104 JRerotei0w of Adventures 



at that time, sent samples of very rich iron ore to 

 England but no one would take any interest in it. 



This Civil War wasted much of my time, and 

 cost me a lot of money when I could ill-afford it. 

 The Boers liked being on commando, the incon- 

 veniences were what they were accustomed to in daily 

 life, they had not to do any hard work, got plenty 

 of leave, etc., and had congenial company, but to 

 the men who had business to attend to, and did not 

 affect the rough commando life, it caused incon- 

 venience and loss. In the early days of the Trans- 

 vaal these commandos, against some native tribe or 

 other, were almost of annual occurrence, besides 

 the more serious wars among themselves, with the 

 -b ree State, or with the British Government. It goes 

 without saying that subject to such a state of chronic 

 unrest, the country could not progress. 



We had some comical scares in Pretoria at night, 

 but no serious danger, and after a few men were 

 shot in the fight on Mosilikat's Nek, peace was 

 declared. At one time I was commandeered with 

 wagon and oxen and servants, to go with a contin- 

 gent to Paul Kruger's farm near Rustenberg. I was 

 placed in command of the artillery (one old ship's 

 32 pounder " carronade " on wagon wheels), a most 

 dangerous weapon for the artilleryman the enemy 

 were fairly safe ! I was much disappointed that it 

 never came into action, as it might have made history ! 

 A truce was proclaimed after much parleying, and 

 we returned to Pretoria. The Crocodile River was 

 full and the commando outspanned. I got a plug 

 made for the muzzle and one for the touch hole (which 

 was nearly as big), and with my own natives and 

 oxen went gaily into the stream, and nearly had the 

 whole concern swept down into a deep pool below 

 the "drift ; " but both my boys and I could swim 



