Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... A VISIT TO KING LEWANIKA. CHAPTER I. THE START FOR BAROTSELAND. Rhodesia, as most people know, is situated to the North of the Transvaal, its sole communication (apart from the ox wagon) with the South being by rail from Bulawayo to Cape Town, via, Mafeking, a distance of 1,300 miles. On the breaking out of hostilities with the Boers, one of the first acts of the Federal forces was to cut the railway on both sides of Mafeking. This, of course, practically reduced Rhodesia to a state of siege, as the only way left of obtaining supplies was by wagon from Salisbury, which in the rainy season, now beginning, was some six weeks' journey. Practically the whole of the transport in the country was taken over or hired by the Imperial authorities, and troops began to come in from the North. All cattle doubled and trebled in value, and very soon the Chartered Company began to see the necessity of trying to replenish its stock The only country that had so far escaped the terrible ravages made by the 1896 plague of rinderpest was the territory beyond the Zambesi, and it was there that the authorities determined to try and procure oxen for slaughter and trek purposes. At the beginning of March, 1900, not long after I had returned, seriously injured, from serving with General Plumer's Mafeking relief columns, Robert Granger, a neighbour of mine in Bulawayo, told me that the Government was fitting out an expedition to Barotseland to buy cattle, and that he was to be in charge. Two other white men were to go with him, and he invited me to be one of them. The other man was Jowitt, whom I knew. As the whole country was at a standstill, I was very pleased to accept his offer, and was told to be ready in two days. During these two days we were all kept very...
