A second point in favour of us was the fact that we were all mounted, whereas, at the commencement of the war, the British army consisted largely of infantry.  The Boers are splendid horsemen—­none more at home in the saddle than the farmer.  The way he handled his steed, and the posture he assumed on it, invariably distinguished him, even at great distances, from the British soldier.  The British infantry, however well they might have fought—­and they did often fight bravely—­were yet placed at a great disadvantage in engagements with the mounted Boers, who could quickly, sometimes too quickly, abandon untenable positions and occupy others which offered greater advantages.

Last, but not least, the Boers had the moral advantage of fighting in defence of their country.  They did not fight for honour or glory, nor because of lust or greed for gold or expansion of territory, but for their beloved Fatherland, for that freedom which they had enjoyed so long and loved so well.  This was their stimulus, their very inspiration to endure hardship and sacrifice all.  What was the stimulus and inspiration of the British forces?

We shall now review some of the disadvantages under which we had to wage war for almost three years.  No sooner had the war been declared than the Republics were almost completely isolated from the civilised world.  The English were in possession of all the harbours, and if it had not been for Delagoa Bay, which is a neutral port, the communication of the Republics with the outer world would instantly have been cut off entirely.  Through this port all contraband of war was strictly prohibited; and such foreigners as came to our assistance had to exercise great ingenuity to find their way via Delagoa Bay to the Boer lines.  For several months in succession the Boers had to fight without the slightest encouragement from abroad.  How the nations were regarding their struggle, whether any of them would dare to interfere on their behalf, and so indicate the rights of the weak against the strong—­such and similar questions remained unanswered.  Neither was the average Boer much concerned as to what other nations thought about the war.  He was involved in the struggle, not because he courted it or loved to fight, but because his country was invaded and his independence was at stake.  To secure his liberty he would resist any Power, regardless of all adverse criticism on the part of other Powers.  Yet it proved no less a serious disadvantage to the Republics to have been so isolated, their communication with the other Powers so restricted, and themselves encompassed almost on every side by British dominions.