SUNSHINE AND STORM IN RHODESIA

Being a Narrative of Events in Matabeleland both before and during the recent native insurrection up to the date of the disbandment of the Bulawayo Field Force with a map and numerous illustrations

290 pages, frontispiece of Maholi, folding map, 9 plates, 6 illustrations in the text, original brown cloth, simply repaired with a darker brown cloth strip on the spine, distinctive Rowland Ward zebra skin patterned endpapers, water marks on upper cover, edges uncut, light foxing on the page edges, a good copy.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography volume 2,page 302:After the close of the Matabele War, Mr. Selous returned to England, but in 1895 was offered an appointment in Matabeleland, and proceeding to Rhodesia, took up the management of the Essexvale Estate in the neighbourhood of Bulawayo. He was busied in the organisation of the property till March 1896, when the rebellion of the natives broke out, and he assumed the command of the H troop of the Bulawayo Field Force, which he retained till the conclusion of hostilities.

The author was of opinion that the removal of the police force from Matabeleland to the Transvaal (Jameson Raid), " gave the natives their opportunity to revolt," but he asserts that the leaders of the insurrection had long determined on rising whenever the circumstances were favourable to the movement. The causes of the discontent amongst the natives were, the exaction of " a certain amount of paid labour from every able-bodied man," the confiscation of cattle, and the endeavour on the part of the Matabeles to free themselves from the restraints of a settled form of government. In addition to a full account of the rebellion, there is a supplementary chapter recording some of the author's views on the Anglo-Boer question, in which he states that " a war between the Boers and British can only be a calamity of incalculable dimensions to both races."