so forth. Many of these natives he (Mr. Nachtigal) knew personally. The copy was certified as true and correct by an official of the Republic, and I would mention his name now, only that I am persuaded that it would cost the man his life if his act became known to the Boers." [5] One of the famous Triumvirate. On the 16th May 1881, a native, named Frederick Molepo, was examined by the Royal Commission. The following are extracts from his examination:-- "(_Sir E. Wood._) Are you a Christian?--Yes. "(_Sir H. de Villiers._) How long were you a slave?--Half a year. "How do you know that you were a slave? Might you not have been an apprentice?--No, I was not apprenticed. "How do you know?--They got me from my parents, and ill-treated me. "(_Sir E. Wood._) How many times did you get the stick?--Every day. "(_Sir H. de Villiers._) What did the Boers do with you when they caught you?--They sold me. "How much did they sell you for?--One cow and a big pot." On the 28th May 1881, amongst the other documents handed in for the consideration of the Royal Commission, is the statement of a headman, whose name it has been considered advisable to omit in the blue-book for fear the Boers should take vengeance on him. He says, "I say, that if the English government dies I shall die too; I would rather die than be under the Boer Government. I am the man who helped to make bricks for the church you see now standing in the square here (Pretoria), as a slave without payment. As a representative of my people I am still obedient to the English Government, and willing to obey all commands from them, even to die for their cause in this country, rather than submit to the Boers. "I was under Shambok, my chief, who fought the Boers formerly, but he left us, and we were _put up to auction_ and sold among the Boers. I want to state this myself to the Royal Commission in Newcastle. I was bought by Fritz Botha and sold by Frederick Botha, who was then veld cornet (justice of the peace) of the Boers."[6] [6] I have taken the liberty to quote all these extracts exactly as they stand in the original, instead of weaving their substance into my narrative, in order that I may not be accused, as so often happens to authors who write upon this subject, of having presented a garbled version of the truth. The original of every extract is to be found in blue-books presented to Parliament. I have thought it best to confine myself to these, and avoid repeating stories of cruelties and slavery, however well authenticated, that have come to my knowledge privately such stories being always more or less open to suspicion.