1900-01-13 — Page 6

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1900,

was passed immediately to the rear, only those on either side of him knowing aught of the casualty. In Northern Natal each command must know it swn loss, but the figures are afforded little publication.

Until now the way in Natal - has appeared to

progress.

6 guns and 3 rocket-tubes, the remainder of Sir George Calley's hands. As day dawned the the force being left to guand the camp and handful of English troops looked down on the convoy of warlike stores..

whole of the Boer laagers about the position of | Laing's Nek. No doubt of success appears to jehave assailed boy mind among those on Majuba | that Sunday morning eighteen years ago, and to this fatal over confidence, and to the conse quent failure to entrench their position, the disaster that ensued is to be attributed.

The force moved under cover of the guns and across open grassy ridges to a point within 2000 yards from the Beer position, the front

(By Duiging Story, Editor of the late Boer the grass of the Boers a triumphant and tight of which were unassailable.

newspaper the Standard and Diggers News.)

The Boers claim four of the five principal engagements in Northern Natal as victories.

Elands Laagte alone stands in their calendar as a definite defeat.

THE LAST BOER WAR, INCIDENTS IN THE CAREER OF SIR GEORGE

3)

COLLEX.

41

Having selected his point of attack on the jeft tank of the enemy, Colley promptly jaunched five companies of the 58th Regiment and a squadron of mounted men to the attack, holding three companies of the both Rifles and 70 mounted police in reserve. Then chase the disaster. The cavalry came first

To Englishmen aware that our generals are

A very interesting resume of the operations under fire and made a most gallant but premature well content to mark time until the main army

charge. The leading troop actually reached in the last Boer is given by the Journal the Boer position, hut, could not hold their shall be availabic, Bule song of reiumph sounds boastful and achstird. We Jecognise un defeat of the Royal United Service Institution in its

ground and were speedily repulsed. It was now save that of Carleton's colon at Nicholson's review of "The Life of Sir George Colley, too late to check the infantry attack, which was Nek, and admit na superiority of our enemy in JA,B," by General Sir William Butler, The

unsupported, except by the fire of our guns,

The attack of the five companies of the 28th the field. We thoroughly appreciate the stra-reviewer recalls the oft-quoted declaration of tegy which induced General Yule to retire from Lord Wolseley that "so long as the sun shines

was most gallant, but they were hurried over a Dundee, and we commend Sir George White's the Transvaal will remain British territory "aut immurement in Ladysmith.

very steep ascent by a brave, but inexperienced reminds us that although Colley's successor leader, Colonel Deann, Sir George Colley's telegraphed to the Home Government, We held the Beers in the hallew of his hand, yet principal staff officer. The 28th, consequently, the tender conscience of Mr. Gladstone shud reached the crest in a confused mass and quite beat and breathless. Deano" dered at the idea of wiping out' for ever the

(wrote Sir George Colley) "made memory and bitterness and share of the Majub Hill Disaster and consequently asks, allant and desperate attempt to charge, and when will the savour of it be washed away?fell riddled with bullets as he got on the brow. The critique reads, in part, as follows:-- The Life of Sir George Pomeroy-Colley, K.C.S.L, C.B. C.M.G. By Lieut-General Sir William Butter, K.C.B. London: John Murray.

But there is a law of perspective in these mat- ters, and, to the membersní a little State engaged in a death-struggle with a mighty Power, the mere absence of absolute, defeat is tantamount to triumphunt victory. In their inmost hearts the Boers anticipated nothing but utter rout in the war. The newspapers have been full of Boer predictions of victory and of their silly speculations as to the most suitable istand on which to contine the Queen as a prisoner These were the mere bar-parlour vapourings of men in the presence of those who sought to make sport of thers. I have spoken with many.

PROMINENT TRANSVAALERS within the past four months, and not one has questioned Great Britian's ability to crush the conversed with all the principal men of the Republic at her will. More than that, I have State on various occasions these past few years, and they have always acknowledged the Certainty of ultimate deleat in the fiel! The acknowledginent is not one that would be made by Paul Kruger to an inquisitive globe. trotter upon the Presidency step at Pretoria, but it is there for those who can speak with the

leer as man to man.

It was the same in 1880. Take these words of Paul Kruger's, as 1 heard them uttered at Paradekraal in December 1896-When the War of Independence was started, it seemed childish for a community of 0,000, insufficiently armed and ammunitioned, to challenge the mighs of Britain in the field. Had the result dependended upon mê; dr upon Piet Joubert, the fight had gone against lis. It was God and God alone, who gave us the victory."

That recognition of the Republic's in- adequacy in the struggle is as true of 1899 as of 1880. It was in no spirit of vanity, the Boers sent their astounding ultimatum England. They hone dy helieved that we were determined upon war, and, having des. paired of diplomacy, they left the arbitrament in God-the word is more descripitve of the Boers attitude than "war" The Boer is still in doubt as to whether Providence in always on the side of the big battalions,

If, then, it be conceded that the Boers went into the struggle with

LITTLE CONFIDENCE OF SUCCESS.

it will be understood how joyously they have interpreted the retreat from Dundee, the cap- ture of Carleton's coluirm, and the defeat of the armoured train as signal instances of Divine favour. The importance of this will be more fully realised as the war develops, .

To understand the significance attached to these first engagements by the Transvaaler, il nust be remembered that Sir George Whitë commands the largest force ever brought to gether in the field in South Africa. What seem to us the insignificant preliminary skirmishes in Natal already constitute the greatest war South Africa has ever known.

When Sir David Baird took Cape Colony from the Batavian Republic in 1806 his force consisted of unly 4,000 infantry, a few scores of

Artillerymen, and 503 bluejackets armed with pikes and dragging eight guns with them. That

army sufficed to make South Africa British.

On the 'retoria racecourse are now confined a larger number of British prisoners of war than the whole army that marched to the attack under Sir George Colley in 1881-" twelve companies of infantry, taken fram four different battalions; 120 mounted troops, hall of whom were infantry partly trained to ride; six guns, also composite, and 120 sailorm ; in all a column from which about twelve hundred fighting men could be evolved when the day of action came

The British loss of 3,142 men, reported up to date, is nearly four times the tofal force of 554 men who fought

UNDER COLLEY AT MAJUDA.

Lord Chelmsford had never more than 4,000 men under him in the Zulu War of 1879.

The opentions in Natal therefore consituts.

|

There are few more pathetic figures in recent hisuty than that of Sir George Colley, and it would be a most unpleasant duty to have to speak unfavourably of the record of his life and comrade and friend Sir William Butler. Sir services published sonic months ago by his George Colley was, in fact, so admirable man, brave, talented, and true as the sword he wore. that it was but the fate that placed him in a position beyond his powers, that rendered it, even apparently, necessary for his apologia" to be written by the hand of t friend.

That there was any necessity for his biography may be doubted, and that its publication was desirable is yet more open to question. We may readily accept the truth of the picture drawn by Sir William Builer of Colley as the able staff officer, the couragenas thinker and worker, the invaluable 'prompter and assistant, but finally the unsuccessful commander. That his want of success arose from the faults of others, and from the stress of circumstances that went beyond the means of his command, is probably true, Yet in life he generously refused to blame others, and it is to doubted strongly if he would have chosen to see his own fame re established at the cost of the reputation of his subordinates. Sir Willing Dutler's biography is, however, written in a generous spirit, and while endeavouring in place the memory of Ge neral Colley beyond the shafts of alice (shafts, it may be suid, which have seklom been aimed at it), it trouts with praiseworthy reticence the errors of those brave but unskilled soldiers who in the last Transvaal war paid for their short comings with their lives.

Let us then simply remember Sir George Colley as a good soldier, who courageously and cheerfully bore a grievous bunten of successive failures; who enshrinkingly saw the net close und him; who never rested from endeavours to retrieve his fortune and the fortune of his country ; and who, in the end, met death like a brave English gentleman; and let us say with Sir Willam Butler-

"He nothing lacked

in soldiership except good fortune." Leaving Colley in his honoured grave, we may, perhaps, at this juncture advantageously leyote a little space to his short and unfortunate campaign against the Boers, pointing out what useful lessons for the present day there may be in his experience.

It must be remembered that the Transvaal State was annexed to the Empire in April, 1877, and that, two years later, Lord. Wolseley (ther High Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief in Natal and the neighbouring regions) made his oft quoted declaration that "so long as the sun shines, the Transvaal will remain British Territory. Without tracing too closely the subsequent course of events, it must suffice to say that the sun of England in South Africa became grievously obscured soon after the utterance of this remark, and that it was totally, bai, we hope only temporarily extinguished on the 17th December, 1880, when the Boer flag was hois'ed at Heidelberg, and the independence of the Republic proclaimed.

Sir George Colley, who had about six months previously succeeded Sir Garnet Wolseley as Governor of Natal and High Commissioner of South-Eastern Africa, including the Transvaal, was now confronted with a difficult problem, From the moment of his assumption of office he engagement, and the results of the several had given his attention to the dangerous disper

are in the Boer eyes the decisions of great battles. Never before in South Africa At the date of the Boer rising the concentration sion of the small military force left at his disposal, has a battle line extended to sixteen miles, nor of the two and a half battalions in the Transvaal has a Boer army ruduced a European enemy's forces by 787 in a single engagement.

was beginning, but the first disnater of the war While to such men as Joubert, Erasmus, and for the defeat of the headquarters of the 94th Lucas Meyer things, must appear pretty Regiment at Bronkerspruit, when marching to much as they do to us, to the common folk Pretoria, cannot be called an action-effectually the parading. of prisoners

and the put a stop to it. Of the 250 men, more or less, evidence of British dead are the gure

assailed af Bronkerspruit-suddenly it is true, emblems of their triumph. To them the know..

but after a repeated warning of the possibility

· ledge that they are fighting on Natal sail, that of attack-120 were killed and wounded by the the rooincks have retreated before them to A Boers, and the remainder taken prisoners. The success to the insurgents, coming as it did permanent laager, that hundreds of captives immediately after their declaration of indepen- are in their hands, and that they themselves dence, set the wisole Transsaal in a blaze: British have been demonstrably routed only in the rule was in a moment at an end, and the small fight at Elands Laagte is irrefutable proof of and scattered garrisons were one and all hotly victory.

The Boer statesmen have not been slow besieged and unable to afford one another the to recognise the political importance of this smallest assistance or encouragement. sentiment. They have done their ut most to strengthen it. They have annexed Northern Natal and Northern Cape Colony not with any hope of holding these rew provinces, but with the desire to fix in the burghers' mind the belief that God indeed with them, and that He has given them the victory. Once that faith is assured, the Eoors will be twice the fighting force they are at present. There will be no longer any talk of retiring to their farms and minding their crops

·

•

And

Poole, Elwes, and tuign, his orderly officer, were all shot beside him. A number of men gallantly struggled up after him, but all the neunted officers were down there was nothing left for it but to retire. The 58th, who really fought admirably, lost 160 out of 480 men, re-formed behind the Rifles, and came back in perfect order,"

with blackness at the point of a bit of firewood, while the other has been sprinkled playfully with a fascinating brown powder that looks like chocolate, but unfortunately dres not taste like it. Another reason why we associate them: may be that, at the end of a few weeks' treat- ment by the Boy, the knives and boots invari- ably have in he replaced by new knives and

new boots,

Shipping STEAMERS.

UNITED STATES AND CHINA-JAPAN STEAMSHIP LINE,

FOR NEW YORK VIA SUEZ CANAL

I often wonder what the Poy frela like, when THE Steamship

The Boer attack began with steady firing at. about 7 o'clock, and for a considerable time no

be begins to und. i̇stand the technical meaning of boots and knives. It is probably his first dis apprehension was fell, and it was indeed con sufferent that the enemy was wasting his am-illusionent, the Boy being generally of such mut sition. To cut a painful story short, this

apparently useless fire of the Boers simply held the attention of ur men while an assaulting force, unseen and unninlested, worked its way in the position, and suddenly showing itself at distance of about 40 yards, poured a hravy fire into our troops, which produced an instant and irretrievable panic. The general and his officers did all that men could do to restore order, but it was impossible. "In less time than it takes to tell it, the whole of the troops rushed backwards from the rocks to the brow they had ascented nine hours earlier."

Then, having tasted all the bitterness of death, the unfortunate commander was taken by the divine mercy from the scene of his disaster.

In the sense in which death can have any prin or bitterness, waites his biographer, George Colley died when his men broke and fted. This mountain, which seemed but an bour ago the solid base of a brilliant success, bad proved to him the shifting quicksand of military misfortune."

to the home Government that "be held the

But one word reamins to be said. The The whole of Sir George Colley's letter to

disaster and humiliation of Laing's Nek and Majuba remained unavenged. The evil genius Lord Wolseley, from which the above extract light. There is no repining at his misfortune; the death of Colley, his successor telegraphed is taken, shows his character in a charming of England triumphed, and when, shortly after

no lespondency; no attempt to lay the blame

Boers in the hollow of his hand, the tender for his failure on his subordinates. "All wish is," he continues," that I could have saved conscence of Mr. Gladstone shuddered at the these good chaps who served me so well-idea of blood-quilliness, and the shame of Deane, Poole, young Elves, and others."

Majuba became a permanent bitterness. When will the savour of it be washed away?

General Colley estimated the number of the Boers at Laing's Nek at 2,000, and he frankly states that they were no cowards, exposing themselves freely to artillery fire, and coming boldly down the hill to meet our men.

After the failure of this attack Colley deter imined to masintain his position at Mount Pro- spect, in preference to falling back to Newcastle and there waiting reinforcements. There is no doubt that he formed this determination to avoid encouraging the Boers to make a general rising, and also partly in the hope that they. night attack his camp and give him a chance of retrieving his misfortune.

It is needless to say that the Boers did not thus deliver themselves into Colley's hand, but that within a week of the repulse at Lning's Nek they so threatened his communications with Newcastle as to compel him to sally forth fram Mount Prospect camp to re-open the road. The fight that ensued is known as the

action of the fagogo, and but a shori sketch of it can be given here,

|

JAPANESE LEGEND OF TWO STARS,

ADELAIDE MARION, IN "CHAUTAUQUAN,"

Oneofthe greatest days in the calendar of old. Japan is the seventh day of the seventh month, On this day the shepherd-boy star and the spinfog-maiden star cross the Milky Way to meet each other, they are the stars Capricornus and Lyra, about whom the story runs as fol- lows:-

On the banks of the Silver River of Heaven, which we call the Milky Ways there lived a beautiful maiden, who was the daughter of King Sun. Her name was Shokuin. She did not care for playing with other lttle girls, and, thinking nothing of vain At & o'clock on the morning of February 8th, display, she wore only the very simplest dresses, Colley marched out of camp with a small force She was always mosi industrious, weaving day of 38 cavalry, 4 guns, and about 280 infantry of and night together by blending the rosents the 6nth Rifles. His intention was to escort a hues of morning with the silvely shade of mail past the Boer parties and to take back twilight. The Sun King noticed the serious with him a convoy that was endeavouring to disposition of his daughter and tried in many reach Mount Prospect camp.

ways to make her more cheerful. At last The Ingego River. R stream half-way

about he decided in choose a husband for her between Mont Prospect and The youth whom the king had chosen for his Newcastle, crossed without opposi- daughter was Kingin, a shepherd boy, who tion, and the road beyond it led up to a guarded his flocks on the banks of the Silver plateat about a mile, distant from the stream. River of Heaven.. The king hoped that he Leaving two guns and a half-company to would teach his daughter to smile and chatter secure the crossing, Colley speedily pushed on like other girls. to the plateau, where his small force was immediately surrounded and assailed by heavy fire. At the very beginning of the action a small body of minunted Beers was fired at by the two guns which had crossed the river but the Boers again showed their courage and their military instinct by moving at full gallop wards, not away from, the guns, and by rapidly opening aimed fire on the officers and gunners. The conduct of this party of Boers effectually decided the fate of the day.

WAS

the horses

were

Colley was now evident to him. Only a fort-

|

"INDRAVELLI" Captain Craven, will be despatched as above on

For Freiglo, apudor tex MONDAY, the ath instant, at 4 FM.

JARDINE, MATHESON & Co, Agents. Hongkong, 12th January, 1900.

[+$83

INDO-CHINA STEAM NAVIGATION

▸

COMPANY, LIMITED.

FOR MANILA.

time for cynical observation. When we reflect tender age; but perhaps Le is not Allowed that windows and stone passages, and from doorsteps and arcas, and coals and bells, and letters and lamps are only a few samples of what honts and knives may mean, it is not to be expected that the Boy can spare much thought for the moral aspect of advertisements, Nor is it any wonder that the Boy also revalls į to us that other domestic misnomer --the duder Everybody knows that he duster is never a clean TE Company's Steamship luster. It does ant matter how nuts new, spotless, nicely designed dusters one le pre sented to the houshad within the last few weeks the duster, when asked for unexported-at. P.M. ly, always comes up the same duster as hefire If it were only the dusty duster, it would be bad enough; but it is gependly the oily, damp, musty, coaly, dustery duster, which is much mure suddening, Where the duster picks it all up belongs, of conese, for the domestic mysongkung, 12th January, 1900, teries and the career of a duster, properly traced, would probably explain its extraordinary

powers of receptiveness. That is where it res minds one of the Bay; for, no matter how often one asks for the Boy he is sure not to be a clean boy.

at

as I am for other people's boys. Indeed, I am not so sorry for the Boy at Cynthia's

pathetic countenance, he is sure to have a very as long as Cynthia's Joy is gifted with good time; for Cynthia-has-a-kind-heart, ant she never confit withstand a pathetic coun tchance. If he has curly hair and a winning smile into the bargain, so much the better for him; but a pathetic countenance is quite enough to make Cynthia spnil him out. rageously.

“YUENSANG," Captain P., H. Rolfe, will be despatched as atave on TUESDAY, the 16th instant,

This Steamer has Superior Accommodation for First Class Passengers.

For Freight or Passage, apply to

JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.,

General Managers.

Isab

THE OSAKA SHOSEN KAISHA. LIMITED.

FOR SWYTOW. AMOY AND TAMSUI

THE Company's Stramship

T

"TAMSUI MARU,"

Captain K. Soba wa, will by despuched for the absports, on WEDNESDAY, bẹ 17th instant, et Daylight.

+

For Freight or usange, apply to

THE MITSUI BUSSAN KAISHA, Agents: Hougken roth Janitary, 1900.

CHINA NAVIGATION COMPANY, LIMITED.

FOR YOKOHAMA AND KOBE. THE Company's Steamship

Last time I called on Cybcbia I found a new Boy, The pathetic countenance was there

were missing. I

WHY' rather glad he a pretty Boy, for the last one

used to bad beautiful eyes, nd!

ept waiting outshle the front door while drawing room, made him tall: about his home. the servants, in the kitchen, or Cynthia in the

tight enough, but other personal attractions T

was not

he

[45

"SZECHUEN," Captain Hall, will be despatched as above. on WEDNESDAY, the 17th instant. For Freight or Passage, apply to

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents. Hongbong, 12th January, 100.

Isob CHINA NAVIGATION COMPANY, LIMITED.

.I

What is your name?" asked the new Boy, for future convenience, when he had shown me into the drawing-room to wait for Cynthia, who was out. "It don't matter," he answered promptly. It evidently didn't, for when some one called "John!" at one end of the flat he immediately rushed in that direction, and when end, he hastened just as obediently the opposite same one else said " Henry from the other THE Company's Steamship

way.

"You see," he explained confidentially, when be returned in a breathless condition to me,

A

FOR MANILA,

"TAIYUAN," Captain Nelson, will be despatched as above on WEDNESDAY, the 17th instant.

the Superior Accommodation offered by this The attention of Passengers is directed to Steamer. The First-class Saloon is situated forward of the Engines.

A duly qualified Surgeon is carried and the Vessel is fitted throughout with, Electric Light

For Passage, apply to

་

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,

Agents. Hongkong, 10th January, 1900., [1590a

. CHINA NAVIGATION COMPANY,

LIMITED.

"they've had rather a sun of boy's in this place, and they just mentions the name that's suck tu 'em most. It confused me a bit at first, like the clothes, but I'm used to am now." "The clothes?" I said inquiringly. "Same thing." all sizes, nnd they turned me loose on feat to he replied. "There was stacks of boys' clothes, rig myself out. It took me a whole morning, 'cos when the styles was correspondin' the sizes wasn't. If you look at me now, you'll see I've got the last one's coal, and the one before Kingin succeeded only too well. The spla; Thank you, William: I interrupted gently. that's weskit, and-" ning maiden became merry and lively, and "When do auerly farsook her loom and needle. The be in ?" William was the name that had stuck-HE Company's Steamship of themselves, while the silvery tints of even numbers of Lionel's old ties from me, by reason ruseale hues of morning were left to make cato

to me must. for William had even coaxed T ing hung like magged edges on the shades of his peach-like complexion and cherubic of night. The Sun King was very much features, both of which had concealed a offended at the behaviour of his daughter, daplicity of character that finally led to his dis: and, thinking the shepherd boy was to blame, he determined to separate them. He ordered the husband to cross to the other side of the Silver River of Heaven, and told him that hereafter he should see his daughter only once a year, on the seventh day of the

seventh month.

missal.

you

think my

sister will

John-Henry-William looked at me in amaze- ment. "D'ye mean to say you're the mistress's own sister?" he gasped. "Why not?" I inquired. "Well, you ain't like her," he responded daily. "You ain't even asked me tin if she was five in one roam, an' three buried why I'm so pale an' thin. She'd be pale an wi' the consumption." It was something quite of Cynthia; but contempt seemed to his normal pose, for when he went out of the new for Cynthia's Boy to resent the kind heart

be

FOR PORT DARWIN, QUEENSLAND PORTS. SYDNEY AND MELBOURNE.

Captain Nelson, will be despatched on "TAIYUAN," WEDNESDAY, the 17th instant.

The attention of Passengers is directed to the Superior Accommodation offered by this Steamer, The First-class Saloon is situated. forward of the Engines. A Refrigerating Chamber ensures the Supply of Fresh Provisions during the entire voyage.

A duly qualified Surgeon is carried and the. Vessel is fitted throughout with Electric Light. N.B.-Return Tickets issued by this Com- pany to and from AUSTRALIA are available for tetun by the Steamers of the EASTERN AND AUSTRALIAN S.S. Co. and vice versa. For Freight or Passage, apply to

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,,

Agents. Hongkong, 10th January, 1900 (15978

"SHELL" LINE OF STEAMERS.

FOR GENOA AND MARSEILLES,

The Sun King called together myriads of doves, which made a bridge, and supported on their wines the shepherd boy crossed over the River of Heaven, whereupon the doves in mediately flew away. The weeping wife and each other wistfully from afar, then they same sort of tone. loving husband stood for a while gazing of

room 1 heard him address the housemaid in the separated; one

"Who's that woman ?" he sheep to lead, and the other to ply ber shuttle the housemaid wrathfully, "Don't you know search for another flock of asked. "What are you talkin' of?" demanded during the long hours of the day with a lady when you see her?" The boy whistled. diligent toit. Thus passed the hours away, and "Have I got to call a little bit of a thing like the Sun King again rejoiced in his daughter's a lady?" he exclaimed. "Edwin!" called the lamps of heaven were lighted, the lovers would cook from the kitchen, and John-Henry- THE Company's Steamship

William-Edwin scurried off,

longingly at each other, waiting for the seventh stand beside the banks of the river and gaze night of the seventh month.

for

1

"TROCAS,"· Captain Moses, will be despatched as above on or about the 17th January, 1900.

For Freight, apply to

ARNHOLD, KARBERG & Co.

Agents. Hongkong, 27th December, 1800 INDO-CHINA STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY, LIMITED. FOR SINGAPORE, PENANG AND CALCUTTA.

THE Company's Steamship

"TAISANG,"

I was now half-past 12 o'clock, and whatever may have been the short-comings of our soldiers as regards marksmanship, it must be regarded" as no small feat that Sir Gorge Colicy and is 300 men held that exposed plateau against the deadly, fire of the Boers until dark. The losses were heary. Both the artillery officers and most of the gun detachments had been killed and three-quarters of or wounded; two-fifths of the entiere force dead or disabled; yet so bold had been their front that the Boers had refused to drive their attack home, in spite of the exhortations of their commander. After night fall, in pitch darkness and heavy rain, the survivors of the 300 of Ingogo safely made their way over the eight miles of rough road to Mount Prospect. Sir George Colley estimated they were constantly reinforced throughout the the number of the Boers at Boo to 1,000, but

"You've found a curiosity in your new boy," day by arrivals from Laing's Nek.

I remarked, when Cynthia came in with her The gravity of the insk before Sir George

husband, At last the time for the meeting of the star seizing the teapot: "on the contrary, a "Curiosity!" echoed Stanley, night had elapsed since he had left Newcastle, lovers drew near. Only one fear possessed the very ordinary and incompetent young scamp!" and already a third of his force had been killed | loving wife. What if it should rain, for the

"Now, Stanley," remonstrated Cynthia, "you or wounded. The burden of his misfortunes River of Heaven is filled to the brim and one

know you liked the look of him ever so much was heavy to bear, and heavier yet the load of extra drop of rain would cause a flood and sweep better than the last but one," "Should hope I responsibility for the future. Unfortunate he away even the bird-bridge / But the seventh did" said Stanley briefly ; "the last but one much andini may be considered, yet there is night of op seventh month came, and not took away my appetite. "Did you get him to adinire and to love in the aan drawn a rain-drop fell. The doves few together through an advertisement?" I asked. "Not by Sir William Butter, "fixed in purpose,

in myriads, making स pathway unshaken in resolve, bearing upon his shoulders the tiny feet of the little lady. Trembling guiltily towards her husband. "Was it an exactly," said Cynthia, and she looked a little many loads, striving ranfully for the honour of with joy, and with a heart fluttering more than agency?" he asked suspiciously. "Why?" his country and the reputation of her soldiers the bridge of wings beneath her feet, she cross said Cynthia, prooceeding to laugh. Stanley

The last chapter of the disastrous story must

ed the Silver River of Heaven and met her handed me the sugar. and then turned repro- now be written, but let it be as brief as possible. happy shepherd boy, This she does every achfully to his wife. "I believe, I do believe

The Hill of Majuba which dominated the year, save on the sad occasions when it rains you know his mother!t he exclaimed.

"I do," For this reason the Japanese always hope for. Not less than the anxiety for the safety of

western extremity of the Boers' position at these garrisons was the dread that the spirit of Laings' Nek had not been held by them. They clear weather on the seventh night of themitted Cynthia, laughing more than ever.

seventh month.

"It's a very funny thing" I observed, by populations of Such Africa, and no surprise need piquet of observation on the hill, while concen- revolt might spread throughout the Dutch had contented themselves by daily posting a

way of helping the conversation, that if felt that Sir George Colley speedily came to

you want a cook, or a gardener, or a butler, traiing their energies on strengthening the

you try to find what you want; but if you

OCEAN STEAMSHIP COMPANY, defences of the pass itself. They believed, in the conclusion that his clear duty was to make

want a boy you only try to find a mother." "] fact, that by holding the pass they could bar the an immediate advance into the Transvaal to

FOR LONDON VIA SUEZ CANAL, didn't try to find her," said Cynthia. weakly road into the Transvaal, while Colley, whose free his beleaguered detachments. With all promptitude Colley set out for the front, leaving largely increased by reinforcements from India household Boy. He reminds me of the waste complained her husband; but why should the

force after the action of the Ingoga had been

"she has always been there, down at our aid THE Company's Steamship I am always sorry for the Bay-1 mean the home in the country." "That's all very well, Maritzburg on January 10th, 188r. His smal believed that by seizing Majuba he could com-

"ANTENOR," the road to Newcastle, the frontier station of pel the Boers to abandon their position. body of available troops had preceded him on

paper basket, because his vocation, like that of interests of this household be sacrificed to your TUESDAY, the 23rd January.

Captain Jackson, will be despatched Natal, and 18 days later he had made his first Colley was most anxious to conclude his and limitless in practice. For, however full it

the waste-paper basket, is so defined in theory home in the country?" "Oh as to the house.

hold," said

For Freight, apply to Cynthia airily, "the household -operations-against-the-Boers-with-a-marked-

adores him already. It calls him pale

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE In this connection two matters of grave The force with which General Colley attack-success, both to wipe out the memory of the may be of slippers and dead flowers and

addresses, the waste-paper basket is and "So he told me," I interposed promp

Agents. Hongkong, 13th November, 1899, tly, "and he has a huge scorn for the house-

(1539 "SHELL" LINE OF STEAMERS, stop!" It was very mean of me to go on helping the conversation in this way; but it always

FOR LONDON. amuses me to bear Cynthia and her husband pretending to quarrel, and as they never really THE Company's Steamship fisten to anyone but themselves it does not matter what I say. "Of course he won't stop," Captain Davies, will be despiched as above matte greaned Stanley, hacking tragically at the plum-on-or-about-the-stat-January, too, cake, "that means more sticky boots and foggy course he will stop. We'll have him in and

For Freight, apply to silver!" "Rabbish!" laughed Cynthia, O

ARNHOLD, KARBERG & Co., Agents. Hongkong, 27th December, 1899.

OCEAN STEAMSHIP-COMPANY... FOR LONDON VIA SUEZ CANAL HE Company's Steamship

Captain Tawell, will be despatched as above "MENELAUS," on TUESDAY, the 6th February,

For Freight, apply to

They will fight

AS CROMWELL's irongides FOUGHT...

move and had failed.

two failures that had befallen our arms, and to

THE BOY.

[DV E. S.

importance to the Transvaal leaders must ed the Boer position at Laing's Nek is thus strengthen the hand of the home Government to be there to hold waste-paper Hold in consequence. That is why he won't

be kept in mind.

The up-country Boers described by Sir William Butler:

hate and mistrust the new-fangled cannon, "Twelve companies of infantry, taken from and so it is necessary to impress them with four different battalions; 120 mounted troops, Its effectiveness. Then the Transvaalers have half of whom were infantry partly trained to an awkward habit of deserting a leader ride; 6 guns, also composite, and r29 sailors thodoxy in not convince them of his or in all, a column from whicht about: 1,200 fight:

all things. Joubert, because of his men could be envolved." " known leanings to liberalism and modern in- -ventions, was in danger of following the fate an enemy, fighting for freedom, flushed by sue- The decision to launch such a force against of President Burger. He had to prove the cess, and skilled shoes holding a strong posi efficacy of his artilery science. To his own tion, argues one of two things-first, that Sir and his followers' satisfaction he has done so, George Colley was both the bravest and the most The last and not least important contributory rash ofcommanders! or, secondly, that he made circumstance to the Boer claim of victory is the his attack because it seemed to him. absolutely fact that they know little of the number of their necessary to do so. Of these conclusions we own dend. Few now believe that anty five prefer the latter, and can only mourn the fact burghers were killed at Doornkop, and the sum that ap courageous a determination did not claimed by the Pretoria Goverment in the meet with the success that it deserved and but Indemnity But as compensation for the widows narrowly missed f And orphans seems to indicate a doubt in the minds of the leaders themselves. But the off cial return admitted only five killed and four wounded Burghers have told me who fought against Jameson that so foon as a man fell he

Colley and his handful of troops moved out of their camp before Laing's Nek (the pass leading from Natal into the Transvaal) on the 28th January, The attacking force numbered B50 Infantry and 180 mounted men, with

ask him." She raised her voice and called,

explain his determination to seize Majuba in the negotiations which were in progress with and the Boy, according to the advertisement that produced him, is there to do the the insurgent leaders. The causer sufficiently boots and knives. I never heard of a boy who Hill by means of a night march, while the was engaged to do anything but the boots and necessity of acting without alarming the Bocne knives, though why those two ill-fated articles explains his determination to act with the should always be bracketed together and then troops that he had at Mount Prospect, rather given over to be dealt with by the incompetent than to call-up reinforcements from below,

hands of the Boy, never can imagine. No. thing could be much more dissimilar than So much has been written abeul Majuba, boot and a knife, and anybody would suppose that it may surprise many readers of this it would be wiser to keep them ne far apart as Journal to learn that the entire force possible when a boy is about, instead of letting "Herbert the Boy having evidenced his which set out for that fatal hill on the bim carn his experience upon them, By the proximity by falling heavily against the door in night of February 26th, 1881, numbered but time the Bay has done with them, however, a wild rush from the pantry to the letter-box. 354 men. These consisted of seven companies there is not much to choose between belonging to the 58th, 6oth Rifles, and gand boot and a knife; they both come upstairs She had to call twice before he appeared. Highlanders, with 64, sailors. Three of the with the same humid, purplish patches, and sexen companies were posted along the line of the same gritty dankness of touch, and he said, when he was pushed in by the house- "Didn't know it was me you was wantin'," communication between the camp and Majuba, the same elusive perfume of bootiness. I maid. Did you not hear mo call you?" asked leaving but four companies and the sailors to ascend the summit.

belleye that is how the knife and the boot have my sister severely. "I heard ye say Herbert'!" because they both end in conveying that faint what is your name?" asked Cynthia, come to be confounded one with the other answered the Boy cautiously."Well, well, suggestion of boot leather, though only one of them has been treated like a boot and, overlaid John-Willam Edwin Pall Mall Gapetis,"

"Herbert, mum," was the Inocent reply of

The march though difficult, was overcome smoothly enough, and by 4 o'clock on the more ing of Feb, 27th the summit of Majuba was in

Captain Sawer, will be despatched as above. on THURSDAY, the 18th instant, at 3 P.M.

For Freight or Passage, apply to

JARDINE, MATHESON & Co.,

General Managers, Hongkong, 10th January, 1900. [45b

"COWRIE,"

BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, PERERA Agents, Hongkong, 29th Decembar, 18gg