LAND OF RHODES

Southland Times, Issue 25307, 10 June 1935, Page 4

LAND OF RHODES

ROMANTIC RHODESIA VISIT TO GRAVE OF STATESMAN (Contributed.) The members of the fifth Imperial Press Conference crowded into their seven days’ sojourn in Southern Rhodesia experiences as intensely interesting as they were enjoyable. Bulawayo, where they arrived on February 13, was full of surprises. Its wide streets—laid out at Rhodes’s instigation, so that a full span of oxen- could manoeuvre or turn without difficulty—its attractive building and up-to-date shop windows and the beauties of its homes and pretty gardens appealed to the eye immediately. With a white population of 10.580, Bulawayo, though not the capital, which honour was bestowed upon Salisbury, is the largest town in Southern Rhodesia. The literal translation of the Zulu word Bulawayo is “the place of the killing,” and it was here that the natives had their headquarters and perpetrated the many horrors and tyrannies of the days before the arrival of the white man. In the grounds at Government House, the delegates stood under the old “indaba” tree, which was the notorious Lobengula’s council room and from which many a native learned of tire death blow which awaited him. Industrial Activity.

In the background of Bulawayo, the delegates quickly discovered an industrial activity which provided examples of the remarkable development that has taken place in the course of the last five years. Possessing the advantages of cheap and plentiful water and power, Bulawayo has made rapid expansion in developing secondary industries upon modern lines, and, provided markets can be found, there must be a big future for this efficiently equipped and progressive community. Bulawayo has thus become a commercial centre of Southern Rhodesia. Coal and gold are mined in the surrounding country, which also contains excellent grazing lands. It is still in its infancy but it well equipped with all the amenities of a modem town; it has excellent hospitals and schools, a well endowed public library, a museum of considerable interest, and an exceptionally fine swimming bath, surrounded by a beautiful garden and terraced to the water’s edge. Here the delegates were accorded a civic reception as the guests of the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs Harris, and they spent an enjoyable time watching hundreds of youthful Rhodesians in the crystal-like water as afternoon tea was being served to the visitors on the nearby lawns.

This was an unexpected and delightful experience, but one that was afterwards met with in practically all the inland towns where the swimming baths are artistically set in most attractive surroundings and constitute the popular rendezvous of the white population. Bulawayo is fortunate in having an abundant supply of water, and the fullest advantage is taken of this great asset to offset the heat of the long, dry periods it experiences. “World’s View.” About twenty-seven miles away from the town lie the Matopo Hills, the road running through Rhodes’ Park and the Matopo Park, terminating at “World’s View,” the spot chosen by Rhodes as the resting-place for “those who deserved well of their country,” and where he is so fittingly buried. It was an impressive sight as delegates from all parts of the Empire stood at the graveside of the great Empire-builder and, for a few moments, allowed their minds to dwell on the man whose remarkable and outstanding career has meant so much to Southern Africa and the Commonwealth of British Nations. The setting at this point is magnificent; from the crest of the hill where lies the grave of Rhodes there stretches an uninterrupted view of the Rhodesian countryside from which some idea of the great vision which inspired its founder could be captured. Rhodes was only 49 years of age when he died in 1902, and his body was laid to rest in a grave hewn out of the granite rock. A plain bronze tablet covers the grave, and bears the simple inscription, “Here lie the remains of Cecil John Rhodes.” A Surprise. It came as a surprise to many members of the delegation to learn that the grave of Rhodes is not alone in this inspiring but isolated spot. As it was Rhodes’ wish that “World’s View” should be set apart as a resting-place for those who deserved well of their country, the remains of Major Alan Wilson and of his gallant men who fell as the result of a murderous native assault at Shangani river in 1893 were removed from their grave at Zimbabwe and reinterred within the striking memorial which stands on the northern slope of the hill. Close to Cecil Rhodes lies his life-long friend, Sir Leander Starr Jameson (“Doctor Jim”). No more fitting place for the burial of these two great South Africans could possibly be found, but one instinctively felt that the Shangani memorial was out of keeping with the surroundings especially so when later the delegates visited the ruins at Zimbabwe and stood by what was once the grave of the Shangani victims, and which was set in appropriate and most beautiful surroundings. While at Bulawayo, the delegation received its first experience of that well-known hospitality for which Rhodesians are known the world over Cars were placed at their disposal, they were entertained most lavishly, and they were initiated into the “sundown” party habit, which has become such a popular phase of the social life of this young but progressive and fascinating British colony.

Much similar entertainment and enjoyment awaited the delegates at Salisbury, the capital of Southern Rhodesia, where they arrived several days later.