The Lamar register., 1895-10-12
THE LAND OF OPHIR.
AN AMERICAN WHO FOUGHT
AGAINST LoBENGuLA.
Exciting Adventures OF chrt.toshsr r.
Hss.ea. who was An ThreaEh the
Msrabels war aud Travelled ths Great
white Road-A Massacre

From King Solomon's mines 10 the
Golden gate, from the great white
I'D over which Rider HaSgard car-
ried his readers to the land of ophir.
70 the streets OF the greatest city on
the Pacific slope, is a strange transit
ton. vet Christopher X. Hobson. who
Is at the Baldwin hotel lives 70 tell the
tale, saws the San Francisco Chronicle.
He saw a bullock team slowly making
its way down the great white road to-
ward the station called The Sisters,
Just as many similar team has done
In centuries past llt sover this road
that solomon IS supposed TO have
shipped the gold from the mines TO
the coast.
He was all through the Matabelc
war. He was shot in the left leg and
received a wound in the right shoulder
from an assegai. he was forced 20
kill his horse TO provide food for the
men. AT another time he gratefully
made a meal OF rats. His adventures
have been thrilling indeed.
He had an interview with Loben-
gulH ia his kraal. when the king was
surrounded with his induAuzs or
counselors-
Il had good position in Cape
Town. but. like many another, cAnghf
the war fever and Joined the chartered
company's cavalry troop, said Hob
son.
.-On the way to Kimberley we
crossed the karuo desert, and at sun
set We stopped al a station called
The Sisters A more beautiful sight
have never seen. and have travelled
the world over. Al Cur feet lay the
desert. dotted here and there with
scr,Abby growth OF brush. Away In
tho distance could be seen range OF
mountains. made purple by the rays
OF the setting sun. In the foreground
were Sheha's breasts. and to the right
of them could be seen the great white
road described in HAggarsi's story en-
titled King S5lomon's Mines
This. then. thought |, is the land
OF Ophir. the land from which Sol
omon brought the gold and jewels
tina; weut 10 enrich the temple Of Je-
rusalem. The breasts stood out prom
inently aud the white quartzits forma-
tion shone like polished marble, The
nipples were well defined. and the set
ting sun. throwing upon them q pink
glow. emphasized the peculiar apiness
of the name.
.sThe tactics OF the Matabeies are
the same as thoSe Of the Zulus. snd
like those fierce warriors. they, too.
have no knowledge OF the word defeat.
They form in regiments. or iEnpis,
and the entire army makes the attack
in a half-moon shape. They will not
make an assault Ia the dark. but walt
antil dawn Is Just breaking. Then
they couae with rush. and woe betide
the company that is canght mapping.
More fearless fighters have never
seen. Death has no serrors for them.
and. indeed. warrior viii make a
stepping stone OF his brothers dead
body in order 70 get nearer an inevit-
able death But they could not stand
the Calling gun. II moved them
down in regiments and still they
pressed forward. There would be a
discharge from the battery. and when
the smoke lifted the impi would ap-
parently still be on the advance.
-'It would be new regiment. how
ever. the former having been almost
annihilated by the eating guns. The
stragglers would run up to our breast
works and facing instant death would
huri their assegais- 1t was not re-
Ggious frenzy; it was training. From
childhood they had held their lives In
the hollow Of their hands. aud when
II came to the time to do and die they