Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-22
THE MATABELE.
THEIR NJ ANNERS AS DESCRIBED
BY A SOUTH AFRICAN.

King Lobengula's Chief Medicine Man
Great Army Review-Consulting
the Omens.
The excitement in England over the
war in South Africa was intense. The
English newspapers have been full of ac-
counts and descriptions of the Matabele
people and customs, and the illustrated
papers follow the rest and give numerous
pictures characteristic of the country and
its inhabitants. A "South African
Pioneer" has been giving his experiences
to the London Daily Graphic.
From his account it appears that K;cs
Lobengula is in the habit Of consulting
the .'omens" before going to war or
making raids. His chief medicine man
10 the yarn spinner. In big bowl are
the entrails of some slaughtered animal.
The ssoothsayer, in fantastic robes
sometimes the robe is an old European
quilt or dilapidated English army
blanket-kneels before this and, like
other humbugs of his class all over
the world and in all ages, looks wise,
mumbles lamentations and tells his royal
dupe what he thinks will be the result
OF the contemplated action. These med
icine men are, as rule. very shrcwd, and
know all that is going on in the county
and seldom make big blunder.
Hero is the Pioneers" storyssof a
review at the great military kraal Gulu-
luwayo:
early in the morning all the English
at the station walked up to the Kings
kraal to see about as novel sight as
could be witnessed in any part Of the
world. The Kings private residence,
which comprises number of buildings,
several OF them built in European fashion,
are enclosed together with his private
cattle kraal, in strong stockade of
about two acres, leaving an open space
of great extent between Lobengula's en-
campment and the native huts. There
are several thousand of these closely
packed together. On arriving near the |
Kings entrance we found the King, as
usual, in close consultation over a dead |
OK, with two of his medicine doctors and |
q rainmaker. The different regiments
formed an immense circle, eight and ten |
deep, about four thousand in ALL They
were dressed in their war dress of black
ostrich feathers, q profusion of these
hanging over their shoulders. Wildcats
and tigers tails reaching to the ground
clothed their loins, and they had no
other skin ornaments. OF course all
carried shields, assegais and knobkcrries.
They were divided into regiments, each
SIXTY strong. the whole forming very
picturesque and novel sight.
''FOr some time the men remained
mute, not sound being heard, but &C.
they would burst forth with a
war song in their deep bass voices. keep
ing time by stamping on the ground
with their feet and striking their shields
with their assegais. The effect was i'm
posing. Occasionally one or two would
come out into the center and 90 through
The performance Of fighting the enemy,
now advancing, now retreating, now in
close combat, making as many stabs as if
tney were killing foe. Others then
came out and went through the same
performance, jumping high into the air,
md striking the shields with both ends
d their short stabbing assegais, all this
IN the air before touching the ground,
he Splinter knocking his knees and feet
together. Then came the Kings wives
I'D and young, and all the young royal
daughters, wearing black goatskin kits
Town to the knees. They were dressed
tut with yellow handkerohiefs, the
oval color, with a profusion Of many .
'olored beads, colored ribbons, with long .
ashes of broad yellow ribbons round :
heir shoulders. They advanced into =.
he arena with slow, measured step, :
'eeping excellent time, chanting native :
ongs, after which they returned and re- ..
lred. All this time the King was not -.
o be seen. He was in the cattle kraal
With his medicine men. After they had q
t length consulted over the intestines =
ne chief medicine doctor, enveloped in .
ong oxtails that completely concealed a
lis tall figure and wearing little jockey
ap with fur IN front and long crane
Gather, marched up and down in the >
Kings praise.
"Then came forth the King himself. !.
'obengula had on his towering head .
ress OF black ostrich feathers and an =
immense cape OF the same and kilt of :;
1lld cats tails He carried an assepai. !
lie advanced with slow, measured stem "
nto the centre of the arena, his sister :
lina by his side-a lady az fat and cor II
ulent as her brother-dressed in a lono l,
ut, profusion of yellow kerchiefs.
ibbons, gold chain and watch. and N
lue jay feathers in her wooly hair. 6
hen the five royal daughters began to u
hant native tunes, advancing twos and ?
hrees at time and again retreating in Il,
ne same order. The warriors followed u
nd began singing their war songs. al
eeping time with their feet. The scene p
bon became quite exciting. 81
AT length the King called for silence " "
no the order was given for each regi- u
lent 10 march out onto the open plain
no nave sham fight: Each regiment
as commanded by the chief induna,
ne King being attended by his own
artlcuiar regiment as body guard. The
ress and shields of these were ali s,
lack. each soldier not less than 81 is
yet. k
L