BLACK "MESSIAH."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 621, 25 September 1909, Page 12

BLACK "MESSIAH."

INVASION OF COTJUT-HOUSE BY 1500' --'> .'-•.■■;:. /natives. .' -'■,:/-..>. A rotharkablo incident at Taunga, Bcchuanaland has.been.revealed.•'.'■ A ..-"''...,, Two natives, one \a . kitchen-hoy irom Mafeking, entered the - nativo .' village adjoining lanugs, one proclaiming himself the Saviour and the other His prophet. Tho leader addressed a large gathering, of tho. Batlapin tribe, numbering 1500', ending nn excitable oration by indicating tho 13iiropea.ii quarter of laungs and declaring:—"Before tho sun sets to-night,not a whito person must remain alive." Inspector' Gordon Turner, who was present, arrested both.men with 'tho assistance of one ppliccmnn, and, after a scuffle, took thorn to the Magistrate's Court. Tho crowd -of ■ 1300 natives followed with menacing demeanour. They swarmed into the ■ Magistrate's Court, insulted the magistrate, and'refused to disperse. Tho magistrate was powerless, as he had only the two polico officers at his command. Eventually Molali, tho ' Batlapin chief, arrived, .and 'dispersed tho rioters with a horsewhip. The two men arrested wero committed I for trial.

There have been no further disturbances, but tho incident is ofhcially regarded as serious It is the farst occasion on-which tho Bochuaua tribes have shown gross disrespect for tho magistrates. Moreover,- Molali's- influenco hn-. been undesirably strengthened at the expense Of whito authority. Tho. men arrested b C - Jonced to tho Ethioikn Church.