“His Majesty’s Government must place it on record that the treatment of Cape and Natal Colonists who have been in rebellion, and who now surrender, will, if they return to their Colonies, be determined by the Colonial Governments, and in accordance with the laws of the Colonies, and that any British subjects who have joined the enemy will be liable to trial under the law of that part of the British Empire to which they belong.

“His Majesty’s Government are informed by the Cape Government that the following are their views as to the terms which should be granted to British subjects of Cape Colony who are now in the field, or who have surrendered, or have been captured since the 12th of April, 1901:  With regard to rank and file, that they should all, upon surrender, after giving up their arms, sign a document before the Resident Magistrate of the District in which the surrender takes place, acknowledging themselves guilty of High Treason, and that the punishment to be awarded to them, provided they shall not have been guilty of murder, or other acts contrary to the usages of civilised warfare, should be that they shall not be entitled for life to be registered as voters, or to vote at any Parliamentary Divisional Council, or Municipal election.

“With reference to Justices of the Peace and Field Cornets of the Cape Colony, and all other persons holding an official position under the Government of the Cape Colony, or who may occupy the position of Commandant of rebel or burgher forces, they should be tried for High Treason before the ordinary court of the country, or such special court as may be hereafter constituted by Law, the punishment for their offence to be left to the discretion of the Court, with this proviso, that in no case shall the penalty of Death be inflicted.

     “The Natal Government are of opinion that rebels should be dealt
     with according to the Law of the Colony.”

To the Boer, although he had been suffering the manifold miseries of the battlefield for over two years, such terms made peace a tragedy.  Bitterness was mixed with his cup of happiness when he found himself once more united to his family.

[Footnote A:  Rev. Kestell, ‘Through Shot and Flames.’]

[Illustration:  Mr. R. MCDONALD.]

CHAPTER III.

Engagements.

And in the hope of freedom they possess
All that the contest calls for,—­spirit, strength,
The scorn of danger, and united hearts.

Cowper.

With the exception of the Stormberg engagement we do not intend to dwell on the battles of the first part of the campaign.  They have already been described by able hands, by men who participated in them, or were in a position to ascertain their true history.  By this we do not infer that all accounts are correct, for it requires many eyes to see one battle in all its aspects.  Besides, some writers are unconsciously influenced and prejudiced by their national sentiments, and thus fail to do justice to the parties concerned.  We shall confine ourselves to the engagements in which we personally took part, and shall record only the more remarkable among them.