The Transvaal under its present system of administration must have continued to be an incessant source of unrest to South Africa, and the nursery of every political and commercial bitterness. Apparently marked out by destiny to become the richest state of South Africa, it had been using its gold to arm more and more ever since the Jameson raid, in order to be prepared to throw off the mask at the opportune moment, when possibly England might be engaged in European complications. Mr. Gladstone's action in 1881 and Dr. Jameson's raid in 1895 are the two most conspicuous illustrations of the alternate compromise and irritation which are alike unpleasant contributories to the crisis, while President Kruger's methods of negotiation by bargaining and delay gave him more time for military preparation. The aim of Pretorian statesmanship under his guidance, and that of Dr. Leyds and other Hollanders, has long been a vast Dutch South African Republic erected on the ruins

of British paramountcy, to be worked for by diplomacy or by force of arms. Their aim was partly foreshadowed in the cherished substitution of the term "South African Republic" for "Transvaal” in all official matters; for the new designation contained plenty of latent powers of expansion, ample but not too obtrusive. They used all their influence to discourage every tendency of imperial sentiment in South Africa and to foster every symptom of republican sentiment. So long as the virtual independence of the Transvaal existed, it would have been a rallyingpoint of Dutch race-feeling and hostility. If the Transvaal Government had not existed, the Orange Free State would have readily fallen into line with a national British federation.

It is gratifying to know that there are intellectual and thoughtful Dutch Afrikanders at the Cape who feel strongly that they are born British South Africans; that Britain is the country of their citizenship; that they have no other

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country notwithstanding their Dutch sympathies, and that a Dominion of South Africa under the British flag, like Canada, would, if brought to pass, be a state of affairs with which they would live entirely content; but this is clearly not the view of the Pretorian clique who have put their sympathies to so cruel a test. The Pretorian clique is vigorously anti-British. Were it not so, what is the meaning of this crusade against the English language, of this deadset against uitlanders, of the enormous disposal of secret service money-it may be for purposes of press agitation in Europe, or in support of Dutch candidates at Cape Colony elections, or ammunition, or other rebellious motives-and of this anti-British policy of concessions? What other conclusion can be drawn but that this unfortunate race-feeling will continue, to the ruin of all interests in South Africa, so long as the present Transvaal Government is there to stir it up? If some magician by some painless process could

have removed the Transvaal Government, race - feeling and its attendant troubles would have gradually vanished with it; but the painless process could not be found, and war has ensued. Unluckily scientific experiments in politics cannot be made, and it is therefore impossible to prove mathematically which side is right. On the one side Great Britain champions equal rights to all white races, on the other an oligarchy of rebels strives to obtain complete independence in order to retain complete corruption.

TH

CHAPTER V.

NATAL

'HE first thing that strikes an English traveller in Natal is the heartfelt thoroughness of its enthusiastic loyalty. Its whole atmosphere breathes sturdy devotion to the Empire of which it is a member. Natal has had to bear the first brunt of the war, and every colonist, soldier or volunteer, was proud to take up his share in the defence. Some of the colonists, indeed, have never been "home," as they express it, to the centre of the Empire for which they have fought so pluckily, but all are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Imperial troops; their keenness never flags, and their knowledge of the country renders their services of the highest

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