A general desire to abrogate martial law at the earliest opportunity was felt as soon as the troops had been demobilized. No one was more anxious to do this than the Government itself. With so many prisoners to be tried for offences of varying gravity, however, it was impossible to do this before the 2nd October.
On the same day, the Governor, on authority granted by the Secretary of State in August, signified his assent to an Act indemnifying the military and civil authorities of the Colony and all such persons as had acted under them in regard to acts during the existence of martial law.
It was with much gratification that the Governor and his Ministers received the following telegram, on the 2nd September, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:
"I rejoice to think that the period of strain through which the Colony of Natal has passed may now be considered at an end, and I desire on behalf of His Majesty's Government to express our sense of the courage and self-reliance with which the emergency has been met. The conduct of the troops in the field and the management of the operations appear from all accounts to have been admirable and to have been well supported by the determination and self-restraint of the Government and the people. I should have been prepared at any moment to move His Majesty's Government to render assistance, but I am glad that the necessity did not arise.
"The judgment and moderation shown in the commutation of courts-martial sentences inspires the hope that the peace of the Colony will now be re-established on the broad basis of justice and good feeling for all races.
"For yourself this has been a time of great stress and anxiety, and I congratulate you on the success which has attended you in your difficult task."
An estimate of the total number of rebels that took part in the Rebellion is very difficult to arrive at at all approximately. Judging from the reports of Commanding Officers, the aggregate for Natal and Zululand would be about 10,000 to 12,000, of whom about 2,300 were killed. After the outbreak, the Government obtained particulars from the various Magistrates, when the totals for Natal and Zululand were found to be 3,873 and 2,031 respectively; of these, 782 and 609 were said to have been killed or missing.[302] There are several reasons why the Magistrates would have been unable to obtain exact information, the chief among them being dread of punishment, either by imprisonment or seizure of stock. At the same time, the military estimates may also have been at fault.
It remains to refer to the cost of the Rebellion. The expenditure for the suppression and prevention thereof was met from loans raised under Acts of the Natal Parliament, whereby authority was granted to borrow up to £1,000,000. A sum of £900,000 was raised, the amount realized being £892,137 16s. Actual expenditure chargeable against loan account amounted to £637,039 15s. 5d. at 31st December, 1906; this rose to £778,360 1s. 7d. by 30th June, 1907. Included in the latter total are claims for compensation for losses sustained during the Rebellion, £40,750, and upkeep of rebel prisoners, £49,657, whilst a reduction of £10,992 has been made, on account of monies received by Government for the hire of rebel prisoners.[303]
The issue of a medal, in recognition of services rendered during the Rebellion, was approved by His Majesty the King. It was granted to those (including nursing sisters), who served between the 11th February and the 3rd August, for a continuous period of not less than twenty days, also to certain civilians, Native Chiefs, and others who had rendered valuable service. A clasp, inscribed "1906," was issued with the medal to such as had served for a continuous period of not less than fifty days.