The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-02

n Friend of the Chartered Company
Explains the situation.
~

New A0Fh Times.
Albert Fl. HasdeF, a civil engineer. who
has just arrived in London from Built
wayo, has communicated 10 the London
papers u statement regarding the causes
or the native rebellion, thu present posi-
tlon or affairs in Rnodesia. and the future
prospects Of the colony. After promising
that he settled with his family at Bulu-
wayo two and half years ago. and had
since then been actively engaged in de-
veiopins the mining resources OF the coun-
try. Mr.. Halder said:
The rebellion OF tho Matabeles Is at
tributahle in the first place 10 the out
break OF the rinderpest and the plague
OF iocusts. by which the greater part
OF tho crops Of meaIies and corn were
eaten up. The natives could not under
stand. and bitterly resented. the killing
OF their diseased cattle by the Chartered
Company's officers In order to stay the
spread OF the contagion. The loss Of their
cattle meant to them the loss OF their
principal property, and the destruction
Of their crops By locusts reduced them 10
the verge OF starvation.
when discomfort and restitution were
thus widespread among them, the natives
readily listened 10 the indictments OF the
witch doctors, who seized tho opportunity
to preach seditlon and accuse the whites
OF being the sole cause OF all their
troubles The witch doctors at the same
time enlarged upon the opportunity at
forded by the absence OF Or. jameson
and his officers and the considerable force
which accompanied him in his incursion
into the Transvaal.
The defeat Of Dr. Jameson by the
Beers was used as further and potent ar
gtmsnt % inrame the native mind The
FIRST murders OF isolated farmers and
miners occurred in the middle OF March.
bat al the outset nobody regarded matters
in a really serious light. FOR the simple
reason that native rebelnons had taken
place In colonies and states long estab-
lished, such as Cape Coiony aud Natal.
Trsnsvaal and the Free State, and no
surprise vas. therefore. felt that a rising
~eanH also occur in HhCaesia-"
Asked 70 explain the participation Of the
Mashonas In the revolt, Mr. Halder said
that a certain number OF Mashonas.
though rot very many. lived IN Matabele-
land. and. no doabt. maintained colnnuni-
cation with their fellow trlbesmen. At
the outset OF the Matabe}eland revolt
Mashona chiefs arrived at Bulawayo. TO
give assurance OF their loyalty ard ask
for projections: but later on, owing 10 the
spread OF the rebellion and some partial
reveFses sustained by the whites the
Afasaouas became restless and alarmed.
and the MatabeIes mad Htt3e difficulty IN
persaadtns or forcing them 20 join the
movement They were. moreover. worked
upon by their own wstch doctors. ever
ready 20 Torment rebellion against white
rule Mr. HaI3er continuing said.
"Irufortura elY. neither tire Chartered
Company ncr even men living n the eeun-
try and possessing long experience Of ma
tive wazs at trst realized the gravity ~
the state 81 affairs. The proper ta.ng "a so
at me outset would have been 20 bring in-
10 che coantry a any cost a large force
ana drive tne natives from place 70 place
instead 0s split.ing I'D me British force
into small patrols, often Win d5saS tr0as
results.
Il teel quite sure that a successful en-