KING LEWANIKA.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 3

KING LEWANIKA.

DEATH OF ROMANTIC BLACK CHIEF

The death was recently announced of | King -Lewanika, the chief of Barotselaud (North-AVcst Rhodesia), who was an interesting link with the remarkable past of South Africa. King'Lewanika to the throne in 1878, when murder, anarchy, witch-hunting, poisoning, strangling, and burning were the habitual pursuits of his people. Under the guidance of Mr. Coillard. a missionary, lie instituted great reforms, and gradually came under British influence. He attended King Edward's Coronation, and was the most remarkable of many remarkable potentates at the ceremony. He is- succeeded by his son Litia, who was educated in England.

• King Lewanika had always been allowed to call himself king, though strictly speaking he was only the .para : mount chief of Barotseland, -west of Northern Rhodesia. His very' dusky majesty—he was one of the blackest of black men —had had a place in the affections of tho British ever since he came to London in 1002 to' attend the Coronation of King Edward (says the "Daily Mail"). He was in fact the only other king at that ceremony, and he was immensely proud of the distinction. Also the visit, sore trial as it was to his majesty, allowed him to achieve the ambition of his life. He had always wanted tomeet "the great white chief," and-the day before he left England on his return home, he was presented to King Edward. Speaking with considerable emotion after the ceremony he said: "I am now happy." Incidentally, Lewanika had made the lowest, obeisance ever made at the palace, and he also presented King Edward with an ivory tusk which required tho full strength of two brawny Ba-i-otses; to carry.

Long before these days Lewanika had progressed far along the lines of civilisation. He had given up the occasional killing of a witch doctor for "the good of his people," and he had discarded a raiment of skins of wild animals worn in fantastic fashion for the regulation lounge suit of Europe. When he walked from the 'Dunottar Castle to the shore at Southampton ho was spick and span in a flannel suit, patent leather shoes and brown spats, and a widebrimmed Honiburg,hat. -; . His journey to England in the Dunottar Castle had given, 'him his first glimpse.of the sea. He was vastly impressed, but he was none the less glad to leave the ship—"a fine ship,", he said, "but I don't like her when she moves," and he added that he would rather walk back, even if it took him twelve years. He hardly did that, but months after : his departure—with Lib-, erty silk costumes for his twelve royal wives—he was heard cf making a leisurely journey back to Barotseland. ,- Lewanika vastly enjoyed London and all the sightseeing. What he thought more wonderful than anything, was the London policeman. He was not a Chritsian himself, but he ruled, his. country on '.very Christian lines. He was a generous man, too. Sometimes, as when he- presented Lord Selbourne with a hippopotamus, his gifts were embarrassing:, The last heard of Lewanika in this country,was his offer, a month after the war broke out, of his services to England. .