ade of pompom shells
mounted on a rhinoceros horn. The railway to the capital of Natal was
patrolled by mounted troops, and the drive through the illuminated city
and densely-packed streets to Government House was done at night. On the
following day the place was found to be handsomely decorated with many
arches and the first function was the Royal inauguration of a new Town
Hall. The cheering of the people was intense and continuous in the
streets. Afterwards addresses were presented--that of the Corporation
in a singularly beautiful casket of ivory and gold. In his eloquent
speech the Duke referred to the events and sacrifices of the war. They
had not been in vain. "Never in our history did the pulse of Empire beat
more in unison; and the blood which has been shed on the veldt has
sealed for ever our unity, based upon a common loyalty and a
determination to share, each of us according to our strength, the common
burden." An address was also presented from Johannesburg and specially
replied to.

In the afternoon there was an extraordinary assemblage, composed of the
dignitaries of political and social life and the pick of the great
British army in South Africa--a quarter of a million fighting men. It
was a gathering of eleven holders of the V.C., and forty-three holders
of the honour next in degree for bravery in the field--the D.S.O. These
famous medals were conferred by the Duke of Cornwall and York, and then
a great deputation of Zulu Chiefs, clad in barbaric war paraphernalia,
presented loyal congratulations. A reception was held in the evening and
the city illuminated. The next day the voyage was resumed, and Simon's
Bay reached on August 19th. After landing, through a guard of one
thousand bluejackets, and receiving an address from the Mayor, the
special train was taken to Cape Town. There the formal reception was
given by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the President of the
Legislative Council, the Archbishop, the Chief Justice, the Mayor, the
President of the Africander Bond and other officials or public men. The
reception in the streets was enthusiastic, and it has been said that
more Union Jacks were displayed than at any other point on the tour. A
Levee was held in the afternoon at the Parliament Buildings and two
thousand citizens were presented, while addresses were received from
many public bodies in Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, and Rhodesia.

A memorable event occurred on the succeeding da