The People's vindicator., 1880-11-27
Ra sutolnnd aud Its People.

BAsUToLAxp may be described us the Wales
of South Africa. 1t is little province fitted
in at the northeast corner of Cape Colony. be.
tween the Orange Free state, the Cape Colony
and Natal. 1t is about one hundred anl fifty
miles long by fifty broad, its length running
parallel to the Orange Free State, or, roughly
speaking, nearly parallel at some distance
inland with the coast line. Some of its table
lands are nearly five thou sand feet above the
SEA, while its lOftiest mountain is credited
with height of ten thousand feet. The cold
throughout the whole of Basl,toland is very
severe in the months OF June. July, August
and even September. One Of the wings of the
Cape Mounted Rifles marching up from
Kokstad. in Griquaand East, to Mas
cru. the chief station in Basuto
land, was delayed some days by
heavy fall Of snow, which blocked the passes
and rendered marching slow and tedious.
Though Basutoland may be said to be one
hundred and fifty miles by fifty miles in size.
the eastern side of its breadth is scarcely in.
habitcd on account of the extreme cold and Of
the inaccessible character OF the mountains.
The most thickly populated districts OF the
little country extend along its whole length,
but are of breadth of about thirty miles only
the thirty miles to the northwest-and lying
next to the Orange Free State. 1t is from the
Free State, then, that Basutolanl can be most
easily entered, and its chief stations, which lie
within few hours of the Free State border,
most safely and easily reached. There are
other routes from the south, but they present
great difficulties to the march Of troops, and
are open to grave objections from a military
point of view.
The BasutOs are mostly remnants OF tribes
who were driven before the kati;rs. Early in
the century they took refuge in the mountain
fastncsses of liasut0land to escape the pitlcss
sOldicry Of the Zulu cOnQueror, Chaka. TWAS
on the steep and rocky hill Of Thaba BOsigO
that MOshesh, the first paramount chief Of the
Basutos, rallied the starved aud desperate
men of the different clans Of his race, made
successful stand against the Zulus, and laid
the foundation of the Basuto nation. To
speak Of the DasutOs q equal or nearly equal
to the Zulus I'm fighting qualities (as rs some
times done) is mistake. The Basutos lack
the discipline, the reckless bravery and the
taste for fighting possessed by the Zulu sold
iers. The Bas,ltos have no military organiza-
ton, merely turning out or being turned out by
their chiefs for fighting by tribes or clans.
They are not soldiers like the Zulus were be-
fore the Zulu army was broken up, hut are
merely hardy mountainccrs. Unlike the Zu-
lus the Basutos fight, as rule, mounted.
possessing hardy and active ponies, which
make light Of the difficulties of the mountain
tracks OF their country. Almost all the H.s,l-
tOs have taken 70 clothing, partly from their
progress in civilization, partly from the severe
climate of their land. The military trait TO be
remarked in the BasutOs is their aptitude for
f0rtifying or ensch onciMy themselves, and the
intelligence with which they strengthen any po-
sitioh they may desire to hold Indeed. the col.
Onists chief difficulties will probably COM
mence when the BasutOs. wOrsted in the open,
betake themselves to their mountain strong
| holds. Thaba BDsigo, the stronghold now held
by the Chief Masupha. Is Il good example OF Il
IIasutO position. Ii is an isolated hill about
four hundred feet high, with fiat or table
top. and with sides scriped away by natural
| causes. The table is only accessible by three
or four paths Some of these paths are said
10 nave been rendered inaccessible, Others TO
bc cbarred by lines Of Schaizns, or stone bari
cales loOphoed and possessing Hanxing de-
fcnSe. TN the mountain is good pasture tn
yraze the cattle. plenty OF wa,eran1 stores of
llain and amnunition.-Cliic Times.
A BOIL in the kettle is worth two on
your nose.