THE MATABELE WARS. 720 But his defection mattered very little, for the war was practically over. Within a few hours of Khama's departure from the camp, some of the natives of the district brought in news of the battle of Imbembesi and the flight of Lobengula fromBuluwayo. They also said that Gambo and his Matabele army, on hearingthe news, had fled towards the Gwai River. Next day the reports as to what had occurred at Buluwayo were confirmed by a letter from Dr.

Jameson. Colonel Goold Adams had now no enemies in his front, and marching by easy stageshe reached Buluwayo on November15th.

at the waggons,and in trying to stop the rush of theMatabele hadalready been wounded when the mounted men arrived. But by this time the rearmost of the waggons had been rushed, Corporal Mundy and a native driver who were withit both being assegaied, the waggon fired, itscontents destroyed,and the oxen taken away. Ourmountedmencovered themovement ofthe waggons to thelaager and fell back with them, the Matabele following them up through the bush, eventually getting to within 150 yards of the laager, when the Maxim guns opened lire and they at once turned. The Matabele then retired into the hills to the southward. Ithen Meanwhilemessengers had been sent allover THE BUILDING OF SALISBURY :THE FIRST BRICK HOUSE.

(From a photo by Mr. A. E. Manna'.)

ordered our mounted men out after them, and Khama's men to storm the hills,our men going round the base of the hills to prevent the Matabele as much as possible from getting out. Firing was kept up on the hills for about an hour, when nothing more could be seen of tlae Matabele. We afterwardsascertainedthat they must have remainedin hiding in the caves and rocksuntil nightfall, when they made their way back to the Matoppo Mountains. Over sixtydead bodies werecounted, and a great number must have gone away wounded. Sergeant Dahrh was shot through the head during the attack on the hills, three of Khama'smen were killed and six or seven wounded. Mr. Selous, Sergeant-Major Codrington, and Corporal Ransome were also wounded, but not seri'oush."

the district to inform the natives that if they would come in and surrender their arms they. would be in no way molested and would be allowed'to cultivate their lands. But though by all accounts the Matabele were anxious for peace they would not submit while Lobengula heldout, and theking at first refused absolutely to surrender. It wasdecided, therefore, to send out a column to capture him, or drive him out of the country and across tlae Zambesi. A mixed force of the Chartered Company'sVolunteers and tlae Border Police therefore started in pursuit of the king, under the command of Major Forbes. But before he could come up with the fugitive king, his own supplies were exhausted,and he had to retire to thedeserted mission station of Shiloh, north of Buluwayo, where waggonsweresent to meet him. It was afterwards ascertained from the natives that the column was withinthree miles of the king when On November 5th Klaama suddenly informed Colonel Goold Adams that he and his people ■would go no further. Small-pox, he said, had broken out among them, and all attempts to hold him to his engagement proved useless.

the pursuit was abandoned.

FromShiloh another start was made, first to