Considerable anxiety is felt as to the fate of a
party of thirty-five men under Major Wilson, who are in close pur- suit of Lobengula. They reached his waggon on 4th inst., but were attacked by a body of Ma.tabele, and retreated fighting. Major Forbes, in command of a considerable body of Bechuanaland police, was at the latest advices try. lug to reinforce Major Wilson, but was delayed by the swelling of the Shangani river. It seems probable that Major Wilson, encouraged by Lobengula's flight, had become a little too bold ; but as he and his men were mounted, they should be able to get away. The Matabele not with the King are surrendering in great numbers, but bands of the soldiery still keep up furious attacks, in repelling one of which Major Forbes lost four men. It seems almost certain, from the answer given by Lord Ripon to a deputation from the Aborigines Protection Society, that the plan resolved on for governing Mashonaland is to entrust the administration to the Chartered Company, subject to strict control from the Colonial Office. The controlling officer should be on the spot then, and not at Cape Town, and should be selected as specially competent to judge between the savages and the new settlers. There is plenty of land for both.
