The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-04-15
Matabeleland.

GClC1GGSAs
The news from Cape Town that Mat
abeleland is 10 open revolt against the
British has again directed attention 70 a
district Of South Africa practically un-
know until three years ago, when the
British, after one of their famous little
wars, subjugated the people and annex !.
ed the country.
Matabeleland is an extensive region
In South Africa 1t lies between the
Limpopo aud Zaube Rivers, aud is
bounded ou the north BY Mashonaland
and on tee south by Bechuanalad. 1t
is mountainous district, which aas
conquered some fifty years ago by the
Matabeles, 40 ofshoot of the Zulu race.
The area Of Matabeleland is about
l25, 900 square miles and the popula-
ton is about 200, 600.
The Masabeles. when they conquer
ed the conntry, established a military
despotism. which lasted until 1898.
The attention Of the British Govern
mens had first been directed to the
country 10 1885 by the evident design
on it BY the Beers, ever 90 the lookout
for pew lands into which to trek, but
matters did not come to crisis until
1889, when Lobengula, the King Of
the tribe. placed himself under the pro.
lection of Great Britain
But trouble soou followed Loben-
gula speedily repeuted of his treaty
and repudiated the construction put
upon ii By the British. Prior to the
annexation Of the adjoining country of
Mashonalaud to the British South Afri-
can Co.'S pauy the Matabe!es had been
in the habit of dominating and terror
izing the natives But with the intro
dretion OF British rule it was sought
20 put stop to this. Lobeugula was
notified that the raids must cease.
Nevertheless, is 1892 Matabele chief
entered MashoaalaDd and. after killing
large number of mep. carried of the
women and children into captivity.
A warning was seat to Lobengula,
who replied that be was puuisbiog
theft of cattle, aud thae his men had
strict orders cot to interfere with the
white uea. The aext year another
raid was made on similar pretext.
The Eogisb ordered the Matabeles to
retire, and as they refused battle was
fought, in which over thirty OF the in
vaders were killed.
Tho famous Dr.. Jameson, then the
Chartered Compapy's administrator 10
Mashonaiaad, shererpon warned Loben.
gula that his troops must not cross the
frontier. Tae Matabele King de6ed
the admin istrator. entered British ter.
ritory, rayagsd the native settlements
and fred OF the white police. War
was declared and Dr.. Jameson went to
the front to direct operations.
Besides several mloor engagementg,
two pitched battles we're fought, 10 both
Of which the natives suffered greatly
On one occasion over / 900 Matabeles
were slaia. Before the end of the
year the British we're complete masters
of the country and Lobengula bad fed
No further effort was made to capture
him, and he was reported to have died
5000 afterwards. With the close of the
campaign Matabelelaud passed under
the control of the South African Com
papy. and ii was expected that the
country would be peaceably developed
The outlook was most promising,
judging By past events. Matabe'eland
has been famous from very early peri
Cd for its productive gold mines. Cop
per, silver, zinc. tin, aotimony, arsenic
and lead mines aod deposits Of nitrate
Ct potassium aud p!alnbago have also
been discovered. The country is re.
markably Sae region for grazing and
agriculture 10 the four years between
the signing Of the treaty by LobeDgula
and the var Of 1893 over three thou
sand white settlers had come into the
country farms representing a total area
OF 100000 acres had been granted
and the price per acre was steadily ris-
ing town with bank, hotels,
churches aud hospital had been built,
and government for the civil admins
tratiou of the whole country organized.
Development was proceeding apace
uhoo rho nresent revolt unexpectedlv
broke out
The resurrection is rumored to have
been iostigated by witch doctor, but
it is thought that the outbreak may be
due to the defeat Of the British uuder
Jameson by the Beers. This news
greatly exaggerated. has spread through
the country and excited the natives.
who believe that the British are now to