Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-04-06
"KING KHAMA'''
The Christian King Of Africa, Friend OF
Livingstone, Dies at the Age Of 81
By Mortimer L. Fiske
In the Christian Advocate, Published
at $50 Fifth Avenue, New York

LII lHe CuTlSIldu AuNOCdI0, IuDllSuSu
at $50 Fifth Avenue, New York
"You need not have the wagons
watched now. We crossed into
Khama's country last night, and none
of his people will take anything"
Perhaps that casual remark of a
British officer accompanying a party of
white people travelling in the heart of
Africa, is as fine a tribute to the
Christian leadership of King Khama
of the Bamangwato as has ever been
uttered. For here in the heart of
Africa, on the edge of the Kalahari
desert, surrounded by war-like natives,
by the Boer c~olonists, by German set
tiers and by English traders and de-
velopers, King Khama has wrought a
state unique in the annals of Africa.
And here he has lived a life unique
in the annals of kingship, whether
African, European, or Asiatic. On
February 81, 1923, this king died in
his ninety-fourth year and all the
world took note. 1t is not often that
oil AL lCdA llFSO W I1C dSO VI IT. COA-
ditions of climate, of warfare, of living
are against it. 1t is not often that a
king in Africa-or elsewhere for that
matter-lives to the age of "a; unus-
ual temptation to lives of excess are
against it. But King Khama's story
is unique in Africa and unique among
kings.
David Livingstone and the Witch
Doctors Boy
To tell the story of Khama must
go back to the days of David Living
stone in Central Africa. Here the
great missionary made the first i'm
preston of Christianity upon the lad,
who was destined to succeed his
father as chief of the Bamangwato
people in Bechuanaland. At some
time during this period Khama was
baptized a Christian, much to the dis
gust and dismay of his father, Sex
home, who was an ardent believer in
the efficacy of the witch doctors. In
those early years also the boy be-
came acquainted with Moffatt, Nc
Kenzie and Coillard, and their lives.
He became more and more convinced
that his people and his country need
ed the Christian gospel. Early in life
he married a Christian girl and stead
lily refused to obey the orders of his
father that he take additional wifes.
One day in the year 1862 a runner
brought news that the Matabele, a
nearby war-like tribe, were about to
attack the capital city, S%hoshong.
Such news brought terror to the Ba-
mangwato people, for it was well
known that in these raids the Mata-
beles spared neither men, women nor
children. The people took to the
caves and the hills; they drove the
turned to the witch doctors for adj
vice and aid, but no help was avail
able. Khama took a few picked men
went aside to pray. After prayer he
selected 200 of the best soldiers of his
own regiment and went out to meet the
advancing Matabeles. He came upon
them at sunset, and in a fierce battle
forced them to retreat back to their
own territory. He was hailed as a
great warrior by his people, but his
father only showed greater hatred.
For ten years the old king tried to
force his son to marry other wives.
One night he Eve brought armed
soldiers to Stay him. But they turned
upon the king, reused the town against
him and finally drove him into retire
ment. But Khama brought his father
back and the old chief reigned until
his death, while Khama himself hid
away with his family for a number of
years.
The Christian King
uy.AI a. ~