The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-17
4 TAX VAR ~ soUrF AFRIcAP
Two Collectors KiIlcd-BasutOs and zuluS
Talking Fight.

To THE Enron OF THK SUN-Sir; Though
there Is q good deal Of reticenoe on tine part
Of the Natal papers regarding the naive
troubles in that colony and Iululand' tnere
IL enough to show that there exists a some,
what critical situation in the imposition ana
collection of the new taxes. The killing OF
two tax collectors in the resistance made by
the natives in the Richmond district south OF
Pietermaritzburg resulted In the wholesale
punishment OF the natives by the burning oil
their kraals and the destruction OF their crops,
while quite a number. including women ana
children. are reported to have been killed,
and no one arrested for the deaths OF the
two tax collectors.
A correspondent writing TO the Times OF
Natal from the Camperdown district stated
that out Of $50 natives liable to the poll tax
only 100 30 far had paid, and they were. with
the exception of about half a dozen. natives
In the service of whites. The recaloitrants
were in native areas or locations. In one
case q native who had paid without having
been authorized by his chief to do 80 was
murdered. This fact Of the natives looking
to their chiefs for permission or orders to
pay the tax 10 giving some concern TO the
colonial authorities. as 1t reveals an unex-
pected survival Of influence and authorityDy
the chiefs over the people. Natives 10 service
who had been called to their kraals by their
chiefs when the tax was imposed returned.
Baylng tney were BolnR 10 pay ana MOI uBut'
and appeared to be much relieved in conse-
Quenoe.
In the meantime. there Ia. a great deal OF
unrest among the whites In outlying dis
tricts, and from one there was q trek TO
Pietermarltzburg as the result of Q scare;
but this was afterward described as a prac-
tice In tactical mobilization" Sites for
laagers were being selected at different polnte
in which the white settlers could take refuge
by the militia and other colonial forces.
Another cause OF disQuiet among both the
natives and whites VAS that alleged ennis.
saries OF Dinizulu, the chief Of
Zululand, were 70 Ing about the country, tell
ing the people that the Basutos and Iulus
One who was arrested stated that himself
and the nine others. who were sent from
Basutoland TO Dinlzulu had been instructed
by him to tell all the natives In Natal to Kill
all their pigs, to hide their pots and other
utensils of European, manufaoture. TO get rld
Of all pigs fat, and to take OF European
clothing and return to the leather garments
TO obey these Instructions would be eaten
up" by DiniZulu when war came. In one
part OF the country, as q result OF the pas.
sage through. 1t OF. these emissaries. most OF
the natives killed their pigs. There was fear
and unrest everywhere among them.
arrested were tried along with the other for
spreading alarms throughout the country,
and being found guilty were each, sentenced
to six months impri sonment with hard labor
and to receive fifteen lashes. AT the time OF
the leaving. Of the mail no further indications
Of trouble had been reported, and Dinizulu
ieotor in his district and paid his tax, thus
helping to relieve the situation somewhat.
NEW YORK, March 10. +.