1881--A ROYAL COMMISSION
Charles Dickens’ story of the Fleet Prison paralleled--I ask
permission to leave Royal Commission, but am refused--Gallop
after wild ostrich--A jail delivery in Pretoria--Visit to the
Inhlazatse, and Lotiti--My Dissent to the Report of the Royal
Commission--Hotel at Beumbei--Delagoa Bay.
Although I had delegated to the Colonial Secretary much of the routine
work of the Colony of Natal, I had to take action on some cases, and
in writing to Lord Kimberley on the 31st May I mentioned that in
1878 I had met in the Colony a magistrate who was then, I thought,
inefficient; that in 1880, when I next saw him, he had sunk still
lower, and was in 1881 a drunkard; and on inquiry I found the Colonial
regulations were so framed as to practically check any action on the
Governor’s part, and I was advised by the Colonial Secretary to leave
the matter alone. Eventually, however, the magistrate’s conduct became
so flagrant that I assembled a Committee of inquiry, and the result
indicated that Charles Dickens, in _Pickwick_, need not have drawn
on his imagination for “Jemmy” or “Number 20,” confined in the Fleet
Prison. There was one person in the jail of the little town where the
magistrate resided, who was taken out every night by a constable to the
hotel that he might play billiards with the magistrate, and on several
occasions the prisoner brought the constable back at night drunk. The
jailer was always ordered to wait up until the game was finished; but
as it was frequently protracted till past midnight, he eventually
warned the prisoner that unless he came in at reasonable hours he would
lock him out!
On the 7th May, Sir Henry de Villiers arrived, and assisted in
endeavouring to persuade the Triumvirate, as I had been trying to do
since the 29th April, to institute a searching inquiry into the murder
of Major Elliott and some other Europeans. This was a work of much
difficulty, as the Boers were unwilling to admit, although the victims
were dead, that they had been killed under unjustifiable circumstances.
Next day the High Commissioner, Sir Hercules Robinson, arrived, and
on the 8th the Royal Commission was formally opened. It was obvious
that the views of Sir Hercules and myself differed on many essential
points. It appeared to me also that Sir Henry Villiers wished to set
up a form of Government incompatible with the paramount authority of
England, whereas I appeared to him to be unwilling to repose that
confidence in his fellow-countrymen which he felt. After a fortnight’s
close attention to the work of the Royal Commission I called on
the President, for whom I had hired a farm outside Newcastle as a
residence, and informed him I should like to withdraw from the work
imposed on me. He laughingly explained that he had had a similar
suggestion from Sir Henry that morning.
Many of the subjects under consideration were new to my colleagues, and
required, therefore, more consideration from them than it was necessary
for me to give who had been in that part of South Africa for nearly two
years previously; and while they were thus engaged, by laying on horses
I was enabled to inspect the Garrisons at Wesselstroom, Utrecht, and
battalions encamped along the line of communication, going as far as
the Biggarsberg, and Ladysmith.
On the 1st June the High Commissioner and Sir Henry started in a
carriage, I remaining behind for a few days to do some military work
which had fallen in arrears during our sittings, which extended from
seven to eight hours daily. By riding up with relays of horses I was
able to cover the distance much quicker than was possible in a spider.
It was my misfortune, while maintaining cordial relations with my
brother Commissioners, to differ entirely with them in many matters
brought before us, and I protested against my colleagues telling the
Boers that we were waiting at Newcastle for Lord Kimberley’s reply to
the reference we had made on the question of boundaries. I pointed
out to Sir Henry de Villiers, who had told them in conversation why
we were waiting, that the fact of our moving up to Pretoria must show
the Boers that the British Government had accepted the advice of the
majority of the Commission, against mine, which, as the Boers knew, was
antagonistic to their views. My brother Commissioners had telegraphed
on the 1st June to the following effect: “The Boers say[222] that they
left the Boundary question with the Royal Commission for the sake of
peace at the Nek, in full confidence that they would lose nothing by
doing so. The leaders do not now wish to retract, but they point out
that the people would not acquiesce.” My brother Commissioners for
these reasons recommended that we should give back the whole of the
Transvaal, including the country adjoining Native States. I dissented,
maintaining we had carried concessions to the utmost limit, and pointed
out that the Boers admitted I had told them distinctly on the Nek that
I would do my utmost to prevent their ruling any territory bordering on
Native territories.
At the same time I pointed out to the Secretary of State for War the
inconvenience of the Natal frontier when any question of a Military
offensive is contemplated, explaining it had every possible defect,
without one compensating advantage.
On receipt of this decision against my recommendations I telegraphed
to Lord Kimberley: “When peace was made my views on the most important
question, that of the Boundary, were well known here, and were, as I
thought, the views of the Government, as expressed in your telegram
of the 17th March. These opinions are so entirely opposed to those of
my colleagues, which you have since approved, that I am induced to
represent to you that as the Border Natives look to me for protection,
and may possibly regard my future action with suspicion if I continue
to serve in the Commission, I am compelled in justice to you to suggest
for your decision whether your policy might not be better carried out
by withdrawing me from the Commission, and allowing me to devote all my
time to Natal, the Army, and the Zulu settlement. My chief colleague,
with whom my relations are cordial, wishes me to remain, and advises
me not to ask you, but I have no fear of your misunderstanding my
motives.”
To this telegram the Government replied on the 9th: “We appreciate
your motives in suggesting retirement from Commission, but cannot
accept your offer. We attach much importance to the retention of your
services on Commission, your retirement from which cannot fail to have
prejudicial effect on prospects of peaceful settlement. Our agreement
with majority on Boundary question does not imply any diminution of our
confidence in you.”
My position was indeed unfortunate, for some even of my soldier friends
in London failed to realise that an officer’s first duty is obedience.
I had, however, one great consolation, the continued support of the
Sovereign. The Queen had certainly felt acutely, not only the decision
taken by the Government, but particularly the circumstances under
which it was carried out; but her gracious kindness was continued to
me personally. Her Majesty had telegraphed at the end of February,
desiring that I should not risk my life unnecessarily, and while I was
at Pretoria, in announcing Lady Wood’s safety after a confinement,
intimated her intention of being godmother to the child.
On the 12th June, about 25 miles outside Pretoria, my Aide-de-camp
and I enjoyed some good runs after a herd of wild ostriches, which we
chased with hunting whips merely for the pleasure of a gallop, for when
the birds could run no farther we left them to recover their breath. I
do not know whether it is the habit of the ostrich in all places, but
these were not difficult to run down, inasmuch as, after running at
speed for a mile, say from East to West, they would turn and go back in
a parallel line, and thus two men by judiciously nursing their horses
could overtake them.
From the 13th of June to the end of July I sat six days a week
discussing with the Triumvirate and their advisers the many and varied
questions incidental to giving back the Government of the Transvaal.
I was anxious to agree with my colleagues on Public grounds, and one of
my military advisers urged me to do so for personal reasons, but I felt
bound to record my Dissent[223] to the recommendations formulated by
Sir Hercules Robinson and Sir Henry de Villiers.
The Chief of the Staff, Sir Redvers Buller, took nearly all the
routine work off my hands, but I continued to pay attention to
questions of army training, as I foresaw they might have great
importance in the future.
I used the privilege accorded to me by the Secretary of State of
addressing him personally, in trying to provide for the eventuality
which occurred in 1899. I thought it would arise much sooner from the
Boer State becoming bankrupt, as I had not foreseen the finding of gold
mines. I wrote, 31st May: “It may be well to record in the War Office
that when you send out the next Expedition to this country, all the
Cavalry and Artillery should come from India. English horses require at
least three months easy work after a sea voyage.”
I had urged the importance of training Mounted Infantry, from 1874,
and wrote to Mr. Childers on the 18th July 1881: “I desire to urge on
your attention that the ---- were surprised ---- from having no Mounted
men. I advocated, before I left this country in 1879, that in every
battalion there should be some Mounted men to act as scouts.” I shall
shortly submit to H.R.H. a scheme for maintaining in peace time about
twenty-five horses per battalion, and to instruct a succession of young
soldiers in each company--say for four months, to ride sufficiently
well to act as scouts.”
* * * * *
Three Zulus came down from the interior, sent by their chief Umzila,
for having been concerned in the killing of a Boer. The Chiefs message
was to the effect that he believed the men were guiltless, and had
acted merely in self-defence, but as he trusted in the justice of the
English he had sent them in to be tried. The situation was peculiar,
for I personally had no confidence that they would be accorded a fair
trial after we had left the country, and as they had walked 200 miles
under the impression the British were to remain in the country I
caused the interpreter to explain to them the actual position, coupled
with the admonition that I thought in a few days’ time the climate of
Pretoria would be unfavourable to their health; and we saw no more of
them.
During the conversation with them, while the interpreter who had spent
his life in South Africa was putting their story into English for the
benefit of the Royal Commission sentence by sentence, I observed:
“These men live near the tribe who have the curious practice of
piercing their baby girls with an assegai over the hips, and under the
shoulder blades.” My brother Commissioners doubted the existence of
such a practice, and the interpreter stoutly averred that he had never
heard of it. I explained to the President the operation of putting the
assegai through the muscles, and then a round stick in the holes, which
is moved every twenty-four hours until the skin is healed. The baby
girl on arriving at maturity has thus four holes in her to take the
arms and legs of her future baby: whom she carries on her back while at
work. The President asked the Zulus if this practice was universal in
the tribe near them, and they answered: “Yes, all the baby girls are
treated in that way.”
On the 1st August, three days before the Retrocession, a Kafir came
in from Rustenberg, about 60 miles distant, complaining that his son
had been killed by a Boer, under the following circumstances: the Boer
had taken an unusually fine beast out of the Zulu’s herd, and the
lad drove it back. Twice this operation of taking and recovering was
performed, and then, according to the father’s story, the Boer took the
lad between his knees and broke his neck, as one wrings the neck of
a chicken. I sent the depositions to Mr. Kruger, who expressed great
concern at the supposition even of such an atrocious deed, and assured
me that he would send off his State Attorney that evening to inquire
into it. This he did, and ten days later I received a letter from him
to the effect that he was sure I should be glad to hear that the State
Attorney had come to the conclusion the lad’s neck had been broken
by a fall from a rock.[224] To this I could make no reply, but the
conclusion at which the President of the Transvaal had arrived was the
less satisfactory to me as I was aware that the State Attorney had been
driven out in a carriage, with the attorney of the accused, by a near
relative of the Boer who was supposed to have killed the lad, and that,
moreover, having been close to the place, I could not remember the
rocks whence the lad was stated to have fallen.
We left Pretoria on the 5th August, and on the 4th I had a Jail
delivery. There was, however, one man in it serving a sentence of
seven years for a peculiarly atrocious sexual outrage, and, thinking
Mr. Kruger would prefer he were not at large, I sent over to say that
I had cleared the prison of all ordinary malefactors, and while I
could not leave this man locked up without food or jailers, I assumed
Mr. Kruger would sooner he was in prison than at large, and asked him
whether he would undertake that the man should not die of starvation.
The President sent back to say that he had no jailers, no money to hire
them, and begged I would do whatever I liked,--leave the man locked up,
or let him out, but he hoped not to use the jail for some time, and so
one villain more was let loose in the Transvaal.
When the Commission broke up I went to the Inhlazatze Mountain
in Zululand to interview the Chiefs put in authority under the
arrangements made at the conclusion of the Zulu War. I gathered that
there had been some improvement in the working of the settlement from
the previous year, although there was still much oppression by the
greater Chiefs, and it was evident that we were trying to civilise the
Zulus quicker than was convenient. By the orders of the Secretary of
State for the Colonies I impressed on the assembled Chiefs that they
should inaugurate a system of Industrial schools. This proposal when
understood was received in silence by all except Usibebu, who remarked
quaintly, that he had already got a Bishop and a clergyman, and he
thought that was enough for any black man.
When the interview was over I sent the Cavalry, which had been taken
less as an escort than a guard of honour, back to Natal, and with
Major Fraser,[225] Lieutenants Slade[226] and Hamilton,[227] and Mr.
Brampton Gurdon,[228] rode to Lotiti, the head kraal of Umbandeen, King
of the Swazis, intending to travel from this place to Delagoa Bay, and
return to Maritzburg by Man-o’-war.
On the evening of the 1st September, when riding towards Mabamba’s
kraal, near the Inhlobane, where we intended to sleep, I saw several
Zulus, carrying firewood on their heads, running to intercept us, and
we halted till the leading man approached. After saluting, they stood
staring at me. I said: “Why were you running?” “To see you, Lakuni.”
“Well, are you satisfied?” “Yes, we are glad to see you,--that’s what
we wanted.” “Where is the satisfaction?” “Oh, we wanted to see you,
because you fought against us.” “Yes, I killed several of you.” “That
is true, but you never interfered with any of our women, and they were
protected by you, and after the war you took no cattle from us; and as
for your killing us, you are a soldier, and have to do what you are
told, as we had.” He and his companions lit fires for us, and procured
milk from the surrounding kraals, and there came together a great
assembly of both sexes, who gave me an ovation.
We had heard in Natal that there was a hotel at a place called
Beeumbei, where we sent a letter addressed to the manager asking him
to provide accommodation, as our arrival might not coincide with that
of the Man-o’-war’s gun-boat which was coming up to take us to Durban.
Just as we were starting I received a kind letter from the Zulu Chief,
Mr. Dunn (ordinarily called the White Zulu Chief), urging me not to
attempt to go farther than Lotiti, as the party would probably get
fever, which might be fatal. That the advice was not only kind, but
well founded, is shown by the fact that of seven men who preceded us
somewhat earlier or followed later all contracted fever, and five of
them died,--the flat and marshy land between the Lebombo Mountains and
the sea being at that time peculiarly fatal to Europeans. When riding
towards Lotiti we passed two Swazis, and I said to Mr. Rudolph: “Look
at the far man--I know his face--ask him if he has ever met me.” The
Swazi, greatly pleased, replied: “Yes, I took a message to Lakuni in
Newcastle six months ago.” We spent eight hours at Lotiti trying to
explain to the King the position between the Boers and the British
Government.
His Majesty, on our taking leave, proposed to have an ox slaughtered,
but I told him that my retinue would prefer to have it at our
resting-place that evening, and he asked in what other way he could
show his respect for me, for I had sent him in 1878 and 1879 one or
two horses and other presents on behalf of the Transvaal Government.
I suggested that a present of chickens would be acceptable, and the
King, who was a stout young man, attended by his Prime Minister and
chief warriors, proceeded to chase fowls, which they knocked down
with knob-kerries, until the exertion was too much for him, and to
our relief he allowed some of the Royal attendants to provide for our
larder.
We had a guide from a kraal between Lotiti and the St. John River,
which flows into Delagoa Bay, and he led us to the hotel at Beeumbei.
We fully anticipated some kind of accommodation, and so were
proportionately disappointed on seeing the so-called hotel was a straw
hut arranged like a pagoda, about ten feet in diameter, on the upright
support of which was pinned our letter asking for accommodation, and
the guide who led us to the spot confided to us there was no human
creature within 20 miles. There was a cask of Cape brandy in the hut,
but nothing more.
The position was somewhat serious, for we had brought very few stores,
and we had run out of every article of food except Umbendeen’s fowls.
We had for three days no rice, bread, vegetables, except sweet
potatoes, or salt, the absence of which was perhaps the most felt after
two meals of boiled fowl without anything to accompany it.
On the 8th September we had absolutely no food except these fowls,
of which I was so tired I was unable to eat them, and went to sleep
supperless. At 4 a.m. I was awakened by Slade shouting that the
Gun-boat’s cutter had arrived with a hamper of food and a dozen of
champagne, to which my companions did full justice on the spot, I
declining to lift my head until daylight. We had a pleasant pull
down the St. John River, and getting on board the gun-boat reached
Maritzburg via Durban late on the 11th September.