Swaziland became in turn the object of the Boer Government’s attentions.  First, grazing concessions were obtained; and next, other concessions for the collection of Customs and Revenue dues, for telegraphs, railways, banking, surveying, and goodness only knows what.  One individual applied for and obtained a concession for the balance of ungranted concessions, and another applied for a grant of the Chief Justiceship.  What chance the unfortunate native had in such a condition of things can be imagined.  The Transvaal bought up all the concessions necessary to make government of the country absolutely impossible, except with their cooperation.  The secret service fund of the Republic provided means for making the representatives of the Swazi nation see things in a reasonable light, so that when the time came to investigate the title to concessions and to arrange for the future administration of the country the result was a foregone conclusion.  The judge appointed by the Imperial Government on the Special Joint Commission to inquire into the concessions and matters in general let some light on the manner in which these concessions were acquired and granted, by pertinent questions to the concessionaires and interpreters.  He asked, for instance, ’Do you swear that you interpreted this document verbatim to the king?’—­’Yes.’  ’Will you kindly tell to the Court what is the or how you interpreted and explained the significance of the “survey,” “mint,” “revenue,” and “townships” concessions?’

The picture of the obese and drunken chief surrounded by fawning harpies was a shameful and disgusting one.  One example is sufficient to show how the thing was done.  A concession for gambling was applied for.  The man who interpreted knew a smattering of ‘kitchen’ Kaffir, and his rendering of the ’monopoly for billiards, card playing, lotteries, and games of chance’ was that he alone should be allowed to ’tchia ma-ball (hit the balls), hlala ma-paper (play the papers), and tata zonki mali (and take all the money).’  The poor drunken king nodded sleepily to the first two clauses, but to the bald proposition of taking all the money, which he could understand, he violently objected.  The concession was, however, subsequently granted on the representations of a more tactful interpreter.

A very flagrant breach of the spirit of the London Convention, and a very daring attempt at land-grabbing, was the proposed last will and testament of the Swazi King Umbandine, which provided that the governing powers should be assigned to Mr. Kruger as executor of the King and trustee and administrator of the country.  His project was defeated; but the aim of the Boer Government was ultimately achieved, nevertheless, and Swaziland has now been handed over to the control of the Republic in spite of the prayers and protestations of the Swazis themselves, who had proved in the past with very practical results to be useful, ready, and loyal allies of the British Government.