Cyril B. Harris .. . et. al.

W.D. Fynn, for 33 years Superintendent of Farms for De Beers Consolidated Mines Co., was originally a farmer on the borders of Transkei who introduced himself to Rhodes when the latter addressed a political meeting, as Prime Minister of Cape Colony, at St. Marks. Rhodes lent Fynn 500 to set up a farm in Rhodesia, and Fynn bought a property in the Bembesi Valley from Rhodes's brother Arthur. After a period spent with Rhodes and his forces in Ndebeleland, he was subsequently sent to Eastern Province to buy cattle for Rhodesia after the territory had been badly affected by rinderpest. He was later introduced to the Board of De Beers and given charge of mining compounds, c1900, evacuating the natives so Rhodes could close the mines at Kimberley. Like Rhodes, he was present in Kimberley during the siege, 1899-1900.

Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) was born at Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire and educated at Bishops Stortford Grammar School, 1861-1869, when his health broke down. He was sent to Natal in southern Africa in 1870 to help his brother Herbert grow cotton, though Herbert was increasingly occupied with diamond prospecting. In his brother's absence, Cecil was left to run the plantation, showing an ability to manage the native Zulu labourers.

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