The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-18
Matabeles Swarming Like Ants
Only Six Miles Away.
THE TOWN FEARS AN ATTACK.
Friendly" Natives Undoubtedly CO.
operating With the Rebels.
Hostile Matabclc~ Believed to BE En-
tering the Native Quarter OF Bulu-
wayo, to Aid From Within When
the Attack Shall Be Siade From
Without.

Buiuwayo. April IA feeling % app-e-
hensson as 70 what the next step OF the re-
voting Matabeies will be perrneates all
circles here. Information coming from the
country around makes IL certain that The
natives are preparing an offensive move
nlent against this place. The number Of
Mataheles reported gathering at points
Tear by is sufficient to appall the hearts OF
even experienced fighters. There IS dread
in the minds Of many that the place is in
danger OF being overwhelmed by rush
of hordss of Matabeies and the inhabl-
tants put 10 wholesale massacre.
The fear Of treachery Is added 10 the
apprehension OF overwhelming numbers.
Many indications point TO connivaDcs
with the war parties OF supposed friendly
natives. There are many OF the latter in
the town Itself, ard no white man feels
sure how far he can trust his dusky asSo-
ciates or servants.
On Wednesday evening three Dutch
scouts were sent out from here 10 secure
some definite and accurate information Of
the position and movements OF the natives
What they have found has served little 10
relieve the anxiety and suspense. They
report that the Matabeles are gathered
Ike ants in a hill On the Umgusa river,
only six miles north of here. That some
ireacherous plot is being concocre6 is in
dicated by the fact that native women are
SSSate4uS European clothes. IhS native
men on the veidt wear the native costume.
while most of those In Buluwayo wear
clothes approaching the European fash
ion. BY attiring the native warriors in
European garments the Mafabeies hope
they will be enabled TO enter the town un-
questioned.
\ Matabele "boy" has also been caught
stealing badges. and the puggarie belong
ing 10 the Rhodesia horse and 1t IS be-
lieved that 1t was intended to use these for
the purpose OF disguise 10 further some
treacherous project for taking Buluwayo
al disadvantage, and killing the snhabi-
taits- II is plainly noticeable that the
natives in the town are becoming as thicla
as bees. In ordlnarr times the natives
come and go IL town without attracting at
tsntioA. The native population is a; all
times shifting one and a large number
OF the men that make II up are not known
Individually 10 the white people OF the
town or to the authorities. The fact that
the natives In the town live apart from the
whites adds 10 the difficulty Of identifying
those who belong in the town. But there
is little more confidence felt In the natives
who belong in the town than In the hostile
men who. 1t is believed. are surres 1iously
being introduced 10 aid from within whenA
an attack shall De made from without. IL
looks row as though that nigh: occur at
any time
The roads by which communication is
had with the south. both the one to Tuii
and the one 10 Msfeking, are felt to b in
peril. There are undoubtedly large num-
bers of hostile natives between Ruluwayo
and the settlements 10 the south. some CT
them In open revolt The situation IS felt
to be most serious and threatening.