

CHAPTER VI. 

 THE STORMING OF SECOCOENI'S. 



SECOCOENI, king or head chief of all the Basuto nations 

 to the north-east of the Transvaal, had no particular 

 grievances. He was not taxed. His land was not en- 

 croached upon. He dwelt in his fastnesses, untroubled 

 by missionary or trader. Neither rum nor Bibles were 

 causes of irritation to him. Being uncivilised, the 

 Foreign Office was unable to communicate with him 

 officially, and therefore could not possibly get up a strife 

 with him by the usual methods, i.e., diplomatic represen- 

 tations, circular notes, etc., etc. How then did it come 

 to pass that we went to war with him ? 



It is a simple story. The diamond fields were opened. 

 Native labour was required. The Basutos flocked in 

 thousands to Kimberley. Each Basuto worked until he 

 had acquired enough money to buy a musket and powder 

 and ball, and then, having armed himself, went home. 

 Secocoeni's bosom became inflated with a sense of power. 

 What is the use of weapons unless you can use them 

 upon somebody? His martial ardour was aroused, and 

 he began to fancy himself a sort of little Napoleon. The 

 Boers of the Lydenburg district had much cattle, and 

 they were within easy reach of Secocoeni. Cattle are 

 to be desired. Secocoeni therefore blew his war-horn 

 and raided the cattle. The Boers declared war and sent 



an expedition against him which failed to reduce him 



(109) 



