ning and kindly, which were made by the British orities to keep the Dutch farmers in Natal. A large y of them, in March 1848, fled from the country, and ed the western emigrants. Of course there was another . Sir Harry Smith, with his usual vigour and success, cked the Boers at a position called Boom Plaats. Lives e lost; and the result, of course, was a still further iliation of the Dutch and a still stronger reassertion of ish authority. Pretorius, the Boer commander, fled to far Transvaal, still hoping to be let alone. The English Government for a short time ruled over the itory they had conquered between the Vaal and Orange ers, which they called the Sovereignty. This, however, y afterwards abandoned, when it was found to be a costly I troublesome possession. Carl Grey writes, in 1851, when speaking of this renun-ion The ultimate abandonment of the Orange River Sovereignty must settled point of our policy. If you are enabled to effect object, you will distinctly understand that any wars, however sannary, which may afterwards occur between the different tribes and munities which will be left in a state of independence beyond the nial boundary, are to be considered as affording no ground for your rference. Any inroads upon the colony must be promptly and erely punished; but, after the experience which has been gained as he effect of British interference in the vain hope of preserving peace ongst the barbarous or semi-civilised inhabitants of these distant ons, I cannot sanction a renewal of similar measures. This statement of rational policy becomes of serious imtance when, later on, we have to consider the recent nexation of the Transvaal. It is sufficient for the present state that the Boers of the Sovereignty thus became free. 1853, British Special Commissioner Clerk voluntarily prosed to the inhabitants that they should elect representaes to take over from him the government of the country. convention was subsequently agreed to in explicit words d terms, which still holds good as regards the State led THE ORANGE FREE STATE. A republic was founded der its provisions, and subsequently acknowledged as an dependent State by royal proclamation of the 8th April 54. In the Appendix will be found the text of the convention,1 which mainly consists of a clause declaring the Boers to be a free and independent people; a declaration that her Majesty's Government will not enter into treaty or alliance with natives to the detriment of the new Republic; and the agreements for reciprocations, exchange of prisoners, recognition of marriages, &c., necessary for mutual comfort between states having lengthy conterminous border-lines. While this was in progress, the same policy that dictated the liberation of the Boers of the Orange River Free State had manifested itself in a similar direction with regard to the emigrants north of the Vaal River; and as the tale can be told in no shorter or better form of words than I find in 'Noble's History,' I shall extract his account of the transaction by which was created the late South African or Transvaal Republic: 'While the Assistant Commissioners were yet at Bloemfontein, making efforts to establish affairs on a footing more in unison with the wishes of the inhabitants, they received, through accredited messengers, a communication from the emigrants north of the Vaal River. The majority of them - Pretorius among the number -- said they were anxious for peace and friendly relations with the Government, in order that their hands might be strengthened in establishing order, and effectually checking the agitation of a few reckless spirits who wished to make another attempt at rebellion in the Sovereignty. The Commissioners considered that the reconciliation of the emigrants to the Government would doubtless have a favourable effect in checking native hostility, and encouraged the suggested negotiations. They at once made use of the power provisionally intrusted to them by the High Commissioner to rescind the proclamation of outlawry against Pretorius and others. This act of grace paved the way for a meeting with the delegates of the emigrants, headed by Pretorius himself as Commandant-General. The meeting took place near the Sand River on the 17th January 1852, when a convention was entered into on behalf of her Majesty, allowing the community north of the Vaal River to form such government as might seem best to themselves. They were assured of non-interference in the management of their affairs, and non-encroachment on the part of the Government. This boon had been virtually granted by Earl Grey's explicit directions that British dominion should not be extended, but the Commissioners were able to make a favour of what must have soon followed as an inevitable concession. The convention thus concluded was fully approved of by Sir G. Cathcart as High Commissioner. The confirmation of it was one of the first acts of his administration, and in the proclamation ratifying it he expressed his hope that the freedom which the emigrants were now graciously per 1 See Appendix A. to exercise might result in lasting peace amongst themselves, and friendship with the British Government. he following were the articles of the Convention: . The Assistant Commissioners guarantee in the fullest manner, part of the British Government, to the emigrant farmers beyond al River the right to manage their own affairs, and to govern elves according to their own laws, without any interference on the f the British Government; and that no encroachment shall be by the said Government on the territory beyond, to the north of al River; with the further assurance that the warmest wish of itish Government is to promote peace, free trade, and friendly urse with the emigrant farmers now inhabiting, or who hereafter habit, that country; it being understood that this system of nonrence is binding upon both parties. 2. Should any misunderstanding hereafter arise as to the true meanthe words "The Vaal River," this question, in so far as regards e from the source of that river over the Drakensberg, shall be and adjusted by commissioners chosen by both parties. 3. Her Majesty's Assistant Commissioners hereby disclaim all alli- 1. It is agreed that no slavery is or shall be permitted or practised 6. It is agreed that, so far as possible, all criminals and other 7. It is agreed that certificates of marriage issued by the proper rities of the emigrant farmers, shall be held valid and sufficient to e children of such marriages to receive portions accruing to them y British colony or possession in South Africa. 8. It is agreed that any and every person now in possession of land esiding in British territory, shall have free right and power to sell aid property and remove unmolested across the Vaal River, and vice 1 versa; it being distinctly understood that this arrangement does not comprehend criminals, or debtors, without providing for the payment of their just and lawful debts.'" In 1854 the Voortrekkers had thus at length won their independence, and set up government on their own account. CHAPTER II. THE BOER OF TO-DAY. trek "-Unprofitable occupation-Material successes-A race of peasts-Domestic habits-Mission work-The Mountain of Sorrow-Heroic omen-Hospitality-Paying for his plunder-Our girls. Free State having little to do with this work now s out of my narrative, except so far as I may require to crate some phase of Boer character by reference to it or nhabitants. Omitting the history of the struggles of Transvaal Boers with nature, and their natural enemies Kafirs, during the earlier days of their independence, I è now to the men themselves, and their habits and cusas I found them. One indelible feature has by their and continuous wanderings been impressed upon their acter that is, an unsettled and vagrant disposition. ng been on "trek" for forty-four years, the "trek" has itself into their hearts. They are still on "trek;' few, indeed, are there who are not ready at a moment's ce to hurl themselves once more into the desert in search righter and happier homes. This "trek" feeling had them, in the earlier days of the Transvaal, to overdo occupation, to spread themselves too far out into the s around them. The Boers coming from the Cape ny naturally sought in their new homes the peculiar res that had made the old ones pleasant; wood and r, easily worked ground, and rich runs for their cattle the chief objects of their search. These the Voorloopdid not find on the Highveld, as the large, bare, but very team of bullocks has a leader-generally a native boy-who a tow-line fastened to the horns of the front oxen, hence the word |