The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-03-12

II numbers 10000 warriors and in
cludes a splendid cavalry. They would
form powerful British ally and
dreaded Boer enemy. But their en-
trance on the field would upset every
British plan, and would 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 a 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 I'm
South Africa. 1t occupies rocky
tract bounded by Natal Cape Colony.
and the Orange Free State. known as
the Switzerland of South Africa. IL
contains 1928 square miles and is
ribbed with mountain ranges and val
leys Of wonderful fertility Basutoiand
is practically a reservation. and no
white men are allowed to live there
except government officials. mission
aries and limited number OF traders
Its native population is 10000: its
European population, 600 Il is
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
Kaftrs with thinner lips and softer
features. They have welcomed mis-
sionaries and, as people. profess a
Calvinistic Protestant faith. They
have the entire Bible translated. Their
land is dotted with churches and
schoolhouses. They are we'll educated.
Thousands OF them speak Dutch and
English fiuently Alone of African
tribes they build comfortable brick and
stone houses. They nave 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 culti-
vate wool. They have steady market
at Cape Colony, and in good years inn
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 a high moral
standard. It's normal strength Is go
600, but they can put $4,000 in the field
without an effort. In spite OF disar-
mament. half Of these warriors would
carry rifles. 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 skillful
horsemen. In their wars with
Beers their mounted warriors did great
execution.
Their present chiefris Lerothodi.
brave man and skilIful warrior His
home is a 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 shapely
men and their enemies hideous impos-
sibilities. Their mountains are full OF
great caves, utilized as armories, forts
and hiding places Their capital is
Thaba Bosigo, an impregnable noun
tain stronghold, often assaulted but
never taken. There is no securer re-
treat in all Africa than this.
In the history of South Africa the
Basutos share honors with the Zulus
The two races are termed the Normans
of the south. Yet in power. ferocity
and cruelty, the Basutos are no match
for the zulus. They owe their honors
more to intelligence and craft than
force. They are weaker, yet the harder
enemy to beat
They arose from the remnants OF the
many tribes dispersed and nearly OBJ
liberated by the zulus in that Aerce
carnival Of outrage and slaughter in
the beginning OF the century Nothing
in history compares with the ferocity
and cruelty OF those early Zulu wars.
For hundreds OF miles in all directions
the forests we're cleared OF inhabitants.
The few who escaped were driven
north and south TO meet new enemies
and fly back upon the assegais OF the
Zulus. Out OF hundreds OF thousands
only escaped, and these hun
dreds, the survivors Of many tribes,
were the beginning OF the Basutos.
They found refuge at Thaba Bosigo,
and there a young man OF humble
birth. Moshesh by name, brought them
through danger and death, h,not by force
but by cunning, and eventually made
them a great and powerful tribe. The
name of Moshesh is revered today
When In doubt the chiefs OF the Basu-
fnr meet ana ooIarunIv aol. "Whaf