Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-11-12
The nnsuto war.

BAsUToLAND may be described as 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 and fifty
miles long by fifty brOed, 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 thousand feet above the
sea, while its loftiest mountain is credited
with a height OF ten thousand feet. The cold
throughout the whole of Busutolnnd 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 Griqualund East, to Mas
cru, the chief station I'm Basuto-
land, was delayed some days by
Il heavy fall Of snow, which blocked the passes
and rendered marching slow and tedious.
Though Basutoland may be said to be one
hundred and ftty miles by fifty miles in size,
tho 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 a breadth of about thirty miles only
the thirty miles to the nOrthwest-und lying
next to the Orange Free State. IL is from the
Free State then, that Basutolnud can be most
easily entered and It's chief stations, which lie
within fow 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 military
| point of view.
The Basutos are mostly remnants of tribes
who were driven before the Kailirs. Early In
the century they took refuge in the mountain
Businesses of Bnsutoland to escape the pitilcss
| soldlery of the Zulu cOuqueror, Chaka. II twas
on the steep and rocky hill of Thnba BOsigO
that Moshosh, the fist paramount chief Of tho
Basutos, rallied the starved and desperate
men of the different clans of his race, made IA
successful stand against the Zulus, and hid
| the foundation Of the Basuto nntiOn To
| speak Of the IIasutos as equal or nearly equal
TO tho zulus in lighting qualities tns Is some
times donel is a mistake. The Basutos lack
the discipline, the reckless bravery and the
taste for lighting possessed by tho Zulu sold
iers. Tho Basutos have no military orguni1a-
tion, merely turning out or being turned out by
their chiefs for fighting by tribes or clans.
| They are not soldiers like tho Zulus were be-
| fore the Zulu army vas broken up, but are
merely hardy mountainccrs. Unlike the Zu-
| lus, the Basutos fight, as a rule, mounted,
possessing hardy and active ponies which
make light of the difficulties OF the mountain
tracks of their country. Almost nll the Basu-
| tos have taken 20 clothing, partly from their
| progress In civilization, partly from the severe
| climate of their land. The military trait to be
| remarked I'm the Basutos Is their aptitude for
! fortifying or cnschDHciRa themselves, aud the
| intelligence with which they strengthen any pu-
! stion they may desire To hold. Indeed, the cot
| onists' chief difficulties will probably com.
| mence when the BasutOs, worsted in the open,
| betake themselves TO their mountain strong
| holds Thaba BosigO, the stronghold now held
| by the Chief MUsupha, is u good example of a
| Basuto position. II Is an Isolated hill about
| four hundred feet high, with II HAT or table
| top, and with sides sCraped away by natural
| causes. The table is only accessible by three
| or four paths. Some OF these paths arc said
| 10 have been rendered inaccessible, others tO
| be barred by lines of sChnnzes, or stone barTi
| Cades, loOpholed and possessing tlauking de
fenso. ON the mountain Is good pasture "a
| Craze the cattle, plenty of waterand stores OF
| grain and ammunition,-Chicu Times.