Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-07-17
A SOUTH AFRICAN KING,
PECULIAR METHODS OF A RULER
WHO GOVERNS BLACKS,

WHO GOVERNS BLACKS.
The Dark Potentate, King Lobengu1a Of
Matabeleland, Whose Throne Is a Wag.
on-He Used to Wear European Dress
but Has Discarded It for q Sash.
A correspondent writes from Kimberley,
South Africa, concerning the country. A
very interesting account of the country Of
Lobengula, which has been brought 80 de.
cidedly within the sphere of British infu-
ence by the action of the chartered com.
pany of South Africa, was given to me re.
Gently by an Englishman who has been
some years in that district, and some of the
particulars are such as will interest most
people having any connection with South
Africy.
Lobengula is a man of advanced ideas,
and is not likely to be first to create the
disasters of which he can realize the mag
nitude. He is, however, preparing and
strengthening his country for the fight il
1t must come. Ruling over a mixed popu-
lation, he is forcing it into a united mass,
doing all in his power to make the Ian
guage n and the customs identical, and
by enforcing equal and strict justice, max
ing his name respected and his power eff
fective. He is ifty-six years of age, and,
although what would be called fat among
white men, is described as of very digniaed
appearance and bearing.
His conduct maintains his reputation,
and it is said he is never to be seen in q
rage, but when either administering Justice
or meeting foreign ENJOYS always preserves
a dlgnlfied composure and calm, cool de-
meanor. He is extremely temperate, and
altogether abstains from spirits. Beer he
drinks, but when, as is not
traders make him a present of champagne,
he always gives it to his wives. His absti-
hence, however, does not save him from
the govt, from which he suffers greatly.
TRAVELS IN AN OK CART.
Before L%obengula assembled the throne
he used European dress, and was in the
habit Of travelling about the country with
a trader called Phillips, riding with him in
his wagon everywhere. Since he has been
king he has entirely discarded white mans
clothes, and appears only with his bead
sash, encouraging his people to consider
him wholly severed from European inlu-
n Life in a wagon, however, still charms
him, and he continues always to dwell in
his OK cart as his palace.
From time to time he moves his head
quarters, inspanning his oxen and going
of without any warning. If asked where
he is going he replies, "Follow my wheel
tracks and see." This is probably partly
policy to prevent combinations against
him, and partly early habit or imitation of
his father. who did the same before him.
Gubulawayo. the capital, situate about
1O miles from Tati, may be taken as a
specimen of a large kraal. In the center is
the kings wagon, and around it his wives
huts, all circular, built of mud bricks and
rooted with reeds. Around the central
cluster Of huts is an open space of grass 400
yards wide, and around this space are the
habitations of the warrfors-said to num-
Der 4,OOo-and their families; beyond these,
again, is the stockade, which is several
miles in length.
II q stranger approaches he will probably
find Lobengula, with six of his Indians,
administering justice. Cases are brought
from all parts of the country, and are for
mally argued and judicially decided. The
Indunas act as counsel for the parties, and
take technical points with an ingenuity
which would do credit to a British queens
counsel, and discuss and debate the cases
with great eagerness.
Indeed, in many ways the Matabele liti-
cation is similar to u own; for although
the 1ndunas 1ercely urge the claims of q
client while the case lasts, their differences
disappear the moment the kings decision
Is given During the tendency of a case,
moreover, the Indunas keep r%eligiously
away from the parties concerned and their
friends; but as soon as the case is over they
approach the successful or defeated party
as If there had heen no dispute. The king
very prudently draws his assessors in turn
from various parts of the country, and
does not allow any set of men, from long
habit, to become his masters or too expert
enced advisers.
The white man who comes upon this
scene will be kept waiting till the dispute is
disposed of, and 80 hot is the sun that he
will gladly avail himself even of the shade
of the meat rack (for there are no trees)
and try, by smoking, to avoid the flies
which his shelter brings him. When he
Is well received the king will send him a
bucketful of beer, which he is expected to
drink, or If beer is scarce, meat to the
amount of sixteen pla~tefuls, which he
u eat unless the kings back is turned,
when the traveller will hastily give por-
tions to the black boys, who are ever ready.
AoDSA6uAo SoA0uCt W tQo LEdVcleE Will
be courteous, but be is not easily to be
taken in, being very shrewd. It is his great
misfortune that there are no e of
writing in his country. The concessions
which he has given, or is supposed to have
given, are written out in English and au-
thenticated by the kings seal, which is an
elephant, but whether the document &C
curately represents, or represents at all,
what was intended by the grantor of the
concession there is no means of ascertain
ing.
TREATMENT OF HIS EMIssAR1Es,
When ~Lobengula sent his mission to
England he selected as emissaries one man
who was relied upon for his eloquence, an
other who was remarkable for his powers
Of observation. In the language of the
country, one was the tongue, the other the
eyes and ears of the king. Their memories
were excellent, and they brought back
most picturesque descriptions OF the coun-
try they had seen. London was like the
ocean; a man might walk, and walk, and
walk, and yet never get to the end of the
houses.
If Englishmen were killed, they reported,