The month of July had passed, and we wondered
what August held in store for us. The customary
fights of the different commandos still went on; here
five, here ten, here thirty of the English were killed,
wounded or made prisoners. If these numbers had
been put down they would have mounted up to a
considerable total; but the war was not of such a
nature that an office could be opened to record them.
Reports of battles were sent to me, and after I had
allowed them to accumulate for three or four weeks,
they were sent to the different Vice-Commandants-in-
Chief for their general information, and then torn up.

Many reports and much correspondence concerning
the beginning of the war have been preserved. I gave
them to a trustworthy friend with instructions to bury
them, but do not know where he placed them, as he
was taken prisoner later on, and I have never been able
to find out where he was sent to. These documents
are of great value, and ought to be published.

I was on the farm of Blijdschap, between Harri-
smith and Bethlehem--my English friends, Generals
Knox, Elliott and Paget, with their Colonels Riming-
ton, Byng, Baker, etc., etc., will not have forgotten
where Blijdschap is--when I received a letter from
Lord Kitchener, enclosing his Proclamation of the 7th
of August, 1901.

This proclamation was as follows:

By his Excellency Baron Kitchener of Khartoum,
G.C.B., K.C.M.G., General Commander-in-Chief of
His Majesty's forces in South Africa; High Com-
missioner of South Africa, and Administrator of the
Transvaal, etc.

"Whereas the former Orange Free State and South
African Republic are annexed to His Majesty's posses-
sions;

"And whereas His Majesty's forces have now been
for some considerable time in full possession of the
Government seats of both the above-mentioned terri-

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