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Auction: 24025 - Historical Documents Featuring the Major David Cecil Underwood Jr Collection of Royal Visits to India 1876-1906
Lot: 321

Southern Africa
Basutoland
The Basutoland Rebellion, Gun War, 1880-81
1880 April-September a group of autograph letters including (Apr.-July) three from Major Charles G.H. Bell (the son of C.H. Bell) from "Advance Post" to Col. Griffiths including accounts of the conflict "...the people are all of the opinion that it would not be safe to give up the guns without the chief's permission - they grumble and say the chiefs are foolish in holding out, and wish to destroy the tribe - but at the same seeing we have no visible means of protecting them...I hope Mr. Spigg will change his mind about NOT using force, he must use it, and the sooner the better...","... Mr. Jonesse of Thaba Bosigo gave his gun to one of his 'Christians' and told him not to give it up until all the Basutos gave theirs up - this is a nice sort of thing for a missionary to do - I hope the Govt. will knock off all his school allowance..." "... I have served out ammunition and had a guard appointed, as you can imagine there is not much sleep going on in there tonight".
(June-Sept.) two from Fred Austin, the Resident Magistrate of Quthing to Col. Griffiths, the first sent from Quthing River near Manstons Caves whilst the second includes "....I believe now if the 100 European troops are sent to Mohal's Hoek with the C.M.R. at Mafeteng and Maseru - and I had 100 men to go with to Hatual Drift - all of the Bahutes and Basutos... would come in and give up their guns..."
(14 July) sender's copy of a rather terse letter from Col. Charles D. Griffiths at Maseru to Sir Gordon Sprigg lamenting the state of affairs in Basutoland "...I cannot help feeling that we are being cruely treated by you - my request for arms and ammunition, etc. was pooh poohed in the coolest manner as if I was the most ordinary of alarmists, whereas the history of my thirty two years service will prove to the contrary...The very worst feelings of the Basutos have now been roused and the state of the country cannot better be described than armed truce... Matters have gone so far now that there is nothing else for it. You must either make them obey the law or withdraw from the Country...I send you a note I received this morning from Mr. Bell the mgte at Advance P. by which you will see the state of affairs up there - all the traders and all the loyal people are looking up to me for advice and protection";
(Aug.-Sept.) three from W.H. Surmon at Mohale's Hoek to Col. Griffiths awaiting the attack at the end of September "....The delay in sending us assitance is causing much dissatisfaction amoungst both the Europeans and Natives, who are losing confidence in us... Every day now adds to the strength of the rebels... it is no good sending a few hundred men now, we want thousands the crush the rebellion at the start"; the second letter begins "My post rider has just returned and reports that he was turned back about three miles this side of Mafeteng... I now send the post through Gurney's Drift to go via Wepener..." and finally on the 19 September "... It is getting very warm here and I fully expect that we will be hard at it fighting away in a day or two. Tomorrow is said by many to be the day we are attacked by every available man in the district... We are hard at work today strengthening our position and mean to save ourselves and our cattle if we can, but we are so weak that you must not be surprised if we lose at least the latter...". A fine account of the feelings a few days before the attack
(22 Sept.) certified true copy of a letter from Lesaona at Kolojane to Major Bell, "The peace is broken by the Government because the Government shoot first and made a war to Basutho. You are my friend but why you don't inform me about the government that has happened at Mr. Barkly and Mr. Griffiths...I repeat the month I told Matoka that Peace in broken by the Goverment not basutho...I have heard that it has been fighting there at Mr. Griffiths. Is lies or it true", a fascinating document from one of the Basuto chiefs, and 1880 (28 Oct.) autograph letter (light tone spotting) from Allan Webb, the Bishop of Bloemfontein, a letter of condolence to a friend for the loss of his only son at the Battle of Mefeteng on 17 September
A wonderful and most interesting group.


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