Mr Selous on the Transvaal.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6792, 18 January 1897, Page 4

Mr Selous on the Transvaal.

THE CHANCES OF ANOTHER REBELLION. Mr F. C. Selous, with his wife, arrived in London in the middle of November from South Africa looking in the best of health. In an interview with Reuter's representative Mr Selous said : " I left Bulawayo on 29th August, but before coming home went for a shooting expedition to Amatongaland in order to obtain some specimens of a raro antelope for the British Museum.. I was fortunate enough to obtain two fine specimens for the national collection. The stories which have been published of my serious illness are quite untrue. I got a slight attack of fever near Delagoa Bay, but it has not affected me very seriously, and I am now feeling quite well. " Mrs Selous had rather a narrow escape while visiting a friend's house near Caledon, Cape Colony. Her muslin dress I caught fira in the flame of a candle. I was in bed at the time with slight fever, but fortunately I was able to jump out, enfold my wife in the blankets, and quench the flames, but not before Mrs Selous was severely burned in the left forearm." Asked as to whether in his opinion the Matabele rebellion might be regarded as over, Mr Selous said : "No doubt the arrangements made by Mr Rhodes with the Matabele will be adhered to by the whole people owing to the fact that the Matabele, unliKe the Mashona, are still under the influence of the big indunas. I fully realise that there is a certain section of the Matabele people who will have to be very carefully watched—a section who would no doubt be ready to rebel again if only a chance were to present itself, but I believe the mass of the people ar9 thoroughly tired of the whole business. They recognise their utter failure, and will abide by the terms made. Although I do not attach so much importance to the Mashonas, their attitude is very different from that of the Matabele. They are not responsible to the great chiefs, but are more independent. It is not likely that any of them will come out to fight. They have retired to their caves, and probably are afraid to surrender, thinking they may be killed. As I say, they will not assume the offensive, but if attacked will retaliate by firing out of their caves. Although peace has been made, I strongly hold the opinion that all cases of murder ought to be investigated, and every native, whether belonging to the Royal Family or not, should be brought to justice for the cruel murders of women and children perpetrated at the beginning of the war. I think it would be a grievous mistake to pardon these crimes. I am all for treating the belligerents—as distinct from murderers —with the greatest leniency, but to the murderers I would show no mercy whatever. The Government should now try gradually to disarm Ihe natives. It i 3, I admit, a very difficult task, but it ought not under any circumstances to be allowed to rest. If the Matabele retain their arms they will always think they have a chance against the white mau. A strong police force, too, will have to be kept in the country for some time. " With regard to the Mashonas, the Native Commissioners ought to come to some understanding with the people so as to regain confidence, and not keep the country at large in its present disturbed condition. "I do not think there is the least chance of the Matabele breaking out next April when their crops ripen. Owing to the rinderpest, there are not enough isd ited proprietors or farmers to induce them to rebel for the sake of killing the white man, and they certainly would not attack forts." As to the political situation in South Africa. Mr Selou3 said: "I am not a politician, but what I dread most for tho future of the whole of South Africa is a race war—a conflict between Dutch and English. On the ono hand we have' certain people always egging Mr Chamberlain on to take aggressive action against President Kruger, and on the other I am afraid there is an anti-British clique in Pretoria doing all it can to accentuate the ill-feeling which it cannot be denied unfortunately exists, and is very bitter between the two peoples. This threatened danger can best be averted by the establishment of a more liberal form of government on the part of the Transvaal, and a more conciliatory attitudo towards the Uitlanders—in fact, a more tolerant attitude ono towards another on both sides should be observed." Adverting to the subject of the rinderpest, Mr Selous said : "lb will do an incredible amount of harm, and its ultimate result it is impossible to foresee. Certainly it has retarded the progress of Rhodesia greatly, and even when the railway gets to Bulawayo the want of cattle will be felt for a long time to come. I fully endorse Mr Frank Thompson's views regarding the danger of shooting the native cattle. Up to the present time this policy has been a failure, and it ought to be stopped at once. It would certainly have brought about a war in Bcchuanaland bub for the fact that they are a peaceable people. If the cattle of like the Swazls, Basutos, and" ZtjLjs sm shot it will cause a native rebel and a rebellion in which all the bribes would join hands for fear that all their cattle might be treated in the same way. I imagine that the Government has seen this danger, and recognising in Bechuanaland the utter futility of shooting cattle, will not be mad enough to try it again. " Thousands of Boers in the Transvaal will be utterly ruined, and their means of livelihood taken away. This may possibly make these people turn their attention to agriculture. Anyway, the rinderpest mnst in many directions considerably affect the situation in South Africa.". Regarding gold prospects in Matabeleland, Mr Selous said : " Not being a mineroloeist, possibly my opinion on this point is of no value. Still I must say that I believe a fair number of gold properties in Matabeleland and Mashonaland will prove to be payable. There is not likely to be a Johannesburg in these countries, but a certain number, probably a very small portion of the total, will prove to be remunerative." In conclusion Mr Selous remarked : "The recent rebellion will only pub the country back for the time, but the effects of the rinderpest will be felt for years and years to come."