[6]: At Ventersburg I had a cart lent me by General Botha.
[7]: General Fourie had a short time previously been arrested on the charge of carrying on unlawful correspondence with the English.
[8]: Ceylon. The original of this song is in Dutch, of which the above is but a feeble rendering.
[9]: This was not the officer who had removed Mrs. Ecksteen.
[10]: That letter was as follows:—
Government Office, on the Field,
10th May 1901.
His Honour, the Government Secretary, O.F.S.,
Honoured Sir,—Herewith I have the honour to inform you that on this day the following officers have met the Government here, viz.: His Honour the Commandant-General, General B. J. Viljoen, General J. C. Smuts (State-Attorney), the latter representing the western districts. Our condition was fully discussed, and the following points considered:—
First. That small groups of burghers are still constantly surrendering to the enemy, and that this danger is becoming a more and more serious one, whereby we are exposed to the risk of our cause coming to a dishonourable conclusion, because the result may be, that the Government and the officers may be left in the veld without any burghers. This imposes a heavy responsibility upon the Government and the officers, seeing that they represent the people, and not themselves.
Secondly. That our supply of ammunition is so exhausted that no battle of any importance can any more be fought, and that we shall thereby be reduced to the condition of hopelessly fleeing hither and thither before the enemy. Owing to this also it is becoming impossible for us to protect our people with their cattle, who thus are becoming poorer and more and more despondent, and we shall soon be unable to supply our forces with food.