CHAPTER VI.
THE TRANSVAAL.—PRETORIA TO THE DIAMOND FIELDS.
On the 1st of October I and my friend started from Pretoria
for the Diamond Fields, having spent a pleasant week at the
capital of the Transvaal. There was, however, one regret. I
had not seen Sir Theophilus Shepstone though I had been
entertained at his house. He, during the time, had been
absent on one of those pilgrimages which Colonial Governors
make through their domains, and would be absent so long that
I could not afford the time to wait his return. I should much
have liked to discuss with him the question of the annexation,
and to have heard from his own lips, as I had heard from
those of Mr. Burgers, a description of what had passed at
the interviews between them. I should have been glad, also,
to have learned from himself what he had thought of the
danger to which the Dutch community had been subject from
the Kafirs and Zulus,—from Secocoeni and Cetywayo,—at
the moment of his coming. But the tale which was not told
to me by him was, I think, told with accuracy by some of
those who were with him. I have spoken my opinion very
plainly, and I hope not too confidently of the affair, and I
will only add to that now an assurance of my conviction that
had I been in Sir T. Shepstone's place and done as he did,
