NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE news of the week from Matabeleland is rather con- fused. It may be taken as certain that the whole Matabele tribe has rtsen, and that to dislodge its impis from the hills round Bulawayo—this is the official spelling—will take a serious effort, if not a reinforcement of regular troops. It is also probable that several subordinate tribes will, unless the insurrection is rapidly put down, join the Matabeles The area of the revolt, too, extends, and the number of whites murdered is now estimated at two hundred, while the temper of the blacks, even in the suburbs of Bulawayo, is obviously bad. On the other hand, the relief parties always win in little battles, volunteers are advancing from many places to aid the besieged, and the settlers are obviously full of heart. Mr. Cecil Rhodes was expected at Bulawayo, but he either fell ill at Fort Salisbury of malarial fever, or, as is possible, that report has been circulated to prevent any special attack being made upon his party by natives who may think him an invaluable hostage. He may, that is, be moving on the capital with his hundred and twenty volunteers and two hundred Sondanese, while his enemies think him sick.
