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	the weak and unwarlike Mashonas, as convenient harrying ground^for his brutal forays. Marauding troops of freebooters were constantly harassing the poor Mashonas, and oftentimes the king would send his robbing and murdering expeditions to scourge the land, just as he sent his impis to take Ugami, — to despoil and enslave and massacre the Batuwani, — and, across the Zambesi, to raid the Mashukulumbwe or the Barotse. To the sorely persecuted Mashonas the coming of the Eng­lish was an assurance of protection which was greatly welcomed,
	but even the presence of the bold white men and the unfolding of the British flag did not stop the marauding. Dr. Jameson protested over and over again to Lobengula, but the king was deaf. Finally, in July, 1893, parties of the Matabeles pushed their ferocious raids contemptuously up to the very bounds of the township of Victoria, and the English could not look on unmoved. Then Dr. Jameson sent a squad of police to warn off the marauders. The Matabele insolently fired on the guard, and the police charged and drove them flying.