1893] The Matabele War 115 



who has not abandoned his rights over the Mashonas, sending a regi- 

 ment to collect taxes, kill the people, and take cattle.' They did so 

 to some extent in Fort Victoria ; then Dr. Jameson ordered a small 

 mounted force to charge — when two chiefs and thirty Matabeles were 

 killed. ' The situation,' he says, ' is somewhat complicated, for while 

 the Company have administrative authority over Mashonaland, they 

 are still, as regards political matters, under my control, and, moreover, 

 the country under my direct administration must be affected by what 

 the Company may do. Probably the Protectorate would be the first to 

 be attacked by Lobengula, should there be war. I have some strong 

 positions and a powerful police force supported, if necessary, by native 

 levies, but still not strong enough to carry the war into the enemy's 

 country and force a battle away from supports. The danger is the 

 Company, as soon as they are a little better prepared, may bring about 

 fighting, as they can't stand long armed and waiting for events with the 

 possible view of committing H.M.'s Government in their quarrel. So 

 I am obliged to watch both friend and enemy, and if fighting once 

 begins, the conduct of it will fall entirely upon me, while if I do any- 

 thing the Company can lay hold of as causing them commercial loss, 

 either by checking their fighting or by encouraging them to do so, that 

 will enable them to say to Her Majesty's Government: " If it had not 

 been for the action of the High Commissioner we should not have 

 incurred these losses, and they might in consequence endeavour to 

 obtain compensation for these alleged losses out of the Government." 



" This is a good example of the way in which these Colonial wars 

 are begun. 



" gth Nov. — To Westminster with intent to see Labouchere, who is 

 bringing on the Matabele case in Parliament to-day, but he was out. 



"Then to lunch by invitation of Loulou at II, Downing Street. 

 Sir William was there looking, I thought, older and less healthy than 

 when I saw him last, in less good spirits, too, than is his wont, but he 

 told us some good stories as the meal went on, the other guests being 

 Mildmay and his wife, a sister of Lady Harcourt. When alone with 

 me afterwards in his official room he began complaining of the brutality 

 of the British public, which insisted upon the slaughter of the Matabeles 

 to procure itself markets for its goods. ' It used,' he said, ' to be 

 slaughter for the glory of the thing, but they have given that up now, 

 now it is slaughter for trade.' I asked: 'But why do you do it?' 

 ' Oh,' he said, ' we are all burglars now.' I said : ' If you will allow me 

 to say it, you are in the position of a bishop who burgles a church. 

 Why do you not disapprove?' 'Bishops,' he said, 'are always the 

 first to lay their hands on property when they can do it. I remember 

 Bright telling me that he never knew a bishop express disapproval of 

 a war but once, and that was a war to put down the slave trade.' /. — 



