MARCHING THROUGH RHODESIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 29

MARCHING THROUGH RHODESIA

Trooper Harold Buckland, in a letter to his parents, dated Mafeking, August 11, writes : —

" I must try and give you an account of the journey between here and Bulawayo. "We were packed into open trucks — 24- in each truck. This way of travelling is first-rate in the day time, but there is no room to lie down at night, so West and I crawled out and got into the truck that the saddles and kits were packed on. After struggling with the saddles for half an hour, we made what we considered a comfortable enough shakedown. But, oh ! how uncomfortable and wretched we were through the long night. Towards morning it was bitterly cold, and we were glad indeed when the sun rose.

The country in the first part of the journey was undulating, and covered with dry looking thorn bushes: but the following morning hills hove in sight on both sided of our front. The soil varied between that of a rich chocolate colour and shingly gravel.

All the Government buildings along this line are built of corrugated iron, and painted white —even to the roof. Instead of the signal posts we have in New Zealand to \varn approaching trains, a sheet of iron painted white, and fixed on poles is the usual thing. On this the stationmaster flashes his light, and if there is no one in charge it is still a guide to the driver. On the second night I could not sleep in the stinted space in the truck, and as we halted at Mochide, I made a hollow in the Fandy soil, wrapped my blanket round me, and '\lept peacefully until bugle call. After feeding our horses we again went forward, and at 8 a.m. reached Crocodilo Pools, where we met a lot of New Zealanders. .From them we learned contradictory but stirring news. On the hills on the Transvaal side of the line a Boer fort could plainly be seen against the sky line. Here we saw the first armoured train. This looked like business. It was hers that Plumer met with a reverse, and but by getting help from the blacks would have been wiped out. Ho had to retreat to a round hill just at hand, where he entrenched him&elf until the blacks came in force, and, combined, they drove the Boers across the border. Attached to the aimoured train were two trucks, one in front and one behind. The sides of the trucks were protected by railway rails, the engine being made bullet-proof by sheets of half-inch steel, which gave it the appearance of a large box. The engine and trucks were painted green. Both trucks were armed with gunsone with a Nordenfeldt and the other a 'Howitzer. The whole concern looked most business-like. About 11 a.m. we started, escorted by the armoured engine, which went in front of us, and we only saw it once again on the journey, except when running into Maieking. For about 40 miles the country was hilly, and there were plenty of chances for roving Boci-h to inspect ud. After passing tho hilly country we ran out into a dead-level plain, covered with short, white grass, and

dotted hero and there with stunted trees. This country I would call the veldt proper. Wo had been travelling over the plain for some time, when we saw two small parties of hor'emen on either side of our front, converging towards the line. This looked rather interesting, but they turned out to be New Zealandera, so we gave them three hearty cheers as we rushed past. Shortly before 5 we came in. sight of Mafeking. It lay about five miles, ahead, in a lower level of the plain. The liae here is as straight as a die. We rushed down into Mafeking at a great pace, leaving a long cloud of duct behind u o . This dust was one of the great drawbacks on this journey. I must now iry and describe this place, and will start with the surroundings. First of all, like all the African towns we have yet seen, dust is the order of the day, and here it outHorods Herod. The country round the town for miles in some directions is destitute of trees, and the grass is so short that "at a few yards it is not noticeable. Towards the west it undulates like the Pacific swell on a windless day; towards the south it is a dead flat, and a A^a&te of red Fand ; northward and eastward the country rises gently, and in the die tan t horizon can be seen a few stunted trees. All round the town are small trenches and forts. The town itself is on slightly rising ground, and it. composed of three or four streets running parallel to each other. On tho right of the town, looking southward, are a large number of Kaffir huts, built of red soil ; many of them are roofless. Amongst the huts aie a number of gum trees. Altogether this part of the town is most picturesque, which is not the case with the white part, which is composed of the most unprepossessing buildings, being mostly built of corrugated iron. The southern part of the town has been well battered with shot and sholl, and some houses have been knocked about olrnosl beyond repair. We. I believe, will march to Zeerust to join French's column. We all feel in good spirits now we are amongst the crowd. We have packed up all our comrades again, and have also fallen in with the fifth contingent. A very interesting thing I noticed in the town to-day in a team of mules were four or five halfbred zebras and quaggas. They are about the same size as mules, but much more graceful.