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From: "Carruthers home" <>
Subject: [RHODESIAN-PIONEERS] Macloutsie and Matalusi (part 1)
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 06:04:15 -0000


Macloutsie and Matalusi (part 1)




Below are some refferences to Macloutsie River and Matalusi store

does anyone know where the "Matalusi store" was in relation to Belingwe & Doro Range ? Doro ranch is just off the Filabusi-Belingwe road on the East side of the start of the Great Dyke/Doro Range.



1891:-

"Our two day journey along the East side of the Limpopo was uneventful. We were some distance up stream when we eventually crossed at a drift known to my old friend Van Staden. It was seven to eight miles up from the Shashi/Limpopo Junction (since called Rhodes's drift). Mr Rhodes returned from Tuli to Pietersburg In 1891 by my route."



"After spending the whole day cutting our way through the dense undergrowth to the drift we had several interesting experiences, the wide sandy river was home to fifteen foot crocks, some over six hundred lbs. We pulled early through the 150 yards of sandy drift to the Bechuanaland West bank, setting up camp under a fringe of large Mimosa trees. Water was obtainable from just below the surface of the sand. It was around here we searched for Van Staden's brother's grave, we failed to find it. Soon after outspanning, Barrett and I rode back across the River to get in touch with a native Mazeba, at a small kraal known to my pal Van Staden. On the way, we went to where we heard shots from a rifle a few miles downstream, on the East side of the drift. As we emerged from the heavy timber, we rode out on a heard of Impala feeding. Jack Barrett wanted a Trophy so dismounted and shot a large bull. We covered it up with branches to collect on our return. Riding on another mile we came out on a tented wagon, brushed in for safety. The women folk were very perturbed when we broke into view. After greeting we were welcomed by Mrs Frikkie Greef, and her daughter Martha, with a Native herd boy in attendance. Mr Greef and Hans Lee (Of hunting fame and son of John Lee) were away chasing a wounded buck. After they had ridden away, Miss Greef had just shot a Lioness among the cattle. Many years later her brother met his death near Tuli, having been clawed by a Lion. He had Killed two, the third badly wounded sprang on him."



"I fortunately found that they had trekked down from Matabeleland, making away to the Transvaal owing to the likelihood of trouble with the Matabele on account of the Charter Column wanting to enter Matabeleland. We rode back and brought our wagon to their camp for the night. Barrett and I made back to pick up the kill, tying it on the back of his saddle. We had not gone very far when we pulled up to argue about the point of compass we were following. It was mid day and amoung big trees, a difficult problem in the circumstances. Barrett went off to the right. I kept to the same bearing, which brought me out two miles down stream of the wagon. Luckly, here I found a few stray cattle, wandering away quite lost. Only a few miles divided the two camps, I fired a warning to draw Barrett. He came in after dark on hearing my Dynamite charge, still carrying the Impala. He was very distressed, his hands scratched and his shirt in tatters, after an exasperating nine hours in the veld. The next morning we trekked into Grieff's camp. My trail would comfort him South to Pietersburg."



We in turn followed up their trail the next day along the Shashi River and made for the Tuli junction. We had to cross and re-cross the Shashi River many times. On the third morning again hearing shooting, I rode out to investigate and came upon a B.B.P. advance patrol under Lieutenant Hicks-Beach with my old fried Fred from '84. Fred Brennan, ex Lowe's Police, with twenty others, were patrolling the Northern Bechuanaland (Botswana) border. He was more surprised than I, when he learnt where we had come from. It had been hard going for our mounts, we had to often dismount and walk, scouting adead for a wagon trail. We spent the night at Fred's camp."



On reaching the Shashi crossing at Tuli, they found they were ahead of the column, which was still at the Macloutsie River. The force had moved from Camp Cecil to Fort Matlaputla on the same river for their final training.

It transpired there was a hitch between Lo-Bengula and Dr Jameson about the right of way. They dealt out what provisions they had to spare and started back to Pietersburg on the 26th May 1890. Jack arranged to take letters to Mr Rhodes and hurry up the grain and other supplies that could be sent on.

They made the Salt Pan by the eighth day. Mr Rhodes was pleased to hear Jack had opened the trail from the Transvaal to Tuli.



"We made several trips back the one hundred and fifty miles along my trail to Pietersburg with despatches from the Bechuanaland Border Patrol, together with my friend Doel Zeederberg and Tommy Tomkins. Making a journey by Cape Cart on one occation, to fix up a postal service from Tuli to Pietersburg. While driving back some few miles South of my drift on the Limpopo, Doel suggested that we should save the long round about route and make a short cut. What a troublesome business it was making a way through mopani country most of the time! We led the team through all sorts of difficult going and by nightfall we should have been far on our way to the Salt Pan. We were forced to make camp and comfort our team, nothing disturbed our rest that night. An early start brought us out by a nice fountain only half a mile distant from where we camped. I found a sjambok hanging on a tree nearby. From here we joined a trail that led us to the "Tatshani" waterhole. We reached Pietersburg without mishap but soon after three mules and one horse died of sickness, who's mate I saw in Salisbury many years later. Doel and I travelled back to Tuli with Ted Slater, Louis Susman and Panados Zaffre by the same route to Tuli situated thirty miles upstream of the Limpopo. Louis became the Proprietor of the Masonic Hotel in Salisbury.

The Tuli Laager was just being formed under Major Tye, on the South bank, 9th of July 1890, the Pioneers having arrived on the 1st of July."





"The advance Pioneer Column were across the Shashi Drift, getting their supplies across the half a mile of sand and preparing the road a few miles beyond, cutting Northward. My friend's followed on, well supplied and weapon wise. They were equipped with Webley 450 revolvers, Martini Henry breech loading rifles and hand axes. Most of the troopers in the column eventually made covers for their bandoliers to avoid the rounds falling out. The Tuli camp was situated on top of a small kopjie, I missed the first rugby match played on the Shashi, 4th of July between 'B' troop and the world. The world consisted of the rest of the pioneer corps. and 'A' troop of the police. Skipper Hoste, recalls the result was a draw, slightly in favour of 'B' troop."



Based on notes by Bob Carruthers




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