANIMALS CARRIED OFF OR KILLED - - Imported bulls 59 - Kafir bulls 58 - Oxen 4,440 - Cows and heifers 9,592 - Mixed cattle 7,394 - Sheep and goats 5,114 - Pigs 842 - Horses 33 - Mules 6 - Donkeys 548 - Imported fowls 4,348 - Matabele 7,133 - Ducks and geese 514 - Turkeys 58 - ―――――― - Total 40,139 - ══════ - - No. of homesteads destroyed 150 - ═══ - - -FARMING AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS STOLEN OR DESTROYED - - Ploughs 112 - Harrows 30 - Carts, various 15 - Waggons 85 - Scotch carts 52 - Picks and shovels 2,349 - Cream separators 5 - Churns 19 - Sundries 5,121 including mining - ――――― implements - Total 7,788 - ═════ - -_Note._ - -Up to 15th August 371 claims had been adjudicated upon. - -The full amount claimed in settlement of these claims amounted to -£166,829 : 19 : 9. - -The amount awarded in settlement of the same being £111,439 : 10 : 11. - -The total number of claims filed amounted on 15th August to 637, the -total amount of compensation claimed for which amounted to £266,237 : -19 : 4. - -Since 15th August other claims have been filed bringing the total -number up to about 800 for losses sustained in Matabeleland alone. - -The total amount of compensation which will be paid by the Chartered -Company in settlement of these claims will, it is thought, reach the -sum of £230,000. - - - - -APPENDIX F - - -Schedule showing the number of Native Policemen in the employ of the -Government throughout Matabeleland, at the time of the outbreak of the -rebellion, and the proportion of the same which remained loyal in the -different districts. - - ┌――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――┬――――――――┬―――──────┬――――――――――――┐ - │ Station. │ Loyal. │ Rebels. │ Doubtful. │ - ├――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――┼――――――――┼―――――――――┼――――――─―――――┤ - │ Headquarters 60 │ 45 │ ... │ 15 │ - │ Bulawayo district 30 │ 15 │ 15 │ ... │ - │ Bulilima " 30 │ 28 │ 2 │ ... │ - │ Umzingwani " 30 │ 11 │ 19 │ ... │ - │ Mangwe " 30 │ 6 │ 24 │ ... │ - │ Usiza " 30 │ 2 │ 28 │ ... │ - │ Gwanda " 30 │ 18 │ ... │ 12 │ - │ Belingwe " 30 │ Nil. │ 25 │ 5 │ - │ Gwelo " 30 │ Nil. │ 30 │ ... │ - │ Bubi " 30 │ 1 │ 29 │ ... │ - ├――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――┼――――――――┼―――――――――┼――――――─―――――┤ - │ Total 330 │ 126 │ 172 │ 32 │ - └――――─────―――――――――――――――─―――――┴―――――─――┴―――――――――┴──―――─――――――┘ - -These figures must be taken as only approximate, as it is known that -three or four of the police were killed by the rebels, and it is -doubtful whether others did not meet the same fate. It will not be -known exactly what number of the police were murdered by the rebels -until the war is over. - -For these statistics I am indebted to Mr. H. Morrison Jackson, the -native commissioner, who was living on my company's property of -Essexvale. - - F. C. SELOUS. - - - - -APPENDIX G - - -GOLD OUTPUT - - ┌―――――――――――――――――――┬――――――――――─┬―――――――――──────┬――――――────――――――┐ - │ │ │ │ Approx. output │ - │ Reef. │ District. │ Tons crushed. │ in ounces. │ - ├―――――――――――――――――――┼―――――――――──┼―─―――――――――――――┼―――────―――─―――――┤ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Alice │ ... │ 2 │ 7 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Auriga │ ... │ 41 │ 49 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ African │ ... │ 150 │ 97 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Birthday │ ... │ 100 │ 104 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Beatrice │ ... │ 100 │ 563 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Bonanza │ ... │ 201 │ 80 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Cotapaxi │ ... │ 4857 │ 2328 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Congress on Hill │ ... │ 20 │ 15½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Concession │ ... │ 4 │ 7½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Dickens │ ... │ 1090 │ 1084 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Golden Quarry │ ... │ 23 │ 96 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Golden Horse Shoe │ ... │ 100 │ 71 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Glendarra │ ... │ 3 │ 7¼ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Hidden Secret and │ ... │ 120 │ 60 │ - │ Rob Roy │ │ │ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Heathfield │ ... │ 2 │ 20½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Inez │ ... │ 40 │ 97 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Just in Time │ ... │ ¾ │ 27 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Lion │ ... │ 2 │ 5½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Matchless East │ ... │ 20 │ 12 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Matchless West │ ... │ 12 │ 20 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Natal │ ... │ 6 │ 7 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Old Chum │ ... │ 20 │ 49 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Nil Desperandum │ ... │ 2 │ 2½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Panhalanga │ ... │ 50 │ 50 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Pioneer │ ... │ 18 │ 10¾ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Standard No. 2 │ ... │ 278 │ 222 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Shepherds │ ... │ 6 │ 10½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Salamander │ ... │ 799 │ 439½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Shankaru │ ... │ 25 │ 75 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Vesuvius │ ... │ 40 │ 90 │ - │ │ ├―――――――――――――――┼―――――――――──―――――┤ - │ │ │ 8131¾ │ 5707½ │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Ancient Ruins │ ... │ ... │ 357 │ - │ │ │ │ │ - │ Alluvial │ Manica │ ... │ 84½ │ - └―――――――――――――――――――┴―――――――――──┴―─―――――――――――――┴―――────―――─―――――┘ - -For these statistics I am indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Arnold, -Secretary of the Chamber of Mines. - - F. C. SELOUS. - - - - -INDEX - - - Abenzantsi, 26, 71 - - Aborigines' Protection Society, 87 - - Adams, Col. Gould, joins Dr. Jameson, 45 - - African Bond Association, 249 - - Africander Corps, 59, 105, 144, 147, 200, 242; - courage and skill of, 117, 118, 125; - brilliant charge by, at the Umguza, 173; - complimented by Lord Grey, 240 - - Ammunition, abundance of, among the Matabele, 49 - - Anderson, Mr., murder of, 25 - - Appleyard, Trooper, death of, 174 - - Armstrong, Major, 114, 141, 142, 148 - - Artillery, defective condition of, 55 - - Axes, natives borrow, 23 - - - Babian, 169 - - Baden-Powell, Major, 239 - - Baker, Mr., death of, 125 - - Banks-Wright, Lieut., 231 - - Banyubi tribe, 75 - - Barnard, Commandant, 170 - - Barthelemy, Father, 195 - - Baxter, Trooper, bravery of, 164 - - Beal, Col., in command of Salisbury relief force, 186; - forms laager near Bulawayo, 222; - joins Col. Spreckley, 223; - returns with his force to Salisbury, 235 - - Bechuanaland Protectorate, 254 - - Belingwe, laager formed at, 135 - - Bembisi, 101 - - Benson, Mr., 179 - - Bentley, Mr., murder of, 33 - - Biscoe, Lieut., 147 - - Bisset, Capt., 127, 133, 156 - - Blick, Mr., American scout, narrow escape of, 201 - - Blöcker, Herr, 11, 23, 28, 74, 79, 169, 216 - - Boer element in Rhodesia, 241 _et seq._ - - Boggie, Lieut., patrol under, 175 - - Boyce, Mr., 79, 80 - - Brand, Capt., 59, 117, 119, 125, 223 - - Brown, Capt. Howard, 144 - - "Buccaneers," 108 - - Bulawayo, 4; - in 1895, 5; - lowness of food supply in, 56; - critical position of, 57; - total forces in, at beginning of rebellion, 58, 59; - laager formed at, 90; - Matabele scare at, 91; - rebels hanged at 137; - Matabele advance on, 144; - arrival of Lord Grey at, 179 - - _Bulawayo Chronicle_, quoted, 188 - - Bulawayo Field Force, the, 58, 218; - disbanded, 239; - Lord Grey's address to, 239, 240 - - Burnham, Mr., the American scout, 176, 195, 222; - narrow escape of, 201 - - Button, Trooper, 202 - - - Campbell's Store, 103 - - Cape Boys, excellent services rendered by, 59 - - Carnegie, Rev. Mr., 117 - - Carrington, Major-Gen. Sir F., 58, 60, 239; - reaches Bulawayo and takes over command of forces in - Matabeleland, 217; - despatches three patrols against rebels, 221 - - Carter, Mr., 100, 102 - - Case, Mr., killed at Inyati, 103 - - Cattle, carried off by Matabele, 26, 61; - recapture of, 62, 63; - used as a decoy by the enemy, 206; - large herd captured by Col. Spreckley, 214 - - Cattle-confiscation question, 7; - its final settlement, 9 - - Celliers, Mr., 105, 107; - death of, 108 - - Chartered Company, the, natives under rule of, 7, 71; - and the cattle-confiscation question, 7; - and the revocation of the charter, 256; - the white population of Rhodesia under, 257; - Bulawayo Chamber of Commerce expresses confidence in, 258 - - Chibi, loyalty of, 238 - - Chilimanzi, loyalty of, 238 - - Colenbrander, Mr., 59, 137, 251 - - Colonists, their difficulties during the rebellion, 43; - their unpreparedness on outbreak, 53, 56 - - Compensation Board, 255 - - Comployer, Mr., murder of, 96 - - Cooke, Mr., 108 - - Coolies, murder of, near Bulawayo, 177, 178 - - Coope, Capt., 219; - gallant behaviour of, 221 - - Corke, Mr. S. H., killed at Inyati, 103 - - Crewe, Lieut. F., 127; - miraculous escape of, 165 - - Crewe's farm at Redbank, 220 - - Cumming's store, laager formed at, 38; - relief of, 40 - - Cunningham family, massacre of the, 35 - - Currie, Mr., 96 - - - _Daily Graphic_, "Young Tradesman's" letter to the, 137 - - Davey, Trooper, wounded, 223 - - Dawe's store, 168 - - Dawson, Capt., 59, 127, 176; - leaves Bulawayo with patrol, 110 - - Dawson's Fort, 179 - - Dawson's store, at Amanzi Minyama, 119; - on the Umzingwani river, 18, 79, 118 - - Donovan, Tim, killed, 104 - - Duncan, Mr., 38, 146 - - Dutch in South Africa, 244 _et seq._ - - Dutch Reformed Church, 249 - - Dutchmen, murder of two, 168 - - - Eagle Mine, 94, 96 - - Eagleson, Mr., murder of, 25 - - Edkins, Mr., murder of, 33 - - Edkins' store, 85, 112, 118 - - Egerton, Hon. Tatton, M.P., 96, 198, 212 - - Elibaini Hills, 107 - - Elliott, Mr., 111 - - Edmunds, Mr., 28, 93 - - Essexvale, 6; - life at, 10; - progress of the insurrection at, 31; - cattle left in charge of the natives, 69; - burned down, and cattle carried off, 69, 216 - - Europeans, first murders of, 32, 33; - evils ascribed to influence of, 51 - - - Famine, apprehensions of, 18, 56 - - Farley, Mr. F. C., narrow escape of, 225 - - Farquhar, Mr. Mowbray, 96, 198 - - Ferreira, Mr., 125 - - "Fig Tree," 111; - fort erected at, 140 - - Fincham, Mr., 104 - - Fletcher, Mr., 74 - - Fonseca's farm, 129; - engagement at, 130 - - Food supply, a plentiful, the sinews of war to a savage race, 198 - - Forbes, Mr. Gordon, narrow escape of, 220 - - _Fortnightly Review_, 243 - - Foster, Mr., murder of, 25 - - Fourie family, massacre of the, 209, 212 - - Frost, Lieut., 113, 205 - - Fynn, Capt., 128, 130 - - Fynn, Mr. H. P., sworn statement of, 35, 36; - warns Capt. Laing of the native rising, 135; - his faithful servant, 234 - - Fynn's farm, 231, 232 - - - Gambo, detention of, in Bulawayo, 52; - diminished influence of, 52; - loyalty of his followers, 52 - - Ganyana murders one of the native police, 22 - - Gifford, Hon. Maurice R., 29, 38, 39; - letters from, 41, 42; - his prediction regarding the insurrection, 43; - patrol under his command leaves Bulawayo, 127; - engagement at Fonseca's farm, 130; - wounded, 133; - patrol returns to Bulawayo, 133 - - Gifford's Horse, 127, 200, 236; - excellent services of, 221 - - Gold output, see Appendix G - - Gordon, Mr., saved by native police, 116 - - Government House at Bulawayo, 57 - - Gracey, Mr., murder of, 96 - - Gradwell, Capt., 231 - - Graham, Mr., native commissioner, 100; - killed at Inyati, 103, 231 - - Graham's store, laager at, 190 - - Grainger's stores, 118, 119, 121 - - Greeff, Frikky, accident to, 201 - - Greek trader, murder of a, 116 - - Grenfell, Lieut., 28, 77, 93, 113, 156, 168, 169; - his account of the fight at the Umguza, 170-175; - takes over Fort Marquand, 176 - - Grey, Capt., narrow escape of, 93; - returns to Bulawayo to give warning of rising, 95; - leaves for the Tekwe, 97; - his timely arrival, 98, 203, 233 - - Grey, Lord, arrival of, in Bulawayo, 179; - his address to the Bulawayo Field Force, 239 - - Grey's Scouts, 58, 97, 127, 145, 147, 200, 223, 236; - their gallantry, 165 - - Grootboom, John, narrow escape of, 158; - wounded, 173 - - Gum-trees, planting of, 11 - - Gwanda patrol leaves Bulawayo, 117; - Lieut. Webb's account of, 117; - arrives at Nicholson's camp, 119; - attacked by the Matabele, 122; - narrowly escapes annihilation, 122; - returns to Bulawayo, 124; - gallant conduct of, 125 - - Gwelo, 96, 97 - - - Haden, Mr. Thomas, 102 - - Halsted, Capt., 139, 141, 142 - - Halsted Fort, 142, 180 - - Hamilton, Mr., wounded, 219 - - Hamilton, Trooper, wounded, 224 - - Hanley, Sub-Inspector, 100; - killed at Inyati, 103 - - Harker, Mr., wounded, 146 - - Hartley, Mr., 184 - - Hays, Trooper, shot dead, 220 - - Heany, Mr. Maurice, 1 - - Helm, Rev. Mr., 6; - views on the cattle question, 7, 8 - - Henderson, Mr., 105; - gallant conduct of, 207 - - Hocking, Mr., 37 - - Holland, Mr., 120, 125 - - Holm's farm, 128 - - Hook, Lieut., 149; - severely wounded, 164 - - Hope Fountain, mission station at, 6, 53; - destroyed, 143 - - Horses, scarcity of, 54; - number in possession of Government at outbreak of rebellion, 54; - their uselessness in the Matopo Hills, 78 - - Hosking, Mr. John, sworn statement of, 37 - - Howard, Lieut., 180, 185, 205 - - Hulbert, Lieut., wounded, 133 - - Hurford, Mr. G., killed at Inyati, 103 - - Hurlstone, Mr., murder of, 100, 196 - - - Impembisi river, 232 - - Ingram, Mr., the American scout, 176 - - Insiza district, rising general in, 40 - - Insiza river, two columns despatched to, 198; - large quantity of stores discovered near, 199, 213; - running fight and casualties at, 201, 202; - enemy found in great force at, 204; - laager formed near, 208; - many kraals burned in valley of, 213 - - "Intabas a Mamba," 233, 234, 239 - - Intuntini, burning of kraal of, 70 - - Inxnozan, raid by, 69 - - Inyamanda, son of Lo Bengula, 143 - - Inyati, massacre of whites at, 103; - bodies of murdered men found at, 231; - mission house and church destroyed, 232 - - Ivers, Mr., murder of, 34 - - - "Jackal," Makalaka chief, interview with, 112 - - Jackson, Mr., 12; - distrusts the native police, 14, 18; - rumoured murder of, 71; - arrives at Bulawayo, 92 - - Jameson, Dr., 12; - forces under, in 1893, 43; - Matabele attacks on, 44, 194; - beneficial results of his campaign, 46 - - Jarvis, Mr. Weston, 95, 197, 205, 222 - - Jenkins store, 100 - - Jobson, Mr., 122, 125 - - Judge, Mr., 86 - - - Khama, his loss of cattle through the rinderpest, 225 - - Khami river, fort built at, 177 - - Knapp, Capt., 218; - bravery of, 221 - - - Labouchere, Mr., 36, 108, 137, 193, 226, 227, 236, 256 - - Laing, Capt., 135, 237; - his successful engagements with the rebels, 238 - - Langabi, Matabele Induna, 116 - - Langford, Dr. and Mrs., murder of, 40, 214, 215 - - Lanning, Mr., native commissioner, 230 - - Lee's store, 93; - burnt down, 194 - - Lemon, Mr., murder of, 214 - - Leopard, adventure with a, 3 - - Liebert, Mr., 35 - - Lo Bengula, 4, 13, 44, 45, 236; - his belief in the Umlimo, 16, 143 - - Locusts, plague of, 51 - - Long, "Texas," 164 - - Loots, Mr., 125 - - Loyal Colonists' League, 248 - - Luck, Capt., 141 - - Lumsden, Capt., 113, 127, 130; - death of, 133 - - Lyons, Mr., 86 - - - Maatjiumschlopay, Matabele attack on, 147 - - Mabukitwani, fort ordered to be built at, 146 - - Macfarlane, Capt., 105, 133; - expedition under, 147-154; - despatched with force to the Umguza, 221 - - Mackenzie, Trooper Kenneth, killed, 130 - - M'Kisa's kraal, 127 - - Madden, Patrick, 103 - - Maddocks, Mr., murder of, 37, 135 - - Mazhlabanyan, a Matabele guide, 72; - fidelity of, 79 - - Mainwaring, Capt., patrol under, 166 - - Maiyaisa, rebel chief, 137, 140 - - Makalakas, their peaceable and industrious character, 71, 111; - interview with principal induna, 112 - - Makupikupeni police station, 72 - - Mangwe laager, 114 - - Manica, 256 - - Marquand Fort, construction of, 169 - - Marzwe's kraal, Matabele raid on, 182; - women, cattle, etc., belonging to, recaptured by Obas, 184 - - Mashunaland, news of rising in, 235; - Umlimos responsible for outbreak, country admirably adapted for - colonisation, 256 - - Mashunas, loot the object of their rising, 236; - their principal characteristics, 237 - - Matabele, the, prosperous under the rule of the Chartered - Company, 7, 71; - murder a native policeman, 18, 19; - attack the native police at Umgorshlwini, 20; - inscrutability of the native mind, 25; - raids on cattle, 26, 61; - barbarity, 34, 36, 213; - campaign of 1893 against, 43; - demoralisation and surrender in 1893, 46; - their military spirit scotched, not killed, 47; - probable losses in 1893, 47; - disarmament only partial, 48; - waiting an opportunity to rebel, 51; - want of combined action, 56, 154; - belief in the Umlimo, 56; - non-interference with waggon and coach traffic, 57, 58; - improved tactics, 60; - raid on Essexvale, 69; - friendlies among, 71; - massing in the Matopos, 73, 221; - bad shooting of, 153; - severely defeated at the Umguza, 177; - effects of rebellion on, 253 - - Matabeleland, suitability of the country for cattle breeding, 5, 255; - appearance of the rinderpest, 13; - rumours of native rising, 13; - transitional state of, 66; - curious position of affairs in, 142; - plentiful harvest, 198; - Dutch settlers in, 241; - Boer element strong in, 240; - railways, 254; - effect of the rinderpest in, 255; - country admirably adapted for colonisation, 256 - - Matabele rebellion, the, rumours of, 13, 14; - opinion regarding origin of, 17; - first overt act of, 19; - its Zulu origin, 26, 52; - progress of, 31; - reflections upon, 29-31, 64-67; - account of, 93; - horrors of, 193; - number of settlers killed, 250; - negotiations for peace, 251 - - _Matabele Times_, quoted, 58, 176, 177 - - Matibi, a Mashuna chief, valuable assistance from, 237 - - Matopo Hills, massing of Matabele in, 73; - journey through, 74; - skirmish in, 75-77; - strong position of enemy in, 220 - - Maxim, unfortunate jamming of, 152 - - Meikle, Capt., 128, 156 - - Metcalfe, Sir Charles, 197, 205, 222 - - Moffat, Lieut., 151 - - Molyneux, Capt., 139, 142, 156, 185; - erects fort at Fig Tree, 140; - Matabele attack his farm, 180 - - "Mondoros," 236 - - Mostert, Mr., 104 - - Mounted Police, distribution of, 53 - - Mullins, Lieut., 218, 232 - - Munzberg, Mr., wounded, 77, 110 - - - Napier, Col., 29, 54, 142, 146, 155, 185, 198, 203; - force under, reaches Tekwe store, 98; - arrives at Bulawayo, 215; - commended by Lord Grey, 239 - - Native Police, Mr. Jackson's distrust of, 14; - defections among the, 50, 53, 70; - disarmament of, at Bulawayo, 93 - - Native question in Rhodesia, importance of the, 88 - - Nellie Reef Mine, 37 - - Nicholson, Capt., 144, 155 - - Niekerk, Capt. Van, 59, 105, 117, 120, 154, 200, 203, 223; - cool judgment and bravery of, 122, 125; - wounded, 126 - - Norton, Mr., 28, 169 - - Notman, Mr., 23 - - Nyenyezi, proscription of, 44 - - - Obas, recaptures women and cattle belonging to Marzwe, 184 - - O'Connor, Joe, remarkable escape of, 80; - his brother and cousin murdered by the Matabele, 86, 87 - - O'Leary, Sergt.-Major, 40 - - Ottens, Mr., murder of, 34 - - - Parker, Trooper, death of, 201, 210 - - Parkin, Lieut., 176, 180 - - Parsons, Trooper, death of, 175 - - Peacock, Sergt., wounded, 219 - - Pelly, Rev. Douglas, 212 - - Pittendrigh, Capt., leaves Bulawayo with a rescue party, 100; - encounters the rebels, 102; - fortifies Campbell's store, 104; - relief of, 106; - returns to Bulawayo, 107 - - Plumer, Col., successful engagement by force under, 217-221; - sets out for the Khami river, 221, 239 - - Police force, effects of removing, 51 - - Pongo store, 98, 195; - murders at, 94, 96, 100 - - Purssell, Mr., 120, 125 - - - Queen's Mine, 230 - - - Redbank, large impi at, 143 - - Reddington, Mr., murder of, 100, 196 - - Reed, Rev. Mr., saved by the Makalakas, 117 - - Rees, Rev. Mr., narrow escape of, 231 - - Reid, Capt., 147 - - Rensberg, Commandant Van, 105, 200, 202, 208; - and the Africander Corps, 241 - - Reynolds, Corporal, 133 - - Riebek, Van, 66 - - Rifles and ammunition belonging to Government at beginning of - rebellion, 55 - - Rinderpest, 13, 253-255; - spread of, 17; - effects of, 56; - ravages at Mangwe, 115 - - Rhodes, Mr. Arthur, 234 - - Rhodes, Mr. Cecil, 186, 197, 205, 208, 222, 243, 251; - confidence felt in, 259 - - Rhodesia, steps necessary for future safety of, 34; - importance of native question in, 88; - opening up and colonisation of, 241; - Boer element in, 241, 242; - present position and future prospects of, 250 _et seq._; - gold in, 256; - administration under the Chartered Company, and as a Crown Colony - contrasted, 257-259 - - Rhodesia, Eastern, force sent to, 236 - - Rhodesia Horse, 54, 105 - - Rixon, Mr., 214 - - Robinson, Capt., 235 - - Robinson, Mr., 96 - - Rooyen, Cornelius Van, 114, 180, 182 - - Rorke, Lieut., narrow escape of, 130 - - Ross family, massacre of the, 209, 212 - - Rothman, Trooper, death of, 202, 211 - - - Salisbury coach chased by Kafirs, 99 - - Salisbury Relief Force, meeting with, 197; - leaves for Bulawayo, 215 - - "Salugazana," a prophetess, consulted by Lo Bengula, 236 - - Schultz, Mr., 86 - - Scott, Major, at Bulawayo, 91 - - Sewhoi-whoi river, game plentiful near, 2 - - Shashani Hotel, 113 - - Shashani Pass, 56 - - Shiloh Hills, Gifford's fight in, 127 - - Shiloh mission station, 229 - - Sinclair, Lieut., 202 - - Simms, Mr., 74 - - Slowey, Trooper, wounded, 220 - - South Africa, compared with North America, 65, 66; - British and Dutch in, 243 _et seq._ - - Spargot's store, 118 - - Spiro's store, 72, 110, 118, 121 - - Spreckley, Col., 29, 33, 69, 71, 197; - his valuable services at Bulawayo, 91; - inflicts heavy loss on the rebels at the Umguza, 224; - leaves with patrol for Shiloh, 228; - arrives at Fynn's farm, 233; - falls in with large body of rebels, 233; - captures a large amount of grain and returns to Bulawayo, 235 - - Stewart's store, 95, 98, 187, 209 - - Steyn, Mr., 125 - - Stoddart, Lieut., 238 - - Stracey, Mr., wounded, 77, 110 - - Stuart, Jack, American miner, 229 - - Swinburne, Mr., English scout, 176 - - - Tati, food supply at, 146 - - Taylor, Capt., 204 - - Taylor, Mr. Herbert, and the cattle question, 8, 9 - - Tchangani store, the, 94, 99; - laager at, 95; - patrols sent out from, 96 - - Tchangani column, despatch of, 186; - composition and strength of, 186, 187 - - Tekwe river, Matabele impi at, 187 - - Tekwe store, 97 - - Thaba Induna, enemy in force at, 189; - skirmish near, 191; - no quarter shown at, 192 - - Thomas, Mr., 13, 72 - - Thomson, Mr. Moodie, 101 - - Transvaal, the invasion of the, 245 - - Tree-planting and farming, 11 - - - Umfondisi, nephew of Lo Bengula joins in the rebellion, 22 - - Umgorshlwini, native police attacked at, 20 - - Umguza, the, skirmish at, 145; - expeditions to, 155, 156, 223; - Lieut. Grenfell's description of fight at, 170-175; - composition of force engaged at, 172 - - Umjan, neutrality of, 52; - hostility of his sons and followers, 53 - - "Umlimo," the god of the Makalakas, prophecies of, 13, 226; - superstitions regarding, 15, 56; - accepted as an oracle by the Matabele, 16; - Lo Bengula's belief in, 16, 143; - responsible for outbreak in Mashunaland, 236 - - Umlugulu, 11, 112; - one of the chief instigators of the rebellion, 12; - his anxiety regarding Jameson's surrender, 12; - and the Umlimo, 17 - - Umsetchi, 28 - - Umsheti, 169 - - Umzingwani store, broken into by natives, 111 - - Umzobo, 19; - attempts to pick a quarrel with the native police, 20 - - Usher, Mr., predicts the rising of the Matabele, 14 - - - Vigers, Mr., 146 - - Vigne, Dr., 157 - - Vultures, extraordinary absence of, 115 - - - Walsh, Lieut., 157 - - Warwick, Lieut., 218 - - Watts, Major, 218 - - Webb, Lieut., 117, 121, 125, 140, 142 - - White, Capt. the Hon. C., sent with a force to Eastern Rhodesia, 236 - - White, Mr., 125; - wounded, 126 - - Willoughby, General Digby, 179 - - Willoughby, Sir John, 44 - - Willoughby's Consolidated Co., 99, 230 - - Wilson, Major, death of, 45 - - Wilson's farm, 115, 139; - fort built at, 176 - - Windley, Capt., 160, 161, 205; - his horse refuses to carry double weight, 162; - gallantry of, 163 - - Wise, Trooper, wounded, 164 - - Witch-doctor, influence of the, 51; - death of a, 131 - - Wood, Mr., murder of, 99 - - Woodford's store, 38 - - Wrey, Capt., 193 - - - Zambesi Kafirs, murdered by Matabele, 138, 229 - - Zeeburg, Mr. H., murder of, 100 - - Zeederberg, Mr., 119 - - Zinjanja, loyalty of the, 237 - - - - -THE END - - -_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_. - - -[Illustration: MAP OF PART OF MATABELELAND - - SUNSHINE AND STORM IN RHODESIA. _Published by_ ROWLAND WARD & - CO., LTD., _London_.] - - - - -ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -NATURALISTS TO THE COURT - -_By Special Appointment to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His -Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and the Courts of -Europe_, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY, LONDON, W. - -TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: JUNGLE, LONDON. TELEPHONE NO. 3644. - - PRACTICAL AND ARTISTIC TAXIDERMISTS, Designers of Trophies of - Natural History, Preservers and Adapters of all Specimens of - Animal Life. Natural Features of Animals adapted in Original - Designs for Decorative Purposes and Every-day Uses. Furriers and - Plumassiers, and Collectors in Natural History. - - NOTICE.—ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S., is the only member left in the - profession of the Ward Family, long unrivalled for their - accumulated experience and their skill in Practical Taxidermy, - especially in its artistic department. - - -Sporting Booksellers and Publishers. - - -MEDALS AND DIPLOMAS OF HONOUR FOR ARTISTIC WORK - - London International Exhibition, 1862. - Paris International Exhibition, 1862. - Vienna International Exhibition, 1873. - London International Fisheries, 1883. - Calcutta International Exhibition, 1883-84. - London International Health Exhibition, 1884. - London Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1886. - The Anglo-Danish Exhibition, South Kensington, 1888. - The Royal Military Exhibition (Army Medical Department), 1890. - - -_IN THE COLONIAL AND INDIAN EXHIBITION, LONDON, 1886_, - -THE REPRODUCTION OF - -THE JUNGLE AND INDIAN ANIMAL LIFE - -Was designed and Arranged, and the Animals Modelled, - -BY ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S. - - -THE COLONIAL & INDIAN EXHIBITION, 1886 - -THE JUNGLE - - -"But everything else here is likely to be forgotten in presence of the -wonderful jungle scene which Mr. Rowland Ward has constructed.... This -will certainly be the first of the many attractions to which visitors -will turn.... They will find themselves in presence of a scene which -is likely to keep their gaze for some time. Mr. Ward has made the most -of his limited space, into which he has collected the scenery and life -which, in reality, is found scattered over an area of many thousand -square miles. On the right we have a trophy from Kuch Behar, formed by -His Highness the Maharajah, the most prominent feature of which is a -tiger hunt. We see a great group in the deep grass jungle.... Adjoining -this are trophies designed to represent generally the Fauna and Flora -of India, by representative animals and birds, picturesquely grouped in -illustration of their life-habits."—_Times._ - -"The visitors ... were lost in admiration of Mr. Rowland Ward's -masterly designs, modellings, and general arrangement. The novelty is -already known as 'the Jungle.'... The deep grass jungle is occupied -necessarily by many creatures which would not in their native wilds be -found in such close companionship.... The scene is rendered with true -tragic power."—_Daily News._ - -"These numerous beasts ... seem to illustrate the Fauna of India in a -most vivid manner, and are very artistically prepared and arranged.... -The entire trophy has been prepared by Mr. Rowland Ward. This group -will unquestionably be one of the leading attractions of an exhibition -which is already full of marvellous things."—_Morning Post._ - -"Fitted up with the most perfect completeness—a jungle—the work of -Mr. Rowland Ward.... The whole scene depicted is so life-like that -one is startled by its vivid realism.... This jungle alone is almost -enough to make an exhibition.... Besides, Mr. Rowland Ward has designed -and arranged such other scenes in connection with several Colonial -Courts."—_Daily Chronicle._ - -"Mr. Rowland Ward, of Piccadilly, provides what will probably prove the -most attractive feature of the exhibition, in the form of a series of -picturesque trophies representing India, Ceylon, South Africa, Canada, -and Queensland."—_Sportsman._ - - -EMPIRE OF INDIA EXHIBITION, 1895 - -THE JUNGLE - -AND INDIAN ANIMAL LIFE - -WAS DESIGNED AND ARRANGED, AND THE ANIMALS MODELLED, BY - -ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S. - - -WHAT THE PRESS SAID: - -"A veritable triumph of the taxidermist's art—a tableau of jungle life -which is entirely fresh and in every way remarkable."—_Daily Telegraph._ - -"A series of scenes illustrative of jungle life, admirable alike in its -artistic effect and fidelity to nature."—_Morning Advertiser._ - -"'The Jungle' will give the visitor vivid notions of Indian -life."—_Times._ - -"Will draw all eyes—gentle and simple, town-bred and country-bred; is -a wonderful exhibit ... such wealth of pelt and plumage, such glories -of shikah ...; the very combined essence of all jungles."—_Daily -Chronicle._ - -"A specially fine representation of an Indian jungle, with its -characteristic vegetation and animals and wild scenery, to which Mr. -Rowland Ward has contributed all his knowledge as a naturalist and his -unrivalled skill as a taxidermist."—_Standard._ - -"Most attractive ... a comprehensive representation of animal life -in the jungle and on the mountains of India ... surpasses all former -efforts ... most realistic."—_Sporting Life._ - -"Entirely fresh, and in every way remarkable."—_Graphic._ - -"Rowland Ward's Jungle is the finest thing of the kind ever seen in -this country, and should not be missed by any one."—_Court Journal._ - -"A realisation of nature in its wildest and most tragic moods ... -provides instruction and amusement for the thousands in whose breast -the love of nature and animal life is implanted."—_Globe._ - -"Grand grouping of tropical life. Scrupulous attention to detail.... -The hoarse coughing roar of the tiger closely imitated."—_South Africa._ - -"Surpasses in interest any of the excellent exhibitions of the kind -previously shown."—_Manchester Guardian._ - - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO. LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - - -EMPIRE OF INDIA AND CEYLON EXHIBITION, 1896. - -Including other Crown Dependencies in Asia. - - -THE NEW JUNGLE - -A SERIES OF SIXTEEN ENTIRELY NEW SCENES - -REPRESENTING THE - -WILD ANIMAL LIFE OF INDIA - -WITH NATURAL SURROUNDINGS - -DESIGNED AND ARRANGED, AND THE ANIMALS MODELLED, BY - -ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S. - - -WHAT THE PRESS SAID: - -=Daily Telegraph.=—"The realistic scenes offer a wonderful insight -into untamed animal life, as depicted by a trained observer who goes -direct to nature for his sources of inspiration.... In all the groups -the artist has exercised unrivalled powers of modelling. The tableaux -have the advantage of an instantaneous photograph in their suggestion -of life, but they surpass the most spirited plane picture." - -=Daily News.=—"Mr. Rowland Ward's much enlarged and restocked -Jungle, with its realistic tableaux of tigers, leopards, bears, deer, -crocodiles, snakes, birds, and insects, is a fine study in natural -history and the wild life of the jungle." - -=Daily Chronicle.=—"A new Jungle has been designed by Mr. -Rowland Ward, which far surpasses that of last year, both in size and -completeness. There are sixteen scenes containing specimens of Indian -big game, birds, and reptiles, with, of course, natural surroundings." - -=Weekly Times and Echo.=—"Mr. Rowland Ward has doubled the size of -his Jungle, in which wild animals have been arranged in their native -haunts with an admirable sense of pictorial effect." - -=People.=—"In the new Jungle Mr. Rowland Ward has excelled -himself, the realistic tableau of incidents in wild animal life telling -many a thrilling story." - -=Morning Post.=—"Mr. Rowland Ward's Indian Jungle, with its -scenes depicting, with the faithfulness of the skilled taxidermist and -naturalist, the wild animal life of India." - - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - -One Vol. Square 8vo. Pp. viii and 264. Price 21s. By post 21s. 6d. net. - - -HORN MEASUREMENTS - -AND - -WEIGHTS - -OF THE GREAT GAME OF THE WORLD - -_BEING A RECORD FOR THE USE OF SPORTSMEN AND NATURALISTS_ - -BY ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S. - -AUTHOR OF "THE SPORTSMAN'S HANDBOOK," ETC. - - -EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. - -"To sportsmen the utility of these voluminous records can hardly be -over-estimated. In the majority of cases the accounts of the antlers -and horns are illustrated by engravings; and photographs of many of -the animals yielding them, with the sportsmen grouped around, are -interspersed throughout the volume. We have thus the African elephant, -the Java ox (_Bos banting_), the Cape buffalo, and the Tibet and Pallah -antelopes."—_Field._ - -"Sportsmen and naturalists alike will welcome the appearance of -Mr. Rowland Ward's 'Horn Measurements and Weights of the Great -Game of the World,' which he has just issued from 'The Jungle,' in -Piccadilly. It is as complete a record as could now be compiled of -the leading trophies of the chase, gathered from all quarters of the -globe, chiefly, if not exclusively, by the enterprise and prowess -of Englishmen, and leaves nothing in this respect to be desired. -No important collection of specimens has escaped due notice, and -the information which is given concerning them is not to be found -elsewhere. We may add that the copious illustrations with which the -book is adorned, whether they are the result of photography or of -engraving, are excellent, and worthy in every way to bear company -with the letterpress of the distinguished naturalist and preeminently -skilful taxidermist with which they are associated."—_The World._ - -"It is not often that sportsmen and naturalists are enabled to make -acquaintance with such an elegant volume, and yet at the same time so -valuable a work of reference, as Mr. Rowland Ward's 'Horn Measurements -and Weights of the Great Game of the World,' published at 'The Jungle,' -Piccadilly. Profusely illustrated, and bound in material representing -the hide of zebra, Mr. Ward's record will be necessary to the library -of every well-appointed country house."—_Daily Telegraph._ - -"In these days, when every one is striving to 'beat the record,' it -is only right that sportsmen should have clearly put before them the -results already arrived at as regards the size of the trophies and the -weight of game-animals already obtained by their brother Nimrods. No -one is in so good a position to do this as Mr. Rowland Ward, to whose -well-known 'Jungle' in Piccadilly all the leading shooters of the -present day send their 'heads' to be mounted and their 'skins' to be -stuffed."—_Nature._ - -"Both the sporting and zoological world owe a large debt of gratitude -to Mr. Rowland Ward for this handsomely-got-up volume, and he deserves -the best thanks of all those interested in the subject of Big Game, for -the thorough and conscientious manner in which he has completed a very -laborious task, and we only hope that his efforts will be rewarded by -the book having such a rapid sale that a new edition will be called for -at no very distant date."—_Land and Water._ - - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY, W. - - -Sporting Works published at "The Jungle." - - -TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE IN SOUTH-EAST AFRICA - -Being the Narrative of the last eleven years spent by the Author on the -Zambesi and its Tributaries; with an Account of the Colonisation of -Mashonaland and the Progress of the Gold Industry in that Country. - -BY FREDERICK COURTENEY SELOUS, C.M.Z.S., GOLD MEDALLIST OF THE ROYAL -GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY; AUTHOR OF "A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS IN AFRICA." - -[Illustration: - - _From a photograph by Elliot & Fry, Baker Street, W._ -] - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - -WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAP. - -Price 25s. net. - - -PUBLISHERS' ANNOUNCEMENT - -Mr. Selous has spent twenty years in this portion of the world, during -the whole of which time he has led the wandering life of an explorer -and hunter. Regarded from a scientific point of view, his services -have been fully recognised by the Royal Geographical Society, who have -presented him with their Founder's Gold Medal, the highest honour in -their power to bestow. - -While in pursuit of large and dangerous game, Mr. Selous encountered -many hardships and had some hairbreadth escapes, the account of which -he gives in the graphic and entertaining style which gained such -popularity for his former work. At the present time, when Mashunaland, -after having passed through many vicissitudes, is being permanently -settled up, and its mineral wealth developed, an account of its history -and resources, written by Mr. Selous, who is so thoroughly acquainted -with the country, and who guided the pioneer expedition in their -successful march from Macloutsie to the place where Fort Salisbury now -stands, cannot fail to be of the greatest interest. - - -OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. - -"There is not space in these columns to give illustrative extracts of -Mr. Selous's exciting adventures so graphically, because so simply and -modestly, told, so the statement must suffice that so many of them have -never been gathered between the covers of a single book.... As a record -of hunting adventures it is almost without equal."—_Illustrated London -News._ - -"Author needs no introduction.... Will doubtless become the standard -work of reference. Excellent and numerous illustrations."—_Field._ - -"It is impossible even to indicate all the points of interest -with which Mr. Selous deals. Illustrations are both numerous and -excellent."—_Times._ - -"Delightful book ... and is produced in a style befitting the -reputation of both author and publisher."—_Review of Reviews._ - -"Genuine story of adventure told in straightforward fashion, full -of dramatic incidents and hairbreadth escapes, and made especially -interesting by the fact that its author was the pioneer of the -expedition to Mashunaland."—_Morning Post._ - -"From cover to cover the book is crammed with most interesting -information about the people, the country, the habits of wild beasts, -mining shooting, and the rest."—_Vanity Fair._ - - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - -Royal 8vo, about 400 pages. Price 18s. net. - -SEVENTEEN TRIPS THROUGH SOMALILAND - -A Record of Exploration and Big Game Shooting, 1884 to 1893. - -BY CAPTAIN H. G. C. SWAYNE, R.E., FELLOW OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL -SOCIETY; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY - -WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS. - - -EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. - -"Captain Swayne's narrative of 'Seventeen Trips through Somaliland' -... serves to remind us how rapidly the waste places in the world -are getting filled up. His account of the big game shooting has -a popular interest ... minute information for the sportsman's -guidance."—_Standard._ - -"Will be carefully studied by those who have been there and those—and -there are many—who have an eager desire to go. It is full of thrilling -episodes.... The last chapter ... contains some highly interesting -notes on the wild fauna of the country. The appendices, which deal with -the fitting out of Somali expeditions and with the physical geography, -have a distinct value."—_Times._ - -"Captain Swayne relates his experiences in a perfectly straightforward -unemotional manner.... Contains a great many meritorious -illustrations."—_Globe._ - -"Captain Swayne's 'Seventeen Trips through Somaliland' seems entitled -to more attention and authority than most hunters. Contains one -of the fullest accounts yet published of the life, customs, and -characteristics of the restless Somali tribes."—_Scotsman._ - -"Is full of well-told adventure, which appeal alike to the casual -reader, the naturalist, and the sportsman. The drawings of the -heads and animals are excellent, and for some years to come this -book should remain 'the book' of those who would explore or shoot -Somaliland."—_World._ - - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - - -_STATISTICS OF BIG GAME SHOOTING_ - -One Vol., 4to, Cloth special, Price =30s.= net. - - -RECORDS OF BIG GAME - -CONTAINING - -AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR DISTRIBUTION - -DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES, LENGTHS, AND WEIGHTS - - -MEASUREMENTS OF HORNS - -AND - -FIELD NOTES - - -FOR THE USE OF SPORTSMEN AND NATURALISTS - - -BY ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S. - -AUTHOR OF "THE SPORTSMAN'S HANDBOOK," ETC. - - -_PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED_ - - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - - -GREAT GAME SHOOTING AND PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. - -One Vol. Post 8vo. Bound in Leather. Price 3s. 6d. net By Post 3s. -9d. - - -THE - -SPORTSMAN'S HANDBOOK - -TO PRACTICAL COLLECTING, PRESERVING, AND ARTISTIC SETTING-UP OF -TROPHIES AND SPECIMENS - -TO WHICH IS ADDED A SYNOPTICAL GUIDE TO THE HUNTING GROUNDS OF THE WORLD - - -BY ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S., - -AUTHOR OF "HORN MEASUREMENTS," ETC. - - -SEVENTH EDITION—WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. - - -"Sport, however, it must be borne in mind, is a thing of every climate -and of all seasons, and the manual referred to, 'The Sportsman's -Handbook,' by Rowland Ward, F.Z.S., has a little to say of most -regions, from the North of Scandinavia to the South of India. All -knowledge is apt to come in useful; and even those of us who may never -know the delight of facing a charge of the Cape buffalo—under some -circumstances among the most dangerous experiences of the sportsman, we -are told—may yet find a less rapturous pleasure in learning how a real -sportsman should entertain such a visitor. The next best thing to being -able to shoot a lion in a workmanlike fashion is to know how the thing -ought to be done, and that is among the items of instruction in this -little book."—_Daily News, Leading Article._ - -"With this in his portmanteau, no one fond of shooting and collecting -need any longer lament his inability to preserve his trophies, since -the directions given for skinning and preserving animals of all kinds -are extremely clear and simple, and rendered all the more intelligible -by the wood engravings by which they are accompanied. Quadrupeds, -birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects are all dealt with in turns, and -directions given not merely for skinning them, but also for mounting -them, if desired, a year or two (it may be) after they have been -procured."—_Field._ - - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - - -GUIDE TO THE KILLING - -OF - -PESTILENT & DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS - -BY ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S. - -WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FOR RECOGNITION. - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - - -OBSERVATIONS ON - -THE - -PRESERVATION OF HOOFS - -AND THE - -DESIGNING OF HOOF-TROPHIES - -ROWLAND WARD, F.Z.S. - -LONDON: ROWLAND WARD & CO., LIMITED, - -"THE JUNGLE," 166 PICCADILLY. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] One of the most influential men in Matabeleland in the time of Lo -Bengula. - -[2] The name of my Company's estate on which I was living before the -rebellion. - -[3] God. See Chapter xxvi. - -[4] There can be no doubt as to this, as there is now an Umlimo or -prophet with the insurgents in the north-east of Matabeleland, who has -apparently no connection with the Umlimo in the Matopo Hills. - -[5] His title was "Umlisa go Bulawayo," or Lieutenant of Bulawayo. - -[6] Literally king; but the word is commonly used in addressing a -European, as a complimentary title, conveying the idea of dependence on -the part of the speaker. - -[7] There is some doubt as to whether these murders were committed on -the Monday or the Tuesday; Colonel Spreckley thinks on the Monday, -whilst Mr. O'Connor says it was Tuesday. It is possible that the latter -may have been a day wrong in his reckoning, whilst the entry in Mr. -Bentley's books seems to favour the earlier date. - -[8] Correct name "Impembisi." - -[9] "Buccaneers" is the term of endearment commonly bestowed upon the -Englishmen in Rhodesia by the editor of _Truth_. - -[10] "Oude Baas" or "Old Master," so named after Mr. Hartley, the -veteran elephant-hunter, who must have been in the country when he was -born (1864 to 1870). - - - - - ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ - │ Transcriber's note: │ - │ │ - │ Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. │ - │ │ - │ Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant │ - │ form was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed. │ - │ │ - │ Footnotes were moved to the end of the book and numbered in one │ - │ continuous sequence. │ - └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUNSHINE AND STORM IN RHODESIA*** - - -******* This file should be named 52132-0.txt or 52132-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/2/1/3/52132 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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