The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-26
MATABELE "B0YS" IN LONDON.


"Uvela pina?"
This was the question put by our Zulu
speaking representative to those chill
dren of nature. Setokwe and 'Mwalie.
who have come over with Richard ~.
Hall TO police" the Earl's Court exhi-
bition.
"Ndivela Gubulawayo, 'Nkos." they
replied.
They were standing I'm corner OF the
grounds, attired i'm the uniform of the
Matabele polce-gray DIR. Jim" hat,
with red band, dark cape. corduroys
and brown boots-and looking wistfuly
at the speck OF blue which showed
amidst the cloud bedecked sky.
kualo?" queried the reporter.
'Mwalie's eyes glittered, and his
brother, Setokwe, allowed a broad smile
10 illumine his dusky features.
mo. no; not that" said the elder
warrior That is the title we gave the
great king, Lobengula, the Strabber of
the SUM- / remember seeing him at
the great beer-drinkings at Bulawayo,
when 1 was lad. He was a fat man,
but great chief, and when you heard
the regiments stamping, and saw the
assegais waving like a field OF corn you
realized what "A power he was. He il
dead and gone now. and the white
Judgment once fiourished."
Thus spoke 'Mwalie, with many a
click and cultural. as is common with
the Matabele, for the root language IL
the Zulu, says the London Chronicle.
Setokwe was silent for a while, and
then he began TO talk. IL was not, ne
said, for him To speak of Lobengula, for
when the great chief held sway he
never saw him. Mwalie knew all about
IT, and he was the favorite of chiefs.
The great father" of the Matabele--
Mr.. Rhodes-saw 'Mwalie the other day
in London, and actually shook hands
with him. The great father" never
forgot anybody, and although II was a
long time since 'Mwalie went with him
into the Matoppo hills to patch up a
peace with the rebels, he knew him at
once when he met him i'm the midst OF
the "piled-up huts' which the English
call their city" 'Mwalie was a hero
a queens man-who stood by the Brit
ish while 'the bad black men" were
setting fire to farms and killing their
white masters. Mwalie was one who
feared not death. and had fought side
by side with the men of the chief
'Mazwie, whose rule they owned.
If black man can blush, 'Mwalie did
so, and TO cover his awkwardness the
reporter asked him his opinion of Lon
don.
The heavenly twins" rolled their
heads and strove to give expression to
their delight and astonishment, while
Setokwe nodded affirmation. 'Mwalie
explained that they were so bewildered
that they hardly knew what to think.
oh. what tales they would have TO tell
when they got home TO their own peo.
pie. They had never seen a building
so high as ST. Paul's, and the city
frightened them. The riches of Loben-
Dt N hiG laas ht,t
here there were thousands of horses.
and carriages some times rushed on
ward "by magic"
"Ya. bob. 1t is wonderful. We are
like children walking i'm a vast for
est" gushsd Setokwe.
Then Mr.. Hall interviewed, with the
remark that amid all the wonders OF
London his boys" had behaved very
well. They were stancn teetotalers
and when they went to entertainments
knew how to conduct themselves.
A question about the Alhambra
evoked a grave look from the dusky
pair. but. pressed upon the subject
they admitted, as the corps de ballet
may be pleased TO know, that they had
never seen so many ''mushla entombis"
or fair young maidens-gathered to-
gether at one time I'm such engaging
pursuits.
1t was time for the train TO depart,
and as Mr.. Hall led the way out Of the
building he explained that they cher
ished a great wish to see the queen.
They were the pick Of the native po-
lice. and no sooner had the news got
abroad that they were coming to Eng
land than il was known. by the mystic
rious underground method, in every
kraal i'm pacified Matabeleland
These boys" concluded Mr.. Hall.
"are of good birth. At Cape Town they
saw Lobengula's sons, and the latter
knew them at once. We hope great
things from their visit. and I will take
good care that they are sent back wiser
and better men,"