The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-01-10
THE MATABELEKING.
Downfall Of LubenguIa. the Blood
thirsty African.
General Rejoicing Over the Termlnafloa
OF a Earbsro1s and On--ssded War
fare in the Dark Continent
Eef-n of Terror.


Reign of Terror
The general satisfaction which has
been felt throughout South Africs az
the victory OF the Chartered com
panv's forces is caused mainly BY the
fact that il VIII II al probability be,
80 far IS Nata beleland Is concerned,
thc death blow to 4 system Of blood
thirsty tyranny which has prevailed
from the time, over sixty years ago.
when the forces Of MO~elekatse, the
father OF Lobengula. swept through
.he country between the Orange. Naal,
and LimPOpO rivers, leaving night
mare OF desOlation and death behind
them. and settled in the region now
known as Matabeleland 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 Natabeles
have lived in the country from which
they are now being ousted, not by
their own toll. but by preyiag upon
the timid tribes which originally in
habited the land. and which have ever
since been compelled, under penalty
Of torture and death for the least delay
OF unwiliingness. 10 support their
ferocious tasl1ms ssters by periodical
tributes of slaves, women, cattle, and
corn. That sixty years has been for
the Mashonas and Eiakalakas reign
Of terror.
As illustrating the general prae-
tiee Of the Matabeles for many
years past, Rev. Father Hartman. than
whom, owing 10 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 l5raal, and slaughters 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 on for forty years and VIII not
stop till the 1Iashonas are extermi-
mated. Lobengula himself, with his
own hands, cut of the lips, nose, ears
and hands of a poor Mashona boy who
was falsely accused Of tasting the
kings 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 Malalakas came into
Victoria asking for protection against
a large Matabeles impi which was
raiding and killing al Chibi's and other
I-raals across the Tuh road. In May,
1872. Chenaka and Cunye, MashOna
shiefs. reported that a large impi had
attacked sheir kraals. killed many Of
their people and taken away their cat
tie and goats
In July Of the same year, Lobengula
had ft Of jcalousiy Cf the regents,
Cmhlaba and Sidhlohlo, and acting on
the kings instructions the Imbizo reg
irnent 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
II Nuanetsi. he heard on all sides COM
plants from the natives of raids by the
Matabeles-
In October last three hundred Mata-
beles were raiding the NaAalalEas
between the EEanetsi and Lundi NV
crs, killing men. women and children
In November Labengula sent large
impi 20 punish Chief, and about the
same time a party of forty Matabeles
arrived at 10 Magondi's l1raal and
asked him why he allowed the Eng
lish to dig for gold without the kings
leave.
After they had agreed TO discuss the
matter over in the morning, 10 Ma
gondi went to his hut, but about day
light next morning his dwelling was
surrounded By Matabeles, who called
him out. shot him and afterwards
stabbed him. They then killed his two
brothers and two boys and fred 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 fugitires who escaped them
reported the murder Of several indunas,
including Lubengula's brother, Tn
yande This recital OF horrors may con-
clude with a reference TO the massacre
Of the Mashonas IN the streets Of Vic
toria in July last, the event which di-
reetly led TO the present situation,