Again Mr. Innes represented their case to the Government at the dictate of his own feelings of humanity, and not prompted thereto by the prisoners themselves, most of whom would have been glad to see the Government wreak their vengeance in petty and vindictive provisions.  The proposed alterations were however abandoned without protest from the prisoners after the supply of convict garb had been sent up to the gaol.  So matters went on day by day, each day bringing its fresh instalment of threats promises and cajoleries, each morning its batch of disappointments.  It was at first difficult to say what object the Government had in view in endeavouring to compel the Reformers to sign petitions, unless it were the unworthy one of desiring to humiliate men who were already down, or the perhaps more contemptible one of forcing them to turn informers by a process of self-excusing and thus enable them to differentiate in the commutations.  The fact remained that repeated efforts were made and pressure brought to bear upon the men to induce them to sign.  One pretext after another was used.  Finally the naked truth came out:  the Government required each man to state in an individual declaration the extent of his guilt the extenuating facts and the circumstances under which he became associated with the Reform movement.  This was exactly what had been foretold by men who understood Boer methods.

The means resorted to by the gaol officials to enforce this petition-signing were characteristic.  The gaoler (Du Plessis) is one of the most unfavourable specimens of his race.  Unscrupulous and brutal in his methods, untrustworthy as to his undertakings, and violent and uncertain in his temper, he singled out those among the prisoners whom he considered to be the leaders of the ‘stiff-necked’ party as he termed it, and treated them with as much severity as he could.  These men found themselves unable to obtain those facilities which were regarded as the right of all the prisoners.  Upon occasion their food was stopped at the gates, and visitors—­their wives and families—­were refused admission, although provided with permits from the proper authorities and complying with the gaol regulations; and on more than one occasion he informed individual members of this party that the ‘petitions would have to be signed,’ that they would have to ‘go down on their knees to the Government,’ otherwise they would ‘rot in gaol.’  All this undisguised eagerness to obtain the signatures naturally only strengthened the resolution of the men who stood out.  They had already against their wishes and judgment signed one application, and more than that they refused to do.  When it was found to be impossible to induce the men to inform against each other, some modification was made in the demands of the petition-hunters and some prisoners were asked and induced to make statements concerning their own part in the late movement, making no allusion to the part played by others, and, for reasons which it is impossible to divine unless it was designed to lead to something more, this was regarded by the Government as a desirable step.