How Lobengula Died.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 196, 17 August 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

How Lobengula Died.

The following extract from a South African paper professes to tell the true story of the death of the groat Matabele chief :— ' Lobengula, Buffering from smallpox, worn out by hia long flight, disappointed in his hope of peace, and altogether broken down by the loss of hie country, hie power, and bis possessions, came to a halb at last among the mountains north of the Shangani river. Here he begged hie witch doctor to give him poison with which to end hie life, but the man refused. The despairing chief wenb up a bill to the foot of a crag which tops it, and, sitting there, he gazed for a long time at the sun as ib slowly sank towards the west. Then, descending, he again demanded poison of his doctor, and insisted until finally it was given him. Onco moro ascending the slope, he seated himself against the krantss, took the poison, and gazed at> the setting sun, stolidly awaiting the death which presently put an end to hie sufferings and his blood-stained life. There is something pathetic and grand in the picture. Ib is the lasb scene of a great epic—the cdnquesb of JMababeleland. His followers found ,him seated there in death ; piling sticks and stones around him they lefb him. Whether he was placed in his Royal chair, flanked by gune, and oovered over with hia blankets and other possessions, as described, I know nob. All this may be true, also, fchab a strong pallieade of tree trunks was platited round fche spot, bub I give my story aa I heard it, and believe that as ib emanated from Mr Dawson, It ia the correoti one.'