The St. Johns herald., 1894-05-03
THE MATABELE KING.
Downfall or Lubsngula, the Blood.
 thirsty African.
General Rejoicing Over the Termination Of Rarbarous and cne-sfded War s~ fare in fIle Dark Continent
 HEEefEn of Terror

The general satisfaction which ha, been felt throughout South Africa a the victory of the Chartered com pany's forces is caused mainly by tho fact that it will il, all probability be so far as Matabeleland is concerned the death blow to a system of blood thirsty tyranny which has prevailed from the time, over sixty years ago when the forces cf Moselekatse, tho father of Lobengula, swept through the country between the Grange, Vaal and Linapopo rivers, leavizg night mare of dcsOlation and death behind them, and settled in the region now known as Matabelcland. The country through which this devastating army marched was, says Theale, 'covered with skeletons, and there was literally no living being left behind.''
 From that time until the present, says the Chicago Times, the 1Iatabeles have lived in the country from which they are now being ousted, not by thei-' own toll, but by preying upon the tinid tribes which originally in habited the land, and which have ever since been compelled, under penalty of torture and death for the least delay or unwillingness, to support their ferocious taslcmasters by periodical tributes of slaves, women, cattle, and corn. That sixty years has been for the Mashonas and Makalakas a reign of terror.
 As Illustrating the general prac- tice of the Matabeles for many years past, Rev. Father Hartman, than whom, owing to his long residence in the country, few are more competent to speak. testifies that it is the custom of an impi to approach unnoticed and unseen a Mashona kraal in the night At the first dawn of the day the impi raises its war cry, surrounds the un- fortunate kraal, and daughters all eX- cept girls, children or those who are fit for doing some useful work on the home journey.
 Sometimes it happens that the Mata- beles drive a crowd of Mashonas into one of their huts and set fire to it. This, Father Hartman states, has been going cn for forty years and will not stop till the Mashonas are extermi- mated. Lobengula himself, with his own hands, cut off the lips, nose, ears and hands of a poor Mashona boy who was falsely accused of tasting the king's beer.
 Even since the occupation of the country by the whites similar raids have been of frequent occurrence. In the early part of last year, for instance, some fugitive Malzalakas came into Victoria asking for protection against a large Natabeles impi which was raiding and killing at Chibis and other kraals across the Tul road. Tn May, 1892, Chenaka and Cunye, Mashona chiefs, reported that large impi had attacked their kraals, killed many of their people and taken away their cat tie and goats.
 In July of the same year, Lobengula had it of jealonsly of the regents, Umhlaba and Sidhlohlo, and acting on the kings instructions the Imbizo reg iment demolished the unfortunate re- gents and their families, root and branch. In August. while Capt. Chap lin was on an expedition to discover and punish the natives who had inter fered with the telegraph instruments at Nuanetsi, he heard on all sides com plaints from the natives of raids by the Matabeles.
 In October last three hundred Mata- beles were raiding the MakalalSas between the Nuanetsi and Lundi riv- CTS, killing men, women and children. Tn November Lubengula sent a large impi to punish Chief, and about the same time party of forty Matabeles arrived at To Magondi's kraal and asked him why he allowed the Eng fish to dig for gold without the kings leave.
 After they had agreed to discuss the matter over in the morning, To Ma lsondi went to l4is hut, but about day light next morning his dwelling was surrounded by NIatabeles, who called him out, shot him and afterwards stabbed him. They then killed his two brothers and two boys and fired into the women's hut, killing two of the chiefs wives. On departing the Mata- beles took away with them eighty to ninety women and all the chiefs goats and sheep.
 In March of the present year large Matabele impi came raiding down in the direction of Palapye, and some of the fpgitives who escaped them reported the murder of several indunas, including Lubcngula's brother, sUn- yande. This recital of horrors may con- clude with q reference to the massacre of the Mashonas in the streets of Vic toria in July last, the event which di rectly led to the present situation,
 How the Bee Sees.
 We are so used to regarding the