CHAPTER IX

1893-1896

Cupid at work--Engagement to Miss Maddy--Intends to visit America--Trouble in Matabeleland--History of Matabele raids--The position in 1893--Hunters enter Matabeleland--Selous returns to South Africa--Joins Col. Goold-Adams' column--Preliminary fights--Selous wounded--The first battle--The Matabele retreat north--Disaster to Major Wilson's column--Selous' prophecy--Return to England--Marriage--Honeymoon on the Danube and in Asia Minor--Hunting in the mountains of Asia Minor--Leaves again for Mashunaland--Essex vale--The new Bulawayo--The cloud of trouble--The Umlimo--The rising of the natives--The defence force--Col. Johan Colenbrander--Driven from Essex vale--Isolated engagements--The fight on the Umguzra--Selous surrounded--His horse runs away--His life saved by Capt. Windley--A narrow escape--Work on the main road--Arrival of Sir H. Plumer--Mr. Labouchere's views of the second Matabele War--The future of S. Rhodesia--The difficulties of farming there--Markets too distant--Selous attacked by Labouchere--Messrs. Rowland Ward and Co.--Their kindness to Selous--The Nyala--Expedition to the Pongolo and Usutu rivers--An unhealthy country--Return to England 197