generally felt as a grievance.  The alteration in 1813 of the system of land tenure, the redemption in 1825 of the paper currency at only thirty-six hundredths of its nominal value, and the abolition in 1827 of the courts of landdrost and heemraden, unquestionably caused much dissatisfaction, though all of these measures are now admitted by everyone to have been beneficial.  The long delay in issuing titles to farms, the cost of which has been paid to Government years before, is mentioned as a grievance in some of the declarations.

Two parties—­men, women, and children—­numbering ninety-eight in all, pioneered the great trek; of these twenty-six survived fever and fighting, loss of provisions, waggons, and cattle, and a long weary tramp from Zoutpansberg to Delagoa Bay, and were rescued and taken thence to Natal, and two children were carried off by the natives.  The survivors were three women with their twelve children—­seven orphan children and four youths.  Not a single grown man escaped.

During the winter of 1836 preparations for emigration were being made over the eastern and midland districts.  The Governor was perfectly helpless in the matter.  The Attorney-General, Mr. A. Oliphant, was consulted by the Governor, and gave his opinion that ’it seemed next to an impossibility to prevent persons passing out of the colony by laws in force, or by any which could be framed.’  On August 19 Sir Benjamin D’Urban wrote to the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Andries Stockenstrom, that ’he could see no means of stopping the emigration, except by persuasion, and attention to the wants and necessities of the farmers.’  In that direction the Governor had done all that was in his power, but he could not act in opposition to the instructions of the Secretary of State.  Sir Andries Stockenstrom himself, in replying to an address from the inhabitants of Uitenhage, stated that ’he was not aware of any law which prevented any of his Majesty’s subjects from leaving his dominions and settling in another country; and such a law, if it did exist, would be tyrannical and oppressive.’

The story of the trekkers is one of surpassing interest, and must enlist for them the sympathy and unbounded admiration of all.

By the middle of the year 1837 there were over one thousand waggons between the Caledon and Vaal rivers—­truly a notable and alarming exodus; and the Boers then began the work of carving out new countries for themselves.  Their history surpasses all fiction in its vicissitudes, successes, and tragedies.  They fought and worked and trekked, onward, always onward—­never returning—­on beyond the furthermost outposts of civilization.