XIV 



HER MAJESTY'S MISSION TO MATABELELAND 



1890 



IT having been decided to send a letter from Her Majesty 

 the Queen to Lobengula, King of the Matabeles, on behalf 

 of the British South Africa Company, to which a Boyal charter 

 had just been granted, the choice of messengers fell upon two 

 officers, one warrant officer, and one trooper of the Boyal 

 Begiment of Horse Guards. In order the more to impress his 

 sable Majesty with the importance of the mission, the letter was 

 to be delivered by these delegates in full levee dress, with 

 cuirasses in addition. The letter advised Lobengula to put 

 his trust in the agents of the British South Africa Company, 

 in which Her Majesty had the greatest confidence. Having 

 made full inquiries into the proposed scheme of the Company, 

 and about the men intended to carry it out, the Queen had 

 seen fit to grant to it her Boyal charter. The officials ap- 

 pointed would relieve Lobengula of all trouble likely to arise 

 between the white people and the natives. The Bev. J. G. 

 Moffat, who had already proved himself a friend to Lobengula 

 and to his people, would remain in Matabeleland as the British 

 representative, and communicate to the King from time to time 

 the Queen's words. A pleasant voyage to the Cape in that 

 most comfortable ship the Hawarden Castle, five hours in 

 Cape Town, and thirty-two in the mail train brought us on 

 December 14th to the diamond city, Kimberley, where, as 

 everywhere else, we were most hospitably received. Two days 

 later a four-wheeled coach, specially set apart for the mission, 

 and drawn by eight mules, stood ready at our host's door, 

 gorgeously painted in red and yellow, and honoured by the 



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