The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-25
THE MATABELE KING.
LOBENGULA THE COMPLIANT
SOUTH AFRICA RULER.


Lobengula. the Matabele King, whose
trouble with the British troops in South
Africa has called general attention 10
that part of the world, is the son of the
dreaded MaselikatZe, the conqueror of
the natives who had long held possession
of the country now known as Matabele-
land and the Mashona country. After
they had been subdued he took up his
residence at Inyati and formed large
military kraal now known as lryatine,
where Lobengula was born. Maselikatze.
known also as ,Umselekatze, ruled his
people with a rod of iron and kept an
army OF 5000 warriors, and could bring
more into the field if required. He was
lent subjects; a splendid warrior himself,
he took care that his troops should be so
likewise.
He died in 1869, and at his death.
after some dispute about who should be
his successor, Lobengula was proclaimed
King with great rejoicings. Warriors TO
the number of 10000 assembled 10 do
homage TO their new King. From that
time up to the present he has held ua,
disputed possession of the throne He
took up his residence at Buluwayo, situ-
ated some sixty miles south of Inyatine,
which he formed into lSrge military
station, and where he has since resided.
Lobengula is man OF great force of
character; his will is law, and it would
be death TO any Of his subject TO dispute
his authority. 1t is by this iron will that
he is able to rule his people. He is tail
and we'll proportioned, but very corpu-
lent. His royal wife died many years
ago, leaving Lobengula widower, with
some forty or fifty wives to console him
ing by his royal wife, although he has
several daughters by his Others. Some
years ago he married sister of Umzeia,
the King of OAKLAND. which adjoins the
Mashona country. Previously TO this
marriage his sister Nina ruled his house
hold, and was devoted to her brother.
Not unnaturally, perhaps, she became
very jealous at her brothers marriage,
fact which displeased him. To get rid
of the annoyance, therefore, Lobengula
had her smothered
His cruelty, indeed, knows no bounds
Ii is by his orders that the constant raids
upon the Mashona people are made. Up
on the slightest preteXt he orders GER
tain regiments to proceed to particular
kraal, where several indunas and some
600 or 800 Mashonas are living in sup
posed security. The regiments attack
them in the night, killing all the men
and women and the children over Ger
tain age and bringing the younger ones
back with them, together with such
booty and cattle as they can lay their
hands on. The King divides out the
cattle to the regiments who have acted
on the occasion, reserving a certain mum.
ber for himself. The children are
distributed among his people. They
soon forget their nationality and as they
grow up are incorporated in the Matabele
nation. Yet with all this ferocity in his
nature, and a cruelty surprising imagin-
alton, one would fancy, to see him
sitting on the box in front Of his wagon
indulging in his lunch Of fried bullock
liver cut into immense pieces, that he
was fat but inoffensive old man.
There is certain look in his eyes, how
ever, that is an unmistakabe sign of the
man. Lobeugula is exceedingly clever
yet full of duplicity. He can read
conversation with him, and will detect
instantly if man is playing him false
/ only know of one good quality pos
sessed by him he is fond of children
Lobengula himself took burning piece
of wood from the fire and destroyed the
eyes and nose of one Of his men because
he threw stone at a child and knocked
out its front teeth; this was witnessed by
one Of the traders.
A short time ago he ordered young
Kafiir to be killed for pulling a straw out
of the thatch Of one Of his huts. No
one is allowed to touch these on pain Of
death. There is no doubt about his
ordering the deaths OF Captain Patterson,
Mr.. Sergeant (son of Sir w. Sargeant),
and young Mr. Thomas (son Of the Rev.
Mr.. Thomas, of Shiloh), while on their
way to the Victoria Falls. They were
warned that foul play was intended, but
they would not believe the report. When
their death was reported to the King he
said to some of the white traders, "Now
Captain Patterson is dead the agreement
goes for nothing" They had previously
entered into some agreement with the
King, which he afterwards regretted,
and he disposed Of the matter in the
way we have just mentioned No doc
unents were found on the bodies On
another occasion, which will be last out
of many more could relate, a large impi
went into the Mashona country, where
they killed all the old people, making
some of the women and big girls carry
the plunder to the boundary, where they
made them put the things down on the
ground and then killed them, that they
might not run away II brought into
Matabeeland. The children, who soCs
forgot the land they had left, were pre-
served.
LIKE A HEART IN HIS LEG