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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:06:36 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:06:36 -0700 |
| commit | 29d42f27ce4c6fcd936560673ed9950b289eb1ff (patch) | |
| tree | 7c1e591b73a445083d2fc3a4acfa7198ed4278a0 /23692-h | |
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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 1 (of 6) + From the Foundation of Cape Colony to the Boer Ultimatum + of 9th Oct. 1899 + +Author: Louis Creswicke + +Release Date: December 3, 2007 [EBook #23692] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH AFRICA *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Brownfox and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: All images apart from the front cover are thumbnails linked to larger images, for faster loading. +Images may have been moved to allow the text to flow in the HTML version.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image000" name="image000"></a> + <img src="images/image000.jpg" + alt="Front Cover. South Africa and the Transvaal War." + title="Front Cover. South Africa and the Transvaal War." /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image001" name="image001"></a> + <a href="images/image001h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image001.jpg" + alt="LIEUTENANTS MELVILL and COGHILL (24th REGIMENT) DYING TO SAVE THE QUEEN'S COLOURS. +An Incident at the Battle of Isandlwana. +Painting by C. E. Fripp." + title="LIEUTENANTS MELVILL and COGHILL (24th REGIMENT) DYING TO SAVE THE QUEEN'S COLOURS. +An Incident at the Battle of Isandlwana. +Painting by C. E. Fripp." /></a> +<p class="caption">LIEUTENANTS MELVILL and COGHILL (24th REGIMENT) DYING TO SAVE THE QUEEN'S COLOURS.</p> +<p class="caption">An Incident at the Battle of Isandlwana.</p> +<p class="caption">Painting by C. E. Fripp.</p> +</div> + +<h1 class="gap3em"><span class="smcap">South Africa +and the +Transvaal War</span></h1> + +<h4>BY</h4> +<h3>LOUIS CRESWICKE</h3> +<p class="smaller">AUTHOR OF "ROXANE," ETC.</p> + +<p class="bold">WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS</p> + +<p class="center">IN SIX VOLUMES</p> + +<p class="centgap5">VOL. I.—FROM THE FOUNDATION OF CAPE COLONY TO +THE BOER ULTIMATUM OF 9<span class="sup">TH</span> OCT. 1899</p> + +<p class="center">EDINBURGH: T. C. & E. C. JACK</p> +<p class="centgap5">1900</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> + +<h3>PREFATORY NOTE</h3> + + +<p class="nobotmarg">In writing this volume my aim has been to present an unvarnished tale of +the circumstances—extending over nearly half a century—which have +brought about the present crisis in South Africa. Consequently, it has +been necessary to collate the opinions of the best authorities on the +subject. My acknowledgments are due to the distinguished authors herein +quoted for much valuable information, throwing light on the +complications that have been accumulating so long, and that owe their +origin to political blundering and cosmopolitan scheming rather than to +the racial antagonism between Briton and Boer.</p> + +<div class="signature">L. C.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> + +<h2>CONTENTS—VOL. I.</h2> +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign">CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE</td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_ix">ix</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign">INTRODUCTION</td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">CHAPTER I</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Growth of the Transvaal</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Boer Character</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Some Domestic Traits</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Orange Free State</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Grondwet</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Transvaal Dissensions</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Zulu Disturbances</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Political Web</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Web Thickening</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Zulu War</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Isandlwana</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Affairs at Home</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Towards Ulundi</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Victory</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Sir Garnet Wolseley at Pretoria</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Gladstone out of Office and in Office</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Commencement of Rebellion</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Fate of Captain Elliot</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Laing's Nek</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Ingogo</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Majuba</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Siege of Pretoria</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Retrocession</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Betrayed Loyalists</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Conventions</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Mr. Kruger</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Germans and Uitlanders</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Mr. Rhodes</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Rhodesia—Uncivilised</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Rhodesia—Civilised</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Gold</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Diamonds</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Transvaal of To-day</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Accumulated Aggravations</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Monopolies and Abuses</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Franchise</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Reform Movement</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Critical Moment</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Raid</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">After Doornkop</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Fate of the Miscreants</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Ultimatum</span></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="appendix">APPENDIX—<span class="smcap">Conventions of 1881 and 1884</span></td><td class="apppage"><a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS—Vol. I.</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">1. <i>COLOURED PLATES</i></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Dying to Save the Queen's Colours.</span> +An Incident of the Battle of Isandlwana. By C. E. Fripp</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image001"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Colonel of the 10th Hussars (H.R.H. the Prince of Wales)</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image016">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image032">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Officer of the 16th Lancers</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image064">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Drum-Major and Drummers, Coldstream Guards</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image080">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Colour-Sergeant and Private, the Scots Guards</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Sergeant and Bugler, 1st Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Colour-Sergeant and Private (in khaki), Gloucester Regiment</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">2. <i>FULL-PAGE PLATES</i></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Cape Town, Devil's Peak, Table Mountain, and Lion's Head, from Table Bay</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image010">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">A Kaffir Kraal in the Transvaal</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image020">20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Bloemfontein, from the South</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image026">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Defence of Rorke's Drift.</span> By Alphonse de Neuville</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image042">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Battle of Ulundi: the Final Rush of the Zulus.</span> By R. Caton Woodville</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image058">58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Orange River at Norval's Pont</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image077">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Battle of Majuba Hill.</span> By R. Caton Woodville</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image090">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Where Colley Fell.</span> Rough Cairn of Stones on Majuba Hill</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image091">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">The Matabele War—Defending a Laager.</span> By R. Caton Woodville</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">"To the Memory of Brave Men."</span> The Last Stand of Major Wilson on the Shangani River, 1893. By Allan Stewart</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image125">124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">A Matabele Raid in Mashonaland</span> By W. Small</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image128">128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Kimberley, as seen from the Rock Shaft</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image133">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Pretoria, from the East</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image138">138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">South African Natives—Bound for the Goldfields</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Jameson's Last Stand—the Battle of Doornkop</span>, 2nd January 1896. By R. Caton Woodville</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Johannesburg, from the North</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">3. <i>FULL-PAGE PORTRAITS</i></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Sir Henry Bartle Frere</span>, Bart</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image048">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">General Sir Evelyn Wood, G.C.B., V.C.</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image096">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Paul Kruger, President of the Transvaal Republic</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Right Hon. Cecil John Rhodes, P.C.</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Dr. Leander Starr Jameson</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image152">152</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.</span>, Secretary for the Colonies</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image177">176</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Sir Alfred Milner, K.C.B.</span>, High Commissioner for South Africa</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Viscount Wolseley</span>, Commander-in-chief of the British Army</td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image190">188</a></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="part">4. <i>MAPS</i></td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2" class="pagehead">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Map of British South Africa</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image002"><i>At Front</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Map of the Boer Republics</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image003">"</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Map of Zululand and the Adjoining Portions of Natal</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image040">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Map of Country round Laing's Nek and Majuba Hill</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image081">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Plan of Disposition of Forces on Top of Majuba Hill</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image088">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Map of Matabeleland</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image121">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign"><span class="smcap">Map Illustrating the Jameson Raid</span></td> +<td class="pageno"><a href="#image163">163</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHRONOLOGICAL_TABLE_Vol_I" id="CHRONOLOGICAL_TABLE_Vol_I"></a>CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE—<span class="smcap">Vol. I.</span></h2> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1851.</b>—First Basuto war.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1852.</b>—Sand River Convention, granting independence to Transvaal Boers.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1853.</b>—Province of British Kaffraria created.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Introduction of representative government in Cape Colony.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1854.</b>—Convention of Bloemfontein and Treaty of Aliwal, granting +independence to Orange Free State.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Free State abandoned to Dutch.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1855.</b>—Establishment of a Constitution for South African Republic; not +completed till 1858.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1856.</b>—Natal created a separate Colony. 2000 German legion and 2000 +German labourers arrived.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1858.</b>—War between Orange Free State and Basutos.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1859.</b>—First railway constructed.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1865.</b>—British Kaffraria incorporated with Cape Colony.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">War between Free State and Basutos.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1867.</b>—First discovery of diamonds near Orange River.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">First discovery of gold in Transvaal.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1868.</b>—Annexation of Basutoland.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1869.</b>—Discovery of diamonds near Lower Vaal River, where Kimberley now +stands.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Commercial Treaty concluded between Portuguese Government and the South +African Republic, which led to British claims to Delagoa Bay.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1871.</b>—Annexation of Griqualand West (Diamond Fields). Basutoland added +to Cape.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1872.</b>—Responsible Government granted to Cape Colony.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Cetchwayo succeeds his father, Panda, as king in Zululand.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1872-75.</b>—Delagoa Bay arbitration.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1874.</b>—Ichaboe and Penguin Islands annexed.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1875.</b>—Delagoa Bay award.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1875-80.</b>—Lord Carnarvon's scheme for making the different colonies and +states of South Africa into a confederation with common administration +and common legislation in national matters.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1876.</b>—Fingoland, Idutywa Reserve, and No-Man's-Land annexed.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Acceptance by Free State of £90,000 for Griqualand West.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Khama, Chief of Bamangwato, seeks British protection against Boer +aggressions.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1877.</b>—Annexation of Transvaal by Sir T. Shepstone, after the country +had been reduced to a state of anarchy by misgovernment.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1877-78.</b>—Gaika and Gealika rebellion.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1878.</b>—Walfish Bay proclaimed a British possession.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1879.</b>—Zulu war. Transvaal declared a Crown Colony.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1880.</b>—Basuto war. Sekukuni campaign.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Boer protest against British rule at a mass meeting held in December at +Paardekraal (now Krugersdorp).</p> + +<p class="chronodt">They seize Heidelberg.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">South African Republic established.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">December 16.—Kruger, Joubert, and Pretorius proclaimed South African +Republic by hoisting flag on Dingaan's Day. Kruger made President on +December 17. British treacherously surrounded at Bronkhurst Spruit, +December 20, when about 250 of 94th Regiment, after losing nearly all +their men, surrendered. Colonel Bellairs besieged in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span> Potchefstroom, but +Boers retire when shelled. December 29.—Captain Elliot treacherously murdered while fording the Vaal.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1880-81.</b>—Reinforcements sent out December and January.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Griqualand West incorporated with the Cape.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1881.</b>—Transvaal rebellion. Pretoria Convention, creating "Transvaal +State" under British suzerainty.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Sir George Colley takes command of our troops, January. His attack on +Laing's Nek repulsed with heavy loss. Colonel Deane and Majors Poole and +Hingiston killed.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1881.</b>—Severe engagement near Ingogo River, Feb. 8. British repulsed +after 12 hours under fire. Sir E. Wood joined Colley with +reinforcements. Orange Free State neutrality declared. Colley and Majuba +Hill, Feb. 27; Colley killed with 3 officers and 82 men; 122 men taken +prisoners.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Sir F. (now Lord) Roberts sent out, Feb. 28.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Armistice proposed by Boers, March 5; accepted March 23.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Peace proclaimed, March 21.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Potchefstroom surrendered with honours of war in ignorance of armistice, +April.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Commission appointed to carry out Treaty of Peace, April 5.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Convention agreed to, ceding all territory to Transvaal, with the Queen +as suzerain, and a British resident at Pretoria, Aug. 8.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Convention ratified, Oct. 25.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Evacuation of Transvaal by British troops began on Nov. 18.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1884.</b>—London Convention restoring to the Transvaal the title of "South +African Republic."</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Annexation of Damaraland by Germany.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Boer Republics of Stellaland and Goshen set up in Bechuanaland.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Boers seize and annex Montsioaland; sanctioned by proclamation; +withdrawn on remonstrance.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Ultimatum by Sir H. Robinson, requiring protection of frontiers.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">British annexation of Southern, and protectorate of Northern +Bechuanaland.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Basutoland made independent.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Port St. John annexed.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">British flag hoisted in Lucia Bay, Zululand (ceded to England in 1843, +by Panda).</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1884-85.</b>—Sir Charles Warren's expedition.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1885.</b>—Annexation of Bechuanaland to Cape Colony.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1885.</b>—British protectorate over Khama's country proclaimed as far as +Matabeleland.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Discovery of great goldfields in Witwatersrandt, Transvaal.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1886.</b>—Opening of principal goldfields in Transvaal.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">British Government put a stop to Boer raids into Zululand, and confined +them to a territory of nearly 3000 square miles; to be known as the "New +Republic."</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1887.</b>—British annexation of the rest of Zululand.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">British treaty with Tonga chiefs, in which they undertook not to make +treaties with any other power.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1888.</b>—"New Republic" annexed to South African Republic.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Treaty concluded between British and Lo Bengula, the Matabele king, in +which he undertook not to cede territory to, or treat with, any foreign +power without British consent.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1889.</b>—Charter granted to British South Africa Company.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1890.</b>—First Swaziland Convention, giving Boers certain rights to a +railway to the coast.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">British and German "spheres of influence" defined by formal agreement.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1891.</b>—Southern boundary of Portuguese territory fixed by treaty with +Great Britain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1893.</b>—Responsible government granted to Natal.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Matabele war.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1894.</b>—Malaboch war.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Question of "commandeering" British subjects raised in South African +Republic.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Second Swaziland Convention, placing Swaziland under Boer control.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Annexation of Amatongaland.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Annexation of Pondoland.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">British subjects exempted from military service by Transvaal Government, +June 24.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Protest by British Government against closing the Vaal Drifts, as +contrary to Convention; Nov. 3. Agreed to Nov. 8.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1895.</b>—Crown Colony of Bechuanaland annexed to Cape Colony.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Proclamation of Reform movement by Uitlanders in Johannesburg (National +Union), Dec. 26.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Jameson Raid—he crossed the frontier with a force from Pitsani Pitlogo, +Dec. 29.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Sir H. Robinson telegraphed to Jameson to retire, Dec. 30.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Mr. Chamberlain and Sir H. Robinson sent order to stop hostilities, Dec. +31.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1896.</b>—Dr. Jameson's party, outnumbered and without resources, defeated +by Boers near Krugersdorp, Jan. 1.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Fight at Vlakfontein, and surrender of Jameson, Jan. 2.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Johannesburg surrendered unconditionally by advice of British +Government, Jan. 2.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Dr. Jameson and other prisoners handed over to Sir H. Robinson, Jan. 7.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1897.</b>—Judicial Crisis in South African Republic.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Annexation of Zululand to Natal.</p> + +<p class="chronohd"><b>1899.</b>— Petition of Uitlanders to the Queen, May 24.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Conference, at Bloemfontein, between Sir A. Milner and Kruger, May 30. +Terminated without result, June 6.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">British Despatch to Transvaal, setting forth demands for immediate +acceptance, Sept. 8.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Unsatisfactory reply, Sept. 16.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Troops despatched to Natal, Sept. and Oct.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Insulting Boer Ultimatum, making war inevitable, Oct. 9.</p> + +<p class="chronodt">Orange Free State joins with the Transvaal.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image002" name="image002"></a> + <a href="images/image002h.png"> + <img src="images/image002.png" + alt="GENERAL MAP OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA" + title="GENERAL MAP OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA" /></a> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image003" name="image003"></a> + <a href="images/image003h.png"> + <img src="images/image003.png" + alt="Map of the Boer Republics." + title="Map of the Boer Republics." /></a> +</div> + +<p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SOUTH_AFRICA_AND_THE_TRANSVAAL_WAR" id="SOUTH_AFRICA_AND_THE_TRANSVAAL_WAR"></a>SOUTH AFRICA AND THE TRANSVAAL WAR</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>The Transvaal War—like a gigantic picture—cannot be considered at +close quarters. To fully appreciate the situation, and all that it +embraces, the critic must stand at a suitable distance. He must gaze not +merely with the eye of to-day, or even of the whole nineteenth century, +but with his mind educated to the strange conditions of earlier +civilisation. For in these conditions will be found the root of the +widespread mischief—the answer to many a riddle which superficial +observers have been unable to comprehend. The racial hatred between Boer +and Briton is not a thing of new growth; it has expanded with the +expansion of the Boer settlers themselves. In fact, on the Boer side, it +is the only thing independent of British enterprise which has grown and +expanded since the Dutch first set foot in the Cape. This took place in +1652. Then, Jan Van Riebeck, of the Dutch East India Company, first +established an European settlement, and a few years later the burghers +began life as cattle-breeders, agriculturists, and itinerant traders. +These original Cape Colonists were descendants of Dutchmen of the lower +classes, men of peasant stamp, who were joined in 1689 by a contingent +of Huguenot refugees. The Boers, or peasants, of that day were men of +fine type, a blend between the gipsy and the evangelist. They were +nomadic in their taste, lawless, and impatient of restrictions, bigoted +though devout, and inspired in all and through all by an unconquerable +love of independence. With manners they had nothing to do, with progress +still less. Isolation from the civilised world, and contact with +Bushmen, Hottentots, and Kaffirs, kept them from advancing with the +times. Their slaves outnumbered themselves, and their treatment of these +makes anything but enlivening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> reading. From all accounts the Boer went +about with the Bible in one hand and the <i>sjambok</i> in the other, +instructing himself assiduously with the Word, while asserting himself +liberally with the deed. Yet he was a first-rate sporting man, a shrewd +trafficker, and at times an energetic tiller of the soil. The early +settlements were Rondebosch, Stellenbosch, and Drakenstein, in the +valley of the Berg River. Here the Dutch community laboured, and smoked, +and married, multiplying itself with amazing rapidity, and expanding +well beyond the original limits.</p> + +<p>Dutch domination at the Cape lasted for 143 years after the landing of +Van Riebeck, but gradually internal dissensions among the settlers +resulted in absolute revolt. Meanwhile the Dutch in Europe had lost +their political prestige, and the country was overrun by a Prussian army +commissioned to support the House of Orange. In 1793, in a war against +allied England and Holland, France gained the day, and a Republic was +set up under French protection, thereby rendering Holland and her +colonies of necessity antagonistic to Great Britain. After this the +fortunes of the Cape were fluctuating. In 1795 Admiral Elphinstone and +General Craig brought about the surrender of the colony to Great +Britain. Later on it was returned to the Batavian Republic at the Peace +of Amiens, only to be afterwards recaptured by Sir David Baird in 1806. +Finally, in 1814, our claim to the Cape and other Dutch colonies was +recognised on payment of the sum of £6,000,000 sterling.</p> + +<p>Now for the first time began the real emigration of the British. They +settled at Bathurst, near Algoa Bay, but though their numbers gradually +swelled, they never equalled the number of the inhabitants of Dutch +origin.</p> + +<p>At this time South Africa was an ideal place for the pioneer. The +scenery was magnificent. There were mountain gorges or kloofs, roaring +cataracts, vast plains, and verdant tracts of succulent grasses. There +was big game enough to delight the heart of a race of Nimrods. Lions, +elephants, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, antelopes, and birds of all kinds, +offered horns, hides, tusks, and feathers to the adventurous sportsman. +All these things the nomadic Boer had hitherto freely enjoyed, plying +now his rifle, now his plough, and taking little thought for the morrow +or for the moving world outside the narrow circle of his family +experiences. With the appearance of British paramountcy at the Cape came +a hint of law and order, of progress and its accompaniment—taxation. +The bare whisper of discipline of any kind was sufficient to send the +truculent Boer trekking away to the far freedom of the veldt. Quantities +of them took to their lumbering tented waggons, drawn by long teams of +oxen, and put a safe distance between themselves and the new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>-comers. +All they wanted was a free home, conducted in their own gipsy +fashion—their kraals by the river, their camp fires, their flocks and +herds, and immunity from the vexation of monopolies and taxes. And here +at once will be seen how the seeds sprang up of a rooted antagonism +between Boer and Briton that nothing can ever remove, and no diplomacy +can smooth away. The Boer nature naturally inclines to a sluggish +content, while the British one invariably pants for advance. The +temperamental tug of war, therefore, has been one that has grown +stronger and stronger with the progress of years. The principles of give +and take have been tried, but they have failed. Reciprocity is not in +the nature of the Boer, and without reciprocity society and States are +at a standstill. The Boer is accredited with the primitive virtues, +innocence, sturdiness, contentment. If he has these, he has also the +defects of his qualities. He is crafty, stubborn, and narrow, and +intolerant of everything beyond the limits of his native comprehension. +Innovations of any kind are sufficient to fill him with suspicion, and +those started by the British in their first efforts at Cape government +were as gall and wormwood to his untrammelled taste. These efforts, it +must be owned, were not altogether happy. There was first a +rearrangement of local governments and of the Law Courts; then, in 1827, +followed a decree that English should be the official language. As at +that time not more than one colonist in seven was British, the new +arrangement was calculated to make confusion worse confounded! The +disgust of the Cape Dutch may be imagined! The finishing touch came in +1834. By the abolition of slavery—humane though its object was—the +Cape colonists were exceedingly hard hit; and though the owners of +slaves were compensated to the tune of a million and a quarter (the +slaves were valued at three millions sterling), they continued to +maintain a simmering resentment. Added to this came the intervention of +the missionaries, who attempted to instil into the Boer mind a sense of +the equality, in the sight of Heaven, of the black and the white races.</p> + +<p>At this time 12,000 Kaffirs had crossed over the border and invaded the +settlements, dealing death and destruction wherever they went. They were +finally repulsed by the British, and Sir Benjamin D'Urban, the Governor +at the Cape, proclaimed the annexation of the country beyond the +Keiskamma, on the eastern boundary of the Colony, as far as the Kei. But +no sooner had he accomplished this diplomatic move in his wise +discretion, than orders came from the British Government to the effect +that the land was to be restored to the Kaffirs and the frontier +boundary moved back to its original place—Keiskamma. Sir Benjamin +D'Urban carried out these orders much to his disgust, for he deemed the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +annexation of the province to be necessary to the peace of all the +surrounding districts. But this was neither the first nor the last +occasion in the history of Cape government on which men of practical +experience have had to give way before wise heads in Downing Street +arm-chairs.</p> + +<p>This action on the part of the Government was as the last straw to the +overladen camel. The patience of the Dutch Boers broke down. The +introduction of a foreign and incomprehensible tongue, the abolition of +slavery, and finally the restoration to the despised Kaffirs of a +conquered province, were indignities past bearing. There was a general +exodus. Off to the neighbourhood of the Orange and the Vaal Rivers +lumbered the long waggon trains drawn by innumerable oxen, bearing, to +pastures new and undefiled by the British, the irate Boers and their +household gods. It was a pathetic departure, this voluntary exile into +strange and unknown regions. The first pioneers, after a long and +wearisome journey to Delagoa Bay, fell sick and retraced their steps to +Natal only to die. The next great company started forth in the winter of +1836. Some went to the districts between the Orange and the Vaal +Rivers—the district now known as the Orange Free State; others went +into the country north of the Vaal River—the district now called the +Transvaal; while others again went beyond the mountains to the district +now named Natal. Here the Boer hoped to lead a new and a peaceful life, +to encamp himself by some river course with his kraal for his sheep and +his goats, the wide veldt for his carpet, and the blue dome of heaven or +the canvas of his waggon for his untaxed roof. But his hopes were of +short duration. The poor trekker—to use the vulgar phrase—had fallen +out of the frying-pan into the fire. He had fled from the "British +tyrant" only to encounter the Matabele Zulu savage. A terrible feud +between the Bantu tribes was then causing much violence and +blood-spilling, and the Zulu chief Moselekalse, having driven the +Bechuanas beyond the Limpopo, had established the kingdom of the +Matabele. With this chief, the Boer Potgieter and a party of burghers, +on exploration intent, came suddenly into collision. Some of the Boers +fled, the rest were promptly massacred. Those who remained alive made +plans for self-defence. They lashed their waggons together to form a +laager, and within it placed their women and children in partial safety. +They then gave the warriors of Moselekalse a warm reception. The fight +was maintained with great energy, the Zulus raining assegais over the +waggons, while the Boers returned the compliment with their firearms. +For these they had plenty of ammunition, and relays of guns were loaded +and handed out gallantly by their women from within the laager.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> The +Boers were victorious. Their aim was true, their pluck enormous, and +after a sharp engagement the enemy were forced to retire. The savages +were not vanquished, however, till terrible damage had been inflicted on +the laager. Not content with the loss of many of their number, their +sheep and their cattle, the plucky Boers started forth to punish the +Matabele. Though few in number the burghers had the advantage of rifles, +and succeeded in triumphing over the enemy and establishing themselves +at Winburg, on the Vet River, to west of Harrismith. Later on the Boer +farmers prepared to trek into Natal. They had prospected the place and +found it entirely suited to their agricultural needs. Water and game +were plentiful, and the whole country was fertile as a garden. Here they +proposed to settle down. At Port Natal—now known by the name of +Durban—was a party of Englishmen with whom the Boer explorers got on +friendly terms. Both Englishmen and Boers were aware that the district +was under Zulu sway, and it was decided that the chief, Dingaan, should +be interviewed as to the approaching settlement of the Boers. The wily +Zulu received his late enemies with every show of amity. He offered them +refreshments, he made entertainments for their amusement. He finally +agreed to cede such territory as was demanded by the Boers, provided +they would secure to him certain cattle that had been stolen from him by +a chief named Sikonyela. This the Boers agreed to do. They promptly +travelled to see Sikonyela, and by threats, persuasions, or other +mysterious means, extracted from him his ill-gotten gains. With the +restored cattle the whole party of Boers then passed on their way from +Drakensberg to Natal, full of the hope of finally making a settlement in +a region so well suited to their pastoral instincts.</p> + +<p>On again visiting the chief Dingaan, they were again received with +honour. More festivities were arranged, and the date of the signing of +the treaty was fixed for the 4th of February 1838.</p> + +<p>The day came. The burghers arrived in the customary picturesqueness of +woollen shirts, round hats, rough coats, and leathern veldt-broeks. +Dingaan, amiable to excess, insisted that they should accompany him to +his kraal, and there make a formal leave-taking. They were requested to +leave their arms outside as an earnest of good faith, and, with some +suspicion, they acceded. Their reception was splendid. Their health was +drunk, the calabash passed round, and then—then, at a given signal from +the chief, the Zulu hordes rushed in, fully armed and raging. In less +time than it takes to describe the deed, the defenceless company of Boer +farmers were slaughtered in cold blood—slaughtered before they could +lift even a fist in self-defence! This horrible act of treachery served +to do away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> at one fell swoop with the whole Boer party. Their bones, +piled in a heap without the kraal, alone remained to tell to their +kindred the tale of their undoing. The Zulus then proceeded in their +tens of thousands to attack the nearest encampment, and cut down all who +came in their way. Men—women—children—they spared none. The tidings +being carried to the outer encampments of the Boers, they prepared +themselves for the worst. They and their gallant <i>vrows</i>, who fought +with as cool and obstinate a courage as their husbands, resisted the +onslaught staunchly and successfully; but they paid dearly for their +boldness. Their cattle were demolished, and their numbers were miserably +thinned. Some thought of retiring from Natal; some contemplated revenge.</p> + +<p>The pathetic state of the Boers attracted the sympathy of the Englishmen +then in Natal, and they joined hands. Potgieter and Uys then commanded a +force, and marched out on the enemy, but unfortunately fell into an +ambush and were slain. Among the dead were the commandant Uys and his +son.</p> + +<p>Then the Englishmen, not to be behindhand in the fray, came to the +rescue. Though there were but seventeen of them, they went out +accompanied by 1500 Hottentots to meet the enemy. They followed the +retreating savages beyond the Tugela, when suddenly they found +themselves face to face with a fierce multitude of 70,000 Zulus. A +conflict of the most terrible kind ensued: a conflict the more terrible +because at the same time so heroic and so hopeless. From this appalling +fight only four Englishmen escaped. These had succeeded in cutting their +way through the enemy; the rest had been surrounded, and died fighting +valiantly, and were almost buried among the dead bodies of their +antagonists.</p> + +<p>But this was not to be the finale of the Boer resistance to the wild +Zulu. The above tragic engagement between the Englishmen and Zulus took +place in April 1838. By December of the same year they had gathered +themselves under the banner of their fine leader Andries Pretorius, a +farmer from the district of Graff Reinet, and started forth again to +meet the treacherous Dingaan, and pay him the debt they owed him.</p> + +<p>A word or two of this Pretorius, after whom the now notable town of +Pretoria was named. He was a born leader of men: he was a Cromwell in +his way. At that date he was forty years of age, in the prime of +strength and manhood. He was tall, and vigorous in mind as well as in +body, calm and deliberating in counsel, but prompt and fiery in action. +His descent is traced from one Johannes Pretorius, son of a clergyman at +Goeree in South Holland, one of the very early settlers—a pious and +worthy man, whose piety and worth had been inherited by several +generations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> Like the rest of his countrymen, Pretorius would brook no +control. Though he was indubitably brave and immensely capable, he had +the conservative instincts of his race. He shrunk from all innovations, +he disliked everything connected with civilisation that might in the +smallest degree interfere with the personal liberty of the individual. +Freedom was as the very breath of his nostrils, and here was the great +link between this really exceptional man and the body of his pastoral +followers.</p> + +<p>Pretorius, bent on the punishment of the treachery of Dingaan, set out, +as has been said, with his expedition in the winter of 1838. This +expedition has been named by the Boers the Win Commando. He had but +three small pieces of cannon and a force composed of about four hundred +white men and some native auxiliaries, yet the admirable tactics of +Pretorius, the stout hearts and fine shooting of his followers, combined +to bring about a victory over the Zulus. These were totally routed, and +lost one third of their number.</p> + +<p>The bravery and splendid persistence of the Boers filled all hearts with +admiration, particularly when, after several well-directed attacks, they +eventually succeeded in utterly breaking the Zulu power. Dingaan was +dethroned and driven into exile, and his kraal and property burnt. A +Christian burial service was read over the place where lay the bones of +the assassinated Retief and his companions. The date, the 16th December +1838, on which the Zulu power met its first check from white men, is one +ever remembered in Boer history. It goes by the name of Dingaan's Day, +and is annually celebrated with great rejoicings throughout the +Transvaal.</p> + +<p>The Boers had now succeeded in inspiring wholesome awe in the heart of +Panda, the new chieftain who occupied the place once held by his +brother, the exiled Dingaan. He was not a person of bellicose +disposition, and thinking discretion the better part of valour, was +ready enough to swear to keep peace with his late enemies. In these +circumstances the Boers with prayer and thanksgiving were able to pursue +the promptings of their long-checked ambition. Soon several hundreds of +waggons drawn by long teams of oxen came lumbering into Natal, for the +purpose of establishing there the Republic, which had so often been +planned out in imagination and never yet found any but an abortive +existence. This ideal State was eventually formed and called the +Republic of Natalia, and it enjoyed for several years an independent +existence.</p> + +<p>As Natal became the first cause of armed conflict between the British +and the Boers, its then position in regard to the authorities at the +Cape may as well be reviewed. Though the new Republic maintained its +perfectly independent existence, its inhabitants were still mentioned by +the Governor of Cape Colony as British subjects.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> It must be remembered +that prior to the occupation of Natal by the Boers, and the formation of +their cherished Republic, the Governor of Cape Colony had issued a +proclamation announcing his intention of occupying Natal later on, and +stating that the emigrants—who were then making active preparations for +the attack of Dingaan—- were British subjects. In Great Britain, +however, the authorities had not yet decided to follow the advice so +often given by their representatives at the Cape. They were still +declaring it inexpedient to extend their territory, and likewise their +responsibilities, in South Africa. But the incursion of the Boers in the +neighbourhood of Port Natal put a new complexion on affairs. The British +Government began to open its eyes to the value of a seaport, with two +good harbours on the South African coast, as a colonial possession. It +could not fail to recognise also that the members of the new State were +already bitter foes to the British and their ways; and that it would be +dangerous to allow them to establish themselves as an independent power +on the coast, and entirely throw off their duty of allegiance. +Accordingly Sir George Napier, the then Governor of the Cape, sent +troops to occupy Natal. He remained undecided as to the mode of dealing +with the emigrant Boers, however, for, while declaring them British +subjects, he yet was not prepared to afford them protection from attacks +of the natives. It is scarcely surprising that this half-and-half +paternity of the Government failed to satisfy the men whose kith and kin +had fallen in their numbers at Weenen and the Hill of Blood, and the +consequent disaffection of the Boers grew deeper as signs of British +authority increased.</p> + +<p>But at first, in the rest of their territory outside Natal the Boer +Government remained unmolested. Their district was bounded by the sea +and the Drakenberg mountains, the Tugela and Umzimubu Rivers, and there +for a time things went well. Pretorius was Commandant General in Natal, +Potgieter Chief Commandant in the allied Western Districts. The +legislative power was in the hands of a Volksraad of twenty-four +members, whose ways were more vacillating and erratic than advantageous. +"Every man for himself and God for all" seemed to be the convenient +motto of this assembly, except perhaps on urgent occasions, when +Pretorius and Potgieter were called upon as joint dictators to settle +some knotty problem relating to external affairs.</p> + +<p>At the close of 1840 this Volksraad commenced negotiations with the Cape +Government with a view to getting their independence formally +recognised. The Governor at the Cape was again in the old quandary. +While he personally desired to put an end to troubles from within and +without by establishing a strong government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> over the whole country, he +was crippled by the Ministry at home, which was consistent in +maintaining its policy of inconsistency, and tried to maintain its hold +on the Cape, while steadily refusing to increase Great Britain's +responsibility in South Africa.</p> + +<p>The demands of the Volksraad (presented in January 1841) were scarcely +acceptable at headquarters. The nature of them is interesting, and shows +the then attitude of people who described themselves as "willing and +desirous to enter into a perpetual alliance with the Government of Her +Majesty."</p> + +<p>They bargained that the Republic of Natalia was to be acknowledged as a +free and independent State, in close alliance with the British +Government. If attacked by sea by any other power, Great Britain might +interpose either by negotiation or arms. If Great Britain were at war, +however, the Republic was to remain neutral. Wine, strong liquors, and +articles "prejudicial to this Republic," were to be taxed more highly +than other things, which would be taxed as for a British Colony. British +subjects residing in the Republic would have equal protection, and the +same taxes as burghers, while in case of war every assistance would be +given to a British or Colonial force marching through the territory. The +slave trade would not be permitted, and every facility for the +propagation of the Gospel among the neighbouring tribes would be +afforded. The Republic guaranteed to make no hostile movements against +natives in the direction of the Colony without permission of the +Governor, unless circumstances of violence, or the inroad of tribes, +rendered immediate action obligatory.</p> + +<p>There were other clauses of less importance which need not be specified. +Suffice it to say, that while these terms were being considered, a +cattle and slave-stealing Boer raid, headed by Pretorius, took place. +The excuse for the proceeding was the lifting of certain of their own +cattle, but the action served as an object lesson for those in power at +the Cape. The Volksraad was politely informed that the Boers were still +British subjects, and a letter from the Home Government to Sir George +Napier was received, stating that Her Majesty "could not acknowledge a +portion of her own subjects as an independent Republic, but that on +their receiving a military force from the Colony, their trade would be +placed on the footing of the trade of a British possession." But the +Boers flouted authority—they refused to accept the situation. They put +forth a proclamation appealing against the oppression of man and to the +justice of God, with all the fervour of the Old Testament Christians +they were.</p> + +<p>The arrogance of Pretorius and his crew had now so seriously increased +that Sir George Napier, seeing danger ahead, decided to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> establish a +camp near the border of the State, and Durban was occupied. Captain +Smith, in command of some three hundred men, made a rapid march across +country to Natal, merely to be informed that the Boers had placed +themselves under the protection of Holland.</p> + +<p>It may be noted that when this statement reached the ears of the King of +Holland, he emphatically repudiated it. He addressed the British +Government, saying "that the disloyal communication of the emigrant +farmers had been repelled with indignation, and that the King of Holland +had taken every possible step to mark his disapproval of the +unjustifiable use made of his name by the individuals referred to." +Captain Smith, who fortunately had not been imposed upon by what the +Boers considered their neat ruse, made preparations to attack them. But +he overestimated his own or underrated his adversary's strength. He fell +into ambush and lost heavily. He was then driven to entrench himself in +Durban. One of his men managed to escape, however, and by riding to +Grahamstown through dangerous country, contrived to convey the +intelligence of Captain Smith's misfortune, and to bring reinforcements +to his aid. These reinforcements arrived in Durban harbour on the 25th +of June 1842. At sight of the British frigate and the goodly display of +redcoats, the Boers, who had been besieging Captain Smith for a month +with three guns and six hundred men, made good their escape, leaving +Pretorius no alternative but to make terms. Thus Natal became a British +possession.</p> + +<p>In 1844 the place was declared to be a dependency of Cape Colony. Many +of the emigrants admitted themselves to be British subjects and remained +there, but the great majority took to their waggons and lumbered back +across the Drakenberg to their old settling-place.</p> + +<p>There the original Voortrekkers had scattered themselves on both sides +of the Vaal River, and helped to found the Transvaal and the Orange Free +State. As may be imagined at this juncture, the natural hostility to the +British, which has now become part of the Boer character, was growing +apace. The voluntary exiles from Natal, on moving to the north of the +Orange River, determined to evade the British, and proclaim the whole of +that locality an independent Republic. The authorities at the Cape, +however, frustrated the new struggle for independence. They laid claim +for Great Britain to the whole territory east of E. long. 22° and south +of S. lat. 25°, with the exception of the land already owned by Portugal +or by friendly native chiefs.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image010" name="image010"></a> + <a href="images/image010h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image010.jpg" + alt="CAPE TOWN, DEVIL'S PEAK, TABLE MOUNTAIN, AND LION'S HEAD FROM TABLE BAY." + title="CAPE TOWN, DEVIL'S PEAK, TABLE MOUNTAIN, AND LION'S HEAD FROM TABLE BAY." /></a> +<p class="caption">CAPE TOWN, DEVIL'S PEAK, TABLE MOUNTAIN, AND LION'S HEAD FROM TABLE BAY.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen</p> +</div> + +<p>It may be remembered that one of the causes of the great Trek was the +restoration of their province to Kaffirs, thereby according to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> the +blacks an independence that was not enjoyed by the Boers. No +astonishment, therefore, will be felt at the exasperation of the Boers +when they found that the Cape Government had entered into treaties with +the Griquas—treaties which seemed to them to promise more freedom to +the savage than was accorded to themselves. Grievances of many +kinds—some real and some ridiculous—continued daily to occur. Things +serious and things trivial were liable to cause them equal indignation. +According to Livingstone, the ignorant followers of Potgieter—who were +posted at Magaliesberg, a thousand miles from the Cape—were moved to +wrath merely by the arrival of Herschel's great telescope at the Cape +Observatory! What right, said they, had the Government to erect that +huge instrument at the Cape for the purpose of seeing what they were +doing behind the Kashan mountains?</p> + +<p>But of just grievances they had several, and these Pretorius, as +spokesman of his people, wished to lay before the Governor at the Cape. +Sir Henry Pottinger, who occupied that post in 1847, unfortunately +declined the interview; consequently affairs went from bad to worse. In +the end of the year Sir Henry Smith arrived as Governor of the colony, +and great things were expected of him. He knew the native races, he knew +the Boers, and they both knew him. Pretorius, who was arranging a final +emigration from Natal, was summoned to confer with the new Governor. Sir +Henry wished to gauge the feelings of the farmers prior to issuing a +proclamation (dated February 3, 1848), declaring the Queen's sovereignty +over the whole country between the Orange and Vaal Rivers to eastward of +the Quathlamba Mountains. According to Pretorius, the conference was an +unsatisfactory one. He assured the Governor that his people would never +consent to it. Sir Henry Smith nevertheless considered himself justified +in taking the step, and the Home Government, whose policy it had been to +consolidate the peaceful native States along the border, eventually +coincided with his view.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the proclamation generally known than the horde of +Pretorius' followers flew to arms. They swept southward, driving every +British official beyond the Orange River. Major Warden, the Resident at +Bloemfontein, where a British fort and garrison had been placed some two +years before, was forced to capitulate.</p> + +<p>Sir Harry Smith, on becoming acquainted with the news, at once offered a +thousand pounds for the arrest of Pretorius. He also began a march to +the front. The Governor thought that he had but to come, see, and +conquer; but he was mistaken. He had tough work before him. The Boers, +about a thousand strong, had entrenched themselves in a formidable +position. They were superior in point of numbers, horses, and guns to +Sir Harry's forces; but he pursued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> his way, nothing daunted. He stormed +the position, and, after a hard fight, scattered the enemy. They fled +from Boomplaats, where the engagement had taken place, and hastened back +across the Vaal to their native haunts. The date of the battle was the +29th of August 1848, and the father of President Kruger is said to have +been the first man to fire a shot at the British on that occasion!</p> + +<p>After this period various dissensions arose in the Boer camp between +Pretorius, who styled himself "Chief of the whole united emigrant +force," and Potgieter, who looked upon himself somewhat in the light of +a rival. While these worthies fell out Sir Harry Smith saw the +annexation carried through, and the territory of the modern Free State +was united to Cape Colony, under the title of the Orange River +Sovereignty. The contumacious Boers took themselves off with their +leader across the Vaal, and fresh European settlers came in and +established themselves in the fertile plains that were deserted. For +some time after this things prospered, and Sir Harry saw before him the +prospect of a new self-governing Dutch colony, which would resemble and +equal those of Natal and the Cape. But he reckoned without his host, and +all that he had taken the trouble to do was ultimately undone. In 1852 +the Government at home declared its policy to be the ultimate +abandonment of the Orange River Sovereignty. For this pusillanimous +policy there were several reasons, the greatest being a fear of a Basuto +rising and the trouble it would entail. The British Government therefore +decided to maintain its rights over the Transvaal no further, and by the +Sand River Convention, signed on the 17th of January 1852, the emigrant +farmers beyond the Vaal River were given the right to manage their own +affairs, subject only to the condition that they should neither permit +nor encourage slavery.</p> + +<p>About this time commenced the threatened rise of the Basutos in the +neighbourhood of the Orange River territory. The Basutos are a branch of +the Bechuana race, who had been formed by their chiefs Motlume and +Moshesh into a powerful nation, which could hold its own against Boer or +Zulu. With this race the Home Government desired to have nothing to do, +and the Colonial Office, viewing the political game as not worth the +candle, definitely withdrew from the Orange River Sovereignty, leaving +the Free State to come into being, and devise its own plans for +overawing its enemies on the other side of the border. Accordingly, in +1854, Sir Harry Smith's programme of annexation was entirely wiped out, +British sovereignty renounced, and the Orange Free State left to become +a Republic and take care of itself!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p class="sechead">THE GROWTH OF THE TRANSVAAL</p> + +<p>Fifty years ago there was no Transvaal. To-day its area is rather larger +than Great Britain. It extends over some 75,000,000 acres.</p> + +<p>Originally, at the time of the great Trek, a small portion of land was +seized from natives who fled before the pioneers, and settled in what is +now known as Matabeleland. Other Boers soon joined their comrades, and, +by applying the steady policy of "grab and hold" (a policy that, +unfortunately, has not been imitated by ourselves), they gained strip on +strip and acre on acre of land till the Transvaal became the vast +province it now is. It expanded first into a portion of Zululand; later +on, lapped over into Swaziland. By degrees it encroached on the British +boundaries, and most probably would have gone on encroaching had not +active steps been taken to save the north from the invaders.</p> + +<p>The original <i>Voertrekkers</i>, or pioneers, came in three detachments. +British-born subjects, but discontented with British civilisation, they +moved on from Natal, whence they were chased by the Union Jack, and +settled themselves first in land captured from King Umziligatze, +secondly in Lydenburg and Dekaap, and thirdly in the Zulu country. The +history of this Zululand expansion remains to be told. At present it is +interesting to follow the geographical growth of the state which has +become so troublesome, and whose self-assertion has increased according +to its size.</p> + +<p>Originally each Boer was entitled to a farm with a minimum of 6000 acres +of the "Transvaal," and this custom of apportioning 6000-acre farms +lasted as long as the Kaffir lands lasted. The Boers, always working on +the principle that "God helps those who help themselves," helped +themselves freely, sometimes with bloodshed and sometimes without, until +they became owners of vast tracts of country, whose boundaries had never +been discussed, far less fixed.</p> + +<p>Land was apparently cheap at that time, for trustworthy authorities +declare that it was purchasable at from a farthing to a penny per acre.</p> + +<p>The area of the Transvaal before the Boers began to migrate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> there has +been eloquently described as the hunter's Arcadia. Mr. Gordon Cumming +gives a graphic account of the scene:—</p> + +<p>"It was truly a fair and boundless prospect. Beautifully wooded plains +and mountains stretched away on every side to an amazing distance, until +the vision was lost among the faint blue outlines of the distant +mountain ranges. Throughout all this country, and vast tracts beyond, I +had the satisfaction to reflect that a never-ending succession of herds +of every species of noble game which the hunter need desire pastured +there in undisturbed security; and as I gazed I felt that it was all my +own, and that I at length possessed the undisputed sway over a forest, +in comparison with which the tame and herded narrow bounds of the +wealthiest European sportsman sink into utter insignificance."</p> + +<p>The number of elephants and lesser game bagged by Mr. Gordon Cumming +after this touching meditation fully bore out his hopes.</p> + +<p>But the most interesting account of the Transvaal, before the invasion +of white men, is to be found in Captain William Cornwallis Harris's +account of his expedition into the interior of South Africa in the years +1836 and 1837. He paints the new country in colours lively and +alluring:—</p> + +<p>"Instead of the dreary waste over which we had lately passed, we might +now imagine ourselves in an extensive park. A lawn, level as a +billiard-table, was everywhere spread with a soft carpet of luxuriant +green grass, spangled with flowers, and shaded by spreading +<i>mokaalas</i>—a large species of acacia which forms the favourite food of +the giraffe. The gaudy yellow blossoms with which these remarkable trees +were covered yielded an aromatic and overpowering perfume—while small +troops of striped quaggas, or wild asses, and of brindled gnoos ... +enlivened the scene.</p> + +<p>"I turned off the road," he continues, "in pursuit of a troop of +brindled gnoos, and presently came upon another, which was followed by a +third still larger—then by a vast herd of zebras, and again by more +gnoos, with sassaybys and hartebeests pouring down from every quarter, +until the landscape literally presented the appearance of a moving mass +of game."</p> + +<p>Further on he describes the extensive and romantic valley of the +Limpopo, "which strongly contrasts with its own solitude, and with the +arid lands which must be traversed to arrive within its limits; Dame +Nature has doubtless been unusually lavish of her gifts. A bold mountain +landscape is chequered by innumerable rivulets abounding in fish, and +watering a soil rich in luxurious vegetation. Forests, producing timber +of the finest growth, are tenanted by a multitude of birds, which, if +not generally musical, are all gorgeously attired;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> and the meadows +throughout are decked with blossoming geraniums, and with an endless +profusion of the gayest flowers, fancifully distributed in almost +artificial <i>parterres</i>. Let the foreground of this picture, which is by +no means extravagantly drawn, be filled in by the animal creation +roaming in a state of undisturbed freedom, such as I have attempted to +describe, and this hunter's paradise will surely not require to be +coloured by the feelings of an enthusiastic sportsman to stand out in +striking relief from amongst the loveliest spots in the universe."</p> + +<p>A recent traveller discourses pathetically over the changes that have +come over the country, which at that time was described as "the +Zoological Gardens turned out to graze." He says the lawyer and +financier thrive where in recent years the lion and the leopard fought +for food, and townships have sprung up on spots where living Boers have +formerly shot big game.</p> + +<p>As an instance of the truth of this lament, one may make some quotations +from Mr. Campbell's valuable article, "The Transvaal, Old and New." He +says, "The advent of British folk and British gold and brains led to a +change, and land, by reason of British purchases, became more valuable, +and beacons and boundaries became necessary." Here we may see the thin +end of the wedge. We may picture the first lawyer and the first +financier advancing with Arcadia parchment and bank-note in hand.</p> + +<p>The Boers steadily sold their best and surplus lands, and these the +British as steadily bought, till the value rose from their original +price of one penny an acre to half-a-crown, and then five shillings. +Subsequently, in many cases, as much as ten, and even twenty shillings +an acre was offered for ordinary raw arable land. But of that time too +much has to be said to be recounted here.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE BOER CHARACTER</p> + +<p>In discussing the events of the past with a view to obtaining light on +the development of the present, it is needful, and indeed just, to +inquire into the character of the Boers as a race. It is a complex +character, with multitudinous lights and shades, so subtle and yet so +marked, that they are difficult to define accurately. It is therefore +necessary that the opinions of many writers on the subject of the Boer +temperament should be taken—of writers who have made it their business +to look upon the subject with the eye of the historian rather than the +eye of the advocate, and who may be trusted to have given their verdict +without passion or favour.</p> + +<p>But regarding one fact connected with the case, all writers of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +practical experience are inclined to agree. They declare that the Boer +of the past was a very much finer fellow than the Boer of the +present—finer morally and physically; and that in his obstinate +determination to resist the march of progress he has allowed himself to +suffer deterioration. The reason for this deterioration is not difficult +to comprehend. In the first place, as we all know, nothing in creation +stands still. We must advance, or we go back. Both in moral and in +mental qualities we must maintain our vitality, or practically ossify!</p> + +<p>The Boer, from having been essentially a sporting man and a free and a +robust tiller of the soil, has come under the influence of schemers, who +have played upon his natural avarice, and polished his inherent cunning, +till these qualities have expanded to the detriment of those earlier +qualities for which the Boer of to-day still gets credit, but which are +fast dying out of the national character.</p> + +<p>In one respect there has been little change. In the matter of his native +piety he remains as he was. The Boer, if one may use a phrase recently +coined by Lord Rosebery, is an "Old Testament Christian." No one can +describe his race better than the writer who says of the original +settlers in 1652, that "they are a mixture in religion of the old +Israelite and the Scotch Covenanter." There is some question about Boer +hypocrisy, and Dr. Theal says on the subject, "Where side by side with +expressions of gratitude to the Creator are found schemes for robbing +and enslaving natives, the genuineness of their religion may be +doubted." But it must be remembered that in bygone centuries the world's +morality differed much from that of the present day, and therefore the +Boer, who has not progressed in proportion to the world at large, can +scarcely be judged by the ethics of the world at large. To be just, we +must look at him as a being apart, and place him always in the frame of +the seventeenth century. Some historians declare that the Boer borrowed +from the French refugees much religious sentiment. Other +authorities—and these, considering the Boer disinclination to +expansion, seem to be right—declare that under the French influence he +deteriorated.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image016" name="image016"></a> + <a href="images/image016h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image016.jpg" + alt="COLONEL of the 10th HUSSARS. (H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES.)" + title="COLONEL of the 10th HUSSARS. (H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES.)" /></a> +<p class="caption">COLONEL of the 10th HUSSARS.</p> +<p class="caption">(H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES.)</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Gregory & Co., London.</p> +</div> + +<p>He was by nature bloodthirsty and cruel, but these qualities always +found for themselves a comfortable apology in the Old Testament. The +Boer prided himself on his likeness to the Israelite of old, and his +enemies to the Canaanite, whom it was doing God a service to destroy. He +kept all the rites of the Church with rigid punctuality. He partook of +the Communion (the Nachtmaal) once every three months, and the whole +community gathered together from great distances to share it. The +observances were made the occasion for rejoicing and merrymaking, for +the holding of fairs, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> transfer of cattle, the driving of bargains +in hide or ivory, or other goods necessary to traders. He has been +described by a friend of his people "as, according to his own lights, a +citizen pioneer, a rough, God-fearing, honest, homely, uneducated +Philistine."</p> + +<p>The opinion of his ancient enemy, Cetchwayo, differs, however, from this +estimate. Sir Frederick Godson has told us that this potentate informed +his brother, who was his captor, that the Boers were "a mean, +treacherous people, people who trusted no one, not even each other, and +their word was not to be trusted." He had had ample opportunities of +forming a judgment by experience. And there are many of us nowadays who +are inclined to agree with him. Cetchwayo further asserted that "the +British were making the greatest mistake they ever made in befriending +them; for if they had not rescued the Boers from him, he would very soon +have eaten them all up."</p> + +<p>As regards the military organisation of the Boers, it may be described +as similar to that of the Republic of Greece or that of mediæval +England. Every man, from the age of sixteen to sixty, considered himself +a soldier. Every man, when the country demanded his services, was ready +to get under arms—to protect his hearth and home in the face of a +common enemy.</p> + +<p>The country was divided into districts, and these districts were +subdivided into wards. To each of these wards was appointed a +field-cornet, who had military duties when a commando was called out. +The officer who took the chief command of the field-cornets was styled +the commandant. This arrangement first originated in the early days of +their emigration to the Cape, when the natives, lawless and inimical, +were perpetually bursting out without rhyme or reason. Naturally prompt +defence became necessary. To many people the Boer appears to be a +"first-class fighting man." Certainly he is determined, obstinate, and, +in his peculiar fashion, brave. But there are others who can recall +events in the battle with Dingaan, in the tragedy of Majuba Hill, which +scarcely add to the honour of the Boer as a soldier. It has been said +that the Boer prefers to do his fighting without risking his skin, but +this may be somewhat unjust. He is ready enough to risk his skin, but he +is equally ready that some one shall pay for the risk, and he makes him +pay by fair means if he can—if not, by foul.</p> + +<p>However, Livingstone knew his man, and thus it was that he wrote of him: +"The Boers have generally manifested a marked antipathy to anything but +'long shot' warfare, and sidling away in their emigrations towards the +more effeminate Bechuanas, have left their quarrels with the Kaffirs to +be settled by the English, and their wars to be paid for by English +gold." Obviously their methods<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> of warfare were, to say the least of it, +curious. Sometimes they would drive a battalion of friendly natives or +slaves in front of them, and shoot down their enemies from behind the +shelter of these advanced guards. Occasionally they employed a method +similar to that used against the Zulus of Dingaan. According to +Livingstone's essay, written in 1853, and not published till after his +death, "the Boers approach the Zulus to within 300 or 400 yards, then +fire, and retire to a considerable distance and reload their guns. The +Zulus pursuing have by this time come sufficiently near to receive +another discharge from the Boers, who again retire as before. This +process soon tires out the fleetest warriors, and except through an +accident, or the stumbling of a horse or its rider's drunkenness, no +Boer ever stands a chance of falling into their hands. The Boers report +of themselves that they behaved with great bravery on the occasion." In +fact they said that they had killed from 3000 to 5000 Zulus, with the +loss to themselves of only six men. Mr. Fisher, in his book on "The +Transvaal and the Boers," avers that in the subsequent war with the +Griquas—who, being the bastard children of the Boers, possess many of +their peculiarities—the two opposing parties kept at such ludicrous +distances that the springboks quietly grazing on the plains between were +frequently shot instead of the combatants.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">SOME DOMESTIC TRAITS</p> + +<p>For the domestic character of the Boer we will consult the Scandinavian +traveller Sparrmann, who gives us one of the earliest sketches of the +Boer "at home." Though the illusion that the industrious and cleanly +Hollander was merely transplanted from one soil to another is somewhat +dispelled, the picture is generally acknowledged to be a true one.</p> + +<p>"It is hardly to be conceived," he wrote in 1776, "with what little +trouble the Boer gets into order a field of a moderate size ... so that +... he may be almost said to make the cultivation of it, for the bread +he stands in need of for himself and his family, a mere matter of +amusement.... With pleasure, but without the least trouble to himself, +he sees the herds and flocks which constitute his riches daily and +considerably increasing. These are driven to pasture and home again by a +few Hottentots or slaves, who likewise make the butter; so that it is +almost only with the milking that the farmer, together with his wife and +children, concern themselves at all. To do this business, however, he +has no occasion to rise before seven or eight o'clock in the morning.... +That they (the Boers) might not put their arms and bodies out of the +easy and com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>modious posture in which they had laid them on the couch +when they were taking their afternoon <i>siesta</i>, they have been known to +receive travellers lying quite still and motionless, excepting that they +have very civilly pointed out the road by moving their foot to the right +or left.... Among a set of beings so devoted to their ease, one might +naturally expect to meet with a variety of the most commodious +easy-chairs and sofas; but the truth is, that they find it much more +commodious to avoid the trouble of inventing and making them.... Nor did +the inhabitants exhibit much less simplicity and moderation; or, to +speak more properly, slovenliness and penury in their dress than in +their furniture.... The distance at which they are from the Cape may, +indeed, be some excuse for their having no other earthenware or china in +their houses but what was cracked or broken; but this, methinks, should +not prevent them being in possession of more than one or two old pewter +pots, and some few plates of the same metal; so that two people are +frequently obliged to eat out of one dish, besides using it for every +different article of food that comes upon the table. Each guest must +bring his knife with him, and for forks they frequently make use of +their fingers. The most wealthy farmer here is considered as being well +dressed in a jacket of home-made cloth, or something of the kind made of +any other coarse cloth, breeches of undressed leather, woollen +stockings, a striped waistcoat, a cotton handkerchief about his neck, a +coarse calico shirt, Hottentot field-shoes, or else leathern shoes with +brass buckles, and a coarse hat. Indeed, it is not in dress, but in the +number and thriving condition of their cattle, and chiefly in the +stoutness of their draught oxen, that these peasants vie with each +other. It is likewise by activity and manly actions, and by other +qualities that render a man fit for the married state, and the rearing +of a family, that the youth chiefly obtain the esteem of the fair +sex.... A plain close cap and a coarse cotton gown, virtue and good +housewifery, are looked upon by the fair sex as sufficient ornaments for +their persons; a flirting disposition, coquetry and paint would have +very little effect in making conquests of young men brought up in so +hardy a manner, and who have had so homely and artless an education as +the youth in this place. In short, here, if anywhere in the world, one +may lead an innocent, virtuous, and happy life."</p> + +<p>When viewing this study of rustic indolence, we must remember also the +conditions under which it was found. The natural fertility of the +country, the demoralising influence of slave-owning, the great heat of +the climate, were responsible for the change that so soon came over the +primitive Dutch character. Dr. Theal's account of the Boer adds colour +to the picture given by the Swede, and shows us that a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> certain sense of +refinement was lurking in the stolid and not too picturesque +disposition:—</p> + +<p>"The amusements of the people were few.... Those who possessed numerous +slaves usually had three or four of them trained to the use of the +violin, the blacks being peculiarly gifted with an ear for music, and +easily learning to play by sound. They had thus the means at hand of +amusing themselves with dancing, and of entertaining visitors with +music. The branches of widely extended families were constantly +exchanging visits with each other. A farmer would make his waggon ready +regularly every year, when half the household or more would leave home, +and spend a week or two with each relative, often being absent a couple +of months. Birthday anniversaries of aged people were celebrated by the +assembling of their descendants, frequently to the number of eighty or a +hundred, at the residence of the patriarch, when a feast was prepared +for their entertainment. These different reunions were naturally +productive of great pleasure, and tended to cement the friendship and +love of those who otherwise might seldom see each other. The life led by +the people when at home was exceedingly tame. The mistress of the house, +who moved about but little, issued orders to slaves or Hottentot females +concerning the work of the household. If the weather was chilly or damp, +she rested her feet on a little box filled with live coals, while beside +her stood a coffee-kettle never empty. The head of the family usually +inspected his flocks morning and evening, and passed the remainder of +the day, like his helpmate, in the enjoyment of ease. When repose itself +became wearisome, he mounted his horse, and, with an attendant to carry +his gun, set off in pursuit of some of the wild animals with which the +country then abounded. The children had few games, and, though strong +and healthy, were far from sprightly."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image020" name="image020"></a> + <a href="images/image020h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image020.jpg" + alt="A KAFFIR KRAAL IN THE TRANSVAAL." + title="A KAFFIR KRAAL IN THE TRANSVAAL." /></a> +<p class="caption">A KAFFIR KRAAL IN THE TRANSVAAL.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p>A dislike for the English seems to have been felt by the Cape Dutch very +early. This dislike later hostilities must have heightened; but as far +back as 1816 we learn that even shrewd and sensible farmers were heard +to declaim against our methods of scientific agriculture, and resist all +efforts at its introduction into their work. One of them, when informed +of the saving of time and labour that certain implements would effect, +answered with characteristic conservatism. "What," said he, "would you +have us do? Our only concern is to fill our bellies, to get good clothes +and houses, to say to one slave, 'Do this,' and to another, 'Do that,' +and to sit idle ourselves and be waited upon. As to our tillage, or +building, or planting, our forefathers did so and so and were satisfied, +and why should not we do the same? The English want us to use their +ploughs instead of our heavy wooden ones, and recommend other +implements<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> of husbandry than those we have been used to; but we like +our old things best."</p> + +<p>This preference for the old instead of the new has been the rock on +which friendship between Briton and Boer has split. All ideas of reform +have been met with suspicion—a kind of suspicion that, though now +confined to the Boers, was very prevalent in Europe a hundred years ago. +The present writer in extreme youth met here, in advanced England, a +grandam of ninety (the mother of a very distinguished politician), who +stated that she could "never make a friend of a man who took a bath." It +will be seen by this how prejudice may become a matter of habit all the +world over.</p> + +<p>Mr. Nixon tells a story of an equally conservative Boer. This worthy +went to a store at Kimberley with bundles of tobacco for sale. The Boer +carefully weighed them out with some scales of his own that were +evidently an heirloom. The storekeeper reweighed the bundles, remarking +on the antiquity of the scales, and observing that they gave short +weight. He suggested the use of the store scales as the standard for +computing the price, which was to be fixed at so much a pound. But the +Boer would not hear of it. "No," said he, "these were my father's +scales, and he was a wise man and was never cheated, and I won't use +anybody else's." The storekeeper dryly remarked that he did not desire +to press the matter, since he found himself a gainer by £12 in +consequence of the Boer's conservative instincts!</p> + +<p>Many writers urge that the Boer is naturally uncivil, that he lacks the +true feeling of hospitality. The original Boer, before he was seized +with a hatred for the British, was more justly speaking lacking in +civility than what we term uncivil. He knew nothing of the art of being +obliging to his fellow-creatures, merely because they were his +fellow-creatures. He would entertain a stranger, and ask nothing in +return, but he would do so without courtesy, and would put himself out +of the way for no one. The traveller might take him or leave him, +conform to his hours and habits entirely, and, to use the vulgar phrase, +"like them or lump them" as his temperament might decide. "Africanus," +who, in his book on "The Transvaal Boers," writes of them with judgment +and without prejudice, gives a very true sketch, which exactly describes +the strange blend of piety, indolence, ignorance, and ferocity which we +are endeavouring to study. He says—</p> + +<p>"The Dutch farmer is in some respects very unlike his supposed +counterpart in England. His pursuits are pastoral, not agricultural, for +in most parts of South Africa the want of irrigation renders the +cultivation of cereals impossible. His idea of a 'farm'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> is a tract of +at least 6000 acres, over which his flocks and herds can move from one +pasture to another. His labourers are all natives, and though, before +the advent of storekeepers, he used often to make his own clothes, boots +(veld-schoen), and harness, he looks on actual farm-work as a menial +pursuit. He was, and is, wont to pass whole days in the saddle, but, to +an English eye, his horses seem unkempt and often ill-used. The +magnificent herds of game which wandered over South Africa sixty years +ago tempted him to become a keen sportsman, but he has never shown much +'sporting instinct,' and the Boer is responsible for the wanton +destruction of the African fauna. The unsophisticated Boer is a curious +blend of hospitality and avarice; he would welcome the passing stranger, +and entertain him to the best of his ability, but he seized any +opportunity of making money, and the discovery that hides and skins were +marketable induced him to slaughter antelopes without the slightest +forethought. That the Boer is no longer hospitable is very largely due +to the way in which his hospitality has been abused by stray pedlars and +ne'er-do-wells of various kinds. He still retains a sincere and +primitive piety, but his belief that he is a member of the chosen people +has sometimes tended to antinomianism rather than to strict morality. +His contempt and dislike for the Kaffir has preserved the Dutch stock +from taint of black blood, and although there is a large Eur-African +population, it has sprung partly from the old days of domestic slavery, +partly from the laxity induced by the recent influx of low-class +Europeans. The Boer has a strong national feeling, and although not +exactly daring as a rule, he is perfectly ready to risk his life in what +he believes to be a good cause. He fights better behind cover than in +the open, and has a profound contempt for soldiers who expose themselves +unnecessarily. At the same time, he is capable at times of embarking on +a forlorn hope. As regards his private character, his notions of honesty +and of truth are lax. But then, from bitter experience, he assumes that +the stranger will try to cheat him, and it is not surprising that he +should consider a certain amount of <i>finesse</i> justifiable. He is +comparatively free from that drunkenness which is the besetting vice of +the low-class Englishman in Africa.</p> + +<p>"Although he is incredibly ignorant, and very self-satisfied, it is +somewhat irritating to notice the way in which the town-bred Englishman +is apt to depreciate him. It is not so certain as the latter thinks that +an ignorant peasant is necessarily a lower type of man than a 'smart' +and vicious shop-boy.</p> + +<p>"The most unpleasing trait in the Boer character is his callousness, +amounting to brutality, in the case of natives and of animals."</p> + +<p>It must always be remembered that in discussing the early Boer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> we are +discussing the peasant, and that neither his ignorance nor other +shortcomings must be viewed in comparison with the failings of persons +of a higher social grade. When the Boers left the Cape Colony they had +no knowledge of what the word education meant. The state of public +education in 1837 was deplorable. There were missionary schools and a +few desultory teachers, who had in very few cases the mental or the +moral qualities to fit them for the task of instruction. The most they +did was to teach the young idea how to read or scribble its name. For +this they received trifling fees, but doubtless these fees were no more +trifling than the services rendered. Such free schools as existed, and +were nominally supported by Government, were so indifferently managed +that they were treated with contempt, even by the farmers. So long as +they could thumb out their favourite passages of the Psalms, and sign +what few documents they required, they were content. Of their ignorance +they were even inclined to be proud. Their own notions of geography and +history seemed to them infinitely preferable to any that might be +offered, and in this state of blissful ignorance they trekked away from +Cape Colony to learn no more. When they started forth, some, it is +averred, imagined by steadily working north they would reach Jerusalem; +others, covered with faith, and armed with gospel and sjambok, sincerely +believed that eventually they would reach the Promised Land.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p class="sechead">THE ORANGE FREE STATE</p> + + +<p>The young State, almost before it was fledged, found itself engaged in +military operations with the Basutos, and an arbitrator nominated by the +British Government was appointed. But the good offices of the +commissioner were to no purpose; despite the defining of boundaries and +the laying down of landmarks, the natives broke out afresh. An +engagement followed, and the Basutos were defeated. As a consequence, a +large tract of land (the conquered territory) was annexed by the Free +State, yet even this was insufficient to quell the fury of the farmer's +inveterate foes, and later on they broke out afresh, only to be again +overthrown. In the year 1861 they appealed for help to the Governor of +the Cape and were declared British subjects. It was then that a definite +boundary line between Basutoland and the Orange Free State was laid +down. The population of Basutoland is estimated at about 130,000. The +people are by nature warlike and energetic. Some authorities declare +them to be the most intelligent of the Kaffir tribes. They are a branch +of the Bechuana race who were formed by their chiefs, Motlune and +Moshesh, and held their country—the Switzerland of South +Africa—against both Zulu and Boer. This aggressive and ferocious tribe +was devoted to plunder, and remained well-nigh exempt from punishment in +consequence of its mountain fastnesses, which were almost impregnable. +The Basutos formed a continual menace to the Boers of the Free State +until Great Britain assumed their direct control in 1884. It is now +governed by a Resident Commissioner under the High Commissioner for +South Africa. It is divided into seven districts, and subdivided into +wards, presided over by hereditary chiefs allied to the Moshesh family. +Laws are made by proclamation of the High Commissioner, and administered +by native chiefs. Europeans are not allowed to settle there.</p> + +<p>But to return to 1854. The relations between the two Boer States soon +became strained. Jealousy commenced and continued to simmer. Then the +Boers, alarmed lest the Government would again follow them up, and lest +their treatment of the natives should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> investigated and stopped, +began to discourage the presence of visitors across the Vaal. Of course +missionaries were the most unwelcome of all.</p> + +<p>With the terms of the Sand River Convention they had soon become +impatient, and to help to an understanding of this impatience some of +the Articles of the Convention may be quoted:—</p> + +<p><i>Article 1.</i>—"The Assistant-Commissioners guarantee in the fullest +manner on the part of the British Government to the emigrant farmers +beyond the Vaal River the right to manage their own affairs, and to +govern themselves according to their own laws, without any interference +on the part of the British Government, and that no encroachment shall be +made by the said Government on the territory beyond, to the north of the +Vaal River; with the further assurance that the warmest wish of the +British Government is to promote peace, free trade, and friendly +intercourse with the emigrant farmers now inhabiting, or who hereafter +may inhabit that country, it being understood that this system of +non-interference is binding upon both parties."</p> + +<p><i>Article 2</i> arranges, in case of misunderstanding, for a subsequent +delimitation of boundaries.</p> + +<p><i>Article 3.</i>—"Her Majesty's Assistant-Commissioners hereby disclaim all +alliances whatever, and with whomsoever of the coloured nations, to the +north of the Vaal River."</p> + +<p><i>Article 4.</i>—"It is agreed that no slavery is or shall be permitted or +practised in the country to the north of the Vaal River by the emigrant +farmers."</p> + +<p><i>Article 5</i> provides for mutual facilities and liberty to traders and +travellers on both sides of the Vaal River.</p> + +<p><i>Article 6</i> allows the "emigrant Boers" to obtain ammunition in British +colonies and possessions, "it being mutually understood that all trade +in ammunition with the native tribes is prohibited both by the British +Government and the emigrant farmers on both sides of the Vaal River."</p> + +<p><i>Article 7</i> stipulates for the mutual extradition, "as far as possible," +of criminals, and mutual access to courts of justice.</p> + +<p><i>Article 8</i> validates, for purposes of inheritance in British +possessions, certificates of marriage issued by the proper authorities +of the emigrant farmers.</p> + +<p><i>Article 9</i> allows free movement of all persons, except criminals and +absconding debtors, between the British and the Boer territories.</p> + +<p>As we see, the Convention had declared that slavery would not be +practised in the Transvaal, but though the original declaration may have +been made in all good faith, the Boer by degrees, and after the lapse of +years, found it expedient to acquire native "apprentices," who could not +change master nor task without permission.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> They began to fear that +these natives could not be dealt with, as they were in the habit of +dealing with them, without fear of comment from such British visitors as +came across them; and they therefore attempted to block up the path of +travellers, refusing them a passage through the Republic, and in some +instances ordering the expulsion of visitors across the Vaal. About this +time one of the most gruesome of all the many massacres in which the +Boers were concerned took place. One Potgieter (not the Potgieter who +was the rival of Pretorius), in charge of a small party of thirty men, +women, and children, went forth to barter ivory unlawfully with Makapau, +a Kaffir chief. The Kaffirs, owing the Boers a grudge for many a day, +pounced on the whole party, leaving not one behind to give an account of +the awful tragedy. The chief Potgieter was flayed alive, and his skin +made into a kaross or cloak. The Boers were swift to revenge. President +Pretorius, with an army of some four hundred, set himself to track down +the assassins. The Kaffirs fled at the approach of the enemy, enclosing +themselves in a huge cave, where they hoped to escape detection. This +cave was blockaded by the Boers. Here the unhappy blacks went through +all the horrors of famine and thirst, and when their agony became +unbearable, and they sallied forth in desperation in search of water, +they were remorselessly shot down one by one. Nine hundred in all were +killed outside the cave. Within was more than double that number who had +perished in the frightful agonies of starvation. President Kruger +himself was a witness of the terrible scene, and took an active share in +his countrymen's revenge. And this was not the first nor the last time +in which he figured conspicuously in the bloody records of his country's +history. It was only on the occasion of the Jameson Raid that Oom Paul +awakened to sentimental qualms regarding the spilling of blood.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image026" name="image026"></a> + <a href="images/image026h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image026.jpg" + alt="BLOEMFONTEIN FROM THE SOUTH." + title="BLOEMFONTEIN FROM THE SOUTH." /></a> +<p class="caption">BLOEMFONTEIN FROM THE SOUTH.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p class="sechead">THE GRONDWET</p> + +<p>To thoroughly grasp the methods of the New South African Republic, it +may be interesting to study some of "the Articles" of a Grondwet or +Constitution, which superseded those originally adopted by the +Potchefstroom Raad. The Grondwet was started in 1857, and was framed +entirely to suit the then condition of the Boer community. The ordinary +idea of a written constitution was at that time unknown, and the meaning +of such words as "rigid" or "elastic" was, of course, beyond their +comprehension. These only developed a significance when the judicial +crisis of 1897 put a fresh face on Republican affairs.</p> + +<p><i>Article 4</i> states that "the people desire no extension of territory,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +except only on principles of justice, whenever the interests of the +Republic render it advisable."</p> + +<p><i>Article 6.</i>—"Its territory is open to every stranger who submits +himself to the laws of the Republic; all persons who happen to be within +the territory of this Republic have equal claim to protection of person +and property."</p> + +<p><i>Article 8.</i>—"The people claim as much social freedom as possible (<i>de +meest mogelyke maatschappelyke vryheid</i>), and expect to attain it by +upholding their religion, fulfilling their obligations, submitting to +law, order, and justice, and maintaining the same. The people permit the +spread of the Gospel among the heathen, subject to prescribed provisions +against the practice of fraud and deception."</p> + +<p><i>Article 9.</i>—"The people will not allow of any equality between +coloured and white inhabitants, either in Church or in State."</p> + +<p><i>Article 10.</i>—"The people will not brook any dealing in slaves or +slavery in this Republic (<i>will geen slavenhandel, noch slaverny in deze +Republick dulden</i>)."</p> + +<p>Before passing on to other sections, Article 10 calls for attention. In +spite of its terms, the Boers of that period had a practice which might +be described as sailing very near the wind. The "apprenticeship" of +children taken prisoners in the native wars was uncommonly like +slave-owning. They were called "orphans"—sometimes they had been made +orphans by the conquerors—and they were then "apprenticed" to the Boer +farmers till grown up. Though opinions differ on this point, it has been +asserted by those who know that there was a curious system of "transfer" +connected with these so-called apprentices, and that even when grown +they seldom gained their liberty save by escape.</p> + +<p>Further articles entrust legislation to a Volksraad chosen by vote of +the burghers, providing at the same time that the people shall be +allowed three months' grace for intimating to the Raad their views on +any prospective law, "those laws, however, which admit of no delay +excepted." Others constitute an Executive Council, "which shall also +recommend to the Raad all officers for the public service"; others refer +to the liberty of the press; restrict membership of the Volksraad to +members of the Dutch Reformed Congregations; state that "the people do +not desire to allow amongst them any Roman Catholic Churches, nor any +other Protestant Churches except those in which such tenets of the +Christian belief are taught as are prescribed in the Heidelberg +Catechism"; and give the Volksraad the power of making treaties, save in +time of war or of imminent danger.</p> + +<p>The members of the Raad were to be twelve in number at least, and were +to be between the ages of thirty and sixty. They must be burghers of the +Dutch Reformed Church, residents, and owners<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> of landed property in the +Republic; no native nor bastard was to be admitted to the Raad. At the +age of twenty-one every burgher, provided he belonged to the Dutch +Reformed Church, was entitled to the franchise. The election of the +President to a five years' term of office was in the hands of the +burghers, and in this office he was to be supported by an Executive +Council consisting of the Commandant-General, two burghers qualified to +vote, and a Secretary. All the able-bodied men of the Republic, and if +necessary natives, were liable to military service.</p> + +<p>No sooner was the Grondwet arranged than Marthinus Wessels Pretorius, +the son of the chief Andries Pretorius,—who died in 1853—was elected +President of the South African Republic. The next few years were spent +in internal dissension, consequent on the ambition of the President and +the jealousy of his political rivals. Finally Lydenburg, which had +struggled to proclaim itself an independent Republic, yielded, and +affairs relating to the government of the country seemed to be mending. +Still there were always Messrs. Kruger and Schoeman, two adventurous +politicians, who kept things lively in the councils of the State. On the +retirement of Pretorius from the Free State Presidency in 1864, and his +re-election to that of the South African Republic, Mr. Kruger was +appointed Commandant-General, and for the time being his ambitious +longings were appeased.</p> + +<p>At that period the white population consisted of merely about thirty +thousand all told. The native community almost trebled the Dutch. Mr. +Bryce, in his "Impressions on South Africa," describes the then state of +the affairs of the Republic as anything but satisfactory: "There were +hundreds of thousands of natives, a few of whom were living as servants +under a system of enforced labour which was sometimes hardly +distinguishable from slavery, while the vast majority were ruled by +their own chiefs, some as tributaries of the Republic, some practically +independent of it. With the latter wars were frequently raging—wars in +which shocking cruelties were perpetrated on both sides, the Kaffirs +massacring the white families whom they surprised, the Boer commandos +taking a savage vengeance upon the tribes when they captured a kraal or +mountain stronghold. It was the sight of these wars which drove Dr. +Livingstone to begin his famous explorations to the north. The farmers +were too few to reduce the natives to submission, though always able to +defeat them in the field, and, while they relished an expedition, they +had an invincible dislike to any protracted operations which cost money. +Taxes they would not pay. They lived in a sort of rude plenty among +their sheep and cattle, but they had hardly any coined money, conducting +their transactions by barter, and they were too rude to value the +benefits which government secures to a civilised people."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="sechead">TRANSVAAL DISSENSIONS</p> + +<p>Among other things an attempt was made on the part of the Boers to annex +the Orange Free State. President Pretorius crossed the Vaal in 1857, at +the head of a large commando, with the intention of seizing on the +neighbouring territory. He was doomed to disappointment, however, for +his intended raid was stopped by the timely resistance of the forewarned +President of the Orange Free State. An encounter was happily avoided +through the intervention of Mr. Kruger, and finally the two Republics +decided to mutually recognise each other's independent States.</p> + +<p>But the ambitions of Pretorius merely smouldered. He still kept a greedy +eye on the Orange Free State, and machinated for the union of the two +States into a gigantic whole. He therefore refused the Presidency of the +Transvaal for that of the Free State, in the hope of gathering into his +own hands the reins of both governments. He was again disappointed, +however, and in 1864 he returned and was re-elected President of the +Transvaal.</p> + +<p>The return of Pretorius was the signal for temporary peace. During his +second Presidency, however, the little rift within the lute—the rift of +insolvency, which eventually wrecked South African independence—began +to be observable.</p> + +<p>Mr. Nixon, who took great pains to acquaint himself with the true state +of the country, says "that the intestine disturbances and the incessant +Kaffir wars had well-nigh exhausted the finances of the Republic. The +exchequer was only tardily replenished under a loose system of taxation. +The Boers have never been good taxpayers, and no Government has been +able to enforce the proper payment of taxes due to the State. A decade +after its establishment the Republic was practically insolvent. Even as +early as 1857 the Government was compelled to issue <i>mandaten</i>, or +bills, wherewith to raise money to buy ammunition, and to pay its +servants. In 1866 a regular issue of paper money was sanctioned by the +Volksraad. This was followed by further issues, until, in 1867, a +Finance Commission found that there were more notes in circulation than +had been authorised by the Volksraad. Nevertheless, the financial +requirements of the State became so pressing that still more issues had +to be made, and in 1870 there were over £73,000 worth of notes in +circulation. The notes were declared a legal tender, but the Government +were unable to keep up their value by artificial methods. They fell to a +low ebb, and passed from hand to hand at a discount of about 75 per +cent, from their nominal value."</p> + +<p>In 1867 occurred two events which served to change the whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> political +and financial outlook of the Transvaal. Diamonds were discovered in the +district of Kimberley. Gold was unearthed in Lydenburg. From that hour a +procession of European miners began slowly to march north from the Cape. +A highway was opened up between the two promising districts, and diggers +of every race, pioneers bent on the propagation of modern ideas, +teachers, missionaries, and traders of all kinds, attracted by the +promise of wealth, flocked to the scene and settled themselves among the +trekkers.</p> + +<p class="sechead">ZULU DISTURBANCES</p> + +<p>After this period, when, as stated before, small but promising +quantities of gold had been unearthed, it was no longer possible to +prevent parties of miners and speculators from trickling into the +Transvaal, to the annoyance of its inhabitants. Outside, too, there were +troubles, disputes, and skirmishes with the Zulus, and further north was +waged a fierce fight between the Boers and the chief of the Bapedi, one +Sekukuni, whose father had signed away his independence to the Boers, +and who refused in his turn to abide by the conditions of the compact. +In this fight Sekukuni was successful, and the Boers, worsted and +discontented, and believing that the Almighty was displeased with them +and with their President, Mr. Burgers, retired from the campaign. At the +same time, in the south, Cetchwayo was itching to be on the warpath, and +the general state of affairs suggested a possible annihilation of the +Transvaal by an uncontrollable horde of natives. Things went from bad to +worse, and in October 1876 Lord Carnarvon remonstrated with the +President of the South African Republic regarding the unprovoked +barbarity of the Sekukuni war, which had again been renewed. The reason +for the interference of Lord Carnarvon is to be found in the following +despatch, forwarded by Sir Henry Barkly, the then Governor of the +Cape:—</p> + +<p>"As Von Schlickman has since fallen fighting bravely, it is not without +reluctance that I join in affixing this dark stain on his memory, but +truth compels me to add the following extract from a letter which I have +since received from one whose name (which I communicate to your lordship +privately) forbids disbelief:—</p> + +<p>"'There is no longer the slightest doubt as to the murder of the two +women and the child at Steelpoort by the direct order of Schlickman, and +in the attack on the kraal near which these women were captured (or some +attack about that period) he ordered his men to cut the throats of all +the wounded! This is no mere report; it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> positively true." And in a +subsequent letter the same writer informs me that the statements are +based on the evidence, not alone of Kaffirs, but of whites who were +present.</p> + +<p>"'As regards the even more serious accusations brought against Abel +Erasmus' (the Kruger's Post field-cornet), 'as specially alluded to in +my letter to President Burgers, on the 28th ult.' (viz. of treacherously +killing forty or fifty friendly natives, men and women, and carrying off +the children), I beg to invite your lordship's attention to an account +derived, I am assured, from a respectable Boer who accompanied the +expedition, and protested against the slaughter and robbery of friendly +Kaffirs, committed by order of the above-named field-cornet.</p> + +<p>"'Should I not shortly receive such a reply from the President to my +letters of last month, as to convince me that his Honour has taken +effectual steps to check such outrages and punish the perpetrators, I +will enter another protest, if only for form's sake.</p> + +<p>"'Seeing, however, that Aylward, who is said to boast, whether truly or +not, that he took part with his brother Fenians in the murder of the +police constable at Manchester, as well as in the attempt to blow up the +Clerkenwell prison, had succeeded Schlickman in the command of the +Steelpoort Volunteers, I question whether the Government of the South +African Republic has the power, even supposing it to have the will, to +put a stop to further atrocities on the part of this band of +"Filibusters," as they are commonly styled in the newspapers.</p> + +<p>"'In my opinion it will be requisite to call in the aid of British +troops before this can be done, and I am not without hope that one of +the results of the mission on which Sir T. Shepstone is about to start, +will be a petition from persons of education and property throughout the +country for such an intervention on the part of her Majesty's Government +as will terminate this wanton and useless bloodshed, and prevent the +recurrence of the scenes of injustice, cruelty, and rapine, which +abundant evidence is every day forthcoming to prove, have rarely ceased +to disgrace the Republics beyond the Vaal ever since they first sprang +into existence.'"</p> + +<p>Von Schlickman was an ex-Russian officer, commanding a force of +filibusters which had been engaged by the Transvaal Government, and his +men being unpaid, were allowed to reimburse themselves by cattle or land +seized from the natives.</p> + +<p>As a natural consequence, the war assumed a character of unrestrained +ferocity. On receiving this information Lord Carnarvon wrote that his +Government "could not view passively, and with indifference, the +engagement of the Republic in foreign military<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> operations the object or +the necessity of which had not been made apparent."</p> + +<p>The quarrel with the chief had originated, as stated, in a Boer claim to +his land, and the Boer President in replying urged the natural right of +the Boers to all the land of the Transvaal. The chief magistrate at that +time was President Burgers, a man who, if report may be believed, was +far superior to those with whom he associated. This man, a Cape +Dutchman, and sometime minister of the Reformed Church, had been called +to the onerous post of President of the South African Republic in 1872. +He was bent on the advancement of his nation, and his intelligence was +remarkable. He was a man of sterling character, fanciful, enthusiastic, +an idealist even, with a horror of slaveholding, and a hankering for the +pure life of the humanist. In a measure he was too much in advance of +the people with whom he was connected. To them he was something of a +Freethinker, a man too ready to judge for himself while the Gospel was +at hand to judge for him. Such liberal views were not in accord with +peasant limitations. His desire to raise his country to the level of +other nations, to bring commerce and railways within touch of his +people, savoured of heresy. The appreciation for civilisation was so +strong within him that he is even said to have carried it to extremes, +to have favoured the prompt and regular payment of taxes, and to have +executed an elaborate design for an international coat-of-arms! Now this +reformer, like most reformers, was not appreciated among his own people. +He had no police to support him, no means of putting pressure on those +who should have served his cause. The Conservative party, with Mr. +Kruger at their head, did their best to circumvent every innovation and +to save themselves and the country from what they believed to be the +dangerous inorthodoxy of their President. Mr. Burgers in his posthumous +"Vindication" outlines some strange hints regarding the character of his +compatriots, which outlines may now be readily filled in by personal +experience. He therein asserts that had he chosen to publish to the +world a faithful description of the Transvaal Boers, they would have +forfeited the appreciation gained from the Liberal party in Europe. Mr. +Burgers' reserve is much to be regretted, as a few sidelights thrown on +the Boer character at that period might have helped to educate the +Liberal party of whom he spoke, and thereby saved much of the +vacillation of policy for which the country now has to suffer.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image032" name="image032"></a> + <a href="images/image032h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image032.jpg" + alt="SERGEANT-MAJOR of the 2nd DRAGOONS. (ROYAL SCOTS GREYS.)" + title="SERGEANT-MAJOR of the 2nd DRAGOONS. (ROYAL SCOTS GREYS.)" /></a> +<p class="caption">SERGEANT-MAJOR of the 2nd DRAGOONS.</p> +<p class="caption">(ROYAL SCOTS GREYS.)</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Gregory & Co., London.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE POLITICAL WEB</p> + +<p>Before going further, we must examine the situation between the Governor +of the Cape, the President of the South African Republic, and the Home +Government.</p> + +<p>When we look back at Boer history, we find the details of annexation and +restoration repeating themselves with the consistency of the chorus of a +nursery rhyme. What the Government of the Cape accomplished the +Government at home proceeded promptly to undo, till the problems +connected with Boer liberty and British rights became so tangled and so +intricate that they could only be solved by the sword.</p> + +<p>It may be remembered that in 1854 Sir George Grey, the then Governor of +the Cape, applied himself to the puzzle. He started with the best hopes. +He saw before him a vista of labour, of argument, of contradiction, but +the tangles, he believed, could eventually be smoothed out. In the +anxiety to avoid trouble and responsibility, and possibly in an amiable +desire to conciliate the parties at home, the Imperial Government had +conceded territories and alienated subjects without having made an +effort to discover the wishes of the people, or to try a free form of +government suited to South Africa. He was in favour of a Federal Union +wherein the separate Colonies and States, each with its local government +and legislature, should be combined under one general representative +legislature, led by a responsible Ministry, specially charged with the +duty of providing for common defence. This plan of Federal Union seemed +to appeal to the Burghers of the Orange Free State, for the Volksraad +decided that "a union of alliance with the Cape Colony, either on the +plan of federation or otherwise, is desirable." Sir George Grey was not +permitted to pursue his policy, for the British Government decided +against the resumption of British sovereignty over the Orange Free +State. The same forward and backward movement, the same sort of +political <i>chasé et croisé</i>, was again carried on from 1876 and 1877 to +1881. It was decided that a Federal Union should be created between such +African Colonies as were willing to join. To further this scheme Sir +Bartle Frere, after a long and arduous career in India, was appointed +Governor and High Commissioner by Lord Carnarvon, the then Colonial +Secretary. But Sir Bartle was too late. Sir Theophilus Shepstone, who +had been sent out to the Transvaal on Special Commission to confer with +the President on the question of Confederation, had already annexed the +Transvaal. The reasons for the annexation were many and excellent. +Firstly, the Trans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>vaal Republic, vulgarly speaking, was out at elbows. +It was bankrupt, helpless, languishing. The sorry sum of 12s. 6d. +represented the entire wealth of the Treasury. The Zulu chief Cetchwayo +was waiting to "eat up" the Boers, and the Boers were unceasing in their +efforts to encroach on Zulu territory. But the deplorable state of +affairs is better described by quoting Sir T. Shepstone's letter on the +subject.</p> + +<p>"It was patent to every observer," writes Sir T. Shepstone, "that the +Government (of the Transvaal) was powerless to control either its white +citizens or its native subjects; that it was incapable of enforcing its +laws or of collecting its taxes; that the Treasury was empty; that the +salaries of officials had been and are months in arrear; that sums +payable for the ordinary and necessary expenditure of government cannot +be had, and that such services as postal contracts were long and +hopelessly overdue; that the white inhabitants had become split into +factions; that the large native populations within the boundaries of the +State ignore its authority and laws; and that the powerful Zulu king, +Cetchwayo, is anxious to seize upon the first opportunity of attacking a +country the conduct of whose warriors has convinced him that it can be +easily conquered by his clamouring regiments." He again writes: "I think +it necessary to explain, more at length than I was able to do in my last +despatch, the circumstances which seem to me to forbid all hope that the +Transvaal Republic is capable of maintaining the show even of +independent existence any longer, which induced me to consider it my +duty to assume this position in my communications with the President and +Executive Council, and which have convinced me that, if I were to leave +the country in its present condition, I should but expose the +inhabitants to anarchy among themselves, and to attack from the natives, +that would prove not only fatal to the Republic, but in the highest +degree dangerous to her Majesty's possessions and subjects in South +Africa."</p> + +<p>The proclamation of the annexation of the Transvaal was issued on the +12th of April 1876, and on the previous day Sir T. Shepstone wrote: +"There will be a protest against my act of annexation issued by the +Government, but they will at the same time call upon the people to +submit quietly, pending the issue. You need not be disquieted by such +action, because it is taken merely to save appearances, and the members +of the Government from the violence of a faction that seems for years to +have held Pretoria in terror when any act of the Government displeased +it. You will better understand this when I tell you privately that the +President has from the first fully acquiesced in the necessity for the +change, and that most of the members of the Government have expressed +themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> anxious for it—but none of them have had the courage openly +to express their opinions, so I have had to act apparently against them, +and this I felt bound to do, knowing the state and danger of the +country, and that three-fourths of the people will be thankful for the +change when once it is made."</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact the annexation was received with rejoicing all over +the country. "God save the Queen" was sung, and special thanksgiving +services were held in many of the churches. The Union Jack was run up, +the Republican flag hauled down without a dissentient voice. The arrival +of British troops—the first battalion of the 13th Regiment—was hailed +with curiosity and pleasure, the Boers with their women and children +turning out to meet it and hear the band play. The financial effects of +the new departure were magical. Credit and commerce were at once +restored. Valueless railway bonds rose to par, and the price of landed +property was nearly doubled. On the Queen's birthday, the first after +the annexation, the 24th of May 1877, the native chiefs were invited to +attend, and the Union Jack was formally hoisted to the strains of the +National Anthem. This same flag was within a few years ignobly hauled +down during the signing of the Convention at Pretoria, and formally +buried by a party of Englishmen and loyal natives. But for the time +being all seemed pleased with the new state of affairs. As Mr. Haggard +says, it is difficult to reconcile the enthusiasm of a great number of +the inhabitants of the Transvaal for English rule and the quiet +acquiescence of the remainder at this time, with the decidedly +antagonistic attitude subsequently assumed. His description of the +situation in "The Last Boer War" seems to be more near the truth than +any forthcoming: "The Transvaal, when we annexed it, was in the position +of a man with a knife at his throat, who is suddenly rescued by some one +stronger than he, on certain conditions which at the time he gladly +accepts, but afterwards, when the danger is passed, wishes to repudiate. +In the same way the inhabitants of the South African Republic were in +the time of need very thankful for our aid, but after a while, when the +recollection of their difficulties had grown faint, when their debts had +been paid and their enemies had been defeated, they began to think that +they would like to get rid of us again, and start fresh on their own +account with a clean sheet."</p> + +<p>In the management of affairs it appears that Mr. Burgers began to set an +example of the policy which Mr. Kruger has since followed: the policy of +trying to sit on either side of the fence. Mr. Kruger has struggled more +and more violently to accomplish this feat as the years advance and he +advances in years. He has tried to grab the advantages attendant upon +the possession of gold mines and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> schemed to acquire a great financial +status, and yet at the same time to keep up his affectation of piety and +to maintain his pristine condition of bucolic irresponsibility. Brought +face to face with Sir T. Shepstone's scheme for annexation, Mr. Burger +privately encouraged the proposed action of the Government—he and his +colleagues even stipulating for pension and office—while publicly he +lifted up his protest against the innovation.</p> + +<p>The Boer, with his usual craft, had decided that the British Government +should set him financially on his feet, which feet he meant promptly to +use for running away from his responsibilities. Some declare that the +policy of Sir T. Shepstone was premature, that he should have waited +until the Boer had soaked further in the slough of insolvency into which +he was fast sinking. But Sekukuni was threatening, and on the +south-eastern frontier Cetchwayo, with a force some thirty thousand +strong, was waiting his opportunity. The promise of the future was a +general holocaust, in which Boer men, women, and children, farms and +flocks would be annihilated. Sir T. Shepstone, had he been other than a +Briton, might have stayed his hand and waited till the Boers were +effectually swept away, but being a Briton he acted as such, doubtless +arguing that,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"As we under Heaven are supreme head,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So, under him, that great supremacy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where we do reign, we will alone uphold."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p class="sechead">THE WEB THICKENING</p> + +<p>It must be remembered that between the Zulus and the Boers no boundary +line had ever been fixed, and that for over a dozen years the Zulu +chiefs had repeatedly implored the British Governor in Natal for advice +and help in their dealings with these aggressors. It had been part of +the Dutch policy—if policy it may be called—to force the Zulu +gradually to edge further and further from the rich pasture lands +sloping eastward of the Drakensberg Mountains, and spreading to right +and left into the north and west of Zululand. Little notice had been +taken of their petitions, and the Zulus had determined to take the law +into their own hands. Cetchwayo, therefore, when the news of our +annexation of the Transvaal reached him, was like a wild beast baulked +of its prey. He was anxious for an occasion for his young warriors "to +wash their spears" in the gore of his enemies, and was naturally +disappointed to find them under the protection of the white man. The +Natal Government attempted to soothe him—to promote peace. He remained +sullen and simmered. He vented his spleen by putting several young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +women to death for having refused to marry his soldiers. On being +remonstrated with by the Natal Government, he expressed himself with +engaging candour. His own words, without comment, describe the character +with which we had to deal.</p> + +<p>"Did I ever tell Mr. Shepstone," his Majesty cried, "that I would not +kill? Did Mr. Shepstone tell the white people I made such an +arrangement? Because if he did he deceived them. I do kill; but I do not +consider that I have done anything yet in the way of killing. Why do the +white people start at nothing? I have not yet begun. I have yet to kill. +It is the custom of our nation, and I will not depart from it. Why does +the Governor of Natal speak to me about my laws? I shall not agree to +any laws or rules from Natal, and by so doing throw the large kraal +which I govern into the water. My people will not listen unless they are +killed, and while wishing to be friends with the English I do not agree +to give my people over to be governed by laws sent to me by them. Have I +not asked the English to allow me to wash my spears since the death of +my father, Upandi, and they have kept playing with me all the time, +treating me as a child?" ... A good deal more followed in this strain. +Since his accession the gallant Cetchwayo had decided to "wash his +spears" in the blood of his neighbours, and whatever the British might +have to say in the matter, wash them he would. It was obvious, +therefore, that a ruffian of this kind, backed by a bloodthirsty +following, was a permanent danger to our Colony of Natal and to its +white inhabitants. Something must be done to remove the disquiet caused +by the utterances of the savage. Sir Henry Bulwer (the Governor of +Natal)—to conciliate the king and to allay his fears lest his +territory, like that of the Boers, should be annexed—proposed that a +commission should investigate the rival claims of Boers and Zulus on +border questions, and settle them by arbitration. But what Sir H. Bulwer +proposed Sir Bartle Frere, High Commissioner in South Africa, +disapproved. He felt that Cetchwayo and his host would be a standing +menace to the borders of Natal. Nevertheless he agreed to a discussion +of the vexed boundary question between Boer and Zulu, in which the +commissioners declared unanimously against the claims of the former. +Certain land only to west of the Blood River, held by the Boers and +unchallenged by the Zulus, was confirmed to the Dutch settlers in their +occupation of the same. But to this decision Sir Bartle Frere considered +it expedient to add some saving clauses. These demanded, first, that +Cetchwayo should adhere to the guarantees he had given and not permit +indiscriminate shedding of blood; second, that he should institute from +his existing military system the form of tribal quotas; third, that he +should accept the presence of a British<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> Resident; fourth, that he +should protect the missionaries and their converts; and lastly, that he +should surrender certain criminals and pay certain fines. His Zulu +Majesty was given thirty days to consider the subject. Instead of +considering he flouted it. The result was war.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE ZULU WAR</p> + +<p>According to the opinion of Sir Bartle Frere there was, and for a long +time had been, a growing desire on the part of the great chiefs to make +this war into a simultaneous rising of Kaffirdom against white +civilisation. A spirit of mutiny had been in the air since the terrible +events in India in 1857, and there was a general conviction among the +native tribes that the authority of Great Britain would eventually be +overthrown. Now the most powerful of all the native tribes in South +Africa were the Zulus, whose military organisation had long been +celebrated, and who had earned a great reputation since the days of +Gaika, and more especially in the time that followed when Chaka, who was +a born warrior, brought the gigantic army into a state of marvellous +efficiency.</p> + +<p>A few words regarding the career of this great chieftain may be found +interesting, for to him is accorded the credit of the indubitably +warlike and brave disposition of his countrymen. This man, who has been +at times called the Attila and the Napoleon of South Africa, was born in +1783. He became chief officer to Dingiswayo, a man of remarkable +ability, who studied European military systems and modelled on their +principle a highly efficient army. Chaka, heir to a chieftainship of the +Amazulu tribe (the Zulus proper), took the fancy of Dingiswayo, who +elevated him first to a post of high command, and eventually to the +vacant Zulu chieftainship. On the death in battle of Dingiswayo, Chaka +assumed the command of both tribes, to which he gave his name. The +already excellent army he proceeded to improve till it became one of the +most efficient military organisations ever originated in an uncivilised +country. The whole kingdom was ordered on a military footing, and +expanded so wondrously that the original two tribes at first commanded +by Chaka became an hundred, each tribe having been defeated in warfare +and incorporated in the Zulu nationality. His policy, unlike that of +Cetchwayo later on, was not to destroy but to subdue, and thus he soon +ruled with undisputed sway over a complete empire covering the desolated +regions of Natal, Zululand, and the modern Boer States. His methods of +military training were entirely Spartan; his discipline was a discipline +of iron. Disobedience was met with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> penalty of death. To tread out a +roaring bush-fire, or capture alive a wild beast, were some of the tasks +imposed as daily training for his would-be warriors. An order was an +order, and this, however dangerous or seemingly impossible, had to be +obeyed by individual or regiment on pain of the most horrible forms of +death. It may easily be imagined that this stern regime was calculated +to create a military following of the most brave and adventurous order. +Naturally enough, all the other Kaffir tribes looked to the Zulus as +their leaders and champions in the contest. Captain Hamilton Parr tells +a tale of an old Galeka warrior who said to a native magistrate, "Yes, +you have beaten us—you have beaten us well; but there," pointing +eastward, "there are the Amazulu warriors. Can you beat them? They say +not. Go and try. Don't trouble any more about us, but go and beat <i>them</i> +and we shall be quiet enough." This anecdote serves to describe the +general sentiment of disdain for British authority which Sir Bartle +Frere detected almost immediately after his arrival among the natives, +and to account in a measure for what has been declared to be his +high-handed policy. He was convinced that we could never expect peace +among the chiefs until we had satisfied them who was master. A lesson +was necessary to show that the British Government could govern and meant +to govern, and that lesson he felt must be taught sooner or later. For a +long time Cetchwayo had been instigating rebellion and preparing for +war. As may be seen from Lord Carnarvon's letter of the 24th of January +1878 to Sir Bartle Frere, the Government was fully conscious of the +existing necessity to protect the Transvaal and to maintain British +prestige in South Africa. The despatch runs: "It seems certain that the +Zulu king has derived from his messengers the unfortunate idea that the +Kaffirs are able to cope with the Colony on more than equal terms, and +this belief has, as was inevitable, produced a very threatening change +in his language and conduct towards the Transvaal Government. It is only +too probable that a savage chief such as Cetchwayo, supported by a +powerful army already excited by the recent successes of a neighbouring +tribe over the late Government of the Transvaal, may now become fired +with the idea of victory over her Majesty's forces, and that a +deliberate attempt upon her Majesty's territories may ensue. Should this +unfortunately happen, you must understand that at whatever sacrifice it +is imperatively necessary that her Majesty's forces in Natal and the +Transvaal must be reinforced by the immediate despatch of the military +and naval contingents now operating in the Cape, or such portion of them +as may be required. This is necessary not only for the safety of the +Transvaal, for the defence of which her Majesty's Government are +immediately concerned,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> but also in the interest of the Cape, since a +defeat of the Zulu king would act more powerfully than any other means +in disheartening the native races of South Africa."</p> + +<p>On this subject Sir H. Bulwer wrote: "There has been for the last eight +or nine months a danger of collision with the Zulus at any moment." And +in November 1878 he said: "The system of government in the Zulu country +is so bad that any improvement seems hopeless. We should, if necessary, +be justified in deposing Cetchwayo."</p> + +<p>Consequently, Sir Bartle Frere was not surprised when all efforts to +reduce Cetchwayo to yield to British demand failed. As time went by it +became clear that enforcement of these demands must be placed in the +hands of Lord Chelmsford and the military authorities, and accordingly, +on the 10th of January 1879, the Commander-in-Chief of the forces of +South Africa crossed the frontier.</p> + +<p>As the frontier extended for some two hundred miles, to assume a purely +defensive attitude would have been impossible. Our forces so placed +would not have been sufficiently strong to resist an attack made at +their own time and place by a horde of some ten to twenty thousand +Zulus. Lord Chelmsford had no alternative, therefore, but to invade +Zululand.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">ISANDLWANA</p> + +<p>The force under Lord Chelmsford's command was divided into four columns. +These were composed partly of British soldiers, partly of Colonists, and +partly of blacks. The first column, under Colonel Pearson, crossed the +Lower Tugela; the second, under Lieutenant-Colonel Durnford, R.E., +consisting of native troops and Natal Volunteers, was to act in concert +with column three; the third, under Colonel Glyn—but directed by the +General, who assumed all responsibility—crossed the Buffalo River; and +the fourth, under Colonel Evelyn Wood, entered Zululand from near +Newcastle on the north-west. The plan was for the four columns to +converge upon Ulundi, in the neighbourhood of the king's kraal, where +fighting might be expected to begin.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image040" name="image040"></a> + <a href="images/image040h.png"> + <img src="images/image040.png" + alt="Map of Zululand and adjoining Portions of Natal." + title="Map of Zululand and adjoining Portions of Natal." /></a> +<p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Map of Zululand and adjoining Portions of Natal.</span></p> +</div> + +<p>The crossing of the Buffalo River was effected without difficulty or +resistance, and ten days after the central column formed a camp at the +foot of the hill Isandlwana (the Little Hand). On the morning of the +22nd the Commander-in-Chief advanced at daybreak, for the purpose of +attacking a kraal some miles distant. The camp at Isandlwana was left in +charge of a force of some eight hundred mixed troops—regulars, +volunteers, and natives. Strict orders to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> defend and not to leave the +camp were given, but in spite of these orders portions of the force +became detached. Suddenly, unobserved by them, there appeared a dense +impi of some twenty thousand Zulus. The savage horde rushed shouting +upon the small British detachments, rushed with the swiftness of +cavalry, attacked them before they could unite, and swooping down with +tremendous velocity, seized the camp and separated the British troops +from their reserves of ammunition. In face of this warrior multitude our +troops were defenceless. A few moments of wild despairing energy, a +hand-to-hand struggle for life between the white man and the +bloodthirsty savage, groans of wounded and yells of victory, and all was +over. Of the six companies of the 24th, consisting of more than half the +infantry engaged, but six souls escaped. The rest died where they fell, +with no kindly hand to give them succour, no British voice to breathe a +burial prayer. But some before they dropped managed to cut their way +through the ring of Zulu spears. Two gallant fellows, Lieutenants +Melvill and Coghill, almost succeeded in saving the colours of the first +battalion of the 24th Regiment. They made a bold rush, but merely +reached the Natal bank of the Buffalo to be struck down. The colours, +wrapped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> round Melvill's body, were discovered in the river some days +afterwards.</p> + +<p>The Zulu plan of fighting, in this case so successful, is curious. The +formation of their attacks represents the figure of a beast with horns, +chest, and loins. While making a feint with one horn, the other, +unperceived in long grass or bush, swoops round and closes in on the +enemy. The chest then advances to attack. The loins are kept at a +distance, and simply join in pursuit.</p> + +<p>The news of the disaster spread fast. Sir Bartle Frere, on the morning +of the 24th, was awakened by the arrival of two almost distraught and +wholly unintelligible messengers. Their report, when it could be at last +comprehended, seemed too horrible for belief. That they had escaped some +terrible ordeal was evident; that they were members of the company of +naval volunteers that formed part of the General's army, their uniform +proclaimed. But of the General they could say nothing—he might be dead, +he might be missing—all they knew was of their own miraculous escape +from a scene of slaughter. Colonel Pulleine they declared was dead, but +further news had to be awaited with anxious hearts.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Lord Chelmsford had heard the horrible news. The camp had been +seen in the possession of the Zulus. Worn and weary with heavy marching +in a baking sun, he and his troops began to retreat. At nightfall, +thoroughly jaded, they returned to a grim scene. All around lay the +still silent dead—the corpses of the comrades they had parted with but +a few hours before. There, amid the pathetic wreckage, were they forced +to lay them down to rest!</p> + +<p>Fortunately the Zulus, having plundered the camp, had made off, and the +British force was able the next day to proceed to the relief of Rorke's +Drift. At Rorke's Drift the now world-celebrated defence of Lieutenant +Bromhead, of the 24th, and Lieutenant Chard, R.E., took place. These +young officers had been left with one hundred and four soldiers to take +charge of a small depôt of provisions and an hospital, and to keep open +the communication with Natal. Some hours after the disaster of +Isandlwana their post was attacked by Dabulamanzi (brother of Cetchwayo) +and over three thousand of his finest warriors. The little garrison had +made for themselves a laager of sacks of maize and biscuit-boxes, and +behind these they defended themselves so stubbornly and so heroically +throughout the night of the 23rd, that the Zulu chieftain, discomfited +and harassed, eventually retired. For their magnificent pluck the two +young officers received the Victoria Cross. Their action had saved Natal +from invasion by the enemy. Of the little garrison seventeen fell and +ten were wounded. The loss of the Zulus was about three hundred.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image042" name="image042"></a> + <a href="images/image042h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image042.jpg" + alt="THE DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT, 22nd to 23rd JANUARY 1879." + title="THE DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT, 22nd to 23rd JANUARY 1879." /></a> +<p class="caption">THE DEFENCE OF RORKE'S DRIFT, 22nd to 23rd JANUARY 1879.</p> +<p class="caption">Painted by Alphonse de Neuville, Etched by L. Flameng.</p> +<p class="caption">Reproduced by special arrangement with the Fine Art Society, London.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p>Colonel Pearson's column, as we said, crossed the Lower Tugela near the +sea, with the intention of joining the other columns at Ulundi. On the +way thither he was attacked by a Zulu force at Inyesani. This force, +though it more than doubled the strength of his own, he drove back with +heavy loss, and marched to the Norwegian Mission station, Eshowe. On his +arrival there on the 23rd of January, he learnt the awful news of the +disaster, and instantly sent his cavalry back to Natal, fortified his +station, and waited there the arrival of reinforcements.</p> + +<p>The third column, commanded by Colonel Evelyn Wood (consisting of 1700 +British soldiers, 50 farmers under Commandant Pieter Uys, and some 300 +blacks), reached Kambula in safety, and fortified a post there. Colonel +Wood harassed the enemy by frequent sallies, however, and on one +occasion the attack on the Zlobane Mountain lost about ninety-six of his +men. Among these were Colonel Weatherley, his young son, and Commandant +Uys. The following day the British laager was attacked by a horde of +Zulus, who were routed. In this engagement Colonel Wood, Colonel Buller, +and Captain Woodgate especially distinguished themselves.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford, with a force of soldiers and sailors, marched in April +from Natal to the relief of Colonel Pearson at Eshowe. He arrived there +in safety, after having encountered and beaten back the Zulus at +Ginginlova: yet it was not until the 4th of July that the troops +eventually reached Ulundi, where the final battle and victory took +place. But of this later.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">AFFAIRS AT HOME</p> + +<p>Two days after the arrival of the news of the disaster at Isandlwana, +Parliament met. The reverse in Zululand naturally engrossed all +thoughts. Questions innumerable were addressed to Government, as to the +strength of reinforcements to be sent out—as to the further necessity +for war at all—as to the so-called high-handed action of Sir Bartle +Frere, and the so-called blunders of Lord Chelmsford. Scapegoats were +wanted, and, as a natural consequence, the two most energetic and +hard-worked of the Queen's servants were attacked.</p> + +<p>A political pitched battle was imminent. The Ministers declined to +withdraw their confidence from the Lord High Commissioner, though they +passed on him censure for his hasty and independent proceedings. That +the members of Government had a high appreciation of his great +experience, ability, and energy was apparent, for they declared they had +"no desire to withdraw in the present crisis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> of affairs the confidence +hitherto reposed in him, the continuance of which was now more than ever +needed to conduct our difficulties in South Africa to a successful +termination." On the 19th of March 1879 the Secretary of the Colonies +wrote to Sir Bartle Frere, to the effect that Ministers were unable to +find, on the documents placed before them, "that evidence of urgent +necessity for immediate action which alone would justify him in taking, +without their full knowledge and sanction, a course almost certain to +result in a war."</p> + +<p>The day for discussion of South African affairs in the Upper House +arrived.</p> + +<p>Lord Lansdowne moved, on the 11th of March, "That this House, while +willing to support her Majesty's Government in all necessary measures +for defending the possessions of her Majesty in South Africa, regrets +that the <i>ultimatum</i>, which was calculated to produce immediate war, +should have been presented to the Zulu king without authority from the +responsible advisers of the Crown, and that an offensive war should have +been commenced without imperative and pressing necessity or adequate +preparation; and the House regrets that, after the censure passed upon +the High Commissioner by her Majesty's Government, in the despatch of +March 19, 1879, the conduct of affairs in South Africa should be +retained in his hands."</p> + +<p>A keen debate ensued. The Opposition clamoured for the recall of Sir +Bartle Frere, as the example of independent action set by him might be +followed by other and more distant representatives of the Crown. The war +was ascribed to Lord Carnarvon's impatience for South African +confederation and his "incurable greed" for extending the limits of the +Colonies, and the annexation of the Transvaal was declared to be a +mistake, unless the Government was prepared to send out a large military +force to South Africa.</p> + +<p>The Government combated these arguments. They denied they had censured +Sir Bartle Frere, and stated that they had passed no opinion on his +policy, but merely asserted as a principle that "Her Majesty's advisers, +and they only, must decide the grave issues of peace and war."</p> + +<p>It was argued that war with Cetchwayo was inevitable sooner or later, +and that the Lord High Commissioner had thought it advisable to be +prompt in the matter. His conduct, it was true, had not the entire +approval of the Ministry, but every one knew it was unwise to change +horses in crossing a stream, and his action had not been such as to +outweigh the many considerations which required the continuance of his +service in South Africa.</p> + +<p>Lord Beaconsfield, addressing the House, defended Sir Bartle Frere, and +expressed opinions on the policy of confederation as opposed to that of +annexation, opinions which afford so much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> instruction in regard to our +relations with the Transvaal that they are best repeated in their +entirety.</p> + +<p>"I generally find," he said, "there is one advantage at the end of a +debate, besides the relief which is afforded by its termination, and +that is that both sides of the House seem pretty well agreed as to the +particular point that really is at issue; but the rich humour of the +noble duke (Duke of Somerset) has again diverted us from the +consideration of the motion really before the House. If the noble duke +and his friends were desirous of knowing what was the policy which her +Majesty's Government were prepared generally to pursue in South Africa, +if they were prepared to challenge the policy of Sir Bartle Frere in all +its details, I should have thought they would have produced a very +different motion from that which is now lying on your lordships' table; +for that is a motion of a most limited character, and, according to the +strict rules of parliamentary discussion, precludes you from most of the +subjects which have lately been introduced to our consideration, and +which principally have emanated from noble lords opposite. We have not +been summoned here to-day to consider the policy of the acquisition of +the Transvaal. These are subjects on which I am sure the Government +would be prepared to address your lordships, if their conduct were +clearly and fairly impugned. And with regard to the annexation of the +province, which has certainly very much filled the mouths of men of +late, I can easily conceive that that would have been a subject for fair +discussion in this House, and we should have heard, as we have heard +to-night, though in a manner somewhat unexpected, from the nature of the +resolution before us, from the noble lord who was recently the Secretary +of State for the Colonies, the principal reasons which induced the +Government to sanction that policy—a policy which I believe can be +defended, but which has not been impugned to-night in any formal manner.</p> + +<p>"What has been impugned to-night is the conduct of the Government in +sanctioning, not the policy of Sir Bartle Frere, but his taking a most +important step without consulting them, which on such subjects is the +usual practice with all Governments. But the noble lord opposite who +introduced the subject does not even impugn the policy of the Lord High +Commissioner; and it was left to the noble duke who has just addressed +us, and who ought to have brought forward this question if his views are +so strongly entertained by him on the matter, not in supporting a +resolution such as now lies on your lordships' table, but one which +would have involved a discussion of the policy of the Government and +that of the high officer who is particularly interested in it.</p> + +<p>"My noble friend, the noble marquis (Lord Salisbury), who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> very recently +addressed the House, touched the real question which is before us, and +it is a very important question, although it is not of the expansive +character of the one which would have been justified by the comments of +the noble lords opposite. What we have to decide to-night is +this—whether her Majesty's Government shall have the power of +recommending to the sovereign the employment of a high officer to fulfil +duties of the utmost importance, or whether that exercise of the +prerogative, on their advice, shall be successfully impugned, and that +appointment superseded by noble lords opposite. That course is perfectly +constitutional, if they are prepared to take the consequences. But let +it be understood what the issue is. It is this—that a censure upon the +Government is called for, because they have selected the individual who, +on the whole, they think is the best qualified successfully to fulfil +the duties of High Commissioner. The noble lords opposite made that +proposition, and if they succeed they will succeed in that which has +hitherto been considered one of the most difficult tasks of the +executive Government; that is to say, they will supersede the individual +whom the sovereign, in the exercise of her prerogative, under the advice +of her Ministers, has selected for an important post. I cannot agree in +the general remark made by the noble duke, that because an individual +has committed an error, and even a considerable error, for that reason, +without any reference either to his past services or his present +qualifications, immediately a change should be recommended, and he +should be recalled from the scene of his duties.</p> + +<p>"I remember myself a case not altogether different from the present +one," continued Lord Beaconsfield, alluding to Sir James Hudson, who, +when Minister at Turin, had been charged with having expressed himself +unguardedly upon the subject of Italian nationality. "It happened some +years ago, when I was in the other House. Then a very high official—a +diplomatist of great eminence, a member of the Liberal party—had +committed what was deemed a great indiscretion by several members of his +own party; and the Government were asked in a formal manner, by a +Liberal member, whether that distinguished diplomatist had been in +consequence recalled. But the person who was then responsible for the +conduct of public affairs in that House—the humble individual who is +now addressing your lordships, made this answer, with the full +concurrence of his colleagues—denied that that distinguished +diplomatist was recalled, and said that <i>great services are not +cancelled by one act or one single error however it may be regretted at +the moment</i>. That is what I said then, with regard to Sir James Hudson, +and what I say now with regard to Sir Bartle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> Frere. But I do not wish +to rest on that. I confess that, so keen is my sense of responsibility, +and that of my colleagues, and I am sure also that of noble lords +opposite, that we would not allow our decisions in such matters to be +unduly influenced by personal considerations of any kind. What we had to +determine is this, Was it wise that such an act on the part of Sir +Bartle Frere as, in fact, commencing war without consulting the +Government at home, and without their sanction, should be passed +unnoticed? Ought it not to be noticed in a manner which should convey to +that eminent person a clear conviction of the feelings of her Majesty's +Government; and at the same time was it not their duty to consider, were +he superseded, whether they could place in his position an individual +equally qualified to fulfil the great duties and responsibilities +resting on him? That is what we had to consider. We considered it +entirely with reference to the public interest, and the public interest +alone; and we arrived at the conviction that on the whole the retention +of Sir Bartle Frere in that position was our duty, notwithstanding the +inconvenient observations and criticisms to which we were, of course, +conscious it might subject us. And, that being our conviction, we have +acted upon it. It is a very easy thing for a Government to make a +scapegoat; but that is conduct which I hope no gentleman on this side, +and I believe no gentleman sitting opposite, would easily adopt. If Sir +Bartle Frere had been recalled—if he had been recalled in deference to +the panic, the thoughtless panic of the hour, in deference to those who +have no responsibility in the matter, and who have not weighed well and +deeply investigated all the circumstances and all the arguments which +can be brought forward, and which must be appealed to to influence our +opinions on such questions—no doubt a certain degree of odium might +have been diverted from the heads of her Majesty's Ministers, and the +world would have been delighted, as it always is, to find a victim. That +was not the course which we pursued, and it is one which I trust no +British Government ever will pursue. We had but one object in view, and +that was to take care that at this most critical period the affairs of +her Majesty in South Africa should be directed by one not only qualified +to direct them, but who was superior to any other individual whom we +could have selected for that purpose. The sole question that we really +have to decide to-night is, Was it the duty of her Majesty's Government +to recall Sir Bartle Frere in consequence of his having declared war +without our consent? We did not think it our duty to take that course, +and we do not think it our duty to take that course now. Whether we are +right in the determination at which we have arrived is the sole question +which the House has to determine upon the motion before it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The noble duke opposite (the Duke of Somerset) has told us that he +should not be contented without being made acquainted with the whole +policy which her Majesty's Government are prepared to pursue in South +Africa. If the noble duke will introduce that subject we shall be happy +to discuss it with him. No one could introduce it in a more interesting, +and, indeed, in a more entertaining manner than the noble duke, who +possesses that sarcastic faculty that so well qualifies him to express +his opinion on such a matter. I think, however, that we ought to have +had rather longer notice before we were called upon to discuss so large +a theme, which has now been brought suddenly before us. If the noble +marquis who introduced this subject had given us notice of a motion of +this character, we should not have hesitated for a moment to meet it. I +have, however, no desire to avoid discussing the subject of our future +policy in South Africa, even on so general a notice as we have in +reference to it from the noble duke. Sir Bartle Frere was selected by +the noble lord (Lord Carnarvon), who formerly occupied the position of +Secretary to the Colonies, chiefly to secure one great end—namely, to +carry out that policy of confederation in South Africa which the noble +lord had successfully carried out on a previous occasion with regard to +the North American Colonies.</p> + +<p>"If there is any policy which, in my mind, is opposed to the policy of +annexation, it is that of confederation. By pursuing the policy of +confederation we bind States together, we consolidate their resources, +and we enable them to establish a strong frontier; and where we have a +strong frontier, that is the best security against annexation. I myself +regard a policy of annexation with great distrust. I believe that the +reasons of State which induced us to annex the Transvaal were not, on +the whole, perfectly sound. But what were the circumstances under which +that annexation was effected? The Transvaal was a territory which was no +longer defended by its occupiers. The noble lord opposite (Lord +Kimberley), who formerly had the Colonies under his management, spoke of +the conduct of Sir Theophilus Shepstone as though he had not taken due +precautions to effect the annexation of that province, and said that he +was not justified in concealing that he had not successfully consummated +his object. The noble lord said he had not assembled troops enough in +the province to carry out properly the policy of annexation. But Sir +Theophilus Shepstone particularly refers to the very fact to show, that +so unanimous and so united was the sentiment in the province in favour +of annexation, that it was unnecessary to send any large force there to +bring it about. <i>The annexation of that province was a necessity—a +geographical necessity.</i>"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image048" name="image048"></a> + <a href="images/image048h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image048.jpg" + alt="Sir HENRY BARTLE FRERE, Bart." + title="Sir HENRY BARTLE FRERE, Bart." /></a> +<p class="caption">Sir HENRY BARTLE FRERE, Bart.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Maull & Fox. London.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p class="sechead">TOWARDS ULUNDI</p> + +<p>It may be remembered that Lord Chelmsford's original idea had been for +Colonel Pearson's column to march from Eshowe to the chief's kraal at +Ulundi. In consequence of the disaster, however, Colonel Pearson decided +to remain where he was. He constructed a fort for the protection of the +garrison against an army of some 20,000 Zulus lying in wait between +Eshowe and Tugela. On the 30th of January all the troops came within +this embryo fort, and as tents were forbidden, officers and men had to +make the best of what shelter the waggons afforded. The troops spent the +time in completing the fort and cutting roads, and early in February +excellent defences were completed. Though in hourly expectation of +attack they seem to have kept up their spirits, for an officer in Eshowe +wrote:—</p> + +<p>"The troops inside consisted of three companies of the 99th Regiment, +five companies of the second battalion of the 3rd Buffs, one company of +Royal Engineers, one company of the Pioneers, the Naval Brigade, a body +of Artillery, and nineteen of the Native Contingent, amongst them being +several non-commissioned officers, whom we found exceedingly useful, two +of them being at once selected as butchers, whilst two were 'promoted' +to the rank of 'bakers to the troops.' Others attended to the sanitary +arrangements of the garrison, and altogether they were found to be also +exceedingly useful. As a portion of the column, the company of Pioneers +under the command of Captain Beddoes did a great deal of very important +work. This company was composed of ninety-eight natives, one captain, +and three lieutenants, and their proceedings in connection with the +making of the new road were watched with much interest. They worked with +the Naval Brigade, about three companies of soldiers, and several men of +the Royal Artillery. This road was found useless, in consequence of the +numerous swampy places at the foot of each of the numerous hills which +occurred along the route. Very thick bush had to be cut through, and at +first but slow progress was made. The road, as is generally known, took +a direction towards the Inyezane. Whilst out on one occasion, the road +party saw a torpedo explosion which took place about three miles from +where the party was working. It had been accidentally fired by Kaffirs, +who were unaware of the clangers connected with the implement, and it is +believed that several of them were killed. The road was altogether a bad +one. The relief column used it on their way up, but only the Pioneers +and the mounted men went by that route on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> the way back. In fact, it +would have been useless to have attempted to use it for the passage of +waggons. Whenever the road party went out they were fired on by Kaffirs, +but of course shots were returned, and many a Zulu warrior was knocked +over whilst the work was being proceeded with. Everything in camp was +conducted in a most orderly manner. We were roused at half-past five +sharp, and at eight o'clock, sharp, lights were out. For one month we +existed very comfortably on full rations, but at the end of that time we +were put on short rations, made up as follows:—One pound and a quarter +of trek-oxen beef, six ounces of meal, one ounce and a quarter of sugar, +third of an ounce of coffee, one sixth of an ounce of tea, one ninth of +an ounce of pepper, and a quarter of an ounce of salt.</p> + +<p>"Life of course was very monotonous. The bands of the two regiments +played on alternate afternoons, and every morning they were to be heard +practising outside the entrenchment. The most pleasant part of the day +was just after six o'clock, when we used to be enlivened in the cool of +the evening by the fife and drum band playing the 'Retreat.' The water +with which we were supplied was indeed excellent, and the bathing +places, I need not say, were very extensively patronised. The grazing +was not nearly sufficient for the cattle, and from the first they must +have suffered very much from want of nourishment. You will have heard of +the fate of the eleven hundred head of oxen and the span of donkeys +which we sent away from the camp in expectation of their reaching the +Lower Tugela. They left us in charge of nineteen Kaffirs, but at the +Inyezane they were attacked by a large body of Kaffirs. The natives in +charge of the cattle decamped and reached the fort in safety, and the +enemy got possession of the whole of the cattle, which they drove off. +The donkeys were all killed with the exception of one, and this +sagacious animal surprised everybody in camp by returning soon after the +Kaffirs had come back."</p> + +<p>The prices of food at this time were scarcely in keeping with those of +the London market. A bottle of pickles fetched 25s., and a ham £7, 10s.! +Milk was purchasable for 23s. a tin, and sardines for 12s.</p> + +<p>As may be imagined, the arrival of Lord Chelmsford at Eshowe was a +matter for general thanksgiving. One who was present records in +<i>Blackwood's Magazine</i> the joy on the arrival of the first outsiders: +"On the afternoon of the 3rd of April, the column detailed on the 31st +of March (about 500 whites and 50 blacks, and the mounted infantry, with +one gun) left the fort under General Pearson, to meet the relief +column.... A solitary horseman was seen towards 5 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> galloping up the +new road to the fort. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> had an officer's coat on, and we could see a +sword dangling from his side. Who is he?... He proved to be the +correspondent of the <i>Standard</i>. 'First in Eshowe,' he said, 'proud to +shake hands with an Eshowian.' A second horseman appeared approaching +the fort, his horse apparently much blown, Who is he?... The +correspondent of the <i>Argus</i> (Cape Town). They had a race who would be +first at Eshowe, the <i>Standard</i> winning by five minutes!" Thus ended +happily the crushing anxiety under which Colonel Pearson and his party +had lived, and the foretaste of the future triumph seemed already to +remove the memory of many weeks of bitterness.</p> + +<p>Serious differences of opinion soon arose between Lord Chelmsford and +Sir Henry Bulwer, the Governor of Natal, but on the intricacies of these +it is unnecessary to dwell; suffice it to say, that they were in a +measure the cause of Sir Garnet Wolseley's arrival on the scene somewhat +later, as Sir Garnet united in his own person both supreme civil and +supreme military power.</p> + +<p>A complete account of the movements of the various columns during the +dreary months that elapsed before the final victory at Ulundi on the 4th +of July cannot be attempted here. The history of skirmishes and raids, +of daring sorties, of captures of cattle, and gallantry of troops, of +hopes and disappointments, of successes and scares, of hardships and +horrors, would fill many pages that must be otherwise occupied.</p> + +<p>Yet one tragic and memorable event of the war cannot be passed over, for +we lost a gallant volunteer whose young life was full of promise and +distinction. At the beginning of June the Prince Imperial of France, +Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, having studied at the Military College at +Woolwich, and desiring to see war in all its reality, was attached to +the Quartermaster-General's department at General Newdigate's camp. He +set out with a reconnoitring party consisting of Lieutenant Carey of the +98th Regiment, six men of Bellington's Horse, and a Kaffir. The place +they intended to reach was situated between the camps of Lord Chelmsford +and General Wood. Having gained a picturesque spot near a brook which +forms a tributary to the Tlyotyozi River, the Prince decided to sketch. +He was a clever draughtsman, and had some ability in recognising the +capabilities of positions. The party afterwards moved on, examining +various empty kraals by the way. At one of these they halted, and the +Prince gave orders to "off-saddle" for an hour. The place seemed +deserted; there were remains of a recent cooking fire, and a stray dog +or two sniffed suspiciously at the strangers. Round this spot near the +river tambookie grass about six feet in height formed a screen. The +officers made coffee, turned out their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> horses to graze, and lay for a +short rest in the peaceful security of a complete, or seemingly +complete, desolation.</p> + +<p>But unknown to them, fifty Zulus, tiger-like, had crawled from ambush +and were preparing to spring. It was from the cover of the river +vegetation that they eventually burst forth. A hurried order to remount, +and the crash of rifles at a distance of twenty yards followed. The +tragic scene is well described by Mr. A. Wilmot in his "History of the +Zulu War":—</p> + +<p>"At this time the party were standing in a line close to their horses, +with their backs to the kraal and their faces turned eastward, the +Prince being in front and nearest to the Zulus. Then with a tremendous +cry, 'Usutu!' and 'Lo, the English cowards!' the savages rushed on. The +horses immediately swerved, and some broke away. An undoubted panic +seized the party; every one who could spring on his horse mounted and +galloped for his life. There was no thought, no idea of standing fast +and resisting this sudden attack. The Prince was unwounded, but unable +to mount his charger, which was sixteen hands high and always difficult +to mount. On this occasion the horse became so frightened by the firing +and sudden stampeding as to rear and prance in such a manner as to make +it impossible for the Prince to gain the saddle. Many of the others saw +the difficulty, but none waited or tried to give the least assistance. +One by one they rushed their horses past, Private le Tocq exclaiming as +he went by, lying across his saddle, 'Dépêchez-vous, s'il vous plaît, +monsieur!' The Prince, making no reply, strained every nerve, but, alas! +in vain, to gain the back of his horse, holding his stirrup-leather with +his left hand and the saddle with his right. With the help of the +holster he made one desperate effort, but the holster partially gave +way, and it must have been then that the horse trod upon him and +galloped off, leaving his master prostrate on the ground. The Prince +then regained his feet and ran after his friends, who were far in +advance. Twelve or thirteen Zulus were at this time only a few feet +behind him. The Prince then turned round, and, sword in hand, faced his +pursuers. From the first he had never called for help, and now died +bravely with his face to the foes, fighting courageously to the last.</p> + +<p>"It is thought that the Zulus hurled their assegais at him, and that he +quickly fell dead, pierced through the eye by a mortal wound."</p> + +<p>There is a certain sad satisfaction in remembering that this noble +youth, the hope of France, the worthy descendant of a great name, should +have died as a soldier and without more than a moment's suffering.</p> + +<p>The rest of the party had galloped off at full speed, thinking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> each was +engaged in the business of getting away. Lieutenant Carey, who has been +blamed for not having stood by the Prince in his perilous position, +shouted orders and imagined they were followed, and in his hasty retreat +had not time to do more than believe the whole party thus surprised were +galloping away together.</p> + +<p>Arguments regarding this deplorable affair have been so many that it is +best to quote the evidence taken at the court-martial and the statement +of Lieutenant Carey:—</p> + +<p>"The Court is of opinion that Lieutenant Carey did not understand the +position in which he stood towards the Prince, and, as a consequence, +failed to estimate aright the responsibility which fell to his lot. +Colonel Harrison states that the senior combatant officer, Lieutenant +Carey, D.A.Q.M.G., was, as a matter of course, in charge of the party, +whilst, on the other hand, Carey says, when alluding to the escort, 'I +did not consider I had any authority over it after the precise and +careful instructions of Lord Chelmsford as to the position the Prince +held.' As to his being invariably accompanied by an escort in charge of +an officer, the Court considers that the possibility of such a +difference of opinion should not have existed between two officers of +the same department. The Court is of opinion that Carey is much to blame +for having proceeded on the duty in question with a portion only of the +escort detailed by Colonel Harrison. The Court cannot admit the +irresponsibility for this on the part of Carey, inasmuch as he took +steps to obtain the escort and failed in so doing. Moreover, the fact +that Harrison was present upon the Itelezi range gave him the +opportunity of consulting him on the matter, of which he failed to avail +himself. The Court, having examined the ground, is of opinion that the +selection of the kraal, where a halt was made and the horses +off-saddled, surrounded as it was by cover for the enemy, and adjacent +to difficult ground, showed a lamentable want of military prudence. The +Court deeply regrets that no effort was made after the attack to rally +the escort, and to show a front to the enemy, whereby the possibility of +aiding those who had failed to make good their retreat might have been +ascertained.—Signed by General <span class="smcap">Marshall</span>; Colonel <span class="smcap">Malthus</span>, 94th +Regiment; Major <span class="smcap">Le Grice</span>, R.A."</p> + +<p>On this report a court-martial was summoned by Lord Chelmsford for the +trial of Lieutenant Carey for having misbehaved before the enemy on the +1st June 1879, when in command of an escort in attendance on the Prince, +who was making reconnaissances in Zululand; in having, when the Prince +and escort were attacked by the enemy, galloped away, and in not having +attempted to rally them or otherwise defend the Prince. The Court, under +the presidency of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> Colonel Glyn, consisted of Colonels Whitehead, +Courtney, Harness, Major Bouverie, and Major Anstruther.</p> + +<p>Judge-Advocate Brander prosecuted, and Captain Crookenden, R.A., was for +the defence.</p> + +<p>When the Court opened the plan of the ground was proved.</p> + +<p>Corporal Grubb said the Prince gave the order "Off saddle" at the kraal, +and "Prepare to mount." The Prince mounted. After the volley he saw +Carey putting spurs to his horse, and he did the same. He saw Abel fall, +and Rogers trying to get a shot at the Zulus. Le Tocq passed him and +said, "Put spurs to your horse, boy; the Prince is down!" He looked +round and saw the Prince under his horse. A short time after the +Prince's horse came up, and he (Grubb) caught it. No orders were given +to rally.</p> + +<p>Le Tocq was called and said: The Prince told the natives to search the +kraals, and finding no one there they off saddled. At the volley he +mounted, but, dropping his carbine, stopped to pick it up. In remounting +he could not get his leg over the saddle. He passed the Prince, and said +in French, "Hasten to mount your horse." The Prince did not answer. He +saw the Prince's horse treading on his leg. The Prince was in command of +the party. He believed Carey and the Prince would have passed on +different sides of a hut in fast flight, and it was possible that Carey +might have failed to see that the Prince was in difficulties. It was 250 +yards from where he saw the Prince down to the spot where he died.</p> + +<p>Trooper Cochrane was called and said: The Prince was not in the saddle +at the time of mounting. He saw about fifty yards off the Prince running +down the donga with fourteen Zulus in close pursuit. Nothing was done to +help him. He heard no orders given, and did not tell Carey what he had +seen until some time after. He was an old soldier. He did not think any +rally could have been made.</p> + +<p>The Court then adjourned to the next day. On reassembling, the first +witness called was</p> + +<p>Sergeant Willis, who stated that he had seen Trooper Rogers lying on the +ground by the side of his horse, close to the kraal, as he left the +spot. He thought he saw the Prince wounded at the same time that Trooper +Abel threw up his arms. He thought the Prince might have been dragged to +the place where he was found after death, and that a rally might have +been made twenty yards beyond the donga.</p> + +<p>Colonel Harrison being called, stated that Carey was senior combatant +officer, and must therefore have been in command of the party. Carey +volunteered to go on the reconnaissance to verify certain points of his +sketch. The Prince was ordered to go to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> report more fully on the +ground. He had given the Prince into Carey's charge.</p> + +<p>Examined by the Court, Colonel Harrison stated that when the Prince was +attached to his department he was not told to treat him as a royal +personage in the matter of escort, but as any other officer, taking due +precaution against any possible danger.</p> + +<p>Dr. Scott (the Prince's medical attendant) was then called, and stated +that the Prince was killed by eighteen assegai wounds, any five of which +would have been fatal. There were no bullet wounds. The Prince died +where the body was found.</p> + +<p>This closed the case for the prosecution.</p> + +<p>The defence called again Colonel Harrison, who testified to Carey's +abilities as a staff officer, and said he had every confidence in him.</p> + +<p>Colonel Bellairs was also called, and stated that it was in consequence +of the occurrence of the 1st June that Carey had been deposed from his +staff appointment the day previous to his trial.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Carey here submitted that his case had been pre-judged, and +that he had been punished before his trial.</p> + +<p>The following is Lieutenant Carey's statement:—</p> + +<p>"On the 31st May I was informed by Colonel Harrison, A.Q.M.G., that the +Prince Imperial was to start on the 1st June to ride over the road +selected by me for the advance of the column, for the purpose of +selecting a camping-ground for the 2nd June. I suggested at once that I +should be allowed to go with him, as I knew the road and wanted to go +over it again for the purpose of verifying certain points. To this +Colonel Harrison consented, reminding me that the Prince was going at +his own request to do this work, and that I was not to interfere with +him in any way. For our escort, six Europeans of Bettington's Horse and +six Basutos were ordered. Bettington's men were paraded at 9 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, but +owing to some misunderstanding the Basutos did not turn up, and, the +Prince being desirous of proceeding at once, we went without them. On +arriving at the ridge between Itelezi and Incenci, I suggested waiting +for them, but the Prince replied, 'Oh no; we are quite strong enough,' +or words to that effect. We proceeded on our reconnaissance from there, +halting about half-an-hour on a high hill overlooking the Ityotyozi for +the Prince to sketch. From here the country was visible for miles, and +no sign of the enemy could be discovered. We then descended into the +valley, and, entering a kraal, off saddled, knee-haltering our horses. +We had seen the deserted appearance of the country, and, though the +kraal was to the right, surrounded by mealies, we thought there was no +danger in encamping. If any blame is attributable to any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> one for this, +it is to me, as I agreed with the Prince that we were perfectly safe. I +had been over this ground twice before and seen no one, and the +brigade-major of the cavalry brigade had ridden over it with only two or +three men, and laughed at me for taking so large an escort. We had with +us a friendly Zulu, who, in answer to my inquiries, said no Zulus were +about. I trusted him, but still kept a sharp look-out, telescope in +hand. In about an hour—that is, 3.40 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>—the Prince ordered us to +saddle up. We went into the mealies to catch our horses, but took at +least ten minutes saddling. While doing so, the Zulu guide informed us +he had seen a Zulu in the distance, but as he did not appear concerned, +I saw no danger. The Prince was saddled up first, and, seeing him ready, +I mounted, the men not being quite ready. The Prince then asked if they +were all ready; they answered in the affirmative, and he gave the word, +'Prepare to mount.' At this moment I turned round, and saw the Prince +with his foot in the stirrup, looking at the men. Presently I heard him +say, 'Mount,' and turning to the men saw them vault into their saddles. +At this moment my eyes fell on about twenty black faces in the mealies, +twenty to thirty yards off, and I saw puffs of smoke and heard a +rattling volley, followed by a rush, with shouts of 'Usutu!' There was +at once a stampede. Two men rushed past me, and as every one appeared to +be mounted, I dug the spurs into my horse, which had already started of +his own accord. I felt sure no one was wounded by the volley, as I heard +no cry, and I shouted out, 'Keep to the left, and cross the donga, and +rally behind it!' At the same time I saw more Zulus in the mealies on +our left flank, cutting off our retreat. I crossed the donga behind two +or three men, but could only get beyond one man, the others having +ridden off. Riding a few hundred yards on to the rise, I stopped and +looked round. I could see the Zulus after us, and saw that the men were +escaping to the right, and that no one appeared on the other side of the +donga. The man beside me then drew my attention to the Prince's horse, +which was galloping away on the other side of the donga, saying, 'I fear +the Prince is killed, sir!' I immediately said, 'Do you think it is any +use going back?' The trooper pointed to the mealies on our left, which +appeared full of Kaffirs, and said, 'He is dead long ago, sir; they +assegai wounded men at once.' I considered he had fallen near the kraal, +as his horse was going from that direction, and it was useless to +sacrifice more lives. I had but one man near me, the others being some +200 yards down the valley. I accordingly shouted to them to close to the +left, and rode on to gain a drift over the Tombokala River, saying to +the man at my side, 'We will keep back towards General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> Wood's camp, not +returning the same way we came, and then come back with some dragoons to +get the bodies.' We reached camp about 6.30 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> When we were attacked +our carbines were unloaded, and, to the best of my belief, no shots were +fired. I did not see the Prince after I saw him mounting, but he was +mounted on a swift horse, and I thought he was close to me. Besides the +Prince, we lost two troopers, as well as the friendly Zulu. Two troopers +have been found between the donga and the kraal, covered with assegai +wounds. They must have fallen in the retreat and been assegaied at once, +as I saw no fighting when I looked round."</p> + +<p>The court-martial condemned Lieutenant Carey, and he was sent home under +arrest. But eventually, owing to the intervention of the bereaved +Empress, and many sympathetic friends, the unfortunate officer was +released. The news of the calamity was received with profound grief +throughout the country. Some mourned the death of a Prince, some sighed +over the extinction of Napoleonic hopes, officers regretted the loss of +a promising comrade, and mothers spent tears of sympathy for the great +lady, Empress and mother, who had thus been bereft of her only child.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE VICTORY</p> + +<p>To return to the progress of the war. On the 26th of June the +long-expected junction of the columns was on the eve of being effected. +Cetchwayo was pretending to make overtures for peace, though at the same +time his people were endeavouring to enter into alliance with rebellious +Boers. He even sent the sword of the Prince Imperial as a +peace-offering. On the envelope, however, his amanuensis, one Cornelius +Vjin (a Dutchman), pencilled the fact that the king had 20,000 men with +him. The reply of Lord Chelmsford was as follows:——</p> + +<p>"If the Induna, Mundula, brings with him the 1000 rifles taken at +Isandlwana, I will not insist on 1000 men coming in to lay down their +arms, if the Zulus are afraid to come. He must bring the two guns and +the remainder of the cattle. I will then be willing to negotiate. As he +has caused me to advance by the great delay he has made, I must now go +to the Umvolosi to enable my men to drink. I will consent, pending +negotiations, to halt on the further bank of the river, and will not +burn any kraals until the 3rd of July, provided no opposition is made to +my advance to the position on the Umvolosi, by which day, the 3rd of +July, at noon, the conditions must be complied with. If my force is +fired on, I shall consider negotiations are at an end, and to avoid any +chance of this, it is best<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> that Mundula come to my camp at daybreak or +to-night, and that the Zulus should withdraw from the neighbourhood of +the river to Ulundi. I cannot stop the general in command of the coast +army until these conditions are complied with."</p> + +<p>Of course nothing was seen of Mundula, and preparations were made for +the reception of the enemy. Newdigate and Wood laagered their waggons +and prepared for the arrival of an impi of some 20,000 Zulus advancing +from Ulundi. On the following day a large force under Colonel Buller +advanced to Nodwengu kraal, and some stragglers were killed. One of +these was struck by Lord William Beresford, who, in the sporting manner +characteristic of him, cried, "First spear, by Jove!"</p> + +<p>On the morning of the memorable 4th of July the army, crossing Umvolosi +River, marched to a higher plateau—where once the Zulus had vanquished +the Boers—there to prepare for battle. The Zulus, some 20,000 strong, +after many war dances and cries, were marshalled forth by their king to +an open plain between the Nodwengu and Ulundi kraals. Our troops were +formed up in a hollow parallelogram, in the centre being the native +contingent with ammunition waggons. The four sides of this parallelogram +were formed of eight companies of the 13th Regiment, five of the 80th +Regiment, the 90th, 58th, and 34th Regiments, together with the 17th +Lancers and the mounted irregulars. At the corners and centre artillery +was placed.</p> + +<p>The Zulus advanced steadily, in horn fashion, with their characteristic +coolness and courage. The deadly fusillade from our guns had no +perceptible effect. On and on they came, surging in a dense brown +crescent, till within twenty yards of the British lines, when, with the +hail and storm of bullets crashing and blinding them, they hesitated! +That moment's hesitation was fatal—their one chance slipped! A few +warriors rushed onwards, many wavered, and gradually the powerful horns +were broken and disorganised. Then our Lancers with a gallant charge +dashed into the fray, plunging into the black swarm that still met fury +with fury. Captain Edgell was killed, and many other officers had +miraculous escapes. Once the enemy strove to rally, but the effort was +hopeless, and the magnificent Zulu warriors were forced at last to turn +and flee. Their defeat was signal. Though the enemy numbered 20,000 to +5000 of our troops, the Lancers with the Irregular Horse did splendid +work, and ere all was over 1000 Zulus bit the dust.</p> + +<p>Then came the final march to Ulundi. This place, wholly deserted, was +fired, and while the sky glowed with red and gold reflections of the +conflagration, the victorious forces, worn out yet triumphant, returned +to the laagered camp they had left at daybreak.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image058" name="image058"></a> + <a href="images/image058h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image058.jpg" + alt="THE BATTLE OF ULUNDI—FINAL RUSH OF THE ZULUS. THE BRITISH SQUARE IN THE DISTANCE." + title="THE BATTLE OF ULUNDI—FINAL RUSH OF THE ZULUS. THE BRITISH SQUARE IN THE DISTANCE." /></a> +<p class="caption">THE BATTLE OF ULUNDI—FINAL RUSH OF THE ZULUS. THE BRITISH SQUARE IN THE DISTANCE.</p> +<p class="caption">Drawing by R. Caton Woodville.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first news of the victory was carried to the Colony by Mr. Archibald +Forbes, the war correspondent of the <i>Daily News</i>, who was himself +wounded in the struggle. Starting instantly after the decisive battle, +in fourteen hours he rode a distance of 110 miles to the nearest +telegraph station at Landman's Drift, on the Buffalo River. In thus +exposing his life in the interests not only of his journal but his +country, he for ever associated himself with one of the most interesting +and thrilling campaigns of the century.</p> + +<p>Lord Chelmsford's despatch gives a concise description of the day's +work:—</p> + +<p>"Cetchwayo, not having complied with my demands by noon yesterday, July +3, and having fired heavily on the troops at the water, I returned the +114 cattle he had sent in and ordered a reconnaissance to be made by the +mounted force under Colonel Buller. This was effectually made, and +caused the Zulu army to advance and show fight.</p> + +<p>"This morning a force under my command, consisting of the second +division, under Major-General Newdigate, numbering 1870 Europeans, 530 +natives, and eight guns, and the flying columns under Brigadier-General +Wood, numbering 2192 Europeans, 573 natives, four guns, and two +Gatlings, crossed the Umvolosi River at 6.15, and marching in a hollow +square, with the ammunition and entrenching tool carts and bearer +company in its centre, reached an excellent position between Nodwengu +and Ulundi, about half-past 8 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> This had been observed by Colonel +Buller the day before.</p> + +<p>"Our fortified camp on the right bank of the Umvolosi River was left +with a garrison of about 900 Europeans, 250 natives, and one Gatling +gun, under Colonel Bellairs. Soon after half-past seven the Zulu army +was seen leaving its bivouacs and advancing on every side."</p> + +<p>"The engagement was shortly afterwards commenced by the mounted men. By +nine o'clock the attack was fully developed. At half-past nine the enemy +wavered; the 17th Lancers, followed by the remainder of the mounted men, +attacked them, and a general rout ensued.</p> + +<p>"The prisoners state that Cetchwayo was personally commanding and had +made all the arrangements himself, and that he witnessed the fight from +Gikarzi kraal, and that twelve regiments took part in it. If so, 20,000 +men attacked us.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to estimate with any correctness the loss of the +enemy, owing to the extent of country over which they attacked and +retreated, but it could not have been less, I consider, than 1000 +killed. By noon Ulundi was in flames, and during the day all military +kraals of the Zulu army and in the valley of the Umvolosi were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +destroyed. At 2 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> the return march to the camp of the column +commenced. The behaviour of the troops under my command was extremely +satisfactory; their steadiness under a complete belt of fire was +remarkable. The dash and enterprise of the mounted branches was all that +could be wished, and the fire of the artillery very good. A portion of +the Zulu force approached our fortified camp, and at one time threatened +to attack it. The native contingent, forming a part of the garrison, +were sent out after the action, and assisted in the pursuit.</p> + +<p>"As I have fully accomplished the object for which I advanced, I +consider I shall now be best carrying out Sir Garnet Wolseley's +instructions by moving at once to Entonganini, and thence to Kmamagaza. +I shall send back a portion of this force with empty waggons for +supplies, which are now ready at Fort Marshall."</p> + +<p>All were rejoiced that Lord Chelmsford should have been able to gain +this victory before the arrival on the scene of Sir Garnet Wolseley, and +there were many among his friends who regretted when he resigned.</p> + +<p>The following quotation from the <i>London Gazette</i> explains the most +conspicuous of the brave deeds that were done during this campaign, +though there were many more which came near to rivalling them, so many, +indeed, that it would have been impossible to have given honours to all +who deserved them:—</p> + +<p class="letterhd">"<span class="smcap">War Office</span>, <i>June 17</i>.</p> + +<p>"The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her intention to +confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned +officers and soldier of her Majesty's army, whose claims have been +submitted for her Majesty's approval for their gallant conduct during +the recent operations in South Africa, as recorded against their names, +viz.:—</p> + +<p>"Captain and Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Redvers H. Buller, C.B., 60th +Rifles, for his gallant conduct at the retreat at Zlobane on the 28th of +March 1879, in having assisted, while hotly pursued, by Zulus, in +rescuing Captain C. D'Arcy, of the Frontier Light Horse, who was +retiring on foot, and carrying him on his horse until he overtook the +rear-guard; also for having on the same date and under the same +circumstances conveyed Lieutenant C. Everitt of the Frontier Light +Horse, whose horse had been killed under him, to a place of safety. +Later on Colonel Buller, in the same manner, saved a trooper of the +Frontier Light Horse, whose horse was completely exhausted, and who +otherwise would have been killed by the Zulus, who were within eighty +yards of him.</p> + +<p>"Major William K. Leet, first battalion 13th Regiment, for his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> gallant +conduct on the 28th of March 1879, in rescuing from the Zulus Lieutenant +A. M. Smith of the Frontier Light Horse, during the retreat from +Zlobane. Lieutenant Smith while on foot, his horse having been shot, was +closely pursued by the Zulus, and would have been killed had not Major +Leet taken him upon his horse and rode with him, under the fire of the +enemy, to a place of safety.</p> + +<p>"Surgeon-Major James Henry Reynolds, Army Medical Department, for the +conspicuous bravery during the attack at Rorke's Drift on the 22nd and +23rd of January 1879, which he exhibited in his attention to the wounded +under fire, and in his voluntarily conveying ammunition from the store +to the defenders of the hospital, whereby he exposed himself to a cross +fire from the enemy both in going and returning.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Edward S. Browne, first battalion 24th Regiment, for his +gallant conduct on the 29th March 1879, when the Mounted Infantry were +being driven in by the enemy at Zlobane, in galloping back and twice +assisting on his horse, under heavy fire and within a few yards of the +enemy, one of the mounted men, who must otherwise have fallen into the +enemy's hands.</p> + +<p>"Private Wassell, 80th Regiment, for his gallant conduct in having, at +the imminent risk of his own life, saved that of Private Westwood of the +same regiment. On the 22nd of January 1879, when the camp at Isandlwana +was taken by the enemy, Private Wassell retreated towards the Buffalo +River, in which he saw a comrade struggling and apparently drowning. He +rode to the bank, dismounted, leaving his horse on the Zulu side, +rescued the man from the stream, and again mounted his horse, dragging +Private Westwood across the river, under a heavy shower of bullets."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p class="sechead">SIR GARNET WOLSELEY AT PRETORIA</p> + + +<p>Our disaster at Isandlwana caused enormous excitement in Pretoria. Great +and unconcealed rejoicing among the Boers took place; work was +suspended, all heads were put together to make capital out of Great +Britain's misfortunes. Notices were sent out on the 18th of March, +summoning the burghers to a mass meeting to be held some thirty miles +from the town. These meetings, it must here be noted, were scarcely +attended by invitation. A large number of the people appeared on +compulsion, brought "to the scratch" by threats. One of the menaces, a +favourite one according to Mr. Rider Haggard, was that those who did not +attend should be made "biltong" of when the country was given back. +Biltong is meat cut into strips and hung in the sun to dry. The result +of the notices, backed by threats, was a meeting of some three thousand +armed Boers, who evidently meant mischief.</p> + +<p>The threatening aspect of the Boers caused the corps known as the +Pretoria Horse, a corps raised for the purpose of acting as cavalry on +the Zulu border, to be retained for service in and around the capital. +While matters stood thus, and the general discontent seemed to portend +even further hostilities, Sir Bartle Frere went to Pretoria for the +purpose of discussing affairs with the Boer leaders. These all clamoured +for their independence. They had gone as far as to assert it by stopping +posts, carts, and persons, and sending armed patrols about the country.</p> + +<p>Nothing definite resulted from this attitude, however, for before very +long the conclusion—the successful conclusion—of the Zulu war appeared +imminent, and those in revolt against British authority saw plainly that +there would shortly be troops in plenty at hand to restore law and +order. Consequently for the time being they subsided. The loyal +inhabitants of the Transvaal entertained Sir Bartle Frere prior to his +departure, and at the public dinner given on that occasion at +Potchefstrom, he took the opportunity to assure them that the Transvaal +would never be given back! It may be interesting to some to know, that +at a public meeting on the 24th of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> April in Pretoria, within a week of +the breaking up of the camp which had been threatening its safety, the +following resolution was passed:—</p> + +<p>"This meeting reprobates most strongly the action of a certain section +of the English and Colonial press for censuring, without sufficient +knowledge of local affairs, the policy and conduct of Sir Bartle Frere, +and it desires not only to express its sympathy with Sir Bartle Frere, +and its confidence in his policy, but also to go so far as to +congratulate most heartily her Majesty the Queen, the Home Government, +and ourselves, on possessing such a true, considerate, and faithful +servant as his Excellency the High Commissioner."</p> + +<p>Having made allusion to Sir Bartle Frere's departure, it may be as well +to explain that before the battle of Ulundi it was arranged that Sir +Garnet Wolseley should be sent out from home to supersede Lord +Chelmsford in the command of the army, Sir H. Bulwer as Governor of +Natal, and Sir Bartle Frere as High Commissioner of the Transvaal, +Natal, and all the eastern portion of South Africa. Sir Garnet reached +Cape Town on the 28th of June, and proceeded without delay to Natal. +But, as we know, before he could reach the seat of war the battle of +Ulundi was won.</p> + +<p>The fighting was now at an end; the Zulus expressed themselves beaten, +and Cetchwayo, after an exciting chase, which space does not permit us +to describe, was taken prisoner on the 28th of August. He was afterwards +removed to Cape Town, and rooms were given him in the castle. +Hostilities having happily terminated in Zululand, Sir Garnet Wolseley +then started for Pretoria. He there finally set up the government of a +Crown Colony with a nominative Executive Council and Legislative +Assembly.</p> + +<p>One of his first acts on reaching Pretoria was to issue a notable +proclamation. It ran thus:——</p> + +<p>"Whereas it appears, that notwithstanding repeated assurances of +contrary effect given by her Majesty's representatives in this +territory, uncertainty or misapprehension exists among some of her +Majesty's subjects as to the intention of her Majesty's Government +regarding the maintenance of British rule and sovereignty over the +territory of the Transvaal: and whereas it is expedient that all grounds +for such uncertainty or misapprehension should be removed once and for +all beyond doubt or question: now therefore I do hereby proclaim and +make known, in the name and on behalf of her Majesty the Queen, that it +is the will and determination of her Majesty's Government that this +Transvaal territory shall be, and shall continue to be for ever, an +integral portion of her Majesty's dominions in South Africa."</p> + +<p>On the same subject Sir Bartle Frere, writing to England, said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> that he +was very certain "that to give up the Transvaal is as little to be +thought of as surrendering Ireland or India." In his opinion the Boer +malcontents were few and inconsequential, most of the leaders and +instigators being foreigners, who were personally interested in making +themselves prominent, owing to the prevailing notion that the country +would be given up. As to the effect of the abandonment of the Transvaal +on the prospects of confederation he said: "To every colony concerned +such a step would appear as a confession of weakness, of infirmity of +purpose, and of disregard for solemn pledges and obligations, which +would destroy all respect, all wish to belong to a Government which +could so behave."</p> + +<p>In writing to Sir M. Hicks Beach, in December 1879, Sir Bartle gave his +personal impression of the feeling in Pretoria at the time of the +annexation:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"When our power of enforcing the law and upholding the +authority of Government were at the lowest, in April last, ... +experienced men at Pretoria gave me, through Colonel Lanyon, +the following estimate of the strength of parties in the +malcontent camp. The educated and intelligent men of influence, +who advocated the most extreme measures, or were prepared to +acquiesce in them, were reckoned at not more than eight. Three, +or perhaps four, were men of property in the Transvaal; the +rest foreign adventurers, with no property and little weight +beyond that due to their skill as political agitators. Their +unflinching and uncompromising followers in the Boer camp were +not reckoned at more than eighty. The disaffected waverers who, +according to circumstances, would follow the majority either to +acts of overt resistance to Government and lawless violence, or +to grumble and disperse, 'accepting the inevitable,' were +reckoned at about eight hundred at the outside. The rest of the +camp, variously estimated as containing from sixteen hundred to +four thousand in all, but probably never exceeding two thousand +five hundred present at one time, were men brought to the camp +by intimidation, compulsion, or curiosity, who would not +willingly resist the authority of Government, and would, if +assured of protection, prefer to side with it." </p></div> + +<p>Viewed in the light of later events, these opinions are extremely +interesting and cannot be disregarded.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image064" name="image064"></a> + <a href="images/image064h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image064.jpg" + alt="OFFICER of the 16th LANCERS." + title="OFFICER of the 16th LANCERS." /></a> +<p class="caption">OFFICER of the 16th LANCERS.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Gregory and Co., London.</p> +</div> + +<p>Before passing on, it is necessary to state that during the period from +1878 to 1879, the native chief Sekukuni—Cetchwayo's dog, as the blacks +called him—had become obstreperous. He had been engaged in raids into +the Transvaal—raids of the same character as those which, as has been +already mentioned, had helped to bring about the collapse of the +Republic. Colonel Rowland's expedition, which started in November 1878 +for the suppression of this ruffian, was baffled by fever and horse +sickness. Colonel Lanyon in the following June returned to the attack, +and was on the eve of success, when Sir Garnet Wolseley (who arrived +late in that month) sent orders to cease operations. These orders he +found, on reaching the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> Transvaal, to be a mistake. Sekukuni was not a +person to be trifled with nor ignored, so the campaign began again in +November, with the result that within a period of eight days the chief's +stronghold was taken and himself made prisoner. About fifty Europeans +and some five hundred Swazi allies were killed or wounded.</p> + +<p>Here we see, within one year, how much was done for the protection of +the Transvaal at the cost of British money and British blood. Looking +back, it is easy to perceive that, but for our intervention, the South +African Republic would have been slowly but effectually swallowed up. +Cetchwayo and Sekukuni between them would have made a meal of the +Transvaal.</p> + +<p>The brilliant and complete success of Sir Garnet Wolseley was highly +praised, and the names of Colonel Lanyon, Captain Clark, R.A., and +Captain Carrington especially mentioned as deserving a share of the +credit for the accurate information they had collected during the +previous months.</p> + +<p>So much having been done for the security of the Boers and for the +maintenance of British prestige, it is no marvel that Sir Garnet +Wolseley thought himself justified in expressing the trend of British +policy in plain terms. At the dinner given at Pretoria on the 17th of +December 1879 he took the opportunity of making the British programme +well understood. He declared with emphasis that there could be no +question of resigning the sovereignty of the country. "There is no +Government," he said, "Whig or Tory, Liberal, Conservative, or Radical, +who would dare under any circumstances to give back this country. They +would not dare, because the English people would not allow them!" At +that time it was evident that Sir Garnet had never heard the story of +the philanthropic Belarmine, an individual who gave himself to the +she-bear to save her and her young ones from starvation. Or, if the tale +was known to him, he probably took it for what it was worth, and never +foresaw that the British Government would emulate the action of the +self-sacrificing lunatic, and spend precious blood for the sole purpose +of nourishing and resuscitating the powers of a languishing enemy.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">MR. GLADSTONE OUT OF OFFICE AND IN OFFICE</p> + +<p>But British speeches and proclamations had ceased to impress the Boers. +They had had too many of them, and they began to think the British +Government a somewhat knock-kneed institution whose joints had ceased to +hold together. Sir Garnet Wolseley, however, with characteristic energy +and determination, dealt with the malcontents one by one, converting +them, and causing them to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> sensibly consider on which side their bread +was buttered. Indeed, so diplomatically did he conduct his work, that a +sop was given to the aggressive Pretorius, who, instead of being put in +prison as he deserved, was offered a seat on the Executive Council, with +a salary attached. This he was inclined to jump at, but, at the time, +public feeling ran too high to allow of his making a decision. The fact +was that the political speeches delivered by Mr. Gladstone in the south +of Scotland, during the months of November and December 1879, were +putting a new complexion on affairs. They were reprinted all the world +over, and they were profusely circulated among the Boers. The Boer +leaders and obstructionists at once saw in this British statesman their +saviour, and were convinced that, on the return of Mr. Gladstone to +power, their independence would be assured. They therefore sent Messrs. +Kruger and Joubert as a deputation to the Cape, and these two gentlemen +persuaded the Cape Parliament to reject the Confederation Scheme then +being proposed by Sir Bartle Frere. Selections from the attacks on the +Government, from which the Boers then derived their encouragement and +support, are here reprinted in order that the sincerity of Mr. +Gladstone's attitude may be examined.</p> + +<p>Speaking in Edinburgh, he said of the Government:—</p> + +<p>"They have annexed in Africa the Transvaal territory, inhabited by a +free European, Christian, Republican community, which they have thought +proper to bring within the limits of a Monarchy, although out of 8000 +persons in that Republic qualified to vote upon the subject, we are +told—and I have never seen the statement officially contradicted—that +6500 protested against it. These are the circumstances under which we +undertake to transform Republicans into subjects of a Monarchy."</p> + +<p>Now, Sir T. Shepstone's despatches show that the ground on which the +Transvaal was annexed was because the State was drifting into anarchy, +was bankrupt, and was about to be destroyed by native tribes. He said +"that most thinking men in the country saw no other way out of the +difficulty," and Carlyle has taught us what is the proportion between +thinking men and the general public. He also said, in the fifteenth +paragraph of his despatch to Lord Carnarvon of the 6th of March 1877, +that petitions signed by 2500 people, representing every class of the +community, out of a total adult male population of 8000, had been +presented to the Government of the Republic, setting forth its +difficulties and dangers, and praying it "to treat with me for their +amelioration or removal." He likewise stated, and with perfect truth, +that many more would have signed had it not been for the terrorism that +was exercised, and that all the towns and villages in the country +desired the change.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Gladstone went on to say:—</p> + +<p>"We have made war on the Zulus. We have thereby become responsible for +their territory; and not only this, but we are now, as it appears from +the latest advices, about to make war upon a chief lying to the +northward of the Zulus; and Sir Bartle Frere, who was the great +authority for the proceedings of the Government in Afghanistan, has +announced in South Africa that it will be necessary for us to extend our +dominions until we reach the Portuguese frontier to the north. So much +for Africa."</p> + +<p>At Dalkeith he remarked:—</p> + +<p>"If we cast our eyes to South Africa, what do we behold? That a nation +whom we term savages have, in defence of their own land, offered their +naked bodies to the terribly improved artillery and arms of modern +European science, and have been mowed down by hundreds and by thousands, +having committed no offence, but having, with rude and ignorant courage, +done what were for them, and done faithfully and bravely what were for +them the duties of patriotism. You may talk of glory, you may offer +rewards,—and you are right to give rewards to the gallantry of your +soldiers, who I think are entitled not only to our admiration for +courage, but to our compassion for the nature of the duties they have +been called to perform—but the grief and pain none the less remain."</p> + +<p>At Glasgow he continued in the same strain:—</p> + +<p>"In Africa you have before you the memory of bloodshed, of military +disaster, the record of 10,000 Zulus—such is the computation of Bishop +Colenso—slain for no other offence than their attempt to defend against +your artillery, with their naked bodies, their hearths and homes, their +wives and families. You have the invasion of a free people in the +Transvaal, and you have, I fear, in one quarter or another—I will not +enter into details, which might be injurious to the public +interest—prospects of further disturbance and shedding of blood."</p> + +<p>These speeches, as may be imagined, did an incalculable amount of +mischief. Besides fanning the smouldering sparks of discontent, they +served up catchwords wholesale for that section of the British public +whose political machinery is largely fed by catchwords. But, as has been +decided by axiom, "any stick will serve to beat a dog with," and the +Transvaal difficulty was a convenient weapon for the attack on the +Government. The real feeling of the Boer community was an outside +matter, and, as we shall presently see, had nothing to do with the case, +though in March 1880 Mr. Gladstone had the satisfaction of receiving a +letter from a committee of Boer malcontents, wherein "he was thanked for +the great sympathy shown in their fate." The thanks were a little +premature. In April 1880 the elections took place, and Mr. Gladstone +came into power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> with a large majority. Then he was asked the great +question: Would he maintain his oft-repeated pledge to retain the +Transvaal, or would he continue to take up the tone of his Midlothian +denunciations?</p> + +<p>The riddle was shortly to be solved. In the debate on the Queen's Speech +the Prime Minister thus expressed himself: "I do not know whether there +is an absolute union of opinion on this side of the House as to the +policy in which the assumption of the Transvaal originated. Undoubtedly, +as far as I am myself concerned, I did not approve of that assumption. I +took no part in questioning it nor in the attempt to condemn it, +because, in my opinion, whether the assumption was wise or unwise, it +having been done, no good but only mischief was to be done by the +intervention of this House. But whatever our original opinions were on +that policy—and the opinions of the majority of those who sit on this +side of the House were decidedly adverse to it—we had to confront a +state of facts; and the main fact which met us was the existence of the +large native population in the Transvaal, to whom, by the establishment +of the Queen's supremacy, we hold ourselves to have given a pledge. That +is the acceptance of facts, and that is the sense in which my right +honourable friend, and all those who sit with him, may, if they think +fit, say we accept the principles on which the late Government +proceeded. It is quite possible to accept the consequences of a policy, +and yet to retain the original difference of opinion with regard to the +character of that policy as long as it was a matter of discussion."</p> + +<p>And shortly after he wrote to Messrs. Kruger and Joubert:—</p> + +<p>"It is undoubtedly matter for much regret that it should, since the +annexation, have appeared that so large a number of the population of +Dutch origin in the Transvaal are opposed to the annexation of that +territory, but it is impossible to consider that question as if it were +presented for the first time. We have to deal with a state of things +which has existed for a considerable period, during which obligations +have been contracted, especially, though not exclusively, towards the +native population, which cannot be set aside.</p> + +<p>"Looking to all the circumstances, both of the Transvaal and the rest of +South Africa, and to the necessity of preventing a renewal of disorders, +which might lead to disastrous consequences, not only to the Transvaal, +but to the whole of South Africa, our judgment is, that the Queen cannot +be advised to relinquish her sovereignty over the Transvaal, but, +consistently with the maintenance of that sovereignty, we desire that +the white inhabitants of the Transvaal should, without prejudice to the +rest of the population, enjoy the fullest liberty to manage their local +affairs. We believe that this liberty may be most easily and promptly +conceded to the Transvaal as a member of a South African +Confederation."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE COMMENCEMENT OF REBELLION</p> + +<p>When the Liberal Ministry came into power, it will be observed, Mr. +Gladstone's attitude changed, and that he was compelled to abandon the +sympathetic tone of his Midlothian speeches. How far he really meant to +be bound by the promise made that "the Queen cannot be advised to +relinquish her sovereignty over the Transvaal" is not known, for later +on, in June 1881, in a letter to the Transvaal loyalists, he explains +that there was "no mention of the terms or date of this promise. If the +reference be to my letter of the 8th of June 1880 to Messrs. Kruger and +Joubert, I do not think the language of that letter justifies the +description given. Nor am I sure in what manner, or to what degree, the +fullest liberty to manage their local affairs, which I then said her +Majesty's Government desired to confer on the white population of the +Transvaal, differs from the settlement now about being made in its +bearing on the interests of those whom your committee represents."</p> + +<p>This letter was a masterpiece of one whose talent for ambiguity was +becoming world famous, and a stone in shape of a loaf was thus hurled at +the heads of the expectant loyalists.</p> + +<p>But to return to the events of 1880. Finding that the Premier was no +longer to be the mainstay of their hopes, the Boers began to renew their +agitations. These agitations, it will be remembered, during the end of +the Zulu war and Sir Garnet Wolseley's arrival in the Transvaal, were +merely suppressed, because at that time British ascendency throughout +the country seemed to be established. An excellent opportunity for +rebellion now suggested itself. The Cape Government was engaged with the +Basuto war. Sir Owen Lanyon, who succeeded Sir T. Shepstone in March +1879, had supplied a body of 300 or more volunteers—mostly +loyalists—to assist in the military operations, while the only regiment +of cavalry had been sent elsewhere by Sir Garnet Wolseley. Big things +have often small beginnings, and the Boer rebellion, that has brought so +many complications in its train, commenced with a very small incident. A +certain Bezeidenhout, having refused to pay his taxes, had, by order, +some of his goods seized and put up to auction. This was the signal for +the malcontents to attack the auctioneer and rescue the goods. So great +became the uproar and confusion, the women aiding and abetting the men +in their disobedience of the law, that military assistance was summoned. +Major Thornhill, with a few companies of the 21st Regiment, was sent to +support the Landrost in arresting the rioters, and special constables +were enrolled to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> assist him in restoring order. But these united +exertions were unavailing. All attempts to carry out the arrests were +openly set at defiance. This scene occurred on the 11th of November +1880. On the 26th Sir George Colley—who had relieved Sir Garnet +Wolseley as Commander-in-Chief—was applied to for more troops. Sir +George, who was daily expecting an outbreak of Pondos, and a possible +appeal for help from Cape Colony, merely suggested that the "authorities +should be assisted by the loyal inhabitants." This, it must be owned, +was hard on the royalists, who from that time to this have had to pay +dearly for their allegiance to the Crown. A mass meeting was held at +Paade kraal, where Krugersdorp now stands, and the rioters unanimously +decided to commit their cause to the Almighty, and to live or die in the +struggle for independence. Thereupon Messrs. Kruger, Pretorius, and +Joubert were elected a triumvirate to conduct the Government, and on the +16th of December 1880 (Dingaan's Day) the Republic was formally +proclaimed, and its flag again hoisted. The proclamation, dealing with +the events of the preceding years, and offering terms to her Majesty's +Government, was forwarded to Sir Owen Lanyon. The Boer leaders therein +expressed their willingness to enter into confederation and to guide +their native policy by general rules adopted in concurrence "with the +Colonies and States of South Africa," and at the same time declared that +they had no desire for war or the spilling of blood. "It lies," they +said, "in your hands to force us to appeal to arms in self-defence."</p> + +<p>On the very day of the proclamation, however, blood was shed. Commandant +Cronjé, with a party of burghers, marched into Potchefstroom for the +purpose of printing the proclamation. They promptly seized the +printing-office, and Major Clarke, who thought it advisable to +interfere, was refused admittance. Soon after a Boer patrol fired on our +mounted infantry, who returned the compliment. That was the signal for +the opening of hostilities. On this matter it may be urged that Boer +reports differ from ours, but Boer veracity may be defined by the +algebraic quantity <i>x</i>, and cannot be accepted. Lieutenant-Colonel +Winsloe, of the 21st Regiment, who was commanding at a fort outside the +village, signalled orders to Major Clarke to begin firing. This officer +was fortified in the Landrost's office with a small force of some twenty +soldiers and twenty civilians, while the Boers occupied positions in the +surrounding houses. The siege lasted two days (during the 17th and the +morning of the 18th), and then when one officer (Captain Falls) and five +men had been killed and the thatched roof fired, Major Clarke deemed it +best to surrender. Colonel Winsloe held the camp throughout the war, +surrendering only after an armistice was declared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>A still more terrible disaster was in store. Mr Rider Haggard, who is +perhaps the best authority on the subject, describes it as a "most cruel +and carefully planned massacre." Other writers, however, hold that the +outrage could scarcely be called a massacre, since Colonel Anstruther +had been fully warned of the risks he ran of Boer treachery and Boer +artifice. It appears that Colonel Anstruther had received orders from +Sir Owen Lanyon to concentrate his forces in Pretoria. Accordingly, he +marched from Lydenburg—situated about 180 miles from Pretoria—with +such troops as he had at his disposal. These were two companies of the +94th Regiment. They were accompanied by three women, two children, and a +ponderous train of luggage-waggons. Their progress was necessarily slow, +but the Colonel, in spite of having been warned of Boer ways and Boer +tactics, evinced no anxiety. Indeed, from all accounts it appears that +he followed the good old British habit of under-estimating the enemy's +physical, while over-estimating his moral, qualities. For this reason he +probably disregarded the precautions necessary after the warnings he had +received on starting. Be this as it may, on the 20th of December he and +his long waggon-train were nearing a point called Bronker's Spruit, +about thirty-eight miles from Pretoria, when suddenly there appeared a +huge crowd of some five hundred mounted Boers. From this crowd a man was +seen approaching with a white flag. The column, about half a mile in +length, halted; the band ceased; Colonel Anstruther advanced to the +parley. The messenger then handed a letter. It was an intimation of the +establishment of the South African Republic, and declared that till Sir +Owen Lanyon's reply to the proclamation was received, and they were +aware whether war was or was not declared, they could not allow the +progress of troops. The Colonel's reply was plain. He was ordered to +proceed to Pretoria, and proceed he would.</p> + +<p>Then, before Colonel Anstruther had rejoined his column, a volley was +poured in on them by the farmers, who, emerging from the cover of rocks +and trees, had gradually closed round the troops. A vigorous but short +resistance followed. The Boers, skilled by long practice in marking +their most cherished enemies, picked off the officers one by one. Seven +out of nine dropped to their guns, while a perpetual hailstorm of +bullets beat over men, women, and waggons. In a few minutes so many were +disabled that the Colonel, himself mortally wounded, had to surrender. +Out of the party 56 were killed and 101 wounded. One of these was a +woman.</p> + +<p>A great deal was said at the time by British sympathisers of the +kindness of the Boers to the prisoners and wounded of their antagonists; +but the opinions of Mr. Rider Haggard and Sir Owen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> Lanyon are worth +considering. The former, in writing of this engagement, says that "after +the fight Conductor Egerton, with a sergeant, was allowed to walk into +Pretoria to obtain medical assistance, the Boers refusing to give him a +horse, or even allow him to use his own.... I may mention that a Zulu +driver, who was with the rear-guard, and escaped into Natal, stated that +the Boers shot all the wounded men who formed that body. His statement +was to a certain extent borne out by the evidence of one of the +survivors, who stated that all the bodies found in that part of the +field, nearly three-quarters of a mile away from the head of the column, +had a bullet-hole through the head or breast, in addition to their other +wounds." The Administrator of the Transvaal in Council thus comments on +the occurrence in an official minute: "The surrounding and gradual +hemming in under a flag of truce of a force, and the selection of spots +from which to direct their fire, as in the case of the unprovoked attack +of the rebels upon Colonel Anstruther's force, is a proceeding of which +very few like incidents can be mentioned in the annals of civilised +warfare."</p> + +<p>Sir Owen Lanyon, writing from the scene of action in Pretoria, +says—"The Boers were very clever in being kind to our wounded soldiers, +for they well knew that such action would obtain sympathy at home. But +where it was impossible for their deeds to become known their conduct +was far from creditable to them. Poor Clarke and Raaf were kept for two +months in a dark room, and were only allowed out twice for exercise. +Barlow was robbed of everything, and only left the clothes he stood in. +A Hollander, who is secretary to Cronjé at Potchefstrom, is still +wearing the rings of poor Captain Falls, who was shot. Englishmen have +been murdered, flogged, and robbed of everything. The Boers at +Potchefstrom forced the prisoners of war to dig their trenches, and some +were shot from the Fort while so employed. Woite and Van der Linden were +shot as spies, because they had been in the Boer camp and left it some +days before they proclaimed the Republic. Carolus, a Cape boy, was shot +by Boer court-martial because he left the Fort when food became scarce. +A white man and nine natives were similarly shot without any trial. +Explosive bullets were used, notwithstanding that Colonel Winsloe +pointed out to the Boer leader in a letter that such was against the +rules of war."</p> + +<p>There is ample evidence that acts of treachery and barbarity similar to +and worse than those mentioned by Colonel Lanyon were perpetrated by the +insurgents.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE FATE OF CAPTAIN ELLIOT</p> + +<p>The sole officer who escaped from the massacre at Bronker's Spruit was +Captain Elliot, who was subsequently treacherously murdered while +crossing the Vaal. The account of this tragedy was given by Major +Lambart in a report to Sir George Colley, and should be read by all who +wish to get a fair view of the events of that period, particularly by +those who insist on our brother-relationship to the Boers:—</p> + +<p class="nobotmarg">"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I have the honour to report, for the information of his +Excellency, that as I was returning from the Orange Free State on +December 18 (where I had been on duty buying horses to mount Commandant +Ferreira's men for the Basuto war, and also remounts for my troop of +Mounted Infantry and the Royal Artillery), when about thirty miles from +Pretoria, on the road from Heidelberg, I was suddenly taken prisoner by +a party of twenty or thirty Boers, who galloped down on me (all around), +and, capturing the horses, was taken back to Heidelberg. After being +there some six or eight days, I was joined by Captain and Paymaster +Elliot, 94th Regiment (the only officer not wounded in the attack on the +detachment of the 94th Regiment), who arrived with some forty prisoners +of war of the 94th Regiment. On the following day (the 24th of December) +we received a written communication from the Secretary of the Republican +Government, to the effect 'that the members of the said Government would +call on us at 3.30 that day,' which they did. The purport of their +interview being 'That at a meeting of Council they had decided to give +us one of two alternatives. (1) To remain prisoners of war during +hostilities in the Transvaal. (2) To be released on <i>parole, d'honneur</i>, +that we would leave the Transvaal at once, cross into the Free State +under escort, and not bear arms against the Republican Government during +the war.' Time being given us for deliberation, Captain Elliot and +myself decided to accept No. 2 alternative, and communicated the same to +the Secretary of the South African Republic, who informed us, in the +presence of the Commandant-General, P. Joubert, that we could leave next +day, taking with us all our private property. The following days being +respectively Christmas Day and Sunday, we were informed we could not +start till Monday, on which day, having signed our <i>parole d'honneur</i>, +my horses were harnessed, and we were provided with a duplicate of our +parole or free pass, signed by Commandant-General, and escort of two men +to show us the road to the nearest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> drift over the Vaal River, distant +twenty-five miles, and by which P. Joubert personally told us both we +should cross, as there was a punt there. We started about 1 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> from +the Boer camp, passing through the town of Heidelberg. After going about +six or eight miles I noticed we were not going the right road, and +mentioned the fact to the escort, who said it was all right. Having been +'look-out' officer in the Transvaal, I knew the district well. I was +certain we were going wrong, but we had to obey orders. At nightfall we +found ourselves nowhere near the river drift; and were ordered to +outspan for the night, and next morning the escort told us they would +look for the drift. In spanning at daybreak we again started, but after +driving about for some hours across country, I told the escort we would +stop where we were while they went to search for the drift. Shortly +after they returned and said they had found it, and we must come, which +we did, eventually arriving at the junction of two rivers (Vaal and +Klip), where we found the river Vaal impassable, but which they said we +must cross. I pointed out that it was impossible to get my carriage or +horses over by it, and that it was not the punt the General said we were +to cross. The escort replied it was to Pretorius' Punt that the General +told them to take us, and we must cross; that we must leave the carriage +behind and swim the horses, which we refused to do, as we should then +have had no means of getting on. I asked them to show me their written +instructions, which they did (written in Dutch), and I pointed out that +the name of Pretorius was not in it. I then told them they must either +take us back to the Boer camp again or on to the proper drift. We turned +back, and after going a few miles the escort disappeared. Not knowing +where we were, I proposed to Captain Elliot we should go to the banks of +the Vaal and follow the river till we came to the proper punt. After +travelling all Monday, Tuesday, and up till Wednesday about 1 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, when +we found ourselves four hours, or twenty-five miles, from Spencer's +Punt, we were suddenly stopped by two armed Boers who handed us an +official letter, which was opened and found to be from the Secretary to +the Republican Government, stating that the members were surprised that +as officers and gentlemen we had broken our <i>parole d'honneur</i> and +refused to leave the Transvaal; that if we did not do so immediately by +the nearest drift, which the bearers would show us, we must return as +prisoners of war; that as through our ignorance of the language of the +country there might be some misunderstanding, they were loth to think we +had willingly broken our promise. We explained that we should reply to +the letter, and request them to take it to their Government, and were +prepared to go with them at once. They took us back to a farm<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>house, +where we were told to wait till they fetched their Commandant, who +arrived about 6 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, and repeated to us the same that was complained of +in our letter of that day. We told him we were ready to explain matters, +and requested him to take our answer back to camp. He then ordered us to +start at once for the drift. I asked him, as it was then getting dark, +if we could start early next morning, but he refused. So we started, he +having said we should cross at Spencer's, being closest. As we left the +farmhouse, I pointed out to him that we were going in the wrong +direction, but he said, 'Never mind, come on across a drift close at +hand.' When we got opposite it, he kept straight on; I called to him, +and said this was where we were to cross. His reply was, 'Come on.' I +then said to Captain Elliot, 'They intend taking us back to Pretorius,' +a distance of some forty miles. Suddenly the escort (which had all at +once increased from two to eight men, which Captain Elliot pointed out +to me, and I replied, 'I suppose they are determined we shall not +escape, which they need not be afraid of, as we are too keen to get over +the border') wheeled sharp down to the river, stopped, and pointing to +the banks, said, 'There is the drift; cross.' Being pitch dark, with +vivid lightning, the river roaring past, and as I knew impassable, I +asked, 'Had we not better wait till morning, as we do not know the +drift?' They replied, 'No; cross at once.' I drove my horses into the +river, when they immediately fell; lifted them, and drove on about five +or six yards, when we fell into a hole. Got them out with difficulty, +and advanced another yard, when we got stuck against a rock. The current +was now so strong, and drift deep, my cart was turned over on to its +side, and water rushed over the seat. I called out to the Commandant on +the bank that we were stuck, and to send assistance, or might we return? +to which he replied, 'If you do we will shoot you.' I then tried, but +failed to get the horses to move. Turning to Captain Elliot, who was +sitting beside me, I said, 'We must swim for it,' and asked could he +swim? to which he replied, 'Yes.' I said, 'If you can't, I will stick to +you, for I can.' While we were holding this conversation, a volley from +the bank, ten or fifteen yards off, was fired into us, the bullets +passing through the tent of my cart, one of which must have mortally +wounded poor Elliot, who only uttered the single word 'Oh!' and fell +headlong into the river from the carriage. I immediately sprang in after +him, but was swept down the river under the current some yards. On +gaining the surface of the water, I could see nothing of Elliot; I +called out his name twice, but received no reply. Immediately another +volley was fired at me, making the water hiss around where the bullets +struck. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> now struck out for the opposite bank, which I reached with +difficulty in about ten minutes; but as it was deep, black mud, on +landing I stuck fast, but eventually reached the top of the bank, and +ran for about two thousand yards under a heavy fire the whole while. The +night being pitch dark, but lit up every minute by vivid flashes of +lightning, showed the enemy my whereabouts. I found myself now in the +Free State, but where I could not tell, but knew my direction was south, +while, though it was raining, hailing, and blowing hard, and bitterly +cold, an occasional glimpse of the stars showed me I was going right. I +walked all that night and next day till one o'clock, when I eventually +crawled into a store kept by an Englishman called Mr. Groom, who did all +in his power to help me. I had tasted no food since the previous morning +at sunrise, and all the Dutch farmers refused me water, so without hat +or coat (which I had left on banks of Vaal), and shoes worn through, I +arrived exhausted at the above gentleman's place, who kindly drove me to +Heilbron, where I took the post-cart to Maritzburg. I fear that Captain +Elliot must have been killed instantly, as he never spoke, neither did I +see him again. I have to mention that both Captain Elliot and myself, on +being told by South African Republican Government that the soldiers who +had been taken prisoners were to be released on the same conditions as +ourselves, expressed a wish to be allowed to keep charge of them, which +was refused, but we were told that waggons, food, and money should be +supplied to take them down country. But when they reached Spencer's Punt +over the Vaal were turned loose, without any of the above necessaries, +to find their way down country. They met an English transport rider +named Mr. F. Wheeler, who was going to Pietermaritzburg with his waggon, +which had been looted by the Boers, and who kindly gave them transport, +provided them with food, and is bringing them to the city, which, as I +passed them at the Drakensburg on Tuesday, they should reach on Sunday +next—consisting of one sergeant and sixty-one men, all that remain of +our Leydenburg detachment and headquarters of the 94th Regiment.—I have +the honour to remain, Sir, your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="signature">"<span class="smcap">R. H. Lambart</span>,</p> +<p class="ralign"><i>Captain Royal Scots Fusiliers</i>."</p> + + +<p class="tbspaces">Major Lambart's report speaks more eloquently than many descriptions as +to the character of the "simple-minded Boer." We discovered to our cost +during the Indian Mutiny that the "gentle native" was not all our fancy +painted him, and it may be as well to realise that our simple-minded and +pious brother in the Transvaal is scarcely so righteous as we have been +led to suppose.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image077" name="image077"></a> + <a href="images/image077h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image077.jpg" + alt="THE ORANGE RIVER AT NORVAL'S PONT." + title="THE ORANGE RIVER AT NORVAL'S PONT." /></a> +<p class="caption">THE ORANGE RIVER AT NORVAL'S PONT.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p class="sechead">LAING'S NEK</p> + +<p>Since we have been tracing the causes of the Boer rebellion, it may be +advisable to refer to a letter written on the 28th of December 1880 by +Sir Bartle Frere to Mr. F. Greenwood, editor of the <i>St. James's +Gazette</i>. He therein throws a most important light on the political +position. He wrote: "In 1879, when I was among the Boers in the +Transvaal, I found that the real wire-pullers of their Committee were +foreigners of various nationalities, notably some Hollanders (not +Africanders), imbued with German Socialist Republicanism, and an +Irishman of the name of Aylward. I was told he was a man of great +natural ability, educated as a solicitor, an ex-Fenian pardoned under +another name (Murphy, I think), for turning Queen's evidence against +others who had murdered the policeman at Manchester. Emigrating to the +Diamond Fields, he was tried, convicted, and suffered imprisonment there +for homicide. When he came out of prison he betook himself to the +Transvaal and had a command of foreign free lances under Mr. Burgers, +then President of the Transvaal Republic, in his unsuccessful attempt to +take Secocoeni's stronghold. After the annexation of the Transvaal he +came to England and published one of the few readable books on the +Transvaal, and went out to Natal during the darkest hours of our Zulu +troubles, seeking employment; but he was an impossible man, and was +urging the Boers to rise at the same time that he was offering his +services to me and Lord Chelmsford. Finally he settled at +Pietermaritzburg, where he was, when I last heard of him, as editor of +the <i>Witness</i>, writing anti-English republicanism and sedition with much +ability, especially when opposing the Cape Government and its governor, +whom he never forgave for warning the Boers against following Fenian +advice. When I was in the Transvaal and afterwards I found him always +connected with any opposition to the English Government. He knew all the +leaders of the simple-minded but very suspicious Boers, and had gained +their ear, so that he had no difficulty in persuading them to reject any +good advice I offered them—'Wait-a-bit' being always the most +acceptable suggestion you can offer to a Boer.</p> + +<p>"Directly I heard of the attack on our troops in the Transvaal, I felt +assured that my old acquaintance was pulling the wires with a view to +create a diversion in favour of his old colleagues in Ireland.</p> + +<p>"The attack took place apparently near the farm of Solomon Prinsloo, one +of the most bitter malcontent Boers, who was always a firebrand, and +who, when I visited the Boer camp in 1879, was with difficulty held back +by Pretorius and Kruger from directing an attack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> upon us in Pretoria. I +very much doubt whether, without some such external instigation, the +Boers would have broken out....</p> + +<p>"The facts I have mentioned and many more about Aylward are on record in +Scotland Yard, and in the Colonial Office, and I am anxious you should +know the truth and not attribute too much of the blame in this sad +business to the unfortunate, misguided Boers, the victims of his bad +advice, still less to any fault of Colonel Lanyon's administration."</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle was right in his conjecture, for Aylward had joined the +insurgents and was one of the acknowledged leaders of Joubert's staff.</p> + +<p>Major-General Hope Crealock, in a letter to Sir Bartle, wrote (January +7, 1881): "A young Irishman named S——, who knew Aylward in Natal, and +who was under my command in the Natal Pioneers, called on me to-night +and told me Aylward formerly used to boast of being a Fenian, and vowed +he would pay the English Government off for what he had got, by raising +the Boers whenever Ireland was rising; and within the last few days has +written to him saying he gloried in being one of the instigators of the +present Boer revolt, &c., &c. He wrote from Utrecht...."</p> + +<p>It will be seen from these quotations that our relations with the +Transvaal, hostile as they may have been, were scarcely true +relations—that the real enmity and rancour, the blood-spilling and +wretchedness that commenced at this period, and are at the moment of +writing still continuing, were due, firstly, to party spirit in Great +Britain, and secondly, to the machinations of adventurers, who, having +no status elsewhere, put the ignorance of a race of farmers to their own +vile uses.</p> + +<p>To return to the events of the last chapter. When Sir Owen Lanyon heard +of the misfortune that had befallen Colonel Anstruther's troops, he +issued a proclamation placing the country under martial law, and Sir +George Colley, dreading the results of bad blood raised between Boers +and British soldiers by the affair at Bronker's Spruit, caused the +following general order to be published:—</p> + +<p class="letterhd">"<span class="smcap">Headquarters, Pietermaritzburg</span>,</p> +<p class="ralign"><i>December 28th, 1880</i>.</p> + +<p>"The Major-General Commanding regrets to inform the troops of his +command, that a detachment of 250 men of the 94th Regiment, on its march +from Leydenburg to Pretoria, was surprised and overwhelmed by the +Boers—120 being killed and wounded, and the rest taken prisoners. The +attack seems to have been made while the troops were crossing a spruit, +and extended to guard a long convoy. The Major-General trusts to the +courage, spirit, and discipline of the troops of his command, to enable +him promptly to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> retrieve this misfortune, and to vindicate the +authority of her Majesty and the honour of the British arms. It is +scarcely necessary to remind soldiers of the incalculable advantage +which discipline, organisation, and trained skill give them over +numerous but undisciplined forces. These advantages have been repeatedly +proved, and have never failed to command success in the end against +greater odds, and greater difficulties, than we are now called on to +contend with. To all true soldiers the loss we have suffered will serve +as an incentive and stimulus to greater exertions; and the Major-General +knows well he can rely on the troops he has to command, to show that +endurance and courage which are the proud inheritance of the British +army. The stain cast on our arms must be quickly effaced, and rebellion +must be put down; but the Major-General trusts that officers and men +will not allow the soldierly spirit which prompts to gallant action to +degenerate into a feeling of revenge. The task now forced on us by the +unprovoked action of the Boers is a painful one under any circumstances, +and the General calls on all ranks to assist him in his endeavours to +mitigate the suffering it must entail. We must be careful to avoid +punishing the innocent for the guilty, and must remember, that though +misled and deluded, the Boers are in the main a brave and high-spirited +people, and actuated by feelings that are entitled to our respect. In +the operations now about to be undertaken, the General confidently +trusts that the good behaviour of the men will give him as much cause +for pride and satisfaction as their conduct and gallantry before the +enemy, and that the result of their efforts will be a speedy and +successful termination to the war."</p> + +<p>The proclamation had a good effect, particularly among the Dutch, who, +though loyal to the Crown, were much in sympathy with their kinsmen in +the Transvaal. On the 23rd of January 1881, General Colley sent an +ultimatum ordering the insurgents to disperse. Of this no notice was +taken until General Joubert, from Laing's Nek on January the 29th, sent +the following reply:——</p> + +<p class="sechead">"<i>To</i> <span class="smcap">Sir George P. Colley</span>.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We beg to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 23rd. In reply, +we beg to state that, in terms of the letter, we are unable to +comply with your request, as long as your Excellency addresses +us as insurgents, and insinuates that we, the leaders, are +wickedly misleading a lot of ignorant men. It is nearly +hopeless for us to attempt to find the proper words for reply; +but before the Lord we would not be justified if we did not +avail ourselves of this, perhaps the last, opportunity of +speaking to you as the representative of her Majesty the Queen +and people of England, for whom we feel deep respect. We must +emphatically repeat, we are willing to comply with any wishes +of the Imperial Government tending to the consolidation and +confederation of South Africa; and, in order to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> make this +offer from our side as clear and unequivocal as +possible,—although we have explained this point fully in all +our documents, and especially in paragraphs 36 to 38 of our +first proclamation,—we declare that we would be satisfied with +a rescinding of the annexation and restoration of the South +African Republic under a protectorate of her Majesty the Queen, +so that once a year the British Flag shall be hoisted, all in +strict accordance with the above-mentioned clauses of our first +proclamation. If your Excellency resolves to reject this, we +have only to submit to our fate; but the Lord will provide." </p></div> + +<p class="tbspaces">Sir George Colley started on the 24th of January from Newcastle for the +border. The road from Newcastle to Laing's Nek runs up a precipitous +hill for three miles, and thence leads down the steep mountain of +Skheyns Hoogte. The movement of the column was slow and laborious, the +roads, if roads they could be called, were almost impassable owing to +great ruts, mud-holes deep enough to bury a waggon up to the bed-planks, +with boulders and other impediments thrown in.</p> + +<p>Here, as Laing's Nek is so prominent a feature in our history, it may be +well to give Mr. Carter's concise description of the geographical nature +of the position:—</p> + +<p>"Laing's Nek is the lowest point in an unbroken ridge which connects the +Majuba Mountain with hills running right up to the banks of the Buffalo +River. A slight cutting, not more than four or five feet deep, forms the +waggon road over this ridge; from the waggon road on either side the +ground runs up somewhat abruptly, and is stony and irregular. How gentle +the rise is to the Nek from the level ground in front of it towards +Newcastle (and along which the approach is by the main road), may be +judged from the fact that a horse can canter easily up the slope, or for +the matter of that, over the two miles of ground which lead to the foot +of the slope. From the top of the ridge to the level ground at the base +is not more than five hundred yards. The chain of hills, in the centre +of which is the Nek, is semicircular, the horns of the crescent pointing +towards Newcastle, and offering strong positions for any force intent on +defending the only practicable approach to the Nek; but to occupy these +flank positions a large body of men would be necessary, as the area from +point to point is great. On the reverse, or Coldstream side of the Nek, +the ground at the foot of the incline is broken and marshy, a regular +drain for all the water running from the surrounding hills."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image080" name="image080"></a> + <a href="images/image080h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image080.jpg" + alt="DRUM-MAJOR and DRUMMERS, COLDSTREAM GUARDS." + title="DRUM-MAJOR and DRUMMERS, COLDSTREAM GUARDS." /></a> +<p class="caption">DRUM-MAJOR and DRUMMERS, COLDSTREAM GUARDS.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Gregory and Co., London.</p> +</div> + +<p>To return to the troops. While this column was advancing, the Boers were +also advancing in a parallel line to the Nek. The following day, 25th, +the British column reached the high ground overlooking the Ingogo River, +where they encamped (here the engagement of the 8th of February took +place). At dawn on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> the 26th the column again laboriously mounted the +terrible steeps leading to Mount Prospect, and fixed their camp about +four miles from the Nek. Owing to the abominable state of the weather +the nearing of the Nek was not attempted, and attack was postponed till +the following day. The night was passed at Mount Prospect, and a laager +made.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image081" name="image081"></a> + <a href="images/image081h.png"> + <img src="images/image081.png" + alt="Map of Country round Laing's Nek and Majuba Hill" + title="Map of Country round Laing's Nek and Majuba Hill" /></a> +</div> + +<p>At six o'clock on the morning of the 28th the advance was sounded, and +at 9.55 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> the guns began shelling the Nek. The Boers were not yet +ready. Some took shelter behind the walls of Laing's Farmhouse, while +others kept on the heights above, covered by the ridge from shells. +Those in Laing's kraals had a warm time when the Naval Brigade began to +play on them with their guns, and they soon evacuated the place.</p> + +<p>Those on the Nek, after being for twenty minutes under a hot fire, were +beginning to think they had had enough of it, when our lines ceased +firing, and the mounted squadron advanced to take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> a hillock—the most +advanced spur of the Boer left flank position. The 58th also prepared to +charge. The officers commanding the mounted squadron were Major Brownlow +and Captain Hornby, while Colonel Deane, Major Essex (an officer with a +charmed life, who survived Isandlwana and the engagement at the Ingogo +heights), Major Poole, Lieutenant Elwes, and Lieutenant Inman were in +front of the 58th. The leading companies of the 58th having got half-way +up the rise—a heavy business considering the slipperiness of the +slopes—the first troop of the mounted squadron charged the kopje, going +to right and left of the lines taken by the 58th. No sooner were they +within sight of the Boers than they were greeted by a heavy fire that +emptied half their saddles. Still, those who were left mounted, reformed +in a pouring shower of bullets, and again charged.</p> + +<p>But gallantry was of no avail, for there was no reserve to back up the +charge of mounted troops. Seventeen men were killed and wounded, and +thirty-two horses killed.</p> + +<p>The repulse of this charge took place just as the 58th gained sight of +the foe, who, flushed with triumph, could now turn their attention from +the mounted troops to the right flank of the 58th. The men, worn out +with their sufficiently arduous task of climbing, crushed together, in +consequence of their not having been ordered to deploy before making the +ascent, dropped like nine-pins under the heavy fire of the Boers. Before +the order to deploy could be carried out, volley after volley was +delivered into their ranks, and an enfilading fire was opened by the +Boers on their right flank with disastrous results. Meanwhile the Boers +were well under cover behind their sheltered trenches, and it was +impossible, while the 58th were coming to closer quarters with them, to +fire from the plains below without risk to the assailants. As a natural +consequence, therefore, the Boers, skilled as they are in marksmanship, +were able at their leisure to pick off each man as he approached.</p> + +<p>Seeing that the Boers were more than a match for him, Colonel Deane +resorted to the bayonet. But, just as the order was being obeyed his +horse was shot under him. Rising again on the instant, and crying "I am +all right," to encourage his men, he rushed on, heading his regiment, +and again fell, this time mortally wounded. Major Hingeston, who then +took command, fell also, and his gallant brother officers, Major Poole +and Lieutenant Dolphin, shared the same fate. They were at that time +within some thirty yards of the enemy. So great was our loss that the +charge could not be sustained, and many officers, who still persisted in +emptying their revolvers on the enemy, were severely wounded. At last +there was nothing for it but to fall back. The Boers, intoxicated with +victory, now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> boldly came out from cover, and poured volley after volley +on the retiring men. But for the guns at the base of the hill, which +were now able to play on the enemy, these must have been entirely swept +away. So small was the margin between our men and the victors, that but +for the nicety of this artillery practice many of the men of the 58th +must have been accidentally killed. During the retreat Lieutenant +Baillie, carrying the regimental colours, was mortally wounded. Such +magnificent deeds of heroism took place on this occasion that of +themselves they would form an inspiriting volume. Lieutenant Hill of the +58th earned the Victoria Cross by his repeated deeds of valour in saving +soldiers under heavy fire.</p> + +<p>The whole force fell back towards the camp, the casualties amongst the +58th being seventy-three killed and one hundred wounded. A flag of truce +was sent forward to the enemy, and both parties engaged in the sad work +of burying their dead and removing the wounded.</p> + +<p>Report says that on this occasion Kaffirs or Hottentots were seen to be +fighting among the Boer ranks.</p> + +<p>Very pathetic and very manly was the speech addressed by Sir George +Colley to the camp on the evening after the fight:—"Officers, +non-commissioned officers, and men,—I have called you together this +evening, being desirous of saying a few words to you. I wish every one +present to understand that the entire blame of to-day's repulse rests +entirely upon me, and not on any of you. I congratulate the 58th +Regiment for the brave and noble manner in which they fought to-day. We +have lost many gallant men, and amongst them my intimate friend, Colonel +Deane. (Emotion.) I might say, however, that notwithstanding the loss of +many troops to-day, we have not lost one atom of the prestige of +England. It is my duty to congratulate Major Brownlow on the gallant +charge he made this day. Owing to the loss we have suffered, I am +compelled to await the arrival of reinforcements, but certainly we shall +take possession of that hill eventually, and I sincerely hope that all +those men who have so nobly done their duty to-day will be with me then. +Good-night."</p> + +<p>Of the mistakes that marked this attack it is unnecessary to write, for +they have been freely discussed, and those who were responsible have +laid down their lives in payment of whatever errors in judgment they may +have committed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="sechead">INGOGO</p> + +<p>Life in camp continued as usual until the 7th of February, when an +escort proceeding with the post from Newcastle to the General's camp, +having encountered the enemy, been fired at, and forced to return, Sir +George Colley thought a demonstration in force would be sufficient to +deter the Boers from further interference with the line of +communication. Consequently the next morning, the 8th of February, he +marched with five companies of the second battalion of the 60th +Regiment, four guns and thirty-eight men of the Mounted Squadron. The +force crossed the river Ingogo, then only knee-deep, and gained a +plateau in shape like an inverted L, the base being the side nearest +Newcastle. On arrival here an orderly suddenly reported that the enemy, +concealed among boulders and large blocks of granite, was waiting in +great force. Almost immediately afterwards about a hundred mounted Boers +became visible on the right. The order was given to prepare for action, +and, just as the guns were on the point of firing, the Boers wheeled +round and went off. They galloped away to the bottom of the ravine, +followed by a shell which, unfortunately, burst beyond them. The Rifles +were also firing, but unsuccessfully, at the retreating riders. Soon it +became apparent, however, that the British party was surrounded on all +sides by the enemy, who were comfortably screened by the tall tambookie +grass and the immense boulders that were to be found in clumps all round +the position. Our men were also hiding behind rocks and boulders, and +firing whenever a Boer head became visible. Soon after, the engagement +opened in earnest. A hot fire was kept up by the 9-pounder in charge of +Lieutenant Parsons, R.A., to which the enemy replied, directly the gun +was discharged, by a hail of bullets aimed at the gunners while they +reloaded.</p> + +<p>In order to rout the Boers from their cover, an order was given to the +mounted men to charge. At that moment the Boers fired a heavy volley, +which incapacitated most of the horses and forced Major Brownlow to +retire to the plateau. Fortunately only one of the men was wounded. The +artillerymen now suffered considerably, having no shelter but the +doubtful shelter of their guns, which afforded a convenient mark for the +Boers. As soon as the General, who was going from point to point with +his usual coolness, saw the state of affairs—ammunition and even +gunners having run short—he sent to Mount Prospect camp for +reinforcements. Still the fight continued. The Boers now steadily and +surely crept to close quarters, while the British columns became +momentarily thinner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> and thinner. Yet every man continued to hold his +ground till hopelessly struck down. Hopelessly is a word used advisedly, +for many who were struck down rose several times and continued to fire +till mortally wounded.</p> + +<p>Of the splendid gallantry of the force it is impossible to say enough. +The fighting continued for six terrible hours through rain that fell +literally in torrents, in an arena where wounded and dying lay thick, +their despairing cries mingling with the continued growl of thunder +interspersed with the roar of artillery. Then a white flag was displayed +by the Boers. But, when the Rev. Mr. Ritchie in return displayed the +British white flag, he was instantly fired upon. The object of the use +of the white flag on the part of the Boers was to enable them to take +advantage of the temporary inaction to make rushes to cover nearer to +the British lines than that they had previously occupied! The fighting +began, and, for the small body of British troops, continued +disastrously. At last, when darkness came on, both sides were forced to +cease firing. Now and then, only when a flash of lightning lit up the +terrible scene, the firing of bullets demonstrated that the Boers were +still thoroughly on the alert.</p> + +<p>The darkness descended, and in the middle of the pouring rain and the +murky obscurity the noble British dead were counted. The wounded were +also tended as well as it was possible to tend them when water and +restoratives were wanting, and the only relieving moisture had to be +sucked from the storm-drenched grass. Finally, the General, viewing the +deplorable state of the men, decided to withdraw the force from the +field. It was plain that any renewal of attack on the morrow by the +reinforced Boers could but mean annihilation or surrender. So the +remnants of the force started on their return journey. This was now a +terrible task, the Ingogo, which had been crossed at knee-depth, had +swollen dangerously; the gentle stream had become a torrent. The bed of +the river being full of holes, it was in some places some ten to twelve +feet deep.</p> + +<p>Of the perils by field and flood it would be impossible to speak at +length. Mr. Carter, who was present at the melancholy fight and a +witness of all connected with the reverse, gives in his wonderful +narrative of the Boer war an interesting description of the misery of +that return march:—</p> + +<p>"Knowing that moments were precious in the then state of the river, I +went ahead with the advance guard and crossed the stream; it was then +nearly up to my armpits, and running very swiftly. By holding my rifle +aloft, I managed to keep it dry, but every cartridge in my pockets was +under water. Only with the greatest care, and thanks to a knowledge of +the whereabouts of the treacherous hole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> in the drift, did I manage to +keep on my legs. On gaining the opposite bank, I scooped up and drained +off a helmetful of the precious fluid, and then urging on through the +next ford—an insignificant one compared to the first—gained admission +at Fermistone's hotel, after being duly cross-questioned through the +keyhole of the door. Some hot tea and whisky was recommended by the +host, and palatable it was. In a short time the other "Correspondent" +arrived, <i>minus</i> his rifle. He had been carried down the stream like a +cork, and only saved from drowning by being washed against some reeds at +a bend of the river. He decided that he had had enough of the march for +that night, and elected to go to bed. Next came in the General, and a +gentleman who claimed to be a surgeon (a Transvaal surgeon) escaped from +the Boer lines. He had been allowed free access to the camp at Mount +Prospect, and had accompanied the Ingogo expedition, but not as a +surgeon. From the General I learnt that there had been some men washed +down the stream in spite of the precaution adopted of joining hands."</p> + +<p>The return to camp was still more trying. The roads were slippery as +glass, and men and horses, thoroughly worn out, dropped exhausted by the +way. But it is needless to dwell on this melancholy event—an event +rendered so much more melancholy by regret for sublime effort wasted in +the support of a Government that was at that very moment entertaining +the proposals for craven surrender.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">MAJUBA</p> + +<p>On Sunday, the 27th of February, Sir George Colley made his last move. +During the afternoon of the previous day the General, who was a great +theorist, had been cogitating some scheme which he only communicated to +Colonel Stewart, and to one or two others. No sooner had "lights out" +been sounded, than an order was passed round for detachments of the +58th, third battalion of the 60th Rifles, Naval Brigade, and +Highlanders, to parade with three days' rations. Then the order came +that the force was to form up by the redoubt nearest the main road on +their left. At ten a start was made, the General and staff riding in +front, with the 58th leading, followed by the 60th, and the Naval +Brigade in the rear. The direction taken was straight up the Inguela +Mountain. Arrived on a plateau about half-way up, the troops proceeded +by a path, narrow almost as a sheep path, which winds across the +steepest part of the mountain. Great boulders edged the hillside, and +masses of rock hung perpendicularly above the surface of the ground. One +false step and the climber would have been hurled down some thirty +feet,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> to be dashed to pieces against the stones, or entangled in the +bush. This march was conducted in strict silence, no voice being raised, +and indeed not a breath more than was required for climbing expended. +Men and officers, all were bent on the one great feat of mounting and +gaining the summit. The march continued over loose stones, and boulders +and obstacles multifarious—sometimes round wrong tracks, owing to +mistakes of the guide, and sometimes over grass and glassy slopes, where +a man could make progress merely by means of hands and knees. Thus the +force stealthily ascended, creeping up in ones and twos, the General and +staff leading the way in ever-increasing darkness and silence.</p> + +<p>So heavy was the work of ascent that, when at last they reached the top, +the troops almost dropped from exhaustion. It was this exhaustion that +is said by some to have influenced the General's plans, but others +declare that he was not likely so to be influenced. Instead of +attempting at once to throw up a rough entrenchment, he refused to +permit it, declaring that the men were already over fatigued. A slight +entrenchment might have made all the difference in the sad history of +Majuba, but the General gave no orders to entrench, and thus the troops +were left open to the enemy.</p> + +<p>At early dawn, on looking towards the Nek, it was obvious that a large +Boer force was there congregated, while at the base of the mountain was +the right flank of the Dutch camp. Gazing down from the great height +which had been so perseveringly gained, all hearts warmed with a glow of +triumph and of anticipation. The rocket tubes and Gatlings would soon +arrive, and then those below would be awakened to the tune of the guns! +From their point of vantage it seemed as though the British had the +Boers at their mercy.</p> + +<p>The hilltop of Majuba was hollowed out basinwise, and there seemed only +a necessity to line the rim of it in the event of a rush from the enemy. +But the suspicion that the Boers would creep from ridge to ridge, and +mount the crest, never dawned on any one. In the dense darkness it was +impossible to become acquainted with the nature of all sides of the +hill, and the troops imagined them all to be equally impregnable.</p> + +<p>Mr. Carter, who was there, says that at this time some twenty +Highlanders stood on the ridge watching the lights of the enemy, and +pointing to the camp below them, and laughingly repeating their +challenge, "Come up here, you beggars." They never imagined it would be +possible for them indeed to come! He further states his belief that the +reason why no entrenchments were attempted was that every staff officer +on Majuba felt certain "that the Boers would never face the +hill—entrenchments or no entrenchments on the summit—as long as the +British soldier was there." For this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> almost fatuous belief in their own +security these gallant soldiers were destined to pay heavily.</p> + +<p>So soon as daylight served to show our troops standing against the +sky-line, the enemy began to advance at the base of the mountain. The +first shot on that eventful day was fired at a Boer scout by Lieutenant +Lucy of the 58th, but the General, hearing it, sent word to "stop that +firing." Silence again reigned. But in the meantime the Boers were +crawling cautiously up the hill after leaving their horses safely under +cover. About 6 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> they opened a steady fire, to which the British +troops responded cordially. The Boer bullets, though doubling those of +the British, did little damage, as the troops were partially sheltered +within the basin of the hilltop. Thus the fight continued till nine, +none of the officers at that time even suspecting that the enemy would +venture to "rush" their stronghold. No one was wounded, and nothing was +to be seen on any side of the hill, as the Boers kept closely under +cover. At this juncture many men, worn out and fatigued, laid themselves +down to sleep. Suddenly Lieutenant Lucy appeared asking for +reinforcements, and saying that the fire was "warming up" in his +direction. Some minutes later the General, who was perpetually moving +round the line, cool, collected, and calculating as ever, flashed a +message to Mount Prospect camp, ordering the 60th Rifles to be sent from +Newcastle to his support.</p> + +<p>Later the General espied two Boers within 600 yards or so of him +mounting the ravine, and pointed them out. He had scarcely done this +when Commander Romilly fell. This gallant sailor was deservedly popular, +and gloom suddenly spread over the hitherto cheerful force. Still, no +one dreamed that the Boers would really get to close quarters. The first +awakening came when the firing, which had been till then in single +shots, poured upwards in volleys. From the sound it was evident that the +enemy was much nearer than had been supposed. The Highlanders, who were +facing this unexpected fusillade, were soon reinforced by the reserves +which had been ordered to their assistance.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image088" name="image088"></a> + <a href="images/image088h.png"> + <img src="images/image088.png" + alt="TOP OF MAJUBA" + title="TOP OF MAJUBA" /></a> +</div> + +<p>The 58th, 92nd, and Naval Brigade disappeared over the ridge to meet the +enemy, and vigorously returned their fire. For one moment that of the +Boers appeared to slacken; then suddenly there came a precipitate +retreat of our men, the officers shouting, "Rally on the right! rally on +the right!" This order was obeyed, the troops describing a semicircle +and coming back to the ridge to a point at left of that from which they +had been so suddenly driven. But the momentary retreat had been +demoralising. At this standpoint the men had become hopelessly mixed +up—sailors, Highlanders, and 58th men all in a wild melee. Over this +hetero<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>geneous mass the officers had lost their personal influence. +While order was being restored the Boer firing ceased. The pause was +just sufficient to allow breathing time, for they almost instantaneously +reopened with redoubled vigour. Their shooting was scarcely successful, +but a hail of lead from the upturned muzzles of rifles continued to +traverse the thirty yards which now separated the foes. The enemy +numbered only about 200, but they hoped by rapidity of fire to hold the +British in check till their comrades should come to the rescue. Mr. +Carter thus graphically describes what was really the last despairing +effort of our men:—</p> + +<p>"The order was given in our lines, 'Fix bayonets,' and immediately the +steel rang from the scabbard of every man, and flashed in the bright +sunlight the next second on the muzzle of every rifle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> 'That's right!' +cheerily called Major Fraser. 'Now, men of the 92nd, don't forget your +bayonets!' he added, with marked emphasis on the word bayonets. It was +the bayonet or nothing now, and the officer's words sent quite a +pleasant thrill through all. Colonel Stewart immediately added, 'And the +men of the 58th!' 'And the Naval Brigade!' sang out another officer, +Captain MacGregor, I think. 'Show them the cold steel, men! that will +check them,' continued Fraser, whilst volley after volley came pouring +in, and volley after volley went in the direction of the enemy. But why +this delay? The time we were at this point I cannot judge, except by +personally recalling incidents in succession. When the bayonets rang +into the rifle-sockets simultaneously with the reopening of the Boers' +volleys, I felt convinced that in two minutes that murderous fire would +be silenced, and our men driving the foe helter-skelter down hill. After +the bayonets had been drawn and fixed, and remained fixed, our men still +firing for at least four or five minutes, and no order came to 'charge,' +I changed my opinion suddenly."</p> + +<p>Here we may imagine the agony—hope, doubt, suspense—that passed like a +lightning flash through the minds of all who were present.</p> + +<p>The uproar at this time grew appalling. Commands of the officers, the +crash of shot, the shrieks of the wounded, all helped to aggravate the +din. Boers were fast climbing the mountain sides, and the troops, worn +out and almost expended, were beginning to lose the spirit of discipline +that hitherto had sustained them. The officers stepped forward boldly, +sword in one hand and revolver in the other, but to no purpose. Only an +insignificant number of men now responded to the command.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image090" name="image090"></a> + <a href="images/image090h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image090.jpg" + alt="THE BATTLE OF MAJUBA HILL." + title="THE BATTLE OF MAJUBA HILL." /></a> +<p class="caption">THE BATTLE OF MAJUBA HILL.</p> +<p class="caption">Drawn by R. Caton Woodville, from Notes supplied by Officers present.</p> +<p class="captionj">The officer to the left, with the glass in his hand, is General Colley, +who, to facilitate his ascent of the hill, took off his boots, and, +during the engagement, wore only socks and slippers. He, with others, is +urging the soldiers to maintain their position. The Highlander with the +bandage on his face was wounded, but bravely continued to fight. The +Highlander on the right, apparently asleep, was shot dead while taking +aim. The officer in the immediate foreground towards the right, to whom +the doctor is offering a flask, is Major L. C. Singleton, of the 92nd +Gordon Highlanders, who died of his wounds. The figure pressing forward +on the extreme left of the picture is the Special Correspondent of the +<i>Standard</i> newspaper.</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Carter declares that when Lieutenant Hamilton of the 92nd asked Sir +George Colley's permission to charge with the bayonet, he replied, "Wait +a while." Such humanity was almost inhumanity, for waiting placed at +stake many lives that might have been saved. The correspondent says:—</p> + +<p>"Evidently Sir George Colley allowed his feelings of humanity to stand +in the way of the request of the young officer. We were forty yards at +the farthest from the enemy's main attacking party. In traversing these +forty yards our men would have been terribly mauled, no doubt, by the +first volley, but the ground sloped gently to the edge of the terrace +along which the enemy were lying, and the intervening space would be +covered in twenty seconds—at all events, so rapidly by the survivors of +the first volley, that the Boers, mostly armed with the Westley-Richards +cap rifle, would not have had time to reload before our men were on +them. I am not sure that the first rush of the infantry would not have +demoralised the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> enemy, and that their volley would have been less +destructive than some imagined. If only a score of our men had thrust +home, the enemy must have been routed. At a close-quarter conflict, what +use would their empty rifles have been against the bayonets of our men, +who would have had the additional advantage of the higher ground? If the +bayonet charge was impracticable at that moment, then, as an offensive +weapon, the bayonet is a useless one, and the sooner it is discarded as +unnecessary lumber to a soldier's equipment the better. It was our last +chance now, though a desperate one, because these withering volleys were +laying our men prostrate; slowly in comparison with the number of shots +fired, but surely, despite our shelter. Some out of the hail of bullets +found exposed victims. In a few seconds our left flank, now practically +undefended, and perfectly open to the Boers scaling the side of the +mountain in that direction, would be attacked with the same fury as our +front.</p> + +<p>"Looking to the spot Cameron had indicated as the one where the General +stood, I saw his Excellency standing within ten paces directing some men +to extend to the right. It was the last time I saw him alive."</p> + +<p>It is unnecessary to dwell further on the tragic events of that unlucky +battle. After midday our troops retreated, and the retreat soon became a +rout. At this time Sir George Colley was shot. Dismay seized all hearts, +followed by panic. The British soldiers rushed helter-skelter down the +precipitous steeps they had so cheerfully climbed the night before, many +of them losing their lives in their efforts to escape from the ceaseless +fire of the now triumphant enemy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image091" name="image091"></a> + <a href="images/image091h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image091.jpg" + alt="WHERE COLLEY FELL. ROUGH CAIRN OF STONES ON MAJUBA HILL." + title="WHERE COLLEY FELL. ROUGH CAIRN OF STONES ON MAJUBA HILL." /></a> +<p class="caption">WHERE COLLEY FELL.</p> +<p class="caption">ROUGH CAIRN OF STONES ON MAJUBA HILL.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p>Before leaving this sad subject, it may be interesting to note a Boer +account of the day's doings which is related by Mr. Rider Haggard in his +useful book on "The Last Boer War":—</p> + +<p>"A couple of months after the storming of Majuba, I, together with a +friend, had a conversation with a Boer, a volunteer from the Free State +in the late war, and one of the detachment that stormed Majuba, who gave +us a circumstantial account of the attack with the greatest willingness. +He said that when it was discovered that the English had possession of +the mountain, he thought that the game was up, but after a while bolder +counsels prevailed, and volunteers were called for to storm the hill. +Only seventy men could be found to perform the duty, of whom he was one. +They started up the mountain in fear and trembling, but soon found that +every shot passed over their heads, and went on with greater boldness. +Only three men, he declared, were hit on the Boer side; one was killed, +one was hit in the arm, and he himself was the third, getting his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> face +grazed by a bullet, of which he showed us the scar. He stated that the +first to reach the top ridge was a boy of twelve, and that as soon as +the troops saw them they fled, when, he said, he paid them out for +having nearly killed him, knocking them over one after another 'like +bucks' as they ran down the hill, adding that it was 'alter lecker' +(very nice)."</p> + +<p>A complete and reliable narrative of affairs on that fateful day in the +ridge below Majuba was given in the <i>Army and Navy Gazette</i>. It is here +reproduced, as it shows the finale from the point of view of an +eye-witness of one of the most lamentable fights known in British +history. The correspondent says:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"As our mysterious march on the night of the 26th February +began, two companies of the 60th Rifles, under the command of +Captains C. H. Smith and R. Henley, were detached from General +Colley's small column, and left on the Imquela Mountain. These +companies received <i>no orders</i>, beyond that they were to remain +there. The rest of the column then marched into the dark night +on their unknown mission, our destination being guessed at, but +not announced. The road was rough, and at some places little +better than a beaten track, and the men found it hard to pick +their steps among the loose stones and earth mounds. But all +were cheerful and ready for their work. The ridge at the foot +of the heights was reached at about midnight, and here the +column made a brief halt, to allow of one company of the 92nd +(which had lost its touch) coming up. Here one company of the +92nd Highlanders, under Captain P. F. Robertson, was detailed +to proceed with Major Fraser, R.E., to a spot about one +hundred yards distant, General Colley himself giving the order +that they were to remain there, 'to dig as good a trench as +time would permit of,' and further to select a good position to +afford cover for the horses and ammunition, &c., that were to +be left in charge of the detachment. They were also desired to +throw out sentries in the direction of the camp, also a patrol +of four men, with a non-commissioned officer, to watch the +beaten track along which we had just come, and to act as guides +for a company of the 60th Rifles expected from camp to +reinforce the Highlanders on the ridge. These orders having +been given, the column again moved off, leaving the Highlanders +to make their arrangements.</p> + +<p>"The men had a brief rest after their walk, and then, assisted +by their officers—Captain P. F. Robertson and Lieutenant G. +Staunton—began the work of making their entrenchments. At +about 5 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> the expected company of the 60th Rifles arrived, +under the command of Captain E. Thurlow and Second Lieutenants +C. B. Pigott and H. G. L. Howard. Surgeon-Major Cornish also +accompanied this detachment, with some mules laden with +hospital requirements. Captain Thurlow, who had received <i>no +orders</i>, and who had brought out his men without either their +greatcoats or their rations, joined the Highlanders in their +entrenchments. They had to work hard, so as to complete their +work rapidly, and consequently the men had little or no rest +that night. At about 6 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> we were visited by +Commissariat-General J. W. Elmes, who was returning to the +camp, and promised to send out the 60th their rations. Shortly +afterwards a conductor named Field arrived with a led mule, +laden with stores, &c., for the staff. He was hurrying on to +try and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> reach the summit of the hill before day. Doubts were +expressed as to the advisability of his going on alone; but he +had his orders, he said (about the only man who had that day!), +and so he went on his way. About an hour afterwards a shot was +heard, and we afterwards learnt that the conductor had been +wounded, and he and his mule taken prisoners! By this time the +day had quite broken, the heavy curtain of the night had rolled +away, and disclosed before us the rugged and precipitous ascent +to the Majuba Mountain, which stood directly in front of us, +about 1400 yards distant. It stood out in bold relief against a +blue-grey sky, and on the summit, and against the sky, the +figures of men could be distinctly seen passing to and fro. +These were only discernible with the aid of field-glasses, and +at that time no great certainty was felt as to their being our +own men.</p> + +<p>"Away to the south of us, in the direction of the camp, sloped +the Imquela Mountain. The glasses were brought to bear on this +spot also, where a man was detected signalling with a flag. The +officer commanding our party (Captain Robertson, 92nd) then +signalled the question, 'Who are you?' and the answer returned +was, 'We are two companies of the 60th Rifles, who have been +left here all night.' A second message was then sent, asking +what their orders were, and the reply returned was, 'None.' +Their position was consequently much the same as ours. All the +morning our sentries heard occasional shots, and from time to +time were seen small bodies of mounted Boers galloping to and +fro near our entrenchments, seemingly to reconnoitre our +position. At about eleven o'clock we were joined by a troop of +the 15th Hussars, who had just come from the camp, bringing +with them the rations for the 60th Rifles. This troop was +commanded by Captain G. D. F. Sulivan, and accompanied by +Second Lieutenant Pocklington and Lieutenant H. C. Hopkins, 9th +Lancers, attached. Captain Sulivan, having received no orders, +remained with our party, dismounting his men, and placing them +under cover on the slope, just in rear of our entrenchment. For +an hour or two afterwards all remained perfectly quiet. The +distant figures on the summit of the Majuba Hill could still be +seen passing and repassing against the grey sky. We had come to +the definite conclusion that they were our own men, entrenching +themselves on the top of the mountain. They had gained by +strategy a strong position; but could they hold it? Even then +the question was mooted. All at once, while we were quietly +waiting, a continuous and heavy firing broke out on the +mountain. We saw the blue smoke rolling across the still sky; +we saw an evident stir and excitement among the party on the +hill. What was it? Were they attacked, or attacking? Volley +after volley rolled forth; it was a heavy and continuous fire, +never ceasing for a moment. All glasses were brought to bear on +the mountain, and every eye was strained to catch a sight of +what was going on. After a few minutes the figure of a man +hurrying down towards us was visible—a wounded man, no +doubt—and a mounted Hussar was sent out to bring him in. He +proved to be a wounded man of the 58th, and from him we learnt +something of the disaster which had befallen our column. The +General was dead, lying on his back, with a bullet through his +head. Our men were nearly all either wounded or taken +prisoners. The hilltop was covered with the bodies of the brave +fellows, who had fought to the last. Even while he spoke we +could see the desperate retreat had begun, and a few desperate +figures were seen struggling down among the stones and +boulders. Our men were flying, there was no doubt about that +now. In a few minutes the enemy would be upon us, but we were +prepared for them. I never saw men steadier or more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> prepared +to fight, although, as I glanced round, I felt how hopeless +such a fight would be. My fear, however, did not seem to be +participated in by either officers or men, for Captain +Robertson (the officer in command) at once began his +preparation for a determined resistance. The ammunition boxes +were opened, and placed at equal convenient distances all round +the entrenchment. Half the entrenchment was manned by the +Highlanders, and the other half by Rifles. These preparations +were quietly and promptly made. The men were silent, but +steady. Looking round, every face was set with a grave +determination 'to do,' and there was not a word audible as the +orders were spoken and the commands obeyed. The low (and to an +experienced eye) fragile turf walls that were to offer shelter +seemed but poor defences, now that they were to be tried. They +were only about four feet high by two feet thick, with one exit +at the rear, and could never have stood before a fire such as +was even now pouring down the slope of Majuba. The wounded were +now being brought in rapidly by our mounted Hussars, who did +their work steadily. Some of the poor fellows were terribly +wounded, and though Surgeon-Major Cornish did his best for them +unassisted, many had to lie unattended to in their suffering. +All brought the same bitter news of defeat and annihilation, +not very reassuring to our little force, which was now about to +take its part in the day's engagement. As suddenly as it began, +the firing as suddenly ceased; and we knew that the dreadful +task of clearing the heights was done, and our resistance about +to begin. We could see the Boers clustering like a swarm of +bees at the edge of our ridge. Every moment we expected a rush +and an attack. But they hesitated. They were waiting—waiting +for the party of some 600 or 700 mounted Boers, who presently +appeared upon our left flank. Our entrenchment was now almost +surrounded. The mounted Boers were the first to attack us on +our left flank, and their fire was spiritedly replied to by the +Rifles. At this moment, and while we were actually engaging our +enemy, the order came from the camp desiring Captain Robertson +to retreat his force without delay. No such easy matter now, +for the order came almost too late; the Boers were within easy +range of us, and determined to attack. Nevertheless, in the +same orderly and steady manner in which the preparations for +defence had been made, the preparations for retreat were begun. +Much credit is due to Captains Robertson and Thurlow for the +energetic manner in which they helped to load the mules, +securing a safe retreat for the ammunition and stores, and then +assisting Surgeon-Major Cornish to get off the wounded. All +this time we were under fire, and it was while retreating that +poor Cornish was killed. When our little entrenchment had been +cleared of its stores, the real retreat began, made under a +murderous fire, which followed us as we hurried down the steep +slope into the ravine below. Captain Sulivan, with his troop of +Hussars, was placed on the right flank to try and cover the +retreat in that direction. By this time the Boers had partially +occupied our entrenchment, having broken down its defences +easily enough. And we had scarcely retreated down the steep +slope and into the ravine before they occupied the ridge above +us in hundreds, sending volley after volley after our +retreating men. It was a case now of <i>sauve qui peut</i>, and to +me the only marvel is how we lost so few under the +circumstances. Our casualties were four killed (including +Surgeon-Major Cornish), eleven wounded, and twenty-two +prisoners. The Highlanders suffered the most. The officers were +the last to leave the ridge. I saw Captain Robertson standing +on the crest of the slope giving some final directions just a +moment before the ridge was entirely covered by the Boers, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +his escape consequently was almost a miraculous one. I was in +the ravine before I heard our artillery open fire upon the +Boers. Second-Lieutenant Staunton, 92nd Highlanders, was taken +prisoner. We were never joined by the two companies of the +Rifles who were left on the Imquela Mountain the night before, +nor did I see them under fire at any part of the day. Thus +ended our brief battle, and only those who took part in it can +tell the bitterness of having to retreat, utterly routed and +defeated as we were." </p></div> + + +<p class="sechead">THE SIEGE OF PRETORIA</p> + +<p>As may be remembered, Sir Owen Lanyon's proclamation announcing martial +law was read, and the town handed over to the military government. +Colonel Gildea (introduced by Colonel Bellairs) acted as Commandant of +the Garrison, Major F. Mesurier, R.E., was in charge of the Infantry +Volunteers, and Captain Campbell, 94th Regiment, filled the post of +Provost-Marshal. Sympathisers with the Boers were ordered to leave the +place on pain of being handed over to the Provost-Marshal to be dealt +with by military law.</p> + +<p>It was decided to evacuate the town, and form two laagers, one at the +camp, and one between the Roman Catholic church and the jail. In the +camp the women and children were to be placed, while the Infantry +Volunteers garrisoned the convent laager. Within the convent, women and +children were packed tightly as sardines, while the nuns turned out on +errands of mercy. All night and all day, scarcely stopping to eat a +mouthful, men worked, sandbagging windows and doors—building barricades +and defences of various kinds. Waggons were sent round to gather all +families within the shelter of the camp. Rich and poor, good and bad, +some 4000 souls, were herded together in tents for their protection. +Here they remained for three months, enduring hardships of the most +variegated and worrying kind, and loyally waiting for the relieving +column that never came.</p> + +<p>Descriptions of the rations served out to each man daily are not +appetising: Bread, 1<span class="above">1</span>⁄<span class="below">4</span> lb., or biscuit, 1 lb.; coffee, <span class="above">2</span>⁄<span class="below">3</span> oz.; sugar, +2<span class="above">1</span>⁄<span class="below">2</span> oz.; meat, 1<span class="above">1</span>⁄<span class="below">4</span> lb.; tea, <span class="above">1</span>⁄<span class="below">6</span> oz.; and salt, <span class="above">1</span>⁄<span class="below">2</span> oz. These were +reduced as the siege proceeded. The meat was <i>trek</i> beef, a leathery +substitute for steak, and the biscuits were veterans, having "served" in +the Zulu and Sekukuni campaigns, and now being nothing better than a +swarm of weevils. Life in Pretoria was enlivened by occasional sorties +against the Boer laagers, where the enemy was supposed to number some +800 strong. The laagers were distributed at distances of four and eight +miles from the town, and were connected by a system of patrolling, which +rendered communication from within or without almost impossible. A few +messengers (natives) occasionally came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> into the town, but these were +mostly charged with the delivery of delusive messages invented for +special purposes by the Boers. There was an ever-present +difficulty—that of keeping the natives in check. Many examples of Boer +cruelty to these poor blacks are recorded, and they naturally shuddered +at the prospect of once more being delivered over to the rule of the +sjambok.</p> + +<p>Mr. H. Shepstone, the Secretary for native affairs, took immense pains +to keep things quiet among the various chiefs. He said he had but to +lift his little finger, and the Boers would not hold the field for a +couple of days. Almost every native he knew would be in arms, and by +sheer weight of numbers would overpower the Boers. Several of the chiefs +sheltered refugees, and Montsiwe gathered his force in the hope that he +would be allowed to come to the relief of Potchefstroom. Government +reports regarding the loyalty of the natives were numerous, and the +natives' longing to come to the assistance of the British in fighting +their ancient oppressors was obvious. The subsequent desertion of these +people whom Great Britain had taken under her wing, is one of the most +grievous of the many grievous things that accrued from the exercise of +British "magnanimity." Sir Morrison Barlow and Sir Evelyn Wood both +agreed that the natives were "British to a man!" They were thoroughly +sick of Boer cruelty, and the Kaffirs and Basutos had learnt to look to +Great Britain for a reign of peace. Rather than again be ruled by the +Boer despots, they were ready to spill the last drop of their blood, and +only the high principled, almost quixotic action of the British +officials prevented the utilisation in extremity of this massive and +effective weapon of defence. Besides the garrison in Pretoria there were +other forts defended by soldiers and loyalists, forts which were none of +them taken by the enemy. These were Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, +Sydenburg, Marabastad, and Wakkerstroom. The fort of Potchefstroom was +surrendered during the armistice by fraudulent representations on the +part of the Boers.</p> + +<p>The absorbing topic of the time was naturally the future of the +Transvaal. Hope warmed all hearts and helped every one to keep up a +fictitious air of cheerfulness. All thought that the rebellion would +serve to strengthen the British in their determination to establish an +effectual Government in the country and promote an enduring peace. The +suspicion that the territory would be given back would have come on +these hoping, waiting, and longing sufferers like a blast from the pole. +Fortunately it was not given to them to foresee the humiliating end of +their staunch endurance. Anathemas long and deep were sounded at the +mention of Dr. Jorissen, who was looked upon as the fuse which set +alight the rebellious temper of the Boers.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image096" name="image096"></a> + <a href="images/image096h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image096.jpg" + alt="General Sir EVELYN WOOD, G.C.B., V.C." + title="General Sir EVELYN WOOD, G.C.B., V.C." /></a> +<p class="caption">General Sir EVELYN WOOD, G.C.B., V.C.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Maull & Fox, London.</p> +</div> + +<p>The enemy, however, never directly attacked the town. They contented +themselves with attempting to steal cattle and skirmishing, and +generally harassing those within. Such fights as these were mainly due +to British initiative, and these were not fraught with success to us. Of +this period it is pitiful to write. British valour and endurance were +exhibited to the uttermost, and many gallant actions at different +sorties might be recorded. So also might be given, did space allow, many +instances of Boer cunning and Boer treachery—notably the acts of firing +on the flag of truce, and on ambulance waggons. There can be no doubt +that the firing on the flag of truce by the Boers was intentional. Their +own explanation of the cause of this uncivilised proceeding may be taken +for what it is worth. It appears that their troops were divided in +opinion—that one party wished to continue fighting while another wished +to surrender. Hence the exhibition of double-dealing which had so +confounding an effect on their enemies, and so convenient a one for +themselves. The Boers on the Majuba Hill fired on a flag of truce, the +attack at Bronker's Spruit was made under cover of the white flag, and +delay at Ingogo, to cover their movement from shelter, was gained by +means of the same vile expedient.</p> + +<p>When the news of the British reverses at Laing's Nek and Majuba reached +Pretoria there was general consternation. But, as yet, none knew of the +crushing blow that was still in store. On the 28th, 102 days after the +hoisting of the Republican flag at Heidelberg, there came the almost +incredible news that a peace had been concluded involving the surrender +of the Transvaal to the Boers. At first it seemed impossible that the +British Government could have consented to leave its loyal supporters in +the terrible position in which they now found themselves. All who had +sat patiently through trouble and trial, working with might and main, +suffering from endless ills, in peril of their lives, and deprived of +property and home, now joined in one heartrending wail of woe and +disappointment. The consternation that followed the announcement of the +ignoble surrender is thus described by Mr. Nixon, who was an eye-witness +and sharer of the general grief and humiliation:—</p> + +<p>"The scene which ensued baffles description. The men hoisted the colours +half-mast high. The Union Jack was pulled down and dragged through the +mud. The distinctive ribbons worn round the hats of the men as badges +were pulled off and trampled underfoot. I saw men crying like children +with shame and despair. Some went raving up and down that they were +Englishmen no longer; others, with flushed and indignant faces, sat +contemplating their impending ruin, 'refusing to be comforted.' It was a +painful, distressing, and humiliating scene, and such as I hope never to +witness again. While<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> I write, the remembrance of it comes vividly +before me; and as I recall to mind the weeping men and women, the +infuriated volunteers, and the despairing farmers and storekeepers, half +crazy with the sense of wounded national honour, and the prospect of +loss and ruin before them, my blood boils within me, and I cannot trust +myself to commit to paper what I think. The lapse of two years has but +deepened the feeling which I then experienced. The subject may perhaps +be only unpleasant to people at home, but to me personally, who have +seen the ruin and dismay brought upon the too credulous loyalists, the +recollections it stirs up are more bitterly mortifying than words can +describe."</p> + +<p>Mr. Rider Haggard, who at this time was at Newcastle, has also recorded +his experiences on the unhappy occasion. He says:—"Every hotel and bar +was crowded with refugees who were trying to relieve their feelings by +cursing the name of Gladstone with a vigour, originality, and +earnestness that I have never heard equalled; and declaring in ironical +terms how proud they were to be citizens of England—a country that +always kept its word. Then they set to work with many demonstrations of +contempt to burn the effigy of the right honourable gentleman at the +head of her Majesty's Government, an example, by the way, that was +followed throughout South Africa." Talking of the loyal inhabitants in +the Transvaal on whom the news burst 'like a thunderbolt,' he explains +that they did not say much—because there was nothing to be said! They +simply packed up their portable goods and chattels, and made haste to +leave the country, "which they well knew would henceforth be utterly +untenable for Englishmen and English sympathisers." Here was another +great trek—a pathetic exodus of British loyalists whom Great Britain +had betrayed. Away they went, these poor believing and deceived people, +to try and make new homes and new fortunes, for as soon as the Queen's +sovereignty was withdrawn houses and land were not worth a song, and +their chances of earning a living were now entirely over, on account of +their mistaken loyalty.</p> + +<p>The condition of the town is thus described in a journal of the +period:—</p> + +<p>"The streets grown over with rank vegetation; the water-furrows unclean +and unattended, emitting offensive and unhealthy stenches; the houses +showing evident signs of dilapidation and decay; the side paths, in many +places, dangerous to pedestrians—in fact, everything the eye can rest +upon indicates the downfall which has overtaken this once prosperous +city. The visitor can, if he be so minded, betake himself to the +outskirts and suburbs, where he will perceive the same sad evidences of +neglect, public grounds unattended, roads uncared for, mills and other +public works<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> crumbling into ruin. These palpable signs of decay most +strongly impress him. A blight seems to have come over this lately fair +and prosperous town. Rapidly it is becoming a 'deserted village,' a +'city of the dead.'"</p> + +<p class="sechead">RETROCESSION</p> + +<p>The Government, through the medium of the Queen's Speech, had announced +its intention of vindicating her Majesty's authority in the Transvaal. +This was in January 1881. About that time President Brand, of the Orange +Free State, formed himself into a species of Board of Arbitration +between the contending parties—Boers and British. The reason for this +intervention was threefold—first, he genuinely desired to avoid further +bloodshed; second, he as genuinely hoped, under a mask of neutrality, to +advance the Dutch cause throughout South Africa; and third, he amicably +wished to put himself in the good graces of the British Government. +Prior to General Colley's death Mr. Brand had urged him to allow peace +to be made, and to guarantee the Boers not being treated as rebels if +they submitted. General Colley was no quibbler with words. He would give +no such assurance. He proposed, in a telegram to the Colonial Secretary, +to publish an amnesty on entering the Transvaal to all peaceable +persons—excepting one or two prominent rebels. On the 8th of February +(the day of the battle of the Ingogo), a telegram was received from +home, promising a settlement upon the Boers ceasing from armed +opposition. This showed that the Government had early begun to put their +foot on the first rung of the ladder of disgrace—it can be called by no +other term—and that the "climb-down" policy was already coming into +practice. An unfortunate game at cross-purposes seems to have been going +on, for Mr. Brand was proposing to Lord Kimberley that Sir H. de +Villiers—the Chief-Justice of the Cape, should be appointed as +Commissioner to go to the Transvaal to arrange matters, while at the +same time Sir George Colley was telegraphing a plan to be adopted on +entering the Transvaal, a plan which should grant a complete amnesty +only to Boers who would sign a declaration of loyalty.</p> + +<p>Lord Kimberley welcomed the suggestion of Mr. Brand, and agreed, if only +the Boers would disperse, to appoint a Commission with power to "develop +the permanent friendly scheme"; and "that, if this proposal is accepted, +you now are authorised to agree to suspension of hostilities on our +part." At the same time the War Office informed General Colley that the +Government did not bind his discretion, but was anxious to avoid +effusion of blood. Lord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> Kimberley's telegram was forwarded to Colley +and to Joubert. Colley was dumfounded. He telegraphed back: "There can +be no hostilities if no resistance is made; but am I to leave Laing's +Nek in Natal territory in Boer occupation, and our garrisons isolated +and short of provisions—or occupy former and relieve latter?"</p> + +<p>Lord Kimberley's reply was characteristically ambiguous. The garrisons +were to be left free to provision themselves, but Sir George was not to +march to the relief of garrisons or occupy Laing's Nek if an arrangement +were proceeding.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile President Brand and Lord Kimberley held an unctuous +telegraphic palaver, which may diplomatically be viewed as the beginning +of the end. This humiliating end was hastened by the fiasco of Majuba on +the 27th of February, though before it came to pass Sir Frederick +Roberts was despatched with reinforcements to Natal. Sir Evelyn Wood +assumed temporary command of the forces after Colley's death. Colonel +Wood was asked by Lord Kimberley to obtain from Kruger a reply to a +letter General Colley had forwarded before Majuba, requesting a reply in +forty-eight hours. The reply, an ingenuous one, came on the 7th of +March. Kruger was glad to hear that her Majesty's Government were +inclined to cease hostilities, and suggested a meeting on both sides. On +the 12th of March Lord Kimberley telegraphed to Sir Evelyn Wood, saying +that if the Boers would desist from armed opposition, a Commission would +be appointed to give the Transvaal complete internal self-government +under British suzerainty, with a British Resident to look after the +natives.</p> + +<p>The Boers at the same time made a communication. They refused to +negotiate on the basis of Lord Kimberley's telegram of the 8th, as it +would be tantamount to an admission that they were in the wrong. They +would accept nothing short of the restoration of the Republic with a +British protectorate. This the Home Government accepted, and thus the +"climb down" was complete.</p> + +<p>On the 23rd of March 1881, Sir Evelyn Wood, under orders from the +Ministry, signed a treaty on behalf of the British, while the Boer +leaders did the same on behalf of their constituents. By it, the Boers +engaged to accept her Majesty as Suzerain "of the Transvaal, with a +British Resident in the capital, but to allow the Republic complete +self-government, to operate in six months' time. The Suzerain was to +have control over the foreign relations of the Transvaal, and a Royal +Commission for the protection of the natives and the decision of the +boundary of the Republic would be appointed. Persons guilty of acts +contrary to laws of civilised warfare were to be punished; and property +captured by either party was to be returned." In conclusion, it was +arranged that all arms taken by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> British Government when they +annexed the country were to be handed back.</p> + +<p>The Commission appointed by her Majesty's Government consisted of Sir +Hercules Robinson, who replaced Sir Bartle Frere at the Cape; Sir Henry +de Villiers, now Chief-Justice of Cape Colony; and Sir Evelyn Wood; +President Brand was present in a neutral capacity. Though nominally +under the control of the British Government, its actions were pro-Boer. +In justice to Sir Evelyn Wood, it is necessary to state that he did no +more than obey orders laid down by his Government. Indeed it is said +that when he was required to make the disgraceful peace, he called his +officers around him, and asked them to witness that he was merely +obeying orders, so that in days to come he might not submit a tarnished +name to posterity.</p> + +<p>Sir Frederick Roberts, on his arrival at Cape Town, was therefore +informed that his services were no longer needed. Sir Evelyn Wood +retained a force of 12,000 men in Natal, but the Government had decided +on peace at any price, and peace was therefore restored.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE BETRAYED LOYALISTS</p> + +<p>Of the sufferings of the loyalists we must say little. Suffice it to +picture the breaking up of homes gathered together with much patience +after years of steady labour; the insults daily endured from a people +who now held Great Britain in contempt; the disappointment and +indignation, the wretchedness and despair caused to all who had +faithfully adhered to the Crown.</p> + +<p>A petition was drafted to the House of Commons, but signatures were +comparatively few. Many had no hope of redress from Great Britain, +others naturally feared further Boer oppression. Some passages of the +petition ran thus:—</p> + +<p class="tbspace1">"That your petitioners believe that the annexation was acquiesced in by +a majority of the inhabitants, and was looked upon as an act calculated +to create confidence and credit to the country, a belief which is borne +out by the fact that almost all the old officials appointed by the +former Government, or elected by the people, remained in office under +the new Government; and your petitioners further believe, that if the +promises expressed and implied in the annexation proclamation had been +carried out fully in the spirit of the proclamation, the whole of the +inhabitants would, in time, have become loyal subjects of her Majesty.</p> + +<p>"That the annexation was followed by an immediate accession of +confidence, and it marked the commencement of an era of progress<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> and +advancement, which has steadily increased up to the present time, +despite the numerous drawbacks and disadvantages to which the country +has been subjected, and some of which have been the result of Imperial +action.</p> + +<p>"That, notwithstanding the promises expressed and implied in the +annexation proclamation, the country has been governed as a Crown +Colony, and no opportunity has been afforded to the inhabitants of +controlling the policy which has regulated its administration, and your +petitioners are in no way responsible for the late lamentable war, or +for the disgraceful peace which has concluded it.</p> + +<p class="tbdots">.......</p> + +<p>"That the value of property increased at least threefold during the +English occupation, and that the increase progressed in a ratio +corresponding with the reliance placed on the promises of English +officials. Indeed, some of your petitioners are prepared to state, on +oath if required, that they invested money immediately after or in +direct consequence of a statement by a Governor of the Transvaal or a +Minister of the British Crown.</p> + +<p>"That the towns are almost exclusively inhabited by loyal subjects, and +English farmers and traders are scattered all over the country.</p> + +<p class="tbdots">.......</p> + +<p>"That most of the loyal inhabitants intend to realise their property, +even at a sacrifice, and to leave the country, but that those who are +compelled by force of circumstances to remain in it will be deprived of +the protection and security afforded by English rule, and they +respectfully submit they have a right to ask that the fullest and most +substantial pledges be exacted from the contemplated Boer Government for +their safety, and for the exercise of their privileges as British +subjects."</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">In reference to the unfortunate natives, and the humiliating peace, Mr. +Rider Haggard, who had been Shepstone's private secretary, wrote +pathetically to Sir Bartle Frere from Newcastle, Natal:—</p> + +<p class="letterhd"> +"<i>June 6, 1881.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>"I do not believe that more than half of those engaged in the late +rebellion were free agents, though, once forced into committing +themselves, they fought as hard as the real malcontents.... The natives +are the real heirs to the soil, and should surely have some protection +and consideration, some voice in the settlement of their fate. They +outnumbered the Boers by twenty-five to one, taking their numbers at a +million and those of the Boers at forty thousand,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> a fair estimate, I +believe.... As the lash and the bullet have been the lot of the wretched +Transvaal Kaffir in the past, so they will be his lot in the future.... +After leading those hundreds of thousands of men and women to believe +that they were once and for ever the subjects of her Majesty, safe from +all violence, cruelty, and oppression, we have handed them over without +a word of warning to the tender mercies of one, where natives are +concerned, of the cruellest white races in the world.</p> + +<p>"Then comes the case of the loyal Boers, men who believed us and fought +for us, and are now, as a reward for their loyalty, left to the +vengeance of their countrymen—a vengeance that will most certainly be +wreaked, let the Royal Commission try to temper it as they will.</p> + +<p>"Lastly, there are the unfortunate English inhabitants, three thousand +of whom were gathered during the siege in Pretoria alone, losing their +lives in a forsaken cause. I can assure you, sir, that you must see +these people to learn how complete is their ruin. They have been pouring +through here, many of those who were well-to-do a few months since, +hardly knowing how to find food for their families."</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">On this subject Colonel Lanyon, who since the first outbreak had been +shut up in Pretoria, also wrote tragically:—</p> + +<p class="letterhd">"<i>March 29, 1881.</i></p> + +<p>"Last night the saddest news I ever received in my life came in the +shape of a letter from Wood.... After three Secretaries of State, three +High Commissioners, and two Houses of Commons had said that the country +should not be given back, it seems a terrible want of good faith to the +loyals that this decision should have been arrived at. The scene this +morning was a heart-breaking one; the women, who have behaved splendidly +all through the siege, were crying and wringing their hands in their +great grief; the children were hushed as if in a chamber of death; and +the men were completely bowed down in their sorrow. Well they might, for +the news brought home ruin to many, and great loss to all. I am ashamed +to walk about, for I hear nothing but reproaches and utterances from +heretofore loyal men which cut one to the very quick.... How I am to +tell the natives I know not, for they have trusted so implicitly to our +promises and assurances.... One man who has been most loyal to us (an +Englishman) told me to-day, 'Thank God my children are Afrikanders, and +need not be ashamed of their country!'"</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">The feelings described by Sir Owen were openly echoed by all sensible +men who knew anything of the country: they were certain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> that it was not +within the power of Boer comprehension to understand "magnanimity" in an +opponent. To the Boer, as to many an Englishman, this long-sounding word +seemed more neatly to be interpreted by the more ugly but concise term +"funk."</p> + +<p>Sir Bartle Frere, writing of Sir George Colley in a letter to a friend, +expressed his opinion roundly:—</p> + +<p class="letterhd">"<i>March 31, 1881.</i></p> + +<p>"Let no one ever say that England lost prestige through Sir George +Colley. I do not like the word so much as 'character' or 'conduct' which +create it. But no country ever lost real prestige through defeat. +Nelson, wounded and repulsed at Teneriffe; Grenvil, overpowered and +dying on the deck of the <i>Revenge</i>, did as much for England's prestige +as Marlborough at Blenheim or Wellington at Waterloo. Sir George Colley +miscalculated his own and his enemy's strength, but he had nothing to do +with disgraceful surrender, and I am sure had rather be where he now +rests than sign a disgraceful peace, which is the only thing that can +injure England's prestige."</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">Mr. R. W. Murray, of the <i>Cape Times</i>, writing to Sir Bartle Frere, +thought bitterly indeed.</p> + +<p class="tbspace1">"Ask your English statesmen," he wrote, "if, in the history of the +world, there was ever such a cruel desertion of a dependency by the +parent State. How can England hope for loyalty from South Africans? The +moral of the Gladstone lesson is, that you may be anything in South +Africa but loyal Englishmen."</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">These letters, taken haphazard from volumes of correspondence on the +melancholy event of the time, serve better than the words of an outsider +to show the terrible position in which the "magnanimity" of the British +Ministers had placed their countrymen. One more extract and we must pass +on.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image104" name="image104"></a> + <a href="images/image104h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image104.jpg" + alt="COLOUR-SERGEANT and PRIVATE, THE SCOTS GUARDS." + title="COLOUR-SERGEANT and PRIVATE, THE SCOTS GUARDS." /></a> +<p class="caption">COLOUR-SERGEANT and PRIVATE, THE SCOTS GUARDS.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Gregory & Co. London.</p> +</div> + +<p class="tbspaces">Colonel Lanyon, writing again to Sir Bartle Frere, said:—</p> + +<p class="letterhd"> +"<i>April 26, 1881.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>"The Boers are practically dictators, and have been ruling the country +in a manner which is simply humiliating to Englishmen. Active +persecution is going on everywhere, and consequently all that can are +leaving the country. Thirty families have left Pretoria alone; <span style="white-space: nowrap;">B——</span> and +<span style="white-space: nowrap;">M——</span> have left, having been frequently threatened because of their +having been members of the Executive, and those two poor fellows <span style="white-space: nowrap;">J——</span> +and <span style="white-space: nowrap;">H——</span> are completely ostracised for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> same reason. They are +both ruined men, practically speaking, and all because they trusted to +England's assurances and good faith....</p> + +<p>"But hard as these cases are, I feel that the natives have had the +cruellest measure meted out to them, and they feel it acutely. The most +touching and heart-breaking appeals have come from some of the chiefs +who live near enough to have heard the news. They ask why they have been +thrown over after showing their loyalty by paying their taxes and +resisting the demands made upon them by the Boers during hostilities. +They point out that we stopped them from helping us, and that, had we +not done so, the Boers would have been easily put down. They say that, +as we so hindered their action, it is a cruel wrong for us now to hand +them back to the care of a race which is more embittered against them +than ever, and who have already begun to harass them because of their +loyalty. These points are unanswerable, and I do not see how we can +reply to them."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p class="sechead">THE CONVENTIONS</p> + +<p>As may be remembered, Sir Evelyn Wood was ordered to conclude an +armistice, whereby the troops that had garrisoned the Transvaal might +evacuate it. In the case of Potchefstrom, the execution of this design +was treacherously prevented by Commandant Cronjé. This officer, after +the armistice had been arranged, withheld the news from the garrison, +and prevented supplies from reaching the fort. As a natural consequence, +he became a national hero, and led the burghers against Dr. Jameson in +1895 and the forces on the Western frontier in 1899.</p> + +<p>The armistice was concluded in March 1881, and in August the Convention +of Pretoria was signed. Some form of inquiry was held into the conduct +of persons who had been guilty of acts contrary to the rules of +civilised warfare, but the whole thing proved to be a mere farce; and, +as a matter of fact, not one of the perpetrators of murder and other +crimes during the course of the war was brought to justice. The +Commission insisted on a definite agreement for the purpose of securing +British persons from oppressive legislation, but, as we know, Boer +promises were as completely pie-crust as Boer contracts were mere waste +paper.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of June Mr. Gladstone wrote a letter in answer to that +received from the loyal inhabitants. In this he said:—</p> + +<p>"Her Majesty's Government willingly and thankfully acknowledge the loyal +co-operation which her Majesty's forces received at Pretoria and +elsewhere by the inhabitants, and we sympathise with the privations and +sufferings which they endured. I must, however, observe that so great +was the preponderance of the Boers who rose in arms against the Queen's +authority that the whole country, except the posts occupied by the +British troops, fell at once practically into their hands. Again, the +memorialists themselves only estimate the proportion of settlers not +Transvaal Boers at one-seventh. Nearly, though not quite, the whole of +the Boers have appeared to be united in sentiment, and her Majesty's +Government could not deem it their duty to set aside the will of so +large a majority by the only possible means, namely, the permanent +maintenance of a powerful military<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> force in the country. Such a course +would have been inconsistent alike with the spirit of the Treaty of +1852, with the grounds on which the annexation was sanctioned, and with +the general interests of South Africa, which especially require that +harmony should prevail between the white races.</p> + +<p>"On the other hand, in the settlement which is now in progress, every +care will be taken to secure to the settlers, of whatever origin, the +full enjoyment of their property, and of all civil rights."</p> + +<p>The pledges conveyed in the last sentence received such fulfilment as +they were to have by the insertion in the Convention of the following +clauses:—</p> + +<p>"Article XII.—All persons holding property in the said State, on the +8th day of August 1881, will continue to enjoy the rights of property +which they have enjoyed since the annexation. No person who has remained +loyal to her Majesty during the recent hostilities shall suffer any +molestation by reason of his loyalty, or be liable to any criminal +prosecution or civil action for any part taken in connection with such +hostilities, and all such persons will have full liberty to reside in +the country, with enjoyment of all civil rights, and protection for +their persons and property.</p> + +<p>"Article XXVI.—All persons, other than natives, conforming themselves +to the laws of the Transvaal State (<i>a</i>) will have full liberty, with +their families, to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the Transvaal +State; (<i>b</i>) they will be entitled to hire or possess houses, +manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises; (<i>c</i>) they may carry on +their commerce either in person or by any agents whom they may think fit +to employ; (<i>d</i>) they will not be subject, in respect of their persons +and property, or in respect of their commerce or industry, to any taxes, +whether general or local, other than those which are or may be imposed +upon Transvaal citizens."</p> + +<p>The Convention itself is now well known, but brief allusion to it may +not be out of place. The preamble is important, and runs as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Her Majesty's Commissioners for the settlement of the Transvaal +territory, duly appointed as such by a Commission passed under the Royal +Sign Manual and Signet, bearing date the 5th April 1881, do hereby +undertake and guarantee, on behalf of her Majesty, that from and after +the 8th day of August 1881 complete self-government, subject to the +suzerainty of her Majesty, her heirs and successors, will be accorded to +the inhabitants of the Transvaal territory, upon the following terms and +conditions, and subject to the following reservations and +limitations...."</p> + +<p>The new State was to be styled "The Transvaal State." A British Resident +was appointed, and the right to move British troops<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> through the State +guaranteed. External relations were to be under British control, and +intercourse with foreign Powers to be carried on through her Majesty's +diplomatic and consular officers. The independence of Swaziland was +guaranteed. Article 4 of the Sand River Convention, forbidding slavery, +was re-affirmed in Article 16. Natives were to be allowed to acquire +land, and to move about the country "as freely as may be consistent with +the requirements of public order." Complete freedom of religion was +established. Protection to loyalists was guaranteed by the Triumvirate. +The British Resident was given wide authority in native affairs; was, in +fact, constituted as an official protector of natives. The boundaries of +the State were defined, and it engaged not to transgress them.</p> + +<p>The government of the country was handed over to the Triumvirate, who +engaged to summon a Volksraad as soon as possible. The Volksraad when it +assembled, however, was disinclined to ratify the Pretoria Convention. +The burghers wanted the Old Republic of the Sand River Convention, and +fretted at the idea that they should have agreed to acknowledge British +suzerainty. This acknowledgment was made a condition of the grant of +autonomy, and the British Resident in Pretoria was to have large powers +in the direction of native affairs. The position of the post of British +Resident was to be similar to that held by a British Resident in one of +the Native States of India. "Africanus," in his useful book on "The +Transvaal Boers," thus describes the practical difference between the +status of the two officials: "A Resident in an Indian State, though +sometimes exposed to the risk of assassination, or of a general mutiny, +is known by the inhabitants to have behind him the enormous military +force of the Indian Empire, whereas the unhappy Resident at Pretoria was +given no means of enforcing any protests which he might be called upon +to make. His only course was to report disobedience to the High +Commissioner; and if the disobedience was not of such a character as to +force the Imperial Government to undertake military measures, it was +sure to be overlooked. Thus the Resident, so far from controlling the +policy of the Transvaal, was reduced to the position of counsel holding +'a watching brief.'"</p> + +<p>As will be seen, the interests of the Uitlanders were protected, but no +provision was made by the Convention for future immigrants. Mr. Kruger, +whose assurances at the time were believed to be sound, had promised to +place them on equal footing with the burghers as regards freedom of +trade. His words were: "We make no difference as far as burgher rights +are concerned. There may, perhaps, be some slight difference in the case +of a young person who has come into the country," but the term "young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +person," it was afterwards explained, had no reference to age, but to +time of residence in the country.</p> + +<p>Mr. Kruger, as leader of the reactionary section of the Boers, finally +became the President. The rival of Mr. Kruger was Mr. Joubert, otherwise +known as "Slim Piet," on account of his wily ways, and between them from +that day up to the present time considerable jealousy existed. They were +always of one accord, however, in struggling to slip or squeeze out of +any Conventions with the British. The first contravention of treaty +engagements was the return of the State to the old title of South +African Republic. The Home Government feebly remonstrated—it was too +sunk in the slough of "magnanimity" to do more. As a natural result the +Boers snapped their fingers at such remonstrances. After taking an inch +they helped themselves to an ell! They had engaged to respect +boundaries, but soon they began to lap over into Zululand and +Bechuanaland.</p> + +<p>The Boer process of expansion is simple and time-honoured. A case of +spirits is exchanged for the right to graze on land belonging to an +independent chief. The cattle graze, the master locates himself. If the +intrusion is resented, a campaign follows, and the stronger ousts the +weaker. Sometimes the Boer lends his services in warfare to a petty +chief, and those services are rewarded with a grant of land.</p> + +<p>When the British annexed the Transvaal and conquered Sekukuni, the other +chiefs submitted to the British Government. On the resumption of Boer +rule, however, the chiefs were inclined to defy their authority. The +territories of the Mapoch, Malaboch, and Mpefu were assigned to the +Boers by the Convention of 1881, and consequently quarrels began. In +1883 Mapoch broke out against authority, and there was a campaign to +subdue him. Malaboch became obstreperous in 1894, and Mpefu followed his +example in 1898. Most of the campaigns arose over the refusal to pay the +hut tax. Before the Mapoch campaign in 1883 the Volksraad made a change +in the terms of the franchise. It may be remembered that for burgher +rights a residence of one year in the country and an oath of allegiance +were necessary conditions. It was arranged that in future all candidates +for citizenship must have resided and been registered in the Field +Cornet's lists for five years, and must pay the sum of £25.</p> + +<p>About this time Messrs. Kruger, Du Toit, and Smith travelled to England +to agitate for a new Convention. The Transvaal Government had "broken +the spirit, and even the letter," of the old Convention, and Lord Derby +in the House of Lords expressed his opinion that "it would be an easy +thing to find a <i>casus belli</i> in what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> had taken place." In spite of all +this, Mr. Gladstone in 1884 obligingly agreed to a new Convention. By +examination of its terms, it will be seen how far and how ignobly the +Government went on the road to concession. By this Convention the +British Resident was replaced by a diplomatic agent; the old title of +South African Republic was restored; the Republic was allowed to +negotiate on its own account with foreign Powers, limitations on +treaty-making alone being imposed. Complete freedom of religion was +promised, and the Republic agreed to "do its utmost" to prevent any of +its inhabitants from making any encroachments upon lands beyond the +boundaries laid down. Article 14 will be seen to be verbally similar to +Article 26 of the Pretoria Convention of 1881, only the words <i>South +African Republic</i> being substituted for <i>Transvaal State</i>. Nothing was +said about the preamble to the Pretoria Convention or the question of +British "suzerainty." The word was omitted from the new text; but it was +supposed to be operative as before. Over this matter there has been so +much argument that, unless we can devote a volume to solving the +Convention riddle, it is best left alone. We must allow that the +ambiguity of an already ambiguous Ministry had here reached its climax! +Certain it is that the Transvaal representatives returned to inform the +Raad that the suzerainty had been abolished, and that statement they +were allowed to maintain without contradiction! As a natural consequence +of this indecision and weakness on the part of the then Government, +subsequent Governments have been placed in an unenviable quandary. The +Boers contend that the omission of the word "suzerainty" in 1884 was +intentional, and designed to permit the State to style itself an +independent Republic, while all level-headed persons are fully aware +that no Republic could have been granted complete independence while +under a weight of debt for money and blood spent for years and years to +save it from collapse and annihilation. Moreover, the guarantee of +independence of the Transvaal was so unmistakably a result of suzerainty +that the repetition of the word was unnecessary.</p> + +<p class="sechead">MR. KRUGER</p> + +<p>Of the man who now began to play so prominent a part on the political +stage, the world at that time knew but little. Even now opinions +regarding him are many and varied, and it may be interesting to read, in +close juxtaposition, sketches of his character and ways which have from +time to time been drawn by those who have come in contact with him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>Perhaps no more impartial sketch can be presented than that of Mr. +Distant, a naturalist, who visited the Transvaal about eight years ago. +He said:—"President Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger was born on the +10th October 1825, in the district of Colesburg in the Cape Colony, and +is without doubt the greatest and most representative man that the Boers +have yet produced. Uneducated, or self-educated, he possesses a very +large amount of that natural wisdom so often denied to men of great +learning and of literary cultivation. With many prejudices, he is +fearless, stubborn, and resolute, and he really understands Englishmen +little better than they understand him. In his earlier days he has been +a somewhat ardent sportsman and a good shot. He has been engaged and +honourably mentioned in most of the Kaffir fights of his time.... +Socially, he has always lived in a somewhat humble position, and it is +to the credit of his nature as a man that he bears not the slightest +trace of the <i>parvenu</i>. Plain and undistinguished in appearance, he +combines the advantages of a prodigious memory with a remarkable +aptitude for reading his fellow-man, and this last quality would be more +valuable were it not leavened by a weakness in resisting flattery and +adulation. He is very pious and self-reliant, which is provocative of +bigotry and hot temper; and surrounded and approached on all sides by +clever and often unscrupulous financiers and speculators, his scutcheon +has worn wonderfully well, and his character and reputation passed +through many fiery ordeals. He is also a rough diplomatist of no mean +rank."</p> + +<p>The picture is distinctly interesting, but it does Mr. Kruger an +injustice. Mr. Distant says that "he understands Englishmen little +better than they understand him." Surely this remark is an insult to Mr. +Kruger's great sagacity. He long ago "took the measure" of the +Englishman, and he has enjoyed himself immensely in seeing how far it +was possible—vulgarly speaking—to "try it on" with the British nation. +If Mr. Kruger could be induced to write a book entitled "My Life and +Games with the British Government for the last Twenty Years," he might +afford our politicians some useful and instructive entertainment.</p> + +<p>To Mr. Distant's portrait of the President of the South African Republic +another and a later one may be appended. It is drawn by the able pen of +Mr. Fitzpatrick, the author of "The Transvaal from Within." "In the +history of South Africa the figure of the grim old President will loom +large and striking—picturesque, as the figure of one who, by his +character and will, made and held his people; magnificent, as one who, +in the face of the blackest fortune, never wavered from his aim or +faltered in his effort; who, with a courage that seemed and still seems +fatuous, but which may well be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> called heroic, stood up against the +might of the greatest empire in the world. And, it may be, pathetic too, +as one whose limitations were great, one whose training and +associations, whose very successes, had narrowed and embittered and +hardened him; as one who, when the greatness of success was his to take +and hold, turned his back on the supreme opportunity and used his +strength and qualities to fight against the spirit of progress and all +that the enlightenment of the age pronounces to be fitting and necessary +to good government and a healthy State.</p> + +<p>"To an English nobleman who, in the course of an interview, remarked, +'My father was a Minister of England and twice Viceroy of Ireland,' the +old Dutchman answered, 'And my father was a shepherd!' It was not pride +rebuking pride; it was the ever-present fact which would not have been +worth mentioning but for the suggestion of the antithesis. He, too, was +a shepherd, and is—a peasant. It may be that he knows what would be +right and good for his people, and it may be not; but it is sure that he +realises that to educate would be to emancipate; to broaden their views +would be to break down the defences of their prejudices; to let in the +new leaven would be to spoil the old bread; to give unto all men the +rights of men would be to swamp for ever the party which is to him +greater than the State. When one thinks of the one-century history of +this people, much is seen that accounts for their extraordinary love of +isolation, and their ingrained and passionate aversion to control; much, +too, that draws to them a world of sympathy. And when one realises the +old Dopper President hemmed in once more by the hurrying tide of +civilisation, from which his people have fled for generations—trying to +fight both Fate and Nature, standing up to stem a tide as resistless as +the eternal sea—one sees the pathos of the picture. But this is as +another generation may see it. To-day we are too close, so close that +the meaner details, the blots and flaws, are all most plainly visible: +the corruption, the insincerity, the injustice, the barbarity—all the +unlovely touches that will by-and-by be forgotten, sponged away by the +gentle hand of Time, when only the picturesque will remain."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image112" name="image112"></a> + <a href="images/image112h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image112.jpg" + alt="PAUL KRUGER, President of the Transvaal Republic." + title="PAUL KRUGER, President of the Transvaal Republic." /></a> +<p class="caption">PAUL KRUGER,</p> +<p class="caption">President of the Transvaal Republic.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.</p> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Fitzpatrick speaks somewhat more plainly in another place:—</p> + +<p>"Outside the Transvaal Mr. Kruger has the reputation of being free from +taint of corruption from which so many of his colleagues suffer. Yet +within the Republic and among his own people one of the gravest of the +charges levelled against him is, that by his example and connivance he +has made himself responsible for much of the plundering that goes on. +There are numbers of cases in which the President's nearest relations +have been proved to be concerned in the most flagrant jobs, only to be +screened by his influence; such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> cases, for instance, as that of the +Vaal River Water Supply Concession, in which Mr. Kruger's son-in-law +'hawked' about for the highest bid the vote of the Executive Council on +a matter which had not yet come before it, and, moreover, sold and duly +delivered the aforesaid vote. There is the famous libel case in which +Mr. Eugene Marais, the editor of the Dutch paper <i>Land en Volk</i>, +successfully sustained his allegation that the President had defrauded +the State by charging heavy travelling expenses for a certain trip on +which he was actually the guest of the Cape Colonial Government."</p> + +<p>The light thus thrown on the dealings of Mr. Kruger is not a solitary +gleam. It may be remembered that during the period of British rule in +the Transvaal he had an appointment under Government. The terms of his +letter of dismissal can be found on page 135 of Blue-Book, c. 144, and +involving as they do a serious charge of misrepresentation in money +matters, are useful when viewed in line with the above quotation.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lionel Phillips imagines that every one must by this time have +gauged the nature of the President, as she herself has done. She says:—</p> + +<p>"Paul Kruger is so well known from the many portraits and caricatures +that have appeared in recent years, as well as descriptions of him, that +one from me seems superfluous. His clumsy features, and small cunning +eyes, set high in his face, with great puffy rings beneath them, his +lank straight locks, worn longer than is usual, the fringe of beard +framing his face, even his greasy frock-coat and antiquated tall hat +have been pourtrayed times without number. He is a man of quite 75 years +of age now, and his big massive frame is bent, but in his youth he +possessed enormous strength, and many extraordinary feats are told of +him. Once seen he is not easily forgotten. He has a certain natural +dignity of bearing, and I think his character is clearly to be read in +his face—strength of will and cunning, with the dulness of expression +one sees in peasants' faces. 'Manners none, and customs beastly,' might +have been a life-like description of Kruger. The habit of constantly +expectorating, which so many Boers have, he has never lost. He is quite +ignorant of conversation in the ordinary acceptation of the word; he is +an autocrat in all his ways, and has a habit of almost throwing short, +jerky sentences at you generally allegorical in form, or partaking +largely of scriptural quotations—or misquotations quite as often. Like +most of the Boers, the Bible is his only literature—that book he +certainly studies a good deal, and his religion is a very large part of +his being, but somehow he misses the true spirit of Christianity, in +that he leaves out the rudimentary qualities of charity and truth."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p class="sechead">GERMANS AND UITLANDERS</p> + +<p>It appears that a German traveller, Herr Ernest Von Weber, as long ago +as 1875, had cast a loving eye on the Transvaal. He wrote:—"What would +not such a country, full of such inexhaustible natural treasures, +become, if in course of time it was filled with German immigrants? A +constant mass of German immigrants would gradually bring about a decided +numerical preponderance of Germans over the Dutch population, and of +itself would by degrees affect the Germanisation of the country in a +peaceful manner. Besides all its own natural and subterraneous +treasures, the Transvaal offers to the European power which possesses it +an easy access to the immensely rich tracts of country which lie between +the Limpopo, the Central African lakes and the Congo (the territory +saved for England by Mr. Rhodes and the Chartered Company). It was this +free unlimited room for annexation in the North, this open access to the +heart of Africa, which principally impressed me with the idea, not more +than four years ago, that Germany should try, by the acquisition of +Delagoa Bay, and the subsequent continual influx of German immigrants to +the Transvaal, to secure the future dominion over this country, and so +pave the way for a German African Empire of the future. There is, at the +same time, the most assured prospect that the European power, who would +bring these territories under its rule, would found one of the largest +and most valuable empires of the globe; and it is, therefore, on this +account truly to be regretted that Germany should have quietly, and +without protest, allowed the annexation of the Transvaal Republic to +England, because the splendid country, taken possession of and +cultivated by a German race, ought to be entirely won for Germany; and +would, moreover, have been easily acquired, and thereby the beginning +made and foundation laid of a mighty and ultimately rich Germany in the +southern hemisphere. Germany ought at any price to get possession of +some points on the East as well as the West Coast of Africa." Part of +Mr. Von Weber's ambition was subsequently realised.</p> + +<p>In 1884 the introduction of Germany upon the political scene was +successfully accomplished. The hoisting of the German flag at Angra +Peguena was due to the unscrupulous and clever machinations of Prince +Bismarck. The new German Colony comprised Damaraland and Great +Namaqualand, and between it and the Boer Republic lay the Kalari Desert +and Bechuanaland.</p> + +<p>Now, the Bechuana chiefs were old enemies of the Boers. A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> good deal of +border fighting took place, and at last the Boers established their +authority over a district which they christened "The New Republic," and +which was annexed to the Transvaal in 1888. They endeavoured to capture +in the same way Stellaland and Vryburg, but on this subject the British +Government had something to say, and for once they said it definitely. +Sir Charles Warren with a military force took these districts under +British protection. This expedition was resented by the Cape Dutch and +their English friends, Messrs. Spriggs and Upington, who hastened to +Bechuanaland to effect a settlement before the arrival of Sir Charles +Warren's force. Owing to the firmness and decision of Sir Charles Warren +and his supporters, Sir Charles Dilke, Mr. Chamberlain, and Mr. +Mackenzie, their anti-Imperialistic efforts fortunately failed!</p> + +<p>It must be remembered that in Cape Colony the Dutch sympathies had, for +the most part, been given to the Boers. Racial ties in Africa are +strong, and at the time of the war many people, not thoroughly disloyal, +felt that there had been aggression on the freedom of the Republicans, +and were inclined to admire the efforts of the Boers to repel that +aggression. There were others, too, who believed that, owing to fear of +rebellion on the part of the Cape subjects, Great Britain had been +forced into chicken-hearted surrender, and this belief naturally +encouraged the Cape Dutch to assume that, on emergency, the policy of +the Empire might be directed by threats of rebellion.</p> + +<p>Much of the bad feeling was due merely to political agitation. The +association known as the Africander Bond was started as a species of +political nursery wherein to expand the ideas of the budding Boer, and +"coach" him in his duties as a free-born subject. "A little knowledge is +a dangerous thing," as we all are aware, and it seems to have been the +object of this organisation to implant just sufficient knowledge in the +mind of the ignorant farmer to foster his hostility to Great Britain, +without encouraging him to progress sufficiently to gauge the advantages +to himself of peace and goodwill with a sovereign power. Before the +existence of this organisation he was contented to choose as his +Parliamentary representative some sound and respectable citizen, a +British subject, or some colonist who, well versed in the British +tongue, could understand the laws at first hand. But machinating +politicians conceived the notion that the dissatisfied Boer might be +made to dance marionette-wise while they pulled the strings, and they +promptly went to work to pretend he could think for himself, and +proceeded to inflate his mind with so vast an idea of his own political +importance that he even began to conjure up dreams of an entirely Dutch +South Africa on an Africander<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> basis, with the Vierkleur in place of the +Union Jack floating bravely over his head!</p> + +<p>For his benefit the Cape <i>patois</i> was promoted to the rank of a +language. Parliament expressed itself both in English and so-called +Dutch, while Blue-Books and official papers were printed in bi-lingual +fashion, for the convenience of farmer members, who, for the most part, +could neither read, write, nor speak the language of the Netherlands!</p> + +<p>The battle-cry of the Bond was "Africa for the Africander" and the +"Elimination of the Imperial factor." The Colonists naturally grew to +imagine that, as Great Britain was powerless to govern, government on +their own behalf would be advantageous. In justice it must be said that +the Eastern Province and Natal adhered to the Crown, though the Western +Province was led by the nose by the Bond.</p> + +<p>From this time Mr. Hofmeyr—a man of great ability, and generally +devoted to the Africander cause—became an important factor in the +political caucus. Mr. Rhodes also was conspicuous. At that date he was +inclined to lean toward Africander principles, but, like all great men +on seeing the error of their judgments, he readjusted his theories—with +the results we all know.</p> + +<p>The expedition of Sir Charles Warren was entirely successful. As has +been said, a Protectorate was established over Bechuanaland.</p> + +<p>The country south of the Moloppo River, whose chief towns are Mafeking +and Vryburg, became a Crown Colony. It was afterwards transferred to the +Cape. The territories of Khama, Sebele, and Bathoen still form an +Imperial Protectorate.</p> + +<p>When gold was first discovered, the fable of "the dog in the manger" +began to be enacted in the Transvaal. The Boers were quite incompetent +to start mining operations on their own account, and yet were intolerant +of the presence of outsiders who were willing to expend their energies +in the business. Gradually, however, they agreed to admit foreigners on +terms which on the surface were fairly liberal, and became indirectly +almost extortionate.</p> + +<p>These foreigners—British, Americans, Germans, and Poles—were the +antithesis of all that Boer traditions held dear. To begin with, they +were progressive; they were also energetic and commercial, and their +motto, instead of being "God will provide," was the practical one of +"<i>Carpe diem</i>." The dawn of the "golden age" has been described, and +there is no reason, therefore, to dwell on the attractions which +converted the Transvaal, for many, from a fortune-hunter's goal to a +permanent home. Unfortunately these Uitlanders were not bound up in +Transvaal politics. The ways of the stolid and the ignorant, the narrow +and the bigoted, were not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> their ways; they had no sympathy for +"masterly inaction," and this the Boers knew.</p> + +<p>In 1887, to protect themselves from the outsider, the Republicans +arranged that invaders could not be admitted to burgher rights under +fifteen years. The Uitlanders agitated for increased privileges, and in +1890 a "Second Raad" was created. For this Chamber it was necessary to +take the oath of allegiance, to reside two years in the State before +being entitled to vote, and another two before becoming eligible for +election.</p> + +<p>Upon the scene now came Dr. Leyds, a Hollander of certain ability, a +cosmopolitan schemer, and as such naturally opposed to the prestige of +Great Britain. He had his ideal of a great Africander Confederation! On +the other hand, there was Mr. Rhodes, who had also his ideal—that of a +Confederated South Africa stretching to the Zambesi. Fortunately, with +Mr. Rhodes went the Cape Dutch. And here we may break off to consider +the Colossus, as he has been called. His enemies were many. By some it +was asserted that Mr. Rhodes was at heart no Imperialist; by others he +was declared to be merely an unscrupulous adventurer. But, as the proof +of the pudding is in the eating, so must any criticism of this +marvellous man be confined to results.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p class="sechead">MR. RHODES</p> + +<p>Of the chief personage in the political and financial history of South +Africa it is desirable we should know something definite, though space +does not allow of any long appreciation of all he has accomplished for +the advancement of the empire. The Right Hon. Cecil John Rhodes was born +in 1853. He was the fourth son of the late Rev. Francis W. Rhodes, +Rector of Bishop Stortford. In 1871 he went to South Africa, there to +join his brother Herbert, who was engaged in cotton-growing in Natal. +His constitution was delicate, and it was believed that a journey to the +Cape would be beneficial to him. In 1872 he returned in much better +health to England, and entered Oriel College, Oxford. While there he +contracted a chill, and found himself again under orders to return to +South Africa. At that time Herbert Rhodes had forsaken cotton-growing, +and had become fascinated by the prospect of wealth offered by the +diamond fields in the locality now known as Kimberley. The two youths +joined hands, and in 1873 we find the elder brother leaving his claim in +charge of the younger, the hard-working, astute, and masterful Cecil, +whose name has become almost a household word. The young man, who took +his degree at Oxford in the interval of his work, brought to every task +he attempted an educated mind and a certain dogged obstinacy, which +caused him to surmount all difficulties. He prospered amazingly. But +money, instead of numbing his activities, only sharpened them, and he +soon began to formulate his ideal—the Utopian dream of an entirely +British Africa from the Cape to the Zambesi!</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image118" name="image118"></a> + <a href="images/image118h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image118.jpg" + alt="THE MATABELE WAR—DEFENDING A LAAGER." + title="THE MATABELE WAR—DEFENDING A LAAGER." /></a> +<p class="caption">THE MATABELE WAR—DEFENDING A LAAGER.</p> +<p class="caption">Drawing by R. Caton Woodville.</p> +</div> + +<p>His most conspicuous financial work was the De Beers Company, of which +we have treated elsewhere. From one big venture he went to others more +gigantic still. The famous Chartered Company and the splendid province +of Rhodesia came virtually into existence as the result of his +magnificent foresight. In 1881, in Basutoland, Mr. Rhodes, the +newly-elected member for Barkly West, had the good fortune to meet +General Gordon, who was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> struck at once by the immense ability of the +young man. In character, it seems, they were the extremes that meet! +These two men, of equally strong personality, had an antagonism of +character which, clashing, gave forth a resonance that was vastly +inspiriting.</p> + +<p>Gordon and Rhodes would take long walks together, and discuss the +affairs of nations. The General, who was as dictatorial as his +associate, on several occasions severely criticised the opinions of +young Rhodes. "You always contradict me," he declared. "I never met such +a man for his own opinion. You think your views are always right, and +every one else's wrong. You are," he went on to say, "the sort of man +who never approves of anything unless you have had the organising of it +yourself."</p> + +<p>It was a new edition of the pot calling the kettle black, and afforded +much amusement to onlookers.</p> + +<p>On another occasion Gordon begged him to remain in Basutoland and work +with him, but Rhodes refused. He demonstrated that his work lay in +Kimberley, and there he would remain. "There are very few men in the +world," argued Gordon, "to whom I would make such an offer. Very few +men, I can tell you; but, of course, you <i>will</i> have your own way."</p> + +<p>Once, when they were together, Gordon related to Rhodes the story of an +offer of a room full of gold which had been made to him by the Chinese +Government, after the suppression of the Tai-Ping revolt. "What did you +do?" asked Rhodes. "Refused it, of course. What would you have done?" +said Gordon. "I would have taken it," answered Rhodes, "and as many more +roomfuls as they would give me. It is no use for us to have big ideas if +we have not got the money to carry them out."</p> + +<p>When Gordon went to Khartoum he invited Rhodes to accompany him, but +Rhodes refused. He accepted the offer made by the same post of the +Treasurer-Generalship in the Scanlin Ministry. In 1884 he became +Deputy-Commissioner for Bechuanaland, which, as the key to South Africa, +he determined to keep under his watchful eye. He was at the same time +Treasurer-General of Cape Colony. In 1889 he became Director of the +British South Africa Company and Chairman till the fiasco of 1896, at +which time he was Premier of Cape Colony. In addition to holding these +posts, his activities have been unending. He has been the moving spirit +in every enterprise for the expansion and development of South Africa. +He has gained the esteem of the loyal Dutch, and has succeeded in making +himself feared if not beloved by the disloyal. His great work of +attempting to weld together the two races into one united people is for +the nonce suspended, but should life be spared him he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> will doubtless +see the realisation of his dream. In addition to his other labours Mr. +Rhodes was Commissioner of the Crown Lands in 1890-94, Minister of +Native Affairs 1894-95, and served in Matabeleland in 1896.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">RHODESIA—UNCIVILISED</p> + +<p>In sketching the history of Rhodesia it is necessary to go at least as +far back as our friend Chaka, the great chieftain of the Zulus, whose +military prowess has been described. In the days of this warlike +personage, Matshobane, who governed the Matabele tribe on the north-west +of Zululand, preferred to submit to Chaka rather than to be "eaten up." +Matshobane was the grandfather of Lobengula, who is intimately +associated with the infant history of this promising country. His son +Mosilikatze, however, was not so amenable to Zulu discipline. He broke +out, annihilated all men, women, and children who happened to come in +his way, and betook himself finally to remote regions where he had no +masters save the lions. Later on, in 1837, he conceived the ingenious +notion of exterminating all the white men north of the Orange River; but +the white men were too much for him, and so he promptly retired to fresh +fields and pastures new—in fact, to the country now known as +Matabeleland. Its inhabitants were then settled between the Limpopo and +the Zambesi. Here he again carried on his fell work of extermination. Of +the horrors of his triumphant progress nothing need be said. They are +best left to the imagination. It is enough to explain that the tribes of +the Makalas, Mashonas, and others that happened to be in the way, were +speedily wiped out. The Matabele, reigning in this vast now almost +desolate region, soon became the terror of other tribes. The ravagers +continued their fiendish operations, and finally set up military kraals +and installed their chief in the principal of these at Buluwayo.</p> + +<p>How long this state of things would have endured it is difficult to say. +Fortunately there appeared on the scene a man—The Man—who conceived in +his mighty brain a way to clear this Augean stable and transform it into +a comparative fairyland. Mr. Cecil Rhodes came—he saw—and he conquered +in all senses of the word. He decided that British civilisation must be +extended to this "hinter-land"—as the Boers called it—and, being a +keen man of the world and no sentimentalist, he argued, moreover, that +British civilisation might be made to pay its way! The idea that Mr. +Rhodes is "the walking embodiment of an ideal," without personal +ambition in his schemes, is as absolutely absurd as are the reverse +pictures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> that have been painted of him. He is no angel and no ogre, Mr. +Rhodes is one of Nature's sovereigns, who, conscious of his power and +the limitations of human life, uses every minute at his disposal to +write his name large in the records of his country. And, since his name +is large, he wants as a natural consequence a large and clear area to +write it in, and that area he means to have!</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image121" name="image121"></a> + <a href="images/image121h.png"> + <img src="images/image121.png" + alt="Map of Matabeleland." + title="Map of Matabeleland." /></a> +<p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Matabeleland.</span></p> +</div> + +<p>Now, Mr. Rhodes had decided that the British were the best +administrators of South Africa, and that if the British shirked the task +it would be undertaken by some other nation. He saw the key to South +Africa in his hands—he saw the Boer overspreading his borders, he saw +Germans and Portuguese intriguing for footholds—there was but one +course open, and he followed it. On the 30th<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> of November 1888, +Lobengula, the chief of the Matabele, signed a document giving the +British the right to search for and extract minerals in his territory. +Upon that the British South Africa Company was started. In 1889 a +charter was granted by the Imperial Government. The Company was created +with a capital of one million sterling. There were eight directors, +three appointed by the Crown, and five elected by the shareholders. Mr. +Cecil Rhodes occupied the position of managing director. In a brief +space of time the wildernesses and the forests were traversed, roads +were made, and a strong protective force installed in the country. Dr. +Jameson was appointed administrator at Salisbury. A railroad was planned +and forts were built. These were occupied by the Company's police.</p> + +<p>While the pioneers were at work prospecting for gold, and improving the +country in all manner of ways, Lobengula became cantankerous. It must be +remembered that he suffered from gout, for which he was treated by Dr. +Jameson. Now, Lobengula without gout was sufficiently savage to cause +much apprehension; with it, it is impossible to describe the nature of +the alarm he must have occasioned. He fell out first with the Mashonas +for trivial reasons, and murders were committed. Dr. Jameson then came +to the conclusion that, if the place was to be held at all, Lobengula +must be crushed. More commotions followed. The Matabeles and Mashona +tribes between them contrived to render the country uninhabitable. The +peaceable Europeans would stand it no longer. The Matabele war ensued.</p> + +<p>The High Commissioner gave Dr. Jameson permission to protect the +country, and the forces advanced in two columns upon Buluwayo. Major +Patrick Forbes acted as commander-in-chief, with Major Alan Wilson as +next in command. This column, with guns, baggage, and attendant blacks +(who assisted as camp-followers), kept as much as possible to open +country to avoid surprise. They marched from the Iron-mine Hill, at the +source of the Tokwe River.</p> + +<p>The second column, commanded by Colonel Goold Adams, was composed in +equal numbers of Bechuanaland police and South Africa Company's mounted +men. In all they numbered about 450. It was accompanied by some 1500 +Bemangwats under their chief.</p> + +<p>With Major Forbes's column were Dr. Jameson, Sir John Willoughby, and +Bishop Knight Bruce. The advance was carefully managed. The column +destroyed all military kraals in its line of march, skirmishing at +times, but cautiously providing against attacks of the enemy. One of +these attacks took place while the force was in laager, on the 25th of +October. A Matabele army, 5000 strong,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> made three savage onslaughts, +but were driven back on each occasion with heavy loss.</p> + +<p>The column still continued to advance, and Lobengula, hearing of its +victory and approach, sent forth to meet it a company of pure Zulus, the +flower of his army.</p> + +<p>The Imbezu and Ingubo in front of the Matabele army then approached the +laager that was being formed near the source of the Imbembesi River. +They advanced with all their accustomed dash, and a warlike intrepidity +worthy of Chaka, their renowned ancestor.</p> + +<p>But they could make no stand against the Maxim and machine guns, and in +a few hours all was over. Lobengula's day was practically done!</p> + +<p>On hearing of the victory he set fire to his kraal himself, and fled +towards the Zambesi, leaving his magazine, whenever the flames should +reach it, to explode with ferocious uproar.</p> + +<p>In November 1893 the Chartered Company's force came into possession of +the smoking, deserted region. Messengers were sent in search of the +chief. Lobengula was courteously advised to surrender. His personal +safety was assured to him by Dr. Jameson, but he refused to listen. +Efforts were then made to capture him. After a long and fatiguing march, +news was brought in that Lobengula's waggons had been seen on the road +the day before.</p> + +<p>Major Wilson, with a well-mounted party, went off to follow the spoor, +being advised to return before dark. This he did not do. He remained for +the night beyond the Shangani River, and by daylight reached the waggons +of the chief.</p> + +<p>Lobengula's followers immediately attacked the small company of +thirty-four Europeans, which was speedily annihilated. Some of these +might have escaped, but they preferred, though largely outnumbered, to +fight side by side with their comrades till the last!</p> + +<p>Very little remains to be told. Lobengula endeavoured to arrange terms +with the British force, but his messengers and money never reached their +destination. Babyane and four other indunas—followed after a few days +by others—came to inquire what terms of peace would be granted. They +were required to surrender their arms before returning to their kraals, +which they did with alacrity. Most of the natives followed their +example, being well satisfied with British rule. The death of Lobengula, +of fever and gout, in January 1894 put an end to further complications.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="sechead">RHODESIA—CIVILIZED</p> + +<p>So far we have seen the establishment of the British in a hitherto +absolutely savage arena. It may be interesting to hear what travellers +have had to say regarding the region that has recently become our own. +Its present aspect, and its prospects for the future, are best learnt +from authorities who have personally inspected the place. Mr. Charles +Boyd discourses thus on the subject:—</p> + +<p>"When you have got out of the train before the corrugated iron building +which stands on the edge of the illimitable grey, green veldt, to mark +where the great station of the future is to arise, there is one feature +of Buluwayo which is making ready to seize hold upon you. It is not, +perhaps, the most important feature, but it is conspicuous enough to +entitle it to a first place in any jotting of local impressions. It is +what a logician might call the <i>differentia</i> of Buluwayo. Put it bluntly +it comes to this, that you have arrived in a community of gentlemen. A +stranger making his way about the brown streets, neat brick and +corrugated iron buildings set down on red earth, and divided into +alternate avenues and streets—'little New York,' said a policeman +complacently—a stranger pauses to ask himself if he dreams, or if the +Household Brigade, the Bachelors' Club, and the Foreign Office have +depleted themselves of their members, and sent them, disguised in +broad-brimmed hats and riding-breeches, to hold the capital of +Matabeleland. Young men of the most eligible sort are everywhere. Some +of them are manifestly youthful, others are well on in the thirties, +there is even a sprinkling of men of years; but the mass of the +population presents the same aspect of physical fitness, that +indefinable something besides, which is perhaps not to be expressed save +under the single head of 'race.'" In fact, our authority asserts that +nowhere can be found a healthier, shrewder, or friendlier set of men. He +believes in them, and in the discipline that has toughened them to meet +the real needs of life, and kept them alive to a sense of their +political and social importance. He says—</p> + +<p>"Buluwayo now possesses a population of 5000, a mayor and corporation, +daily and weekly papers, and several public buildings, including banks, +clubs, and an hospital built as a memorial to Major Wilson.</p> + +<p>"The rapid increase in the value of land at Buluwayo is shown by the +fact that whilst in 1894 the average price of a town stand was £103, in +1897 it had advanced to £345. By the opening of the railway, in November +1897, it is placed in direct communication with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> Cape Town, and a +still greater increase in value may be anticipated."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image125" name="image125"></a> + <a href="images/image125h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image125.jpg" + alt="TO THE MEMORY OF BRAVE MEN. THE LAST STAND OF MAJOR WILSON ON THE SHANGANI RIVER, 1893." + title="TO THE MEMORY OF BRAVE MEN. THE LAST STAND OF MAJOR WILSON ON THE SHANGANI RIVER, 1893." /></a> +<p class="caption">"TO THE MEMORY OF BRAVE MEN."</p> +<p class="caption">THE LAST STAND OF MAJOR WILSON ON THE SHANGANI RIVER, 1893.</p> +<p class="caption">Painting by Allan Stewart.</p> +<p class="caption">Reproduced by special arrangement with the Fine Art Society, London.</p> +</div> + +<p>Things in Rhodesia are as yet expensive, but Mr. Boyd thinks that +railroads will have a cheapening influence. He quotes some present +prices, which would make the hair of a Londoner stand on end! Imagine +the feelings of the comfortable cockney who found himself face to face +with a breakfast bill for nine shillings! For this modest sum Mr. Boyd +was supplied with tea, ham, eggs, marmalade, and toast, in fact, the +little commonplace things that we have come to consider as the natural +fixtures of the metropolitan table!</p> + +<p>Of the library, whose foundation-stone was laid by Sir Alfred Milner, he +speaks in highly favourable terms. He says that in laying the +foundation-stone no one seemed more keenly impressed than the High +Commissioner himself. He prophesied the foundation of a rich university +at Buluwayo to replace that other and easy one which a library is avowed +to supply. At this some one smiled. But Sir Alfred rebuked him for the +frivolity. He had seen enough, Sir Alfred declared, of the temper of +this place, to believe a university at Buluwayo to be a consummation +neither fanciful nor impossible. In regard to the agrestic qualities of +this new district, Mr. H. Marshall Hole has spoken at some length in an +article which appeared in an issue of <i>Colonia</i>, a magazine published by +the Colonial College, Hollesley Bay, Suffolk. He declares that "the +great advantage of Rhodesia as an agricultural country is the facility +with which irrigation can be carried on; the conformation of the land is +undulating, and even the so-called 'flats' are intersected in all +directions by valleys, each of which possesses its watercourse, so that +by the simple expedient of throwing a dam across these valleys, water +may be stored and led on to the adjacent fields as required. The soil is +in all parts naturally fertile, but the farmer sometimes has great +difficulty in reducing it to a proper state for cultivation, owing to +the roots and growth which must be exterminated before the seed is sown. +The strongest ploughs and the most careful harrowing are required for +this work, otherwise the settler will have to face the annoyance and +delay of broken ploughshares, and the disaster of a crop choked by +tangle-grass and weeds. The crops to which farmers have hitherto most +devoted themselves in Rhodesia are mealies (maize) and forage (oat hay). +These find a ready market at all times, as they form the staple food of +horses. The next most popular crop is potatoes, which do well, are not +liable to disease, and are in so great request that they sometimes fetch +1s. 6d., and seldom fall below 3d. per pound in the market. All kinds of +English vegetables prosper with very little trouble, beyond careful +watering in dry weather, and weeding during the rains; but, for some +unexplained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> reason, vegetable culture is left almost entirely to the +coolies or Indians, who, despite their very primitive methods of +irrigation and tillage, make immense profits thereby."</p> + +<p>Further on he says that farms of about 3000 acres may be bought at from +£250 to £2000, according to their situation as regards neighbouring +towns, or the extent of cultivation done on them; and while the farmer +will not derive much more than a bare subsistence for the first year or +two, he may, by combining dairy-farming and timber-cutting with his more +extensive operations, make both ends meet at any rate, and enhance the +value of his land without being out of pocket. One with a small capital +has, of course, a better chance of immediate profit, and such an one +would do well to join some established and experienced man in +partnership, or as a pupil, in order to learn something of the business +before entering it finally. His advice to adventurous youth is, "By all +means go, if you can manage to put together enough money to pay your +passage and to keep yourself for two or three months after your +arrival."</p> + +<p>Of the towns he speaks appreciatively. "We have buildings of a very +substantial type, built for the most part of brick. There are blocks of +rooms which form bachelor 'diggings' for single men, and small but +comfortable suburban houses for families, while the railways on the east +and west afford facilities for the importation of excellent furniture. +Eight years ago it was so difficult to obtain furniture that every +little packing case was carefully treasured, its nails drawn out and +straightened, and its boards converted into tables, stools, and shelves. +To-day it is no uncommon thing to find pianos and billiard tables in +private houses in Buluwayo, and even in Salisbury, which has not yet +been reached by the railway, while the club-houses at both places are +models of comfort and luxury."</p> + +<p>A writer, who signs himself "W. E. L.," in <i>British Africa</i> says of +Rhodesia, "That the soil is mostly very fertile; in Matabeleland alone +6000 square miles are suitable for cultivation without any artificial +irrigation, or other extensive preliminary work. In 1891, a commission +of Cape Colony farmers visited the country, and reported favourably on +the land from an agricultural standpoint. Mr. Lionel Decle said, 'I am +the first traveller who has crossed Africa from the Cape to Uganda, and +I must say the British South Africa Company may certainly boast of +possessing the pick of Central Africa on both sides of the Zambesi.'</p> + +<p>"Teak forests cover 2000 square miles in North-West Matabeleland; and +Mashonaland is very well timbered, mostly with trees of the acacia +family.</p> + +<p>"The native crops are rice, tobacco, cotton, and india-rubber. All +European vegetables can be grown to perfection, especially<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> cabbages, +lettuces, beetroot, turnips, carrots, and onions. There were in 1897 +over eighty market gardens in the neighbourhood of Buluwayo, and for the +half-year ending September 1897, the value of the produce sold was +£9630.</p> + +<p>"Fruit orchards are being planted, and nearly all fruit appears to +flourish, especially grapes, figs, oranges, peaches, almonds, walnuts, +lemons, bananas, quinces, apricots, pomegranates, and apples. All kinds +of European cereals can be grown, and maize does well.</p> + +<p>"The average rainfall is 30 to 35 inches, 90 per cent. of which falls +during the wet season—November to March.</p> + +<p>"The temperature rarely touches freezing point, except on the highlands +round Salisbury and Fort Charter, and owing to the great elevation (4000 +to 5000 feet) of most of the country, rarely exceeds 90° in the shade. +In the low-lying Zambesi valley, however, it is very hot from December +to March."</p> + +<p>Of the mineral wealth, it seems as yet dangerous to prognosticate. +Prophecies are many, and there is every reason to believe that the mines +will be prolific as those of the Transvaal. In regard to this matter, +however, time alone can show.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">GOLD</p> + +<p>It may be remembered that in and after 1854, the Boers commenced to +block up the path of travellers, and in some cases to cause expulsion of +visitors across the Vaal. Doubtless this policy of expulsion originated +in the nefarious traffic in "apprentices," which they wished to carry on +uninterruptedly, but there was also another reason for their +precautions. Stray discoveries of gold had been made from time to time, +and gold prospectors began to take an uncomfortable interest in the +district. Now the Boers had no desire to open up their country to the +mining population, or to run any risks which might interfere with their +hardly won independence. After the discoveries of the German explorer +Manch, however, they were unable entirely to resist invasion. The ears +of the public were tickled. The hint of nuggets in the Transvaal +naturally drew thither a horde of adventurous Europeans who would not be +denied. The first immigrants betook themselves to Barberton, and some +three or four years later to the Witwatersrandt. These appear mostly to +have been Scotsmen, for President Burgers christened the earliest +goldfields Mac Mac, in consequence of the names of the invaders. Miners +and speculators of all kinds commenced to pour into those districts, +some to make a fortune as quickly as possible, and rush off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> to spend it +elsewhere, others to settle themselves in the country and develop +schemes for financial outlay, profitable alike to themselves and to the +land of their adoption. Now these permanent visitors were scarcely +appreciated by the Boers. They foresaw the alien transformed into the +citizen, and objected to him. The power which they had acquired, both by +long years of hardship and long hours of scheming, they wished to keep +entirely in their own hands. With the arrival of further settlers they +feared this independence would be materially weakened. In order that +further possible citizens might not be attracted to the Transvaal, the +Volksraad passed a law calculated to damp their ardour. This law imposed +on all candidates for the franchise a residence of five years, to be +accompanied by register on the Field Cornet's books, and a payment of +£25 on admission to the rights of citizenship.</p> + +<p>The first discoverers of the great goldfield are reported to be the +Brothers Struben, owing to whose perseverance and patience the +Witwatersrandt became the Eldorado of speculators' dreams. In 1886 this +locality was declared a public goldfield by formal proclamation, and the +South African golden age began.</p> + +<p>In a little while the regions north of the Limpopo began to be +investigated, and each in their turn to yield up their treasures. In +1888 a concession to work mineral upon his territory was obtained from +Lobengula, the Matabele king. A year later the British South Africa +Company was founded. The Company having obtained its charter, no time +was lost. In 1890, we find the now noted pioneer expedition plying its +activities in Mashonaland.</p> + +<p>Mr. Basil Worsfold, in a most instructive article in the <i>Fortnightly +Review</i>, affords an excellent insight into the energy that characterised +the Company's proceedings:—"In the space of three months, a road 400 +miles in length was cut through jungle and swamp, and a series of forts +was erected and garrisoned by the Company's forces. After the Matabele +war, which occupied the closing months of 1893, the prospecting and +mining for gold was commenced in Matabele, as well as in Mashonaland, +and at the present time Buluwayo, Lobengula's kraal, has become the +chief centre of the industry. These operations were checked by the +revolt of the Matabele and Mashona in 1896, but since that period gold +mining has been steadily progressing. The Buluwayo yield for December +1898 amounted to 6258 oz.: while that of the four last months—September +to December—of the same year was 18,084 oz., of the value of about +£70,000!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image128" name="image128"></a> + <a href="images/image128h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image128.jpg" + alt="A MATABELE RAID IN MASHONALAND." + title="A MATABELE RAID IN MASHONALAND." /></a> +<p class="caption">A MATABELE RAID IN MASHONALAND.</p> +<p class="caption">Drawn by W. Small, from Sketches by A. R. Colquhoun, First Administrator of Mashonaland.</p> +</div> + +<p>The other fields which yield gold are the Transvaal, Lydenberg, and De +Kaap fields, and the Klerksdorp and Potchefstrom fields. The output of +these fields continues to grow apace, but how much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> longer the growth +will be maintained is uncertain. The opinion of Mr. Hamilton Smith, who +wrote to the <i>Times</i> on the subject in 1895, is worth consideration. He +says, "In 1894 the value of the Randt gold bullion was £7,000,000, and +this without any increase from the new deep-level mines; these latter +will become fairly productive in 1897, so for that year a produce of +fully £10,000,000 can be fairly expected. Judging from present +appearances, the maximum product of the Randt will be reached about the +end of the present century, when it will probably exceed £12,500,000 per +annum."</p> + +<p>It is interesting to find that Mr. Smith's maximum figure was already +exceeded in the year 1898, when the total yield of gold was 4,295,602 +oz., valued at £15,250,000!</p> + +<p>The following table, based on Mr. H. Smith's and Dr. Soetbeer's +estimates, affords us an opportunity for comparing the South African +output with that of other countries, and the world's present supply with +that of former years:—</p> + +<table summary="World Gold Production" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><th colspan="2" class="borderb"><span class="smcap">Gold Output for 1894.</span></th><th colspan="2" class="borderlb"><span class="smcap">World's Output.</span></th></tr> +<tr><td style="width: 25%;"></td><td style="width: 25%; padding-right: 2em" class="ralign">Value.</td><td class="borderl" style="width: 25%;">From</td><td style="width: 25%;" class="number">Average annual value.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="text">United States</td><td class="number">£9,000,000</td><td class="borderl">1700 to 1859</td><td class="number">£ 2,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="text">Australasia</td><td class="number">8,000,000</td><td class="borderl">1850 to 1975</td><td class="number">25,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="text">South Africa</td><td class="number">7,000,000</td><td class="borderl">1875 to 1890</td><td class="number">20,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td class="text">Russia (1892)</td><td class="number">4,000,000</td><td class="borderl">1894 (one year only)</td><td class="number">36,000,000</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Of the stimulus given to railway construction by the establishment of +the gold industry Mr. Worsfold speaks with authority. He says, "To-day, +Johannesburg—built on land which in 1886 was part of an absolutely +barren waste—is approached by three distinct lines, which connect it +directly with the four chief ports of South Africa—Delagoa Bay, Durban, +Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town. Of these lines the earliest, which +traverses the Free State from end to end, and links the Randt with the +Cape Colony, was not opened until July 1892. The Pretoria-Delagoa Bay +line was completed in the autumn of 1894; and the extension of the Randt +railway to Charlestown, the connecting-point with the Natal line, was +not effected until the following year. These, together with some +subsidiary lines, represent a total of 1000 miles of railway constructed +mainly under the stimulus of the gold industry in the Transvaal. To this +total two considerable pieces of railway construction, accomplished in +the interest of the gold industry in the Chartered Company's +territories, must be added. Of these, the first extended the main trunk +line of Africa from Kimberley successively to Vryburg and Mafeking, in +1890 and 1894, and then finally to Buluwayo in 1897,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> and the second, +the Beira line, by securing a rapid passage through the 'fly country,' +brought Salisbury into easy communication with the East Coast of Africa +at the port so named. Taken together, they measure 930 miles. It should +be added also that arrangements are already in progress for the +extension of the trunk line from Buluwayo to Tanganyika—a distance of +about 750 miles. This will form a new and important link in Mr. Rhodes' +great scheme of connecting Cape Town with Cairo."</p> + +<p>The telegraph advanced more speedily even than railroads, and the +population has kept pace with wire and rail. Johannesburg has a +population of 120,800 souls, and Buluwayo, a savage desert not long ago, +has now an European society of over 5000 persons. It is therefore +somewhat questionable if Mr. Froude is justified in his opinion that +diamonds and gold are not the stuff of which nations are made. Nations, +if they are to expand, must be fed, and while diamond and gold mines +give up of their wealth, we are assured of sufficient food to foster +expansion. That done, it remains merely with the Government of the +flourishing nation to decide whether its work shall be little or large.</p> + +<p>It is curious to note that in spite of the disturbance in the Transvaal +the mines continued to maintain their position, with the result that the +gold output from the Randt for July shows a considerable increase upon +previous months. According to the official figures received from the +Chamber of Mines, the returns were as follows:—</p> + + +<table summary="Gold production for July 1899" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><td style="width: 30%; text-align: right">456,474 ozs.</td><td> for the Witwatersrandt district</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">22,019 ozs.</td><td> for the outside district</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">————</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">478,493 ozs.</td><td></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>The production in June 1899 was:—</p> + +<table summary="Gold production for June 1899" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><td style="width: 30%; text-align: right">445,763 ozs.</td><td> for the Witwatersrandt district</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">21,508 ozs.</td><td> for the outside district</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">————</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">In all 467,271 ozs.</td><td></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>And in July 1898:—</p> + +<table summary="Gold production for July 1898" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><td style="width: 30%; text-align: right">359,343 ozs.</td><td> for the Witwatersrandt district</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">22,663 ozs.</td><td> for the outside district</td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">————</td><td></td></tr> +<tr><td class="ralign">In all 382,006 ozs.</td><td></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>This table shows that during the twelve months since July 1898 the +production of gold on the Randt has increased by 100,000 ozs. a +month—equivalent to 1,200,000 ozs. a year. It will be found that, if +these returns are compared with the estimates made by competent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +authorities, the actual output is far in excess of all estimates, +following is the gold output table, Transvaal, to July 1899:—</p> + +<table summary="Gold production by Month" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><th class="bordersc">month.</th><th class="border">1895.</th><th class="border">1896.</th><th class="border">1897.</th><th class="border">1898.</th><th class="border">1899.</th><th class="bordersc">total to date.</th></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr"></td><td class="borderlrc">Ozs.</td><td class="borderlrc">Ozs.</td><td class="borderlrc">Ozs.</td><td class="borderlrc">Ozs.</td><td class="borderlrc">Ozs.</td><td class="borderlrc">Ozs.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">January</td><td class="borderlrc">177,463</td><td class="borderlrc">148,178</td><td class="borderlrc">209,832</td><td class="borderlrc">336,577</td><td class="borderlrc">431,010</td><td class="borderlrc">369,557—1889</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">February</td><td class="borderlrc">169,296</td><td class="borderlrc">167,019</td><td class="borderlrc">211,000</td><td class="borderlrc">321,238</td><td class="borderlrc">425,166</td><td class="borderlrc">42,000—'87-8-9</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">March</td><td class="borderlrc">184,945</td><td class="borderlrc">173,952</td><td class="borderlrc">232,067</td><td class="borderlrc">347,643</td><td class="borderlrc">464,036</td><td class="borderlrc">494,817—1890</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">April</td><td class="borderlrc">186,323</td><td class="borderlrc">176,003</td><td class="borderlrc">235,698</td><td class="borderlrc">353,243</td><td class="borderlrc">460,349</td><td class="borderlrc">729,238—1891</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">May</td><td class="borderlrc">194,580</td><td class="borderlrc">195,009</td><td class="borderlrc">248,305</td><td class="borderlrc">365,016</td><td class="borderlrc">466,452</td><td class="borderlrc">1,210,867—1892</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">June</td><td class="borderlrc">200,942</td><td class="borderlrc">193,640</td><td class="borderlrc">251,529</td><td class="borderlrc">365,091</td><td class="borderlrc">467,271</td><td class="borderlrc">1,478,473—1893</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">July</td><td class="borderlrc">199,453</td><td class="borderlrc">203,874</td><td class="borderlrc">242,479</td><td class="borderlrc">382,006</td><td class="borderlrc">478,493</td><td class="borderlrc">2,024,163—1894</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">August</td><td class="borderlrc">203,573</td><td class="borderlrc">213,418</td><td class="borderlrc">259,603</td><td class="borderlrc">398,285</td><td class="borderlrc">...</td><td class="borderlrc">2,277,640—1895</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">September</td><td class="borderlrc">194,765</td><td class="borderlrc">202,562</td><td class="borderlrc">262,150</td><td class="borderlrc">408,502</td><td class="borderlrc">...</td><td class="borderlrc">2,281,175—1896</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">October</td><td class="borderlrc">192,652</td><td class="borderlrc">199,890</td><td class="borderlrc">274,175</td><td class="borderlrc">423,217</td><td class="borderlrc">...</td><td class="borderlrc">3,034,674—1897</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">November</td><td class="borderlrc">195,219</td><td class="borderlrc">201,113</td><td class="borderlrc">297,124</td><td class="borderlrc">413,517</td><td class="borderlrc">...</td><td class="borderlrc">4,555,009—1898</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">December</td><td class="borderlrc">178,429</td><td class="borderlrc">206,517</td><td class="borderlrc">310,712</td><td class="borderlrc">440,674</td><td class="borderlrc">...</td><td class="borderlrc">3,193,777—1899</td></tr> +<tr><td class="border">Total</td><td class="borderc">2,277,640</td><td class="borderc">2,281,175</td><td class="borderc">3,034,674</td><td class="borderc">4,555,009</td><td class="borderc">3,193,777</td><td class="borderc">21,899,562 ozs.</td></tr> +</table> + +<p class="center">Government Returns; some additions to be made for Rhodesia.</p> + +<p class="sechead">DIAMONDS</p> + +<p>The discovery of diamonds in South Africa was made by a curious +accident. One day a trader travelling along in the neighbourhood north +of Cape Colony happened to stop at a farm. While there, he was +interested in a small child who was toying with a bright and singularly +lustrous pebble. His curiosity was aroused, and he suggested that the +thing might be rare enough to be of some value. Thereupon the stone was +sent to an expert in Grahamstown, who declared it to be a diamond. The +stone weighed twenty-one carats and was valued at £500. From that date +search was made in and around the locality, and more diamonds, smaller +and of inferior quality, were found. During the years 1867-68 nothing +very active was done, though now and again these precious stones were +discovered near the Vaal River.</p> + +<p>In the month of March, 1869, the world was startled and began to open +its eyes. The diamond known as "the Star of Africa," weighing some +eighty-three carats in its raw state, was obtained from a Hottentot. +This individual had been in possession of the valuable property for some +time, and had kept it solely on account of its rarity as a charm. The +stone was eventually sold for the sum of £11,000.</p> + +<p>The north bank of the Vaal where the discoveries were made was, at that +time, a species of "No-Man's-Land." The southern bank<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> belonged to the +Free State, but for the other side there were many claimants, none of +whom could prove a title to it. The community of miners which there +gathered was consequently lawless and ruffianly, and its mode of +government was distinctly primitive.</p> + +<p>The various claimants, notably the Griqua Captain, Nicholas Waterboer, +commenced disputes regarding the valuable portion of the Free State +territory, and finally it was decided to submit to British arbitration. +President Brand refused the offer, but President M. W. Pretorius of the +South African Republic, who had grievances against the Barolong, +Batlapin, and Griqua tribes, agreed. A Court was appointed, the Governor +of Natal acting as umpire. The interests involved were many, and on the +subject of their rights the various claimants seemed somewhat hazy. The +Free State was not represented, and the umpire, acting on the evidence +of Mr. Arnot (the agent of Nicholas Waterboer) gave judgment against the +South African Republic, and allowed the claim of the Griqua Captain, +including in the award the tract claimed by him in the Free State. The +complicated situation is thus described by Mr. Bryce in his "Impressions +of South Africa":—</p> + +<p>"As Waterboer had before the award offered his territory to the British +Government, the country was forthwith erected into a Crown Colony, under +the name of Griqualand West. This was in 1871. The Free State, whose +case had not been stated, much less argued, before the umpire, +protested, and was after a time able to appeal to a judgment delivered +by a British Court, which found that Waterboer had never enjoyed any +right to the territory. However, the new Colony had by this time been +set up, and the British flag displayed. The British Government, without +either admitting or denying the Free State title, declared that a +district in which it was difficult to keep order amid a turbulent and +shifting population ought to be under the control of a strong power, and +offered the Free State a sum of £90,000 in settlement of whatever claim +it might possess. The acceptance by the Free State, in 1876, of this sum +closed the controversy, though a sense of injustice continued to rankle +in the breasts of some of the citizens of the Republic. Amicable +relations have subsisted ever since between it and Cape Colony, and the +control of the British Government over the Basutos has secured for it +peace in the quarter which was formerly most disturbed.</p> + +<p>"These two cases show how various are the causes, and how mixed the +motives, which press a great power forward even against the wishes of +its statesmen. The Basutos were declared British subjects, partly out of +a sympathetic wish to rescue and protect them, partly because policy +required the acquisition of a country naturally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> strong, and holding +an important strategical position. Griqualand West, taken in the belief +that Waterboer had a good title to it, was retained after this belief +had been dispelled, partly perhaps because a population had crowded into +it which consisted mainly of British subjects, and was not easily +controllable by a small State, but mainly because Colonial feeling +refused to part with a region of such exceptional mineral wealth. And +the retention of Griqualand West caused, before long, the acquisition of +Bechuanaland, which in its turn naturally led to that northward +extension of British influence which has carried the Union Jack to the +shores of Lake Tanganyika."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image133" name="image133"></a> + <a href="images/image133h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image133.jpg" + alt="KIMBERLEY, AS SEEN FROM THE ROCK SHAFT." + title="KIMBERLEY, AS SEEN FROM THE ROCK SHAFT." /></a> +<p class="caption">KIMBERLEY, AS SEEN FROM THE ROCK SHAFT.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p>Griqualand West, whose capital is the salubrious Kimberley, was settled +in 1833 by the Griquas or Baastards, a tribe of Dutch Hottentot +half-breeds. As we have seen, the territory was claimed by the chief, +Waterboer, and his claim was allowed by the Governor of Natal. When he +subsequently ceded his rights, the province was annexed to Cape Colony, +but with independent jurisdiction. In 1881 it became an integral part of +Cape Colony. Griqualand East comprises No-Man's-Land, the Gatberg and +St. John's River territory, under eight subordinate magistrates.</p> + +<p>A word, before passing on, of Kimberley. This town, hitherto known as +the City of Diamonds, has now the distinction of being the casket where +Mr. Rhodes, with the price of £5000 on his head, was incarcerated. Its +real birth dates from 1869-70, when all the world rushed out to win +fortune from its soil. Happily at that time Mr. Cecil Rhodes happened to +be in the neighbourhood. With his usual gift of foresight, he recognised +that some process of amalgamating the various conflicting claims and +interests, and merging them in one huge whole, would be necessary if the +value of diamonds was to be kept up. He invented a scheme, and +succeeded—the great corporation, the De Beers Consolidated Mining +Company, limited the output of diamonds to an annual amount such as +Europe and the United States were able to take at a price high enough to +leave an adequate profit. This arrangement has, in a measure, had the +effect of depopulating the place. At least it has thinned it of the +crowd of adventurers who previously infested the region and struggled to +maintain an independent existence there. In the absence of these loafers +the town is civilised, and comparatively refined. There are groves of +gum-trees to promote shade, and thickets of prickly pear, which have +ever a rural, though touch-me-not aspect. The low-storeyed houses, built +bungalow-wise, have an air of capaciousness and ease; and further out, +in Kenilworth, there are comfortable dwellings, surrounded with trees, +and suggestive of a certain suburban picturesqueness. This region owes +its cheerful and well-ordered aspect entirely to Mr. Rhodes, who is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> at +the same time the parent and the apostle of all progress in South +Africa.</p> + +<p>The diamonds have their home in beds of clay, which are usually covered +with calcareous rock. These beds are the remains of mud pits, due to +volcanic action. Mr. Bryce, in his "Impressions of South Africa, says:—</p> + +<p>"Some of the mines are worked to the depth of 1200 feet by shafts and +subterranean galleries. Some are open, and these, particularly that +called the Wesselton Mine, are an interesting sight. This deep hollow, +one-third of a mile in circumference and 100 feet deep, enclosed by a +strong fence of barbed wire, is filled by a swarm of active Kaffir +workmen, cleaving the 'hard blue' with pickaxes, piling it up on +barrows, and carrying it off to the wide fields, where it is left +exposed to the sun, and, during three months, to the rain. Having been +thus subjected to a natural decomposition, it is the more readily +brought by the pickaxe into smaller fragments before being sent to the +mills, where it is crushed, pulverised, and finally washed to get at the +stones. Nowhere in the world does the hidden wealth of the soil and the +element of chance in its discovery strike one so forcibly as here, where +you are shown a piece of ground a few acres in extent, and are told, +'Out of this pit diamonds of the value of £12,000,000 have been taken.' +Twenty-six years ago the ground might have been bought for £50."</p> + +<p>To encourage honesty in the miner good wages are given, and ten per +cent. is allowed to finders of valuable stones who voluntarily deliver +these to the overseer. Apropos of this subject, Mr. Bryce relates an +amusing tale, which, if not true, is certainly <i>ben trovato</i>: "I heard +from a missionary an anecdote of a Basuto who, after his return from +Kimberley, was describing how, on one occasion, his eye fell on a +valuable diamond in the clay he was breaking into fragments. While he +was endeavouring to pick it up he perceived the overseer approaching, +and, having it by this time in his hand, was for a moment terribly +frightened, the punishment for theft being very severe. The overseer, +however, passed on. 'And then,' said the Basuto, 'I knew that there was +indeed a God, for He had preserved me.'"</p> + +<p>Before leaving the subject of diamonds, it may be interesting to note +the material increase of the products of the mines year by year. The +following is a table of statistics of the De Beers Consolidated Mines, +Limited, since its formation, 1st April 1888:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>—</p> + +<p class="sechead">TABLE OF STATISTICS.</p> + +<table summary="Diamond production by Month with associated Values" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 140%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><th rowspan="2" class="border" style="width: 10%;"> </th> + <th rowspan="2" class="border" style="width: 10%;">Year ending</th> + <th rowspan="2" class="border">Number of Loads of Blue Hoisted.</th> + <th rowspan="2" class="border">Number of Loads of Blue Washed.</th> + <th rowspan="2" class="border">Number of Carats of Diamonds Found.</th> + <th rowspan="2" colspan="3" class="border">Amount Realised by Sale of Diamonds.</th> + <th rowspan="2" class="border">Number of Carats per Load of Blue.</th> + <th rowspan="2" colspan="2" class="border">Amount Realised per Carat Sold.</th> + <th rowspan="2" colspan="2" class="border">Amount Realised per Load.</th> + <th rowspan="2" colspan="2" class="border">Cost of Production per Load.</th> + <th rowspan="2" class="border">Number of Loads of Blue on Floors at Close of Year, exclusive of Lumps.</th> + <th colspan="4" class="border">Dividends Paid</th></tr> +<tr><th class="border" colspan="3">Amount.</th> + <th class="border">Equal to.</th></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="numbern" style="padding-right: 2em">£</td> + <td class="numbern">s.</td> + <td class="numbern">d.</td> + <td class="numbernl"> </td> + <td class="numbernl">s.</td> + <td class="numbern">d.</td> + <td class="numbernl">s.</td> + <td class="numbern">d.</td> + <td class="numbernl">s.</td> + <td class="numbern">d.</td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="numbern" style="padding-right: 2em">£</td> + <td class="numbern">s.</td> + <td class="numbern">d.</td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="9" class="borderlr">De Beers and Kimberley Mines</td> + <td class="borderlr">March 31, 1889, prior to consolidation</td> + <td class="numbernlr">944,706</td> + <td class="numbernlr">712,263</td> + <td class="numbernlr">914,121 </td> + <td class="numbern">901,818</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="numbern">5</td> + <td class="numbernl">1.283</td> + <td class="numbernl">19</td> + <td class="numbern">8¾</td> + <td class="numbernl">25</td> + <td class="numbern">3¾</td> + <td class="numbernl">9</td> + <td class="numbern">10½</td> + <td class="numbernl">476,403</td> + <td class="numbernl">188,329</td> + <td class="numbern">10</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr"> 5 per cent.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">March 31, 1890</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,192,226</td> + <td class="numbernlr">1,251,245</td> + <td class="numbernlr">1,450,605 </td> + <td class="numbern">2,330,179</td> + <td class="numbern">16</td> + <td class="numbern">3</td> + <td class="numbernlr">1.15 </td> + <td class="numbernl">32</td> + <td class="numbern">6¾</td> + <td class="numbernl">37</td> + <td class="numbern">2¾</td> + <td class="numbernl">8</td> + <td class="numbern">10½</td> + <td class="numbernl">1,576,821</td> + <td class="numbernl">789,682</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">20 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">March 31, 1891</td> + <td class="numbernlr">1,978,153</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,029,588</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,020,515 </td> + <td class="numbern">2,974,670</td> + <td class="numbern">9</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="numbernlr">.99 </td> + <td class="numbernl">29</td> + <td class="numbern">6 </td> + <td class="numbernl">29</td> + <td class="numbern">3¾</td> + <td class="numbernl">8</td> + <td class="numbern">8 </td> + <td class="numbernl">1,525,386</td> + <td class="numbernl">789,791</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">20 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr"><a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a>June 30, 1892</td> + <td class="numbernlr">3,338,553</td> + <td class="numbernlr">3,239,134</td> + <td class="numbernlr">3,035,481 </td> + <td class="numbern">3,931,542</td> + <td class="numbern">11</td> + <td class="numbern">1</td> + <td class="numbernlr">.92 </td> + <td class="numbernl">25</td> + <td class="numbern">6 </td> + <td class="numbernl">23</td> + <td class="numbern">5 </td> + <td class="numbernl">7</td> + <td class="numbern">4.3</td> + <td class="numbernl">1,624,805</td> + <td class="numbernl">1,382,134</td> + <td class="numbern">5</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">35 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">June 30, 1893</td> + <td class="numbernlr">3,090,183</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,108,626</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,229,805 </td> + <td class="numbern">3,239,389</td> + <td class="numbern">8</td> + <td class="numbern">6</td> + <td class="numbernl">1.05 </td> + <td class="numbernl">29</td> + <td class="numbern">0.6</td> + <td class="numbernl">30</td> + <td class="numbern">6 </td> + <td class="numbernl">6</td> + <td class="numbern">11.6</td> + <td class="numbernl">2,606,362</td> + <td class="numbernl">987,238</td> + <td class="numbern">15</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">25 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">June 30, 1894</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,999,431</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,577,460</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,308,463½</td> + <td class="numbern">2,820,172</td> + <td class="numbern">3</td> + <td class="numbern">9</td> + <td class="numbernl">.89 </td> + <td class="numbernl">24</td> + <td class="numbern">5.2</td> + <td class="numbernl">21</td> + <td class="numbern">10.6</td> + <td class="numbernl">6</td> + <td class="numbern">6.8</td> + <td class="numbernl">3,028,333</td> + <td class="numbernl">987,238</td> + <td class="numbern">15</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">25 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">June 30, 1895</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,525,717</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,854,817</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,435,541½</td> + <td class="numbern">3,105,957</td> + <td class="numbern">15</td> + <td class="numbern">8</td> + <td class="numbernlr">.85 </td> + <td class="numbernl">25</td> + <td class="numbern">6 </td> + <td class="numbernl">21</td> + <td class="numbern">8 </td> + <td class="numbernl">6</td> + <td class="numbern">10.8</td> + <td class="numbernl">2,699,233</td> + <td class="numbernl">987,238</td> + <td class="numbern">15</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">25 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">June 30, 1896</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,698,109</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,597,026</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,363,437¾</td> + <td class="numbern">3,165,382</td> + <td class="numbern">1</td> + <td class="numbern">4</td> + <td class="numbernlr">.91 </td> + <td class="numbernl">26</td> + <td class="numbern">9.4</td> + <td class="numbernl">24</td> + <td class="numbern">4.5</td> + <td class="numbernl">7</td> + <td class="numbern">0.1</td> + <td class="numbernl">2,800,316</td> + <td class="numbernl">1,579,582</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">40 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">June 30, 1897</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,515,889</td> + <td class="numbernlr">3,011,288</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,769,422¾</td> + <td class="numbern">3,722,099</td> + <td class="numbern">3</td> + <td class="numbern">3</td> + <td class="numbernlr">.92 </td> + <td class="numbernl">26</td> + <td class="numbern">10.6</td> + <td class="numbernl">24</td> + <td class="numbern">8.6</td> + <td class="numbernl">7</td> + <td class="numbern">4.3</td> + <td class="numbernl">2,304,917</td> + <td class="numbernl">1,579,582</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="numbern">0</td> + <td class="borderlr">40 "</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="3"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="3"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">Premier Mine</td> + <td class="borderlr">June 30, 1897</td> + <td class="numbernlr">271,777</td> + <td class="borderlrc">...</td> + <td class="borderlrc">...</td> + <td class="borderlrc" colspan="3">...</td> + <td class="borderlrc">...</td> + <td class="borderlrc" colspan="2">...</td> + <td class="borderlrc" colspan="2">...</td> + <td class="borderlrc" colspan="2">...</td> + <td class="numbernlr">271,777</td> + <td class="borderlrc" colspan="3">...</td> + <td class="borderlrc">...</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="3"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="3"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr">De Beers and Kimberley Mines</td> + <td class="borderlr">June 30, 1898</td> + <td class="numbernlr">3,332,688</td> + <td class="numbernlr">3,259,692</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,603,250 </td> + <td class="numbern">3,451,214</td> + <td class="numbern">15</td> + <td class="numbern">3</td> + <td class="numbernlr">.80 </td> + <td class="numbernl">26</td> + <td class="numbern">6.2</td> + <td class="numbernl">21</td> + <td class="numbern">2.1</td> + <td class="numbernl">6</td> + <td class="numbern">7.4</td> + <td class="numbernlr">2,377,913</td> + <td rowspan="3" class="numbernlb">1,579,582</td> + <td rowspan="3" class="numbernb">0</td> + <td rowspan="3" class="numbernb">0</td> + <td rowspan="3" class="borderlrb">40 per cent.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="3"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr" colspan="2"> </td> + <td class="borderlr"> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="borderlrb">Premier Mine</td> + <td class="borderlrb">June 30, 1898</td> + <td class="numbernlrb">1,146,984</td> + <td class="numbernlrb">691,722</td> + <td class="numbernlrb">189,356¼</td> + <td class="numbernb">196,659</td> + <td class="numbernb">18</td> + <td class="numbernb">8</td> + <td class="numbernlrb">.27 </td> + <td class="numbernb">20</td> + <td class="numbernb">9.3</td> + <td class="numbernlb">5</td> + <td class="numbernb">8.2</td> + <td class="numbernlb">2</td> + <td class="numbernb">7.1</td> + <td class="numbernlrb">727,039</td></tr> +</table> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> These figures are for a period of fifteen months. Add 10 +per cent. for other products.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p class="sechead">THE TRANSVAAL OF TO-DAY</p> + + +<p>We have dealt with the exodus of the trekkers, and with the land that +subsequently became the Transvaal. It behoves us now to discuss the +difference between that primitive pastoral region of the early century +and the busy country that may, for distinction sake, be styled the +Transvaal of to-day.</p> + +<p>Modern geographers apply the name of the Transvaal to the tract of +country between the Limpopo River on the north, and the Vaal River on +the south. It is bounded on the east by the Lobombo, and the Drakenberg +Mountains, which run parallel to the Natal coast, and on the west by +British Bechuanaland. On the east lie Portuguese Territory and British +Zululand, on the north Rhodesia, on the west British Bechuanaland, and +on the south the Orange Free State and Natal. The important rivers are +the Limpopo or Crocodile River, so named in compliment to its reptile +inhabitants, and the Vaal, a tributary of the Orange River. This rises +among the Drakenberg Mountains, and, curving, flows west as a boundary +between the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. The Limpopo rises +between Johannesburg and Pretoria, and sprays out north-east, +north-west, east, and south-east, reaching the sea in the neighbourhood +of Delagoa Bay. After leaving the Transvaal, owing to the presence of a +cataract, it is however unsuitable for purposes of navigation. The +district of the Transvaal varies in height from 2000 to 8000 feet above +the level of the sea. The Hooge Veld, the uplands of the Drakenberg +Mountains, rises from 4000 to 8000 feet above the sea, and between them +and the outer slopes of the Lobombo range is a vast tract of some 20,000 +square miles of arable land, called the Banken Veld. It furnishes a +splendid grazing ground, and corn grows in profusion. The Bosch Veld or +Bush Country comprises the centre of the country, and runs west into +Bechuanaland. This district is largely infested with the tsetse fly, an +insect whose sting means death to almost all domestic animals. Besides +this, it is the home of malaria and other fevers. The Hooge Veld, which +has a drier, colder, and more healthy climate, is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> largely used for +breeding cattle, and as a grazing ground for sheep and oxen. It is here +that, in later days, the gold-mining activity proceeds, as almost +everywhere there are believed to be rich auriferous deposits. Its +mineral deposits have been the attraction of the Transvaal, for the +coal-fields invited the attention of some of the first speculators. In +fact, the first railway line of the district ran between Johannesburg +and a colliery.</p> + +<p>Besides coal may be found silver, copper, and lead. But the great +attraction, <span class="smcap">Gold</span>, has for the last ten years lured all the money from +the pockets of the enterprising. Other metals, such as cinnabar, iron, +and tin are, for the nonce, like Gray's violet, "born to blush unseen," +until some ingenious person discovers in them a subtle attraction.</p> + +<p>To show the financial changes which have come over the country within +the last ten years, Mr. Campbell, late Vice-President of the Chamber of +Mines, Johannesburg, has written a valuable article. In it he gives us +the following agrarian position in the Transvaal of the present by areas +and by values:—</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Areas.</span></p> + +<table summary="Acreage of land owned by Boers and British" class="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 60%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><td class="lalign"> </td><td class="ralign">Per cent.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign">Boers' own land</td><td class="ralign">65</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign">British</td><td class="ralign">35</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="ralign">——</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="ralign">100</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>But land is valuable not by area merely, but by intrinsic value, and the +Boers have sold much of their best land, and taken British gold for it, +and when we come to the figures in the Government Dues Office at +Pretoria, we have—</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Value.</span></p> + +<table summary="Value of land owned by Boers and British" class="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 60%; font-size: 90%"> +<tr><td class="lalign"> </td><td class="ralign">Per cent.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign">Boers' own land</td><td class="ralign">33</td></tr> +<tr><td class="lalign">British</td><td class="ralign">67</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="ralign">——</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="ralign">100</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>The net deductions in the Dues Offices are, that the whole of the farms +and private lands in the Transvaal, under the mere Boer occupancy, are +valued by the outside world at £933,200, whereas to-day, by the addition +of the British buyer and holder, they are now valued by the world at ten +millions sterling! In figures given above, all land occupied for mining +or town sites is excluded.</p> + +<p>The current yield of gold is computed at the rate of seventeen and a +half millions sterling per annum. This is the vitalising source of +African trade and African progress. It pays the interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> on nearly all +South African Railways, is responsible for a large portion of the costs +of Government in the Cape Colony, Orange States, Natal as well as +Pretoria. And yet the working bees—the white British community of +Johannesburg—who have helped to enrich the hive containing the whole of +South African interests, have been neglected, if not betrayed, by the +Mother Country. They have been deprived of arms, of liberties,—they +have suffered insult and disdain, and Great Britain, until forced to do +so, has moved not a finger in their defence. The Transvaal, one of the +richest districts of the world, merely wants good and sustained +government—a government that will grant to all respectable white men +free and equal rights. When this shall come to pass, its splendid +resources will be developed. The Indian Ocean trade will be supplied +with steam coal. The country will sustain itself, and will also export +food stuffs, and trade in iron, hide, wool, tin, and quantities of other +things, whose value has hitherto been ignored. All that is needed is a +dignified acceptance of British responsibilities. South Africa was +bought by the paramount Power nearly an hundred years ago, and has since +then been administered—if not entirely wisely and well—at least +administered, by that Power. British sweat has rained on the country, +British muscle has toiled in the country, British blood has flowed in +streams over its face, and British bones are mixed with the shifting +grains of its sand. It now remains for British sovereignty to wield its +sceptre and make its presence felt.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image138" name="image138"></a> + <a href="images/image138h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image138.jpg" + alt="PRETORIA FROM THE EAST." + title="PRETORIA FROM THE EAST." /></a> +<p class="caption">PRETORIA FROM THE EAST.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p class="sechead">ACCUMULATED AGGRAVATIONS</p> + +<p>Since it is impossible to enter into all the intricacies of foreign +political relations with the Transvaal, we will return to the +Uitlanders. They became more and more unwelcome as their numbers +increased. Many Acts were passed, each serving to render more impossible +their chances of obtaining the franchise. The fact was that Mr. Kruger, +having brought his State to a condition of bankruptcy almost identical +with that which existed when Sir T. Shepstone annexed the Transvaal, was +struggling to carry on a divided scheme, that of grabbing with both +hands from the Uitlander financialists, while endeavouring to maintain +with close-fisted obstinacy the exclusiveness, irresponsibility, and +bigotry of the primitive trekker. He knew that if he granted full +political rights to the outsiders he would no longer be master of his +own misguided house. He said as much, and pointed out that were he to do +so there would be no alternative but to haul down his flag. This being +the case, there was no resource but to transform<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> the so-called free +Republic into an absolute oligarchy. Much has been said of the "Russian +despot," but this century can present no more complete spectacle of +despotism than that of Mr. Kruger. The Emperor of Russia, autocrat as he +is, is guided by the traditions of his empire and the machinations of +his ministers, but Mr. Kruger has allowed himself to be reasoned with +and influenced by none, and his word has been in reality the only form +of law or justice on which the Uitlanders have had to rely. Such system +of government as there was was corrupt. Smuggling flourished under the +very eye of the officials, and the Field Cornets, whose business it was +to act as petty justices, collect taxes, and register arrivals of +new-comers, kept their books in a manner more in accord with their +personal convenience than with accuracy. Hence, when it came to the +question of the naturalisation of the Uitlanders, the books which should +have recorded their registration were either withheld or missing. +Settlers in the Transvaal between the years 1882 and 1890, owing to this +irregularity, were debarred from proving their registration as the law +required. Speaking of this period, Mr. Fitzpatrick, in "The Transvaal +from Within," says:—</p> + +<p>"In the country districts justice was not a commodity intended for the +Britisher. Many cases of gross abuse, and several of actual murder +occurred, and in 1885 the case of Mr. Jas. Donaldson, then residing on a +farm in Lydenburg—lately one of the Reform prisoners—was mentioned in +the House of Commons, and became the subject of a demand by the Imperial +Government for reparation and punishment. He had been ordered by two +Boers (one of whom was in the habit of boasting that he had shot an +unarmed Englishman in Lydenburg since the war, and would shoot others) +to abstain from collecting hut taxes on his own farm; and on refusing +had been attacked by them. After beating them off single-handed, he was +later on again attacked by his former assailants, reinforced by three +others. They bound him with reims (thongs), kicked and beat him with +sjamboks (raw-hide whips) and clubs, stoned him, and left him +unconscious and so disfigured that he was thought to be dead when found +some hours later. On receipt of the Imperial Government's +representations, the men were arrested, tried, and fined. The fines were +stated to have been remitted at once by Government, but in the civil +action which followed Mr. Donaldson received £500 damages. The incident +had a distinctly beneficial effect, and nothing more was heard of the +maltreatment of defenceless men simply because they were Britishers."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless the hostility between the two races was growing apace, and +every ambition of the Uitlanders was promptly nipped in the bud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> + +<p>Reforms were at first mildly suggested. Bridges and roads were required, +also a remission of certain taxes, but suggestions, even agitations, +were in vain. In regard to the franchise question—the crying question +of the decade—Mr. Kruger turned an ear more and more deaf. There are +none so deaf as those whose ears are stopped up with the cotton-wool of +their own bigotry. This bigotry it is almost impossible for enlightened +persons to understand. As an instance of the almost fanatical ignorance +and prejudice with which the Uitlanders had to contend, we may quote the +letter of Mr. Kruger when requested to allow his name to be used as a +patron of a ball to be given in honour of her Majesty's birthday. He +replied:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="nobotmarg">"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—In reply to your favour of the 12th inst., requesting me +to ask his Honour the State President to consent to his name +being used as a patron of a ball to be given at Johannesburg on +the 26th inst., I have been instructed to inform you that his +Honour considers a ball as Baal's service, for which reason the +Lord ordered Moses to kill all offenders; and as it is +therefore contrary to his Honour's principles, his Honour +cannot consent to the misuse of his name in such connection.—I +have, &c.,</p> +<p class="signature2">"<span class="smcap">F. Eloff</span>,</p> +<p class="signature"><i>Private Secretary</i>."</p> +</div> + +<p>On another occasion, when the question of locust extermination came +before the first Raad, the worthies to whom the conduct of the State was +confided showed a condition of benighted simplicity that can scarcely be +credited.</p> + +<p>"<i>July 21.</i>—Mr. Roos said locusts were a plague, as in the days of King +Pharaoh, sent by God, and the country would assuredly be loaded with +shame and obloquy if it tried to raise its hand against the mighty hand +of the Almighty.</p> + +<p>"Messrs. Declerq and Steenkamp spoke in the same strain, quoting largely +from the Scriptures.</p> + +<p>"The Chairman related a true story of a man whose farm was always spared +by the locusts, until one day he caused some to be killed. His farm was +then devastated.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Stoop conjured the members not to constitute themselves terrestrial +gods, and oppose the Almighty.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lucas Meyer raised a storm by ridiculing the arguments of the +former speakers, and comparing the locusts to beasts of prey, which they +destroyed.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Labuschagne was violent. He said the locusts were different from +beasts of prey. They were a special plague sent by God for their +sinfulness."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image140" name="image140"></a> + <a href="images/image140h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image140.jpg" + alt="SERGEANT and BUGLER, 1st ARGYLE AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS." + title="SERGEANT and BUGLER, 1st ARGYLE AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS." /></a> +<p class="caption">SERGEANT and BUGLER, 1st ARGYLE AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Gregory & Co., London.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>Their deliberate unenlightenment, had it not been so tragic for those +who suffered in consequence of it, must have been almost comical. On one +occasion the question of firing at the clouds to bring down rain was +discussed, and declared to be impious.</p> + +<p>"<i>August 5.</i>—A memorial was read from Krugersdorp, praying that the +Raad would pass a law to prohibit the sending up of bombs into the +clouds to bring down rain, as it was a defiance of God, and would most +likely bring down a visitation from the Almighty.</p> + +<p>"The Memorial Committee reported that they disapproved of such a thing, +but at the same time they did not consider that they could make a law on +the subject.</p> + +<p>"Mr. A. D. Wolmarans said he was astonished at the advice, and he +expected better from the Commission. If one of their children fired +towards the clouds with a revolver they would thrash him. Why should +they permit people to mock at the Almighty in this manner? It was +terrible to contemplate. He hoped that the Raad would take steps to +prevent such things happening.</p> + +<p>"The Chairman (who is also a member of the Memorial Commission) said the +Commission thought that such things were only done for a wager.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Erasmus said they were not done for a wager, but in real earnest. +People at Johannesburg actually thought that they could bring down the +rain from the clouds by firing cannons at them."</p> + +<p>These quotations are not offered in the spirit of ridicule. The +Uitlander question is too serious for joking. They are reproduced to +enable those who have no knowledge of the Boer—his petty tyrannies and +annoying and irritating habits, and the vexatious regulations from which +the Uitlander continually suffered—to form an idea of the terrible +mental gulf which existed between oppressor and oppressed. As the +constant dropping of water will wear away stone, so the constant fret of +Boer treatment wore out the patience of their victims!</p> + +<p>It soon became very difficult for even sons of Uitlanders born in the +country to obtain the franchise. The naturalised subject resigned his +own nationality, and acquired the duties of the citizen and the +liability to be called on for military service, only to find out that he +could not even then enjoy the rights of the citizen. He felt much as the +dog in the fable, which let drop his piece of meat for the sake of a +reflection in the water. New laws and regulations continually came into +force for the ostensible purpose of improving the state of the +Uitlander—laws which in reality were created to bamboozle him still +further. What chicanery failed to accomplish the remissness of officials +successfully brought about, and the discomfort of the foreign +inhabitants was complete. Beside domestic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> there were economic +grievances. The position in a nutshell is given by one of the +unfortunates:—</p> + +<p>"The one thing which we must have—not for its own sake, but for the +security it offers for obtaining and retaining other reforms—<i>is</i> the +franchise. No promise of reform, no reform itself will be worth an +hour's purchase unless we have the status of voters to make our +influence felt. But, if you want the chief economic grievances, they +are—the Netherland Railway concession, the dynamite monopoly, the +liquor traffic, and native labour, which, together, constitute an +unwarrantable burden of indirect taxation on the industry of <i>over two +and a half millions sterling annually</i>. We petitioned until we were +jeered at; we agitated until we—well—came here (Pretoria Gaol); and we +know that we shall get no remedy until we have the vote to enforce it. +We are not a political but a working community, and if we were honestly +and capably governed, the majority of us would be content to wait for +the franchise for a considerable time yet in recognition of the peculiar +circumstances and of the feelings of the older inhabitants."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lionel Phillips, as the wife of an Uitlander, has also written her +plaint. She says:—</p> + +<p>"To show that the grievances of the Uitlanders are indeed real, let me +call your attention to a few facts. What would women residing in +peaceful England say to the fact that one cannot take a walk out of +sight of one's own house in the suburbs of Johannesburg with safety? The +Kaffirs, who in other parts of South Africa treat a white woman with +almost servile respect, there make it a most unpleasant ordeal to pass +them, and in a lonely part absolutely dangerous.</p> + +<p>"Even little girls of the tenderest age are not safe from these +monsters. This is, of course, owing to the utterly inadequate police +protection afforded by the Government, the ridiculously lenient +sentences passed on horrible crimes, and to the adulterated drink sold +by licensed publicans to the Kaffirs on all sides. What would be said +if, when insulted by a cab-driver, it was found that the nearest +policeman was the owner of the cab in question, and refused to render +any assistance or listen to any complaint?</p> + +<p>"The educational grievance has been so widely circulated that it is +needless to mention it now; but what is to be expected of a Government +composed of men barely able to write their own names?</p> + +<p>"Of course I, as a woman, do not wish to enter into the larger questions +of franchise, monopolies, taxation, &c., but being myself an Africander, +and well able to recognise the many good qualities of the Boers, you +will quite understand that I do not take a pre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>judiced view of the +situation, and I am in a position better than that of most people to +understand the grave reality of the Uitlanders' grievances."</p> + + +<p class="sechead">MONOPOLIES AND ABUSES</p> + +<p>Of the scandals leading out of the Netherlands Railway concession and +the dynamite monopoly it is needless to speak. These monopolies were +little more than schemes having for object the diversion of money from +the pockets of the British into those either of the Boers or their +trusty satellites in the Hollander-German clique. As an instance of the +<i>modus operandi</i>, an article relative to the railway monopoly in the +<i>Johannesburg Mining Journal</i> may be quoted:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="center">"<span class="smcap">Railway Monopoly</span></p> + +<p>"This is another carefully designed burden upon the mines and +country. The issued capital and loans of the Netherlands +Company now total about £7,000,000, upon which an average +interest of about 5<span class="above">1</span>⁄<span class="below">3</span> per cent.—guaranteed by the State—is +paid, equal to £370,000 per annum. Naturally the bonds are at a +high premium. The company and its liabilities can be taken over +by the State at a year's notice, and the necessary funds for +this purpose can be raised at three per cent. An offer was +recently made to the Government to consolidate this and other +liabilities, but the National Bank, which is another +concession, has the monopoly of all State loan business, and +this circumstance effectually disposed of the proposal. At +three per cent. a saving of £160,000 per annum would be made in +this monopoly in interest alone. The value represented by the +custom dues on the Portuguese border we are not in a position +to estimate, but roughly these collections and the fifteen per +cent. of the profits paid to the management and shareholders +must, with other leakages, represent at least another £100,000 +per annum which should be saved the country. As the revenue of +the corporation now exceeds £2,000,000 a year, of which only +half is expended in working costs, the estimate we have taken +does not err upon the side of extravagance. By its neglect of +its duties towards the commercial and mining community enormous +losses are involved. Thus in the coal traffic the rate, which +is now to be somewhat reduced, has been 3d. per ton per mile. +According to the returns of the Chamber of Mines, the coal +production of the Transvaal for 1895 was 1,045,121 tons. This +is carried an average distance of nearly thirty miles, but +taking the distance at twenty-four miles the charges are 6s. +per ton. At 1½d. per ton per mile—three times as much as +the Cape railways charge—a saving upon the coal rates of 3s. +per ton would follow, equal to £150,000 per annum. Again, by +the 'bagging' system an additional cost of 2s. 3d. per ton is +incurred—details of this item have been recently published in +this paper—and if this monopoly were run upon ordinary +business lines, a further saving of £110,000 would be made by +carrying coal in bulk. The interest upon the amount required to +construct the necessary sidings for handling the coal, and the +tram-lines required to transport it to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> mines, would be a +mere fraction upon the amount; and as the coal trade in the +course of a short time is likely to see a fifty per cent. +increase, the estimate may be allowed to stand at this figure +without deduction. No data are available to fix the amount of +the tax laid upon the people generally by the vexatious delays +and losses following upon inefficient railway administration, +but the monthly meetings of the local Chamber of Commerce throw +some light upon these phases of a monopolistic management. The +savings to be made in dealing with the coal traffic must not be +taken as exhausting all possible reforms: the particulars given +as to this traffic only indicate and suggest the wide area +covered by this monopoly, which hitherto has made but halting +and feeble efforts to keep pace with the requirements of the +public. Dealing as it does with the imports of the whole +country, which now amount in value to £10,000,000, the figures +we have given must serve merely to illustrate its invertebrate +methods of handling traffic, as well as its grasping greed in +enforcing the rates fixed by the terms of its concession. Its +forty miles of Rand steam tram-line and thirty-five miles of +railway from the Vaal River, with some little assistance from +the Delagoa line and customs, brought in a revenue of about +£1,250,000 in 1895. Now that the Natal line is opened the +receipts will probably amount to nearly £3,000,000 per annum, +all of which should swell the ordinary revenue of the country +instead of remaining in the hands of foreigners as a reservoir +of wealth for indigent Hollanders to exploit. The total railway +earnings at the Cape and Natal together over all their lines +amounted to £3,916,566 in 1895, and the capital expenditure on +railways by these colonies amounts to £26,000,000. The greater +portion of these receipts come from the Rand trade, which is +compelled to pay an additional £2,500,000 carrying charges to +the Netherlands Company, which has £7,000,000 of capital. Thus, +railway receipts in South Africa amount now to £7,000,000 per +annum, of which the Rand contributes at least £5,000,000.</p> + +<p>"The revenue of the company is now considerably over £3,000,000 +per annum. The management claim that their expenses amount to +but forty per cent. of revenue, and this is regarded by them as +a matter for general congratulation. The Uitlanders contend +that the concern is grossly mismanaged, and that the low cost +of working is a fiction. It only appears low by contrast with a +revenue swollen by preposterously heavy rates and protected by +a monopoly. The tariff could be reduced by one-half, that is to +say, a remission of taxation to the tune of one and a half +million annually could be effected without depriving the +company of a legitimate and indeed very handsome profit." </p></div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image144" name="image144"></a> + <a href="images/image144h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image144.jpg" + alt="Rt. Hon. CECIL JOHN RHODES, P.C." + title="Rt. Hon. CECIL JOHN RHODES, P.C." /></a> +<p class="caption">Rt. Hon. CECIL JOHN RHODES, P.C.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.</p> +</div> + +<p>Perhaps the dynamite monopoly was even more aggravating than the railway +one. Mr. Fitzpatrick says it has always been "a very burning question +with the Uitlanders. This concession was granted soon after the +Barberton Fields were discovered, when the prospects of an industry in +the manufacture of explosives were not really very great. The +concessionaire himself has admitted that, had he foreseen to what +proportions this monopoly would eventually grow, he would not have had +the audacity to apply for it. Of course, this is merely a personal +question. The fact which concerned the industry was that the right was +granted to one man to manufacture explosives, and to sell them at a +price nearly 200 per cent. over that at which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> they could be imported. +It was found, upon investigation after some years of agitation, that the +factory at which this 'manufacture' took place was in reality merely a +depôt in which the already manufactured article was manipulated to a +moderate extent, so as to lend colour to the President's statement that +a local industry was being fostered. An investigation, held by order of +the Volksraad, exposed the imposition. The President himself stated that +he found he had been deceived, and that the terms of the concession had +been broken, and he urged the Raad to cancel it, which the Raad did. The +triumph was considerable for the mining industry, and it was the more +appreciated in that it was the solitary success to which the Uitlanders +could point in their long series of agitations for reform. But the +triumph was not destined to be a lasting one. Within a few months the +monopoly was revived in an infinitely more obnoxious form. It was now +called a Government monopoly, but 'the agency' was bestowed upon a +partner of the gentleman who had formerly owned the concession, the +President himself vigorously defending this course, and ignoring his own +judgment on the case uttered a few months previously. <i>Land en Volk</i>, +the Pretoria Dutch newspaper, exposed the whole of this transaction, +including the system of bribery by which the concessionaires secured +their renewal, and among other things made the charge which it has +continued to repeat ever since, that Mr. J. M. A. Wolmarans, member of +the Executive, received a commission of one shilling per case on every +case sold during the continuance of the agency as a consideration for +his support in the Executive Council, and that he continues to enjoy +this remuneration, which is estimated now to be not far short of £10,000 +a year. Mr. Wolmarans, for reasons of pride or discretion, has declined +to take any notice of the charge, although frequently pressed to take +action in the matter. It is calculated that the burden imposed upon the +Witwatersrandt mines alone amounts to £600,000 per annum, and is, of +course, daily increasing."</p> + +<p>Between the years 1890 and 1895 there were many negotiations over +Swaziland. The South African Republic, ever anxious to extend its +borders, longed to advance eastward to the sea. Negotiations were +started in regard to this arrangement. The Transvaal had recognised the +British occupation of Rhodesia, and the British in return agreed to +allow the Transvaal to make a railway through Amatongaland to Kosi Bay, +and acquire a seaport, if, within three years, it joined the South +African Customs Union.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Kruger, luckily for Imperial interests, would not entertain the +idea. He did not want to come into confederation with the Cape. The +Orange Free State, however, joined the Cape system, and the South +African Customs Union was started. The advan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>tages to the Free State of +this arrangement, though unforeseen, were many; the principal being the +privilege of importing, unmolested, arms and ammunition over the Cape +Government railway lines. Finally, in 1895, the administration of +Swaziland was transferred to the South African Republic on certain +conditions. It was not to be incorporated with the Republic, European +settlers were to have full burgher rights, monopolies were forbidden, +English and Dutch languages were to be on an equal footing, and no +duties higher than the maximum tariff rates imposed by the South African +Republic or by the Customs Union were to be allowed. The territory of +Amatongaland was annexed by the British in 1895, and the Transvaal thus +lost its one chance of an outlet towards the sea.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE FRANCHISE</p> + +<p>The much-vexed question of the Franchise continued to rankle in the +hearts of the Uitlanders. Its ramifications had grown so complicated +that even lawyers in discussing the matter continually found themselves +in error. We may therefore be excused from attempting to examine its +niceties, or rather its—well—the reverse. In 1893 a petition, signed +by upwards of 13,000 aliens in favour of granting the extension of the +Franchise, was received by the Raad with derision. In 1895 a monster +petition was got up by the National Union, an organisation formed for +the purpose of righting the wrongs of the Uitlanders. During the great +Franchise debate in August 1895, Mr. R. K. Loveday, one of the Loyalists +in the war, in the course of an address dealing with the subject, +expressed himself very definitely and concisely, and in a manner which +could not be refuted. He said—</p> + +<p>"The President uses the argument that they should naturalise, and thus +give evidence of their desire to become citizens. I have used the same +argument, but what becomes of such arguments when met with the +objections that the law requires such persons to undergo a probationary +period extending from fourteen to twenty-four years before they are +admitted to full rights of citizenship, and even after one has undergone +that probationary period he can only be admitted to full rights by the +resolution of the First Raad? Law IV. of 1890, being the Act of the two +Volksraads, lays down clearly and distinctly that those who have been +eligible for ten years for the Second Raad can be admitted to full +citizenship. So that, in any case, the naturalised citizen cannot obtain +full rights until he reaches the age of forty years, he not being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +eligible for the Second Raad until he is thirty years. The child born of +non-naturalised parents must therefore wait until he is forty years of +age, although at the age of sixteen he may be called upon to do military +service, and may fall in the defence of the land of his birth. When such +arguments are hurled at me by our own flesh and blood—our kinsmen from +all parts of South Africa—I must confess I am not surprised that these +persons indignantly refuse to accept citizenship upon such unreasonable +terms. The element I have just referred to—namely, the Africander +element—is very considerable, and numbers thousands, hundreds of whom, +at the time this country was struggling for its independence, accorded +it moral and financial support, and yet these very persons are subjected +to a term of probation extending from fourteen to twenty-four years. It +is useless for me to ask you whether such a policy is just and +reasonable or Republican, for there can be but one answer, and that is +'No!' Is there one man in this Raad who would accept the Franchise on +the same terms? Let me impress upon you the grave nature of this +question, and the absolute necessity of going to the burghers without a +moment's delay and consulting and advising them. Let us keep nothing +from them regarding the true position, and I am sure we shall have their +hearty co-operation in any reasonable scheme we may suggest. This is a +duty we owe them, for we must not leave them under the impression that +the Uitlanders are satisfied to remain aliens, as stated by some of the +journals. I move amongst these people, and learn to know their true +feelings, and when public journals tell you that these people are +satisfied with their lot they tell you that which they know to be false. +Such journals are amongst the greatest sources of danger that the +country has. We are informed by certain members that a proposition for +the extension of the Franchise must come from the burghers, but, +according to the Franchise Law, the proposition must come from the Raad, +and the public must consent. The member for Rustenberg says that there +are 9338 burghers who have declared that they are opposed to the +extension of the Franchise. Upon reference to the Report he will find +that there are only 1564 opposed to the extension. Members appear afraid +to touch upon the real question at issue, but try to discredit the +memorials by vague statements that some of the signatures are not +genuine, and the former member for Johannesburg, Mr. J. Meyer, seems +just as anxious to discredit the people of Johannesburg as formerly he +was to defend them."</p> + +<p>In spite of all that was said and done, however, no progress was made. +The debate was closed on the third day, the request<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> of the memorialists +was refused, and they were referred for satisfaction to the existing +laws.</p> + +<p>About this time the Transvaal came very near to war with Great Britain. +As before stated, Mr. Kruger was much bound up with the affairs of the +Netherlands Railway Company and its Hollander-German promoters. He +attempted to divert the stream of Johannesburg traffic to Delagoa Bay, +for the purpose of keeping profit from the pockets of the British. The +freights, however, were evaded by unloading the goods at the frontier, +and taking them across the Vaal in waggons. It was easy thus to forward +goods—between Johannesburg and Viljoens Drift—direct by the Cape +Railway.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Kruger was not to be defeated. In October 1895, he closed the +drifts or fords of the Vaal to all waggon loads of goods from Cape +Colony. Unfortunately the President had over-reached himself. The people +of Cape Colony and those of the Free State were indignant, and the High +Commissioner, Sir Hercules Robinson, and the Cape Premier, Mr. Rhodes, +both brought their influence to bear on the President. He was obdurate. +Mr. Chamberlain, the new Colonial Secretary, came to the rescue. He put +his foot down, and a determined foot it was. He sent an ultimatum to Mr. +Kruger announcing that closure of the drifts after the 15th of November +would be considered an act of war.</p> + +<p>The drifts were reopened. But the Netherlands Railway Company still +stuck to their tariffs and their aim of depriving the British Colonies +of the custom dues and railway rates on the traffic of Johannesburg. +Consequently this thorn in the side of the British Colonists was left to +fester.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image148" name="image148"></a> + <a href="images/image148h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image148.jpg" + alt="SOUTH AFRICAN NATIVES—BOUND FOR THE GOLD-FIELDS." + title="SOUTH AFRICAN NATIVES—BOUND FOR THE GOLD-FIELDS." /></a> +<p class="caption">SOUTH AFRICAN NATIVES—BOUND FOR THE GOLD-FIELDS.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p>Day by day the discontent grew, and the cry of "No taxation without +representation" became the Uitlanders' motto. They perceived that they +were deprived of rights, yet expected to serve as milch cows for the +fattening of a State that was arming itself at all points against them, +and they came to the conclusion that some strong measures must now be +taken for their protection. The Chamber of Mines and the Transvaal +National Union had spent some time in advocating purely constitutional +methods, the Chamber of Mines exploiting the grievances of the Gold +Mining industry, while the National Union struggled for general reforms +which should make the conditions of Uitlander life less intolerable than +they were. The Reformers, whose chairman was Mr. Charles Leonard, a +solicitor of good practice in Johannesburg, were mostly men of the +middle and professional classes. The capitalists, being anxious to keep +in with the Transvaal Government, were some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>what shy of the National +Unionists; while the working men on their side were suspicious of the +motives of the Reformers, and were chary of lending themselves to any +scheme which might conduce to the profit of the millionaires. The +National Union clearly expressed its aims in a manifesto which ended +with the exposition of the Charter which its members hoped to obtain. It +said:</p> + +<p>"We want—</p> + +<p>1. The establishment of this Republic as a true Republic.</p> + +<p>2. A Grondwet, or Constitution, which shall be framed by competent +persons selected by representatives of the whole people, and framed on +lines laid down by them.</p> + +<p>3. An equitable Franchise Law and fair representation.</p> + +<p>4. Equality of the Dutch and English languages.</p> + +<p>5. Responsibility to the Legislature of the heads of the great +departments.</p> + +<p>6. Removal of religious disabilities.</p> + +<p>7. Independence of the Courts of Justice with adequate and secured +remuneration of the Judges.</p> + +<p>8. Liberal and comprehensive Education.</p> + +<p>9. Efficient Civil Service, with adequate provision for pay and pension.</p> + +<p>10. Free Trade in South African products."</p> + +<p>The Manifesto wound up with the pertinent question, "How shall we get +it?"</p> + +<p>The "how" was to have been decided at a public meeting fixed for the +27th of December 1895, and subsequently postponed till January 8th, +1896. But what the National Union proposed the Jameson Raid disposed. +The meeting was destined never to take place!</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE REFORM MOVEMENT</p> + +<p>Before 1895 the wealthier members of the community refused to entertain +the suggestion of coercive measures, but after the Volksraad in session +revealed the real policy of the Government, even they began to perceive +that revolutionary action might become obligatory. Though the +capitalists were advised by those who knew to avoid spending money on +hopeless efforts at reform, and to steer clear, if possible, of the +political imbroglio, they eventually joined hands with the Reformers. +How the egg of the Jameson conspiracy came to be laid no one exactly +knew. Certain it was that those who looked for the hatching of a swan, +were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> confronted with a very ugly duckling indeed! Arms and ammunition +were purchased, and these, concealed as gold-mining impedimenta, were +smuggled into the country. Messrs. Leonard and Phillips, two prominent +Reformers, consulted Mr. Rhodes as to future affairs, but Mr. Rhodes was +in the awkward position of acting at one and the same time as Managing +Director of the Consolidated Gold Fields in the Transvaal, Prime +Minister of the Colony, and Managing Director of the Chartered Company, +and consequently was a little vague in his propositions. After some +conversation, he decided that he would, at his own expense, keep Dr. +Jameson and his troops on the frontier "as a moral support."</p> + +<p>Later on in September Dr. Jameson visited Johannesburg, and made his +arrangements in person. It was agreed that he should maintain a force of +1500 mounted men, fully equipped, and that besides, having with him 1500 +spare rifles, and some spare ammunition, there should be about 5000 +rifles, three Maxims, and 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition smuggled into +Johannesburg. The idea was, that the Uitlanders would prepare their +revolt, and that should Dr. Jameson's services be needed, Johannesburg, +with 9000 armed men and a fair equipment of machine guns and cannon, +would be prepared to co-operate: at that time it seemed no difficult +matter to seize the fort and magazines at Pretoria for the time being. +It was in course of repair, and in charge merely of a hundred men, most +of whom could be relied on to be asleep or off duty after nine o'clock +at night. The plan of seizing the fort, capturing the ammunition, and +clearing it off so as to enforce their views without bloodshed seemed +perfectly feasible, and Dr. Jameson readily agreed to lend himself to +the scheme for giving such "moral support" as was required by the +Uitlander Reformers. Of their part in the affair it is difficult to +speak impartially. It appears on the surface that they induced this man, +for no personal motive either of financial gain or political power, to +lend himself willingly to be the tool of the aggrieved Uitlanders, who, +when the time came, were too vacillating between their fear of the +Republic and the desire for their own individual good, to support the +person whom they had chosen for their champion, and who so +disinterestedly was prepared to risk both life and position in their +service! It was decided, however, that the Reformers should arrange a +revolution, which would have the effect of forcing the hands of the +Transvaal Government. The High Commissioner, as they imagined, would +come on the scene as a final arbitrator. Dr. Jameson's troops, who had +acted so effectively in the Matabele campaign, were to be kept at +Pitsani<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> on the Bechuana border, in order if necessary to come at a +given signal to the rescue of the Uitlanders. The idea was not without +precedent. Sir Henry Loch, two years before, in dread of a Johannesburg +rising, had considered the advisability of placing troops on the border.</p> + +<p>So as to justify his action to the directors of the Chartered Company +and the Imperial authorities, the following undated letter was sent to +Dr. Jameson, Mafeking:—</p> + +<p class="tbspace1">"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,—The position of matters in this State has become so +critical, that we are assured that at no distant period there will be a +conflict between the Government and the Uitlander population. It is +scarcely necessary for us to recapitulate what is now matter of history; +suffice it to say, that the position of thousands of Englishmen, and +others, is rapidly becoming intolerable. Not satisfied with making the +Uitlander population pay virtually the whole of the revenue of the +country while denying them representation, the policy of the Government +has been steadily to encroach upon the liberty of the subject, and to +undermine the security for property to such an extent as to cause a very +deep-seated sense of discontent and danger. A foreign corporation of +Hollanders is to a considerable extent controlling our destinies, and in +conjunction with the Boer leaders endeavouring to cast them in a mould +which is wholly foreign to the genius of the people. Every public act +betrays the most positive hostility, not only to everything English, but +to the neighbouring States.</p> + +<p>"Well, in short, the internal policy of the Government is such as to +have roused into antagonism to it not only practically the whole body of +Uitlanders, but a large number of the Boers; while its external policy +has exasperated the neighbouring States, causing the possibility of +great danger to the peace and independence of this Republic. Public +feeling is in a condition of smouldering discontent. All the petitions +of the people have been refused with a greater or less degree of +contempt; and in the debate on the Franchise petition, signed by nearly +40,000 people, one member challenged the Uitlanders to fight for the +rights they asked for, and not a single member spoke against him. Not to +go into details, we may say that the Government has called into +existence all the elements necessary for armed conflict. The one desire +of the people here is for fair play, the maintenance of their +independence, and the preservation of those public liberties without +which life is not worth living. The Government denies these things, and +violates the national sense of Englishmen at every turn.</p> + +<p>"What we have to consider is, what will be the condition of things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> here +in the event of a conflict? Thousands of unarmed men, women, and +children of our race will be at the mercy of well-armed Boers, while +property of enormous value will be in the greatest peril. We cannot +contemplate the future without the gravest apprehensions. All feel that +we are justified in taking any steps to prevent the shedding of blood, +and to ensure the protection of our rights.</p> + +<p class="nobotmarg">"It is under these circumstances that we feel constrained to call upon +you to come to our aid should a disturbance arise here. The +circumstances are so extreme that we cannot but believe that you and the +men under you will not fail to come to the rescue of people who will be +so situated. We guarantee any expense that may reasonably be incurred by +you in helping us, and ask you to believe that nothing but the sternest +necessity has prompted this appeal.</p> + +<div class="sigalign1"> +<p class="sigalign2">"<span class="smcap">Charles Leonard.</span></p> +<p class="sigalign2"><span class="smcap">Lionel Phillips.</span></p> +<p class="sigalign2"><span class="smcap">Francis Rhodes.</span></p> +<p class="sigalign2"><span class="smcap">John Hays Hammond.</span></p> +<p class="sigalign2"><span class="smcap">George Farrar.</span>"</p> +</div> + +<p class="tbspaces">It was arranged that Dr. Jameson should start from camp on the night of +the outbreak at Johannesburg—either on the 28th of December or on the +4th of January—according to notice which would subsequently be given. +From this moment, however, doubts began to fill the minds of the +Reformers. They were dissatisfied with the quantity of arms they had +been able to smuggle into the town; there was a want of cohesion among +the different sections, of those interested; they went so far as to +disagree as to what flag they were going to revolt under. The Reformers +were evidently not all of Dr. Jameson's opinion, that the Union Jack was +the one and only flag under which they could hope for justice—they +were, as we know, only comrades in suffering but not compatriots, and +besides this, many declared that reform and not annexation was what they +were anxious to secure.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image152" name="image152"></a> + <a href="images/image152h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image152.jpg" + alt="Dr Leander Starr Jameson." + title="Dr Leander Starr Jameson." /></a> +<p class="caption">Dr Leander Starr Jameson.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.</p> +</div> + +<p>Here we have before us what made the complicated riddle of the Raid. +Since it has defied all the Œdipuses of the century, we will not +endeavour to unravel it. Did the Reformers set all their grievances +aside before the paramount question, "Under which flag, Jameson?" or did +they make use of the flag argument to cover a series of vacillations +which prevented them from acting up to the rules of the conspiracy they +themselves had set on foot? Did Mr. Rhodes engage in the plot for the +sake of financial gain? Did he do so out of sympathy for the "cause," or +did he attempt a magnificent political <i>coup</i>? And lastly—Did that +unhappy scapegoat, the gallant Jameson, launch himself on the wild +mistaken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> escapade to rescue his fellow-countrymen from oppression, to +serve his private ends financial or political, or from the sheer spirit +of adventure which, in some degree, animates every British heart? Who +shall say?</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE CRITICAL MOMENT</p> + +<p>It was arranged, as has been mentioned, that the rising at Johannesburg +should take place on the night of the 4th of January. The arsenal at +Pretoria was to be seized, and Dr. Jameson with his troops was to make +his appearance, assist the Reformers in urging their claims, and, if +necessary, save the women and children from possible violence.</p> + +<p>"According to the original plan," says Mrs. Lionel Phillips in her +"South African Recollections," "what with the smuggled rifles, those in +private hands, the spare weapons to be brought by Jameson's men, and +those men (the Reformers) themselves, Johannesburg must have mustered a +little army of not less than 5000 men, to say nothing of the guns which +might possibly be captured in the arsenal. It was believed that with +this force the town could be held against any attack that might be made +by the Transvaal forces, and that, upon a failure in the first assault, +the Boers would have adopted their well-known tactics of cutting off +supplies, with a view to starving the town into submission. To meet this +contingency the town was provisioned for two months, and it was supposed +that the British Government would never sit still and allow the +Uitlanders to be forced into capitulation in the face of the wrongs +which they had suffered. In November, when Jameson came to Johannesburg, +the supporting force had dwindled to 800. The telegrams apprising the +Reformers of his advance spoke of 700, and in reality he started with +less than 500 men."</p> + +<p>But by the time the plot should have neared completion, the +conspirators, as has been shown, had ceased to be of one accord on the +subject. On Christmas Day Mr. Leonard interviewed Mr. Rhodes in Cape +Town, and represented to him the divided state of affairs. Meanwhile the +Reformers in Johannesburg desired to make known to Dr. Jameson their +change of front, and, to prevent him starting on the expedition, +despatched two messengers to Pitsani Camp by different routes. These +messages were received on December the 28th, and with them other +telegraphic ones from Mr. Leonard and Mr. Rhodes explicitly directing +the expedition not to start.</p> + +<p>The news that Dr. Jameson had started, in spite of these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> messages, came +on the Reformers like a thunderclap. They were not ready—they had not +sufficient arms to fight with, and they were not of one mind. The doing +had been easy enough, and they had fancied the undoing would be as +simple. They had laid their gunpowder train without thinking of the +number of firebrands that surrounded it! Amazement gave way to +indignation, and the Reformers were not slow to hint that Mr. Rhodes or +Dr. Jameson had disregarded the messages in order to further their +personal ends. The most charitable decided that the Doctor's starting +was due merely to misunderstanding. Many rumours of discontent and +disturbance were floating about, and it was believed that some of these +might have reached the Doctor's ears and influenced his actions. Anyway +the Reformers were at sea. All they could do was to arm as many men as +possible with a view to defence—to holding the town against any attack +that might be made by the Transvaal forces, and to decide to take no +initiative against the Boers. No uneasiness was felt regarding Jameson, +for it was believed that he was well supported by not less than 800 men, +and that the Boers would stand a poor chance against a body so well +equipped and trained as his was supposed to be. The position taken up is +explained in a notice of the Reform Committee in the <i>Johannesburg +Star</i>:—"Notice is hereby given, that this Committee adheres to the +National Union Manifesto, and reiterates its desire to maintain the +independence of the Republic. The fact that rumours are in course of +circulation to the effect that a force has crossed the Bechuanaland +border, renders it necessary to take active steps for the defence of +Johannesburg and the preservation of order. The Committee earnestly +desires that the inhabitants should refrain from taking any action which +can be considered as an overt act of hostility against the Government."</p> + +<p>The High Commissioner and the Premier of Cape Colony were communicated +with and informed that Dr. Jameson, having started with an armed force, +Johannesburg was in peril which there was no means to avert. The High +Commissioner was further invited to come to Johannesburg to effect a +settlement and prevent civil war. Arrangements were then made for the +arming of some 2000 men. These preparations and others speedily became +known to the Government in Pretoria. No steps, it appears, had been +taken to preserve secrecy, as the Committee did not hold themselves +responsible for Dr. Jameson's action. The result was the publication of +the following Proclamation by the President:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>—</p> + +<p class="center">"<span class="smcap">Proclamation by his Honour the State President of the South African +Republic</span></p> + +<p>"Whereas, it has appeared to the Government of the South African +Republic that there are rumours in circulation to the effect that +earnest endeavours are being made to endanger the public safety of +Johannesburg; and whereas the Government is convinced that, in case such +rumours may contain any truth, such endeavours can only emanate from a +small portion of the inhabitants, and that the greater portion of the +Johannesburg inhabitants are peaceful, and are prepared to support the +Government in its endeavours to maintain law and order.</p> + +<p>"Now, know you that I, Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, State President +of the South African Republic, with the advice and consent of the +Executive Council, according to Article 913 of its minutes, dated the +30th of December 1895, do hereby warn those evil-intentioned persons (as +I do hereby urge all such persons to do) to remain within the pale of +the law, and all such persons not heeding this warning shall do so on +their own responsibility; and I do further make known that life and +property shall be protected against which attempts may be made, and that +every peaceful inhabitant of Johannesburg, of whatsoever nationality he +may be, is called upon to support me herein, and to assist the officials +charged therewith; and further be it known, that the Government is still +prepared to take into consideration all grievances that may be laid +before it in a proper manner, and to submit the same to the people of +the land without delay for treatment."</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">The High Commissioner also issued a Proclamation calling on Dr. Jameson +to return to British territory at once, and this was forwarded to him at +different points in order that there might be no mistake and that the +invasion might yet be arrested. Meanwhile Mr. Marais (the editor of the +leading Dutch paper) and Mr. Malan (the son-in-law of Joubert) were +proceeding with a commando for the purpose of fighting for their +Government should Dr. Jameson disobey the Proclamation. They excused +themselves under the plea "that if from unreasonable action of +Johannesburg, fighting should take place between the Government forces +and a revolutionary force from Johannesburg, they were in duty bound to +fight, and that among their ranks would be found many who had been +active workers in the ranks of the Reformers."</p> + +<p>It was subsequently decided that a deputation of Reformers should +negotiate with the Government for a peaceful settlement on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> the basis of +the Manifesto. Their programme was somewhat broad. They were to approach +the Government pacifically and at the same time insist on their rights +and the redress of their grievances—"to avow the association of Dr. +Jameson's forces so far as it had existed, and to include him in any +settlement that might be made."</p> + +<p>They also, in answer to a telegram from the British Agent, refused to +repudiate Dr. Jameson, and said, "in order to avert bloodshed on grounds +of Dr. Jameson's action, if Government will allow Dr. Jameson to come in +unmolested, the Committee will guarantee with their persons if necessary +that he will leave again peacefully with as little delay as possible."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the committee remained in the most horrible doubt and +suspense. No word came from Jameson. That he had started they knew, and +that was the extent of their knowledge. They still trusted that, on +ascertaining that there was no necessity for intervention on behalf of +the Uitlanders, he and his troops would obey the orders of the High +Commissioner, and retire peacefully from the Transvaal.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE RAID</p> + +<p>From all accounts it appears that Dr. Jameson and his party gathered +together at Pitsani early in December. He drilled his troops and general +preparations were made, without sufficient secrecy however, for the +projected invasion. It was unfortunate for the scheme that these plans +were publicly spoken of in society in England at the same time as they +were merely being discussed in whispers in Johannesburg! On Sunday the +29th of December 1895, Dr. Jameson read aloud to his troops the letter +which has been printed, and which, simultaneously with his departure, +was sent by Dr. Rutherfoord Harris to the <i>Times</i>, to justify the action +which in a few hours would become world famous. This letter the +Reformers subsequently declared was treacherously made use of, as they +had not had occasion to send the appeal therein mentioned. It is evident +that at that time Dr. Jameson believed that his plans were so well +arranged that there would be no bloodshed, that, indeed, he would appear +in the nick of time to afford the "moral support" he had originally +engaged to provide. The troops were to go straight to Johannesburg +before the Boers had time to assemble their forces or to take any +measures to stop him. The Doctor explained that they were marching to +the rescue of the oppressed, and implied that they were going under the +auspices of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> the British flag. On hearing the latter statement a +considerable number of the troops refused to take part in the +enterprise, and this may account for the fact that while the Reformers +believed Dr. Jameson to be supported by some 800 men or more, he was in +reality accompanied by only 480. Here, in order to give the crude facts +of the Raid as known to the public, we may copy the report of the affair +made by Sir John Willoughby to the War Office:—</p> + +<p class="dochead">"<span class="smcap">Sir John Willoughby's Report to the War Office</span></p> + +<p class="chronohd">"<i>Official Report of the Expedition that left the Protectorate at the +urgent request of the leading citizens of Johannesburg, with the object +of standing by them and maintaining law and order whilst they were +demanding justice from the Transvaal authorities. By Sir John C. +Willoughby, Bart., Lieutenant-Colonel commanding Dr. Jameson's Forces.</i></p> + +<p class="tbspace1">"On Saturday, December 28, 1895, Dr. Jameson received a Reuter's +telegram, showing that the situation at Johannesburg had become acute. +At the same time reliable information was received that the Boers in the +Zeerust and Lichtenburg districts were assembling, and had been summoned +to march on Johannesburg.</p> + +<p>"Preparations were at once made to act on the terms of the letter dated +December 20, and already published, and also in accordance with verbal +arrangements with the signatories of that letter—viz., that should Dr. +Jameson hear that the Boers were collecting, and that the intentions of +the Johannesburg people had become generally known, he was at once to +come to the aid of the latter with whatever force he had available, and +without further reference to them, the object being that such force +should reach Johannesburg without any conflict.</p> + +<p>"At 3 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> on Sunday afternoon, December 29, everything was in readiness +at Pitsani Camp. The troops were paraded, and Dr. Jameson read the +letter of invitation from Johannesburg.</p> + +<p>"He then explained to the force—(<i>a</i>) that no hostilities were +intended; (<i>b</i>) that we should only fight if forced to do so in self +defence; (<i>c</i>) that neither the persons nor property of inhabitants of +the Transvaal were to be molested; (<i>d</i>) that our sole object was to +help our fellow-men in their extremity, and to ensure their obtaining +attention to their just demands.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Jameson's speech was received with the greatest enthusiasm by the +men, who cheered most heartily.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The above programme was strictly adhered to until the column was fired +upon on the night of the 31st.</p> + +<p>"Many Boers, singly and in small parties, were encountered on the line +of march; to one and all of these the pacific nature of the expedition +was carefully explained.</p> + +<p>"The force left Pitsani Camp at 6.30 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, December 29, and marched +through the night. At 5.15 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, on the morning of the 30th, the column +reached the village of Malmani (thirty-nine miles distant from Pitsani). +Presently, at the same moment, the advanced guard of the Mafeking Column +(under Colonel Grey) reached the village, and the junction was effected +between the two bodies....</p> + +<p>"From Malmani I pushed on as rapidly as possible in order to cross in +daylight the very dangerous defile at Lead Mines. This place, distant +seventy-one miles from Pitsani, was passed at 5.30 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, December 30.</p> + +<p>"I was subsequently informed that a force of several hundred Boers, sent +from Lichtenburg to intercept the force at this point, missed doing so +by three hours only.</p> + +<p>"At our next 'off-saddle' Dr. Jameson received a letter from the +Commandant-General of the Transvaal demanding to know the reason of our +advance, and ordering us to return immediately. A reply was sent to +this, explaining Dr. Jameson's reasons in the same terms as those used +to the force at Pitsani.</p> + +<p>"At Doomport (ninety-one miles from Pitsani), during an 'off-saddle' +early on Tuesday morning, December 31, a mounted messenger overtook us, +and presented a letter from the High Commissioner, which contained an +order to Dr. Jameson and myself to return at once to Mafeking and +Pitsani.</p> + +<p>"A retreat by now was out of the question, and to comply with these +instructions an impossibility. In the first place, there was absolutely +no food for men or horses along the road which we had recently followed; +secondly, three days at least would be necessary for our horses, jaded +with forced marching, to return; on the road ahead we were sure of +finding, at all events, some food for man and beast. Furthermore, we had +by now traversed almost two-thirds of the total distance; a large force +of Boers was known to be intercepting our retreat, and we were convinced +that any retrograde movement would bring on an attack of Boers from all +sides.</p> + +<p>"It was felt, therefore, that to ensure the safety of our little force, +no alternative remained but to push on to Krugersdorp to our friends, +who, we were confident, would be awaiting our arrival there.</p> + +<p>"Apart from the above considerations, even had it been possible to +effect a retreat from Doomport, we knew that Johannesburg had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> risen, +and felt that by turning back we should be shamefully deserting those +coming to meet us.</p> + +<p>"Finally, it appeared to us impossible to turn back, in view of the fact +that we had been urgently called in to avert a massacre, which we had +been assured would be imminent in the event of a crisis such as had now +occurred.</p> + +<p>"Near Boon's store, on the evening of the 31st, an advanced patrol fell +in with Lieutenant Eloff, of the Krugersdorp Volunteers. This officer, +in charge of a party of fifteen scouts, had come out to gain +intelligence of our movements. He was detained whilst our intentions +were fully explained to him, and then released at Dr. Jameson's request.</p> + +<p>"At midnight (New Year's Eve), while the advanced scouts were crossing a +rocky, wooded ridge at right angles to and barring the line of advance, +they were fired on by a party of forty Boers, who had posted themselves +in this position. The scouts, reinforced by the advanced guard, under +Inspector Straker, drove off their assailants after a short skirmish, +during which one trooper of the M.M.P. was wounded.</p> + +<p>"At Van Oudtshoorn's, early on the following morning (Jan. 1), Dr. +Jameson received a second letter from the High Commissioner, to which he +replied in writing. At 9.30 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> the march was resumed in the usual day +formation. After marching two miles the column got clear of the hills, +and emerged into open country.</p> + +<p>"About this time Inspector Drury, in command of the rear guard, sent +word that a force of about one hundred Boers was following him about one +mile in rear. I thereupon reinforced the rear guard, hitherto consisting +of a troop and one Maxim, by an additional half troop and another Maxim.</p> + +<p>"About five miles beyond Van Oudtshoorn's store the column was met by +two cyclists bearing letters from several leaders of the Johannesburg +Reform Committee. These letters expressed the liveliest approval and +delight at our speedy approach, and finally contained a renewal of their +promise to meet the column with a force at Krugersdorp. The messengers +also reported that only 300 armed Boers were in the town.</p> + +<p>"This news was communicated to the troops, who received it with loud +cheers. When about two miles from Hind's store the column was delayed by +extensive wire fencing, which ran for one and a half miles on either +side of the road, and practically constituted a defile.</p> + +<p>"While the column was halted and the wire being cut, the country for +some distance on both sides was carefully scouted.</p> + +<p>"By this means it was ascertained that there was a considerable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> force +of Boers (1) on the left front, (2) in the immediate front (retreating +hastily on Krugersdorp), (3) a third party on the right flank.</p> + +<p>"The force which had been following the column from Van Oudtshoorn's +continued to hover in the rear.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant-Colonel White, in command of the advanced guard, sent back a +request for guns to be pushed forward as a precaution in case of an +attack from the Boers in front. By the time these guns reached the +advanced guard, the Boers were still retreating some two miles off. A +few rounds were then fired in their direction. Had Colonel White, in the +first instance, opened fire with his Maxims on the Boers, whom he +surprised watering their horses close to Hind's store, considerable loss +would have been inflicted, but this was not our object, for with the +exception of the small skirmish on the previous night, the Boers had not +as yet molested the column, whose sole aim was to reach Johannesburg if +possible without fighting.</p> + +<p>"At this hour Hind's store was reached. Here the troops rested for one +and a half hours. Unfortunately, hardly any provisions for men and +horses were available. An officer's patrol, consisting of Major Villiers +(Royal Horse Guards), and Lieutenant Grenfell (1st Life Guards), and six +men, moved off for the purpose of reconnoitring the left flank of the +Boer position, while Captain Lindsell, with his permanent force of +advanced scouts, pushed on as usual to reconnoitre the approach by the +main road. At the same time I forwarded a note to the Commandant of the +forces in Krugersdorp to the effect that, in the event of my friendly +force meeting with opposition on its approach, I should be forced to +shell the town, and that therefore I gave him this warning in order that +the women and children might be moved out of danger.</p> + +<p>"To this note, which was despatched by a Boer who had been detained at +Van Oudtshoorn, I received no reply.</p> + +<p>"At Hind's store we were informed that the force in our front had +increased during the forenoon to about 800 men, of whom a large number +were entrenched on the hillside.</p> + +<p>"Four miles beyond Hind's store the column following the scouts, which +met with no opposition, ascended a steep rise of some 400 feet, and came +full in view of the Boer position on the opposite side of a deep valley, +traversed by a broad 'sluit' or muddy watercourse.</p> + +<p>"Standing on the plateau or spur, on which our force was forming up for +action, the view to our front was as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Passing through our position to the west ran Hind's store—Krugersdorp +Road traversing the valley and the Boer position almost at right angles +to both lines.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image160" name="image160"></a> + <a href="images/image160h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image160.jpg" + alt="JAMESON'S LAST STAND—THE BATTLE OF DOORNKOP, 2nd JANUARY 1896." + title="JAMESON'S LAST STAND—THE BATTLE OF DOORNKOP, 2nd JANUARY 1896." /></a> +<p class="caption">JAMESON'S LAST STAND—THE BATTLE OF DOORNKOP, 2nd JANUARY 1896.</p> +<p class="caption">Painting by R. Caton Woodville.</p> +<p class="caption">Reproduced by special arrangement with Henry Graves & Co., London.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Immediately to the north of this road, at the point where it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +disappeared over the sky-line on the opposite slope, lay the Queen's +Battery House and earthworks, completely commanding the valley on all +sides, and distant 1900 yards from our standpoint.</p> + +<p>"Some 1000 yards down the valley to the north stood a farmhouse, +surrounded by a dense plantation, which flanked the valley.</p> + +<p>"Half-way up the opposite slope, and adjacent to the road, stood an iron +house which commanded the drift where the road crossed the +above-mentioned watercourse.</p> + +<p>"On the south side of the road, and immediately opposite the last-named +house, an extensive rectangular stone wall enclosure with high trees +formed an excellent advanced central defensive position. Further up the +slope, some 500 yards to the south of this enclosure, stretched a line +of rifle-pits, which were again flanked to the south by 'prospecting' +trenches. On the sky-line numbers of Boers were apparent to our front +and right front.</p> + +<p>"Before reaching the plateau we had observed small parties of Boers +hurrying towards Krugersdorp, and immediately on reaching the high +ground the rear-guard was attacked by the Boer force which had followed +the column during the whole morning.</p> + +<p>"I therefore had no further hesitation in opening fire on the +Krugersdorp position.</p> + +<p>"The two 7-pounders and the 12½-pounder opened on the Boer line, +making good practice under Captain Kincaid-Smith and Captain Gosling at +1900 yards.</p> + +<p>"This fire was kept up till 5 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> The Boers made practically no reply, +but lay quiet in the trenches and battery.</p> + +<p>"Scouts having reported that most of the trenches were evacuated, the +first line, consisting of the advanced guard (a troop of 100 men), under +Colonel White, advanced. Two Maxims accompanied this force; a strong +troop with a Maxim formed the right and left support on either flank.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant-Colonel Grey, with one troop B.B.P. and one Maxim, had been +previously detailed to move round and attack the Boers' left.</p> + +<p>"The remaining two troops, with three Maxims, formed the reserve and +rear-guard.</p> + +<p>"The first line advance continued unopposed to within 200 yards of the +watercourse, when it was checked by an exceedingly heavy cross-fire from +all points of the defence.</p> + +<p>"Colonel White then pushed his skirmishers forward into and beyond the +watercourse.</p> + +<p>"The left support, under Inspector Dykes, then advanced to prolong the +first line to the left; but, diverging too much to his left,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> this +officer experienced a very hot flanking fire from the farmhouse and +plantation, and was driven back with some loss.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Grey meanwhile had pushed round on the extreme right and come +into action.</p> + +<p>"About this time Major Villiers' patrol returned and reported that the +country to our right was open, and that we could easily move round in +that direction.</p> + +<p>"It was now evident that the Boers were in great force, and intended +holding their position.</p> + +<p>"Without the arrival of the Johannesburg force in rear of the Boers—an +event which I had been momentarily expecting—I did not feel justified +in pushing a general attack, which would have certainly entailed heavy +losses on my small force.</p> + +<p>"I accordingly left Inspector Drury with one troop and one Maxim to keep +in check the Boers who were now lining the edge of the plateau to our +left, and placed Colonel Grey with two troops B.B.P., one +12½-pounder, and one Maxim, to cover our left flank and continue +firing on the battery and trenches south of the road.</p> + +<p>"I then made a general flank movement to the right with the remaining +troops.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Grey succeeded in shelling the Boers out of their advanced +position during the next half-hour, and blew up the Battery House.</p> + +<p>"Under this cover the column moved off as far as the first houses of the +Randfontein group of mines, the Boers making no attempt to intercept the +movement.</p> + +<p>"Night was now fast approaching, and still there were no signs of the +promised help from Johannesburg. I determined, therefore, to push on +with all speed in the direction of that town, trusting in the darkness +to slip through any intervening opposition.</p> + +<p>"Two guides were obtained, the column followed in the prescribed night +order of march, and we started off along a road leading direct to +Johannesburg.</p> + +<p>"At this moment heavy rifle and Maxim fire was suddenly heard from the +direction of Krugersdorp, which lay one and a half miles to the left +rear.</p> + +<p>"We at once concluded that this could only be the arrival of the +long-awaited reinforcements, for we knew that Johannesburg had Maxims, +and that the Staats-Artillerie were not expected to arrive until the +following morning. To leave our supposed friends in the lurch was out of +the question. I determined at once to move to their support.</p> + +<p>"Leaving the carts escorted by one troop on the road, I advanced rapidly +across the plateau towards Krugersdorp in the direction of the firing, +in the formation shown in the accompanying sketch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"After advancing thus for nearly a mile the firing ceased, and we +perceived the Boers moving in great force to meet the column. The +flankers on the right reported another force threatening that flank.</p> + +<p>"Fearing that an attempt would be made to cut us off from the ammunition +carts, I ordered a retreat on them.</p> + +<p>"It was now clear that the firing, whatever might have been the cause +thereof, was not occasioned by the arrival of any force from +Johannesburg.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image163" name="image163"></a> + <a href="images/image163h.png"> + <img src="images/image163.png" + alt="Plan of JAMIESON'S MARCH" + title="Plan of JAMIESON'S MARCH" /></a> +</div> + +<p>"Precious moments had been lost in the attempt to stand by our friends +at all costs, under the mistaken supposition that they could not fail to +carry out their repeated promises, renewed to us by letter so lately as +11 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> this same day. It was now very nearly dark. In the dusk the +Boers could be seen closing in on three sides, viz., north, east, and +south. The road to Johannesburg appeared completely barred, and the last +opportunity of slipping through, which had presented itself an hour ago +when the renewed firing was heard, was gone not to return.</p> + +<p>"Nothing remained but to bivouac in the best position available.</p> + +<p>"But for the unfortunate circumstance of the firing, which we afterwards +heard was due to the exultation of the Boers at the arrival of large +reinforcements from Potchefstroom, the column would have been by this +time (7 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>), at least four or five miles further on the road to +Johannesburg, with an excellent chance of reaching that town without +further opposition.</p> + +<p>"I moved the column to the edge of a wide valley to the right of the +road, and formed the horses in quarter column under cover of the slope. +The carts were formed up in the rear and on both flanks, and five Maxims +were placed along the front so as to sweep the plateau.</p> + +<p>"The other three Maxims and the heavy guns were posted on the rear and +flank faces.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The men were then directed to lie down between the guns and on the +side; sentries and Cossack posts were posted on each face.</p> + +<p>"Meantime the Boers had occupied the numerous prospecting trenches and +cuttings on the plateau at distances from 400 to 800 yards.</p> + +<p>"At 9 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> a heavy fire was opened on the bivouac, and a storm of +bullets swept over and around us, apparently directed from all sides +except the south-west.</p> + +<p>"The troops were protected by their position on the slope below the +level of the plateau, so that the total loss from this fire, which +lasted about twenty minutes, was very inconsiderable.</p> + +<p>"The men behaved with admirable coolness, and were as cheery as +possible, although very tired and hungry and without water.</p> + +<p>"We were then left unmolested for two or three hours.</p> + +<p>"About midnight another shower of bullets was poured into the camp, but +the firing was not kept up for long.</p> + +<p>"Somewhat later a Maxim gun opened on the bivouac, but failed to get our +range.</p> + +<p>"At 3.30 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> patrols were pushed out on all sides, while the force as +silently and rapidly as possible was got ready to move off.</p> + +<p>"At 4 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> a heavy fire was opened by the Boers on the column, and the +patrols driven in from the north and east sides.</p> + +<p>"Under the direction of Major R. White (assisted by Lieutenant +Jesser-Coope) the column was formed under cover of the slope.</p> + +<p>"Soon after this the patrols which had been sent out to the south +returned, and reported that the ground was clear of the Boers in that +direction.</p> + +<p>"The growing light enabled us to ascertain that the Boers in force were +occupying pits to our left and lining the railway embankment for a +distance of one and a half miles right across the direct road to +Johannesburg.</p> + +<p>"I covered the movements of the main body with the B.B.P. and two Maxims +under Colonel Grey along the original left front of the bivouac, and two +troops M.M.P., under Major R. White, on the right front.</p> + +<p>"During all this time the firing was excessively heavy; however, the +main body was partially sheltered by the slope.</p> + +<p>"Colonel White then led the advance for a mile across the vley without +casualty, but on reaching the opposite rise near the Oceanic Mine, was +subjected to a very heavy long-range fire. Colonel White hereupon very +judiciously threw out one troop to the left to cover the further advance +of the main body.</p> + +<p>"This was somewhat delayed, after crossing the rise, by the +disappearance of our volunteer guide of the previous night.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Some little time elapsed before another guide could be obtained.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime Lieutenant-Colonel Grey withdrew his force and the +covering Maxims out of action under the protection of the M.M.P. +covering troops, and rejoined the main body.</p> + +<p>"At this juncture Colonel Grey was shot in the foot, but most gallantly +insisted on carrying on his duties until the close of the action.</p> + +<p>"Sub-Inspector Cazalet was also wounded here, but continued in action +until he was shot again in the chest at Doornkop.</p> + +<p>"While crossing the ridge the column was subjected to a very heavy fire, +and several men and horses were lost here.</p> + +<p>"I detailed a rear-guard of one troop and two Maxims, under Major R. +White, to cover our rear and left flank, and moved the remainder of the +troops in the ordinary day formation as rapidly forward as possible.</p> + +<p>"In this formation a running rear and flank guard fight was kept up for +ten miles. Wherever the features of the ground admitted, a stand was +made by various small detachments of the rear and flank guard. In this +manner the Boers were successfully kept at a distance of 500 yards, and +repulsed in all their efforts to reach the rear and flank of the main +body.</p> + +<p>"In passing through the various mines and the village of Randfontein, we +met with hearty expressions of goodwill from the mining population, who +professed a desire to help if only they had arms.</p> + +<p>"Ten miles from the start I received intelligence from Colonel Grey, at +the head of the column, that Doornkop, a hill near the Speitfontein +Mine, was held by 400 Boers, directly barring our line of advance.</p> + +<p>"I repaired immediately to the front, Colonel White remaining with the +rear-guard.</p> + +<p>"On arriving at the head of the column, I found the guns shelling a +ridge which our guide stated was Doornkop.</p> + +<p>"The excellent dispositions for the attack made by Colonel Grey were +then carried out.</p> + +<p>"The B.B.P., under Major Coventry, who, I regret to say, was severely +wounded and lost several of his men, attacked and cleared the ridge in +most gallant style, and pushed on beyond it.</p> + +<p>"About this time Inspector Barry received the wound which, we have +learnt with grief, has subsequently proved fatal.</p> + +<p>"Chief-Inspector Bodle at the same time, with two troops M.M.P., charged +and drove off the field a large force of Boers threatening our left +flank.</p> + +<p>"The guide had informed us that the road to the right of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> hill was +impassable, and that there was open and easy country to the left.</p> + +<p>"This information was misleading. I afterwards ascertained that without +storming the Boer position there was no road open to Johannesburg, +except by a wide detour of many miles to the right.</p> + +<p>"At this moment Dr. Jameson received a letter from the High Commissioner +again ordering us to desist in our advance. Dr. Jameson informed me at +the same time of the most disheartening news, viz. that he had received +a message stating that Johannesburg would not, or could not, come to our +assistance, and that we must fight our way through unaided.</p> + +<p>"Thinking that the first ridge now in our hands was Doornkop, we again +pushed rapidly on, only to find that in rear of the ridge another steep +and stony kopje, some 400 feet in height, was held by hundreds of Boers +completely covered from our fire.</p> + +<p>"This kopje effectually flanked the road over which the column must +advance at a distance of 400 yards. Scouting showed that there was no +way of getting round this hill.</p> + +<p>"Surrounded on all sides by the Boers, men and horses wearied out, +outnumbered by at least six to one, our friends having failed to keep +their promises to meet us, and my force reduced numerically by +one-fourth, I no longer considered that I was justified in sacrificing +any more of the lives of the men under me.</p> + +<p>"As previously explained, our object in coming had been to render +assistance, without bloodshed if possible, to the inhabitants of +Johannesburg. This object would in no way be furthered by a hopeless +attempt to cut our way through overwhelming numbers, an attempt, +moreover, which must without any doubt have entailed heavy and useless +slaughter.</p> + +<p>"With Dr. Jameson's permission, I therefore sent word to the Commandant +that we would surrender provided that he would give a guarantee of safe +conduct out of the country to every member of the force.</p> + +<p>"To this Commandant Cronjé replied by a guarantee of the lives of all, +provided that we would lay down our arms and pay all expenses.</p> + +<p>"In spite of this guarantee of the lives of all, Commandant Malan +subsequently repudiated the guarantee in so far as to say that he would +not answer for the lives of the leaders, but this was not until our arms +had been given up and the force at the mercy of the Boers.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image166" name="image166"></a> + <a href="images/image166h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image166.jpg" + alt="JOHANNESBURG FROM THE NORTH." + title="JOHANNESBURG FROM THE NORTH." /></a> +<p class="caption">JOHANNESBURG FROM THE NORTH.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Wilson, Aberdeen.</p> +</div> + +<p>"I attribute our failure to reach Johannesburg in a great measure to +loss of time from the following causes:—</p> + +<p>"1. The delay occasioned by the demonstration in front of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +Krugersdorp, which had been assigned as the place of junction with the +Johannesburg force.</p> + +<p>"2. The non-arrival of that force at Krugersdorp, or of the guides to +the Krugersdorp-Johannesburg section of the road, as previously promised +by Johannesburg.</p> + +<p>"3. The delay consequent on moving to the firing of the supposed +Johannesburg column just before dark on Wednesday evening.</p> + +<p>"I append (1) a sketch-map of the route from Pitsani to Krugersdorp +marked A. This distance (154 miles) was covered in just under seventy +hours, the horses having been off-saddled ten times. The 169 miles +between Pitsani and Doornkop occupied eighty-six hours, during seventeen +of which the men were engaged with the Boers, and were practically +without food or water, having had their last meal at 8 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span> on the +morning of the 1st January at Van Oudtshoorn's, seventeen miles from +Krugersdorp."</p> + +<p>(The report concludes with a list of officers engaged in the +expedition.)</p> + +<p>It will be noted that Sir John Willoughby does not attribute his failure +to the bungling of his employés that is said to have taken place. The +man that was despatched to cut the telegraph wires failed to do so, with +the result that the Boers were provided with the news of the invasion +eight hours before the Reform leaders were aware of it; while another +man, whose business it was to wrench away the rails between Johannesburg +and Krugersdorp, and thus interrupt communication from Pretoria, was +reposing in a clubhouse hopelessly drunk, while the train he should have +intercepted carried ammunition for use against the invaders.</p> + +<p>In order to present a fair picture of the situation, it must be admitted +that many of the statements in this report were emphatically +contradicted by the Reformers, notably the opening paragraphs, which +scarcely tally with the fact that on the 28th (the day referred to) Dr. +Jameson received the letters from the Reformers telling him not to +start.</p> + +<p>The following statement of the four Reform leaders, which was read at +their trial, will present the case from their point of view, and those +interested may judge for themselves of a question over which many +differences of opinion exist:—</p> + +<p>"For a number of years endeavours have been made to obtain by +constitutional means the redress of the grievances under which the +Uitlander population labours. The new-comer asked for no more than is +conceded to emigrants by all the other Governments in South Africa, +under which every man may, on reasonable conditions, become a citizen of +the State; whilst here alone a policy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> is pursued by which the first +settlers retain the exclusive right of government.</p> + +<p>"Petitions supported by the signatures of some forty thousand men were +ignored, and when it was found that we could not get a fair and +reasonable hearing, that provisions already deemed obnoxious and unfair +were being made more stringent, and that we were being debarred for ever +from obtaining the rights which in other countries are freely granted, +it was realised that we would never get redress until we should make a +demonstration of force to support our claims.</p> + +<p>"Certain provision was made regarding arms and ammunition, and a letter +was written to Dr. Jameson, in which he was asked to come to our aid +under certain circumstances.</p> + +<p>"On December 26 the Uitlanders' Manifesto was published, and it was then +our intention to make a final appeal for redress at the public meeting +which was to have been held on January 6. In consequence of matters that +came to our knowledge, we sent on December 26 Major Heany (by train +<i>via</i> Kimberley), and Captain Holden across country, to forbid any +movement on Dr. Jameson's part.</p> + +<p>"On the afternoon of Monday, December 30, we learnt from Government +sources that Dr. Jameson had crossed the border. We assumed that he had +come in good faith to help us, probably misled by some of the +exaggerated rumours which were then in circulation. We were convinced, +however, that the Government and the burghers would not in the +excitement of the moment believe that we had not invited Dr. Jameson in, +and there was no course open to us but to prepare to defend ourselves if +we were attacked, and at the same time to spare no effort to effect a +peaceful settlement.</p> + +<p>"It became necessary to form some organisation for the protection of the +town and the maintenance of order, since, in the excitement caused by +the news of Dr. Jameson's coming, serious disturbances would be likely +to occur, and it was evident that the Government organisation could not +deal with the people without serious risks of conflict.</p> + +<p>"The Reform Committee was formed on Monday night, December 30, and it +was intended to include such men of influence as cared to associate +themselves with the movement. The object with which it was formed is +best shown by its first notice, namely:—</p> + +<p>"'Notice is hereby given, that this Committee adheres to the National +Union Manifesto, and reiterates its desire to maintain the independence +of the Republic. The fact that rumours are in course<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> of circulation to +the effect that a force has crossed the Bechuanaland border renders it +necessary to take active steps for the defence of Johannesburg and +preservation of order. The Committee earnestly desire that the +inhabitants should refrain from taking any action which can be construed +as an overt act of hostility against the Government. By order of the +Committee, <span class="smcap">J. Percy Fitzpatrick</span>, <i>Secretary</i>.'</p> + +<p>"The evidence taken at the preliminary examination will show that order +was maintained by this Committee during a time of intense excitement, +and through the action of the Committee no aggressive steps whatever +were taken against the Government, but on the contrary, the property of +the Government was protected, and its officials were not interfered +with.</p> + +<p>"It is our firm belief that had no such Committee been formed, the +intense excitement caused by Dr. Jameson's entry would have brought +about utter chaos in Johannesburg.</p> + +<p>"It has been alleged that we armed natives. This is absolutely untrue, +and is disposed of by the fact that during the crisis upwards of 20,000 +white men applied to us for arms and were unable to get them.</p> + +<p>"On Tuesday morning, December 31, we hoisted the flag of the Z. A. R., +and every man bound himself to maintain the independence of the +Republic. On the same day the Government withdrew its police voluntarily +from the town, and we preserved perfect order.</p> + +<p>"During the evening of that day, Messrs. Marais and Malan presented +themselves as delegates from the Executive Council. They came (to use +their own words) to 'offer us the olive branch,' and they told us that +if we would send a deputation to Pretoria to meet a Commission appointed +by the Government, we should probably obtain 'practically all that we +asked for in the Manifesto.'</p> + +<p>"Our deputation met the Government Commission, consisting of +Chief-Justice Kotze, Judge Ameshof, and Mr. Kook, member of the +Executive.</p> + +<p>"On our behalf our deputation frankly avowed knowledge of Jameson's +presence on the border, and of his intention, by written arrangement +with us, to assist us in case of extremity.</p> + +<p>"With the full knowledge of this arrangement, with the knowledge that we +were in arms and agitating for our rights, the Government Commission +handed to us a resolution by the Executive Council, of which the +following is the purport:—</p> + +<p>"'The High Commissioner has offered his services with a view to a +peaceful settlement. The Government of the South African Republic has +accepted his offer. Pending his arrival, no hostile step will be taken +against Johannesburg, provided Johannesburg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> takes no hostile action +against the Government. In terms of a certain proclamation recently +issued by the President, the grievances will be earnestly considered.'</p> + +<p>"We acted in perfect good faith with the Government, believing it to be +their desire, as it was ours, to avert bloodshed, and believing it to be +their intention to give us the redress which was implied in the 'earnest +consideration of grievances.'</p> + +<p>"There can be no better evidence of our earnest endeavour to repair what +we regarded as a mistake on the part of Dr. Jameson than the following +offer which our deputation, authorised by resolution of the Committee, +laid before the Government Commission:—</p> + +<p>"'If the Government will permit Dr. Jameson to come into Johannesburg +unmolested the Committee will guarantee, with their persons if +necessary, that he will leave again peacefully as soon as possible.'</p> + +<p>"We faithfully carried out the agreement that we should commit no act of +hostility against the Government; we ceased all active operations for +the defence of the town against any attack, and we did everything in our +power to prevent any collision with the burghers, an attempt in which +our efforts were happily successful.</p> + +<p>"On the telegraphic advice of the result of the interview of the +deputation with the Government Commission, we despatched Mr. Lace, a +member of our Committee, as an escort to the courier carrying the High +Commissioner's despatch to Dr. Jameson, in order to assure ourselves +that the despatch would reach its destination.</p> + +<p>"On the following Saturday, January 4, the High Commissioner arrived at +Pretoria. On Monday, the 6th, the following telegram was sent to us:—</p> + +<p class="dochead"><i>From</i> <span class="smcap">H.M.'s Agent</span> <i>to</i> <span class="smcap">Reform Committee</span>, Johannesburg.</p> +<p class="ralign">"'<span class="smcap">Pretoria</span>, <i>January 6, 1896</i>.</p> + +<p>"'<i>January 6.</i>—I am directed to inform you that the High Commissioner +met the President, the Executive, and the Judges to-day. The President +announced the decision of the Government to be that Johannesburg must +lay down its arms unconditionally as a (condition) precedent to a +discussion and consideration of grievances. The High Commissioner +endeavoured to obtain some indication of the steps which would be taken +in the event of disarmament, but without success, it being intimated +that the Government had nothing more to say on the subject than had +already been embodied in the President's proclamation. The High +Commissioner inquired whether any decision had been come to as regards +the disposal of the prisoners, and received a reply in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> negative. +The President said that as his burghers, to the number of 8000, had been +collected and could not be asked to remain indefinitely, he must request +a reply, "Yes" or "No," to this ultimatum within twenty-four hours.'</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">"On the following day, Sir Jacobus de Wet, her Majesty's Agent, met us +in committee, and handed to us the following wire from his Excellency +the High Commissioner:—</p> + +<p class="dochead"><span class="smcap">High Commissioner</span>, Pretoria, <i>to</i> Sir <span class="smcap">J. de Wet</span>, Johannesburg.</p> +<p class="center">(Received Johannesburg 7.30 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, <i>Jan. 7, 1896</i>.)</p> + +<p>"'Urgent. You should inform the Johannesburg people that I consider, +that if they lay down their arms, they will be acting loyally and +honourably, and that if they do not comply with my request, they forfeit +all claim to sympathy from her Majesty's Government, and from British +subjects throughout the world, as the lives of Jameson and prisoners are +practically in their hands.'</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">"On this, and the assurance given in the Executive Council resolution, +we laid down our arms on January 6th, 7th and 8th; on the 9th we were +arrested, and have since been under arrest at Pretoria, a period of +three and a half months.</p> + +<p>"We admit responsibility for the action taken by us. We frankly avowed +it at the time of the negotiations with the Government, when we were +informed that the services of the High Commissioner had been accepted +with a view to a peaceful settlement.</p> + +<p>"We submit that we kept faith in every detail in the arrangement with +the Government; that we did all that was humanly possible to protect +both the State and Dr. Jameson from the consequences of his action; that +we have committed no breach of the law which was not known to the +Government at the time that the earnest consideration of our grievances +was promised.</p> + +<p>"We can only now lay the bare facts before the Court, and submit to the +judgment that may be passed upon us.</p> + +<div class="sigalign1"> +<p style="text-indent: -15em; float: left; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em">(Signed)</p> +<p style="text-indent: -10em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em"><span class="smcap">Lionel Phillips.</span></p> +<p style="text-indent: -10em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em"><span class="smcap">Francis Rhodes.</span></p> +<p style="text-indent: -10em; margin-top: 0em;"><span class="smcap">George Farrar.</span></p> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Pretoria</span>, <i>April 24, 1896</i>."</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em;">"I entirely concur with the above statement.</p> + +<div class="sigalign1"> +<p style="text-indent: -18em; float: left; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em">(Signed)</p> +<p style="text-indent: -12em; margin-top: 0em; margin-bottom: 0em"><span class="smcap">John Hays Hammond</span>.</p> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 2em;">"<span class="smcap">Pretoria</span>, <i>April 27, 1896</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + + +<p class="sechead">AFTER DOORNKOP</p> + +<p>The account given by Sir John Willoughby serves to explain the doings of +the Jameson troops. We all know how the raiders were surrounded by the +Boers, who had ample time to lay an excellent trap for them, and how, +after a plucky charge, they were forced to surrender. Before +surrendering, however, Dr. Jameson obtained from Commandant Cronjé, of +Potchefstroom notoriety, a guarantee that the lives of the force would +be spared.</p> + +<p>During this exciting period, when the failure of Jameson became known, +the consternation that prevailed in Johannesburg was terrible. +Panic-stricken women and children fled to the railway stations, and the +Cornish miners scrambled with them for places in the departing trains. +In the heat of January the poor refugees started off provisionless, +leaving all their worldly goods behind them, their one care to be far +away from the horrors that might take place in a besieged town. In the +train they were packed like herrings in carriages or in cattle trucks, +that would barely accommodate them.</p> + +<p>In addition to these miseries an awful accident took place on the Natal +line, when a train loaded with refugees ran off the rails. Thirty-eight +women and children were killed.</p> + +<p>In Johannesburg the Reformers had a harassing time. Their offices were +besieged by people clamouring for arms. They had no rest night nor day, +and their anxiety for the safety of Jameson and his party was intense. +For themselves they were unconcerned, believing that their share in the +matter was unknown, and that the Government was without a particle of +evidence against them. And here we find that another blunder was made. +Major Robert White, one of the raiders, had brought with him a +despatch-box containing the key to a cypher, which had been used during +the whole of the negotiations, and with it the names of the principal +persons engaged in the conspiracy. Of course, this fell into the hands +of the enemy, who were not slow to take advantage of their good luck.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image172" name="image172"></a> + <a href="images/image172h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image172.jpg" + alt="COLOUR-SERGEANT and PRIVATE (in KHAKI), GLOUCESTER REGIMENT." + title="COLOUR-SERGEANT and PRIVATE (in KHAKI), GLOUCESTER REGIMENT." /></a> +<p class="caption">COLOUR-SERGEANT and PRIVATE (in KHAKI), GLOUCESTER REGIMENT.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Gregory & Co., London.</p> +</div> + +<p>On the evening of Jameson's surrender (Thursday), Sir Hercules Robinson +(Lord Rosmead), left the Cape for the scene of the disturbance. The +train he travelled by met with an accident; he was infirm—his nerves +were shaken. The President refused to be interviewed on the Sabbath, and +the result of his journey was a single meeting with Mr. Kruger, but the +British Resident, Sir Jacobus de Wet, and Sir Sidney Shippard, were +deputed to address and pacify<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> the perturbed multitude in +Johannesburg. The Uitlanders, they promised, should get their just +rights—that her Majesty's Government would ensure—but they must first +give up their arms: the fate of Jameson depended on it! The Reform +leaders at this time knew nothing of the terms of the surrender, and the +guarantee given by Commandant Cronjé, or, perhaps, they knew too well +what Cronjé's guarantees were likely to be worth; and much against their +better judgment, believing that their rights would be secured and the +safety of Jameson effected, they eventually consented to disarmament.</p> + +<p>As we know, the conspirators had been short of arms—they had about 2500 +guns in all. When these were given up the Boers were dissatisfied. They +had reason to believe that some 20,000 guns were to be supplied as part +of the scheme, and suspected that the Reformers were concealing the +existence of many weapons. The word of honour of the leaders produced no +effect, and energetic search through floors and in the mines was carried +on for some months afterwards.</p> + +<p>Of course, this disarmament immediately threw the Reformers into the +clutches of the Pretoria Government. The authorities made haste to issue +warrants for the arrest of sixty-four of the most prominent men of the +movement; this in spite of the assurance made to the British agent that +"not a hair of their heads should be touched"! Mrs. Phillips has reason +to speak very bitterly of the mismanagement of the High Commissioner on +this occasion. Having done his gruesome work, she says, "he returned to +Cape Town, leaving Johannesburg absolutely at the mercy of the Boers. He +actually effected the disarmament of this large town without making one +single condition for its safety, and from that day the most signal acts +of tyranny and injustice were committed over and over again by the Boer +Oligarchy, and there was no one to say them nay. This was a critical +event for English supremacy in South Africa, this final act of supreme +weakness and folly! Many of her most loyal subjects from that moment +have wavered on the brink, and some have gone over to the side of the +Africander Bond. It is such actions as these which estrange the +Colonists, and which give a little reality to the bondsman's dream of a +United South Africa under a Republican flag."</p> + +<p>For the benefit of those who may not be acquainted with the negotiations +which brought about this unfortunate disarmament, it may be as well to +repeat some of the correspondence that passed between Sir Hercules +Robinson and Mr. Chamberlain at this critical period.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p class="dochead">Sir <span class="smcap">Hercules Robinson</span>, Pretoria, <i>to</i> Mr. <span class="smcap">Chamberlain</span>.</p> +<p class="center">(Telegraphic. Received 1.8 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, <i>6th January 1896</i>.)</p> + +<p>"5th January, No. 3. Arrived here last night. Position of affairs very +critical. On side of Government of South African Republic and of Orange +Free State there is a desire to show moderation, but Boers show tendency +to get out of hand and to demand execution of Jameson. I am told that +Government of South African Republic will demand disarmament of +Johannesburg as a condition precedent to negotiations. Their military +preparations are now practically complete, and Johannesburg, if +besieged, could not hold out, as they are short of water and coal. On +side of Johannesburg leaders desire to be moderate, but men make safety +of Jameson and concession of items in manifesto issued conditions +precedent to disarmament. If these are refused, they assert they will +elect their own leaders and fight it out in their own way. As the matter +now stands, I see great difficulty in avoiding civil war, but I will do +my best, and telegraph result of my official interview to-morrow. It is +said that President of South African Republic intends to make some +demands with respect to Article No. 4 of the London Convention of 1884."</p> + +<p class="dochead">Mr. <span class="smcap">Chamberlain</span> <i>to</i> Sir <span class="smcap">Hercules Robinson</span>.</p> +<p class="center">(Telegraphic. <i>6th January 1896.</i>)</p> + +<p>"6th January. No. 3. It is reported in the press telegrams the President +of the South African Republic on December 30 held out definite hopes +that concessions would be proposed in regard to education and the +franchise. No overt act of hostility appears to have been committed by +the Johannesburg people since the overthrow of Jameson. The statement +that arms and ammunition are stored in that town in large quantities may +be only one of many boasts without foundation. Under these +circumstances, active measures against the town do not seem to be +urgently required at the present moment, and I hope no step will be +taken by the President of the South African Republic liable to cause +more bloodshed and excite civil war in the Republic."</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">These are followed by further correspondence.</p> + +<p class="dochead">Sir <span class="smcap">Hercules Robinson</span>, Pretoria, <i>to</i> Mr. <span class="smcap">Chamberlain</span>.</p> +<p class="center">(Telegraphic. Received <i>7th January 1896</i>.)</p> + +<p>"6th January. No. 2. Met President South African Republic and Executive +Council to-day. Before opening proceedings, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> expressed on behalf of +her Majesty's Government my sincere regret at the unwarrantable raid +made by Jameson; also thanked Government of South African Republic for +the moderation shown under trying circumstances. With regard to +Johannesburg, President of South African Republic announced decision of +Government to be that Johannesburg must lay down its arms +unconditionally as a precedent to any discussion and consideration of +grievances. I endeavoured to obtain some indication of the steps that +would be taken in the event of disarmament, but without success, it +being intimated that Government of South African Republic had nothing +more to say on this subject than had been already embodied in +proclamation of President of South African Republic. I inquired as to +whether any decision had been come to as regards disposal of prisoners, +and received a reply in the negative. President of South African +Republic said that as his burghers, to number of 8000, had been +collected and could not be asked to remain indefinitely, he must request +a reply, 'Yes' or 'No,' to this ultimatum within twenty-four hours. I +have communicated decision of South African Republic to Reform Committee +at Johannesburg through British Agent in South African Republic.</p> + +<p>"The burgher levies are in such an excited state over the invasion of +their country, that I believe President of South African Republic could +not control them except in the event of unconditional surrender. I have +privately recommended them to accept ultimatum. Proclamation of +President of South African Republic refers to promise to consider all +grievances which are properly submitted, and to lay the same before the +Legislature without delay."</p> + +<p>On January 7, Mr. Chamberlain replied:—</p> + +<p>"No. 1. I approve of your advice to Johannesburg. Kruger will be wise +not to proceed to extremities at Johannesburg or elsewhere: otherwise +the evil animosities already aroused may be dangerously excited."</p> + +<p>And on the same day Sir Hercules Robinson telegraphed:—</p> + +<p>"No. 1. Your telegram of January 6, No. 2. It would be most inexpedient +to send troops to Mafeking at this moment, and there is not the +slightest necessity for such a step, as there is no danger from +Kimberley Volunteer Corps or from Mafeking. I have sent De Wet with +ultimatum this morning to Johannesburg, and believe arms will be laid +down unconditionally. I understand in such case Jameson and all +prisoners will be handed over to me. Prospect now very hopeful if no +injudicious steps are taken. Please leave matter in my hands."</p> + +<p>It is unnecessarily humiliating to dwell further on the astute<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> manner +in which Mr. Kruger played with the British Government while he kept +Jameson and his party in durance vile, and in the agonies of mental +suspense—or to dilate upon the treacherous means he employed to induce +the Reformers and the town to lay down their arms. The British Agent +distinctly promised that "not one among you shall lose his personal +liberty for a single hour," and further declared "that the British +Government could not possibly allow such a thing."</p> + +<p>Yet the British Government calmly looked on while the Reform leaders +were arrested and kept in Pretoria Gaol, at the mercy of a fiend in +human shape named Du Plessis, whose atrocious conduct and character +eventually caused him to be reported to the High Commissioner.</p> + +<p>As an example of the way prisoners were treated, Mrs. Lionel Phillips +may again be quoted:—</p> + +<p>"It is well known," she writes, "that one of Jameson's troopers on the +way down, falling ill, was taken prisoner by some Boers, and kept at +their farmhouse some days. He was tied up, and forced to submit to all +sorts of ill-treatment, being given dirty water to drink, for instance, +when half-dying of thirst. But his captor's wife had compassion on him, +and at the end of several days, to his surprise, he was told that he was +to be allowed to go free. The Boers gave him his horse, mounted him, and +informed him the one condition they made was that he was to ride away as +fast as he could. He naturally obeyed, and as he galloped off had +several bullets put into him, poor fellow. That is a very favourite and +well-known method of Transvaal Boer assassination. It gives them the +pretext that a prisoner had been trying to escape."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Phillips relates also the horrible experiences of her husband, who +was one of the Uitlanders conspicuous in the Reform movement.</p> + +<p>"Lionel (her husband), George Farrar, Colonel Rhodes, and J. H. Hammond +were put into one cell, twelve feet square, without windows, and were +locked up there the first three nights for thirteen hours. Then the +prison doctor insisted on more space being allotted to them, and the +door, which communicated with a courtyard twenty feet square, was left +open at night. This was the space in which they were permitted to take +exercise. They were not allowed to associate with their fellows at +first. In January, in Pretoria, the heat is intense, quite semi-tropical +indeed, the temperature varying from 90 to 105 degrees in the shade. As +the weather happened to be at its hottest, the sufferings of these men +were awful. The cells, hitherto devoted to the use of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> Kaffirs, +swarmed with vermin and smelt horribly; while to increase their +miseries, if that were possible, one of their number was suffering from +dysentery, and no conveniences of any kind were supplied. With these +facts in mind, any attempt to describe what the prisoners underwent +would be superfluous. Add to all these hardships their mental +sufferings, and then judge of their state."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image177" name="image177"></a> + <a href="images/image177h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image177.jpg" + alt="Rt. Hon. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P." + title="Rt. Hon. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P." /></a> +<p class="caption">Rt. Hon. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,</p> +<p class="caption">Secretary for the Colonies.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Russell & Sons, London.</p> +</div> + +<p>Can anything be more pathetic than the description of the state of these +men given by the wife of one of them—men who had been driven to hatred +and revolt by an inefficient, exclusive, and unscrupulous Government, +which was endeavouring to reduce the subjects of a suzerain power to the +level—to the, to them, despicable level—of the Kaffirs? Of the fate of +these unhappy sufferers we have yet to speak.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE FATE OF RAIDERS AND REFORMERS</p> + +<p>Dr. Jameson, as we all know, was sent with his comrades to England to be +dealt with by the laws of his country. He and his officers were tried +and convicted under the Foreign Enlistment Act. Much sympathy was shown +him by the vast British public, and little for the Reformers, who, +whatever their part in the affair, had to suffer most. They endured +mental torture, and bodily discomfort of all kinds—discomfort so acute +that it brought on some active illness, and caused one to commit +suicide. A Judge from the Orange Free State—Judge Gregorowski—who took +an unctious joy in the proceedings, was imported to try them, and he +revived or unearthed an old Roman Dutch law of treason for the purpose +of sentencing them to death. This sentence was fortunately not carried +out, but it served to keep the Reformers and all connected with them in +a state of agonised suspense. Besides these sufferers from the effects +of the Raid, there were others. Mr. Rhodes is said to have exclaimed, "I +have been the friend of Jameson for twenty years and now he has ruined +me!" The statement was somewhat exaggerated, but there is no doubt that +Mr. Rhodes, besides having to resign the posts he occupied, lost much of +the sympathy of the Cape Dutch. The Uitlanders, also, who had previously +enjoyed this sympathy now forfeited it, all the Dutch being inclined to +quote the impulsive act of Dr. Jameson as an example of British +treachery, and to look upon Mr. Kruger in the light of a hero. Indeed, +many of the British, who took merely an outsider's interest in the state +of affairs, laboured under the impression that Mr. Kruger was a +simple-minded, long-suffering, and magnanimous person. They did not +trouble themselves to go deeply<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> into the incessant annoyances and +injustices that for many years had harried the lot of the Uitlanders and +caused them at last to lose patience and revolt against oppression. Even +now there are people who lean to the belief that the coarse nut of Boer +character may possess a sound kernel, people who prefer to hug that +belief rather than inform themselves by reading what Mr. Rider Haggard, +Mr. Fitzpatrick, and other well-informed men have to say on the subject.</p> + +<p>When all efforts to work upon Mr. Kruger failed, the wives of the +unhappy men applied to "Tante Sanne," as the President's wife is called, +and begged her intervention. She said, "Yes, I will do all I can for +you; I am very sorry for you all, although I know that none of you +thought of me that night when we heard Jameson had crossed the border, +and we were afraid the President would have to go out and fight, and +when they went and caught his white horse that he has not ridden for +eight years. But all the same I am sorry for you all."</p> + +<p>The wives of the Boers are very powerful, and it is possible that Mrs. +Kruger may have prevailed in some way over her husband, for at last, +after five weary months of imprisonment, after delays, suspenses, and +alarms too numerous to be here recounted, the prisoners, on the 11th of +June 1896, were released. They were required to pay a fine of £2000, and +to sign a pledge not to interfere with politics for three years. It was +owing to this pledge that the valuable book, "The Transvaal from +Within," which has here been quoted, was not published till affairs +therein set forth had come in 1899 to the painful climax of war! Mr. +Lionel Phillips, however, was not so wise as Mr. Fitzpatrick. When Sir +John Willoughby in 1897 attacked the Reform Leaders of Johannesburg in +the <i>Nineteenth Century</i>, Mr. Phillips replied to it in the same Review, +August 1897, defending himself and his comrades from the charges made. +In consequence of this action Mr. Phillips was considered to have broken +his pledge and was condemned by the Transvaal Government to banishment. +Doubtless it was without much regret that he shook the dust of that +ill-conditioned State from off his shoes.</p> + + +<p class="sechead">THE ULTIMATUM</p> + +<p>After the turmoil of 1896 affairs declined from bad to worse. The state +of tension between the oppressed Uitlanders and the now suspicious Boers +became from day to day and year to year more acute, till at last it was +almost unbearable. The incompetence of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> the police showed that robbery, +and even murder, might at any moment be perpetrated and go unpunished, +and alarm on this score was not allayed by the action of a constable in +shooting dead a Uitlander named Edgar for having met his insults with a +blow.</p> + +<p>To thoroughly appreciate the misery and insecurity of the Uitlanders, +the atrocity of the Government, and the uncloaked hostility to Great +Britain that has existed till now, we may quote a description of the +situation given last year by Professor James Liebmann. He wrote:—</p> + +<p>"In the Transvaal a state of things reigns supreme which cannot be +surpassed by the most corrupt of South American Republics. There the +Boer shows his character in its most unpleasant features. Low, sordid, +corrupt, his chief magistrate as well as his lowest official readily +listens to 'reasons that jingle,' and, like the gentleman in the +'Mikado,' is not averse to 'insults.' He calls his country a +republic—it is so in name only. The majority of the population, +representing the wealth and intelligence of the country—the +Uitlanders—are refused almost every civil right, except the privilege +of paying exorbitant taxes to swell an already overgorged treasury. +Under this ideal(?) government, which is really a sixteenth-century +oligarchy flourishing at the end of the nineteenth, and is, certainly +not a land where</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'A man may speak the thing he will,'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>you have a press censorship as tyrannical as in Russia, a State +supervision of telegrams, a veto on the right of public meeting, a most +unjust education law, and an Executive browbeating the Justiciary; and, +in order to accomplish so much, the Transvaal has closed its doors to +its kinsmen in Cape Colony—for you must not forget that the oldest +Transvaalers, from President Kruger downwards, are ex-Cape Colonists, +and quondam British subjects—and imported a bureaucracy of Hollanders +to plait a whip wherewith to castigate her children.</p> + +<p>"On the Rand, at present, the Uitlanders are voiceless, voteless, and +leaderless, whilst, on the other hand, large quantities of arms have +been introduced into the country, and the burghers, every one of them, +trained in the use of these weapons. Fortifications have been raised at +Johannesburg and Pretoria, to cowe those who are putting money into the +State's purse, and for this purpose the President has acquired the +services of German military officers who will find congenial employment +in thus dragooning defenceless citizens.</p> + +<p>"This is the state of affairs in the South African so-called Republic in +this year of grace (1898), which, according to the Convention, granted +equal rights to Briton and to Boer."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>This being no exaggerated picture of the situation, it is small wonder +that at last the Uitlanders determined to bear the burden no longer, but +set their grievances before the Queen. Early in the new year the +following petition was forwarded to her Majesty:—</p> + +<p class="dochead">"<i>Humble Petition of British Subjects resident on the Witwatersrandt +Gold Fields to her Britannic Majesty Queen Victoria.</i></p> + +<p>"1. Your loyal subjects on these fields are by law denied the free right +of possessing such arms as may be necessary to protect their lives and +property, and such obstacles are placed in their way as to render the +obtaining of the necessary official permit almost impossible. +Consequently the Uitlander population of this State is to all intents +and purposes an unarmed community.</p> + +<p>"2. On the other hand, the whole of the burgher section of the +community, irrespective of age, are permitted to possess and carry arms +without let or hindrance, and are, in fact, on application, supplied +with them by the Government free of charge.</p> + +<p>"3. The police force of this State is exclusively recruited from the +burgher element, many of the police being youths fresh from rural +districts, without experience or tact, and in many instances without +general education or a knowledge of the English language; therefore, as +a whole, entirely out of sympathy with the British section of the +community, which forms the majority of the population.</p> + +<p>"4. The foot police of Johannesburg, in whose appointment and control we +have no voice, is not a military force; yet its members not only carry +batons, but are also armed with six-chambered military revolvers, +invariably carried loaded.</p> + +<p>"5. Under these circumstances, given an unarmed community policed by a +body of inexperienced rustics carrying weapons of precision and utterly +out of sympathy with the community they are supposed to protect, it is +not surprising that the power placed in the hands of this police force +should be constantly abused.</p> + +<p>"6. For years past your subjects have in consequence had constantly to +complain of innumerable acts of petty tyranny at the hands of the +police.</p> + +<p>"7. During the last few months, however, this antagonistic attitude of +the police has assumed a much more serious and aggressive aspect. +Without warrant they have invaded private houses and taken the occupants +into custody on frivolous and unfounded charges never proceeded with; +violently arrested British subjects in the streets on unintelligible +charges: and generally display towards your Majesty's subjects a temper +which undoubtedly tends to endanger the peace of the community. In +adopting this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> demeanour the police are supported, with but a few +honourable exceptions, by the higher officials, as instanced by the +continual persecution in the Courts of many of your Majesty's coloured +subjects at the very time when negotiations are proceeding between your +Majesty's Representative and the Transvaal Government with regard to +their status. This feeling is also strongly evidenced in the particular +case which we now bring to your Majesty's notice.</p> + +<p>"8. The lamentable tragedy which has been the immediate cause of this +our humble Petition cannot, therefore, be regarded as incidental, but +symptomatic.</p> + +<p>"9. This case is that of the shooting of Tom Jackson Edgar, a British +subject, by Police-Constable Barend Stephanus Jones, a member of the +Johannesburg Constabulary.</p> + +<p>"10. From the accompanying affidavits, already published and sworn by +eye-witnesses of the tragedy, it would appear that the deceased, while +in the occupation of his own house, was shot dead by Police-Constable +Barend Stephanus Jones as the latter was in the act of unlawfully +breaking into the house of deceased without a warrant.</p> + +<p>"11. Police-Constable Barend Stephanus Jones, though in the first +instance placed in custody on a charge of murder, was almost immediately +afterwards let out on bail by the Public Prosecutor, who, without +waiting for any Magisterial inquiry, reduced the charge, on his own +initiative, to that of culpable homicide.</p> + +<p>"12. The bail on which the prisoner was released was the same in +amount—namely, £200—as that required a few days previously from an +Uitlander charged with a common assault on a Member of the Government +Secret Service, and the penalty for which was a fine of £20.</p> + +<p>"13. The widow and orphan of the late Tom Jackson Edgar have been left +absolutely destitute through the death of their natural protector.</p> + +<p>"14. To sum up: We humbly represent to your Majesty that we, your loyal +subjects resident here, are entirely defenceless since—(1) The police +are appointed by the Government, not by the Municipality; (2) We have no +voice in the Government of the country; (3) There is no longer an +independent Judiciary to which we can appeal; (4) There is, therefore, +no power within this State to which we can appeal with the least hope of +success; and as we are not allowed to arm and protect ourselves, our +last resource is to fall back on our status as British subjects.</p> + +<p>"We therefore humbly pray: That your Majesty will instruct your +Representative to take such steps as will ensure (<i>a</i>) a full and +impartial trial, on a proper indictment, of prisoner Police-Constable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +Barend Stephanus Jones, and adequate punishment for his offence, if +found guilty; (<i>b</i>) proper provision by the Transvaal Government for the +needs of the widow and orphan of the deceased Tom Jackson Edgar, killed +by their agent; (<i>c</i>) the extension of your Majesty's protection to the +lives, liberty, and property of your loyal subjects resident here, and +such other steps as may be necessary to terminate the existing +intolerable state of affairs.</p> + +<p>"And your petitioners will ever pray, &c."</p> + +<p>Of course, this move enraged the authorities of the Transvaal, who tried +to prove the existence of a plot against the Republic, and even to +represent that British military officers were implicated in it. But Sir +Alfred Milner exposed the little machinations of the "secret service" +people, so that their duplicit efforts were not crowned with the +hoped-for success. Mr. Steyn then succeeded Mr. Reitz as President of +the Orange Free State, and his appearance on the political scene was the +signal for an offensive and defensive alliance between the two +Republics. Following the example set by President Brand, Mr. Steyn—in +the character of umpire or peacemaker—assisted to promote a meeting at +Bloemfontein between Sir Alfred Milner and President Kruger. The +Uitlander Council drew up the following declaration:—</p> + +<p>"The proposals submitted at the Bloemfontein Conference by his +Excellency the High Commissioner were briefly:</p> + +<p>"1. That the Uitlanders possessing a certain property or wages +qualification, on proving that they had resided five years in the +country and on taking an oath of allegiance, be given full burgher +rights.</p> + +<p>"2. That there should be such a distribution of seats as would give to +the new-comers a substantial representation in the First Volksraad, but +not such as would enable them to swamp the old burghers.</p> + +<p>"All must admit that this scheme is most conservative, because—</p> + +<p>"(<i>a</i>). It does not restore to the Uitlanders all the rights of which +they have been unjustly deprived since the retrocession.</p> + +<p>"(<i>b</i>). Nearly the whole revenue of the country is derived from the +taxation of the Uitlanders.</p> + +<p>"(<i>c</i>). The Uitlanders form at least two-thirds of the total white +population. (This was practically admitted by President Kruger at the +Conference.)</p> + +<p>"(<i>d</i>). In most new countries one or two years' residence ensures full +voting power. There is no reason why there should be more stringent +conditions in operation in this State than in Natal or Cape Colony, or +than those which existed until quite recently in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> Orange Free State, +and which were only changed from one to three years on account of the +unhealthy political conditions in the South African Republic.</p> + +<p>"Notwithstanding, however, the conservative character of the scheme, the +Uitlander Council consider that the proposals of his Excellency the High +Commissioner are calculated in no small degree to bring about a +practical and permanent settlement. But in the opinion of the Uitlander +Council, it is essential at the outset to fix definitely the conditions +under which:</p> + +<p>"1. All duly qualified persons can get the franchise without any +unnecessary expense, trouble, or delay, and without being subjected to +any kind of intimidation.</p> + +<p>"2. Those who have got the franchise shall be able to use it +effectively.</p> + +<p>"3. Redistribution of seats shall take place periodically by automatic +arrangement, and representation shall bear some definite relation to the +number of electors.</p> + +<p>"Having regard to the recent history of the Government of this country, +and the facility with which even fundamental laws are and may be +changed, the Uitlander Council are convinced that no settlement will be +of any value unless its permanency is guaranteed by an understanding +between the Imperial Government and the Government of the South African +Republic.</p> + +<p>"Further, knowing by past experience that every effort will be made by +means of the existing Government machinery to obstruct and pervert even +the smallest measure of reform, and bearing in mind the immense +discretionary power accorded by the laws to all Government officials, +the Uitlander Council are strongly of opinion that the understanding +between the two Governments should provide for such immediate changes in +the present laws of the country as would make it possible to carry out +Sir A. Milner's scheme, not only in the letter, but also in the spirit.</p> + +<p>"The outcome of the understanding between the two Governments should be +the inclusion among the permanent and fundamental laws of the South +African Republic of a Reform Act embracing, in addition to the clauses +providing for naturalisation and redistribution on the lines already +indicated, the following among other provisions:</p> + +<p>"1. No burgher or alien shall be granted privileges or immunities which +on the same terms shall not be granted to all burghers.</p> + +<p>"2. No person shall, on account of creed or religious belief, be under +any disability whatever.</p> + +<p>"3. The majority of the inhabitants being English-speaking, English +shall be recognised equally with Dutch as an official language of the +State.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"4. The independence of the High Court shall be established and duly +safeguarded.</p> + +<p>"5. Legislation by simple resolution (<i>besluit</i>) of the Volksraad shall +be abolished.</p> + +<p>"6. The free right of public meeting and of forming electoral committees +shall be recognised and established.</p> + +<p>"7. The freedom of speech and of the press shall be assured.</p> + +<p>"8. All persons shall be secured in their houses, persons, papers, and +effects against violation or illegal seizure.</p> + +<p>"9. The existence of forts and the adoption of other measures intended +for the intimidation of the white inhabitants of the country, being a +menace to the exercise of the undoubted rights of a free people, shall +be declared unconstitutional.</p> + +<p>"10. Existing monopolies shall be cancelled or expropriated on equitable +conditions.</p> + +<p>"11. Raad members must be fully enfranchised burghers and over +twenty-one years of age. Any candidate for the Presidency must be a +fully enfranchised burgher over thirty years of age, and have been +resident in the country for ten years.</p> + +<p>"12. All elections shall be by ballot and shall be adequately +safeguarded by stringent provisions against bribery and intimidation.</p> + +<p>"13. All towns with a population of 1000 persons and upwards shall have +the right to manage their own local affairs under a general Municipal +Act. The registration of voters and the conduct of all elections shall +be regulated by local bodies.</p> + +<p>"14. A full and comprehensive system of State Education shall be +established under the control of Local Boards.</p> + +<p>"15. The Civil Service shall be completely reorganised, and all corrupt +officials shall be dismissed from office, and be ineligible for office +in the future.</p> + +<p>"16. Payments from the public Treasury shall only be made in accordance +with the Budget proposals approved by the Raad, with full and open +publication of the accounts periodically.</p> + +<p>"17. No person shall become a burgher, and no fresh constituency shall +be created except in accordance with the lines herein laid down, and +officials shall have no discretionary power in this or any other matter +affecting the civil rights of the inhabitants of the country."</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">The Conference was a complete failure. Mr. Kruger obstinately refused to +make the proposed concessions, and Sir Alfred Milner would be contented +with nothing less.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image184" name="image184"></a> + <a href="images/image184h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image184.jpg" + alt="Sir ALFRED MILNER, K.C.B." + title="Sir ALFRED MILNER, K.C.B." /></a> +<p class="caption">Sir ALFRED MILNER, K.C.B.,</p> +<p class="caption">High Commissioner for South Africa.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by Elliott & Fry, London.</p> +</div> + +<p>The President afterwards agreed to grant a "seven years'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> Franchise" +on terms that were scarcely practicable, while the Secretary of State +for the Colonies held out for the five years' Franchise at first +demanded. The bargaining was pursued for some weeks with considerable +animation, and in the end Mr. Kruger offered to allow the five years' +franchise on what he knew to be the impossible condition, that the +question of suzerainty should be entirely dropped.</p> + +<p>The mobilisation of the burghers, which had been secretly on foot for +some time, was forthwith carried on apace, and later—much too +tardily—British patience gave way, and troops were despatched to South +Africa. Then followed, on the 9th of October, an insulting ultimatum +from President Kruger, demanding the immediate withdrawal of British +troops from the Transvaal border, and an assurance that no more should +be landed. In default of this assurance, he declared that at 5 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span> on +the 11th of October a state of war would exist. To such an ultimatum +only one answer was possible. British troops at once started for the +Cape.</p> + +<p>Naturally the whole of Great Britain was in a state of turmoil, and the +vast multitude of people—"the men in the street," so to say—were +inclined to express surprise that the question of two years' difference +in the terms of obtaining the franchise should have been made into a +<i>casus belli</i>. To all thinking men it was patent, however, that the +quibble about the franchise was merely a Boer <i>ruse</i> to obtain time for +the carrying out of a long-concerted scheme for the elimination of the +British from the Cape to the Zambezi. These were aware that the military +methods of the Transvaal were under process of reorganisation, and +indeed had been readjusted gradually ever since 1896, and that the +simple methods of 1881 had been superseded by newer and more modern +principles of warfare. It was known that great additions had been made +to the warlike resources of the Republic, and that the President of the +Free State was, if anything, more bitter than Mr. Kruger in his hatred +of Great Britain and all things British, and that the two Republics +would make common cause with each other against a mutual enemy. It was +also known that foreign experts were imported, and foreign stocks of war +material—material of the newest and most expensive kind—were prepared +in anticipation of war, and that even such a thing as tactical +instruction—a thing hitherto ignored among the Transvaalers—had been +acquired from accomplished German sources, and all this for one sole +purpose—war with Great Britain. In order that there may be no doubt +that the Boers were completely prepared and determined to fight long +before the insolent Ultimatum was published, it is desirable to read a +letter which appeared in the <i>Times</i> of the 14th of October 1899. This +epistle, which was appropriately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> headed "Boer Ignorance," emanated from +a Dutch writer, whose address was in a well-known part of Cape Colony. +It runs:—</p> + +<p class="tbspace1">"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—In your paper you have often commented on what you are pleased to +call the ignorance of my countrymen, the Boers. We are not so ignorant +as the British statesmen and newspaper writers, nor are we such fools as +you British are. We know our policy, and we do not change it. We have no +opposition party to fear nor to truckle to. Your boasted Conservative +majority has been the obedient tool of the Radical minority, and the +Radical minority has been the blind tool of our far-seeing and +intelligent President. We have desired delay, and we have had it, and we +are now practically masters of Africa from the Zambezi to the Cape. All +the Afrikanders in Cape Colony have been working for years for this end, +for they and we know the facts.</p> + +<p>"1. The actual value of gold in the Transvaal is at least 200,000 +millions of pounds, and this fact is as well known to the Emperors of +Germany and Russia as it is to us. You estimate the value of gold at +only 700 millions of pounds, or at least that is what you pretend to +estimate it at. But Germany, Russia, and France do not desire you to get +possession of this vast mass of gold, and so, after encouraging you to +believe that they will not interfere in South Africa, they will +certainly do so, and very easily find a <i>casus belli</i>, and they will +assist us, directly and indirectly, to drive you out of Africa.</p> + +<p>"2. We know that you dare not take any precautions in advance to prevent +the onslaught of the Great Powers, as the Opposition, the great peace +party, will raise the question of expense, and this will win over your +lazy, dirty, drunken working classes, who will never again permit +themselves to be taxed to support your Empire, or even to preserve your +existence as a nation.</p> + +<p>"3. We know from all the military authorities of the European and +American continents that you exist as an independent Power merely on +sufferance, and that at any moment the great Emperor William can arrange +with France or Russia to wipe you off the face of the earth. They can at +any time starve you into surrender. You must yield in all things to the +United States also, or your supply of corn will be so reduced by the +Americans that your working classes would be compelled to pay high +prices for their food, and rather than do that they would have civil +war, and invite any foreign Power to assist them by invasion, for there +is no patriotism in the working classes of England, Wales, or Ireland.</p> + +<p>"4. We know that your country has been more prosperous than any other +country during the last fifty years (you have had no civil war like the +Americans and French to tone up your nerves and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> strengthen your +manliness), and consequently your able-bodied men will not enlist in +your so-called voluntary army. Therefore you have to hire the dregs of +your population to do your fighting, and they are deficient in physique, +in moral and mental ability, and in all the qualities that make good +fighting men.</p> + +<p>"5. Your military officers we know to be merely pedantic scholars or +frivolous society men, without any capacity for practical warfare with +white men. The Afridis were more than a match for you, and your victory +over the Soudanese was achieved because those poor people had not a +rifle amongst them.</p> + +<p>"6. We know that your men, being the dregs of your people, are naturally +feeble, and that they are also saturated with the most horrible sexual +diseases, as all your Government returns plainly show, and that they +cannot endure the hardships of war.</p> + +<p>"7. We know that the entire British race is rapidly decaying, your +birth-rate is rapidly falling, your children are born weak, diseased, +and deformed, and that the major part of your population consists of +females, cripples, epileptics, consumptives, cancerous people, invalids, +and lunatics of all kinds whom you carefully nourish and preserve.</p> + +<p>"8. We know that nine-tenths of your statesmen and higher officials, +military and naval, are suffering from kidney diseases, which weaken +their courage and will-power, and make them shirk all responsibility as +far as possible.</p> + +<p>"9. We know that your Navy is big, but we know that it is not powerful, +and that it is honeycombed with disloyalty—as witness the theft of the +signal-books, the assaults on officers, the desertions, and the wilful +injury of the boilers and machinery, which all the vigilance of the +officers is powerless to prevent.</p> + +<p>"10. We know that the Conservative Government is a mere sham, and that +it largely reduced the strength of the British artillery in 1888-89. And +we know that it does not dare now to call out the Militia for training, +nor to mobilise the Fleet, nor to give sufficient grants to the Line and +Volunteers for ammunition to enable them to become good marksmen and +efficient soldiers. We know that British soldiers and sailors are +immensely inferior as marksmen, not only to Germans, French, and +Americans, but also to Japanese, Afridis, Chilians, Peruvians, Belgians, +and Russians.</p> + +<p>"11. We know that no British Government dares to propose any form of +compulsory military or naval training, for the British people would +rather be invaded, conquered, and governed by Germans, Russians, or +Frenchmen, than be compelled to serve their own Government.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>"12. We Boers know that we will not be governed by a set of British +curs, but that we will drive you out of Africa altogether, and the other +manly nations which have compulsory military service—the armed manhood +of Europe—will very quickly divide all your other possessions between +them.</p> + +<p>"Talk no more of the ignorance of the Boers or Cape Dutch; a few days +more will prove your ignorance of the British position, and in a short +space of time you and your Queen will be imploring the good offices of +the great German Emperor to deliver you from your disasters, for your +humiliations are not yet complete.</p> + +<p>"For thirty years the Cape Dutch have been waiting their chance, and now +their day has come; they will throw off their mask and your yoke at the +same instant, and 300,000 Dutch heroes will trample you underfoot.</p> + +<p style="margin-bottom: 0em;">"We can afford to tell you the truth now, and in this letter you have +got it.—Yours, &c.,</p> + +<p style="text-align: right; margin-top: 0em;">P. S.</p> + +<p>"<i>October 12.</i>"</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">This letter, though false in many particulars, certainly pointed out +some "home truths," which it was desirable for the British public to +read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. It also served to cast aside the +thin veil which had covered our political relations with President +Kruger and his party, and to show the firm foundations on which the +hatred of the Boer for the Briton had been built for years. The question +of the franchise was a bagatelle: a soap-bubble would have been pretext +enough for war when the right hour and moment arrived. As allowed by +this candid writer, whose valuable avowals cannot afford to be ignored, +for many years treachery and disloyalty had existed, and the Boers had +only bided their time. They "desired delay, and had it," playing their +cards so skilfully as to deceive even the British Government, and imply +to them and the world that the franchise question and the discontent of +the Uitlanders was the main cause of the disagreement.</p> + +<p class="tbspaces">Before passing on to the terrible drama that, owing to the defiance of +Mr. Kruger, was afterwards enacted, we must assure ourselves that the +sad climax was bound to have come sooner or later. If the future of +South Africa is to be saved, the prestige of Great Britain must be +maintained; her citizens must be protected, and the betrayals of Downing +Street of 1881 and 1896 must be atoned for. Though darkness reigns at +the time of writing, the future of the Transvaal is a bright one. +Reactionaries of the Hofmeyer and Kruger stamp will pass away, and we +may look<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> to the twentieth century for a happy settlement of the +terrible difficulties which stare us in the face. But the settlement can +never be effected by the policy of compromise. It can never be lasting +while Conventions are allowed to become the pawns of parties; it can +never be noble nor dignified until the petty ambitions of political +strife are subdued and the grand whole, Great Britain—not the +infinitesimal island, but the immense and populous Empire—is ordered +and laboured for with the courage and strength that comes of undoubted +unanimity! It remains, therefore, with each individual man and woman +among us so to work that the grand result is not unnecessarily delayed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <a id="image190" name="image190"></a> + <a href="images/image190h.jpg"> + <img src="images/image190.jpg" + alt="VISCOUNT WOLSELEY" + title="VISCOUNT WOLSELEY" /></a> +<p class="caption">VISCOUNT WOLSELEY,</p> +<p class="caption">Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.</p> +<p class="caption">Photo by London Stereoscopic Co.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX</h2> + +<h3>CONVENTION OF 1881</h3> + +<p class="sechead">CONVENTION FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TRANSVAAL TERRITORY</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Preamble.</span> Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Settlement of the +Transvaal territory, duly appointed as such by a Commission passed under +the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, bearing date the 5th of April 1881, do +hereby undertake and guarantee on behalf of her Majesty, that, from and +after the 8th day of August 1881, complete self-government, subject to +the suzerainty of her Majesty, her heirs and successors, will be +accorded to the inhabitants of the Transvaal territory, upon the +following terms and conditions, and subject to the following +reservations and limitations:—</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 1.</span> The said territory, to be herein-after called the Transvaal +State, will embrace the land lying between the following boundaries, to +wit: [Here follow three pages in print defining boundaries].</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 2.</span> Her Majesty reserves to herself, her heirs and successors, +(<i>a</i>) the right from time to time to appoint a British Resident in and +for the said State, with such duties and functions as are herein-after +defined; (<i>b</i>) the right to move troops through the said State in time +of war, or in case of the apprehension of immediate war between the +Suzerain Power and any Foreign State or Native tribe in South Africa; +and (<i>c</i>) the control of the external relations of the said State, +including the conclusion of treaties and the conduct of diplomatic +intercourse with Foreign Powers, such intercourse to be carried on +through her Majesty's diplomatic and consular officers abroad.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 3.</span> Until altered by the Volksraad, or other competent authority, +all laws, whether passed before or after the annexation of the Transvaal +territory to her Majesty's dominions, shall, except in so far as they +are inconsistent with or repugnant to the provisions of this Convention, +be and remain in force in the said State in so far as they shall be +applicable thereto, provided that no future enactment especially +affecting the interests of natives shall have any force or effect in the +said State, without the consent of her Majesty, her heirs and +successors, first had and obtained and signified to the Government of +the said State through the British Resident, provided further that in no +case will the repeal or amendment of any laws enacted since the +annexation have a retrospective effect, so as to invalidate any acts +done or liabilities incurred by virtue of such laws.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 4.</span> On the 8th of August 1881, the Government of the said State, +together with all rights and obligations thereto appertaining, and all +State property taken over at the time of annexation, save and except +munitions of war, will be handed over to Messrs. Stephanus Johannes +Paulus Kruger, Martinus Wessel Pretorius, and Petrus Jacobus Joubert, or +the survivor or survivors of them, who will forthwith cause a Volksraad +to be elected and convened, and the Volksraad, thus elected and +convened, will decide as to the further administration of the Government +of the said State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 5.</span> All sentences passed upon persons who may be convicted of +offences contrary to the rules of civilised warfare committed during the +recent hostilities will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> be duly carried out, and no alteration or +mitigation of such sentences will be made or allowed by the Government +of the Transvaal State without her Majesty's consent conveyed through +the British Resident. In case there shall be any prisoners in any of the +gaols of the Transvaal State whose respective sentences of imprisonment +have been remitted in part by her Majesty's Administrator or other +officer administering the Government, such remission will be recognised +and acted upon by the future Government of the said State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 6.</span> Her Majesty's Government will make due compensation for all +losses or damage sustained by reason of such acts as are in the 8th +Article herein-after specified, which may have been committed by her +Majesty's forces during the recent hostilities, except for such losses +or damage as may already have been compensated for, and the Government +of the Transvaal State will make due compensation for all losses or +damage sustained by reason of such acts as are in the 8th Article +herein-after specified which may have been committed by the people who +were in arms against her Majesty during the recent hostilities, except +for such losses or damages as may already have been compensated for.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 7.</span> The decision of all claims for compensation, as in the last +preceding Article mentioned, will be referred to a Sub-Committee, +consisting of the Honourable George Hudson, the Honourable Jacobus +Petrus de Wet, and the Honourable John Gilbert Kotze. In case one or +more of such Sub-Commissioners shall be unable or unwilling to act the +remaining Sub-Commissioner or Sub-Commissioners will, after consultation +with the Government of the Transvaal State, submit for the approval of +her Majesty's High Commissioners the names of one or more persons to be +appointed by them to fill the place or places thus vacated. The decision +of the said Sub-Commissioners, or of a majority of them, will be final. +The said Sub-Commissioners will enter upon and perform their duties with +all convenient speed. They will, before taking evidence or ordering +evidence to be taken in respect of any claim, decide whether such claim +can be entertained at all under the rules laid down in the next +succeeding Article. In regard to claims which can be so entertained, the +Sub-Commissioners will, in the first instance, afford every facility for +an amicable arrangement as to the amount payable in respect of any +claim, and only in cases in which there is no reasonable ground for +believing that an immediate amicable arrangement can be arrived at will +they take evidence or order evidence to be taken. For the purpose of +taking evidence and reporting thereon, the Sub-Commissioners may appoint +Deputies, who will, without delay, submit records of the evidence and +their reports to the Sub-Commissioners. The Sub-Commissioners will +arrange their sittings and the sittings of their Deputies in such a +manner as to afford the earliest convenience to the parties concerned +and their witnesses. In no case will costs be allowed to either side, +other than the actual and reasonable expenses of witnesses whose +evidence is certified by the Sub-Commissioners to have been necessary. +Interest will not run on the amount of any claim, except as is +herein-after provided for. The said Sub-Commissioners will forthwith, +after deciding upon any claim, announce their decision to the Government +against which the award is made and to the claimant. The amount of +remuneration payable to the Sub-Commissioners and their Deputies will be +determined by the High Commissioners. After all the claims have been +decided upon, the British Government and the Government of the Transvaal +State will pay proportionate shares of the said remuneration and of the +expenses of the Sub-Commissioners and their Deputies, according to the +amount awarded against them respectively.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 8.</span> For the purpose of distinguishing claims to be accepted from +those to be rejected, the Sub-Commissioners will be guided by the +following rules, viz.: Compensation will be allowed for losses or damage +sustained by reason of the following acts committed during the recent +hostilities, viz., (<i>a</i>) commandeering, seizure, confiscation, or +destruction of property, or damage done to property; (<i>b</i>) violence done +or threats used by persons in arms. In regard to acts under (<i>a</i>), +compensation will be allowed for direct losses only. In regard to acts +falling under (<i>b</i>), compensa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>tion will be allowed for actual losses of +property, or actual injury to the same proved to have been caused by its +enforced abandonment. No claims for indirect losses, except such as are +in this Article specially provided for, will be entertained. No claims +which have been handed in to the Secretary of the Royal Commission after +the 1st day of July 1881 will be entertained, unless the +Sub-Commissioners shall be satisfied that the delay was reasonable. When +claims for loss of property are considered, the Sub-Commissioners will +require distinct proof of the existence of the property, and that it +neither has reverted nor will revert to the claimant.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 9.</span> The Government of the Transvaal State will pay and satisfy +the amount of every claim awarded against it within one month after the +Sub-Commissioners shall have notified their decision to the said +Government, and in default of such payment the said Government will pay +interest at the rate of six per cent. per annum from the date of such +default; but her Majesty's Government may at any time before such +payment pay the amount, with interest, if any, to the claimant in +satisfaction of his claim, and may add the sum thus paid to any debt +which may be due by the Transvaal State to her Majesty's Government, as +herein-after provided for.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 10.</span> The Transvaal State will be liable for the balance of the +debts for which the South African Republic was liable at the date of +annexation, to wit, the sum of £48,000 in respect of the Cape Commercial +Bank Loan, and £85,667 in respect to the Railway Loan, together with the +amount due on 8th August 1881 on account of the Orphan Chamber Debt, +which now stands at £22,200, which debts will be a first charge upon the +revenues of the State. The Transvaal State will, moreover, be liable for +the lawful expenditure lawfully incurred for the necessary expenses of +the Province since the annexation, to wit, the sum of £265,000, which +debt, together with such debts as may be incurred by virtue of the 9th +Article, will be second charge upon the revenues of the State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 11.</span> The debts due as aforesaid by the Transvaal State to her +Majesty's Government will bear interest at the rate of three and a half +per cent., and any portion of such debt as may remain unpaid at the +expiration of twelve months from the 8th August 1881 shall be repayable +by a payment for interest and sinking fund of six pounds and ninepence +per cent. per annum, which will extinguish the debt in twenty-five +years. The said payment of six pounds and ninepence per £100 shall be +payable half yearly in British currency on the 8th February and 8th +August in each year. Provided always that the Transvaal State shall pay +in reduction of the said debt the sum of £100,000 within twelve months +of the 8th August 1881, and shall be at liberty at the close of any half +year to pay off the whole or any portion of the outstanding debt.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 12.</span> All persons holding property in the said State on the 8th +day of August 1881 will continue after the said date to enjoy the rights +of property which they have enjoyed since the annexation. No person who +has remained loyal to her Majesty during the recent hostilities shall +suffer any molestation by reason of his loyalty, or be liable to any +criminal prosecution or civil action for any part taken in connection +with such hostilities, and all such persons will have full liberty to +reside in the country, with enjoyment of all civil rights, and +protection for their persons and property.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 13.</span> Natives will be allowed to acquire land, but the grant or +transfer of such land will, in every case, be made to and registered in +the name of the Native Location Commission, herein-after mentioned, in +trust for such natives.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 14.</span> Natives will be allowed to move as freely within the country +as may be consistent with the requirements of public order, and to leave +it for the purpose of seeking employment elsewhere or for other lawful +purposes, subject always to the pass laws of the said State, as amended +by the Legislature of the Province, or as may hereafter be enacted under +the provisions of the 3rd Article of this Convention.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 15.</span> There will continue to be complete freedom of religion and +protection from molestation for all denominations, provided the same be +not inconsistent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> with morality and good order, and no disability shall +attach to any person in regard to rights of property by reason of the +religious opinions which he holds.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 16.</span> The provisions of the 4th Article of the Sand River +Convention are hereby re-affirmed, and no slavery or apprenticeship +partaking of slavery will be tolerated by the Government of the said +State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 17.</span> The British Resident will receive from the Government of the +Transvaal State such assistance and support as can by law be given to +him for the due discharge of his functions, he will also receive every +assistance for the proper care and preservation of the graves of such of +her Majesty's forces as have died in the Transvaal, and if need be for +the expropriation of land for the purpose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 18.</span> The following will be the duties and functions of the +British Resident:—Sub-section 1. He will perform duties and functions +analogous to those discharged by a Chargé d'Affaires and Consul-General.</p> + +<p>Sub-section 2. In regard to natives within the Transvaal State he will +(<i>a</i>) report to the High Commissioner, as representative of the +Suzerain, as to the working and observance of the provisions of this +Convention; (<i>b</i>) report to the Transvaal authorities any cases of +ill-treatment of natives or attempts to incite natives to rebellion that +may come to his knowledge; (<i>c</i>) use his influence with the natives in +favour of law and order; and (<i>d</i>) generally perform such other duties +as are by this Convention entrusted to him, and take such steps for the +protection of the person and property of natives as are consistent with +the laws of the land.</p> + +<p>Sub-section 3. In regard to natives not residing in the Transvaal (<i>a</i>) +he will report to the High Commissioner and the Transvaal Government any +encroachments reported to him as having been made by Transvaal residents +upon the land of such natives, and in case of disagreement between the +Transvaal Government and the British Resident as to whether an +encroachment has been made, the decision of the Suzerain will be final; +(<i>b</i>) the British Resident will be the medium of communication with +native chiefs outside the Transvaal, and subject to the approval of the +High Commissioner, as representing the Suzerain, he will control the +conclusion of treaties with them; and (<i>c</i>) he will arbitrate upon every +dispute between Transvaal residents and natives outside the Transvaal +(as to acts committed beyond the boundaries of the Transvaal) which may +be referred to him by the parties interested.</p> + +<p>Sub-section 4. In regard to communications with foreign powers, the +Transvaal Government will correspond with her Majesty's Government +through the British Resident and the High Commissioner.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 19.</span> The Government of the Transvaal State will strictly adhere +to the boundaries defined in the 1st Article of this Convention, and +will do its utmost to prevent any of its inhabitants from making any +encroachment upon lands beyond the said State. The Royal Commission will +forthwith appoint a person who will beacon off the boundary line between +Ramatlabama and the point where such line first touches Griqualand West +boundary, midway between the Vaal and Hart Rivers; the person so +appointed will be instructed to make an arrangement between the owners +of the farms Grootfontein and Valleifontein on the one hand, and the +Barolong authorities on the other, by which a fair share of the water +supply of the said farms shall be allowed to flow undisturbed to the +said Barolongs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 20.</span> All grants or titles issued at any time by the Transvaal +Government in respect of land outside the boundary of Transvaal State, +as defined, Article 1, shall be considered invalid and of no effect, +except in so far as any such grant or title relates to land that falls +within the boundary of the Transvaal State, and all persons holding any +such grant so considered invalid and of no effect will receive from the +Government of the Transvaal State such compensation either in land or in +money as the Volksraad shall determine. In all cases in which any native +chiefs or other authorities outside the said boundaries have received +any adequate consideration from the Government of the former South +African Republic for land excluded from the Transvaal by the 1st Article +of this Convention, or where permanent improvements<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> have been made on +the land, the British Resident will, subject to the approval of the High +Commissioner, use his influence to recover from the native authorities +fair compensation for the loss of the land thus excluded, and of the +permanent improvement thereon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 21.</span> Forthwith, after the taking effect of this Convention, a +Native Location Commission will be constituted, consisting of the +President, or in his absence the Vice-President of the State, or some +one deputed by him, the Resident, or some one deputed by him, and a +third person to be agreed upon by the President or the Vice-President, +as the case may be, and the Resident, and such Commission will be a +standing body for the performance of the duties herein-after mentioned.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 22.</span> The Native Location Commission will reserve to the native +tribes of the State such locations as they may be fairly and equitably +entitled to, due regard being had to the actual occupation of such +tribes. The Native Location Commission will clearly define the +boundaries of such locations, and for that purpose will, in every +instance, first of all ascertain the wishes of the parties interested in +such land. In case land already granted in individual titles shall be +required for the purpose of any location, the owners will receive such +compensation either in other land or in money as the Volksraad shall +determine. After the boundaries of any location have been fixed, no +fresh grant of land within such location will be made, nor will the +boundaries be altered without the consent of the Location Commission. No +fresh grants of land will be made in the districts of Waterbergh, +Zoutspansberg, and Lydenburg until the locations in the said districts +respectively shall have been defined by the said Commission.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 23.</span> If not released before the taking effect of this Convention, +Sikukuni, and those of his followers who have been imprisoned with him, +will be forthwith released, and the boundaries of his location will be +defined by the Native Location Commission in the manner indicated in the +last preceding Article.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 24.</span> The independence of the Swazies within the boundary line of +Swaziland, as indicated in the 1st Article of this Convention, will be +fully recognised.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 25.</span> No other or higher duties will be imposed on the importation +into the Transvaal State of any article the produce or manufacture of +the dominions and possessions of her Majesty, from whatever place +arriving, than are or may be payable on the like article the produce or +manufacture of any other country, nor will any prohibition be maintained +or imposed on the importation of any article the produce or manufacture +of the dominions and possessions of her Majesty, which shall not equally +extend to the importation of the like articles being the produce or +manufacture of any other country.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 26.</span> All persons other than natives conforming themselves to the +laws of the Transvaal State (<i>a</i>) will have full liberty with their +families to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the Transvaal State; +(<i>b</i>) they will be entitled to hire or possess houses, manufactures, +warehouses, shops, and premises; (<i>c</i>) they may carry on their commerce +either in person or by any agents whom they may think fit to employ; +(<i>d</i>) they will not be subject in respect of their persons or property, +or in respect of their commerce or industry, to any taxes, whether +general or local, other than those which are or may be imposed upon +Transvaal citizens.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 27.</span> All inhabitants of the Transvaal shall have free access to +the Courts of Justice for the protection and defence of their rights.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 28.</span> All persons other than natives who established their +domicile in the Transvaal between the 12th day of April 1877 and the +date when this Convention comes into effect, and who shall within twelve +months after such last-mentioned date have their names registered by the +British Resident, shall be exempt from all compulsory military service +whatever. The Resident shall notify such registration to the Government +of the Transvaal State.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 29.</span> Provision shall hereafter be made by a separate instrument +for the mutual extradition of criminals, and also for the surrender of +deserters from her Majesty's forces.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 30.</span> All debts contracted since the annexation will be payable in +the same currency in which they may have been contracted; all +uncancelled postage and other revenue stamps issued by the Government +since the annexation will remain valid, and will be accepted at their +present value by the future Government of the State; all licences duly +issued since the annexation will remain in force during the period for +which they may have been issued.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 31.</span> No grants of land which may have been made, and no transfer +of mortgage which may have been passed since the annexation, will be +invalidated by reason merely of their having been made or passed since +that date. All transfers to the British Secretary for Native Affairs in +trust for natives will remain in force, the Native Location Commission +taking the place of such Secretary for Native Affairs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 32.</span> This Convention will be ratified by a newly-elected +Volksraad within the period of three months after its execution, and in +default of such ratification this Convention shall be null and void.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 33.</span> Forthwith, after the ratification of this Convention, as in +the last preceding Article mentioned, all British troops in Transvaal +territory will leave the same, and the mutual delivery of munitions of +war will be carried out. Articles end. Here will follow signatures of +Royal Commissioners, then the following to precede signatures of +triumvirate.</p> + +<p>We, the undersigned, Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, Martinus Wessel +Pretorius, and Petrus Jacobus Joubert, as representatives of the +Transvaal Burghers, do hereby agree to all the above conditions, +reservations, and limitations under which self-government has been +restored to the inhabitants of the Transvaal territory, subject to the +suzerainty of her Majesty, her heirs and successors, and we agree to +accept the Government of the said territory, with all rights and +obligations thereto appertaining on the 8th day of August; and we +promise and undertake that this Convention shall be ratified by a +newly-elected Volksraad of the Transvaal State within three months from +this date.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="CONVENTION_OF_1884" id="CONVENTION_OF_1884"></a>CONVENTION OF 1884</h3> + +<p class="sechead">A CONVENTION BETWEEN HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF +GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.</p> + + +<p>Whereas, the Government of the Transvaal State, through its Delegates, +consisting of Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, President of the said +State, Stephanus Jacobus Du Toit, Superintendent of Education, and +Nicholas Jacobus Smit, a member of the Volksraad, have represented that +the Convention signed at Pretoria on the 3rd day of August 1881, and +ratified by the Volksraad of the said State on the 25th October 1881, +contains certain provisions which are inconvenient, and imposes burdens +and obligations from which the said State is desirous to be relieved, +and that the south-western boundaries fixed by the said Convention +should be amended, with a view to promote the peace and good order of +the said State, and of the countries adjacent thereto; and whereas her +Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, +has been pleased to take the said representations into consideration: +Now, therefore, her Majesty has been pleased to direct, and it is hereby +declared, that the following articles of a new Convention, signed on +behalf of her Majesty by her Majesty's High Commissioner in South +Africa, the Right Honourable Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, Knight +Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint +George, Governor of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and on behalf +of the Transvaal State (which shall herein-after be called the South +African Republic) by the above-named Delegates, Stephanus Johannes +Paulus Kruger, Stephanus Jacobus Du Toit, and Nicholas Jacobus Smit, +shall, when ratified by the Volksraad of the South African Republic, be +substituted for the articles embodied in the Convention of 3rd August +1881; which latter, pending such ratification, shall continue in full +force and effect.</p> + + +<p class="sechead"><span class="smcap">Articles.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 1.</span> The Territory of the South African Republic will embrace the +land lying between the following boundaries, to wit: (Here follows a +long description of boundaries).</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 2.</span> The Government of the South African Republic will strictly +adhere to the boundaries defined in the 1st Article of this Convention, +and will do its utmost to prevent any of its inhabitants from making any +encroachments upon lands beyond the said boundaries. The Government of +the South African Republic will appoint Commissioners upon the eastern +and western borders whose duty it will be strictly to guard against +irregularities and all trespassing over the boundaries. Her Majesty's +Government will, if necessary, appoint Commissioners in the native +territories outside the eastern and western borders of the South African +Republic to maintain order and prevent encroachments.</p> + +<p>Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the South African +Republic will each appoint a person to proceed together to beacon off +the amended south-west boundary as described in Article 1 of this +Convention; and the President of the Orange Free State shall be +requested to appoint a referee to whom the said persons<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> shall refer any +questions on which they may disagree respecting the interpretation of +the said Article, and the decision of such referee thereon shall be +final. The arrangement already made, under the terms of Article 19 of +the Convention of Pretoria of the 3rd August 1881, between the owners of +the farms Grootfontein and Valleifontein on the one hand, and the +Barolong authorities on the other, by which a fair share of the water +supply of the said farms shall be allowed to flow undisturbed to the +said Barolongs, shall continue in force.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 3.</span> If a British officer is appointed to reside at Pretoria or +elsewhere within the South African Republic to discharge functions +analogous to those of a Consular officer he will receive the protection +and assistance of the Republic.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 4.</span> The South African Republic will conclude no treaty or +engagement with any State or nation other than the Orange Free State, +nor with any native tribe to the eastward or westward of the Republic, +until the same has been approved by her Majesty the Queen.</p> + +<p>Such approval shall be considered to have been granted if her Majesty's +Government shall not, within six months after receiving a copy of such +treaty (which shall be delivered to them immediately upon its +completion), have notified that the conclusion of such treaty is in +conflict with the interests of Great Britain or of any of her Majesty's +possessions in South Africa.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 5.</span> The South African Republic will be liable for any balance +which may still remain due of the debts for which it was liable at the +date of Annexation, to wit, the Cape Commercial Bank Loan, the Railway +Loan, and the Orphan Chamber Debt, which debts will be a first charge +upon the revenues of the Republic. The South African Republic will +moreover be liable to her Majesty's Government for £250,000, which will +be a second charge upon the revenues of the Republic.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 6.</span> The debt due as aforesaid by the South African Republic to +her Majesty's Government will bear interest at the rate of three and a +half per cent. from the date of the ratification of this Convention, and +shall be repayable by a payment for interest and Sinking Fund of six +pounds and ninepence per £100 per annum, which will extinguish the debt +in twenty-five years. The said payment of six pounds and ninepence per +£100 shall be payable half-yearly, in British currency, at the close of +each half year from the date of such ratification: Provided always that +the South African Republic shall be at liberty at the close of any half +year to pay off the whole or any portion of the outstanding debt.</p> + +<p>Interest at the rate of three and a half per cent. on the debt as +standing under the Convention of Pretoria shall as heretofore be paid to +the date of the ratification of this Convention.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 7.</span> All persons who held property in the Transvaal on the 8th day +of August 1881, and still hold the same, will continue to enjoy the +rights of property which they have enjoyed since the 12th April 1877. No +person who has remained loyal to her Majesty during the late hostilities +shall suffer any molestation by reason of his loyalty; or be liable to +any criminal prosecution or civil action for any part taken in +connection with such hostilities; and all such persons will have full +liberty to reside in the country, with enjoyment of all civil rights, +and protection for their persons and property.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 8.</span> The South African Republic renews the declaration made in the +Sand River Convention, and in the Convention of Pretoria, that no +slavery or apprenticeship partaking of slavery will be tolerated by the +Government of the said Republic.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 9.</span> There will continue to be complete freedom of religion and +protection from molestation for all denominations, provided the same be +not inconsistent with morality and good order; and no disability shall +attach to any person in regard to rights of property by reason of the +religious opinions which he holds.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 10.</span> The British officer appointed to reside in the South African +Republic will receive every assistance from the Government of the said +Republic in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> making due provision for the proper care and preservation +of the graves of such of her Majesty's forces as have died in the +Transvaal; and if need be, for the appropriation of land for the +purpose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 11.</span> All grants or titles issued at any time by the Transvaal +Government in respect of land outside the boundary of the South African +Republic, as defined in Article 1, shall be considered invalid and of no +effect, except in so far as any such grant or title relates to land that +falls within the boundary of the South African Republic; and all persons +holding any such grant so considered invalid and of no effect will +receive from the Government of the South African Republic such +compensation, either in land or in money, as the Volksraad shall +determine. In all cases in which any Native Chiefs or other authorities +outside the said boundaries have received any adequate consideration +from the Government of the South African Republic for land excluded from +the Transvaal by the 1st Article of this Convention, or where permanent +improvements have been made on the land, the High Commissioner will +recover from the native authorities fair compensation for the loss of +the land thus excluded, or of the permanent improvements thereon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 12.</span> The independence of the Swazis, within the boundary line of +Swaziland, as indicated in the 1st Article of this Convention, will be +fully recognised.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 13.</span> Except in pursuance of any treaty or engagement made as +provided in Article 4 of this Convention, no other or higher duties +shall be imposed on the importation into the South African Republic of +any article coming from any part of her Majesty's dominions than are or +may be imposed on the like article coming from any other place or +country; nor will any prohibition be maintained or imposed on the +importation into the South African Republic of any article coming from +any part of her Majesty's dominions which shall not equally extend to +the like article coming from any other place or country. And in like +manner the same treatment shall be given to any article coming to Great +Britain from the South African Republic as to the like article coming +from any other place or country.</p> + +<p>These provisions do not preclude the consideration of special +arrangements as to import duties and commercial relations between the +South African Republic and any of her Majesty's colonies or possessions.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 14.</span> All persons, other than natives, conforming themselves to +the laws of the South African Republic (<i>a</i>) will have full liberty, +with their families, to enter, travel, or reside in any part of the +South African Republic; (<i>b</i>) they will be entitled to hire or possess +houses, manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises; (<i>c</i>) they may +carry on their commerce either in person or by any agents whom they may +think fit to employ; (<i>d</i>) they will not be subject, in respect of their +persons or property, or in respect of their commerce or industry, to any +taxes, whether general or local, other than those which are or may be +imposed upon citizens of the said Republic.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 15.</span> All persons, other than natives, who established their +domicile in the Transvaal between the 12th day of April 1877 and the 8th +of August 1881, and who within twelve months after such last-mentioned +date have had their names registered by the British Resident, shall be +exempt from all compulsory military service whatever.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 16.</span> Provision shall hereafter be made by a separate instrument +for the mutual extradition of criminals, and also for the surrender of +deserters from her Majesty's forces.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 17.</span> All debts contracted between the 12th April 1887 and the 8th +August 1881 will be payable in the same currency in which they may have +been contracted.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 18.</span> No grants of land which may have been made, and no transfers +or mortgages which may have been passed between the 12th April 1877 and +the 8th August 1881, will be invalidated by reason merely of their +having been made or passed between such dates.</p> + +<p>All transfers to the British Secretary for Native Affairs in trust for +natives will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> remain in force, an officer of the South African Republic +taking the place of such Secretary for Native Affairs.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 19.</span> The Government of the South African Republic will engage +faithfully to fulfil the assurances given, in accordance with the laws +of the South African Republic, to the natives at the Pretoria Pitso by +the Royal Commission in the presence of the Triumvirate and with their +entire assent, (1) as to the freedom of the natives to buy or otherwise +acquire land under certain conditions, (2) as to the appointment of a +commission to mark out native locations, (3) as to the access of the +natives to the courts of law, and (4) as to their being allowed to move +freely within the country, or to leave it for any legal purpose, under a +pass system.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Article 20.</span> This Convention will be ratified by a Volksraad of the South +African Republic within the period of six months after its execution, +and in default of such ratification this Convention shall be null and +void.</p> + +<p>Signed in duplicate in London this 27th day of February 1884.</p> + +<div class="ralign"> +<table summary="" style="margin-right: 0em"> +<tr><td class="center" style="padding-right: 2em">(Signed)</td><td class="lalign">HERCULES ROBINSON.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center" style="padding-right: 2em">"</td><td class="lalign">S. J. P. KRUGER.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center" style="padding-right: 2em">"</td><td class="lalign">S. J. DU TOIT.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center" style="padding-right: 2em">"</td><td class="lalign">M. J. SMIT.</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="sechead">END OF VOLUME I.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="center">Printed by <span class="smcap">Ballantyne, Hanson</span> & Co.</p> + +<p class="center">Edinburgh & London</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p class="sechead">TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES:</p> + +<p>General : Both Potchefstrom and Potchefstroom have been used several times. Spellings have been preserved as written.</p> + +<p>Page viii: Drummer replaced with drummers to agree with caption of illustration.</p> + +<p> : Removal of additional closing parenthesis after Gloucester Regiment</p> + +<p>Page x : Hyphen removed from gold-fields (2 occurrences) to ensure consistency with other uses.</p> + +<p>Page 15 : Spelling of attemped revised to attempted.</p> + +<p>Page 43 : Added closing parenthesis after ...blacks.</p> + +<p>Page 57 : As written. Vjin should probably read Vijn.</p> + +<p>Page 68 : Comma after pledge replaced with full stop (period).</p> + +<p>Page 75 : Hyphen removed from farm-house to ensure consistency with other uses.</p> + +<p>Page 76 : Closing quote added after fusiliers.</p> + +<p>Page 78 : Hyphen added to bloodspilling to ensure consistency with other use.</p> + +<p>Page 84 : Spelling of tambookee standardised to tambookie.</p> + +<p>Page 108 : Hyphen added to reaffirmed to ensure consistency with other use.</p> + +<p>Page 113 : Spelling of pourtrayed and dulness left as taken from original quotation.</p> + +<p>Page 139 : As written. Reims should probably read riems.</p> + +<p>Page 179 : Spelling of cowe left as taken from original quotation.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of South Africa and the Transvaal War, +Vol. 1 (of 6), by Louis Creswicke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH AFRICA *** + +***** This file should be named 23692-h.htm or 23692-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/6/9/23692/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Brownfox and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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