Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-08-13

unanimous homage
of all the chiefs and the assembled
people.
1t was a wonderful and fearful cere-
mony. The cable tells us that no de-
tail was omitted to make 1t impressive,
and we know from accounts Of the last
Matabele coronation what that means.
One of the most interesting parts Of the
ceremony is that in which the king,
seated on his OK, is assaulted by the
snake prophets and the dancing giants.
The new king is the son Of Loben-
gula, the craftiest and bravest monarch
the Matabeles ever had. He fought
with desperate valor against the ma
chine guns and other deadly weapons
Of DR.. Jameson's followers, and, as Is
not surprising, was finally vanquished,
The Matabeles have now risen again
in revolt against the white invaders,
and they have accepted their late kings
son as their leader. This is Of great
Importance to the whites, because a
struggle among the chiefs for the lead
ershlp would have weakened the Mata-
beles. They are now united under one
king, and II he shows military capac-
ity, 1t is feared that they will make a
long and hard fight,
Nyamanda went to the Matoppo hills
to be crowned. The ceremony partoOk
Of the nature of a coronation and
declaration of war. Practically the
whole Matabele people were there, di-
vided into regiments, or impis, with
their chiefs leading them.
Nyamanda is six feet high, and,
though young, already weighs over 200
pounds. Weight is an attribute Of SOW
erelgnty among the Matabeles.
At the coronation the king takes his
seat in o chair on the crown of a small
hill. The chief medicine men surround
him, and slave holds shield as tall
as man over his head. Close at hand
is large vessel containing native beer,
with which his majesty refreshes HIM
self after arduous parts Of the ceremo-
NAL.
The kings headdress consists Of the
whole breast of crane, from which
the feathers fall down at the sides and
point downward.
He wears an apron Of leopards' tails
and his knees and ankles are covered
with tufts Of long hair Of the great
goat. His councillors are similarly but
more quietly attired.
The men are drawn up in regiments,
divided into two classes-thOse of the
men and those of the boys. They are
in full war dress, the principal features
OF which are long shield, an assegal,
and some feathers. The women stand
humbly apart
The chiefs address the king and tell
him that he is stronger than an ele-
plant and more comely than an ante
lope; that he will eat all his enemies
and that they will die for him with
cheerfulness.
The chiefs emphasize their remarks
by bowling their heads to the dust. The
assembled people follow their example
After that they all rap their assegai'
on their shields, making a deafeninE
din. The king is then consecrated by
the prophets, who have been trained
for their sacred calling by passing thel
lives among human skulls and deadl!
snakes, The prophet always CARRIE
one Of these reptiles about his neck
The king Is also saluted by the giants
who execute mysterious dance befor
him. These giants are men inclosed II
a wicker framework shaped like hu
man form. The face is Of monke
skin, With eyes, mouth, nose, and ear
carved in it, and the giants legs ar
stills on which the hidden man dance
with much skill.
After this the king mounts hi
trained bull and reviews his regiment
and his people. The prophets and poll
ticians accompany him, executin
strange antics, and the soldiers rattl
their assegais on their shields.
A great ox-killing festival follows
The king points with his spear to eac
animal he wishes killed, and warric
leaps forward and kills 1t with HI
stabbing assegai. The people becom
maddened with enthusiasm at the sigl
of the blood and the dying animal
From time to time chamberlai
hands the beer to his majesty.
Then a bull of known ferocity is i
loose and young warriors rush forwal
to kill 1t with their naked hands. Son
of them are sure to die in the attemI
but they accomplish the kings plea
ure. So reckless Of death and so obed
emit to their king are these savage wa
riors that they have been known
attack, without arms, lion.
Finally the regiments march past I
king, each soldier lowering his asseg
and shield as he passes the monar
on his bullock. The veteran soldie
carry white shields and their hair
bound to iron rings on the top OF tn
heads. These rings are useful In I
attachment of the feathered headdre
and also as receptacles for tobac
grease, and provisions The boys
young soldiers, carry black Shields
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