THE
MATABELE CAMPAIGN
1896
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
Pigsticking
Cavalry Instruction
Reconnaissance and Scouting
The Downfall of Prempeh
A Matabele Warrior Making Disparaging Remarks
The enemy would come out on the rocks before a fight, and dance and work themselvesup into a frenzy, shouting all sorts of epithets and insults at the troops.
THE
MATABELE CAMPAIGN
BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN
IN SUPPRESSING THE NATIVE RISING
IN MATABELELAND AND
MASHONALAND
1896
BY
Major–General R. S. S. BADEN–POWELL
13TH HUSSARS
FELLOW OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
WITH NEARLY 100 ILLUSTRATIONS
FOURTH EDITION
METHUEN & CO.
36 ESSEX STREET W.C.
LONDON
1901
PREFACE
Umtali, Mashonaland,
12th December 1896.
My dear Mother,—It has always been anunderstood thing between us, that when I wenton any trip abroad, I kept an illustrated diary foryour particular diversion. So I have kept oneagain this time, though I can’t say that I’m veryproud of the result. It is a bit sketchy andincomplete, when you come to look at it. Butthe keeping of it has had its good uses for me.
Firstly, because the pleasures of new impressionsare doubled if they are shared with someappreciative friend (and you are always morethan appreciative).
Secondly, because it has served as a kind ofshort talk with you every day.
Thirdly, because it has filled up idle momentsin which goodness knows what amount of mischiefSatan might not have been finding for mineidle hands to do!
| • | • | • | • | • | • |
R. S. S. B.–P.
TO THE READER
The following pages contain sketches of twokinds, namely, sketches written and sketchesdrawn. They were taken on the spot during therecent campaign in Matabeleland and Mashonaland,and give a representation of such part ofthe operations as I myself saw.
They were jotted down but roughly, at oddhours, often when one was more fit for sleepingthan for writing, or in places where proper drawing