The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-06
NROIRE BASUI()S ARE
History of the Most Powerful
of the Black Tribes.
FREE STATE THREATENED
Boer and Briton Equally Dread
Their Uprising.

uneasiness of the Basutos."
This brief but significant statement
was made few days ago by Mr.. Spenser
Wilkinson, one Of the best military ex-
iperts in England. Among the thousands
Of Englishnen and foreigners familiar
with the facts. who read it, there were
few indeed who did not agree with him
that the news of growing unrest among
the people of Basutoland was most onnin-
Gus, for a very obvious reason. To re-
strain people like the Basutos after they
have once became restless is no easy task,
and if in the present insance it should
prove impossible the great question arises:
On which side, if on either, viii this
powerful African tribe range itself, on
the side of the British or on that Of
the Boers?"
The Basutos inhabit an irregular and
oval shaped country in the northeast of
Cape Colony the area of which is about
1928 square miles. A well watered
country, it Is. with a delightful climate
and with soil which is admirably adapt
ed for producing grain, AIeadowland al
so a5ounds and large herds OF cattle
add much to the wealth Of the natives.
The capital is Maseur, and therein six
hundred Basutas and thirty Europeans
find homes. Europeans settlement is pro-
hibited throughout the country, and,
therefore, the white population has re-
manned for some years practically limited
to the few foreigners who take in wheat
mealies and corn. OF mineral wealth
especially of copper and iron, there are
many indications. and coal has also been
found
The Basutos are tribe of the Bechua-
mas, and the census Of 1891 shows that
they numbered 21SOOO. They are race
of recent origin. being really an agglom-
Grafton Of people who had been scattered
during the Zulu eonquests at the begin
ming of the present century. Europe
heard little of them until they rose to
power under their great chief Moresh,
who had many disputes with the Free
State and who finally transferred the
sovereignty Of his country TO Queen Vic
tor9a. The country, however knew no
rest until 1869, when peace was concluded
by the terms OF which Basutoland was
reduced to about one-half its original
extent
Trouble again came in 1889. when the
Cape Colony made an unsuccessful at
tempt TO disarm the Basutos The result
was disastrous REBELLION, in which. af
ter several months hard lighting. no
definite advantage was gained by either
side, and the resources, both of the col
onists and OF their swarthy adversaries
were practically exhausted A High
commissioner, who was appointed as ar
Dltrator, decided that the Basutas should
pay fine In cattle, and soon afterwards
oil was framed providing for the dis
annexation Of their country
The imperial government then agreed
TO undertake the provisional adminisra
ton of Basutoland, but only on condition
that the natives should give satisfactory
evidence Of their desire to remain under
the British crown, that the Orange Free
state should pledge itself to respect the
frontier rights, and that the Cane Col
ony should pay over toward the cost of
administration the customs duties re-
oeived on goods imported into BaS,to-
land. The Colony accepted this offer
and In the Basutoland Instrumentation act
provision was made for the payment OF
10000 year. The Orange Free State
ALSO intimated its willingness to comply
with the conditions imposed upon it by
England. As for the Basutos. they held
a great 'ptsu,' or parliament. on No
vePnber %, 1883, and there and then the
Representatives Of more than two-thirds
OF the entire tribe expressed their desire
TO remain under British rule and their
Willingness 10 pay hat tax and TO com
Bly wdth the other conditions on which
the imperial government was pre- pared
20 undertake the administration of
affairs.
There was one chief, however. who pos
ltively refused to accept England's offer
This was Masupha, a man of great au-
.hority and influence. In answer 10 AL
arguments and pleas he simply said that
he preferred to retain his own indie
oendence. To this sturdy nationalist the
British government paid scant attention.
II formally declared that the requisite
conditions had been sufficiently complied
With. and without further delay it took
steps to carry on the government nder
he immediate authority Of the crown.
Consequently since March l3, 1854 the /
,erritory has been ruled by a Royal High /
Commissioner.
The chiefs. however. stiu retain much !
If their old authority Thus they still /
ldiudicatc IN all matters between natives.
he next higher court TO which anpeais /
shere all cases between Europeans and /
natives are brought. This method OF dis /
Oensing justice soon became reasonably /
popular. and even the redoubtable Ma /
supha rendered his submission in 1SS5,
and asked that a magistrate be sent TO I
reside In his district. The people had be 4
come orderly and law abiding by that |
time. and the saIutaly influence of the /
missionaries. the chiefs and the govern I
meHt had done much 10 bring about a 1
aiminuJion Of serious crimes and Of in |
toxioatlon. which at one time had |
threatened 20 utterly destroy the natives. /
There is not canteen in BasutoIand /
toay. As educators the missionaries have +
also done good work, and altogether the |
Basutos have become wonderfully civ /
ilized within the last fifteen years This /
does not mean that all the old veSUiges /
OF oarbarism have wholly disappeared. /
The Basuros are glad TO imoprt blankets. /
ploughs. saddles and brides. clothing and /
iron and unware from England. but they /
often given in return for them native 4
goods instead Of money, and many OF /
them pay their taxes IN tie same way. /
There is not telegraph or a railway in /
the country, and letters are only delivered |
once a Week The nearest telegraph 4
station i at Ladysmith. in the Orange
Free state. and the transmission OF let |
ters TO and from Europe takes from IS /
days 10 q month
When the war in the TransvaaI broke ]
out The ruElor spread that the Basatos