First Edition: 306 pages, frontispiece (the hinge between the frontispiece and the title page has been reinforced with white paper), 4 plates, blue cloth gilt, slightly frayed at top and bottom of the spine, corners bumped.
Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography, volume 2, page 609, 'The author was appointed by Bishop Webb of Bloemfontein to establish a mission in the district of Leribe, being practically the first station opened in Bastoland by the Church of England. Having overcome the preliminary difficulties, the undertaking seems to have prospered up to the time of the war in 1880, which was brought about by the Disarmament Act, passed by the Cape Colony. Vivid pictures of the campaign are drawn, including the last great battle between Joel and Jonathan. The book includes a good history of Basutoland from the reign of Moshesh (for whose abilities the writer had great admiration).'
The war which Mendelssohn alludes to is known as The Basuto Gun War (1880–1881) which was a successful military resistance by the Basotho people against the British Cape Colony, fought over the imposition of the Peace Preservation Act and increased taxation. Utilizing mounted, modern-armed guerrilla tactics in the Lesotho mountains, the Basotho secured the right to keep their weapons and maintained their sovereignty, preventing absorption into South Africa.
- Size: 8vo (187 x 134 mm)
