320 Men, Mines, and Animals in South Africa. 



been strengthened by British assistance and good 

 offices, and, confident in British support, he no 

 longer fears his enemy Lobengula. As to the 

 probable conduct of Lobengula in the future, 

 I procured some interesting information from 

 an English gentleman long resident at Pala- 

 pye, whose father dwells at Baluwyo. In his 

 opinion Lobengula has long meditated a flitting 

 with all his tribe and belongings, into the country 

 north of the Zambesi, uhere he calculates to carry 

 on with ease an unrestrained and exterminating 

 war of conquest. The great difficulty in the way 

 of this policy is the transportation of the immense 

 herds of cattle and sheep, the property of the 

 monarch and his people, across the broad and rapid 

 Zambesi. But my informant thought that, as 

 white settlers and merchants multiplied, and as 

 British influence and domination increased, Loben- 

 gula would get more and more uneasy, more bent 

 and resolute on his policy of migration towards the 

 north. But my informant felt certain that before 

 any such migration actually took place, Loben- 

 gula would make himself, or would alloAv his young 

 men to make, a last dying effort as it were against 

 the white people, when much bloodshed and 

 massacre might occur. It is not, however, likely 

 that the British authorities will not obtain ample 

 notice beforehand of the imminence of any such 

 attack. Khama possesses in his rival's city many 

 and various channels of sure information. Nor are 

 the Administrator of Bechuanaland or the police 

 force by any means poorly provided for in this 



