Return to South Africa 165 



time to time, but I could do nothing until peace was 

 declared by Gladstone, after the reverses at Ingogo 

 and Laings Nek and Majuba. During my stay in 

 Ladysmith Sir George Colley passed through to the 

 front. A rumour was about that Boers were inciting 

 natives and using them against the British, and that 

 Sir George Colley intended to use the natives 

 against the Boers in retaliation. I at once 

 wrote a strongly worded letter to him, (a copy 

 of which I have) begging him not to employ 

 blacks to fight against whites under any conditions 

 and warning him of the lasting ill consequences 

 of such action. I have since learnt that there was 

 never any intention on his part to use native levies. 

 At Estcourt I kept a cart and four horses ready, and 

 the day peace was declared, mother and I started 

 for Pretoria. On arrival at Heidelberg, we found 

 the Provisional Government and Mr. Paul Kruger 

 established there. The village was full of people and 

 lodgings were difficult to obtain, but Sir Morrison 

 Barlow, who had been taken prisoner in Swaziland 

 (where he was acting as magistrate), and brought to 

 Heidelberg gave up his room to us. Soon after my 

 arrival Mr. Kruger sent Dr. Jorissen and Secretary 

 Edouard Bok, to ask me to re-enter political life, and 

 assist the new Government. They stayed until quite 

 late and prevented us having dinner. Notwith- 

 standing their arguments and promises, I refused to 

 promise anything, as I intended to see what had 

 really happened in Pretoria, and to my children and 

 property before committing myself. Mr. Kruger 

 was annoyed at my refusal. Next day in Pretoria 

 we found the children looking miserable, having 

 been half starved on boiled kaffir corn and third-rate 

 rations while in camp during the siege of Pretoria. 

 On the other hand the troops and favoured indi- 

 viduals were being fed on the fat cattle and produce 



