Author : William Edward Garrett Fisher
Release : 2013-09
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Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 482/5 ( reviews)

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Book Synopsis The Transvaal and the Boers; a Brief History by : William Edward Garrett Fisher

Download or read book The Transvaal and the Boers; a Brief History written by William Edward Garrett Fisher. This book was released on 2013-09. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI THE TWO CONVENTIONS AND THEIR SEQUEL, l88l--1886 The definite settlement of the terms of peace had been left after Majuba to a Royal Commission. Sir Evelyn Wood, who had carried on the negotiations so far, was, of course, appointed a member of this Commission. With him were associated Sir Hercules Robinson and Sir J. H. de Villiers, the Governor and Chief Justice of the Cape Colony. The Commission sat between April and August, hearing the proposals of the Boers and the complaints of the loyalists. Finally it produced the Convention of Pretoria, which was formally signed on 3rd August, 1881, and which, in its attempt to combine Boer independence with British suzerainty, pleased neither party, and was destined to be replaced by the Convention of London in less than three years. During the sitting of the Commission, the Transvaal remained nominally in the hands of the English; it was really at the mercy of the Boers, the more reckless and unscrupulous amongst whom took every opportunity of paying off the old scores that had been run up by the loyalists. The Law Courts avoided issuing any process, lest their messenger should be shot in contempt of court. Boers who had been friendly to England were threatened with death. Englishmen who returned to their farms were insulted, and sometimes plundered. Two Bechuana chiefs, Montsioa and Mankoroane, who had offered help to Sir George Colley, were attacked, the loyalists being "commandeered," or pressed into military service against them, according to the familiar practice of the Boers, who consider it excellent policy to make the disaffected fight their battles and save the skins of the good citizens. In short, the whole country was in a state of turmoil and lawlessness, natural enough...