4 AUGUST 1888, Page 1

The news from Zululand is decidedly better, and promises a

far easier escape from our difficulties than at first seemed possible. The surrender of Somkeli, one of the principal chiefs, and of three minor chiefs, was announced on Thursday, and the five murderers of Mr. Ashby have been given up. The telegrams state further that the coast districts are now nearly all in a settled condition, and that the British force, which was to have first operated against Somkeli, is now to march directly against Dinizulu. A report must also be mentioned, though it seems that it would be hardly safe to rely upon it too implicitly. that the Baqualusi, the tribe which has up till now supported Diniznlu, has deserted him. It is to be hoped, then, that In a comparatively short space of time another settlement of Zululand, the fourth within eight years, will have been accomplished. Whether it will be more permantnt than pre- vious settlements, remains to be seen. We should greatly fear not. The extraordinarily rapid development of Eastern South Africa must inevitably produce a vast amount of restlessness and instability.