Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-01-11
A MODEL SAVAGE.


Hing Khama Il an Autocrat Of the Best
Possible Type.
King Khama is model savage, if
black man who has been thoroughly
civilized by European and missionary
influences can still be called one. He
is an autocrat Of the best possible type,
whose influence in his country is en-
tirely thrown into the scale Of virtue
for the suppression of vice. Such
thing as theft is unknown in his realm.
He will not allow his subjects to make
or drink beer. He has put stop also
to the existence of witch doctors and
their wiles throughout all the Bamang-
wato. .tr....
He conducts in person services every
Sunday in his large, round kotla, or
place of assembly, standing beneath the
tree of justice and the wide canopy of
heaven in truly patriarchal style. He
is keen in the suppression of all super
stitions and eats publicly the flesh Of
the duyker, a sort of roebuck, which
was formerly the totem Of the tribe and
held as sacred among them 30 years
ago. The late King Sikkome, Khama's
father, would not so much as step on
a duyker skin, and it is still looked up
on with more veneration by his sub
jects than Khama would Rvish.
AS an instance Of Khama's power and
Judgment, it is sufficient for us to quote
the sudden change of his capital from
Shoshong to the present site, Palapwe.
Shoshong was in a strong position,
where the Bamangwato could effectual-
ly protect themselves from the Mata-
beles' raids under Lobengula, but it was
badly supplied with water, and in dry
seasons the inhabitants suffered greatly
from drought The change Of capital
had been a subject discussed for years,
but Khama waited quietly until people
began to think that he was against it
and would never move. He waited. in
fact, until he was sure of British pro-
lection, until he knew that Lobengula
could not attack his people at Palapwe
without embroihng himself in war
with England.
Then suddenly one day, without any
predatory warming, King Khama gave
orders for the move, and the exodus
began on the next day, and in two
months time is, 900 individuals were
located In their new capital, so miles
away from Shosh0ng. Under Khama's
direction, everything was conducted in
the best possible order. To every man
was given his allotted ground, and he
was told to build his huts thereon. Not
single dispute arose, and no one would
imagine today that only a few years
ago Palapwe was uninhabited.
Khama, in manner and appearance,
is thoroughly gentleman, dignified
and courteous. He wears well made
European clothes, billycock hat and
gloves; in his hand he brandishes a
dainty cane, and he pervades every
thing in his country, riding about
from point to point wherever his pres
ence is required, and if he is just lit
tie too much OF dandy it is an error
In his peculiar case in the right direc-
tion--Co Contemporary Review.
Avoid reading and study by poor light.
Take sufficient exercise in the open air.
Correct errors OF refraction with proper
glasses
Reading and study should be done syste-
maticaily. m -
Avoid bad hygienic conditions and the
use Of alcohol and tobacco.
Light should come from the side and not
from the back OF from the front
Do not use the eyes too long at a time for
near work, but give them occasional pc
RODS Of rest.
Do not read or study while suffering
great bodily fatigue or during recovery
from Illness.
During study avoid the STOPPING position
or whatever tends TO produce congestion Of
the head and face.
Let the physical keep pace with the men
tai culture, for asthenopia is most usually
observed In those who are lacking in physic
Il developments.