Chapter IX

1893-1896

Cupid at work--Engagement to Miss Maddy--Intends to visit
America--Trouble in Matabeleland--History of Matabele raids--The
position in 1893--Hunters enter Matabeleland--Selous returns to
South Africa--Joins Col. Goold-Adams' column--Preliminary
fights--Selous wounded--The first battle--The Matabele retreat
north--Disaster to Major Wilson's column--Selous'
prophecy--Return to England--Marriage--Honeymoon on the Danube
and in Asia Minor--Hunting in the mountains of Asia
Minor--Leaves again for Mashunaland--Essex vale--The new
Bulawayo--The cloud of trouble--The Umlimo--The rising of the
natives--The defence force--Col. Johan Colenbrander--Driven from
Essex vale--Isolated engagements--The fight on the
Umguzra--Selous surrounded--His horse runs away--His life saved
by Capt. Windley--A narrow escape--Work on the main
road--Arrival of Sir H. Plumer--Mr. Labouchere's views of the
second Matabele War--The future of S. Rhodesia--The difficulties
of farming there--Markets too distant--Selous attacked by
Labouchere--Messrs. Rowland Ward and Co.--Their kindness to
Selous--The Nyala--Expedition to the Pongolo and Usutu
rivers--An unhealthy country--Return to England 197