to
Passes, which is, in the hands of a people like the Boers, almost as
unjust a regulation as a dominant race can invent for the oppression of
a subject people, concluded by assuring them that their "interests would
never be forgotten or neglected by Her Majesty's Government." Having
read this document, the Commission hastily withdrew, and after their
withdrawal the Chiefs were "allowed" to state their opinions to the
Secretary for Native Affairs.

In availing themselves of this permission, it is noticeable that no
allusion was made by the Chiefs to the advantages they were to reap
under the Convention. All their attention was given to the great fact
that the country had been ceded to the Boers, and that they were no
longer the Queen's subjects. I beg attention to the following appeals
from the hearts of these oppressed people. They got very excited, and
asked whether it was thought that they had no feelings or hearts, that
they were thus treated as a stick or piece of tobacco, which could be
passed from hand to hand without question.

Umgombarie, a Zoutpansberg Chief, said: "I am Umgombarie. I have fought
with the Boers, and have many wounds, and they know that what I say is
true. I will never consent to place myself under their rule. I belong to
the English Government. I am not a man who eats with both sides of his
jaw at once; I only use one side. I am English. I have said."

Silamba said: "I belong to the English. I will never return under the
Boers. You see me, a man of my rank and position; is it right that such
as I should be seized and laid on the ground and flogged, as has been
done to me and other Chiefs?"

Sinkanhla said: "We hear and yet do not hear, we cannot understand. We
are troubling you, Chief, by talking in this way; we hear the Chiefs say
that the Queen took the country because the people of the country wished
it, and again, that the majority of the owners of the country did not
wish her rule, and that therefore the country was given back. We should
like to have the man pointed out from among us black people who objects
to the rule of the Queen. We are the real owners of the country; we were
here when the Boers came, and without asking leave, settled down and
treated us in every way badly. The English Government then came and took
the country; we have now had four years of rest, and peaceful and just
rule. We have been called here to-day, and are told that the country,
our country, has been giv