SHORT COMMONS IN BULAWAYO.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7663, 25 June 1896, Page 2

SHORT COMMONS IN BULAWAYO.

According to latest news from Bulawayo, the condition of the people in laager there is very sad. They are safe enough from the Matabeles, but the natural anxiety and the necessarily short rations combine to make them miserable. The water is polluted. All the cattle, which had been relied upon for food, have been shot, on account of the terrible rinderpest. The gallant Rhodesia Horse have to subsist almost entirely upon ship's biscuits, which were bought for the last expedition. The poor women walk listlessly about hugging the children, who wail for the food which cannot be given to them. Only one of the numerous hotels which were doing a flourishing business at the outbreak of the rebellion now remains open. The lowest charge made by the innkeeper for a soanty feed of meal is ss. The road to Bulawayo is strewn vvith ox waggons, and the continued killing of cattle, necessitated by the rinderpest, resembles warfare pn a small scale. At a smoking concert given in Bulawayo recently, Earl Grey delivered a speech in which he made sympathetic allusion to Dr Jameson. The doctor's name was received with wild applause. It is understood that tha Chartered Company will make good all losses sustained by settlers through the rebellion. Should the company refuse to do so Mr Rhodes will make compensation from his own private purse. Mr Rhodes, in addressing the people of Gwelo, said it was intended that no time should be lost in thoroughly thrashing the natives, and in giving them an everlasting lesson. Mr Rhodes will remain in the country until the present trouble is at an end.