A " Boer Trek." 109 



and menacmg, declared that they would cross by 

 force. They returned to their party, and once 

 more came down to the edge of the water. A 

 Maxim gun was brought into position bv the de- 

 tachment, and laid on to tliem, and the officer. 

 Major Goold- Adams, called out that if they pro- 

 ceeded a single step further he Avould tire. The\' 

 halted, hesitated, and, prudent counsels prevailing, 

 turned back and rejoined the main body some 

 distance from the riAer. Here a violent scene is 

 said to have taken place between the leader of the 

 advanced body and the leaders and men of the 

 main body. The latter were reproached by the 

 former for cowardice and desertion of him. The 

 quarrel terminated by the small and violent group 

 abandoning the enterprise and disbanding. The 

 other and larger body, with whom was Colonel 

 Ferreira and a certain Malan, a son-in-law of 

 General Joubert, then marched to another drift, 

 where thcv encountered the same officer, and where 

 a similar, but much less stormy, scene took place. 

 Colonel Ferreira crossed over by himself and was 

 immediately arrested under orders received from 

 the High Commissioner, and sent to Fort Tuli. 

 After a few clays' detention he was liberated and 

 allowed to proceed up country, having signed 

 all the necessary documents. The other Boers, 

 finding the British in force, determined to resist 

 their joassage, retired and immediately disjDersed. 

 Thus, happily and fortunately, ended the cele- 

 brated " Boer trek." At one moment an en- 

 counter, with certain bloodshed and loss of life. 



