[81]. “John Dunn, Cetywayo and the Three Generals.” 1886. Natal Printing and Publishing Co. Pietermaritzburg, Natal.
[82]. Since writing the above England has decided to annex what remains of Zululand.
[83]. For petition see appendix.
[84]. At this time there was daily issued here and at Mafeting 3,930 full rations.
[85]. Since burnt by the rebels.
[86]. The petition, which was signed by Jonathan Molappo, Mokhethi Moshesh, Iladiyane Mosheshoe and 896 others, I brought away with me and presented to the Cape legislative assembly on March 21st, 1882. In the appendix will be found a copy of the petition itself.
[87]. The political resident at that period.
[88]. A few months previously the Sprigg ministry had been defeated, session of 1881.
[89]. Since the time I was in Basutoland Colonel Clark, who, during the Transvaal war, after Captain Falls’ death, surrendered the court-house at Potchefstroom, when it was set fire to by the Boers, has been appointed agent in Basutoland. This imperial appointment was made early in 1884 when the colonial government was relieved of its responsibility in that country by the home government.
Since Colonel Clark has been in Basutoland the amount paid in taxes has greatly increased, for whereas at first the receipts were at the rate of £450 a year only, they now, Masupha having agreed also to pay hut tax, exceed £5,000 per annum. But from the best authority I learn that Colonel Clark’s power, although he is personally liked by the Basutos, is merely nominal, and they would even now be too wide-awake to pay taxes, if they were not afraid of the confiscation, or in other words of the robbery, of their cattle by their chiefs, and if they did not fear the personal vengeance which would result on their resisting; they prefer, therefore, to buy the semblance of British authority at the rate of £1 a year per hut, rather than have their cattle stolen without any redress whatever.