The state herald., 1900-01-05


GUS one for both English and the
Beers. The Basuto army is powerful.
II numbers 10000 warriors and in
cludes a splendid cavalry. They would
form powerful British ally and a
dreaded Boer enemy. But their en-
trance on the field would upset every
British plan, and would end-where?
England fears to find herself triumph
ant over the Boer and facing a vast
native uprising. For the savage Is
the savage under any flag. and under
no flag long: and the ball once set
a-rolling might need new army Of
100000 to stop its course.
This Basuto tribe. now so anxiously
watched by English eyes, is in many
respects the most remarkable in
South Africa. II occupies rocky
tract bounded by Natal. Cape Colony.
and the Orange Free State. known as
the Switzerland OF South Africa. 1t
contains 1929 square miles, and is
ribbed with mountain ranges and val
leys of wonderful fertility. Basutoland
Is practically reservation. and no
white men are allowed to live there
except government officials. mission
aries and limited number OF traders.
Its native population is 100000: Its
European population. GOO. II is a
British crown colony. with home rule
under modified native laws. The Ba-
sutos are highly civilized for natives.
They are mixed stock and are like the
kafiirs. with thinner lips and softer
features. They have welcomed mis-
sionaries and. ms n people. profess n
Calvinistic Protestant faith. They
have the entire Bible translated. Their
land is dotted with churches and
schoolhouses. They are well educated.
Thousands OF them speak Dutch and
English huently. Alone OF African
tribes they build comfortable brick and
stone houses. They have excellent
roads and keep them In repair. They
are also an industrious people They
raise cattle and sheep extensively, and
affect improved breeds. Their en-
ormously fertile valleys yield rich
crops OF wheat and maize. They cult
vate wool. They have n steady market
at Cape Colony. and In good years I'm
port thither produce to the value OF a
million dollars. Coal is mined In the
mountains. With these thrifty habits
and their civilization the Basutos
maintain an army OF high moral
standard. Its normal strength is 30.-
900. but they can put 10000 In the field
without an effort. In spite OF disar-
mament. half OF these warriors would
carry rides. The rest have assegals
and battle axes. The feature OF the
Basuto army is Its cavalry. From
early times they have fought on horse
back. They are daring and skillfui
horscmcn. In their wars with
Beers their mounted warriors did great
execution.
Their present chief is LerothodI. a
brave man and skillful warrior. His
home lr mountain cave. whose walls
are pictured with hunting scenes and
battles. No small skill is shown In
these drawings. In all OF which the Ba-
suto warriors are depicted as shapciy
men and their enemies hldcous Inpos-
siblitics. Their mountains are full OF
great caves. utilized as armorics. forts
and hiding places. Their capital In
Thnba Boslgo. nm lmpregnable noun
tain stronghold. often assaulted. but
never taken. There In no accurer re-
treat In all Africa than this.
In the history OF South Africa tho
Bnsutos share honors with the Zulua.
The two races are termed the Normans
of the south. Yet In power. ferocity
and cruelty. the Basutos are no match
for the zulua. They owe their honors
more to intelligence and craft than
force. They arc weaker. yet the harder
enemy TO beat.
They arose from the remnants OF the
many tribes dispersed and nearly OBJ
liberated by the Zuius In that fierce
carnival OF outrage and slaughter In
tho beginning Of the century. Nothing
In history compares with tho ferocity
and cruelty Of those early Zulu wars.
For hundreds OF miles In all directions
the forests were cleared OF inhabitants.
The few who escaped were driven
north and south 10 meet new enemies
nnd NY back upon the asEegalH Of the
zulus. out OF hundreds Of thousands
only escaped. and these hun
drcdr, tho survivors OF many tribes.
were the beginning Of the Basutos.
They found refuge Mt Thnbn BosiEo.
Ind there young man OF humble
A