From Capetown to Ladysmith | Page 7

be British
colony than Johannesburg Republic.
"Well, well; it is the law of South Africa that the Boer drive the native
north and the English drive the Boer north. But now the Boer can go
north no more; two things stop him: the tsetse fly and the fever. So if he
must perish, it is his duty--yes, I, minister, say it is his duty--to perish
fighting.
"But here in the Colony we have no race hatred. Not between man and
man; but when many men get together there is race hatred. If we fight
here on this border it is civil war--the same Dutch and English are
across the Orange as here in Albert. My son is on commando in Free
State; the other day he ride thirteen hours and have no food for two
days. I say to him, 'You are Free State burgher; you have the benefit of
the country; your wife is Boer girl; it is your duty to fight for it.' I am
law-abiding British subject, but I hope my son will not be hurt. You, sir,
I wish you good luck--good luck for yourself and your corresponding.
Not for your side: that I cannot wish you."

IV.
WILL IT BE CIVIL WAR?[1]
ON THE BORDER OF THE FREE STATE--AN APPEAL TO THE
COLONIAL BOERS--THE BEGINNING OF WARLIKE
RUMOURS--A COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL BOYCOTT--THE
BOER SECRET SERVICE--THE BASUTOS AND THEIR MOTHER,
THE QUEEN--BOER BRUTALITY TO KAFFIRS.
_Oct. 14 (9.55 p.m.)_
The most conspicuous feature of the war on this frontier has hitherto
been its absence.
The Free State forces about Bethulie, which is just over the Free State

border, and Aliwal North, which is on our side of the frontier, make no
sign of an advance. The reason for this is, doubtless, that hostilities
here would amount to civil war. There is the same mixed English and
Dutch population on each side of the Orange river, united by ties of
kinship and friendship. Many law-abiding Dutch burghers here have
sons and brothers who are citizens of the Free State, and therefore out
with the forces.
In the mean time the English doctor attends patients on the other side of
the border, and Boer riflemen ride across to buy goods at the British
stores.
The proclamation published yesterday morning forbidding trade with
the Republics is thus difficult and impolitic to enforce hereabouts.
Railway and postal communication is now stopped, but the last mail
brought a copy of the Bloemfontein 'Express,' with an appeal to the
Colonial Boers concluding with the words:--
"We shall continue the war to the bloody end. You will assist us. Our
God, who has so often helped us, will not forsake us."
What effect this may have is yet doubtful, but it is certain that any
rising of the Colonial Dutch would send the Colonial British into the
field in full strength.
Burghersdorp, through which I passed yesterday, is a village of 2000
inhabitants, and, as I have already put on record, the centre of the most
disaffected district in the colony. If there be any Dutch rising in
sympathy with the Free State it will begin here.
_Later._
And so there's warlike news at last.
A Boer force, reported to be 350 strong, shifted camp to-day to within
three miles of the bridge across the Orange river. Well-informed Dutch
inhabitants assert that these are to be reinforced, and will march

through Aliwal North to-night on their way to attack Stormberg
Junction, sixty miles south.
The bridge is defended by two Cape policemen with four others in
reserve.
The loyal inhabitants are boiling with indignation, declaring themselves
sacrificed, as usual, by the dilatoriness of the Government.
Besides the Boer force near here, there is another, reported to be 450
strong, at Greatheads Drift, forty miles up the river.
The Boers at Bethulie, in the Free State, are believed to be pulling up
the railway on their side of the frontier, and to be marching to Norvals
Pont, which is the ferry over the Orange river on the way to Colesberg,
with the intention of attacking Naauwpoort Junction, on the
Capetown-Kimberley line; but as there are no trains now running to
Bethulie it is difficult to verify these reports, and, indeed, all reports
must be received with caution.
The feeling here between the English and Dutch extends to a
commercial and social boycott, and is therefore far more bitter than
elsewhere. Several burghers here have sent their sons over the border,
and promise that the loyal inhabitants will be "sjambokked" (you
remember how to pronounce it?) when the Boer force passes through.
So far things are quiet. The broad, sunny, dusty streets, fringed with
small trees and lined with single-storeyed houses, are dotted with
strolling inhabitants, both Dutch and natives, engrossed in their
ordinary pursuits. The