American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-11-13

BAsUTOLAND may be described as the Wales
| of South Africa 1t is a little province fitted
| in mt 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 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 nearly five thousand feet above the
sea, while its loftieSt mountain is credited
with n height of ten thousand feet. The cold
throughout the whole of Basutoland is very
severe in the months of June. July. August
and even September. One of the wings u the
Cape Mounted Rides marching up from
kokstad, in Griqualand 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 thic<ly 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-and lying
next to the Orange Free State. 1t is from the
Free State, them that Basutolani can be most
easily entered, and its chief stations, which lie
within n 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 military
point of view.
The Basutos are mostly remnants of tribes
who were driven before the KaIirs. Early in
the century they took refuge in the mountain
Businesses of Basutoland to escape the pitless
soldery of the Zulu couqueror, Chaka- TWAS
on the steep and rocky hill of Thaba Bosigo
that Moshcsh, the first paramount chief of the
Basufos, rallied the starved and desperate
men of the different clans of his race made a
successful stand against the Zulus, and laid
the foundation of the Basuto nation. To
speak of the BaSutoS rs equal nearly equal
to the Zulus in fighting qualities Gis is some
times donc) is u mistake. The Basutos lack
Che discipline, the reckless bravery and the
taste for lighting possessed by the Zulu sold
fers. The Basutos have no military organza-
ton. merely turning out or being turned out by
their chiefs for lighting by tribes clans.
They are not soldiers like the Zulus were be-
fore the Zulu army was broken MP, but are
merely hardy mountainous. Unlike the Zll-
lus, the Basutos fight, as rule, mounted,
possessing hardy nn1 active ponies, which
make light of the difficulties of the mounta:n
tracks of their country. Almost all the Basu-
tos have taken To clothing, partly from their
progress in civilization, partly from the severe
climate OF their land. The military trait 10 be
remarked in the Hasrltos is their APTITUDE for
for1ifying or sIs,ji'1nrin0 tbemseives and the
Intelligence with which they strengthen any po-
stioI. they may desire To hold. Indeed, the col
onists chief difficulties will probably COM
nencc when the Basutos, worsted in the opcn
beta1c themselves TO their mountain strong |
holds Thaba Basigo, the stronghold now held
by the Chief fiasupha, Is good exam pie of a |
Basuto position. 1t is an isolated hilf aibout |
four hundred feet high, with fiat table |
top, and with sides scraped away by natural |
causes. The table is only accessible by three |
or four paths. some of these paths said |
10 have been rendered inaccessible, others to |
be barred by lines of schanzes or stone barIi- |
cades loopholei and possessing thanking de |
Tense. On the mountain is good pasture to |
Craze the cattle, plenty of water AMI stores of |
grain and ammunition.-Chicdy1 Times.