Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-01

Il Battle With Leopard.
were out every day; advance and rear
guards were ALWAYS formed for the 80
wagons when they were on the line of
march. Laagers were formed with wagons
every night and pickets were on duty.
An Impromptu Fertilization.
1t may be well to briefly describe lager
1t is simply fortifcation made by drawing
the wagons in the position as shown in one
of the illustrations. Such fortfcation is
undoubtedly very good one where a small
body of men is obliged to defend itself
against much larger one of savages who do
not possess heavy guns. The history of
South Africa shows number of instances
which prove the value of the lager.
During the first few weeks of our journey
in MatabelelaEd the most general topic of
camp conversation was the Likelihood of
Matabele attack. Some of the less thought
fnl claimed that they would. be glad
to have an attack; others had
no idea that the Matabeles would
make an attack, while still others thought
such thing was exceedingly probable and
feared the consequences, but as the first
three weeks passed without an indication of
any trouble, and without the sight of any
Matabeles save two small delegations sent
bv Lobengula to see whether we were fol-
lowing TIL route which ne laid out, nearly
all of US gave up the thought OF probable
attack. Thus the mind of all were at rest
until one bright morning in tine first week
of August, I believe it was just after we
had formed a laager for the heat of the day.
A man was noticed to ride hastily into camp
and to inquire for the head officers, who at
once held secret interview with him. 1t
was soon learned the man in question came
direct from Lobengula with message of
which this is the substance:
"The King is very sorry to inform the
head man OF the pioneers that he is unable
to restrain his army any longer; that they
will come and fight the white men and drive
them from the country; that he wanted the
skins of two well-known men with whom he
had had dealings"
Ever Ready for Fight.
Very naturally such message direct from
Lobengula caused great stir. 1t was now
generally believed that there would be an
attack. Hence, the greatest possible pre-
caution were taken. Heretofore two or three
men slept at each wagon under arms. Now,
however, no reveille was sounded, but every
man was quietly called long before daylight
and stationed on the wa CONS. where they slept
until broad daylight. Had the reader
been in sight of our lager early
on those August mornings he
would have seen several hundred
men standing on the wagons each armed
with rife, revolver and 100 rounds of am.
muuitioa by his side. Had he entered the
laager he would have seen every large gun
manned and ready for action, and thous-
ands of rounds of ammunition lying in
convenient places.
The Matabele "scare" Just mentioned,
lasted for some days during which time it
was intensified considerably. One evening
word came to us that some natives had seen
an "impr' or regiment of Matabeles on the
war path. An attack was really expected
early the next morning and every prepara-
ton was made for it. A large bunch of
bush near the laager was cleared in the
evening by the aid of the electric light, four
or five powder mines were laid which were
to be exploded by an electric current when
the "impi" was rushing over them. All
we're standing under arms long before day
break, looking and listening for the Mata-
beles, but we looked in vain. The Matabeles
did not come.
Out Into Open Country.
All our march thus far had been through
country which was for the most part covered
with heavy bush that offered good cover to
an approaching enemy, but a few miles be-
yond lay the open, high plateau of Southern
Mashonaland, which we were exceedingly
anxious to reach. Before we could get On
to this plateau, however, it was necessary to
pass through wooded valley, quite narrow
and winding among densely wooded mount
aims. Once through this and we were fairly
free from danger, for it was not believed
that the Matabeles would attack us on open
country.
In two days we reached the plateau with
out interruption of any kind and great was
the rejoicing when, alter weeks and months
OF slow and tedious marching through
wooded country, We suddenly beheld an i'm
mense tract OF land perfectly open and
level as far as the eye could see save few
mountains and bushes in the distance. A
tort was at once built here and named
Fort Victoria" Fort Victoria is situated
in about latitude 200 south, longitude 80
east, and is nearly !, 900 miles from Cape
Town.
The journey from Fort Victoria to the
destination of the pioneer force was free
from all danger or even much thought of
opposition of any kind. This destination
was reached on September II, after march
of nearly 900 miles, which occupied a period
of four months, the end of which was heart
lily welcomed by everyone. Another fort
has been built at this place, which is situ-
ated in latitude 17o go south and more than
31o east longitude.
What Travellers Say of Mashonaland.
Perhaps no country was ever more highly
praised for its climate, its pastural, agricul-
tural and mineral resources than was NASH
onaland. Every traveller who visited the
country spoke in the highest terms of
thousands of acres of rich and perfectly
watered land. and tcId of the gold which he
had either himself seen in the sand of the
river beds. worked by native women, or
which he had seen carried about in quilts or