Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-03-08
IN MATABELE LAND.
Its People Live Under a Military Des.
potism and the King Is Master

Its People Live Under a Military Des
potism and the King Is Master.
An interesting paper on Matabela
land was read by Archibald K. ColQu.
houR at meeting Of the Royal Colona.
institute held at the Whitehall rooms
Hotel Metropole, says an English
paper. Mr. Colquhoun. who was the
first administrator of Mashonaland
said the Matabele nation was more
military organization than a tribe, and
though Zulu in origin, language, Gus.
toms and methods of warfare, had
greatly degenerated from the original
Zulu stock by the incorporation OF
the inferior tribes they had raided
and conquered from time to time. They
lived under a military deSpotism pre-.
sided over by the king, who was alb
solute master of everything. There
were no industries, the tribesmen living
mainly by the assegai and the cattle
captured in raids. On these expedi,
tons or fOrays the men and old Won.
en- were masSacred, the children and
young women being carried away, and
marked as Matabele by a hole made
with an assegai In the lobe of the ear
The lads grew up Matabele and in
time became soldiers, the girls being
taken as wives by their captors. The
king was not only master of every
thing and every one throughout his
territories, but a terror to all his neigh
bors The manner in which the Mata
belle approached the king was very
peculiar, and emblematical of the ab.
solute power over the lives of the
subjects exercised by the chief. The
kings titles were shouted out when
any visitor passed the gate of the
royal kraal, and when about twenty
yards from the throne the subject
sank his left shoulder, bent his knee
and crouched lower and lower until
at a point some half dozen yards from
the royal presence he squatted down
and recommended to sing with vigor
and earnestness the praises of "tha
Stabber of the sun" Mr.. COlquhoun
speaking of the land and climate, re-
marked that in Matabeleland the rain.
fall was regular and sufficient to insure
health, and the soil well adapted IA
great part for agriculture 1t was a
country where the white man might
hope to see his children grow up strong
and healthy. While the high table land
was suitable for the white man, the
low-lying region to the east and IN
the Iambezi basin could be developed
by Indian cOolie labor, which was well
suited for plantation work
The two processes of colonization
would be carried forward simultane-
ously NIatabeleland, the last high hni
south Of Hambesi suitable for European
colonization, was invaluable as a field
for the expansion of South Africa and
Britain. Gold, which had angllcized
the Transvaal, would open an area
much wanted for the still strong trek.
ing disposition of the Boer. The inter.
nal progress made in Mashonaland con.
sidering all the difficulties which had
to be encountered, had been good and
the result Of the present campaign
would be to bring peace and security
to their own colony, the first thing nee
essary to progress, result which was
surely to great measure t. that nand-
full of pioneers who were successfully
accomplishing the latest stage of Bri-
tain'S colonial expansion. The gold
wealth was there, and it only required
security and good communications 70
enable the country to make rapid pro
greSS. In conclusion the lecturer said
he had faith in MaShonaland and Ma
tabeleIand and believed the colony
founded in 1890, with settled govern
ment replacing a cruel and deSpotic
barbar!sm, was destined to be the home
Of hundreds Of thousands of their EEL
low countrymen. 1t was no vulgar an
neXation to crafty territorial greed
The extension Of the empire was ua-
tional and a social necessity and
wherever without violating conyen
tons or existing rights. they could
prepare the way for their kindred %
live and spread under conditions which
promised prosperity 1t was the most
urgent Of all duties to seize such or
portunities as they arose. The prov
dence which had guided their destiny
SO far had, by the mere force Of CT.
cumStanceS, rendered their imperial
duties imperious duties. for they were
not rs other nations were Not only
were their own islands too small for
their people but the course Of Their
commerce and industry had been sucA
that they We're increasingly dependent
for their maintenance on trad'
against which tncessant war was
waged. rs if they were the IshmaeI o.
civilized nations. As they could n''
grow their own food, they must eit1e.
send their people to distant countries
In search Of It, or find ever-new GU
toners for their manufacturers. Tde'
was no object which a British states
man could set before himself compa'a
bic to the central necessity Of pr5
viding for the development Of bis oR-
race,
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
THrrTa T,hr4~r- Taof Here's n FH-