THE SOUTH AFRICAN RISING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 20

THE SOUTH AFRICAN RISING.

MUTILATING WOMEN.

Capetown, June 23. Twenty-three of the Fort Salisbury patrol, who were conveying women from Mazoo in mule waggons, had an encounter with the natives. Tbe fight began in the evening and was continued next daj. The rebels were very daring, and came within six yards of the waggon. Seven of the defending fores were killed and four wounded. They lost their mulee and horses, but saved the women. The natives at Fort Charter are rising. The native police at Marindella are proving disloyal. / June 24. The friendly natives, with a loss of 10 of their number, defeated the Matabele at- the Mazlnini riverf and captured their cattle and sheep. Fifty volunteers, with a machine gun, prevented the natives at Fort Victoria joining tb9 rebels. The Mazoe convoy occupied a kopje which the enemy surrounded* Two telegraph operators were killed while trying to send news. Captain Spreckloy's column has burned 60 grain kraals. Major-general Oarrington reports that the Mashona rising is spreading. The Matabeles, he says, are massed in large numbers 60 miles north-east of Buluwayo. The Natal contingent defeated 2000 Mashonas. „ Three prospectors have reached Fort Salisbury in an exhausted state after being bhased by the. Matabeles for 48 hours. The" prophet Olema has been killed., June 25. Fort Salisbury reports that> the whole country round has risen, .and relief is anxiously awaited. Many whites have been murdered, including nine members of the Ayrshire patrol. Fifty thousand rounds of .Martini-Henry ammunition were stolen at Marindella. Fort Charter is also surrounded. The natives have seized all the oattle they can secure, killing the herd boys. Tbe Cape Government have offered to assist in the transport of ammunition, men, and supplies. Plummets patrol had an engagement with the'enemy, in which the latter lost 30. The expedition burned 200 kraals and recaptured 700 bead tit cattle. The Matabele are mutilating the women they capture. Instances are reported in wbioh the unfortunate victims have been driven to suicide rather than .risk the horrors of .capture. Captain Burnham tracked the native prophet Olitflo to a sacred cave in the Matoppo Hills, and found him officiating before a large orowd of natives, who fled in terror direotly the seer was shot. - ' Lieutenant H. Bremner, of the 20th Hussars, was killed in the skirmish. Jane 26. Earl Grey, administrator of the Chartered Company, has communicated- with the Cape Government thanking them for their offer of assistance, but stating that the white troops operating in Matabeleland, together with reinforcements airiving, are sufficient for the defence of Buluwayo ; but a quicker route for the transports is, be considers, necessary. General Garrington' was desirous of increasing the force, but feared the difficulty of transport. The- Premier offers to supply a transport corps. June 27. Captain Lang's force surprised Salembo's kraal at Beliagive, killing Salembo and his three sons. . ' It is feared that all the Hartley settlers have been killed, as the distriot is held by 4000 rebels. • Judge Vincent, who is commanding Fort Salisbury, stateß that reinforcements of 500 foot and 500 horse are required. June 28. Sixty persons were murdered by Mashonas and 70 others are reported to be missing in the last few days. Two thousand Yorongazas have deserted from the Beira railway works, and it it? feared that they have joined the rebels. The 50,000 rounds of Martini-Henry ammunition which were stolen at Marindella have been found. June 29. Captain Plumer, with a force 900 strong, has started to attack the Gekeat impi at Halda, 60 miles from Buluwayo. Help has also been despatched to Fort Charter, whioh is threatened by the ! «ati76B, - ♦

Lisbon, Jnne 20. The Government have given their sanotion to British reinforcements being landed at Beria, a Portuguese seaport on the southeast coast of Africa.