Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-23

belle on a detachment of the Bechuana Do
lice near Macloutsie. 1t was this attack
which imposed upon the imperial govern
ment the duty Of participating in the war.
One who saw King Lobengula at Gubu-
luwayo at a review. thus describes him:
"Lobengula came on to the parade ground
from his kraal. wearing towering head
dress of black ostrich feathers and a huge
ostrich feather cape, with a Kilt OF wildcat
tails. and in his hand an assegaL He paced
forward into the center OF the open space
with a slow and stately step. BY Loben-
guia's side on this occasion walked his sis
ter Nina, as corpulent a parsonage as her
brother. She. for her part, wore long
Kilt. with profuse display OF kerchiefs and
ribbons OF yellow (the royal color and a
gold chain and watch. In her woolly hair
was an arrangement Of blue jay feathers.
After war chant by the impi, keeping
time with their feet. the king ordered a
sham fight. which was duly carried out"
The greater portion Of the impi or army.
In fact, is made up OF a mixture of the two
peoples by intermarrfage with Matabele
girls and Mashona lads. and vice versa
Not many regiments can be made up OF
men OF pure Matabeie blood. Each regf-
ment is supposed to count sixty men. and
these are known by their native names and
shields. They are distributed over that
country. each occupying its military kraal
under its own induna- always. moreover.
being subject to military discipline. In this
way the whole force can be formed into an
assegai, knobkerry and shield. These regi-
ments are reviewed at stated intervals by
the king. and after the review the warriors
enjoy themselves by participating in
dance, an Illustration OF which We give.
Their spirits are kept UP by a beer brewed
In the country.
History of the south Africa Company.
The fighting going on in Matabeleland
brings into prominence the South African
Company and its promoter. Mr.. Cecil
Rhodes. Neither the company nor Its pro-
moter is OF the missionary order. Their
methods SAVIOR OF the bold barons of ancient
days or of Pizzaro and Cortez on this con-
tinent. But at the same time IL must be
admitted they are opening UP TO civiliza-
ton one OF the finest portions Of a great
continent. hitherto unknown to the white
settler. But the rights Of the natives have
no place in the vocabulary of the explorer
ard promoter" Their excuse is that the
natives are cruel and don't wear monocles
and silk hats. Be this as IL may. Loben-
gula's people will show again that IL they
don't know the importance of Kid gloves
and white collars yet they know how to
fight and the value OF the latest improved
rifle.
A Remarkable Man.
Mr.. Cecil Rhodes, the promoter Of the
South Africa Company, is no ordinary man.
He is the youngest son of an English gen.
tleman OF moderate means. After educa-
ton at college he went out TO Africa, where
he at first met with but little success At
a time when the DE Beers mine with which
his name is now SO prominently connected
(he is called the Diamond King"). was
anything but prosperous MIR. Rhodes COM
bined various Kimberley mines under his
direction and amassed a large fortune. His
pushing. energetic qualities became mani
fest He was man not easily cast down
by one unfortunate blow. Cape politics at
tracted him, and he represented West Bark
ly for a short period and held a position In
the ministry of Sir T. Scanlon. Mr.. Rhodes
is firm believer in the Irish home rule
cause. His gift in 1881, when he was in En-.
land, of fl0.oo0 In support of home rule at
tracted much attention He was the prime
mover in obtaining mining rights over Ma
tabeleland- On the fall Of the Spriggs min
istry OF the cape new government, with
Mr.. Rhodes as prime minister, was installed
on July IL. 1880. He visited England again
in October. 1882. with Sir Henry Il. Loeb.
her majesty's commissioner.
The Company Great Powers.
And now a word to the company and
Mashonaland. Mashonaland has in the past
few years often been the cause of political
complications in South Africa. The region
is named after the African tribe, the Ma
shonas. and lies between the Portuguese
boundary Of the Lofala coast district on
the east and the Matabele country. I.o5en-
gula, chief of the Matabeies. has conquered
the Mashonas and claimed sovereignty over
them. Through the efforts Of Mr.. Rhodes
the chartered company of South Africa
known the British South Africa Company
as president This commercial company
was conceded by the British government
great political powers. 1t is this peculiar
political power which is said TO be a: the
are statesmen in London who believe that
IL Is Inconsistent with the imperial powers.
The company was also given a monopoly OF
the resources Of the whole territory north
Of q degrees south latitude and east Of 20
degrees east longttude-a region including
Bechuanaland Protectorate Mafabeieiaad,
Mashonaland and an underlined region
north OF the Zambesi. A glance at the map
will show that this is an immense terri
tory-Quite an empire. In fact.
The Quarrel With Porsuxul,
over Mashonaland the Portuguese claimed
a right by treaties with that tribe, pu. ~
the abortfve Angio-Portugnese treaty OF
August. 1880. this country. with a vast area
beyond it. extending to the Congo Free
State. was acknowledge to be British,
Early in 1891 fresh troubles brope out BE-
tween the Portuguese and the British South
Africa Company. Open hostilities were inn
minent when Lord Salisbury ofered terms
to the Portuguese government thar were
more favorable than the treaty of 1850 re-
lnquishfng 5000 square miles north CT the
Zambesi. The Portuguese said this was
only their just due. South of the Zan,b bed
Mr.. Rhodes company are allotted an en-
larged territory. but the Portuguese SIN
retain part OF Manlcaland. This tresty
was signed in June. 1891 Lobenguia-some
spell his name 10 Benguela"--at one time
signed document which, IL is alleged. gave
the chartered company monopoly OF lands
and mines in Matabe4et.tnd and MashoEa-
land, but he has since denied II and RETURN
ed the gifts Of money snd rifles made 10y the
company in accordance with the agree
ment. The king foun.i Jat tkat he vss
getting the worst IF The bargain and re-
membered the tradition that that was tn
way of the white inan.
Edward BfEeIOw Dead.
Edward r. Bigelow. the young drug clerk