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across the Vaal. They settled in the pastoral rolling veldt, at that time a desolate wilderness, and they built themselves a new capital under Pretorius, who had succeeded Pieter Maritz as leader.

These constant struggles had, not unnaturally, proved a serious obstacle to the development of the country inhabited by the Boers, and were, moreover, a cause of growing weakness. It accordingly came to pass that in 1876, the Republic found itself practically unable to resist the attacks of the powerful chief, Sekekuni. At that time there was a wide-spread feeling at the Cape, which found an echo here in England, that the weakness of the Boers, as against Sekekuni, might possibly bring about a general rising of the Kaffir population in South Africa. About this period Sir Bartle Frere was appointed High Commissioner, and though Sir Bartlo had what are now known as imperialistic views respecting South Africa, I believe, as a matter of fact, he was strictly opposed to the annexation of the Transvaal, unless it were brought about in accordance with the wishes of its inhabitants. Be that as it may, on the 12th April 1877 Sir Theophilus Shepstone quietly annexed the Transvaal Republic to Great Britain, and it remained a British Colony, in name at any rate, until its independence was restored to it in 1881 by Mr William E. Gladstone. I do not propose here to consider or detail the sad memories connected with the restoration of

Boer independence. Whatever may be our feelings in regard to the Boer population, Laing's Nek and

Majuba Hill must ever be unpleasant names for Englishmen, and there can be no doubt that the bloodshed in 1880 and 1881 has caused an estrangement between the British and Dutch races in South Africa which it will take years to eradicate.

Whatever may be our opinion of the Boers-and they have of course, their failings, and, if I may say so, the defects of their good qualities-there can be no doubt whatever that the treatment that the Boers have sustained from successive British Governments between the years 1815 and 1881, is not such as can well be defended on any ethical principle. And I believe, too, that in expressing this opinion I am not giving vent to one which would be contravened or contradicted by any large number of Englishmen. A gentleman of vast experience, and quite as vast ability, writes upon this very matter: "I detest the Boers and all their ways, except their indomitable courage, their aptitude for field exercises, their tenacity of purpose, and their unquenchable love of independence. I think the Natal trekkers who squatted in the Transvaal, have been somewhat cavalierly treated by the British Colonists both of the Cape and of Natal."

No matter what Englishmen may think of the Boers-and no doubt a good many of my countrymen hate them for no better reason than that they defeated us at Majuba Hill-I believe that if Englishmen clearly comprehended the-to put it mildly-inconsiderate treatment the Boers have met with at the hands of the British Government for so many decades

past, they would not let their prejudices so materially affect their estimate of these Dutch farmers.

All these people have ever asked was to be allowed to have a community to themselves. To procure that they have trudged away 800 miles into a howling wilderness, and it was scarcely to be wondered at, when one considers the sacrifices they have made to retain their independence, that they were not content to accept the annexation which Sir Theophilus Shepstone effected by a stroke of the pen. Once more the Boers find the old condition of things repeating itself. Their country is now overrun by some thousands of men who really have no nationality, because their only object is to acquire gold, and in order to effect that consummation, they are ready to trample under foot not only principles but patriotism. In other respects, however, the Boers find prevalent a very different condition of things from that which existed thirty or forty years ago. They are now surrounded on all sides by British territory, which runs north for hundreds of miles till it touches regions which have been appropriated by one European state or another, and where, moreover, even if it were possible for them to "trek," the climatorial conditions and the products are prohibitive of the favourite Boer pursuit of pastoral life. There is now, accordingly, literally nowhere for them to "trek" if they abandon the Transvaal, and it is, therefore, scarcely to be wondered at if they cling to the independence they have, after much toil and tribulation, achieved, and

mistrust the hotch-potch collection of adventurers who desire the Transvaal because the Transvaal is rich in the precious metal. I do not ask my readers to concur in every opinion set forth in this book, but I do ask them to seriously consider the statements made, to clear their minds of cant and prejudice, and to determine that, so far as in them lies, the sturdy, brave and independent, if rough, Dutch farmers shall have that justice which is the inalienable right of every human being.

CHAPTER II

THE TRANSVAAL-ITS PRINCIPAL FEATURES

As geography is not, I think, a strong point with the public at large, and even after the occurrence of recent events in the Transvaal, a large number of people seem to have but a dim idea respecting the area and general characteristics of what is often incorrectly designated "a little State," I think it just as well to give what I hope my readers will not consider too dry details regarding the physical and other features of the Transvaal. Briefly, then, the Republic under the sway of President Kruger has an area of about 120,000 square miles. Perhaps its extent will be better understood when I say that it is half the size of the Cape Colony and about three times the size of Natal and the Orange Free State. The area of the South African Republic is rather larger than that of Great Britain and Ireland combined.

As regards distances, the nearest point of the Transvaal is about 698 miles from Cape Town, 536 miles from Port Elizabeth, and 220 miles from

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