§ MR. PAULI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office have received 735 any information from Sir Henry Loch confirming the report of the death of Lobengula?
§ MR. S. BUXTONOn Friday night we received the following telegram from Sir H. Loch:—
Report has been received on fairly reliable information that Lobengula died of fever or small-pox about four weeks ago. Dawson and Riley are on the way to Lobengula with message from me. Their return expected in a few days, and they will be able to confirm report or otherwise.The mention of Mr. Dawson refers to a previous telegram received from Sir II. Loch on February 2 to the effect that his messenger Makesa—whom he sent some weeks ago with a friendly message to Lobengula—had returned. He had gone down the Shangani, two days beyond the place where Major Wilson's party had fought. He could not find Lobengula, but heard that he was in hiding in hills to the north of the Gwai and Shangani junction, and that his people with him were ploughing at the foot of the hills. Thereupon Mr. Dawson volunteered to go to Lobengula, accompanied by two indunas, to deliver Sir H. Loch's message. It will thus be seen that Sir H. Loch has made every endeavour to communicate with Lobengula.