Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-28
MARCHING AGAINST BlHE.
4 Large Expedition on the Way to Subju
gate Famous Afrlcan People.


gate n Famous African People.
The Lisbon newspapers describe the
military expedition that has been sent
against the King Of Bihe on the fertile
and populous plateau Just east OF the
mountains separating it from Angola.
The expedition is under the command of
Captain Arthur de Paive, who has been for
years the Portuguese chief OF the Beers,
who years ago emigrated from South Afri-
ca, and established themselves ut Hum
pata, in the mountains east OF Mos
sanedes. One column Of the advancing
forces consists OF PSI regular soldiers
with officers, two Krupp cannon, two
mountain cannon, two Calling guns, and
fifteen artillery men. A squadron of
forty-five cavalry, mostly Beers, mounted
Jon horses and mules, accompanies this
detachment, which also includes nearly
400 natives who happen to be GermanI
and British subjects. They have no
quarrel with the natives OF Bihc, but
have sold their services to the Portuguese
Government. The force IS armed with
Martini, Henry, and Snyder rifles, and,
have plenty of ammunition for the can
non aud 5000 cartridges.
Z The artillery, ammunition. and pro-
visions arc transported in twenty-five
big wagons. The colamn left HumpataI
'on October Sth. At Caconda it was 10 be-
Joined by another column from BenguI
ella, consisting Of more than one hum
bred regular soldiers. A third column
of more than one hundred and thirty
regular soldiers arrived at Ballunda on,
August 9th, and is TO converse with the
other troops in Bihe. Some reserve
troops are left mt Benguella TO be called
upon if their services are needed.
The purpose of this formidable eXpe-
ldition is to inhict severe punishment
upon the people of Bihe and to erect a
fort for the permanent occupation Of the
country. Three hundred soldiers will be
left as a garrison and Bailunda, which Is
on the way from the coast to Bihe, will
also be permanently occupied by troops.
The total force concerned in this expedl-
ton amounts to about 1900 men.
4 What is the cause Of these formidable
preparations to kill the natives OF Bihe,
Of whom explorers have always spoken
so highly? The reason is that q while
ago the King of Bihe feared that the
Portuguese intended to occupy his coun-
try and reduce him to vassalage. He
therefore drove out the Portuguese who
were in the country, expelled the Gov
eminent agent. and seized the property
of the traders. The King will have
cause bitterly TO repent his in
discretion. OF course the Biheans, nu-
merous and brave as they are, cannot re-
sist such force. The Beers, who form
the backbone of the expedition, could
conquer them alone. 1t is surprising to
hear that they have entered the campaign
against the Biheaus, for they have no
quarrel with the natives, and they have
propably been induced to go to war only
upon the promise Of great material adj
yantages.
Those who have read the story OF the
Biheans as told by Cameron, by Arnot.
and by other travellers and mission
aries cannot but deeply regret that these
ibraye and intelligent natives have been
involved in this terrible trouble. They
are among the greatest travellers in Al
RIGA They think nothing Of threading
the narrow paths for hundreds OF miles
to the very heart of the continent. on
their trading expeditions. White men
have found them the most seryiceable OF
carriers. Physically they are splendid
people, and they inhabit perhaps the
most favored part Of tropical Africa.
4 On thoir elevated plateaus the
miasmatic Influences, which are the bane
of the country, display their deadly
power but fecbly; and white men can
live and work in Bihe III comparative
comfort. 1t is one of the very few parts
of tropical Africa that are adapted for
colonization by White men. 1t IS en-
tirely likely that the Boer farmers have
been lured on this expedition by the
promise that they will be permitted to
establish their plantations in the beauti-
ful country Of Bihe. There is no doubt
the Portuguese intend to inflict terrible
punishment upon the natives, and it Is
probable that We have heard the last OF
the Biheans as an independent and pros
porous people.