Matters are very unsettled in the Transvaal.
They are still inquiring as to who gave Dr. Jameson
the authority to make his raid, but nothing of any consequence has been brought to light.
In the Transvaal itself, war with England seems to be threatening. There is much angry discussion over the late news that England has leased Delagoa Bay for thirty years, at a rental of $2,500,000 a year.
Delagoa Bay belongs to Portugal, and is the only seaport which the Boers can reach. The Transvaal, as you will see by the map, lies inland, and has not any sea-coast of its own.
The English deny this report, but, all the same, British war-ships are being sent to Delagoa Bay.
A new High Commissioner has been appointed to South Africa, and a great deal of surprise was felt when it was learned that he was to take a strong body of marines and sailors with him.
The Government says these fighting men have only been sent with the Commissioner to guarantee the carrying out of his commands, but it is very openly reported that they are being sent out to strengthen the force which England already has in South Africa, and that war will soon break out in that quarter of the globe.
The English people are very angry with President Krueger, because, at a recent banquet, his grandson, a lieutenant in the Transvaal army, made some rude remarks about the Queen of England.
But it would seem that they have little cause for anger, because Oom Paul rebuked his grandson and suspended him from duty. It is probable that the young man, whose name is Lieutenant Eloff, will have to leave the army in consequence.