THE MATABELE WARS. 722 the north-westward, then across the Imbenabesi River, and north-eastward to the Shangani. Nativereportsnowsaid that mostofLobengula's people had left him, that those who remained were short of foodand manyof them sick, and that tlae old king himself was ill with fever and gout. Though unfortunately the fact was not knowntill much later,Lobengulahad given up allhopeofescape,andhadsent intwomessengers and his escort had slept there the night before and that he wasnot far off. It was now 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and Forbes resolved to camp for the night, but to send on a strong patrol under Major Allan Wilson toovertaketlae king.

Wilson's party consisted of fifteen officers and men. December is the midsummer month in South Africa, and it was hoped that Wilson would be able by riding rapidly to ascertain MR. RILEY. UMJAN, MATABELE CHIEF. MR. DAWSON.

with a present of gold and a letter asking for terms. The gold was stolen and the letter intercepted and suppressed by two troopers of the Border Police. Tlae result of this crime was that the king and his bodyguard were driven to make a last despairing effort at resistance, many valuable lives were lost, and the war— so far successful— ended with a tragic disaster.

where the king had bivouacked and be back to campbefore dark. But late in the eveningtwo of the patrol returned with a message from Wilson saying hehad crossed the Shangani and found out where the king was, and instead of returning to camp would spend the night near Lobengula's bivouac. Later stillthree troopers came in from Wilson with a warning to Forbes that theMatabele were stronger than had been at first reported, and hoped to surround and attack the camp. A native had already told Forbesthat there were some3.0000s tlaeenemy in the neighbourhood.

Following the trail madeby the wheels of tlae king's three waggons, the pursuers reached on December 3rd a recently deserted native camp near the ShanganiRiver. A Matabele who was captured by the scouts admitted that the king