A QUAINT AFRICAN FIGURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1928, Page 8

A QUAINT AFRICAN FIGURE.

SAGACIOUS NATIVE RULER.

Jonathan, the old Basuto chief in South Atrica, who played a great part in the history of one of the most remarkable corners of the British Empire, lias died, lie was nearly t/U years of age. His father was the famous -Uosnesh, who secured a kind oi independence for his Jolty mountain lands under what he called “ the large folds of the liag of England.” .'ii»,,i‘S,i, \wio died m ltt/0, was admittedly one of the cleverest rulers oi men me continent of Africa had ever produced. He had brought into existence tin; Ikisuto nation, with a unity that has remained unshaken. Each oi its many tribes were left to be ruleu oy one oi nis descendants, and the tribes are so ruled to this day, one of the descendants acting as the paramount chief. t hief Jonathan was the last of tinsons of -Moshesh, and as such was revered by all Dasutos, though he had never been the paramount chief. iie was a venerable descendant oi the on. .lays of stiMi'e and battle, but Ids rule was restricted to his tribal district. ..asiuoland is the topmost part of ihe South African interior between the -.ape Colony, the Grange Free State, ..nil Natal—a mountain mass half as Age again a.y Wales, reaching an ..cage Height of (>()()() feet, with peaks of 10,000 feet, and fertile valleys between tile hills. Some otf the lulls are excessively rugged. I-Hiring the appalling wars between the South African tribes, before the white man’s reign of peace abolished warlike weapons among the natives, .hose Drakensberg and Alaluti .Mountains, remote and inaccessible, were refuges for defeated fugitives. Always hordes of pursuers would go .there too. Then arose Moshesh, a mighty warrior and hunter, belonging to a small tribe, but a man of genius. Moshesh saw how well suited these mountains were for defence, particularly one of them, Tliaba Bosigo; and, rallying the Basuto tribes and the fugitives from other regions, he so repulsed the Zulus and other marauders that they were glad to leave the mountain fastnesses -alone. He even resisted the British and Boers when they attacked his strongholds after the Basutos had raided their cattle on the lower grounds around, and he became paramount chief of all the Basuto tribes. But Mashesh was wise and lar-see-ing. sis well as brave in war. He realised that- the white men must prevail, and of his own will he placed himself mder the British flag. The result tr this day is that Basutoland is a British Crown Colony, with a British Commissioner living at its little capital .Maseru. The tribes are still ruled according to their own customs, by tln-ir own chiefs, and the people of Basutoland are happy, prosperous, and tree, hall a, million of them, with ahundaiue o. food—wheat and mealies growing in their valleys; cattle, sheep, and ponie>. on their hills. They have been wis< enough to value education. I bey ha ye more than d()0 native schools attended .by about Jo,ooo Basut. scholars, who learn English as well n> Dutch and their own language, which they call Sesiito. This happy state ol a little African mountain land is due largely to the bravery and wisdom of Moshesh, win died 08 years ago. Some years ago. when the Brine oof Wales was in Basutoland, the people were delighted that he should see among them the good cheiif, Jonathan, the only remaining son of Moshesh, the lotindei oi their nation.

Jonathan belongs to the past. Bui he had reason for pride in his family and his race.