New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-11
BURIAL OF CECIL RHODES.
PROCESSION FIVE MILES LONG Full
LOWS BODY TO MATOPPO HILLS.
TWELVE OXEN HAUL THE COFFIN ~ LIE
ROCKY TOMB ON THE sUMM1T-NA-
TIVE RITES AT THE GRAVE.


Buluwayo Matabeleland April 1O-AHid an
immense throng of soldiers, civilians ana ma
tiyes. the body of Cecil Rhodes to-day com
mitted to its rocky tomb in the Matoppo Hills
The coffin was shrouded in union jack ana
the wreath sent by Queen Alexandra was laid
upon it as it was lowered into the grave
The funeral party started from Fuilers Hotel
early this morning. The procession was h>e
miles long it wound through the Nils anu
gorges. Every sort of conveyance was maue use
of; some foot others were on horSs
back or on bicycles while still others were IN
wagons and carriages. When the PROCESSION
was mile from the grave everybody dlsnloui'-
ed and concluded the journey on foot Twelve
oxen hauled the coffin to the almost inaccesslpie
summit of the kopje. where the Chiefs Shombii
Faku and Umgula and two thousand natives
had assembled TO witness the Christian inter-
ment rites, which they afterward supplemented
in their own fashion by the sacrlfce or h1teeh
oxen to the shade of the great dead chief.
Thousands of white persons congregated
around the windswept hill. The grave was en-
crcled by six powders. The burial was ex-
tremely impressive. The dead march ech 1;t.a
through the hills and the natives stood IKE
statues. Tears were in the eyes of many or me
onlookers. The Bishop of Mashonaland. VINO
conducted the service said
Il consecrate this place forever: here he
tn ought. here he lived and died for the empire
When the coffin was lowered into the tolnp
chiselled in the solid rock all those present
sang "Old Hundred" and Now the Laborer
Task Is Ger" The remainder of the funeral
service was chanted. and the band played the
dead march in Saul The tomb was covered
with Wreaths.
At the close of the ceremony those present
slowly inspected the spot where Mr.. Rhodes lies
buried. and threw flowers upon his grave Ut
Jameson Colonel Francis Rhodes and all the
other mOurners left Buluwayo tonight on d
special train.
The scene around Cecil Rhodess farm the
night preceding his burial was most extraor-
binary. The whole population Of BuluWayo
seemed to be moving there to camp. and as the
darkness closed down the camp fires spanked
in all directions. The people. in every sort OF
throughout the entire night. Some natives
tramped hundred miles in order to be pres
ent at the interment. The men wore big SLOUGH
hats and shirts with short sleeves. Morning re-
yealed an immense camp in lovely valley
bright with sunlight. Mighty Kopjes and granite
powders walled il every side.
The difficult ascent to the place of burial was
accomplished by o'clock in the morning, and
the services We're conducted at 1870. After the
Bishop of Mashonaland had read the poem writ
ten for the occasion by Rudyard Kipling. Sc
kombo the great induna and orator of the Mata-
belle. made speech in which he said
Both Cecil Rhodes and Umsilgazi. the foun-
der of the Matabee nation. buried on the
Matoppo Hills. and the Natabele now consider
that the spirit of Umsiligazi is with that OF
Cecil Rhodes