loaded and ready for use. My own rifle was leaning against the wheel by my side, and I presently took the opportunity of one of the boys asking me for some cooking material to get into the waggon, and, without being seen, slip my revolver into my shirt, and put another handful of cartridges into my pocket. The Kaffirs gathered together in a group some ten yards from us, and seemed to be waiting for something to happen.

Suddenly from round the turn of the hill up galloped two more Kaffirs, one of whom was evidently the chief of the party. The two new arrivals were armed only with rifles, but had belts of ammunition over the left shoulders. They rode up to the group and spoke a few angry words with them which Jantze could not understand, but a discussion followed, attended with much pointing and gesticulating. Then the one we supposed to be a petty chief asked Jantze who was "boss," and on Jantze pointing me out to him he came forward and offered to shake hands; but, warned by a glance from Shepherd, I ignored the offer, and continued quietly skinning my bird and taking no notice at all. Another council was held by the whole party, and then through Jantze they expressed their desire to be given some oxen, as also some' powder, lead, and spirits. Our reply was forcible and to the point, but I fancy Jantze was too much disturbed in mind to give a literal translation. Anyhow, they were quite made to understand that they would get nothing, and that the sooner they made themselves scarce the better we should be pleased. There

were many angry glances and scowling faces at this message, and we four prepared every instant to shoot down the first man who either raised his rifle or laid his hands on his assegai. Again they requested us to give them "skoff," i.e. food, but this proposition we again declined to accede to. More angry glances, and a heated discussion, followed this fresh refusal; but I fancy that they saw that there was nothing to be got out of us without fighting, and that the chances were that they would come off second best, as we were fully prepared for them, and our superior quickness in the use of arms and coolness of aim would have made up for the overwhelming odds of nearly five to one. Suddenly, without another word to us, the two mounted men set off at a gallop, and the others followed as fast as they could run in the direction of our oxen. Snatching up our rifles we followed them, but seeing us coming they made no attempt to drive the oxen off, and were soon lost to sight behind the hills. As in all probability they had only gone to bring up reinforcements, so as to make more sure of their prize, we inspanned the oxen at once, and taking up the pots and pans with the uncooked dinner in them, we resumed our trek, hurrying on the oxen as fast as possible.

About twenty miles further on was a farm belonging to a Dutchman named Grobbler, where several farmers were collected together in lager. Here we knew we should be safe, so we never allowed the jaded oxen to rest until we arrived at the farm just as darkness set in. We received a very kind welcome, and were supplied with milk,

eggs, and bread. From our description of the head of the party, the Dutchmen had no difficulty in putting him down as a brother of Mapoch's, who was known to be on friendly terms with Secocoeni. It was a very providential circumstance that, instead of being alone with my boys, I had three other white men with me, or the Kaffirs would never have gone away without taking the oxen with them; but they had probably calculated on only finding one white man in charge, and were so taken completely by surprise.

Mapoch himself is a treacherous, cruel savage, at present on good terms ostensibly with the Government, but probably only biding his time to break out at a favourable moment and carry murder and rapine far and wide. His power is very much feared by all the farmers, as far away even as in Middelburg; one large farmer there commenced a new house, but left off until he was safe from any fear of an attack by Mapoch. This chief has some ten or twelve thousand able-bodied warriors at his command, and nearly all are well armed. His territories are in the very heart of the Transvaal, and at any time he may openly break out. In course of a few years it will be necessary to call upon this chief to disarm his warriors and give up the arms, and this will probably bring about another little war which will unsettle the whole of the country, and in which many lives and much money will be thrown away.

Now that the Transvaal has been annexed by the British, the question of whether the act itself was justifiable or not has no further importance, for what has been done cannot be undone without loss of prestige.

C C

On the other hand, it has imposed very many duties on the Government, which at present there is very little inclination shown on their part to fulfil. The most important duty, perhaps, is to keep such an armed force as will give protection to the settlers from the tribes on the borders, as well as those living inside. There is no doubt that the expenditure needful for this will be enormous, and will have to be borne by the Imperial Government almost entirely; but yet this point ought to have been considered before the British flag was planted over the land. At present there is hardly any protection offered to life and property throughout two-thirds of the entire Transvaal, and in consequence the value of land has rather deteriorated than increased during the last two years, except in the vicinity of the towns. No one questions the fact that at some time or other our rule will be a beneficial change for the Transvaal ; but the advantages as yet only appear very dimly in the mists of the future, and with good reason the Boer, who only looks to the present, can ask himself, "What good does British rule do me in exchange for the higher rate of taxes I am called upon to pay in support of this new régime?"

Middelburg.

387

CHAPTER XXXV.

Middelburg to Pretoria-Blaubank Diggings-An undignified Appeal Volunteers standing off -- Miserable TrekingBoers-Threatened Famine from Drought-MaritzburgConclusion.

WE had no further adventures on our journey into Middelburg, which we reached just seven days from the time we had left Leydenburg. The township was full of volunteers who had served their time, and were being sent back to Pretoria; but they were of a low class, and made the town anything but a desirable abiding-place, from their constant drunken brawls and nightly disturbances. Two of the oxen had been knocked up by the hard treking away from Zuikerbosh Kop, and the bad grass had told very much on the others, which had the additional work thrown on them. In Middelburg I tried everywhere to buy two more pairs to lighten their labours; but the war, and the need of oxen for transport, had driven the price to such an exorbitant figure that I was obliged to do without them.

As we were all anxious to reach Pretoria I made a very short stay, in Middelburg, not having anything there to keep me, and we were quite ready to start as soon as fresh supplies of meat had been laid in. It was the first time for many months that I had been obliged to buy meat, but there were no bôk