Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-11-10
THE NARTABRLR CHIEF.
His Peaceful Reception OF the British
ssChartered ComPany.s

His Peaceful Reception OF the British
ssChartered Company.
From NJ ssionary Josiah Tyler in the Indepep-
deni.l
1t was feared and predicted by many
that the Chartered company could not be
safely launched without eolliding with the
war-loving Martabele. The character and
traditions of that tribe fostered alarming
apprehensions. But not an assegai has
been raised against the new settlers- Lo
Bengula, the Martabele chief, be it said to
his credit, has been pesceable and accom-
modating. When he WAS visited by Sir
Sidney Shippard, her majesty's high COM
missioner with party of thirty English
men, his braves said in language identical
with that the maritime Zulus addressed
Cetywayo before the Zulu war: Send us
against those few white men. They want
our country. Let us make an end of them. I"
The sable potentate angrily replied: ''You
want to drive me into the lions mouth
The white men here are my guests. II you
are really anxious to fight, will send you
to Kimberly in charge of the indunas
(chiefs), and You shall remain there and
try to fight the white men, and then You
| will see what the white men can do to
you"
Seeing that they had provoked the kings
ire, they made feint Of pacifying him by
shouting vociferously, 'Great elephant!
Eater of men, S:sbber of the SUM" etc
| Several considerations may have induced
Lo BenRula to follow this pacific policy.
When a boy, he was doubtless an eye wit
ness of the interview between his father
| and Robert Moffat. the Missionary hero OF
| BechuaDalsnd, and learDSd from him that
/ the British desired to be on friendly terms
with the Martabele. The wise counsel OF
| John Moffat (son of the old missionary now
| English consul at the Mstabele capital may
| have had some weight The reports which
| Lo Benguls's men brought from England,
| a short time ago, with substantial gifts
from her majesty, probably assisted in his
| the conduct of Sir Sidney Shippard's men
| while visiting at the royal kraal. Lord
Knutsford, in acknowledging their ability
| and caution, manifested under trying cir
| cumstsnces observed ''Had not each
| member of the party behaved not only with
| courage and fortitude, but with self con-
| troll and discretion, a catastrophe might
| have ensued."
Lo Bengula throws no barrier in the way
| of prospecting or digging for gold. True,
it is for his personal interest to act as he
does; for the rich subsidy he annually re-
/ ceives from the chartered company, ,togeth-
/ er with fees for mining claims, enable him
to live in luxury; but he evidently finds il
no easy task to keep his restless subjects
from outbreaks, which would cause the
miners serious trouble. The chief danger
is that unprincipled white men will demor.
alize the country trading in firearms and
ardent spirits. Lo Bengula appears not to
realize the danger to which his people art
exposed. Individually he prefers home
made beer, saying: "Thst is strong enough
| for me-" while he distributes bottles of run
among his wives. Would that he were dis
posed to initiate his neighbor Khams, king
of the Bamangwato, a shining example oi
a prohibitionist, who, by his legislation and
vigilance, has kept out of his country al
kinds of intoxicating drinks for twenty
years. To an English official Khsma said
"No rum, whiskey or brandy shall com,
into my country, if can prevent it. 1 fea,
ardent spirits more than the assegais of th'
Matabele."