152 SPORT AND TRAVEL PAPERS 



killed by assegai to the number of from 400 to 500. The 

 flesh, cut up, was heaped up in several huts and left there in 

 order that during the night the spirits of the Matabele fathers 

 should take what they wanted. The King himself was rubbed 

 over with gall, while his sons and daughters had to wear armlets 

 of intestines until night. On the next day the meat is cooked 

 in 300 to 400 enormous earthenware pots, and divided among 

 the regiments, who devour it during the following night and day, 

 quenching their thirst with large quantities of beer, brought in 

 calabashes from every kraal in the country by strings of girl 

 slaves. 



All the meat eaten and beer consumed, the regiments take 

 their departure, first setting fire to their huts. Owing to the 

 almost constant rain these would not burn satisfactorily, but 

 smouldered on for days. 



Thus ended the big Matabele war-dance of nearly 12,000 

 men ; a brave show and wondrous sight, a powerful engine, and 

 in a sudden rush a dangerous foe. As the assegai was not 

 thrown this year it is to be hoped that the army will rest in 

 peace, and allow the people around to remain in peace also. 

 With the influx of the white men into the country even the 

 unruly war party may gradually settle down to rest, and as its 

 power gradually decreases, and with it witchcraft and its 

 attendant horrors, the now down-trodden remains of what was 

 once an industrious agricultural people will rise once more. 

 Their lives and property assured, they will gladly work for 

 wages under the white man, till the ground once more, and 

 derive great advantages from trade in cattle and corn in 

 a market almost at their door. If the British South Africa 

 Company accomplishes this it will indeed have proved a 

 blessing, and its reward should and will be great. 



