manner, so that the Chief Justice before whom the case was heard (when April having enlisted the sympathy of some white people was enabled to make an appeal) characterized Prinsloo’s conduct as brutal in the extreme and a flagrant abuse of power perpetrated with the aim of establishing slavery.  Judgment was given against Prinsloo with all costs.  Within a few days of this decision being arrived at the President addressing a meeting of burghers publicly announced that the Government had reimbursed Prinsloo, adding, ’Notwithstanding the judgment of the High Court, we consider Prinsloo to have been right.’

Actions of this kind have a distinct and very evil influence upon the supply of native labour.  No attempt is made to supply the industry with natives, or to protect the natives whilst on their way to and from the mines.  The position became so bad that the Chamber of Mines instituted a department with a highly-paid official at its head to organize supply.  It would inadequately describe the position to say that the Government have rendered the Chamber of Mines no assistance.  Indeed, it appears as though the officials in the country had of set purpose hindered in every way possible the work so necessary to the working of the industry on profitable lines.  Agencies were established in all the neighbouring territories.  Some of the tribes declined to work in the Transvaal on account of the risks of highway-robbery and personal violence which they ran en route.  In one case an effort was made by certain mine-owners to meet the difficulty by importing a whole tribe—­men, women, and children—­from Basutoland and locating them upon an adjacent farm.  There is however a law known as the Plakkerswet, or Squatters’ Law, which, framed with that peculiar cunning for which the Transvaal Government have achieved a reputation, has the appearance of aiming at the improvement of the native labour supply whilst in effect it does the opposite.  It provides that not more than five families may reside upon one farm, the ‘family’ being an adult male with or without women and children.  Ostensibly the law purports to prevent the squatting together of natives in large numbers and in idleness.  As a matter of fact however the law is not applied in the cases of Boer farmers.  From the President downwards the Boers own farms on which hundreds of families are allowed to remain, paying their hut-taxes and contributing largely to the prosperity of the land-owner.  In the case of the Uitlander however there seems to be a principle at stake, as the mine-owners above referred to found to their cost.  No sooner had they located their tribe and provided them with all the conditions necessary to comfort than an official came down to them, Plakkerswet in hand, and removed all except the five allowed by law and distributed them among his friends and relations.  The experiment has not been repeated.