Chapter I: Preface

UMTALI, MASHONALAND,
_12th December 1896_.

MY DEAR MOTHER,—It has always been an understood thing between us, that when I went on any trip abroad, I kept an illustrated diary for your particular diversion. So I have kept one again this time, though I can’t say that I’m very proud of the result. It is a bit sketchy and incomplete, when you come to look at it. But the keeping of it has had its good uses for me.

Firstly, because the pleasures of new impressions are doubled if they are shared with some appreciative friend (and you are always more than appreciative).

Secondly, because it has served as a kind of short talk with you every day.

Thirdly, because it has filled up idle moments in which goodness knows what amount of mischief Satan might not have been finding for mine idle hands to do!

. . . . . .

R. S. S. B.–P.

TO THE READER

The following pages contain sketches of two kinds, namely, sketches written and sketches drawn. They were taken on the spot during the recent campaign in Matabeleland and Mashonaland, and give a representation of such part of the operations as I myself saw.

They were jotted down but roughly, at odd hours, often when one was more fit for sleeping than for writing, or in places where proper drawing materials were not available—I would ask you, therefore, to look leniently upon their many faults.

The notes, being chiefly extracts from my diary and from letters written home, naturally teem with the pronoun, “I,” which I trust you will pardon, but it is a fault difficult to avoid under the circumstances. They deal with a campaign remarkable for the enormous extent of country over which it was spread, for the varied components and inadequate numbers of its white forces, and especially for the difficulties of supply and transport under which it was carried out—points which, I think, were scarcely fully realised at home. The operations were full of incident and interest, and of lessons to those who care to learn. Personally, I was particularly lucky in seeing a good deal of Matabeleland, and something of Mashonaland, as well as in having a share in the work of organisation in the office, and in afterwards testing its results in the field. Incidentally I came in for a good taste of the best of all arts, sciences, or sports—“scouting.” For these reasons I have been led to offer these notes to the public, in case there might be aught of interest in them.

The “thumbnail” sketches claim the one merit of having been done on the spot, some of them under fire. Most of the photographs were taken with a “Bulldog” camera (Eastman, 115 Oxford Street), and enlarged. A few were kindly given by Captain the Hon. J. Beresford, 7th Hussars.

Several of the illustrations have also appeared in the _Graphic_ and _Daily Graphic_, and are here reproduced through the courtesy of the proprietors of those journals.

R. S. S. B.–P.

MARLBOROUGH BARRACKS, DUBLIN,
_19th March 1897_.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. OUTWARD BOUND 3

II. STATE OF AFFAIRS IN MATABELELAND 24

III. OUR WORK AT BULUWAYO 43

IV. SCOUTING 89

V. THE REBELS DECLINE TO SURRENDER 122

VI. CAMPAIGN IN THE MATOPOS 145

VII. OUR WORK IN THE MATOPOS 171

VIII. FIGHTING IN THE MATOPOS 195

IX. THE FINAL OPERATIONS IN THE MATOPOS 228

X. THE SITUATION IN MATABELELAND AND MASHONALAND 249

XI. THE DOWNFALL OF UWINI 275

XII. SHANGANI COLUMN—THROUGH THE FOREST 305

XIII. SHANGANI PATROL—RETURN MARCH 326

XIV. IN THE BELINGWE DISTRICT 348

XV. THE DOWNFALL OF WEDZA 372

XVI. CLEARING THE MASHONA FRONTIER 401

XVII. THROUGH MASHONALAND 431

XVIII. THE SITUATION IN RHODESIA 458

XIX. AFTER WAR—PEACE 477

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

A MATABELE WARRIOR MAKING DISPARAGING REMARKS
_Frontispiece_

SKETCH MAP 2

BRITANNIA 7

MAFEKING TO BULUWAYO 13

GOING OUT FOR A FIGHT 39

THE UMGUSA FIGHT: 6TH JUNE 55

EIGHT TO ONE 58

THE BITER BIT 61

INUGU MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLD 69

SCOUT BURNHAM 71

A CAPE BOY SENTRY 74

SILENCING THE ORACLE 83

SOLITARY SCOUTING 91

THE VALUE OF SKIRT–DANCING 95

THE STRONGHOLDS IN THE MATOPOS 103

INUGU MOUNTAIN, A 103

CHILILI VALLEY, B 104

INYANDA’S, SIKOMBO’S, AND UMLUGULU’S POSITIONS,
(LOOKING SOUTH) 104

CAUGHT IN THE ACT BY A CAPE BOY 123

“IMPEESA” 128

PREPARING LUNCH 139

A HUMAN SALT–CELLAR 142

THE ATTACK ON BABYAN’S STRONGHOLD: 20TH JULY 153

AMATEUR DOCTORING 157

A MATABELE WARRIOR 176

THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WAR 180

A CHANCE SHOT 185

OUR FIELD TELEGRAPH 187

COLONEL PLUMER AND STAFF 193

MY BOY PREPARING BREAKFAST 197

RUNNING AFTER A LADY 201

THE BATTLE OF AUGUST 5TH 205

AFTER THE FIGHT 211

THE DEATH OF KERSHAW 215

CAPE BOYS BARING THEIR FEET FOR THE ATTACK 218

IN THE MIDST OF LIFE 221

BRINGING AWAY THE DEAD 223

THE OPERATING TENT 225

SHELLING THE ENEMY OUT OF THE MATOPOS 241

A COMFORTABLE CORNER ON AN UNCOMFORTABLE EVENING 246

THE PEACE INDABA WITH THE MATOPO REBELS 251

ROUTES TO MATABELELAND AND MASHONALAND 261

OUR WORKING KIT 269

GIANTS’ PLAYTHINGS 280

COLD AND HUNGRY 291

WARM AND COMFORTABLE 293

NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS 300

THE SHANGANI COLUMN 304

FOLLOWING UP THE SPOOR 313

THE HORSE GUARD 317

“A MERCIFUL MAN,” ETC. 324

FRESH HORSE–BEEF 328

A NEW ENEMY 336

ENTERING A CAVE STRONGHOLD 343

“GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!” 346

FRESH MEAT 354

STROLLING HOME IN THE MORNING 356

“HALT! WHO COMES THERE?” 357

PARLEYING WITH REBELS 365

NATIVE SURGERY 367

WEDZA’S STRONGHOLD 370

PRINCE ALEXANDER OF TECK 381

7TH HUSSARS AT WEDZA’S 385

WEDZA’S KRAAL 388

“LITTLE MISS TUCKET SAT BY A BUCKET” 389

TIRED OUT 394

A SMELTING FURNACE 397

ANCIENT RUINS 397

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE 403

A ROADSIDE INN IN MATABELELAND 406

A CAVE STRONGHOLD 410

OUR HORSES 415

THE YOUNG IDEA LEARNING TO SHOOT 421

A CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 426

“DIAMOND” 432

HEADQUARTERS’ MESS 433

SPECIMEN OF OLD ROCK–PAINTING BY NATIVES
IN MASHONALAND 436

BLACK AND WHITE 441

THE OPENING MEET OF THE SALISBURY HOUNDS
(AFTER THE WAR) 445

THE COUNTESS RESCUES HER SEWING MACHINE 452

THE SPECIAL SERVICE MOUNTED INFANTRY 459

A FORT 461

A WAR–DANCE 465

OUR NATIVE ALLIES 468

MAORI B——E 484

A ROADSIDE HOTEL IN MASHONALAND 487

DOLCE FAR NIENTE 499

THE

MATABELE CAMPAIGN, 1896