§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that an armed body of police left Etshowe for northern Zululand on or about the 20th July; whether Mr. Saunders, an official, accompanied such expedition, and in what capacity, and under what instructions; whether the Native Chief Zibebu also accompanied such expedition, at whose request, and for what purpose; whether the expedition is, in fact, directed against the Tongos; whether these Tongos were raided by Zibebu in September last, and what Report has been made thereon by Colonel Coope; and whether the Special Commissioners, when sitting at Etshowe, pronounced any, and what, conclusion as to the status of these Tongos as subjects of the Queen?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe hon. Member probably refers to an escort of 15 police who are to accompany Mr. Saunders on a Mission with which he is charged under instructions of the Governor of Natal, by direction of the Secretary of State, to define the boundary between the territories of Zambili, Queen of Tongaland, and Zululand. The Queen Zambili has been invited to send 114 a representative to assist in the demarcation. There is no reason to suppose that Usibebu is with Mr. Saunders, of whose departure no information has yet been received. Colonel Coope, in September last, reported to the Governor of Natal that Usibebu had committed a wanton raid upon the Chiefs Usibondi and Umcamana; but on inquiry it appears that these Chiefs, under orders from Dinizulu, had turned out to "finish off" Usibebu, and that the latter had retaliated upon them. The status of these Chiefs as subjects of the Queen did not come before the Special Commission, so far as is known, but the evidence is not yet before the Secretary of State; he has, however, heard nothing to lead him to believe that the Commission came to any conclusion about them.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether it is true, as I believe it to be, that the native Chief Zibebu is with Mr. Saunders and this body of police, and will he give such directions as will prevent any interference by the British Authorities with the Tongos?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI shall be happy to make inquiries.