The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-04-30

TON.
navigable for four hundred miles all the
year round, into an interior rich in tim
Der and hides, gold and ivory ETC., etc.
And such appeals will not go unheed-
ed. The story of the rich deposits Of
gold and other precious metals through
out the region embraced in Mashona-
land is not new. Adventurous hunters
and explorers have voiced it in days
gone by, and that it is fact and NO
myth is amply corroborated by recent
discoveries of gold reefs, proved and
tested by reliable experts. And if
further proof is needed it is readily af-
forded by the existence in various parts
of the country of remains OF ancient
workings where shafts have been
sunk and rude mortars for the crushing
of quartz are still found From some of
these old shafts are now seen large trees,
several feet in diameter, growing. At
one place, the Tati settlement, ruins
of old furnaces are found surrounded by
remains of rude Notifications and other
primitive contziYances of defense.
Every indication is that centuries have
elapsed since active operations ceased
in these old workings. Who were these
ancient gold hunters? Is this the region
whence King Solomon's emissaries
brought the gold used in decorating the
great temple2 Many investigators an
swer in the affirmative.
Mashonaland is not only rich in min
eral and other natural resources, but it
is also the hunters ideal paradise. All
the large game known to the continent
may be found here. Elephant, rhi-
noceros, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, besides
lions, tigers, leopards and all the lesser
species of animal creation abound in
this region, and will be driven back or
externinated with the native occupants
of the soil and give place to the white
mans civilization. The history of the
early settlement of the American con-
tinent is thus repeating itself in Africa.
And here in Africa, as it was in Amer
lea, the blessings of civilization will
only be obtained after the sacrifice OF
much human blood.
From the cape peninsula to the Linn
popo the country has been reclaimed
from the natives, and is now ruled by
white men. Frequent native wars have
marked this progress, the most desper-
ate and bloody of which occurred about
twelve years ago, when Cetywayo, the
powerful Zulu king, tried conclusions
with the British troops This war
lasted the greater part of one year, but
ended, as all such wars must end, in the
overthrow of the sayage ruler and the
subjua alton of his people. Cetywayo
was captured, held prisoner at Cape
Town two years, taken to England, and
finally, after being shorn of all author
ity over his people, returned to his ma
tive land to die soon after of broken
heart.
And a similar fate awaits Lobengula
and his Matabele subjects, who love
war and have been dread and terror
to neighboring and weaker native
tribes for twenty years past. Loben-
gula has grown rich in cattle and ivory,
the proceeds Of tribute forced from his
weaker neighbors. A savage barbarian
by nature, and accustomed TO undis-
puted sway in all things, it will not be
long before he will tire OF the presence
OF the whites, and, regardless Of past
treaties, win endeayor to expel them
from his territory This will be the
closing chapter in the history Of a once
powerful savage nation.
J. W. SILER.