would surprise me more. He
then produced the copy of a register, kept in the Landdrost's office, of
men, women, and children, to the number of four hundred and eighty
(480), who had been disposed of by one Boer to another for a
consideration. In one case an ox was given in exchange, in another
goats, in a third a blanket, and so forth. Many of these natives he (Mr.
Nachtigal) knew personally. The copy was certified as true and correct
by an official of the Republic."[4]

On the 16th May, 1881, a native, named Frederick Molepo, was examined by
the Royal Commission. The following are extracts from his examination:--

"(_Sir Evelyn Wood_.) Are you a Christian?--Yes.

"(_Sir H. de Villiers_.) How long were you a slave?--Half-a-year.

"How do you know that you were a slave? Might you not have been an
apprentice?--No, I was not apprenticed.

"How do you know?--They got me from my parents, and ill-treated me.

"(_Sir Evelyn Wood_.) How many times did you get the stick?--Every day.

"(_Sir H. de Villiers_.) What did the Boers do with you when they caught
you?--They sold me.

"How much did they sell you for?--One cow and a big pot."

On the 28th May, 1881, amongst the other documents-handed in for the
consideration of the Royal Commission, is the statement of a Headman,
whose name also it was considered advisable to omit in the Blue book,
lest the Boers should take vengeance on him. He says, "I say, that if
the English Government dies I shall die too; I would rather die than be
under the Boer Government. I am the man who helped to make bricks for
the church you see now standing in the square here (Pretoria), as a
slave without payment. As a representative of my people, I am still
obedient to the English Government, and willing to obey all commands
from them, even to die for their cause in this country, rather than
submit to the Boers.

"I was under Shambok, my chief, who fought the Boers-formerly, but he
left us, and we were _put up to auction_ and sold among the Boers. I
want to state this myself to the Royal Commission. I was bought by Fritz
Botha and sold by Frederick Botha, who was then veldt cornet (justice of
the peace) of the Boers."

Many more of such extracts might be quoted, but it is not my motive to
multiply horrors. These are given exactly as they stand in the original,
which may all be found in Blue Books-presented to Parliament.

It has frequently been denied on behalf of the Transvaal, and is denied