A Matabele Hero.

Manawatu Herald, 21 September 1895, Page 2

A Matabele Hero.

+ Mr Eider Haggard, speaking the other day, said :— " Lately th»re wm staying with me my friend Mr Barnham. Mr Barnhatn, you nwiy remember, was ah American woofc§ii»^: escaped from Wilson's party Stfeen^ was cut up on the banks, of, tht Shangani. Mr Barnham toW fnV ■'•• that just before that battle of tb# Shangani he was scouting with % ' ■ friend. They saw a Matabete' w**v* rior— a fine man, in the prime of llfo — ahead of "them,* among. some~ rugged ground.: He was &tsmmnjj* c , his belongings ; he had in his hand * a pot of beer or milk ; j)e bad^Jhiii kaross upon his shoulders and in hit hand his assegai : MdDMrf|)d t f, .in short, &il the parapbernaUt/ that a native carries with him when be travels. .Now., among pother thing* there was slung upon his b^bk« ; l«#!^ bundle.' Well, Mr BanSrftnaim^iiai - f *. I his companion thought it necwaarj

to catch this man, because they wished to get information from him of the movements of the enemy, and after great difficulty they rode him down. As vbt fie* before them, doubling to^ like a Jbare among the rocks, B-Bjnten himself he cast ~4 away first qira thing and then another of the prowler he carried, until he was nakedWidept for the bundle on his back. Itlast they came up to him, AffiMK thinking escape was hopele||_2|ilrhed round, as these savageJßto be killed, the leaping of hi&ySt alone betraying his natural terrors. Wel«, they assured him, and made it clear to aim that he was not to be injured, and they asked ' What is in the bundle on your back) and why did you not throw It away with the other things 9" "* He took the bundle down and opened it, and there was a child a year old. He laid 'lt is my daughter's child, that I was taking to her.' Now, that man, in his last race for life, had thrown away everything, and by throwing away that heavy child he might 'have .saved himself, as he thought;- from certain and immediate death; but he preserved the child, preferring*^) die rather than abandon it." p