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

Tie news from Cape Town that Mat
abeleland is iu open revolt against the
British has again directed attention to a
district of South Africa practically 40
know until three years ago. when the
British, after one Of their famous little
wars, subjugased the people and annex :
ed the country.
N1atabeleland is az extensive region
in South Africa. 1t lies between the
Limpopo aud Zaubesi Rivers, aud is
bounded ou the north by Mashonaand
and on toe south by Bechuanalad. 1t
is mountainous district, which sas
conquered some fifty years ago By the
Matabeles. 40 oGshoot of the Zulu race.
The area Of Matabelelaud is about
$4,000 square miles and the popula-
ton is about 100000.
The Matabees. when they conquer
ed the conntry, established military
despotism, which lasted until 1893.
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 ou the lookout
for pew lands into which to trek, but
matters did not cone to a crisis until
1889, when Lobeogu!a, the King Of
the tribe, placed himself under the pro,
sectiou of Great Britain
But trouble soon followed. Loben-
gula speedily repeused of his treaty
and repudiated the construction put
upon it 81 the British. Prior to the
annexation Of the adjoining country of
Mashonalaud to the British South Afrl-
can Company the Matabeles had been
in the habit Of dominating and terror
izipg the natives. But with the intro
duesion of British rule it was sought
20 put stop to this. Lobeugula was
notified that the raids must cease.
Nevertheless, 10 1892 a Matabele chief
entered Mashonalaod and. after killing
large number Of men. carried of the
women and children into captivity.
A warniog was scot to Lobengula.
who replied tha, be was puuisbiog
theft of cattle, aud thas his men had
strict orders DOT to interfere with the
white mea. The next year another
raid vas made on similar pretezs.
The Eoglish ordered the Matabeles to
retire, and as they refused battle was
fought, 10 which over thirty OF the in
yaders were killed.
Tho famous Dr.. Jameson, then the
Chartered Company's administrator 10
Mashonaland. tbereupon warned Looen.
gula that his troops must not cross the
frontier. Tae Matabele King de6ed
the administrator, entered British ter
ritory, rayagsd, the native settlements
and fred on 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, in both
Of which the nasives suffered greatly
On one occasion over 1000 Matabees
were slain. Before the end of the
year the British we're complete masters
of the country aud Lobengnla bad fed
No further effort was made to capture
him, and he vas reported to have oied
5000 afterwards. With the close of the
campaign Matabelelard passed under
the cou,rol Of the South African Com
pany. and il was expected that the
country would be peaceably developed
The outlook was most promising,
judging By past events. Matabe'eland
has beeo famous fron very early peri
oa for its productive gold mines. Cop
per, silver. zinc. tin, autimony, arsenic
and lead mines aud deposits of nitrate
Ct potassium aud plunbago have also
been discovered. The country is re.
markably soe region for grzzing and
agriculture 1u 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 total area
OF 1000, 900 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
trasiop of the whole country organized.
Development was proceeding apace
when the present revolt unexpectedly
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 aud excited the natives.
,o1, >,