[Illustration: MR. CECIL J. RHODES, The Diamond King and Promoter of the Cape-to-Cairo Railroad, South Africa. LORD ROBERTS, V.C., G.C.B., G.C.I.E., Commander-in-Chief British Forces, South Africa.] Part I. LIST OF CHAPTERS AND SUBJECTS CHAPTER I. Early Scenes of Settlement and Struggle. The Dark Continent--The Old-time Natives of the South--The Bantu, Hottentots and Bushmen--The Portuguese of South Africa--The Dutch East India Company--A Dutch Colony at the Cape--The First Slaves--Introduction of Asiatics--The Boer Pioneer Farmer--Arrival of the Huguenots--Wars with the Bantu or Kaffirs--Extension of Settlement and Exploration--The First British Occupation--Final British Conquest--The Dutch, the English, the French and the Natives--Birth of the South African Question CHAPTER II. The Dutch and the Natives. The Early Dutch Character--Contempt for Coloured Races--The Commencement of Slavery, Its Nature and Practices--The Wandering Native Tribes Learn to Hate the Dutchman--English and Dutch Views in Antagonism--The Missionary Interferes--Unwise Action in Some Cases--Policy of Dr. Philip--Dutch Hostility to England Increased by Dislike of Mission Work and Antagonism to Slavery--Missionary Influence upon the Latter--The Dutch and the Kaffir Wars--Hardships of the Settlers--Rise of the Zulu Power under Tshaka--The Matabele and Moselkatze--Moshesh and the Basutos--A Second Period in the South African Problem Begins CHAPTER III. The Great Trek and its First Results. The British Abolition of Slavery--The Immediate Effects of the Measure Disastrous to Both Dutch and Natives--The Trek of 1836 Commences--The Emigrant Farmer, Qualities and Mode of Life--Nature of the Country Traversed Character of the Various Native Tribes--Ruthless Warfare--The Boer Skill in Marksmanship--The Boers North of the Orange River--Their Subjugation of the Matabele--Pieter Retief and His Party in Natal--Massacre by Dingaan--Boer War with the Zulus--Conquest of Dingaan and His Followers by Pretorius--Dutch Treatment of the Natives--Boers Develop Strength in War But Show Signal Weakness in Government--Collision with the English in Natal--The Cape Governor Decides that the Natives Must be Protected--Conflict Between Boers and English--The Republic of Natalia Becomes a British Country--The Boers Trek North of the Vaal River and Colonize the Transvaal--Establishment of Moshesh by the British as Head of a Border Native State--The Griquas--A Third Phase of the South African Question CHAPTER IV. Birth of the Dutch Republics.