THE TRANSVAAL. 157 



Personally, the war cost me about 400, and 

 as, judged by an English standard, I am almost 

 criminally impecunious, the blow was at least 

 serious. Claims for compensation were indited it 

 is true, and I put in one for about 300, which I 

 previously submitted to the opinion of a Resident 

 Magistrate, who pronounced it valid. Absence 

 compelled me to act vicariously, and, not being " up 

 to the ropes," I left no instructions for the applica- 

 tion of palm oil a lubricant very effective, I sub- 

 sequently discovered so I only netted a Govern- 

 ment cheque for the magnificent sum of 27 lOs. 

 in full discharge of my claim. Multitudes of 

 fictitious claims for large amounts, duly lubricated, 

 passed easily, and were paid to people who after- 

 wards freely boasted of their superior business 

 knowledge and of its accruing benefits, not 

 forgetting to inflict telling jokes at the expense 

 of less astute people. 



As a matter of fact, the slippery, dishonest, and 

 cowardly conduct of the Gladstonian Government 

 of the period demoralised almost everybody, and 

 might be fairly pleaded as an excuse in mitigation 

 of mere minor delinquencies. 



During the first months of the Transvaal war 



