The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-06-12
A CLOSE CALL
FOR TWO MEN
Matabele Tried Smok-
ing Them Out of
Ration Pit.


first fight with the Matabele on No
vember 4, 1898, at the Inquest river,
that a small party of Raaf's Horse
were out foraging.
Rations were very scarce with our
column, which was under command
of Major Gould Adams, so We used to
thoroughly search the Matabele kra-
ais to get supplies of grain. In those
days the natives we're in the habit of
storing grain in enormous pits under
their cattle kraals, the entrance be-
ing through a narrow shaft about
three feet deep. You dropped down
through that and found yourself in
a vast cavern full of grain. At the
sides there would be big straw bask-
cts, or big clay tubs, in which we
usually found nuts and beans.
When I first struck one of these
underground granaries it seemed to
me like kind of Ali Baba's cave.
There was very little fun about ex-
ploring it, though. 1t was all solid
hard work. Our method was to send
down our thinnest man. He would
make a sack of his shirt, and so send
sup the grain through the shaft. Un-
happily for me, was usually select
er for this task, as there was very
little spare flesh about me at that
time. The grain gave out kind OF
heat, and as one worked at full pres
sure it was most fatiguing.
One day our party had struck
large kraal, and after carefully going
through the huts for any stray Mat
abele we proceeded to the cattle
closure. Here / shed my tunic and
rifle and dropped through into the
pit. A couple of fellows were posted
a short distance off to keep watch,
the remainder being at the mouth OF
the pit busy filling the nosebags with
the grain l sent up.
I had been at work for about
quarter of an hour, and was thinking
it time I had rest, when all OF a
sudden bang! bang! went the rifles,
and l could hear the Matabele yelling.
EtStay where you are; the niggers
are right on us!" some one shouted
down to me, and then off they went,
leaving me alone. Above could hear
a terrific racket-shots, yells and the
pattering of feet.
AS there was nothing to be done,
and I could not get out of the cave
without assistance, I promptly retir-
ed to the farthest corner and cuddled
up behind one of the grain baskets in
case of trouble, for ! had not even a
knife on me.
By the amount of yelling going on
the Matabele seemed in force, and |
began to wonder how things would
pan out, and whether our men would
be compelled to retire. knew they
would return sooner or later, but
there seemed chance that the inter-
val might prove rather more exciting
than l wanted.
After while, as I sat there, listen
ing intently, I heard the Matabele at
the mouth of the pit. Fortunately 1t
was only light just under the en-
trance, the rest of the cave being in
deep shadow. Unless a very thor
ough search was made, therefore, |
should not be noticed.
Suddenly, PUNK! down dropped a
Matabele into the grain pit. | crouch
ed back, hardly daring to breathe, for
what might happen if he discovered
me was not pleasant to contemplate.
From where I was hidden | could
plainly see him-a stalwart young
warrior-but what l observed par
ticularly was the fact that he had a
couple of most business-like asse-
gals. while had no weapon at all.
The Matabele language is almost
identical with the Zulu. and | was
therefore able to understand when the
intruder shouted up to his people that
there was no one in the pit. He then
called to them to reach down and
pull him out but they told him to
send them up some nuts first.
Sulkily he made for one OF the
baskets near him, and was soon busy
at the very game I had been occupied
at. | was now feeling much more
at ease, as l reckoned that my unWel-
come visitor would soon leave.
Presently, however, I heard a yell
from the niggers on top. "Amikawa!
(the white men, they shouted, and