“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.