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PUBLICATION No. 33 SEPTEMBER, 1975 1953 The Standard Bank Limited, Chipinga 1969 . - ;1111• ~l~ K. srANoARD ·~T7J • -- WHEN TODAY IS AS OlD AS YESTERDAY Rhodesia Railways will be preparing to meet the challenge of tomorrow, thus ensuring that today and every day they can continue to provide a reliable transport service capable of meeting Rhodesia's growing demands, safely and efficiently RHODESIA RAILWAYS MOVES WITH THE TIMES THOMAS MEIKLE, 1862-1939 The founder of the Meikle Organisation sailed from Scotland with his parents in 1869. The family settled in Natal where Thomas and his brothers John and Stewart gained their first farming ex­ perience. In 1892 the three brothers set off for Rhodesia with eight ox- wagons. Three months later they had completed the 700 mile trek to Fort Victoria. Here they opened a store made of whisky cases and roofed over with the tarpaulins that had covered their wagons. Progress was at first slow, nevertheless, branches were opened in Salisbury in 1893, Bulawayo and Gwelo in 1894, and in Umtali in 1897. From these small beginnings a vast network of stores, hotels, farms, mines and auxilliary undertakings was built up. These ventures culminated in the formation of the Thomas Meikle Trust and Investment Company in 1933. The success of these many enterprises was mainly due to Thomas Meikle's foresight and his business acumen, coupled with his ability to judge character and gather around him a loyal and efficient staff. His great pioneering spirit lives on: today the Meikle Organisation is still playing an important part in the development of Rhodesia. THOMAS MEIKLE TRUST AND INVESTMENT CO. (PVT.) LIMITED Travel Centre Stanley Avenue P.O. Box 3598 Salisbury PIONEER HEAD ANNOUNCES ANOTHER FINE FACSIMILE J. G. MILLAIS LIFE OF FREDERICK COURTENEY SELOUS D.S.O. HERITAGE SERIES No. VU A COMPLETE REPRODUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL 1918 EDITION WITH NEW INTRODUCTION BY E. E. BURKE. DIRECTOR. NATIONAL ARCHIVES Price $12,00 KINGSTONS Box 2374, Salisbury and all booksellers PUBLICATION No. 33 SEPTEMBER, 1975 RHODESIANA Publication No. 33 — September, 1975 THE RHODESIANA SOCIETY Salisbury Rhodesia Edited by W. V. BRELSFORD Assisted by E. E. BURKE, M.L.M. Copyright is reserved by the Society Authors are responsible for their own opinions and for the accuracy of statements they make. ISSN 0556—9605 vi CONTENTS September 1975 Page THE AFRICAN TRANS-CONTINENTAL TELEGRAPH LINE, BY R. CHERER SMITH 1 THE SOUTHERN APPROACH TO THE "FAR INTERIOR", BY E. E. BURKE ........ 19 CHISHAWASHA MISSION AND THE 1896 REBELLION, BY W. F. REA, S.J. 32 ORIGINS OF POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS IN CENTRAL AFRICA, PART II, BY P.J.WHITE 36 FINAUGHTY'S CANNON, BY C. K. COOKE 46 FROM CILLICAATS TO ZELKAATS: THE ORTHOGRAPHIC ODYSSEY OF MZILIKAZI, BY R. KENT RASMUSSEN 52 THE PAST THAT SLIPPED AWAY, BY DOROTHY STEBBING 62 THE THOMAS BAINES CENTENARY 68 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. 1975. AND OTHER SOCIETY ACTIVITIES .. 71 SOME RECENT ADDITIONS TO .HE LIBRARY OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. COMPILED BY D. COGGIN 78 PERIODICALS AND ARTICLES OF INTEREST. A SURVEY BY R. G. S. DOUGLAS 83 NOTES 86 CORRESPONDENCE 92 REVIEWS 97 The cover picture is from a painting by T. Baines, showing his expedition on the market square in Pietermaritzburg, 1896, prior to his departure for the Interior. An expedition by E. Mohr was there at the same time; the two explorers are seen greeting each other. vii The Rhodesiana Society Founded 1953 The Society exists to promote Rhodesian historical studies and to encourage research. It also aims to unite all who wish to foster a wider appreciation and knowledge of the history of Rhodesia. There is no entrance fee; the subscription is $4,00 Rhodesian currency ($7,50 U.S.A. or R4.40) a year, and this entitles paid- up members to those numbers of Rhodesiana issued during the year. There are two issues in each year, dated June and September. For further information and particulars concerning membership please write to: The Honorary National Secretary, Rhodesiana Society, P.O. Box 8268, Causeway, Salisbury, Rhodesia. For information about Branch activities please write to: Matabeleland Branch, P.O. Box 1614. Bulawayo. Manicaland Branch, 12, Vumba Avenue, Umtali. Mashonaland Branch, P.O. Box 3946, Salisbury. Manuscripts will be welcomed by the Editor. They should preferably be typed in double spacing and be complete with any illustrations. Copies of published works for review will also be welcomed. National Executive Committee Members R. W. S. Turner, National Chairman M. J. Kimberley, National Deputy Chairman C. W. H. Loades, National Honorary Secretary W. V. Brelsford, Editor E. E. Burke, M.L.M. R. D. Franks Colonel A. S. Hickman, M.B.E. ix G. Storry, Esq. G. H. Tanser, Esq. J. M. Leach, Mashonaland Branch Representative Mrs. M. Waddy, Matabeleland Branch Representative H. T. F. Went, Manicaland Branch Representative Matabeleland Manicaland Mashonaland Branch Branch Branch Committee Committee Committee Members Members Members Chairman Chairman Chairman H. J. Vickery H. T. F. Went M. J. Kimberley Honorary Secretary Vice-chairman Vice-Chairman B. Lovemore, O.L.M. H. Simons W. D. Gale, M.B.E. L. W. Bolze R. Y. Armstrong Honorary Secretary E. T. Hepburn R. A. R. Bent, C.B.E. R. D. Franks C. O. Liebold Miss A. Cripps W. Parry K. M. Fleming Honorary Treasurer Mrs. M. Waddy E. H. Howman Mrs. R. M. T. Barker G. Zacharias P. M. Hutchinson J. E. Mazorati T. J. Kerr J. M. Leach J. H. G. Robertson, M.L.M. A. M. Rosettenstein J. G. Storry T. F. M. Tanser x The Dove, one of the African Lakes Company's ships that plied on the Shire lllld Zambezi rivers. (Photo: National Archives) Trans porting telegraph poles. (Plroto: National Archives) The Africa Trans-Continental Telegraph Line by R. Cherer Smith INTRODUCTION Rhodes's idea of a Cape to Cairo railway with an accompanying telegraph was a bold one, and was a corollary to his vision of having a succession of British territories down the whole length of Africa. In fact, the Royal Charter establishing the British South Africa Company had specific provision for the extension of the telegraph system. Although the scheme was initiated with speed and determination after the incorporation of the Africa Trans-Continental Telegraph Company, it floundered for a number of reasons. More advanced forms of communication were in the offing: Rhodes was a sick man, and he blotted his copy-book through his implication in the Jameson Raid into the Transvaal in 1896. The section of the route that had been completed had shown that its economic viability was doubtful, and by the time the line had reached Ujiji in German East Africa (Tanzania), the company had run out of funds. Rhodes, however, accepted the fact that the telegraph might not pay, but considered it essential to the fulfilment of his overall plan. Sir Abe Bailey was an enthusiastic supporter of the idea, and recorded the following thoughts about the project in the early nineties: "When I first heard about it from Rhodes in his very best enthusiastic manner, he thought it was not likely to be a payable proposition, but probably a great instrument of civilisation. We had a long talk, arguing the pros and cons of the scheme. He, of course, could only see any argument in favour of the project. Pulling out his map of Africa, which was blue pencilled, he quickly showed me what the whole idea really meant for the benefit of the British Empire. The only religion Rhodes had was to work for the British Empire and the English-speaking races. Soon after, without asking me, I sent him a cheque for £10 000 and asked him to put my name down for shares. He wrote back thanking me, and seemed very pleased because my contribution was unsolicited, and said in the letter, 'A memorial should be erected in South Africa to this project, and on it inscribed the name of the first subscriber to the Trans- Continental Telegraph Co.' Then again, as is known, he had considerable difficulties with Germany; whilst Belgium agreed to an exchange of territory, Germany had objected. I fancy that after the proposal re German scholarships, Germany was more amenable. Cecil Rhodes was at this time very keen on bringing down cable rates and placing South Africa in cable communication 1 with Europe at much lower rates than were current. In discussing the con­ struction of the Trans-Continental Telegraph, we used to talk over the way the elephants would knock down the poles and the white ants attack them if they were made of wood. I never knew who gave him the first idea. He always made everyone who conversed with him go away with the conception that he was giving his own ideas—very clever of Rhodes—but I do think Sir James Sive- wright had first spoken to him about it, and I believe in all his big schemes Rhodes always felt comfortable because he knew Alfred Beit was always there to support him."1 Whether Sir James Sivewright first thought of the idea or not, (and the evidence seems to suggest that he did) Rhodes seized upon it as part of his expansionist programme for Britain in Africa. A few years before, a trans-continental telegraph had been constructed across Australia connecting Darwin to Adelaide—a distance of some 2 000 miles through desert and inhospitable country. If the Australians could do it, so could South Africa. After the idea had been given some publicity, the Cape Government offered a subsidy of £15 000 per annum for fifteen years to any person or company who would construct and work a telegraph between England and the Cape; the Natal Government similarly voted £5 000 per annum for a period of twenty years.

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