Evening star., 1908-01-25

- TERN work faces the British war
department The Zulus are in up
In all the vast colonial posses
sions of Great Britain there is no
point where a rebellion is SO dreaded.
In India. where fanatical Sepoys have
in the past precipitated terrific confiitcs
the problem Of restoring order is never so
difficult as that which develops when the
savage. Zulus turn from the path of peace
The incredible courage and ferocity OF
the Zulu. together with his knowledge of
the rules of modern warfare, would make
him redoubtable foe even If his arma-
ment consisted only of the primitive as
segai of his forefathers. but. unfortunate
ly. the savage is now in possession of the
most modern equipment.
During the Boer war the British used
the Zulus with great effect against the
farmers OF the veltland. The Zulus had
ever hated the I-itlanders for driving
them from some of their choicest posses
sions in the dark continent They made
common cause with the British against
the followers of Dom Paul and did deadly
work.
But after the war, the Zulus. in recogni-
ton of their valiant services. were per-
now these are likely to be turned against
the soldiers of England in a struggle that
seems TO be unavoidable.
Through Natal and Zululand thousands
OF the more intelligent of the natives have
been made members of the British police.
What will be their attitude in the event
of an uprising is hard to determine. Thus
far they have loyalty served Great Brit
ain. but this is no guarantee for the fu-
ture The Zulu has boundleSS love for his
home and zeal for the fatherand. whic!:
was his undisputed till the white mar
came TO despoil him If the cry of 'Afri-
ca for the Zulu is sent over the who!
district the weil-equipped Zulu police me Y
prove recreant to this trust and join mis-
people in the combat against Britain. II
he does the task that faces the war office
will have increased in difficulty about
tenfold.
Sacrificing Children.
"The fercest. most bloodthirsty nation
II fighters in all the world is the way
xse Zulus have been characterized. and
~hen IL is remembered that in Natal
alone there are a million of them against
one hundred thousand white population.
IL can be seen what tremendous havoc
they could create before Englands full
power could be exerted to restore tran
quility
Chieftains like Bambaata and Dinizulu
have already been hurling defiance and
even bullets at the British on the frontiers
of Natal, and. worse still. the horrid prac-
tice of sacrificing children to make the
black warriors immune from British bull
Jets has already begun.
This custom is taken as an almost IN
fallible sign of impending rebellion by
the British colonial Office.
Under ordinary conditions the Zulu
chi>ftain in his own rough way Is fond
of his children. and the mother passion
ateIy devotes herself to them. When she
goes To work in the field the little ones
arr strapped to her back. and her care
over them is constant and no less de-
voted than the mother love to be found
in the occident.
But in time Of warfare. when the inter
ests of the fatherland are at stake. all
family love must be subordinated To pa
triotism. Then the mothers deliver their
little girls over to the witch doctors. The
boys are spared because of their duty 10
grow up and become soldiers. ready TO
fight for their country.
To Make Invunerable.
RuthIessly are the poor little girls pat
IN death. and from the slaughtered bodies
,s concocted "a fluid which. when rubbed
over the bodies of warriors. Is said 10
make them immune from the the effects OF
British bullets.
When about to practice their incahta-
tions these wizard doctors smear their
bodies and faces with white paint. Arouno