Invasion by Mosilikatze--Arrival of the emigrant Boers--Establishment of the South African Republic--The Sand River Convention--Growth of the territory of the republic--The native tribes surrounding it-- Capabilities of the country--Its climate--Its inhabitants--The Boers --Their peculiarities and mode of life--Their abhorrence of settled government and payment of taxes--The Dutch patriotic party--Form of government previous to the annexation--Courts of law--The commando system--Revenue arrangements--Native races in the Transvaal 1-22 CHAPTER II. EVENTS PRECEDING THE ANNEXATION. Mr. Burgers elected president--His character and aspirations--His pension from the English Government--His visit to England--The railway loan--Relations of the republic with native tribes--The pass laws--Its quarrel with Cetywayo--Confiscation of native territory in the Keate Award--Treaty with the Swazi king--The Secocoeni war--Capture of Johannes' stronghold by the Swazi allies--Attack on Secocoeni's mountain--Defeat and dispersion of the Boers--Elation of the natives--Von Schlickmann's volunteers-- Cruelties perpetrated--Abel Erasmus--Treatment of natives by Boers --Public meeting at Potchefstroom in 1868--The slavery question-- Some evidence on the subject--Pecuniary position of the Transvaal prior to the annexation--Internal troubles--Divisions amongst the Boers--Hopeless condition of the country 23-49 CHAPTER III. THE ANNEXATION. Anxiety of Lord Carnarvon--Despatch of Sir T. Shepstone as Special Commissioner to the Transvaal--Sir T. Shepstone, his great experience and ability--His progress to Pretoria, and reception there--Feelings excited by the arrival of the mission--The annexation _not_ a foregone conclusion--Charge brought against Sir T. Shepstone of having called up the Zulu army to sweep the Transvaal--Its complete falsehood--Cetywayo's message to Sir T. Shepstone--Evidence on the matter summed up--General desire of the natives for English rule--Habitual disregard of their interests--Assembly of the Volksraad--Rejection of Lord Carnarvon's Confederation Bill and of President Burgers' new constitution--President Burgers' speeches to the Raad--His posthumous statement--Communication to the Raad of Sir T. Shepstone's intention to annex the country--Despatch of Commission to inquire into the alleged peace with Secocoeni--Its fraudulent character discovered--Progress of affairs in the Transvaal--Paul Kruger and his party--Restlessness of natives--Arrangements for the annexation--The annexation proclamation 50-86 CHAPTER IV. THE TRANSVAAL UNDER BRITISH RULE.