In 1899 the average yearly value of the export of ostrich feathers was about £500,000.]

FEB. 12. The Treaty of Aliwal North.-Treaty of Aliwal North signed by High Commissioner and representatives of the Orange Free State. It lays down the line between the Free State and Basutoland, and defines the relations in which the people on either side shall henceforward stand towards those on the other, especially with respect to the tracing and recovery of stolen horses or cattle. The portion of Basutoland lying to the west of the Caledon is finally incorporated in the Free State, and the remainder of the country is recognised by all parties as forming part of the Queen's dominions. [Under this treaty the Boers of the Orange Free State got permanent possession of a tract of rich wheat-growing country, 100 miles long by 30 broad, which has ever since been known as "The Conquered Territory," and has been the cause of frequent intrigues among the Basuto, who would gladly regain it if they could.] [See Aug., 1871.]

1870. (a) Diamonds.-Discovery of diamonds at Du Toit's Pan and Bulfontein. [See 1871 (a).]

(b) Death of Moselekatze. Succeeded by Lobengula, his second son.

- MARCH 27. Boer taxes in Bechuanaland.-Montsioa writes to the Landdrost of Potchefstroom to complain that an official of the Transvaal Government has again demanded taxes from his people.

"If," he says, "there is not soon made an end of this lawless matter, I shall be obliged to hand it over to Her

Britannic Majesty's High Commissioner, Sir P. E. Wodehouse, with the earnest request to arbitrate between me and my most noble allies."

AUG. Boers wish to "dwell together" with the Baralong. Following on the discovery of diamonds a great meeting is held on the Transvaal border, near Mafeking, where President Pretorius and Commandant Paul Kruger invite representatives of Baralong and other tribes to "save" their territories from the British by joining them to the Transvaal. "Let us," they say, "dwell together." Montsioa (Baralong), Massow (Batlapin), and other chiefs refuse. "No one," says Montsioa, "ever spanned in an ass with an ox in one yoke." [The Boers now claimed the Baralong country on the strength of some alleged cession by the Portuguese. See, further, 1872, July 1.]

1871. (a) The diamond fields and what they led to. -Great find of diamonds at Old De Beers and Colesberg Kopje, two miles from Du Toit's Pan. [The rush which followed the discovery made in 1870 now became much greater, and by the end of 1871 the new town of Kimberley, which had been set up, already had a population of 10,000 diggers, mostly British, the Du Toit's Pan, the Bulfontein, the De Beers and the Kimberley (Colesberg Kopje) mines being all in a circle of three and a half miles, constituting the "diamond fields." The territory in question was claimed alike by the Griqua chief, Waterboer, and by the Orange Free State, the latter holding that it formed part of the boundary of the Orange River Sovereignty, as defined by Sir Harry Smith. The

Orange Free State at once established on the "fields" a form of government which was, however, found inadequate to maintain order. The dispute as to ownership was referred to a court of arbitration presided over by Mr. Keate, Lieutenant-Governor of Natal, who, on Oct. 17, 1871, gave his decision in favour of Waterboer, and the chief, finding himself in an awkward predicament, now offered both land and people to the Queen. On Oct. 27 a proclamation was issued accepting their allegiance, and declaring the territory British, under the name of Griqualand West. [It was erected into a Lieutenant-Governorship, under Mr. Southey, then Colonial Secretary at the Cape. For annexation to Cape, see 1877.] The Orange Free State raised a vigorous protest, and eventually the arrangement was made which is recorded under date July, 1876. In the meantime the opening of the diamond fields had great results not only from an industrial, but also from a political point of view. On the one hand the British Government at last dropped their old policy of non-expansion and non-intervention outside the limits of British territory, and on the other the Boer Governments found that their own policy of exclusiveness could not be continued in face of the great influx of foreigners, however distasteful their presence might be. As for the foreigners, their preliminary demand for roads and bridges widened out, in course of time, into still more earnest demands for political rights. The developments introduced by the finds of diamonds -to be expanded enormously by the later finds of gold-thus effected a complete revolution in the mutual

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relationship of British and Boer, and brought about the first of a fresh series of differences and disputes.]

(b) The Transvaal begins to favour gold mines.— First gold law passed by the Transvaal Raad, and a Mining Commissioner appointed for Zoutpansberg. [Previously to this the Transvaal Government had been distinctly hostile to gold-mining, dreading an influx of gold-seekers. See 1884 (a).]

(c) Mr. Cecil Rhodes.-Mr. Cecil Rhodes goes out to South Africa.

AUG. Basutoland annexed to the Cape.-Following on the proclamation of March 12, 1868, Basutoland is now annexed to Cape Colony. [Area of Basutoland, 10,300 square miles: bounded by Orange Free State, Natal, and Cape Colony. See 1879, March.]

1872. JULY I. Mr. Burgers: he makes a discovery. -President Pretorius having resigned office owing to dissatisfaction felt in the Transvaal in consequence of the Keate award, he is succeeded by Mr. Burgers. [Mr. Burgers soon "discovered" that a certain Moshette, employed by a Transvaal farmer, ought to be “paramount chief" of the Baralong, and ruler over the land on the western frontier of the Transvaal, in place of Montsioa. Moshette came to the front in May, 1881. See 1873.]

- Nov. The diamond fields.—Reported that there are 2,500 registered claimants on the diamond fields, and 50,000 diggers and servants, of whom 35,000 are Europeans. [For a long time the average produce of diamonds was 1,000 carats a day.]

29. Responsible Government for the Cape.Concession to Cape Colony of "responsible government."

1873. Burgers and Montsioa.--President Burgers asks Montsioa to consent to an alteration of the boundary of the Baralong country as fixed by the Keate award. Montsioa refuses. [See 1874 (b).]

- SEPT. I. Cetewayo becomes King-Shepstone, representing the Natal Government, attends the coronation of Cetewayo, on the death of Panda, and proclaims him King of Zululand. Cetewayo promises various reforms.

1874. (a) The south-west coast.-The Guano Islands, taken over by the British in 1867, are now formally annexed to Cape Colony. [See 1876 (b).]

(b) Montsioa seeks British protection.-Montsioa, greatly troubled by Boer adventurers, makes a formal request to be taken under British protection. [See 1876, March 6.]

1875. (a) The Delagoa Bay Railway: President Burgers' aspirations.-President Burgers, leaving the Transvaal in charge of Acting-President Joubert, proceeds to Europe, mainly in order to promote the construction of a railway connecting the Transvaal with its "natural outlet" to the sea-Delagoa Bay. [Mr. Burgers, who was a man of far greater intelligence than those around him, and was, also, somewhat of a dreamer, had the idea not only of carrying out much-needed improvements in regard to education, finance, roads, bridges, etc., but also of seeing established a great