ST. HELENA 115 



the feeling become, that the authorities were compelled to 

 form another camp (called No. 2 or Peace Camp), where 

 those admitting their desire to become British subjects 

 might be located quite apart from the general camp. 

 These men called themselves " Loyalists," but by their 

 fellow prisoners they were termed " Traitors." A number 

 of men were allowed liberty each day from the camp at 

 Broadbottom and Deadwood. These in parties rambled 

 all over the country, their rations and kettles with them ; 

 they picnicked where they pleased. In groups of ten, 

 twenty, forty or more, they might be seen lighting their 

 fires and boiling their coffee, grilling their steaks, and 

 thoroughly enjoying themselves. There were one or two 

 disturbances with the members of No. 2 Camp ; and then 

 the rule was made that the liberty from the different camps 

 should be on different days, and thus friction was avoided. 

 As the early months of 1902 passed, the camps became 

 greatly excited over the war news ; the more enlightened 

 amongst them, coming to the conclusion that a continua- 

 tion of the struggle was futile, but the majority maintained 

 obstinately that they could not and would not lose their 

 independence. That seemed to be their one thought 

 (Independence) ; they never contemplated terms. Owing 

 to an absence of rain and wind, sickness broke out in the 

 camp ; this however affected the soldiers and officers more 

 than the prisoners. A number of nurses, with additional 

 (medical) aid arrived, and the enteric gradually declined; 

 still, there were many deaths. 



On June i came the cable " Peace," with no mention 

 of terms. Prisoners and British were alike loud in their 

 demonstrations, and the stock of champagne in the island 

 was speedily lessened. Britishers were confident the Peace 

 was in their favour ; prisoners also were quite as confident 

 they had at last gained their independence. For hours the 

 suspense and excitement was great ; then on the following 

 day came the terms, and with them the downfall of the 

 Boers' hopes. 



On Sunday, June 8, thanksgiving services for Peace 

 were offered in the Churches. At the Cathedral a detach- 

 ment of Royal Garrison Artillery, who had returned from 

 South Africa, attended, and instead of the usual organ 



