BAROTSELAND:
EIGHT YEARS AMONG THE BAROTSE PEOPLE
Lewanika
Late Paramount Chief of the Barotse Nation
Frontispiece. Photo by Mrs. Marshall
BAROTSELAND:
Eight Years among the Barotse
BY
D. W. STIRKE
Native Commissioner Northern Rhodesia
WITH AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER BY
SIR HARRY JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G., K.C.B.
At one time H.M. Commissioner &c., for Northern Zambezia
LONDON:
JOHN BALE, SONS & DANIELSSON, LTD.
OXFORD HOUSE
83-91, GREAT TITCHFIELD STREET, OXFORD STREET, W.1
In presenting this book to the public I wouldlike to register my appreciation of the kindnessof various friends who have materially assisted mein its production. My brother-officials Messrs.Helm and Palmer and my friend the Rev. V. Ellenberger,of the Paris Huguenot Mission, have greatlyassisted me with advice and information, while mysincere gratitude is due to Mr. Coxhead (Secretaryfor Native Affairs), Mrs. Marshall, Mr. Walton(Assistant Native Commissioner), and Mr. Thomas(Vice-Principal of the Barotse National School)for photographs.
The greatest care has been taken in checkingand rechecking any and all portions of the bookand several items have been deleted as lackingconfirmation, which was unavoidable in handlingsuch a mixed race as the present day Barotse.
I would also wish it to be fully understood thatthis work has been compiled by me, aided bymy friends as mentioned before, but with noofficial assistance from the Administration, and[vi]this work must in no way be considered “Official”or “Approved by the British South African Co.”The information to be found in the book is howeverfairly accurate, in spite of not being writtenunder the ægis of the Administration.
Since finishing the book the death of theParamount Chief Lewanika has occurred, and hehas been succeeded in his position by his eldestson, Yeta, who has taken the title of Yeta II.
Lewanika was a man of about 70 years of age,and had a hold on his people that no Murotsechief will ever have again. He will, for generations,be remembered as the chief who did mostfor the improvement and consolidation of hispeople. Lewanika travelled to England for thelate King Edward’s coronation, and it was alwaysa great delight to him to talk about the friends hemade and the sights he saw while going to, stayingin, and returning from England.
Early in his reign he was deposed by a relativeof his named Tatila; but Tatila had not the gripover his people nor the statesmanship to hold thechieftainship, with the result that Lewanika wasreinstated after a couple of battles. To thesurpr