A BIT OF AFRICAN HISTORY. 



333 



gentlemen of limited means, more especially if the 

 youngsters are partial to an active, independent, out- 

 door life. A a large-game country, Mashonaland 

 a few years bc.^k was second to none ; but a mining 

 population and large game, "do not hit it," so I 

 expect the latter has by this time been much 

 reduced ; but it will yet be some years before it is 

 exterminated — if such ever does occur — for there is 

 a wide belt of sr ;ndid breeding ground and shelter 

 between the coi pany's possessions and the Indian 

 Ocean uninhabitable by white men. 



Who is Lobengulo, etc. ? asks a correspondent. 

 Well, he is a right jovial, and dignified old poten- 

 tate, king or chief of the Matabeles. He is a heavy 

 father in eveiy respect, and not only is married, 

 but very much married ; but that does not appear 

 to trouble his peace of mind. I do not think that 

 he would much object to add another " rib " to 

 his domestic circle, for, judging from his size, he 

 must have a very big heart indeed. He is the son 

 of Mosulikatze, who conquered all the adjoining 

 tribes. His name was a terror to the Bechuanas, as 

 well as to the Boers, whom he thrashed better and 

 oftener than even Seccocomi did. A pure Zulu 

 by birth, with his " impi " and all their goods and 

 chattels, he seceded from his legal sovereign, and 

 went forth to conquer new lands and found a dynasty. 

 Incorporating the enemies he defeated with his own 

 people, he ultimately became the founder of the 

 Matabele race. He was closely related by blood 

 with the unfortunate and unjustly-treated Cetchewayo. 

 By this I cast no reflection upon our home Govern- 

 ment, but upon the adjoining English colony to 

 Zululand. 



