The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-11
THE MATABELE KING.
Downfall Of Lubengula, the Blood
thirsty African.
General Rejoicing Over the Termination
Of q Barbarou and One-Sided War
fare in the Dark Continent
Reign of Terror.

rare IN tho DARK continent
Reign of Terror.
The general satisfaction which has
been felt throughout South Africa at
the victory of the Chartered COM
pany's forces is caused mainly by the
fact that it will in all proba bility be,
o far as Malta beleland is concerned,
the death blow to a system of blood
thu rsty tyranny which has prevailed
from the time, over sixty years ago,
wheal the forces of Moselel1atse, the
fathe- of LobenSula, swept through
the country between the Orange, Vaal,
and LAmpopo rivers, leaving a night
mare of desolation and death behind
them. an settled in the region now
known as Matabeleland. The country
through w hich this devastating army
marched was, says Theale, covered
with skeleto ms, and there was literally
no living being left behind"
From that time until the present,
says the Chicago Times, the Matabeles
have lived in the country from which
they are now being ousted, not by
their own toll, but by preying 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
or unwillingness, to support their.
ferocious taskmasbers by periodical
tributes Of slaves, women, cattle, and
corn. Thatasixty years has been for
the Mashonas a nd NJ a lakas "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, fewrare more competent
TO speak, testifies that it is the custom
of animpi toapproach unnoticed and
unseen a -Masfsona kraal in the night
AT the first dawn of the,day the impi
raises its-war CRY, surrounds the un-
fortunate krual, and slaughters; all ex-
Dept girls, children .or those who are
fit for; doing some useful workson the
home journey.
Sometimes it -happens1thatsthe Mata-
beles drive a.crowd of Mashonas into
one of their huts and set fire to 1t.
This, Father ii artman states, has been
going on.for forty years and will not
stop till the Masmnas are extermi-
mated. Lobengula himself, with his
own hands, cut off the lips, nose, ears
and hands Of 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 lastyear, for ipsta nee,
some fugitive Makalakas came into
Victoria asking for protection against
a large Matabeles impi which was
raiding and killing at ChibTs and other
lraals across the TuH road. In May,
1892, Chenaka and Cunye, Mashona
chiefs. reported|that large impi had
attacked pheir kraals, killed many of
their people and, taken away their cat
tie and goats.
In July of thess year, Lobengula
had fit of jealousy of the regents,
Umhlaba and Sidhloflo, and acting on
iment demolished the unfortunate re-
gents and their families, root and
branch. In August, while Capt. Chap
lin was on an expedition 10 discover
and punish the natives who had inter
fered with the telegraph Instruments
at NuanetSi. he heard on all sides com
plants from the na tives of raids by the
Matabe
In October last three hundred Mata-
beles were raiding the Aiakalakas
between the Nuanetsi and Lundi riy-
ers, killing men. women and children.
In November Lubengula sent n large
impi to punish Chief, and about the
same time party of forty Matabeles
arrived at Lo Magondi's kraal 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. Lo Ma
gondi went to his hut, bat 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 fired into
NiC AhN. Milling WV "a Tic
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
Matahele impi came raiding down in
the direction of Palapye. and some
of the fugitives who escaped them
reported the murder of several indunas,
including Lubengula's brother, Tn
yande. This recital of horrors may con-
clude with reference to the massacre
of the Mashonas in the streets Of Vie
toria in July last, the event which d.
rectly led TO the present situation,
Cuuroc C-eof..1@