The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-01-24
THE TRIBE OF BASUTOS.
A THORN IN THE FLESH OF BOTH
BRiTON AND BOER.


n Standing Army Of 10000 Men.
The Basuto IL the latest troubling
factor in the Transynnl tragedy. He
has been troubling factor since the
beginning Of South African civiliza.
ton. He has warred With tho Eng
lsh. lie has warrcd with the Beers.
He has broken treaties. He has mp
set calculations. He has smashed
policies. He has changed maps. He
assisted at the formation of the Trans.
vaal republic. lie presided over the
birth Of the Orange Free State. lie
has been thorn in the side OF Doer
and En1lishmeu.
And now, civilized aud prosperous
far beyond any black people, lie wants
to meddlo again. This Basuto prob.
lem is n serious one for both English
aud Beers. The Basuto army is pow
erful. II numbers 10000 warriors
and includes n splendid cavalry.
They would form powerful British
ally and dreaded Boer enemy.
This Basuto tribe, now so anxiously
watched by English eyes, is in many
respects The most remarkable in South
Africa. IL occupies rocky tract
bounded by Natal, Cape Colony aud
the Orange Free State, known as the
Switzerland of South Africa II con
tans 10, BOB square miles and is ribbed
with mountain ranges and valleys of
wonderful fertility.
Basutoland is practically reserva-
ton, and no white men are allowed
to live there except government Off
cials, missionaries and limited num-
Der Of traders. Its native population
is $50, 900; its European population,
900. II is British crown colony with
home rule under modified native laws.
The Basutos are highly civilized
for natives. They are of mixed stock
and are like the Kaiiirs, with thinner
lips and softer features. They have
welcomed missionaries, and, as q rule,
| profess II Cnlvinistic Protestant faith.
| They have the entire Bible translated.
Their land is dotted with churches
and schoolhouses. They are well ed
ucated. Thousands OF them speak
Dutch and English huently. Alone
! OF African tribes they build comforta-
BILE brick aud stone houses. They
have excellent roads and keep them in
repair.
They are also an industrious peo.
pie. They raise cattle and sheep
extensivelyand affect improved breeds.
Their enormous fertile valleys yield
rich crops Of wheat and maize. They
cultivate wool. They have a steady
market at Cape Colony, and in good
years import thither produce to tue
value of 81 200, 900. Coal is mined in
the mountains.
With these thrifty habits and their
civilization, the Basutos maintain an
army of high standard. It's normal
strength is 30, 0On, but they can put
so, 900 in the field without an effort.
1t spite of disarmament, half OF these
warriors would carry rifles. The rest
have assegais and battleaxes. The
feature of the Basuto army is its cav
airy. From early times they have
fought on horseback. In their wars
with the Beers their mounted war
riors did great execution.
| Their present chief is Lerothodi, n
brave man and skillful warrior. His
home is mountain cave, whose walls
are pictured with hunting scenes and
battles. No small skill is shown in
these drawings, in all of which the
Basuto warriors are depicted as
shapely men and their enemies hid
eous impossibilities. Their noun
tains are full of great caves, utilized
as armories, forts and hiding places.
Theig capital is Thaba Bosigo, an i'm
pregnable mountain stronghold, often
assaulted but never taken. There is
10 securer retreat in all Africa than
this.
When the Beers, resenting English
rule, moved from Cape Colony into
Natal and there made a stand against
English interference, the Basutos
were factor in the quarrel. Pre-
torians were beaten and Natal seized
by the British. The Beers refused TO
stay and retreated to the Orange
river country, where they again set
up their republican government. This
gave great offence to England and it
was determined to erect barrier of
native tribes between them and ciyili-
zation with the purpose of forcing
their return. Moshesh and his Ba-
sutos were the principal of these ma.
tive states. Sovereign rights were
granted him over large tract north
Of the Orange river and he was paid a
subsidy. he was thus in control of
the new land occupied by the Beers.
But the plan failed. The Beers
laughed at native soyereigns. They
remained where thev were and gov
erned themselves. Wars sprang mp.
The whole situation was impossible,
and when Sir Harry Smith arrived he
determined to break the native states.
incidentally, he annexed the Orange
river district, Beers and all, to the
British dominions. And thus do we
get glimpse OF that early bounding
OF the Boer by the Briion that is now
bearing fruit.
Moshesh agreed, and the farmers
fought and were beaten. Again.