A FRAGMENT OF BASUTO HISTORY 1854 -1871

Reprinted from " Cape Mercantile Advertiser."

188 pages, rebound in brown faux leather with faded orange title label on the spine, the original blue card wrappers are bound into the volume, light foxing and water stains on the front blue card wrapper, sprinkled edges, a good copy.

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography, volume 2, page 476 -477: Practically a condensation of " Basutoland Records " (published in 1883). The introductory chapter, containing fifty-four pages, has, it is stated, been reprinted, with trifling additions, from the introduction to the third volume of the earlier work. It is stated that the political life of Basutoland appears to have been completely influenced by the proximity of the Orange Free State : there were constant quarrels and border fights between the inhabitants of the two countries, and the intrigues and disputes appear to have been interminable. Congresses and meetings of the chiefs of Basutoland and delegates from the Volksraad seem generally to have left matters in much the same state as before the discussions, and the Orange Free State was evidently too weak for its turbulent neighbour, especially when it was ruled by so cunning and able a chief as Moshesh. Indeed that astute warrior appears to have been fully aware of the weakness of the Republic, of whose threats and menaces he does not seem to have taken any notice, although he was careful to keep on good terms with the British.

A condensed account of the disputes is given, together with a short historical sketch of the Orange Free State and its wars with Basutoland. The Boers, while unable to defend themselves against tribal aggressions, were ever agitating to obtain more and more country from the Basutos, on the ground of previous right of possession. They were successful, to a certain extent, in the 1865-8 campaign, but it does not appear at all certain that they would have been able to maintain order among the Basuto chiefs, or successfully keep peace throughout the country. They bitterly resented the action of Great Britain, however, in taking Basutoland under its protection, and alleged that they were robbed of the fair results of their victories. After much discussion and negotiation a boundary line was arrived at, and a convention ratified by the Volksraad on May 5, 1869. On November 3, 1871, Basutoland was formerly annexed to the Cape Colony by an Order in Council confirmed by Queen Victoria. Ten years later the native rebellion of 1880-81 necessitated other arrangements for the government of the country, which was finally transferred to the Imperial authorities in 1884.