it was determined, under
the authority of the Lieutenant-General commanding, to requisition the
poultry and eggs of those persons who would not sell them at a
reasonable rate. A good price was paid to the owners for their eggs and
chickens, which were issued only on medical certificate.

A well-known official of the Natal Government Railway had thirty-six
tins of condensed milk. At the auction which took place three times a
week in the town, 6s. 6d. a tin was offered for this, but the unselfish
and unsympathetic owner did not consider this price sufficient; he
declined to sell under 7s. 6d. a tin. This fact being brought to the
notice of Colonel Stoneman, he requisitioned the whole lot at 10d. a
tin.

I have stated that 1,511 cattle were requisitioned from their owners for
slaughter purposes. This was a great trial both to the officer who
carried out this duty and to the owners. The Kaffir lady Ugumba did not
want to part with her pet cow, which was the prop of her house, had been
bred up amongst her children, and had lived in the back yard. The white
owners discovered suddenly that their cattle were of the very highest
breed, and had been specially imported from England or Holland at
enormous cost. However, most of these cattle, except milch cows, had to
be taken. The proprietors of high-bred stock were directed to claim
compensation, over the meat value, from the "Invasion Losses Commission"
now sitting.

FAIR SALE.

Colonels Ward and Stoneman having requisitioned considerable quantities
of food-stuffs at the beginning of the siege, they determined to sell
some of them, such as sugar, sardines, &c., &c., at the same price as
was paid. One or two fathers with sick children were supplied with 4 oz.
of brandy on medical certificate. There was no liquor to be had in the
town, and the fathers with sick children grew in numbers with suspicious
rapidity.

In the month of February the pinch began to be felt. Most men were
without smiles, and most women were scarcely able to suppress their
tears--tears of weakness and exhaustion. The scale of rations was then
reduced to a fine point. Many a man begged for suitable food for his
sick wife and little baby, many mothers asked for a little milk and
sugar for their young children, and many sick men, both at Intombi and
in Ladysmith, wrote, or caused to be written, pathetic letters for
"anything in the way of food" that could be granted.

The "Chevril" factory was started