CHAPTER VII.
GRIQUALAND WEST—WHY WE TOOK IT.
Griqualand West is the proper, or official, name for that
part of South Africa which is generally known in England
as the Diamond Fields, and which is at the period of my
writing,—the latter part of 1877,—a separate Colony belonging
to the British Crown, under the jurisdiction of the
Governor of the Cape Colony, but in truth governed by a
resident administrator. Major Lanyon is now the occupier
of the Government House, and is "His Excellency of Griqualand"
to all the Queen's loyal British subjects living
in and about the mines. This is the present position of
things;—but the British Government has offered to annex
the Province to the Cape Colony, and the Cape Colony has
at length agreed to accept the charge,—subject to certain
conditions as to representation and other details. Those
conditions are, I believe, now under consideration, and if
they be found acceptable,—as will probably be the case,—the
Colonial Office at home being apparently anxious to
avoid the expense and trouble of an additional little Colony,—Griqualand
West and the Diamond Fields will become
a part of the Cape Colony in the course of 1878. The proposed
conditions offer but one member for the Legislative
