Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Brownfox and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net [Illustration: LIEUTENANTS MELVILL and COGHILL (24th REGIMENT) DYING TO SAVE THE QUEEN'S COLOURS. An Incident at the Battle of Isandlwana. Painting by C. E. Fripp.] SOUTH AFRICA AND THE TRANSVAAL WAR BY LOUIS CRESWICKE AUTHOR OF "ROXANE," ETC. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS IN SIX VOLUMES VOL. I.--FROM THE FOUNDATION OF CAPE COLONY TO THE BOER ULTIMATUM OF 9TH OCT. 1899 EDINBURGH: T. C. & E. C. JACK 1900 PREFATORY NOTE In writing this volume my aim has been to present an unvarnished tale of the circumstances--extending over nearly half a century--which have brought about the present crisis in South Africa. Consequently, it has been necessary to collate the opinions of the best authorities on the subject. My acknowledgments are due to the distinguished authors herein quoted for much valuable information, throwing light on the complications that have been accumulating so long, and that owe their origin to political blundering and cosmopolitan scheming rather than to the racial antagonism between Briton and Boer. L. C. CONTENTS--VOL. I. PAGE CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE ix INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER I PAGE THE GROWTH OF THE TRANSVAAL 13 THE BOER CHARACTER 15 SOME DOMESTIC TRAITS 18 CHAPTER II PAGE THE ORANGE FREE STATE 24 THE GRONDWET 26 TRANSVAAL DISSENSIONS 29 ZULU DISTURBANCES 30 THE POLITICAL WEB 33 THE WEB THICKENING 36 THE ZULU WAR 38 ISANDLWANA 40 AFFAIRS AT HOME 43 TOWARDS ULUNDI 49 THE VICTORY 57 CHAPTER III PAGE SIR GARNET WOLSELEY AT PRETORIA 62 GLADSTONE OUT OF OFFICE AND IN OFFICE 65 COMMENCEMENT OF REBELLION 69 THE FATE OF CAPTAIN ELLIOT 73 LAING'S NEK 77 INGOGO 84 MAJUBA 86 THE SIEGE OF PRETORIA 95 RETROCESSION 99