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SOUTH AFEICA.

BLOEMFONTEIN. 1875.

ISSUED BY THE ORANGE FREE STATE COMMISSION,
At the International Exhibition, Philadelphia.
1876.

YALE

PT 7*3

Brooks A Fell,
Printers,
731 Sansom St., Philad'a

OOZETTIEINTS.

Orange Free State,
Physical Geography,
Vegetation,
Agricultural,Mineral,
Animal^ Exports and Imports,
Commerce,
Climate, Population, .
Form of Government,
Judicial,
Ecclesiastical,EducationalFinancial,State Lands,
Mode of Registration,
Historical,Officers of the Government 1876,
Collective Exhibit (International Exhibition),

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25

The Orange Free State.

The Republic of the Orange Free State is situated on the north
eastern boundary of the Cape Colony, and is bordered as follows :
On the west and north-west, by the territory claimed for the chief,
Nicholas Waterboer, under the name of Griqualand West, and by
Betchuanaland respectively ; on the north and north-east, by the
Transvaal Republic; on the east, by the colony of Natal; and on the
south by Britith Basutoland, the Native Reserve Lands, and the
Cape Colonial divisions of Albert and Colesberg, Its boundary
lines are as follows: Commencing from the "Montaux Sources" in
the Drakensberg range of mountains, along that range in a north
easterly direction to the source of the Vaal River, as taken by His
Excellency Lieutenant Governor Keate, in capacity as arbitrator
between the governments of the Orange Free State and the Trans
vaal Republic, in February, 1870; thence along that river in its
northerly, westerly and south-westerly direction to its junction with
Riet River; from this confluence in a south-easterly direction, along
the Vetberg-line to Ramah; thence to the nearest point on the
Orange River, and along that river in its south-easterly and easterly
direction to the point of confluence of Cornet-spruit and the Orange
River ; thence northward over Jammerberg to the Caledon River,
and north-easterly along the centre of that river to its rise in the
" Montaux Sources" in the Drakensbergen.
The extent of territory situated between these lines is roughly
taken to be about 70,000 square miles, but no accurate computation
(5)

has hitherto been made, and the probability is that the actual extent*
will be found considerably greater.
The country is divided into the following districts :

Bloemfontein,
Fauresmith,
Caledon River,
Winburg.Harrismith, Kroonstad,
Bosh of,
Jacobsdal, Philippolis,
Bethulie, Bethlehem,Bouxville, Lady Brand,
Pniel,

r" Reddersburg.

Bloemfontein,

villages,

1 Brandfort.
( Bethany.

Fauresmith,

u

Edenburg.

Smithfield,

u

Winburg,

It

Ventertburg.

Harrismith,

a

Frankfort.

Kroonstad,

a

Heilbron.

Boshof,

11

Jacobsdal,
a
Philippolis,
"
Bethulie,
"
Bethlehem,
I.
Rouxville,
t
Wepener.
Lady Brand,
ti
Fickshurg.
Pniel, — this district under protest.
The country consists of extensive, undulating plains, which slope
from the great "Watershed northward and westward respectively to
the Araal and Orange Rivers, and is intersected at varying intervals
by the "Wilge River, Rhenoster River, Valsch River, Vet River,
and Riet River, emptying their waters into Vaal River; and the
Caledon River, which empties itself into the Orange River.
The Wilge River and its tributary streams, Elands River, Lieben-
bergsvlei, and Correlis River and Milt River drain the districts of
Harrismith and Bethlehem, taking their rise in the Drakensberg
and Wittebergen ranges; the Rhenoster and Valsch Rivers run
through the district of Kroonstad, the latter also rising in the district
of Bethlehem.
The Vet River is formed by the junction of its tributaries, the
Sand River, and the great and little Vet Rivers, all of which take
their rise in the mountain ranges on the borders of the Winburg
district, which formerly separated the Orange Free State from
Basutoland, but now form part of the Winburg and Lady Brand
districts. The Modder River taking its rise near Thaba-"Nchu
and receiving in its course Leemo River, Rhenoster-spruit, Doom-
spruit, Kaal-spruit, and other minor streams, runs through the
districts of Bloemfontein, and skirting the district of Boshof, forms
a junction with Riet River at David's Graf, about twelve miles
below Jacobsdal, and is lost in that stream, which takes its rise near
Paul Smitsberg, and in the Watershed between the districts of
Bloemfontein and Smithfield. The Riet River receives, on its
course, the waters of the Kaffir River, Kromellamboog-spruit,
and other minor streams, and forming a junction with Modder
River, as above stated, empties itself in the Vaal River.
The Caledon River receives all the small streams arising in the
new districts of Lady Brand and Rouxville, as also the tributary
streams of Wilgeboom-spruit and Slik-spruit, and join the Orange
River near the village of Bethulie, on the south-east border of the
State.
Physical Geography.
The courses of the larger rivers are extremely tortuous and
hollow, the banks of the rivers being for the greater part very pre
cipitous, and generally lined with water-willow, mimosa, and other
trees indigenous to this country. The streams are usually fordable ;
during the rainy season, however, they become swollen and im
passable. In every district there are small ranges of rosky hills, the highest
being found in the districts bordering on the Drakensberg and
Wittebergen ranges, and on the Caledon and Orange Rivers, but
everywhere forming the Watersheds, in which the various streams
take their rise, and affording landmarks for the division lines of
the various districts. Vegetation.
The plains and table-lands of the Orange Free State are covered
with grass, which in rainy seasons becomes rank and luxuriant,
affording excellent pasture for stock of all descriptions.
In the southern and eastern districts the grass is burnt off once a
year, in order to destroy the old crop, which rots, by reason of the
rains, and becomes injurious to sheep and cattle. In the western
districts the grass is gradually becoming supplanted by a dwarf bush
vegetation, such as is commonly met within the colony.

On the mountain ranges are generally to be found bushes of larger
growth, as well as the wild bastard olive, and several other species
of trees known in the parlance of the country as the kareiboom,
guarrieboom, kiperrolete. Agricultural.
The Orange Free State is for the greater part a grazing country,
and though agriculture is everywhere attended to on a larger or
smaller scale, according to the natural capabilities of the farms, still
it is chiefly in the southern and eastern districts that it is carried on
as the principal source of production, and it is almost exclusively
from the districts of Rouxville, Lady Brand, Winburg, Bethlehem
and Harrismith that grain is brought into the markets of the other
districts. Mineral.
Neither is it altogether without mineral wealth, as diamonds,
rubies and other precious stones have been discovered in various
parts of the country. Coal also of a very good quality, and in pay
ing quantities has been found in the Winburg district, as well as on
farms in the Lady Brand and Harrismith districts; and if report
speaks truly, a concession has already been granted to a Coal Min
ing Company, by a farmer in the Winburg district. A geological
survey would no doubt tend greatly to prove the existence of various
other valuable mineral products hitherto only suspected.
Animal.
In the early days of this Republic the distribution of animal life
was a subject of great interest, from the fact of the immense variety
of wild animals inhabiting the country. Even now the lion still
frequents some sections of it. But, owing to the advance of civiliza
tion and human industry, the larger animals, as the elephant,
rhinoceros, hippopotamus and giraffe, are disappearing. Upon its
vast, undulating plains, however, a large and splendid variety of
the antelope tribe roam in countless numbers. The country being

9
favorable for the rearing of horses, cattle and wooled sheep, the
number of the latter contained therein may be estimated by millions.
Birds abound in great variety, and among those of the larger
kinds, may be enumerated the ostrich, eagle, vulture, pelican, hawk,
and various species of crane.
Exports and Imports.
The staple articles of export from the Orange Free State, are
wool, skins, and ostrich feathers, of late years diamonds and other
precious stones, while owing to the mining population in the disputed
territories along the Vaal River, a large trade in grain and other
agricultural produce, has been productive of great wealth to the
country.
Commerce.
From the same cause, although more indirectly, trade in all
articles of import, such as ironware implements, and manufactures
in woolen, cotton and silk goods, and articles for consumption,
either as necessaries or luxuries, has received a great stimulus, and
the commercial community is to all appearance in a very healthy
•and prosperous condition. The dividends of the Bloemfontein
Bank and Board of Executors at 20 per cent, and 1 5 per cent.
respectively, for the past year, may be taken as very fair evidence
of this assertion.
A statement of import and export for the Orange Free State
could only be furnished with accuracy by the merchants of the sea-5-
port towns of Port Elizabeth, in Cape Colony, and Durban, in
Natal, who not only receive the produce exported, but also furnish
the goods imported. Climate.
The average height of the Orange Free State above the level of
the sea is about 5,000 feet, and the climate generally salubrious.
The winter here is cold but dry, the summer usually warm and
moist, though droughts are sometimes experienced in the summer
months. The air, however, is healthy and dry, as a rule, and this
is particularly felt at Bloemfontein and its vicinity; consequently,
numbers of invalids suffering from pulmonary affections resort to

10
Bloemfontein and experience much benefit from a residence in this
part of the country.
In other respects it has been noticed that the changes of the
seasons are to a greater or less degree, according to their duration,
accompanied by a greater liability to colds and fevers, generally of
a typhoid type, and inflammatory affections, especially amongst
children. The rates of mortality, however, would not seem to be extraordi
nary, though from the absence of statistics they can only be guessed
at. Foreigners do not seem to suffer after being acclimated, on the
contrary, they are benefited by the change.
Population.
The population of the Orange Free State has been variously
computed, but as a steady and uninterrupted stream of immigration
has been flowing into the country for years, and in very consider
able numbers since the satisfactory settlement of the Basuto war,
the white population maybe estimated at 75,000; the colored or
native, 25,000.
Form of Government.
The Government of the Orange Free State is Republican, and"
its Constitution vests the legislative powers in the Volksraad, the
members of which are elected by their constituents for four con
secutive years. The whole number of representatives (there being
one for each chief town of a district, and one for each field cornetcy,)
is fifty-two. Of this number, the half retire by rotation every two
years, and a new election takes place to fill up the vacancies.
The VolJcsraad meets in session annually at Bloemfontein, which
is the capital of the State and the seat of Government, if no
extraordinary session be convened by the State President, for the
consideration of any urgent question which might demand imme
diate attention.
The executive power in the State rests in the State President,
which officer is elected by suffrage of burghers throughout the
whole State; his term of office lasts for five years, and he is elio'ible
for re-election. Candidates for the Presidentship are generally
recommended by the Volksraad to the burghers, and a change

11
taking place in that office does not affect the positions of the other offi
cials in this country, as is the case in the United States of America.
The State President is assisted by the Executive Council, in
which the Landdrost of Bloemfontein and the Government Secre
tary have session also as official members, and three others chosen
by the Volksraad from among the most influential members in the
neighborhood of the chief town of the State, form the unofficial
members provided for in the Constitution.
The unofficial members hold office for three years, retiring suc
cessively, and are eligible for re-election, or rather re-nomination,
by the Volksraad.
The entire control of the affairs of the State, internal as well as
externa], rests in the hands of the State President,, as far as the
public service of the State is concerned, and with the exceptions
specified in the Constitution.
The chief executive officer in each district is the Landdrost, who
is clothed with the functions both of Magistrate and Civil Com
missioner in his district, and is assisted in his duties by the Land-
drost-klerk. Each district has furthermore its Sheriff and deputy; gaoler and
staff of constables. Where there are no Government buildings,
offices and gaol are hired by the Government.
Each district is divided into the necessary number of wards, each
of which elects a Field Cornet, under whom it serves, and who has
certain judicial, and in times of war, military powers.
All the wards combine in the election of a Commandant, who is
military head of the whole1 district in times of war or disturbance,
and takes the chief command over the burghers of his district on
command. As soon as the contingents from the various districts have taken
the field, and before active operations against the enemy are com
menced, the officers, viz. : the Commandants and Field Cornets of
the several contingents, meet and proceed to the election of a Com
mandant-General from among their number, who thereupon makes
over his charge to an elected successor, and takes the supreme com
mand of the whole commando, receiving his instructions from the
State President,

12
Burghers of the State are constituted by. the following three
classes: First, Whites who were born in the State. Secondly,
Whites who have resided in the State during one year, and have
fixed property to the amount of £150, registered in their own
names. Thirdly, Whites who have resided in the State for three
successive years ; always provided the two latter classes furnish the
President with good conduct certificates and written engagements
to respect the laws of the State, whereupon they can obtain certifi
cates of burghership.
Burghers of eighteen years of age and upwards have right of
suffrage at the elections of Field Cornet and Commandant, but they
must be of age and have sundry other Constitutional qualifications
to be entitled to vote for a State President.
Judicial.
The administration of justice in the Orange Free State is regu
lated by the local ordinances enacted by the Volksraad from time
to time, and further according to the Roman Dutch law. The
Law Courts of the Orange Free State are at present the following :
First, The Landdrost Court, which has police and criminal juris
diction, and can bind over in the sum of £100 for six months, fine
up to £5, imprison for three months, with hard labor, and give
lashes up to twenty-five; while it has a civil jurisdiction in all
cases up to £37 10s. Special laws, however, give this Court a
higher jurisdiction for certain offences.
Secondly, The Court of Landdrost and Heemraden, consisting of
the Landdrost and two assessors, who can bind over in the amount
of £200 for twelve months, fine up to £10, imprison with hard
labor for four months, punish with lashes up to thirty-nine, and
have a civil jurisdiction in cases from £37 10s. up to £75. This
Court has also special jurisdiction under certain ordinances. From
these Courts there is appeal to
Thirdly. The Combined Courts of Landdrosts, the Circuit Court
of the State, which has unlimited jurisdiction, and can try crimi
nally all heavy crimes and misdemeanors, and dispose of all civil
cases, from £75, and upwards, brought in the first instance before
it, and hears all appeals from the two lower Courts. This Court

13
consists of three Landdrosts, at present it holds its sessions once
annually, sometimes in each district, and sometimes for two or three
districts combined, in one place. During the interval of its session,
the Landdrost of each district is Judge in chambers for his district,
and all interlocutory orders are made by him.
Fourthly, The Highest Court of Appeal, before which all appeals
from the various Circuit Courts are brought, holds session at Bloem
fontein once or twice a year. Till last year the Executive Council
constituted the Court of Appeal in highest resort, but the Volksraad
has made provision for a separate Court, under a Chief Justice pro-
perl .- qualified, and two assessors from among the Landdrosts of the
districts. The ordinance constituting this Court is No. 4, 1872,
and was enacted last year ; hitherto it has not been carried into
effect ; but there is every probability that a bench of Judges will
be established as Supreme Court, as the necessity for this measure is
becoming more apparent year by year.
The State Attorney conducts the public prosecution for the State
in person before the Circuit Courts, but is represented by the Land-
drost-klerk before the lower Courts.
The Law Registry Office for the Higher Courts throughout the
• whole State is at Bloemfontein. Ecclesiastical.
The Constitutional Church of the Orange Free State is the Dutch
Reformed Church. The chief governing body of which, viz.', the
Synod, meets once every three years, while the various congrega
tions of the State are classed under two circuits or rings, and each
ring meets yearly. Each congregation is governed locally by the
Kerkeraad. Under this Church there are at present eighteen congregations,
fifteen of which receive State support.
Besides the Dutch Reformed Church, a branch of the Anglican
Church of South Africa, represented by the Bishop of Bloemfon
tein and a numerous staff off clergy, is established in the Orange
Free State.
The capital of the diocese is Bloemfontein, where the Bishop
resides, and congregations of this Church are ministered to in

14
Smithfield, Bethulie, Philippolis, Harrismith, Modderpoort, Thaba,
"Nchu, and other places. The English minister at Smithfield is
the only one of this body receiving State support.
The Wesley an Methodist Church also has a circuit in the Orange
Free State, under a superintendent, resident at Bloemfontein, and a
numerous body of ministers, and has congregations in Fauresmith,
Smithfield, Harrismith, Thaba, "Nchu, and other places. It re
ceives State support for two of its ministers.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church is represented in the State by
a superintendent and several ministers, who labor at Bloemfontein,
Bethany, and other parts of the State.
Finally the Roman Catholic Church, under the care of a priest,
is ministering to the wants of its people at Bloemfontein.
Educational.
The educational department of the country is only now receiving
that vital attention which a subject of so vast importance to any
country ought to have ; and the legislation has only of late years
been impressed with the absolute necessity of placing this depart
ment on the best possible footing. Accordingly, a fund is gradually
being raised for educational purposes, which in 1876 will place at
the disposal of the Government an amount of £56,000.
Meantime, in accordance with Order No. 5, 1872, an Inspector
of Education has been appointed, who has already entered upon his
colossal task, namely, that of remodeling the whole educational
system, and great hopes are now entertained for the future of the
rising generation. It is only right, nevertheless, to state, that a
Government allowance of £90 a year has for years past been given
to each district town, on condition of its subscribing at least one-
half more, and attempts to establish good schools have everywhere
been made by the District School Committees, comprising the Land
drost, Dutch Reformed Church and three elected members, with
varying success in some places, but in others only to meet with
failure, which is principally to be attributed to the defective system
hitherto pursued.
The principal support hitherto afforded by the Government, con
sists in the liberal allowances made for the salaries of teachers in

15
the Grey College ; but owing to the short time that has elapsed
since the arrival of one of them, and various other circumstances
beyond the control of the Government, the desired results are still
to be looked for. Very praiseworthy efforts have also been' made
on behalf of education by the Anglican Church, in schools established
at Bloemfontein and at Smithfield, and this latter has already shown
very satisfactory results. Financial.
The financial department of the State is under the control of the
Auditor-General and Treasurer-General, whose offices are also at
Bloemfontein. The accounts of revenue and expenditure, with
vouchers for each district separately, are sent up monthly, and all
balances in the district treasuries remitted monthly to the Treasurer-
General. The Auditor-General publishes a quarterly statement of revenue
and expenditure, and makes up the estimates for each ensuing year*
which are revised by a Commission out of the Volksraad, and after
their report voted for the service year.
Notwithstanding the heavy expenditure and consequent debt,
occasioned by the last Basuto war, and the issue of Government
paper to the amount of £130,000, which for a long time was not
valued at more than half the coinage it represented, the financial
status of the Government has been steadily improving, as will
appear from the following statement of revenue and expenditure
for the various service years from 1857 :

Year.

Revenue.

Expenditure.

1857-58

£18,421

13s

. 5<i.

£15,862

7s. 3d.

1858-59

24,646

7

7

24,099

11 1

1859-60

19,707

1

7

20,978

12 1*

1860-61

20,919

3

10

21,155

13 1

1861-62

32,168

18

2

32,368

0 2

1862-63

41,555

5

10

41,698

13 9

1863-64

42,219

15

3

42,693

7 7

1864-65

41,650

15

2

41,637

4 8

1865-66

66,549

10

8

64,664

3 9

1866-67

132,293

9

9

130,606

0 8

1867-68

146,739

9

1

142,024

1 7

1868-69

70,297

5

4

68,928

19 9

1869-70

59,802

11

9

51,783

12 9

1870-71

78,904

1

2

71,175

14 1

1871-72

84,282

1

10

74,252

5 6

1872-73

112,040

8

3

102,141

16 10

16

When it is remembered that the country was engaged in war with
the Basutos in 1858 and in 1865-69, the extraordinary difference
in the relative amounts for those years is readily accounted for, as
also the decrease in revenue and expenditure during 1869-70, the
country being then prostrated from the effects of a protracted struggle,
during which the interests of trade, agriculture and flocks could not
receive the necesssary attention, and the powers of production were
proportionably lessened.
The amount of revenue for 1872-73 contrasts favorably with the
last mentioned amount, as does also the fact, that of the £130,000
issued as Government notes, little more than one-third is still in
circulation, nearly two-thirds having already been redeemed.
The revenue of the country is raised by quit-rents on farms,
transfer dues, stamp duties, and fees in the various Governmental
departments, licenses, hire of State lands, huttan on the colored
population, and from various other sources; the mode of taxation
being for the greater part indirect.
The estimates voted for the service year of 1873-74, for the ex
penditure of the State, amounts to £75,188. Under this amount
are sundry sums, as follows :

For Civil and Judicial Department,

£18,275

For Police,

2,800

For Churches and Schools,

7,560

For Administration of Justice,

1,505

For Prisons,

2,495

For Hospitals,

443

For Hire of Buildings,

692

For Postal Department,

4,530

For Roads, ....

640

For Members V. R., ...

2,200

For Stationery, Printing, &c,

1,963

For Artillery,

2,000

For Ammunition,

4,000

For Withdrawal of Government Paper,

16,840

For Orphan Chamber,

1,200

And also, for various other purposes, the above will be sufficient
to convey some idea of the mode of expenditure.
The facts adduced all tend to show that the country is in a pros
perous condition, and that if only allowed to improve the years of

17
peace it may soon be able to undertake various reproductive works
from which it has hitherto been debarred.
State Lands.
The Government lands of the Orange Free State are still very
considerable, though as nought, compared with their original size,
owing to the sales of farms which have been held from time to time.
The value of fixed property of all kinds has increased greatly within
the last few years. Even in the districts of Harrismith and Kroon
stad, where land formerly was almost valueless, farms are now
eagerly sought after, and change hands at very high rates.
The average price of land throughout the whole State may now
be fixed at 10s. per morgen.
A rough estimate fixes the number of farms throughout the
country as between 6,000 and 7,00d Fixed property changes
ownership by registration. Mode of Registration.
The mode of registration of deeds of all descriptions in the State,
is generally held to be a more publicly useful one than that in
vogue in the colonies. There is a Sub-Registry Office in each dis
trict ; while the Chief Deeds Registry Office is at Bloemfontein.
The transfers or other deeds are passed before the Registrar of
Deeds, or Landdrost of the district, as the case may be, and after
registration at the head office, are also registered in the district
offices, so that an intending purchaser can at once satisfy himself as
to the titles, &c, of any property at its district office, thereby
sparing both time and expense. Historical.
The earliest traditionary records concerning the territory now
known as the Orange Free State, would convey the idea that it was
not inhabited by any definite race, but rather that marauding bands
from tribes of Kaffirs, Bushmen and Corannas from time to time
infested it, either to secure pasture for their flocks, or to escape
destruction from the hands of some stronger race, and it is only

about the years 1816 to 1820 that these records become definite, as
determining the facts that about that time an immigration of Gri-
quas, under Adam Kok, settled at Griquatown, and that bodies of
Dutch Farmers used first to cross the Orange River with their
flocks, during times of drought in the colony, and afterward settled
in the new territory, more especially in the vicinity of the Riet
River. These pioneers were afterwards followed up by whole bodies of
immigrants ; one body settling in the present district of Boshof, on
lands purchased by them from the Chief Dautzeo, and another set
tling on what was afterwards known as the Vaal River District, on
lands bought from the Chief Matagnau. While many more either
leased or bought lands in the territoiy of the Griquas, who, under
Adam Kok, in 1820, had established themselves at Philippolis,
along the Orange River up to the junction of the Roschjas-spruit.
The numbers of the immigrants were greatly increased by the in
flux of these Dutch colonists, who felt themselves aggrieved by the
emancipation of the slaves, in 1839, and left the colony in large
numbers, in order to place themselves beyond British control.
These settlers formed a Government for themselves, after the
model of the old Dutch Government of the colony, and matters
went on quietly up to 1845, when, in consequence of some fracas
between the Boers and the Griquas, which resulted in hostilities,
the British Government intervened, and assisting the Griquas with
Her Majesty's troops, defeated the Boers at Zwart Koppies; and to
prevent a like occurrence, a British Resident was established in the
country, with a small force to support his authority.
But a treaty had been entered into between the British Govern
ment and Adam Kok, in 1845, in which certain terms affecting the
Boer tenure of property in Griqualand were comprehended, which
gave great dissatisfaction to the immigrants.
Their acknowledged chief, Andries Pretorius, endeavored to pro
cure an amelioration of these terms, but without success, and after
the proclamation of sovereignty over the territory, discontent broke
out into rebellion, and the British authorities were driven back
across the Orange River, in July, 1848. Subsequently a force of
500 men was brought up by Sir Harry Smith, and after a short but

19

sharp encounter with the Boers at Boomplaats, the latter were de
feated, and the British authority re-established in the Orange River

sovereign tv.

The territory now remained under that Government, represented
in the person of a British Resident at Bloemfontein, where a fort
had been erected, mounting three guns, and where the seat of Resi
dency had been established up to 1854. During this period many
Europeans and colonists of European descent, also took up their
abode in the sovereignty. Owing, however, to the continual em
broilments of the burghers with the Basutos, under Moshesh, not
in their own quarrels, but in those of the allies of the British Gov
ernment, and the costs thereby occasioned of keeping up a con
siderable military force, the abandonment of the Orange River
sovereignty was recommended to the home Government and carried
out, under the Special Commissionership of Sir George Clerk, who,
in spite of the opposition of an influential body of the inhabitants,
especially of Bloemfontein, made over the Government of the
Orange River sovereignty to a body of delegates, representing the
inhabitants of the various districts, by virtue of the convention
entered into with them on the 23d of February, 1854; which con
vention is the Charter of the Orange Free State.
A Provisional Government was at once formed by the delegates
under the Presidency of Mr. Hoffman, and afterwards a Republi
can Constitution was drawn up and adopted by the Volksraad, the
members of which had in the meantime been duly elected.
For some time after its erection into a separate State, the Gov
ernment of the Orange Free State svas principally engaged in meet
ing the difficulties arising out of the many boundary questions with
petty native chiefs, in and bordering on the Free State ; the prin
cipal settlement arrived at being the definition of the Vetberg-line,
between Adam Kok and Cornelius Kok and Waterboer; and it was
only during the able Presidentship of Mr. Boshoff, that attention
was first given to the internal affairs of the country, and some
order established by salutary local ordinances, which are in force at
the present day, regulating, among other matters, the establishment
of proper law courts, tariffs, sale of gunpowder, and liquor laws.
But this dawn of order was soon to be clouded by the questions

20
with the Basutos, which assumed greater importance, and eventu
ally, in March, 1858, terminated in war between the burghers of
the new Republic and their thievish neighbors.
The hostilities lasted with varying fortunes, and were finally
brought to a close by the Convention of Aliwal-North, on the 29th
September, 1858. The following year, 1859, saw the Orange Free
State deprived of the further services of President Boshoff by the
resignation of his office ; and although there are those who may
have differed with him, still the almost universal voice was one of
regret at the loss of the man who not only did so much for the in
ternal welfare of the country, but so ably conducted the State
through its difficulties with the tribe of Witzie, with the Transvaal
Republic, with Scheel Cobus and with the Basutos.
A successor to President Boshoff was elected in the person of
President Pretorius, son of the well-known Commandant-General,
Andries Pretorius, of Boomplaats celebrity, who assumed office in
1860. The two principal events during his term of office were, first,
the annexation to the Orange Free State of the Bethulie lands, by
special treaty with the Chief Lephin ; and secondly, the purchase
from the Griqua Chief, Adam Kok, on his migration to the terri
tory of Nomansland, in 1861, of all his lands and those he inherited
from Cornelius Kok, of Campbell, whereby, the Vetberg-line be
came part of the boundary of the State. It is on this purchase,
also, that the right and title to the Campbell lands to the north of
Vaal River is founded by the Orange Free State Government. On
the resignation of President Pretorius, in 1863, a new election was
held, and President Brand assumed office, as the chosen of the
people, in February, 1864.
The peace secured by the Treaty of Aliwal proved a hollow one,
and as the Basutos not only repudiated their treaty engagements,
but continued their depredations and committed various outrages on
the burghers inhabiting the frontier, President Brand's first endea
vors were directed to the attainment of a satisfactory settlement of
the boundary line question, and he succeeded in getting this defined
by the arbitration of Sir Philip Wodehouse, Governor of the Cape
of Good Hope, October, 1864. Notwithstanding this peaceful
solution of the question, the attitude of the Basutos grew daily

21
more and more threatening, and the Orange Free State saw itself
forced to arms, and took the field in May, 1865. The struggle
lasted eleven months, and a treaty of peace, on very advantageous
terms for the Orange Free State, was signed April 3d, 1866, by
which, among other conditions, a large tract of country was ceded
to the State.
This new territory was inspected by commissioners, and the farms
granted and sold on conditions of military tenure. And as Basuto
squatters had everywhere re-occupied this tract, it became necessary
to clear the <jountry by a commando, called out for that purpose,
March 12th, 1867. But this measure had not the desired effect, for
in the months of June and July the Basutos murdered two sub
jects of the Orange Free State, named Bushe and Krynauw, and
flung defiance at its Government, when it demanded the delivery to
justice of the murderers.
Consequently, in the month of August, 1867, the commandos of
Free State burghers took the field afresh, and soon victory crowned
the cause of the Free State, as mountain stronghold after mountain
stronghold was taken from the enemy; and there remained now
only to. Moshesh his own fastness, called Thaba-Eosigo. When
hostilities were brought to a close by the intervention of the British
Government, to whom the Basutos had applied to be received as
subjects, a lengthy correspondence was carried on during an armis
tice or truce which had been agreed upon, and it was only after a,
deputation from the Orange Free State had been sent to England,
that a satisfactory settlement of the question was arrived at, and
defined in the Convention of Aliwal North, March 12th, 1869,
whereby advantageous terms of pea«?e and a satisfactory boundary
were obtained by the Orange Free State. Immediately after the
settlement of this question, negotiations were carried on with the
Transvaal Republic, which resulted in a deed of submission, by
which the settlement of the boundary between the two Republics
was confided to the arbitration of Lieutenant-Governor Keate, of
the Colony of Natal, and his decision was communicated to the re
spective Governments in February, 1870, and adopted by them.
But auother boundary question which had from time to time
engaged the attention of the Volksraad, namely, .that between the

22
Orange Free; State and Nicholas Waterboer, now assumed promi
nence, owing to the discovery of diamonds in the Vaal River, near
Pniel, a mission-station of the Berlin Missionary Society. Every
means was used to bring the matter to a satisfactory solution with
out avail, and at last the Orange Free State Government, after a
meeting with Waterboer and his council at "Novitgedacht, on the
Vaal River, August 18th, 1870, saw itself constrained to proclaim
the territorial boundaries of the Campbell lands to the north of
Vaal River, purchased by it from Adam Kok, as heir to Cornelius
Kok in 1861. Meantime a large influx of people from all all parts
of the Colonies and from foreign countries, to the diamondiferous
banks of the Vaal River took place, and gradually spread itself to
the present dry diggings at Du Toits Pan, Bultfontein and Voor-
nitzigt, in the district of Pniel, and while the Orange Free State
Government was engaged in the establishment of a proper system
of control and sanitary regulations for the mining population,
Waterboer, urged on by his agent, presented a petition to the Brit
ish Government, representing that a great part of his territory had
been encroached upon by the Orange Free State Government, and
requesting their acceptance of himself and his people as subjects,
and asking their intervention on his behalf. Lieut. Gov. Hay,
then acting High Commissioner at Cape Town, thereupon identify
ing himself with Waterboer's representations forthwith, in violation
of the second and other articles of the Convention, appointed
Commissioners and empowered them with authority over the dig"
gers, which authority was at first only exercised on the north side
of the Vaal, though sundry intrigues were carried on amongst the
diggers on the south side also; in order to abtain a footing there.
Matters came to a crisis however, after the arrival of Governor
Barkly at the Cape, in 1871, who, adopting the views of the then
Government Secretary, Southey, and ignoring the fact that all the
grounds to the south of the Vaal River had been in undisputed
possession, and under the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the
Orange Free State, since the Convention of 1854, issued a procla
mation, October 27th, 1871, declaring Waterboer and his people
British subjects, and claiming as his territory, not only the Camp
bell lands to the north of the Vaal, but also the territory on the

23
south side of that river, up to a straight line from Ratberg to
David's Graf, at the junction of Riet and Modder River, and thence
in a straight line to Ramah and the Orange River.
This proclamation was followed up by forcible possession being
taken of the lands in question, in a time of profound peace. In
order to avoid a collision, and the dire effects which a war with a
consanguineous race in the colony would inevitably entail, the Gov
ernment of the Orange Free State withdrew its authority and offi
cials from that part of their territory, under solemn protest against
this breach of the Law of Nations, and sought to obtain justice for
the violation of their territory in arbitration and deeds of submis
sion ; forming subject matter for a continued correspondence and
discussion between the Government of Her British Majesty and
that of the Orange Free State.
Many events have occurred in connection with this question,
which each in their turn threatened to disturb the peaceful relations
between the countries concerned, but sufficient proof has been given
that the terms of the Convention, February 23d, 1854, have not
received that due regard which a weaker power may, with justice,
expect from a stronger; and that the endeavors of the Government
of the Orange Free State to secure a satisfactory definition of the
boundary line made over to them, have but too often been thwarted
by those, from whom it had a right to expect every possible co
operation. At all events, it is certainly beyond dispute, that the
action hitherto taken by the British High Commissioners in these
various questions, does not evince the spirit breathed forth in the
despatch of the Hon. H. Labouchere, June 5th, 1857, to Sir George
Grey, then Governor of Cape Colony, from which the following
extract is quoted : " The outlines of that policy, I would recapitu
late as follows : to observe strictly the letter and spirit of the trea
ties into which we have entered with the neighboring States ; to
maintain the integrity of our possessions on the confines of these
States, but to avoid any extension of their limits to which they may
justly object ; and to forbear from mixing ourselves Up with the
affairs of the native tribes, except so far as may be clearly indispen
sable for the protection of Her Majesty's subjects.
Such, then, are the principal events Avhich have occupied the

24
serious attention of the Orange Free State Government to such a
degree, that the internal affairs of the State have not received that
vital attention which many important branches still urgently de
mand ; and to this it is owing that the Judicial, Administrative,
and Educational Departments, still call for the earnest study of
every well-meaning citizen, with a view to their establishment on
the best possible footing. To the political questions also it may be
attributed that the national feelings of Dutch and English are not
more fully united and merged in the consolidation of the various
interests of the country with a sole view to its future greatness.
Happily, however, of late years, a great deal of the bitterness has
passed away, and the sympathies of all parties are becoming more
concentrated in the common interests of the State.
When it is considered that but twenty years ago, the management
of the affairs of this country was cast upon the shoulders of a people
untutored as regards government; exposed to crafts of enemies,
without and within ; without any standing force ; without military
stores, or a public treasury; with a sparse population spread out
over a large extent of territory ; and without any definite legisla
tion ; the rise and present prosperity of the Orange Free State Re-
. public, surely bears witness to an almost unprecedented success, and
have earned for it the right to be looked upon as one of the leading
States of South Africa. ,
In concluding the short sketch of this Republic, it would be
well to state, that besides the amicable relations which the Orange
Free State enjoys with the various European powers, it has lately
formed a general convention of friendship, commerce, and extradi
tion, with the United States of America.

President of the Republic,
Hon. J. H. Brand.

Gov't Secretary, • Treasurer General,
Hon. F. K. Hohne. Hon. C. DeJongh Bloem.
Postmaster General,
Hon. W. H. Canisius.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1876 AT PHILADELPHIA.

|,oIterittr« j'xhibtt of th$ IJrange free Stale,
LOCATION— SOUTHWEST SECTION,

DIAMONDS in the rough, from the diamond fields of the Orange Free State. Specimens of stones,
varying in color and size.
DIAMONDIFEROUS SOIL, with diamond in it.
PEBBLES, accompanying the diamond.
COPPER AND IRON ORE, chlorsastrolite and magnesite.
COAL. KAOLIN.SPRINGBUCK MATS.
ANGORA AND BLESBUCK KAROSSES.
JACKAL KAROSSES.
BOOTS of native manufacture.
PIPES " " " i
BASKETS of native manufacture.
HARNESS, white leather.
FIGURES IN WOOD, cut with a penknife, of willow wood, yellow wood, and deal wood.
BLUE GUM, MIMOSA, AND OLIVE WOODS.
PETRIFIED WOOD.
SUMACH.CREAM TARTAR FRUIT.
WHEAT, Mealies (Indian corn) and Kaffir corn.
COLLECTION OF STUFFED BIRDS.
COLLECTION OF BUTTERFLIES and other Insects.
TUSKS OF IVORY.
HORNS of the Blesbuck, Gemshuck, Hartebeeste, Bastd. Hartebeeste, Eoorbuck, Kietbuck and
Wildebeeste. KOODOO-COW HIDES.
BLESBUCK SKINS.
HARTEBEESTE AND BLESBUCK SKINS, tanned.
RIEMS thongs and girdles of Buffalo, Bullock, Eland, Giraffe and Gnu hide.
SHAMBUCKS, flexible rods or whips, of Rhinoceros hide.
WHIPS, of Giraffe hide.
OSTRICH FEATHERS, natural Btate.
OSTRICH EGGS.
BIRD PLUMAGE, natural state.
DRIED FRUIT.
WHEAT FLOUR AND MEALIE (corn) MEAL.
WOOL, unwashed.
WOOL, washed.
MOHAIR, of the Angora Goat.
MODEL OF TRANSPORT, for wool.

Commissioner for Orange Free State to the International Exhibition,
CHARLES W. RILEY, Consul General,
PHILADELPHIA.