BASUTOLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 83, 9 April 1910, Page 3

BASUTOLAND.

SOUTH AFRICA'S MENACE. ROWDY CHIEFS : LAWS DEFIED. AN ALARMING SITUATION. (By R. W. Reid.) Whatever concerns the peace of South Africa is bound to command attention, in New Zealand. The Dominion lent its aid to bring what harmony is now pievailing in the land of the Karoo and the Kaffir, and every one hopes that, as time advances, that harmony will become more prized and more perfected. But many dark clouds still rest over the subcontinent. Basutoland represents one. South African newspapers for many months have contained allusions to that country, which, had not the coming union been dominating all other questions, would, doubtless, have created considerable stir within the four uniting colonies. Basutoland threatens to be the next storm ccntro in South Africa. Many rumours are afloat touching the cause of the disturbed state of the Basuto, some of them possessing a decidedly alarming and sinister character. The young chiefs — in particular the sons, grandsons, and relations of the late paramount chief, Lerothodi, have of late been extremely restless — indeed, turbulent and lawless. Statements have been made that chiefs and headmen have, on repeated occasions within the past year, openly advocated war against Europeans,' bo that they may preserve their country from the clutches of the all-encompassing whites. THE BOERS HATED. The older chiefs showed, by despatching a deputation to England a few months ago, that they dread the annexation — rather, the incorporation — of Basutoland by the Union that is soon to be. Basuto, for a generation and more, ha'-o looked upon the Boers of the Orange River Colony as their principal enemies. Gladly would they cross the Caledon to-day to settle old scores. The Basuto consider themseves ever victorious : they are the unconquered people ; yet they were compelled to cede to the Dutch their fairest and richest tract of territory. And the Free "State, or Orange River, Boers named the country they obtained "the conquered territory," by which namr> it is still known. Not jrlaclly will the Basuto be allied in any way, with the Orange River Colony, and the fear of Boer dominance has probably much to do with the present unlest. One rumour is that agents have been inciting the Basuto to rebel, so that there may be armed intervention and the subsequent incorporation of their country. Then Basutoland would probably be thrown open to the land-buyer and prospector. That there are diamonds in Basutoland has long been believed by Europeans, and the rock formation in parts seems to indicate the presence of gold. But no white prospector has ever been permitted to engage in any thorough, scientific examination of the country. FACTS FROM THE PITSO. The yearly Pitso, or National Council, was held at the capital, Maseru, six weeks aa;o, and the proceedings, as reported in the Capo Timns, fully disclose the present lawless attitude of the young chiefs. This gathering is attended by pldr-r* and chiefs, nil native, and is prpnided over by the Resident Commissioner. Mr. H. C. Sloley, the Resident Commissioner, in his review of the year's events (says the Times), "touched upon the unfortunate affair of a native- shooting two white officers, and alluded to the recent annoying dipturbnnee» among young chiefs in the Leribe district, and also to the behaviour of natives at the Kimberley mines lately. Paramount Chief Letsie then read a paper emphasising the importance of stringent instructions being issued regarding liquor. He referred < to the coming Union, and expressed himKelf very anxious <hat the affair* of Hnsutilnnd should be settled by the Governor-General personally, and not by the Governor-General-in-Councll. Chief LetMc proceeded to express his sorrow nnd fullest sympathy with the Government and with the relations of the dca.d officers." A later report in the Times reads as follows : "Many members of the council urged the Paramount Chief and the Government summarily to suppress the escapades of young chiefs and the promiscuous usage of guns against each other when they disagreed." The full Fignifion.nre of what was said at the PitfcO will be moro readily understood when it is explained that for nearly thirty years the introduction of liquor, of arms, and of ammunition into Baimtolaud has been contrary not only to law. but also to the Peace Treaty with the Imperial Government, and is understood to bo followed, when discovered, by severe punishments. Yet here the Paramount Chief is asking for stringency respecting liquor, and chiefs are inveighing against the promiscuous usage of gun?. THE BASUTO AND ARMS. The Basuto War, which occurred nearly thirty years ago, arose through Sir Gordon Sprigg's rather reckless attempt to disarm the Basuto. That effort failed, the dusky warriors of the Malutis almost everywhere having the better of the many encounters with the semi-regu-lars from the Cape. Again, the Basuto were the unconquered people. The Treaty of Peace provided that, on condition they were left in sole possession of their country — which thus became for all timo strictly native territory — the Basuto would agree, while retaining the arms they already possessed, to neither import, purchase, nor receive any new and additional weapons. No one pretends that the treaty lias been kept. As to liquor, chiefs a.s well as natives of lower rank seem to experience no difficulty in obtaining alcoholic drinks of all degrees of potency, from Ohlson's mild "tickey" beer to the awful dop brandy of the Cape. Weapons much less antique than those which figured in tho war are to be found to-day in abundance in Basutoland. The authorities are not ignorant of tho^fact that the laws are broken daily and continually; and rarely is a Masuto prosecuted for taking in either liquor or guns. The fact that the law is almost openly defied by natives, proud of their country, and prouder of themselves, and given to boasting of their bravery and independence, cannot long escape the attention of the Union Parliament and Union Government. A HUNDRED WIVES. When Lerothodi died he left a hundred wives to rnourn his departure, and sons and daughters to the number of njany hundreds. The writer knows several of his sons, all chiefs, and fine manly fellown they undoubtedly are. But they have ideas of their own concerning the relative status of themselves and tho white men. They are the lords of the country. No white man can settle in Basutoland without the permission of one chief, or probably several. No land can be bought — it is the exclusive right of the Basuto. When the writer was in Bnsutoland, one of Lerothodi'n sons was fined for what was little short of an act of rebellion. He cared not. "His peoflle" (those under his supposed care) paid the fine — a hundred head of cattle. The whites on tho .Basutoland borders are already demanding that the turbulent chiefs be restrained. Interference on the part of the Union Government or •the Imperial Government seems inevitable, and the question to be considered is whether the "unconquered Basuto" will »übmit without resistance to their