Back 4D Future: The Establishment Of The Protectorate (Part 22) � �The 4 Dikgosi Arrive Britain�

Jeff Ramsay | Monday November 2, 2015 15:39

Also on board where their respective tribal secretaries - Stephen Lefenya, David Sebonego, Simeon Seisa and Kehutile Gohiwamang – as well as Bathoen’s brother Kwenaetsile and the Rev. W.C. Willoughby.

As none of the Batswana had taken an ocean passage before, they took some days to overcome the effects of seasickness as well as adjust to the thought of no land in sight. On the 2nd of September 1895, the ship made landfall at the Portuguese island of Madeira, where the Dikgosi were greeted with a “Welcome to Europe” message sent by well wishers awaiting their arrival in England. The ship docked at Plymouth Sound in the early morning of Friday the 6th of September 1895.

At the docks the Batswana were welcomed by the Foreign Secretary of the London Missionary Society (LMS) the Rev. Wardlaw Thompson and a Wesleyan Missionary sent to assist the Barolong, the Rev. Alfred Spring Sharp [contrary to last week’s instalment Sharp was already on furlough in England when Besele and Stephan Lefenya arrived].

Also waiting for the Dikgosi were members of the press who were eager to interview them about their mission. This was declined as the Batswana had already agreed with Willoughby that they would avoid making any public statements prior to being received by the Colonial Secretary of State, Joseph Chamberlain. In response to the journalists’ determined attempts to question them they did, however, indicate that any promises made by or on behalf of Rhodes would be of little value if they were not formalised in writing.

Arriving by rail at London’s Paddington station in the late afternoon, the Dikgosi were once again confronted by members press. With Willoughby occupied dealing with luggage, Major Hamilton Goold-Adams of the Bechuanaland Police stepped in to facilitate an interview between Khama and a reporter from the St. James Gazette. Avoiding political questions, the Kgosi volunteered his first impressions of the English countryside:

   “Everything is looking so marvellously fresh and green – such fine pastures and trees so rich with foliage! I have never seen so beautiful a country as that we passed today.”

Spotting the scene, Willoughby abruptly intervened to close the interview. Beyond not wishing the Dikgosi to reveal too much too soon, Willoughby had good reason to be suspicious of Goold-Adams who had been dispatched by “Morena Maaka” Shippard to assist the Colonial Office in its negotiations with the Dikgosi. Fluent in Setswana and on relatively good terms with each of the Dikgosi, more especially Khama, the Major like virtually all of the senior officers of the then Bechuanaland Border Police was also already very much in Rhodes’ pocket.

From the station the delegation broke up with the Bakwena, Bangwaketse and Bangwato proceeding to the LMS Headquarters at Livingstone House, while the Barolong went off with their Wesleyan hosts. This division of the delegation, based on denominational affiliation, was unfortunate as it played into the hands of those, notably including the High Commissioner in Cape Town, who were eager to marginalise the Barolong from the rest of the Batswana.

That Friday evening Bathoen, Khama and Sebele took advantage of the news that Chamberlain had not yet departed on holiday to urgently seek an audience. By Monday Chamberlain had agreed to meet them on the following Wednesday, the 11th of September 1895.

In consultation with Willoughby and their tribal secretaries, the Dikgosi also decided to take advantage of the level of public interest in their arrival to engage the press after all through a series of seemingly well orchestrated interviews. With their tribal secretaries, who were in each case proficient in English at their side, but Willoughby acting as their common interpreter, the three spent much of the next four days fielding questions from not always sympathetic journalists. In this respect they very much acted like a modern corporate team who were well briefed in their talking points.

While carefully avoiding any speculative questions about possible settlements with Rhodes, the three insisted on their common bonds, Christian principles and unity of purpose, as well as loyalty to Britain but fear of Rhode’s Company.

Speaking to a reporter from the London Daily News, Khama noted that their peoples all traced their origins to Kweneng, i.e. Matsieng’s Cave, further adding that “we look upon Sebele’s people as the fountain tribe.” For his part Sebele observed that while Bathoen and Khama “are my younger brothers we are all of one race.”

When asked what they most wanted to achieve in England? Sebele observed that: “Next to success in the object of our visit we wish to see the Queen - or as our people call her the one who listens or the little woman of many days [i.e. Mmamosadinyana].”

To this Khama added: “If we return and say we have not seen her they will say: See, it is as we said all lies. We believe it would be of great use, from a diplomatic point of view to have an audience with Her Majesty.”