Landdrost.—Stipendiary magistrate to collect the revenues of a district.
Lee-Metford.—Magazine rifle bearing the name of its inventors, Mr. Lee and Mr. Metford.
Lieutenant.—Ranks next below a captain. The senior lieutenant takes command of a company in the event of accident to the captain.
Lieutenant-Colonel.—Ranks next below a colonel in the army.
Lieutenant-General.—Ranks next below a general.
Life Guards.—Mounted bodyguard of the sovereign. These regiments distinguished themselves in the Peninsula, at Waterloo, and in Egypt. They seldom leave this country, save on special occasions.
Lourenço Marques.—A Portuguese township in Delagoa Bay, situated 7090 miles from Southampton, with which it is connected by a service of steamers viâ Durban. Boats returning to Europe viâ the Suez Canal call here. The importance of Delagoa as a trading station and as a base of railway to the interior has long been recognised, and in 1887 Colonel M’Murdo (having obtained a concession from the Portuguese Government in 1883) formed a company to connect Lourenço Marques with Komati Poort on the Transvaal frontier. This railway was confiscated by the Portuguese in June 24, 1889, compensation to the shareholders (as a result of arbitration which was placed in the hands of three Swiss jurists) having only recently been awarded.
Lyddite.—A very powerful explosive, the exact composition of which is a secret. The early experiments of lyddite were made at Lydd, a small town in Kent, from which it derives its name. Its effects are so deadly that the mere concussion of the displaced air particles serves to kill any one who may be within fifty yards of the shell.
Mafeking.—This small but world-famous town, 870 miles from Cape Town, was considered as a gateway to Rhodesia, and standing as it does on the route to Mashonaland, between Bechuanaland and the Transvaal, its importance as a centre for distribution is evident. The Molopo River and the Ramathlabama Spruit, a few miles north of the town, form the southern boundary of the Bechuanaland Protectorate.
Major.—The lowest rank of field officer. Being a field officer he is mounted on all parades and going into action. To every infantry battalion there are four, and to every squadron of cavalry one.