the days of my life-第20章
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under the name of apprenticeship practically enslaved many of them。 But in those days I saw only the results； and judged by those results。 I did not see nor had I learned the causes which produced them。 Now I know that there is much to admire in the Boer character； also that among them were many men of real worth。 Indeed； as I shall tell； one of these afterwards saved my life and those of my two panions。
On our way up to Pretoria we entertained our Dutch visitors on several occasions as well as the circumstances would allow。 These were uncouth dinner…parties； but very amusing。 At one of them I remember a jovial old boy who sat next to me invited me to e and “opsit” with his daughter； whom he described as a “mooi mesje；” that is； a pretty girl。 I accepted the invitation； packed the old Boer off home； and went to Osborn to inquire exactly what “opsitting” might be。
When I discovered that it consisted in sitting alone with a young woman at night with a candle burning between the two； which somewhat dreary proceeding ipso facto involved a promise of marriage； I did not follow the matter further。 I should explain； however； that the engagement depended upon the length of the candle。 If the young lady wished to encourage the “opsitter” she produced a long one that would last till dawn； and his fate was sealed。 If she desired to be rid of him the candle was of the shortest； and when it was burnt out he was bound to go。 Conversation； if allowed； was unnecessary； all you had to do was to sit on either side of the candle； which might not be passed。
I wonder if they still “opsit” in South Africa； or if the twentieth century has made an end of this quaint and doubtless ancient custom。
In Pretoria； where everyone； whatever his nationality； was utterly sick of the Boer regime； the Mission was received with the greatest enthusiasm。 There were reception mittees； there were dinners； there were balls； for although the munity was practically bankrupt this did not detract from its gaiety or the lavishness of its hospitality。 How the bills were paid I am sure I do not know； but I presume it must have been in kind； for no one had any money。 The position of the Republic was desperate； and of it all despaired。 Taxes could no longer be collected； and it was said that the postmasters were directed to pay themselves their own salaries — in stamps。 The forces of the country； or rather the mandoes of burghers； had been defeated by the Basuto chief； Secocoeni； with a loss of seven thousand head of cattle。 As a result the war against this potentate and his nine thousand warriors who lived in the Loolu Berg； a range of mountains about two hundred and fifty miles to the north…east of Pretoria； was then being carried on by a small force of filibusters。 These men received no pay； while they were expected to provide for themselves out of what they could take。 The upshot may be imagined。
The President of the Republic was a Cape Colonist minister of the Dutch Reformed Church who was educated in Holland； of the name of Burgers； a well…meaning； curious； and rather attractive man of intelligence and good appearance； but one utterly lacking in stability of character。 He had recently visited Europe in the interests of the Republic； and had even succeeded in raising 90；000 pounds in Holland for the construction of a railway to Delagoa Bay； which money； I believe； was lost。 Also he was said to have had certain nebulous dealings with the Germans which even in those days were a cause of some anxiety to this country。6 I have seen President Burgers almost in tears over the condition of the Republic； nor did he veil his opinions of its state in his addresses to the Volksraad； as anyone who cares to consult the history of the period can discover for himself。 At no time was he an earnest opponent of the annexation。 Ultimately he accepted a pension from our Government； and died in the Cape Colony in 1881。
6 See Sir Bartle Frere’s letter to Mr。 J。 M。 Maclean； “Life of Frere；” vol。 ii； p。 183。
The great danger with which the Transvaal was threatened in 1877 was that of a Zulu attack。 Secocoeni had all along been acting more or less under the inspiration and orders of Cetewayo； who； when he saw that this Basuto chief could defeat the Dutch； thought； not unnaturally； that the time was ripe for him to strike。 The Zulus； who had never forgotten their defeat at Blood River in the thirties； had many old scores to settle with the Boers。 Moreover； Cetewayo’s great standing army of fifty or sixty thousand warriors were clamouring to be allowed “to wash their spears；” and as he did not wish to fight the English and we would not allow him to fight the Swazis； only the Boers remained。 In considering the history of the annexation of the Transvaal it should never be forgotten that Shepstone was aware of this fact。 Indeed not long after we reached Pretoria the news came to us that the Zulus were waiting in a chain of “impis；” or armies along the frontier； prepared when the signal was given to sweep in and put man； woman and child to the assegai。 It was his fear that this bloody design would be carried out which pushed on Shepstone to place the land under the protection of the Queen； knowing as he did that in their penniless and utterly disorganised condition； without an effective government； or cannon； or reserves of ammunition； the Boers had not the slightest chance of resisting the Zulu hordes。 They would have been wiped out up to or perhaps beyond Pretoria。
While I am dealing with this subject I a letter which was written to me in November 1906 from Ireland by the late Sir Marshal Clarke a propos of the review which I wrote of Dr。 Leyds’s book； “The First Annexation of the Transvaal；” which appeared in the issue of South Africa published on October 27； 1906。 It is an interesting document and illustrates the statements that I have made above。
Sir Marshall says：
My attention was called some days ago to the article you wrote to South Africa on the 27th ultimo。 I have not read Lloyd’s book。 Brooke ＇our colleague on Shepstone’s staff。 — H。 R。 H。＇ told me that he began it but found it so full of misstatements； which； considering what I know of the author； was natural； he did not care to go on with it。 I am glad that you did read it and were able to expose the falsehood of the charges levelled at Sir Theophilus。 There are few of our party left now and not one with the plete knowledge you have of what took place in Pretoria at the time of the Annexation。 I can of course fully endorse the story you tell of what took place when the joint mission went to Secocoeni； but only on one occasion； so far as my memory serves me； did I hear Sir Theophilus express in unguarded language to a Boer 。 。 。 ＇word illegible＇ his views as to the imminence of the danger that threatened the people of the Transvaal from the Zulus。 I think it was Lyle ＇Dr。 Lyle； the medical officer to the Mission — H。 R。 H。＇； who was with me； thought that what he said might be distorted to his detriment； but on expressing this opinion to Sir Theophilus he said he did not care； as he knew the reality of the danger he had indicated and felt that the responsibility laid on him must override any personal consideration。 Looking back through all that has since occurred one feels all the more strongly the courage and sense of duty that actuated our Chief。 Even had the Boers finally beat back the Zulu onslaught what a loss of life and untold misery must have at first resulted； and no one but Shepstone could have stopped Cetewayo and that only by the act of Annexation 。 。 。 。
I consider that this letter； emanating from so distinguished a public servant as Sir Marshal Clarke； one of the most noble…minded and upright men that I ever knew； is evidence of great value as to the motives which actuated Sir Theophilus at this period。 Moreover it entirely confirms what I have written above。
While the negotiations were going on between Shepstone and the Boers it was suddenly announced in the Volksraad “that peace had been provisionally concluded with Secocoeni’s envoys； according to which Secocoeni and his people became subjects of the State； and that the chief himself had ratified this among other stipulations。”7
7 Sir T。 Sh
