13 DECEMBER 1890, Page 3

As we expected, there is to be trouble over Mutaca's

country, the district entered by the British South African Company, but claimed by the Portuguese. The people in Lisbon are sending out volunteers and regulars to defend it. Mr. Rhodes is quite able to hold his own, particularly as the native chiefs are, as usual, declaring for the British ; but the real point is the interpretation of the modus vivendi. We ought to retire, if we said we would ; but then, ought not the Portuguese to retire also ? The little State seems to be in the hands of men who are not diplomatists ; but we distrust also the action of all these Chartered Companies. They think themselves Governments, but are hungry for money too.