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Updated: May 13, 2025
Hymns were sung, and for a full hour the hills, whereon almost twenty years before many of the same burghers sang and prayed after the victory at Majuba, were resounding with the religious and patriotic songs of men going forward to kill and to be killed. In their laagers the Boers had religious services at daybreak and after sunset every day, whether they were near to the enemy or far away.
Although, of course, I sympathized with the Boers who, through their own fault, were losing their land without a blow struck. As you know well, for you were living near Majuba at the time, plenty of blows were struck afterwards, but of that business I cannot bear to write. I wonder how it will all work out after I am dead and if I shall ever learn what happens in the end.
At night came a signal from General Buller, "Doing well," followed by a longer message announcing that Cronje was a prisoner in Lord Roberts's camp, having surrendered with all his army unconditionally this morning. Hurrahs are ringing through every camp at this news. Majuba Day has brought glad tidings to us after all! February 28. The fortune of war is on our side now.
Name within the last century any ruler or minister who has been guided by humanity or religion in the question of peace or war. Name any ruler who has abstained from war because force is no argument. With the possible exception of Mr. Gladstone in the cases of the Alabama and Majuba Hill, I can think of none.
It is stated that President Kruger, ever since the signing of the London Convention on Majuba Day February 27 1884, has believed in certain lucky days, and has a kind of superstitious regard for anniversaries. If that be so, the incidence of events has given him something to ponder over during the last three years.
The story is that after the fight at Majuba Hill, while the peace negotiations were in progress, Sir Evelyn Wood, the Commander of the British forces, asked General Joubert to see the famous Penkop Regiment.
The Queen's Speech President Brand and Lord Kimberley Sir Henry de Villiers Sir George Colley's plan Paul Kruger's offer Sir George Colley's remonstrance Complimentary telegrams Effect of Majuba on the Boers and English Government Collapse of the Government Reasons of the Surrender Professional sentimentalists The Transvaal Independence Committee Conclusion of the armistice The preliminary peace Reception of the news in Natal Newcastle after the declaration of peace Exodus of the loyal inhabitants of the Transvaal The value of property in Pretoria The Transvaal officials dismissed The Royal Commission Mode of trial of persons accused of atrocities Decision of the Commission and its results The severance of territory question Arguments pro and con Opinion of Sir E. Wood Humility of the Commissioners and its cause Their decision on the Keate award question The Montsoia difficulty The compensation and financial clauses of the report of the Commission The duties of the British Resident Sir E. Wood's dissent from the report of the Commission Signing of the Convention Burial of the Union Jack The native side of the question Interview between the Commissioners and the native chiefs Their opinion of the surrender Objections of the Boer Volksraad to the Convention Mr.
Yet I must say again that one must have been present at scenes like this in order to appreciate the real position of this remarkable man at this the very zenith of his political career. I remember that this speech, which was received with so intense an enthusiasm by all who heard it, contained the speaker's defence of what is known as the Majuba Hill policy.
It is the fact that they were skirmishes which succeeded in their object which has given them an importance which is exaggerated. The defeat at Majuba Hill was followed by the complete surrender of the Gladstonian Government, an act which was either the most pusillanimous or the most magnanimous in recent history.
From the outset of the war there was a strong desire on the part of the soldiers to avenge Majuba, which was fully gratified when, upon the anniversary of that day, Cronje and his 4,000 brave companions had to raise the white flag.
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