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urrounding that annexation I purpose to say little； as I have already written a full and true account of it in my book； “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours。” On one point； however； I will touch。
On the 11th April； the day before the Annexation； Shepstone sent a message to Cetewayo； I myself saw the messenger despatched。 This message told the Zulu king of the rumours that had reached Pretoria as to his intention of attacking the Transvaal； and ordered him； if these were true — which they were — to disband his armies； as the Transvaal was about to bee the Queen’s land。 In due course came Cetewayo’s answer。 It is given in “Cetewayo and his White Neighbours；” and I will quote only a few lines here。
I thank my father Sompseu for his message。 I am glad that he has sent it because the Dutch have tired me out and I intended to fight them once and once only and to drive them over the Vaal。 Kabana ＇name of messenger＇； you see my impis ＇armies＇ are gathered。 It was to fight the Dutch I called them together； now I will send them back to their homes。
It is my firm and fixed belief that at this juncture no one except Shepstone could have prevented the Zulus from sweeping the Transvaal or； at any rate； from attempting to do so。
The great day came at length。 On April 12； 1877； at some time in the forenoon — I think it was about eleven o’clock — we； the members of the staff； marched down to the Market Square； where a crowd was assembled； Sir Theophilus remaining at the building which afterwards became Government House。 I do not remember that our little escort of twenty…five Mounted Police were with us。 They may have been； but I think it probable that they were left near the person of the Special missioner。 That there was a possibility of trouble we all knew； for many threats had been made； but in that event twenty…five policemen would not have helped us much。
Everything being arranged decently and in order； Osborn stepped forward and read the Proclamation； which was received with cheers by the crowd； that of course was largely posed of English folk or of those who were not unsympathetic。 After this ceremony was pleted the ex…President Burgers’ formal protest； of which the draft had already been submitted to the missioner and approved by him； was also read； and received respectfully but in silence。 The text of these historical documents can be studied in the Blue…books of the day； if anybody ever reads an old Blue…book； so I will not dwell upon them here。
I recall that after everything was over it became my duty to deliver copies of the Proclamation； and of another document under which Sir Theophilus assumed the office of Administrator of the new Government； at the various public offices。 In front of one of these offices — I remember its situation but not which one of them it was — was gathered a crowd of sullen…looking Boers who showed no disposition to let me pass upon my business。 I looked at them and they looked at me。 I advanced； purposing to thrust my way between two of them； and as still they would not let me pass I trod upon the foot of one of them； half expecting to be shot as I did so； whereon the man drew back and let me go about my duty。 It was insolent； I admit； and had I been an older man probably I should have withdrawn and left the Proclamation undelivered。 But I do not think that the incident was without its effect； for it did not pass unobserved。 I was but one young fellow facing a hostile crowd which had gathered in the remoter spaces of the square； but for the moment I was the representative of England； and I felt that if I recoiled before their muttered threats and oaths； inferences might be drawn。 Therefore I went on。 Whatever happened to me I was determined to deliver my Proclamation as I had been ordered to do； or to fail because I must。
My colleague； Major Clarke； had to deal with the same difficulty； but on a much more heroic scale。 The story as he told it to me afterwards is as follows。 He was sent down to take mand of the filibustering volunteers at Leydenburg。 Arriving at the largest fort with only his Zulu servant； Lanky Boy； for an aide…decamp； he at once ordered the Republican flag to be hauled down and the Union Jack to be hoisted； which order； somewhat to his astonishment； was promptly obeyed。 A day or two afterwards； however； the volunteers repented them of their surrender； and arrived in his tent to shoot him。 Clarke fixed the eyeglass he always wore in his eye； looked at them steadfastly through it； waved his one arm and remarked in his rich Irish accent； “You are all drunk。 Go away。” So they went。
This Lanky Boy； a jolly； open…faced Kaffir； was a good stick to lean on at a pinch。 Once two natives waylaid Clarke； but Lanky Boy killed them both and saved his life。
After the Annexation things settled down rapidly； and when； some three weeks later； the 1st Battalion of the 13th Regiment marched into Pretoria with the band playing； it was extremely well received both there and all along the road。 On May 24th； Queen Victoria’s birthday； the British flag was formally hoisted at Pretoria in the presence of a large gathering of English； Boers and natives。 The band played “God save the Queen；” the artillery boomed a salute； and at midday precisely； amidst the cheers of the crowd； Colonel Brooke； R。E。； and I ran up the flag to the head of the lofty staff。 I think that Brooke lifted it from the ground and broke it and that I did the actual hoisting； but of these details I am not quite sure； it may have been the other way about。 In view of what followed it ought to have stuck half…way； but it did not。 It was a proud moment for me and for all of us； but could we have foreseen what was to happen in the future we should have felt less jubilant。
In one of the newly discovered letters to my mother； written from Government House； Pretoria； on June 17； 1877； I find an allusion to this hoisting of the flag。 I say：
We have Sir A。 Cunynghame； K。C。B。； stopping with us now； he starts for Leydenburg next Friday for shooting。 On the same day the Chief starts for Potchefstroom and Lichtenburg； and will be away about five weeks。 Mr。 Henderson； Chairman of the Finance mittee； will be left alone with myself here。 It will be a melancholy reduction of our large party。 We are now awaiting with great anxiety to hear how the Annexation has been received。 I suppose that the war9 has drawn most of the attention from this business。 It will be some years before people at home realise how great an act it has been； an act without parallel。 I am very proud of having been connected with it。 Twenty years hence it will be a great thing to have hoisted the Union Jack over the Transvaal for the first time。
My absence； which I remember we set down at five years at the most； is likely to be a long one now； my dearest Mother。 The break from all home and family ties and the sense of isolation are very painful； more painful than those who have never tried them know。
Chapter 6 LIFE IN THE TRANSVAAL
H。 R。 H。 appointed Master of the High Court at age of twenty…one — Boers very litigious — Fleeced by lawyers — H。 R。 H。 reforms practice and taxes bills — Much opposition — H。 R。 H。 supported by Judge Kotze — Boer revolt expected —