The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-18
MORE ABOUT THE BASUTOS
PAUoKF AFRICAN. NATIYEs WHO
IRE BELLIGERENT
AND Wantto Help England Fight the
Boers-CIamoring to Have n Hand In

AND Wantto Help England Fight III
BOers-CIamoring to Have n Hand 1
the Contest in the TransvaaI.
The Basutos are clamoring to help u
fight the Beers.
The British resident commissioner, ST
Godfrey Lagden, has had the creates
difficulty in subduing the warlike ex
element which has pervaded the ma
ton since the outbreak of hostilties
Although we have before now been a
war with the Basutos and have practi
eally beaten them into submission
South Africa boasts to-day of no more
loyal race than these ''nippy," we'll
horsed, keen and plucky natives.
The Basutos were first formed into a
single tribe by Moshesh, a Napoleon
among natives, about the year 1878
There is a certain amount of doubt as
to which race they originally belonged
to, but they are probably Bechuanas, as
their type of feature is more or less
Baralong. Zululand is also said to be
the land they hail from, but the off,
shoots of Zulu, and, in fact, all Bantu
tribes, are so strongly allied that it Is
really difficult to distinguish.
The year 1852 brought trouble between
the Basutos and the British govern
ment. The latter defeated them, but
they were left in enjoyment Of their
country under our supervision. Four
years later Moshesh started hostilities
with the Orange Free State, and a
pickering guerilla warfare, now favor
ing this side and now the other, was
kept UP till 1856, when, In order to save
the nation from complete humiliation
at the hands of the Beers, Great Brit
ain benignantly stepped in and annexed
the country once and for all.
In 1871 Basutoland was transferred to
the Cape Colony, gift which proved
neither gratifying to colonists nor Ba-
sutos. A chief called Moirosi, in 1879,
having rescued his son from justice Che
was indicted for cattle and horse steal
ing), it required severe fighting to sub
due the rebellion arising out Of this act.
The following year the Cape govern
ment ordered complete disarmament
of the natives. This again caused fric-
ton, and the Colonials certainly got the
worst of the encounter.
The Imperial government was then
approached by the Cape government
with request that as 1t had only found
Basutoland hornets nest the country
might again become Imperial territory.
The sum of eighteen thousand pounds
was offered as a subsidy toward the cost
of administration. After a great deal Of
palaver and negotiations in 1884 the pc
tition was agreed to, and the country
then became a separate colony under an
Imperial resident commissioner. This
form of government has been retained
ever since.
The present paramount chief, Lethor-
otodi pronounced LoritorD is loyal
subject of the great White Queen, but
the same cannot be said Of his numer-
warpath and cause unceasing internal
trouble about tribal trivialities.
Sir Godfrey Lagden, K. c. M. g., the
present resident commissioner, Is an ex-
cellent ruler-the gloved mailed fist is
his type. A man Of great tact and dis
cernment, to which must be added
pluck, astuteness and presence Of mind.
These qualifications have more than
once averted serious inbroglio of the
whole nation; in fact. too much praise
can hardly be melted out to him and the
small band of officials who so ably car
ry out his instructions
The chiefs themselves adjudicate upon
native cases. but quorum Of the gov
erning magistrates is the appeal court
and 1t Is here that all disputes between
Europeans and natives are settled.
The native population Of Basutoland
numbers considerably over a quarter
If a million Indeed, SO crowded has
The country become of late years that
many native families are forced to live
n the Orange Free State-under certain
strict conditions of course-where they
ire useful to farmers and other employ
,rs of labor.
There is no love lost between Boer and
8asuto. This is not to be wondered at,
seeing the brutality and contempt |
which the former has always shown to-
ward the niger. A Boer is naturally
lot persona grata in Basutoland; his |
life would most certainly be in constant |
LANCER were he to attempt to settle
here; whereas, on the other hand, a |
3ritisher may come and go at pleasure,
md dwell in perfect amity among the |
natives.
In 1896, after the surrender of Jane
on it would not have required much
o set alight the flame of rebellion in
and a very critical period
nsued both for the commissioner and
he Orange Free State. Many residents
4 the latter country at the time We're
to stand by, at twenty
our hours notice, for an advance to
he border against the natives, an in
aston being hourly feared. The Beers
themselves were in pitiable state of
error. 1t is to be hoped that the Basu-
3s may continue to remain neutral, as
will be a costly job, not unmixed
nth bloodshed, to put them in their
lace again.
The climate of Basutoland is delight
ia perfect paradise to live in. The
verage mean temperature in daytime
seventy-two degrees, but in the Win
n the nights are often bitterly cold \
he scenery Is magnificent, the Malutis
continuation of the Drakensberg
,nge of mountains, in Natal, present
" scenes unrivaled even in Switzer-
nd. The mineral wealth is great
,ora ore ricb saamS Of er0ld rI1nniner for |