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Treachery in the camp-Women at the bottom of it-
Orders given by the Boer leaders-Mrs. Bok and Mrs.
Jorissen-Visit to Pretoria-Its desolate appearance-A
few people left there, and women allowed to go down
during the day-Entertainments and amusements-Reli-
gious services-The camp news-Difficulties between mili-
tary and volunteers
PAGE
177
CHAPTER XI.
THE FIGHTING AROUND PRETORIA.
The Boers, though maintaining a state of siege, usually not the
attacking party-The skirmish on the 28th of December-
The Boer account-Volunteer opinions of the officers-The
first Red House sortie-Captain D'Arcy wounded-The
Zwart Kopije affair-The Carbineers severely handled—
Firing on a flag of truce-Capture of the Kopije-Column
attacked on the way home-Behaviour of the women-
The prisoners-The Elandsfontein sortie-Colonel Gildea
blames Captain Sanctuary for not guarding the flank-In-
dignation among the Carbineers-The Boer account of the
fight-The Red House Kraal sortie-Captain Sanctuary
shot-Flank attack of the Boers-Colonel Gildea wounded
-Cowardice of the regulars-Failure of the sortie-In-
cidents of the retreat-Boers firing on an ambulance wag-
gon-Riot in camp-Release of prisoners-Reconnais-
sances-. -Meant for despatches, but of no real use-End of
the siege
CHAPTER XII.
THE FIGHTING IN THE TRANSVAAL.
Attack on the 94th Regiment at Bronker's Spruit-Over-con-
fidence of Colonel Anstruther-Particulars of the surprise
-Boer courtesy to prisoners-Murder of Captain Elliott-
Siege of Potchefstroom-The garrison-Surrender of the
Government offices-Ill-treatment of Raaf and his volun-
teers-Death of Findlay-Murder of Van der Linden-
Murder of Dr. Woite-Other murders-Story of the de-
190
fence of the fort-Miserable situation of the ladies-The
daily life of the soldiers-Attack on the Boer trenches-
Attempts to deceive the garrison-Boers firing on the
white flag-Treacherous surrender-Garrison march out
with the honours of war-Siege of Standerton-Bravery
of Hall-Use of the cat-The dummy cannon-Siege of
Lydenburg-Murder of Green-Appearance of Aylward-
Mutiny of the troops-Siege of Rustenburg-Siege of
Marabastad-Siege of Wakkerstroom-Ill-treatment of
Mr. Moffat at Zeerust-Natives hostile to the Dutch-
Their entreaties to be allowed to fight-Their cruel
desertion
210
CHAPTER XIII.
THE FIGHTING IN NATAL.
Point chosen by the Boers to resist the British troops at Laing's
Nek-Laing's Nek in Natal-Sir George Colley marches
against them with 1000 men-Arrival at Mount Prospect—
Battle of Laing's Nek-Reasons for defeat-Description
of the Ingogo-The battle there-Effective fire of the
Boers-Abandonment of the plateau-Firing on a flag of
truce-Arrival of Sir Evelyn Wood-His march over the
Biggarsberg-The Majuba defeat-Description of the moun-
tain-The ascent of the hill-Consternation of the Boers
-They rally and attack the mountain-Deadly fire of the
Boers-Death of Romilly-The reserves waver-The re-
treat becomes a rout-Attack on the hospital-Death of
Sir George Colley-Firing on the white flag-Heavy
British loss-Reason for the defeat.
239
CHAPTER XIV.
FROM THE BATTLE OF MAJUBA TO THE SIGNING OF THE FIRST CON-
VENTION.
Reception of the news of the Boer outbreak in England-
Warlike attitude of the Government-Mr. Rylands' motion
condemning the annexation defeated by a two-thirds' ma-
jority-Mr. Gladstone repudiates his Midlothian speeches
-Treachery at home-The Transvaal Independence Com-
a
mittee-The peace negotiations-The first telegrams re-
quiring the Boers to desist from armed opposition-Lord
Kimberley's indecision-Sir Evelyn Wood's telegrams-
The armistice-Lord Kimberley's telegram of the 13th of
March-The treaty of peace-Evacuation of the Boer posi-
tions, and return of General Roberts-State of the loyalists
-Formation of a committee, and election of delegates
to England-The Loyalists' Deputation at Newcastle-My
journey thither—A Zulu view of the peace-Departure of
Mr. White for England-The Royal Commission-Position
of the interim British Government-Protest of the loyalists
-My departure for England-The Royal Commission at
Pretoria-The proposal for a plébiscite rejected-Signing
of the Convention-The meeting of native chiefs, and
their disappointment
254
CHAPTER XV.
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE ROYAL COMMISSION, THEIR REPORT, AND
THE FIRST CONVENTION.
The instructions to the Royal Commission-Lord Kimberley's
directions-The report of the Commission-They recom-
mend that murders should be tried by the ordinary tri-
bunals-Their abandonment of the idea of severing part of
the country-Sir Evelyn Wood dissents-The wisdom of
his dissent subsequently proved-Failure of the trials for
murder-Compensation to the loyalists-Appointment of a
British Resident-Provisions for the protection of natives
-Affirmation of the Sand River Convention-The Zout-
spansberg district to be included in the Transvaal-The
finances of the new State-Present to the Boers-The
Convention and its provisions.
CHAPTER XVI.
FROM THE SIGNING OF THE CONVENTION TO ITS RATIFICATION.
Mr. White taken up by the Conservatives-The loyalists vitu-
perated-Mr. Gladstone's language-Meeting in Willis's
Rooms-Mr. Courtney and his connection with the Boers-
Mr. Donald Currie and the South African Association-
Mr. Gladstone thinks the peace saved us from other blood-
273
guiltiness-His letter to the loyalists-Mr. White's reply-
No answer made by Mr. Gladstone-The debate in the
Lords-The debate in the Commons-The Leeds speech-
The Guildhall speech-Meeting of the Boer Volksraad-
Condemnation of the Convention-Demand for modifi-
cations Temporary firmness of the Government-Lord
Kimberley's reservations-Ratification of the Convention. 285
FROM THE RATIFICATION
CHAPTER XVII.
OF THE PRETORIA
CONVENTION TO THE
DEPARTURE OF THE TRANSVAAL DEPUTATION TO ENGLAND.
The British Resident-His complaisance to the Boers-Political
parties in the Transvaal-Election of President-Adoption
of a protective policy-Snubs administered by the Boer
Government to the Imperial Government-The war with
Mapoch-The death of Sekkukuni-Mapoch shelters
Mampoer-Use of dynamite by the Boers-Surrender of
Mapoch and Mampoer-Execution of Mampoer-Inden-
turing of Mapoch's tribe-The invasion of Betshuana-land
by freebooters-History of Southern Betshuana-land-The
1877 war- -Mankoroane and Montsiwe's offer to assist the
British during the Boer war-We abandon the chiefs-
The breaking out of the war— -Boer freebooters assist-
Connivance of the Transvaal Government-Treaty between
Mankoroane and the freebooters-Refusal of the Transvaal
Government to send a Commission-Constitution of the
republics of "Stella-land" and "Goshen "-Montsiwe's
treaty with the freebooters-The Ikalifui episode-Mr.
Rutherfoord's visit-His report-The Boer Commission-
Their attempts to induce Mankoroane to cede his country
to the Republic-League of the Betshuana chiefs-The
Resident's reprobation of it-The British Government
propose to send out a Commissioner-Counter proposal of
the Boers to send a deputation home-Its acceptance
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CONVENTION OF 1884.
Reception of the Boer deputation-Efforts of the missionary
societies to save the natives-Mr. Gladstone on the Con-
298
vention-Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Derby-Letter of the
deputation to Lord Derby, and his reply-Advice of Sir
Hercules Robinson-His honesty-Draft treaty proposed
by the deputation-The 1884 Convention-Analysis of its
provisions-Summary and conclusion.
315