Washington sentinel., 1899-03-25

The Matoppos Ia lot Of little
mountains is the name appropri-
ately given 20 the immense net
work OF koPjes in Matabeleland
which formed the principal and
well nigh impregnable stronghold
OF the rebels during the late rebel
lion in Rhodesia. They extend
from the Mangwe Pass (sIxty miles
from Bulawayo) Tor several miles,
and,apart from their historic inter-
est, they furnish some Of the
grandest scenery to be found in
Africa. Last year the writer, with
several others, had an excursion to
the Matoppos, and few notes on
the trip may be Of interest to the
reader. We left Bulawayo at FIVE
in the morning in one OF the old
fashioned mail coaches, drawn by
a spanking team of ten mules, and
were soon bowling merrily along
the Tuli road. A lew miles on we
passed the kraal, or native village,
OF Lobengula's veteran general-in-
chief, Umjaan, who once COM
manded the Imbezu Regiment,
which consisted Of a thousand
picked warriors, and was con-
sidered to be the very flower OF
the Matabele army. Umjaan, who
is OF great age, was one OF the
rebel induans or headmen during
the rebellion; but, Notwithstanding
the reputation tor ferocious saw
agery which he has acquired in the
course OF his notorious career, he
IS now chiefly remarkable for his
excessive politeness and hospital
itY to visitors. By the wayside,
also, are the kraals OF Babyaan,
one Lobengula's chief counsellors,
and OF Bosmjaan, the famous-or
rather infamOus-witch doctor OF
the Matabele nation, who in his
time has caused the cruel deaths
of thousands Of innocent people.
Bosmjaan's couutenance does not
belle his characterize is as william
Gus looking an old blackguard as
it is possible to conceive. The
road is an undulating one, and
frequently crosses drV water
courses or drifts; while the sur
rounding country, consisting OF
rolling uplands, is verdant with
the bright hues Of the mopani and
mimosa trees, Here and there are
to be seen the roofiess and FIRE
blackened hutS OF the native kraals
destroyed durinP the suppression
Of the rising by the reliet column
under Colonel Plumer. Every
mile left the fiat country around
Bulawayo further behind, and the
outpost kopies OF the Matoppos |
began TO assert their jagged pre-
sence. More and more hIlly |
became the scenery, until, some
eighteen or twenty miles from |
Bulawayo, we pulled up for break
fast at the Right Hon. c. !.
Rhodes homestead at Westacre,
which forms the largest OF the
eleven farms composing his estate
OF Sauerdale, and covering alto
gether 900 acres, Mr.. Rhodes |
residence here consists ofa cluster
Of half a dozen circular huts, built |
after a native fashion, with clay |
walls, thatched roofs, and mud |
floors. They stand on the summit
OF small kopje, in the midst of |
the most charming scenery, and
almost within view Of the spot
where the owner held his famous
indaba with the rebels which was
the means of bringing the war to
a termination. The site of the
relief columns base camp is
pointed out in the valley below
the homestead. Breakfast over,
we again entered the coach, and
whipped for the Matoppos, which
were already apparently outflank-
ing US with their gigantic semi
circleSot bills. The scenery be-
came more picturesque as we went
on, and the road was soon a rib
bon OF mans making in a wilder
ness OF Natures most fantastic
designs. Enormous blocks of
granite and limestone lay about
On all sides in wild confusion, but
With their sombre ruggedness |
ioftened and beauti6ed blythe green
nopanl trees which found root in
very creVice and, as it seemed,
IN every patch OF moss. Lovely ,
lowers added their brightness to :
ne scene, and now and then the :
musical sound Of running water :
would betray a slender stream OF
ilver descending, perhaps, many !
hundreds Of feet over, some great :
lift face. Here would be an enor- ,
nous fragment Of rock, weigh
ng hundreds OF tons, and yet
'oised so delicately on the pointed :
pex OF a much smaller rock below ;
hat it looked as ii child's little :
niger might send it crashing down; !
here, on the very edge Of lofty +
recipice, a Sphynx.like figure, :
by Nature in wonder \
US anticipation OF Art, gazed | I
-onilY towards the Matoppos, as \
on guard against the venture /,
ome Invaders ofthat granite maze. |,
The objective point Of our trip | il
as what is known a" The Worlds s.
Jew" and some seven or eight a
lilies from Westacre we dis "
lounted from the coach at a point /
here we were met BY an armed e
3cort Of six dismounted troopers a.
the British South African Com s
any's Police, nder the command a.
a sergeant. The Matoppos are r;
IMPLY honeyCombed with natural al
ives, and, as many Of these still o.
lrhOr natives ulhn ,r,nre .1n,,klI u | =.