I do not want to disparage them or their courage, but I cannot help questioning whether they ever had to withstand any serious attack of the enemy.

I have been told perfectly sickening details concerning this conquest of the territory now known by the name of Rhodesia.

The cruel manner in which, after having wrung from them a concession which virtually despoiled them of every right over their native land and after having goaded these people into exasperation, the people themselves were exterminated was terrible beyond words.

For instance, there occurred the incident mentioned by Olive Schreiner in "Trooper Peter Halkett of Mashonaland," when over one hundred savages were suffocated alive in a cave where they sought a refuge.
Personally, I remain persuaded that these abominable deeds remained unknown to Mr.Rhodes and that he would not have tolerated them for one single instant.

They were performed by people who were in possession of Rhodes' confidence, and who abused it by allowing the world to think that he encouraged such deeds.