The news from Mashonaland is very important, but a little
indefinite. There is war between Queen Victoria and King Lobengula. That ferocious barbarian, who, Mr. Rider Haggard declares, murdered Captain Paterson merely for mentioning a rival claimant to his throne, allowed one of his Impis to invade Bechuanaland, and kill certain armed policemen. He might as well have invaded Cornwall. All restrictions on Mr. C. Rhodes have been at once withdrawn, the Queen's regiments at the Cape have been warned to be ready to support him, and the forces of the Company, fourteen hundred "salted" fighters, with many machine-guns, are marching on Bulawayo, the King's kraal. The Matabele are retreating to defend it, and it is believed they will halt to fight in the open, and in their old crescent formation; in which case they will be destroyed. Mr. Rhodes, who is at Fort Salisbury, believes the war will be over in a month, and all interviewed experts are of his opinion. There is, of course, the off-chance of a blunder ; but a thousand of the Europeans are mounted, and it is said that the provision of food, cartridges, and shells leaves nothing to be desired. Mr. Rhodes, too, is looking on, which means that all Boers are friendly, and that everybody is afraid to neglect anything.
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