The ill-will, however, was all on his side; he had taken a great dislike, it seemed, to my method of discussing military and political matters in general; we were especially divided as to the meaning of _colonial allegiance_; and the fact of us being both of Dutch origin did not mend matters in a colony in which the inhabitants had such different objects in view as the Dutch and English settlers had. I returned next day to the front with an offer I had in my possession from the Commander-in-chief to any of the men who wished to establish themselves on the frontier as military settlers, of a small but comfortable homestead, sufficient cattle and means to begin farming with, and future help should necessity require it, on the condition of their presenting themselves for military service whenever called upon by her Majesty’s Government. I kept this offer by me, never seeing my way perfectly clear to make use of it. The men were not of the right sort to cement goodwill between natives and settlers, but the matter got winded about among them, and much increased the difficulties of my command. On the slightest reproof they would flaunt before me their titles as farmers in prospective; and this they carried on to such a ridiculous excess, that I have known them, when under the influence of drink, attempt to turn men out of public-houses under the pretext that they were not fit associates for gentlemen farmers. I had also an order that freed me from any authority, military or civil, in the discharge of the duty of keeping clear of Kaffirs the district around Fort Beaufort; also another giving me the liberty of fixing my headquarters anywhere within ten miles of that place. I accordingly selected Blakeway’s Farm as the most suitable spot for carrying out my instructions, and immediately removed there. The Commander-in-chief was now ready for his grand expedition into Basutoland. This carrying of the war into distant parts was, as far as I could judge, a most unwise undertaking. The colony, and more particularly its frontier, was in a far too unsettled state to receive an accession of territory with benefit to itself or profit to the land annexed; while the costly expedient of retaining several thousand British troops at the Cape for the sake of punishing Basutos, was like keeping up a large hawking establishment of peregrine falcons to chase some troublesome crows. A few police jackets stuffed with Government proclamations would have done the work equally well. This untimely craving for excitement beyond the pale of legitimate hereditary succession has always been the bane of young colonies--and also, alas! of rapidly wearing out motherlands. A violent extension of boundaries cannot easily be justified. Violence begets violence; and nothing will rankle so much in the minds of men, from generation to generation, as the idea that they have been unjustly deprived of their forefathers’ land. CHAPTER IX.