Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-06-05
LAND OF THE BLACKS.


m ght now be more appropriately called
the "Bloody Continent" A few years
ago 1t was dark in the sense that Eu-
ropeans knew little about it. Since they
have shed their light upon its remotest
places it has been turned into land of
bloody strife and turmoil from end to
end
A number of bloody outbreaks, of such
A character as to interest even Ameri-
cans unconcerned with European poll
cy, help to call attention at this moment
to the perpetual condition of Africa. 1t
is hardly to be doubted that this condi-
ton will continue until all the wariike
races of Africa are exterminated or re-
duced to the condition of hopeless sub
lection.
There are three great regions OF Al
RIGA which are of supreme interest at
this moment. They are the Egyptian
Soudan, Abyssinia and South Africa. To
the first two places belong the distinc-
ton that Europeans have suffered there
about as much as the natives.
A strong Egyptian expedition, under
British officers, has started to attempt to
reclaim the Soudan from the Mahdi,
who rules in absolute desPotism at
Khartoum. The dervishes and Mahom-
etan Desert tribes who maintain the
Mahdi's power, believe that he is the
direct representative of Mahomet, and
in fighting for him lies their tonly hope
of heaven.
While a British expedition is going to
the Soudan, Belgian expedition from
the Congro Free State, which has an
outlet on the west coast of Africa, has
started for the same region. This ex-
petition has been reinforced by Hous-
sas, native troops, from the British col
onv of Sagos, also on the west coast.
The Beleians are probably now fight
ing in the heart of Africa.
The brutalizing occupation of the Eu-
ropeans in Africa does not tend to make
them humans and generous in their
treatment of one another. The whole
world has lately been reading about one
illustration of this fact.
A body of Englishmen, supposed to be
the pick of the pioneers of their race IN
Africa, being chiefly officers and men OF
the military police of the British South
Africa company, has made murderous
raid into the Transvaal one of the few
colonies in Africa that have any claim
to responsibility. It is said that the
Beers are pretty high handed with the ma
tives. but the fact that there are so many
of the latter left in the Transvaai after
so long a period of colonization is in
itself tribute to their masters.
These Englishmen started out cheer
fully with machine guns and other arms
to enter the territory of a foreign and
friendly state and slaughter the peace
full and unoffending people. Even the
severe defeat they received did not
make them realize that they had done
wrong. Their American experience
had destroyed their moral sense.
1t must not be supposed that the de-
feat of Tameson's raiders and their ship
ment to England has ended the trouble
in the more civilized parts of South AT
RIGA. There is intense and warlike hos
tilitv between the English and the
Dutch elements in Cape Colony, the
ORANGE Free state, and the Transvaal.
Gable reports say that both sides are
preparing to fight There is always an
abundance of armed men in those places.
The reports also say that German officers
are helping the Beers and that Germany |
has promised them material aid in pos
sible struggle with the British.
Besides this possibility of a general
conAagration in South Africa, there is
some hard actual fighting there. The
Matabeles have arisen again in the Brit
ism South Africa company's territory.
They killed seven white men near Bull
uwayo. and since then much larger
number of the natives have been killed.
The Matabeles are a brave, strong and
fierce race, allied to the Zulus, who
fought so hard before the devastating
British influence swept over and beyond
their country. The Matabeles were
moved down in thousands by DR.. Jane
son and his troopers and machiue guns
before their land was finally conquered
for the British South African company.
III -.