The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21

power OF the remedy by the fact that the
goats Of the district in question usually
Craze near the Speckboom River. where all
sorts Of herbs grow In abundance.
| Kruger was appointed deputy Field
Cornet az early as 1912. but his position was
not one Of any importance until ten years
later, when he was elected full Field Cornet
In the latter capacity he accompanied in
the year last named. Commandant General
| A. W. j. Pretorius to the Sand River. where
was concluded the famous Sand River Con-
vention. whereby Great Britain conceded
absolute independence to the Boers dwelling
north Of the Vaal. In the same year he
took part as commando In a successful
expedition against q Bechuana chief. In a
fight with the Kaffirs he was twice wounded
Kruger tells us that this Bechuana chief had
been provided with arms and ammunition
by Livingstone. the Enslish missionary. an
act which was q breach Of the Sand River
Convention. We read that the mission
ary's arsenal was confscated. and that, in
consequence, the Beers we're abused by
Livingstone throughout the length and
breadth Of England, and slandered in every
possible way as enemies Of the missionaries
and cruel prosecutors Of the blacks Kru-
ger avers that, as a matter Of fact, the Beers
were neither opposed to missionaries nor
enemies OF the natives. When President OF
the Transvaal he spoke to the following
effect: Much il being said about universal
native policy for the various states Of South
Africa. All who know the difficult lea of this
problem will most certainly agree with me
when l say that the greatest benefactor OF
South Africa would be the man who could
provide completely satisfactory solution.
That man IL, perhaps. as yet. unborn. Mean
while. as regards our Republic, her duty. or,
rather. her mission. Is clear and simple.
Every Kafir tribe within our boundaries
must be taught to respect the authority OF
our Government, and. In order that the
laws. by which these tribes also benefit, may
be equitably administered, they must bear
their share Of the public burden. When
once the disastrous influence il abated Of
foreigners and enemies Of the Republic who
now 80 often try to persuade these unfor-
tunate Kafirs that they need not consider
themselves subjects of the Republic. the
time will have come when the native tribes
will reap the fruit Of the old principle Of the
Republic. by which every tribe of any i'm
portance has fixed territory appointed to
II under the protection Of the Government.
The next war in which KI d Ter took part
under Commandant- General Pretorius was
that of 1853 against the Kaffir chiefs, Ma
pela and Makapann. This was an expe-
dition to avenge the murder OF a brother
OF Commandant- General Potgieter. and.
30 far as the last-named chief was con-
oerned. was entirely successful Mapela's
punishment. however, was not effected
until 1858, when Kruger. at the head Of
100. volunteers. stormed his fortress in
the night. Meanwhile, in 1888. the author
OF these memoirs had again gone on com.
mando against the chief Montsioa, and
at the head Of forty burghers put 500 Kaf-
frs TO flight. Not long sfterward Kruger
undertook to assist the Orange Free State
in the first war against the' Basutos and
personally negotiated a peace with the
Basuto chief. In the civil war which con-
vulsed the Transvaal during Is6i-64
Kruger took conspicuous part and. after
II was over, was chosen Commandment
General by more than two-thirds of the
votes In 1855. when the second and great
Basuto War broke out in the Free State.
Kruger went to the assistance Of the Orange
burghers at the head Of about 800 men.
This detachment was attacked al night
by 5000 Kafars and about 1000 Zulus, and
II was not until daybreak that the natives
could be driven from the camp. After
effecting a junction with 900 burghers
Of the Orange Free State. he engaged and
routed Kafir force of some 20 900 men,
capturing hundreds of horses, 10000 oxen
and 10000 sheep. In the year following
this expedition KI0yer had his left leg
broken at the knee by the upsetting Of
cart and was condemned to nine months
Of inactivity. His left leg has ever since
been . little shorter than the other. Be-.
fore he had recovered he had to lead a
commando against rebel Kaffirs in the
Zoutpansberg district and twice attacked
them. but, owing to the exhaustion OF
his ammunition, had to retire. In the
following year. accompanied by only one
burgher, he penetrated into the heart Of
the rebel country and obtained the sub
mission OF the chiefs.
When the dispute about the ownership
Of the diamond fields discovered in West
Grioualand broke out in 1870. the author OF
these memoirs protested against the agree
,nent made by President Pretorius TO submit,
the question to arbitration The Nolks-
raad Joined In the protest, and Pretorius
resigned. The Governor OF Natal, how
ever who had been chosen arbitcr, decided
against the Orange Free State and the
South African Republic. permitting the
latter, nevertheless, to retain a small piece
Of the disputed territory. At the ensuing
election T. F. Burgers was elected Presi-
dent of the Transvaal. against the wishes
of KRUGER and his friends. The necessity
Of levying extra taxes to defray the cost
OF the Secucuni War Of 1870 caused much
disahection on the part Of the ma jority Of
the burehers who lived at large in the
plains. On the other hand, the inhabitants
Of the villages. who consisted mainly Of
foreigners. we're contented with Burgers's
rule and 30 resented the attitude Of the rural
burghers that they gradually came to the
conclusion that annexation by the British
Crown would be desirable. 1t was almost
exclusively from the village populations
that Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the Governor
Of Natal. received petitions in favor Of
incorporation with the British dominions.
On Jan. 81, 1871 Shepstone arrived at Pro-
toria, and on April ~ of the same year.
having meanwhile been authorized to exc
cute his plan by Sir Dsrtle Frere, the British
High Commissioner, he proceeded to de-
clare the South African Republic annexed.
I